October 2021 Newsletter
The purpose of Georgia AUXCOMM is to promote, support, and lead emergency communications activities that support community needs. This is our monthly newsletter.
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October 2021 Training Meeting - Thur, 10/28 @ 9pm
RATPAC - Recovery A.V. Field Hospital Comms Support
Once again we're partnering up with RATPAC for our monthly training meeting content. Please note the start time - 9pm (ET) tonight, 10/28.
Title - Recovery A.V. Field Hospital Comms Support
Presenter - Dan Sherwood, W6DAS
Date/Time - Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 9pm (Eastern)
Connection link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2128884758?pwd=eVZ6VDZDc2kwWnFDVE41QlkrV1FKQT09
Meeting ID: 212 888 4758, Passcode: THURSDAY
Join us for this special training meeting hosted by RATPAC (Radio Amateur Training Planning and Activities Committee) to a national audience. NOTE the time - this will be at 9pm (ET), not our usual 8pm time slot. You can review past RATPAC presentations and get the complete schedule of future events at - https://sites.google.com/view/ratpac
This meeting is free and open to all who have an interest in Auxiliary / Emergency Communications.
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ICYMI - September 2021 Training Meeting
RATPAC - Special presentation about Georgia AuxComm on 9/30/21
ICYMI = In Case You Missed It...
Did you miss our presentation to RATPAC last month? No worries, you can view the video and review the slides from your computer.
Title - Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) / AUXCOMM Expectations of Amateur Radio Volunteers.
You can view the presentation video here - https://youtu.be/2C3d2t5eXlY
Here's a copy of the presentation slides - https://gaauxcomm.org/media/GA-AUXCOMM-RATPAC-30-SEP-2021-V3.pdf
Presenters - Georgia AUXCOMM Manager John Davis (WB4QDX), Deputy AUXCOMM Manager Joe Martin (WB4S), PIO Joe Domaleski (KI4ASK), and GEMA ESF-2 Lead / Deputy SWIC Edwin Whitworth (KJ4KKB).
Pictured above, members of the Georgia AuxComm leadership team.
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Georgia AUXCOMM participates in the 2021 ARRL / ARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
Members of Georgia AuxComm participated alongside the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) as part of the national Simulated Emergency Test (SET) on Saturday, October 2nd.
Deputy AUXCOMM Manager Joe Martin, WB4S, operated a VHF Voice/Packet and HF station atop Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia.
That weekend was also the national Appalachian Trail on the Air special event. AUXCOMM PIO Joe Domaleski (KI4ASK) and his wife Mary Catherine Domaleski (KI4HHI) along with Kevin Jones (KN4PKS) and his wife Kayleigh Jones did a 10-mile hike from Unicoi Gap to Tray Mountain (the 5th tallest peak in Georgia). Along the way they activated two SOTA (Summits on the Air) peaks - Rocky Mountain (W4G/NG-011) & Tray Mountain (W4G/NG-005), two POTA locations - Appalachian Trail (K-4556) & Chattahoochee National Forest (K-4473) AND participated in the SET as a backpack mobile station.
The whole day was a great way to conduct training with our ARES colleagues, have fun in the great outdoors, and activate several POTA and SOTA entities.
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Georgia AUXCOMM participates in Brunswick Deployment
A large contingent of Georgia AUXCOMM members have deployed to Brunswick, GA in support of field operations with Georgia Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (GEMA). The original larger team has completed their mission, but a smaller team remains onsite. This deployment is ongoing, so we can't share too many details about it at this time. The deployment involves AUXCOMM related tasks and skills. Once the actual event has occurred, we hope to tell you more about the mission.
Pictured above, GEMA ESF-2 Lead and Deputy SWIC Edwin Whitworth (KJ4KKB) poses for a selfie during a break. David Benoist, AG4ZR, is in the background working an amateur radio satellite with his HT.
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AUXCOMM members use Amateur Radio Satellite PSAT (NO-84) for wide-area APRS
Did you know that several amateur radio satellites, including the International Space Station, have APRS digipeaters? That's right and recently AUXCOMM members David Benoist, AG4ZR, and Edwin Whitworth, KJ4KKB, currently deployed to Brunswick, GA were able to use PSAT (NO-84) to exchange APRS messages with Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, back home in Atlanta.
Equipment used - Kenwood TH-D74 HT, Arrow handheld Yagi, and HT whip antenna.
Settings - Frequency 145.825 MHz, APRS 1200, path=ARISS
(Note: Because Doppler shift is negligible on VHF, no frequency adjustment is needed)
Pictured above, Joe Domaleski's Yagi pointed to an invisible PSAT (NO-84) amateur radio satellite on the morning of Wednesday, October 27, 2021.
