New Mexico Section News for May 2011
HR607 is not dead yet!
As of this writing, H.R. 607 resides in the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and has 28 co-sponsors in the US House of Representatives (an increase of seven co-sponsors since last month, signaling this bill is not dormant).
A sample letter opposing this legislation in its present form (specifically because it requires a significant amount of our 70-centimeter band to be auctioned) is available for all ARRL members and general hams to use in making their voices heard. Please visit
http://www.arrl.org/sample-letters where you will find background information on H.R. 607, the sample letter ready for you to use, and instructions on how to submit your letter.
And here is an even easier approach: An ARRL member graciously volunteered his time to develop an online letter generator. Simply visit http://www.kd4pyr.net/hamletter.htm and enter your callsign in the text box. A letter, in PDF format, already addressed to your US Representative will be generated. Simply print it and mail/email/fax it (make sure it contains your signature first!).
Hero’s Club
Robert Fox, KA5VRV
Christopher Aas, NB5T
William L Nohrn, N5UNB
Raymond J Caraveo, N5IZV
Evan R. Newlon, WB5HAM
Stuart Simon (Stu) K2QBU
Jess Wright, W5QDW – SK
The “Hero’s club” is a listing of those generous hams who have contributed equipment for our efforts to get radio clubs into the schools and encourage the students to become active hams. The donated equipment will be available to any school Amateur Radio club in the state. A licensed Amateur will be needed as the custodian of the equipment. There are only three requirements to obtain this equipment. 1) The custodian of the equipment must be 18 years of age or older and a General Class licensee or better, 2) The club must be sanctioned by the school, 3) A member of the school staff must be the sponsor of the club. The school sponsor does not have to be a ham. Contact Don Wood, W5FHA (w5fha@arrl.org) for a listing of the available equipment
NOTE: On May 15, 2011 Dave Jorgensen (WD5LOV) and Paul Gromatzky (KW7D) from Deming came to Albuquerque and picked up an HF Transceiver, power supply, low pass filter and a speaker for the radio club they have started and teach at a Deming school. GREAT JOB GUYS! The equipment is part of the Hero’s club equipment available at no cost to any school radio club that meets the above requirements.
***I would like to remind everyone to check out the New Mexico Section web page www.arrl-nm.org. Thanks to Mike Pendley, K5ATM for the design and implementation of the site. . If you are not set up on the site contact Mike Pendley, K5ATM at k5atm@arrl.net.
***CHRIS DRUMMOND, KC5IZR has a new repeater up and running in Rio Rancho. The frequency is 443.700 + offset with a PL of 100 Hz. Chris would like to know what his coverage is in the Albuquerque area.
***Greyhound Radio Club – Has a new repeater up. 444.925 +(5 MHz) pl 131.8 Hz
Great going!
***May 1, 2011 – Run for the Zoo. This large (thousands of participants – serious runners, families, and kids) run/walk event has been supported by Albuquerque area radio amateurs for many years. There was competitive (timed) 10K and 5K races, a 5K fun run/walk, and a one-mile fun run/walk, all occurred around the zoo, Tingley Beach, and the old Albuquerque Country Club area New this year – was a half marathon. Thanks to Fred Ream, N5CJC for coordinating this event. Thanks to Ed Ricco, N5LI, n5li@arrl.net, who organizes the volunteer activities in our area.
***May 1 – Mesilla Valley ARC Bean Feed – The beans were great, the people were great and Pat and I really did enjoy our short trip to Las Cruces. The tailgate was well attended and I think everyone went away happy. A VE session was held and 2 Techs and 2 Generals passed. Thanks for another annual Bean Feed. See you next year. Vern Vonheeder WV5N, and Cash Olsen KD5SSJ, 382-1917 did a great job.
*** May 13th through 24th 2011 -8R1A Guyana – Alex Kasevich, W1CDC was active as 8R1A from Guyana, S.A. It was a Holiday style operation, CW and SSB, on 80 thru 10 meters. QSL Via W1CDC w/sase or via the bureau. In a recent e-mail from Alex he wrote “I had a lot fun working mostly CW only operating 2-3 hours a day, managed to fill a log book and half. I was on 80 through 10 Meters, but had the best results on 17M and 12M. Worked 72 countries including several rare ones. I have not checked out my logs but do know I worked at least one ABQ station, Doug K5CR on 29.9 mhz, there may be others.”
***May 14 – Socorro Amateur Radio Association and The National Weather Service presented a Skywarn Class at the Zimmerly Elementary School Cafeteria in Socorro. Thanks to James Boswell, KA5SIW, at JBoswell@aoc.nrao.edu for this information.
***May 15, 2011 – Santa Fe Century. This was a 100-mile bike ride that began in Santa Fe, headed south through Madrid, Golden, and Cedar Grove, then went east to Stanley, north through Galisteo, and back to the starting point. There were shorter rides included in the route. See www.santafecentury.com. Hams have assisted with this event for a number of years. It is a large-scale event that puts thousands of riders on the road. There were portable and mobile stations positioned at the start/finish area and at rest stops with mobile stations cruising the course and keeping an eye on the riders. Thanks to Richard St. John, K5RSJ, for coordinating this event.
