January 2023 Newsletter
Happy New Year!
The purpose of Georgia AUXCOMM is to promote, support, and lead emergency communications activities that support community needs. This is our monthly newsletter and here's what we have for you in this special edition:
- 2023 Gwinnett TechFest on 1/14/23
- 2023 Winter Field Day with Georgia AUXCOMM on 1/28 & 1/29/23
- Georgia AUXCOMM 60m net with the Yaesu FT-818 (video)
- Join Georgia AUXCOMM and get a cool patch
- Georgia ARES Statewide ARES Meeting - 2/11/23
- Georgia AUXC Monthly D-Star Net on REF030B - 1/16/23, 8:30pm
- Georgia AUXC Monthly 60m Net - 2/12/23, 4pm
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Gwinnett TechFest
January 14, 2023 - Gwinnett County Fairgrounds
Georgia AUXCOMM will be at the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society (GARS) TechFest on Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 9am-3pm. This year the event will be held at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.
Gwinnett County Fairgrounds
Expo Center Building
2405 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Use Davis Rd Parking Lot and Entrance to Expo Center.
We're planning to bring our official Georgia AuxComm MCV to the TechFest! Come visit us and check it out.
If you recently joined AuxComm and haven't received your official AuxComm patch, we'll be handing those out in person - so stop in and get your patch. We'll also extend that for anyone who joins AuxComm in person while at TechFest!
In addition to the information table, we will also be presenting a brand new forum about Georgia AUXCOMM, tentatively scheduled for 12pm with ACM John Davis (WB4QDX) and PIO Joe Domaleski (KI4ASK). We've updated our presentation! If you've participated in one of our forums before, you may want to sit in on this new one.
Georgia AUXCOMM Manager John Davis, WB4QDX, gives a presentation about the Georgia AUXCOMM program at a recent hamfest.
For more information about the TechFest, please visit their website.
http://www.techfest.info
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2023 Winter Field Day with Georgia AUXCOMM
January 28-29, 2023
You saved the date, right? On Saturday January 28th and Sunday January 29th, 2023 Georgia AuxComm will be participating in Winter Field Day.
Here's the details from our Planning Section Chief, Bob Herrin, KE4JLL.
You are invited to the Georgia Auxcomm Winter Field Day at the GEMA Training Center in Forsyth, GA. (https://tinyurl.com/WFD-Site)
GEMA/HS Training Office South
2406 Collier Road
Forsyth, GA 31029
Setup will begin at 10:00 am on January 28. Lunch will be provided at 1 pm, and it will be a good one. We will operate through the night and end operations on January 29, or until we’re too tired to continue! If you plan to stay overnight, please bring a sleeping bag, cot, or whatever you need to be comfortable overnight. There is a large building that we can sleep in, with a bathroom but no shower. There is room for tent camping and very limited parking for RVs.
You’ll be able to
- Meet other Auxcomm members
- Get your task book signed off
- Explore the Auxcomm trailer
- Get some operating time on the radio
- Have fun and fellowship with other Auxcomm members
We will have 2 phone stations and 1 digital station set up. If you would like to bring a radio to test out or just have fun with, bring it along. You may also want to bring extension cords, coax, and anything you need for creature comforts. Dinner on the 28th will be on your own. You can bring something to prepare onsite, or there are plenty of food options minutes away from the field day site. There are no kitchen facilities, so sandwiches or something you can warm up/cook on your camp stove would be good.
All are welcome, whether you plan to stay for the full time or just drop in for a few hours. In order to be better prepared, we request you RSVP. Reply to this email with the following information:
- Your name and call sign
- Your arrival date and time
- Do you plan to stay overnight?
- Will you bring a camper or RV?
- Will you be available to help with take-down on the 29th?
- Anything else we need to know?
Talk-in will be on 147.525 simplex.
Looking forward to seeing those who can make it. Please let us know as soon as possible what your plans are!
‘73
Bob
KE4JLL
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Georgia AUXCOMM 60m net using the Yaesu FT-818 QRP!
Recently Yaesu announced that it was discontinuing the venerable FT-817/818 QRP amateur (ham) radio transceiver. Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, decided to show the radio some respect by taking it to the field in order to check into the monthly Georgia AuxComm 60m net on Sunday, January 8th, 2023. Will he be successful operating 5 watts on a statewide net? Watch and find out!
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Georgia AuxComm 60m net with the Yaesu FT-818 and homemade speaker wire antenna. 1/8/2023
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Join Georgia AUXCOMM and get a cool patch
It's been a long three years of COVID and other challenges, but we're finally ready to re-launch our membership program! We want you to become a member of Georgia AuxComm to help support auxiliary and emergency communications in the state. Here's why you should join:
- Assistance with PTB sign-offs
- Official deployment opportunities
- Listing in official Georgia AuxComm database roster
- Access to members-only training and special events
- Access to members-only newsletter (coming soon)
- Ability to order official AuxComm member apparel and badges
- Official AuxComm sticker
- Official AuxComm tactical patch (see below)
Members-only tactical patch with velcro backing to put on hats, go-bags, etc.
You can join online by filling out the membership application and submitting the $30 annual dues from our website using this link.
If you've already joined, your patches will be mailed out soon - we just got them. In fact, if you're at TechFest or Winter Field Day, you can pick yours up in person!
We've got big plans for Georgia AuxComm, but need your support to get things launched.
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Georgia ARES Statewide ARES Meeting
February 11, 2023 - GPSTC
Georgia AuxComm fully supports the ARRL ARES program. Most of our members are also Georgia ARES members!
We'd like to encourage everyone to sign-up to attend the annual Georgia ARES Statewide Meeting to be held on Saturday, February 11th, 2023. According to Georgia ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Lee Stone, KT4LS, this year's meeting will once again be held at:
Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC)
1000 Indian Springs Dr.
Forsyth, GA 31029
You can register online using the following official GEMA link:
https://training.gema.ga.gov/TRS/logon.do
Please direct ARES questions to SEC Lee Stone, KT4LS.
Most of the AuxComm team plans to attend and we hope to see you there!
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REMINDER - Georgia AUXC Monthly D-Star Net on REF030B - January 16th, 2023 (Third Monday of each Month)
Georgia AuxComm recognizes the utility of leveraging the Georgia D-Star Network, which links repeaters and hotspots all across the state using REF030B. Georgia AuxComm also uses REF030A as a backup. During the Winter Storm Izzy incident, it became apparent that AuxComm and ARES could work together using the network for statewide coverage.
Want to know more about D-Star? Check out https://dstarinfo.com
We hope you'll join us for the next net, scheduled for Monday, January 16, 2023 at 8:30pm (local) on REF030B. In the event that reflector is not available, please use REF030A as a backup. If you have D-Star picture capability, be ready for a special image transmission at the conclusion of the net!
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REMINDER - Georgia AUXC Monthly 60m Net - February 12th, 2023 (always the second Sunday at 1600 Local)
Did you enjoy the video above? See how easy it is to work 60m, even QRP!
Georgia AUXCOMM has been conducting a monthly net on 60m Channel 5 on the second Sunday of each month at 1600 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.
Our net takes check-ins via 60m Channel 5 Phone (5.403.5 MHz, USB).
Don't forget - you can use Winlink to check-in! Send Winlink check-ins to the tactical address GAAUXC using the standard Winlink check-in form. 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, February 12th, 2023 at 4pm (local) on 5.403.5 MHz, USB (Channel 5).
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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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