Pictured above - the trajectory of PSAT (NO-84) from Joe Domaleski's vantage point just south of Atlanta, GA. Yes, the satellite is traveling over 17,000mph!
Pictured above, David Benoist (AG4ZR) sends an APRS packet via PSAT (NO-84) using an HT and whip antenna while located in coastal Georgia.
Pictured above, the APRS packet from David Benoist, AG4ZR, as displayed on Joe Domaleski's Kenwood HT.
Pictured above, the beacon of the PSAT (NO-84) satellite itself as seen on KI4ASK's HT.
Later that day, they worked the International Space Station (ISS) digipeater. Here's the beacon of the ISS.
Finally, since it is the World Series of Baseball and Georgia AUXCOMM supports the Atlanta Braves, Joe Domaleski changed his APRS status message to beacon support for the Braves all across North America using the APRS satellites. Here's what his beacon looks like as received on a Kenwood TH-D74 HT as digipeated by the ISS.
You can read more about the APRS amateur radio satellites here:
http://www.aprs.org/sats.html
Go Braves!
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REMINDER - Georgia AUXC Monthly 60m Net - November 14th, 2021 (always the second Sunday at 1400 Local)
Georgia AUXCOMM has been conducting a monthly net on 60m Channel 5 on the second Sunday of each month at 1400 local. Recognizing the growing importance of 60m as an interoperability band, we've been practicing our own skills and testing our gear to ensure we can effectively communicate on 60m. We'd like to invite each of you to participate in the net. Please ensure that you have the proper radio licensure to participate. Amateur radio operators that are General class or higher are authorized to use the band. Please note that amateur radio is a secondary service on the band and must not interfere with other services such as government agencies.
Earlier this month, we held our net on Sunday, October 10th and effectively covered the state using 60m. Net Control Jim Hadder, KE4ZX, was located in Ellijay, GA. We had a team from Georgia AUXCOMM deployed on assignment at Brunswick, GA who also checked in.
Pictured above, David Benoist, AG4ZR, and Edwin Whitworth, KJ4KKB, part of the team deployed in Brunswick.
Our PIO Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, was located on Lake Sinclair in Eatonton, GA operating QRP and also checked into the net. 60m is a great band and we invite you to check-in with us.
Pictured above, Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, checking into the Georgia AUXCOMM 60m net from Lake Sinclair.
Our net takes check-ins via 60m Channel 5 Phone (5.403.5 MHz, USB) and Winlink to the tactical address GAAUXC. Most of our operators check-in using both SSB and Winlink. Winlink check-ins should include your location, power level, and equipment used. The net starts with a preamble, roll call of AUXC leaders, and then open check-ins. If Channel 5 is not available, the backup is 60m Channel 4.
Want to know more about the 60m band?
We hope you'll join us for the next net, scheduled for Sunday, October 10th at 2pm (local) on 5.403.5 MHz, USB (Channel 5).
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Georgia AuxComm at the Stone Mountain Hamfest on November 6-7, 2021
We hope to see many of you at the Stone Mountain Hamfest and ARRL State Convention coming up soon on November 6-7 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville, GA. Complete information about the hamfest can be found at http://stonemountainhamfest.com.
Georgia AUXCOMM Manager John Davis, WB4QDX, and PIO Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, will be leading a forum entitled - "AUXCOMM: ready to put your training to work? Learn how you can participate in official state deployments as a certified Auxiliary Communicator" at 11:00am on Saturday, 11/6.
We'd also like to encourage everyone to attend the 9am keynote by our ARRL Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB, and new Georgia Section Manager Jim Millsap, K9APD. This is a great hamfest with lots of other fun and informative activities, forums, and vendors. We hope to see you there.
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GaAUXCOMM needs your support!
We have established a non-profit membership organization to support our mission. Consider becoming an early bird member with a $30 donation. We need your support so we can continue serving the community. Here's a link you can use to apply for membership and make a donation.
https://gaauxcomm.org/membership
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FAQ and Social Media
Keep in touch with Georgia AUXCOMM! We've prepared a handy FAQ about the organization and will regularly communicate updates from this monthly newsletter and via social media outlets.
This newsletter is our primary official communication outlet. If you're getting this newsletter, then "you're on the list". Feel free to share this newsletter.
Other information sources include:
Website
https://gaauxcomm.org
FAQ
https://www.gaauxcomm.org/media/GaAUXCOMM-FAQ-Version12-2020-April.pdf
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/georgiaauxcomm
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwtgAs5ps7IZI-zSRPMZqiA
Twitter
https://twitter.com/gaauxcomm
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/georgiaauxcomm
Please direct all general questions and press inquiries to Georgia AUXCOMM PIO Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, at joe.domaleski@gaauxcomm.org.
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