***May 21, 2011 –High Desert Radio Club – VE Session – Testing was held at The Community Room of the West Albuquerque Police Station on Ellison across from Cibola High School. Element 2 – 7 people passed (includeing a young man from China whose father is on teaching sebatical in New Mexico.
Element 3 – 2 people passed (they also had passed El 2 at the same session) Thanks to Marty Soffran, NM5MS for the information.
***May 29 — NM SAR held a Technician License class for 9 local search and rescue members. A VE testing session followed the class and all 9 people passed El 2. Thanks to Marty Soffran, NM5MS for the information.
Coming Attractions
*** June 4, 2011 – Albuquerque Century/Tour de Cure. A 100-mile bicycle ride incorporating several shorter-distance rides covering part of the course, combined with a fund-raising ride for the American Diabetes Association. The course is being redesigned this year and (tentatively) will run from the Embassy Suites hotel near downtown Albuquerque through Bernalillo to Jemez Dam and back, with spurs from the main route up and down Tramway hill and out to Placitas and return. We will need stations positioned at rest stops and patrolling road segments as the riders traverse them. Please contact Ed Ricco, N5LI, n5li@arrl.net. 247-4866(h); 768-7314(w).
***June 8 – ARRL D-STAR presentation. The second D-STAR webinar will take place on Wednesday, June 8 at 9 PM (EDT), also lasting 90 minutes, and will provide a discussion on how D-STAR technology can benefit Amateur Radio EmComm scenarios. Examples of D-STAR applications to EMCOMM will also be presented, as well as future growth ideas. To sign up for this second (free) webinar, please visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/746329904. Thanks to Cash Olsen, KD5SSJ, for this reminder.
***June 11 – Saturday, Marathon at Valles Caldera. Don’t miss out on this event in the beautiful Valles Caldera. Contact, Ron Reder, KA1KCU, at: ron.reder@comcast.net to be added to the list. The web page is found at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/run/
***June 11 to 19 – General Level Class – 2 weekends Saturday June 11th 8a-5p, Sunday June 12th 8a-5p, Saturday June 18th 8a-5p, and Sunday June 19th 8a-5p Bernalillo County Atrium Building, 6840 Second Street NW Albuquerque, NM 87107 – Contact Mike Rose, KE5MJM, 505-610-9563, ms_rose28@msn.com
***June 13 to 17 – The ARRL Wireless Teachers Institute will be held at Desert Ridge Middle School, 8400 Barstow NE, Albuquerque. Miguel Enriquez will be the instructor. Contact Diane Nihart, KE5UHB, at nihart@aps.edu for further information. Thanks to ARRL and Miguel Enriquez for all their hard work. Last chance to get in on this outstanding opportunity. All information about the Teachers Institutes — including the application and a downloadable brochure — is available online. There you can also find links to read more about what other ETP schools are doing with Amateur Radio and wireless technology topics.
***June 25/26 – Field Day – Kits are available at the ARRL web site. The time to plan is NOW!
***June 29 – A basic/intermediate weather spotter Class will be given by the National Weather Service in the Dona Ana County EOC located on the corner of Spruce and Solano from 6:00 PM till 9:00 PM. The class is open to the public. You are not required to become a weather spotter to take this class, but there is a great deal of good information discussed during the class that can be of benefit to all. To become a weather spotter this class is required. No pre-registration is required. Thanks to Henry G. Schotzko – AD5FE – Dona Ana County DEC.
***July 16 – High Plains Drifters – W5YI/VEC testing. Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, 501 Elizabeth St. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123. Contact Darryl, NX5W at 505-286-1672 – nx5w@arrl.net
***July 26 to August 1 – Technician Class – Class is 79 dollars and includes the manual ($25.00 and exam fee $14.00). Class is dependent on student sign ups. They require at least 5 students minimum. They will be held at the CNM Workforce Training Center, located just west of I-25, and north of Alameda. Class is listed under Public Safety on the catalog and descriptions and registrations may be found at www.cnm.edu.wtc. Frank Warren, Sr., AB5WJ will be the instructor for this class.
***August 5 to 7 – The Rock Mountain Division annual convention will be held at the Sagebrush Inn and Convention Center in Taos, New Mexico. Confirmed vendors include Yaesu, Southwest Antennas and Accessories, DZ Kit, HRO and Icom, plus many more. Guest speakers will be Chip Margelli, K7JA, Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, and Rick Roderick, K5UR. For more information go to www.2011convention.org for more details
***August 7 – – La Luz Trail Race. This event will be coordinated by Rees Bevan, WB5DEJ, and/or Jay Miller, W5WHN. Amateurs provide communications support for this annual race up La Luz Trail from positions in the starting area, at the finish, and from trailside points along the course. Information/volunteers: please contact Ed Ricco, N5LI, n5li@arrl.net, 247-4866(h); 768-7314(w).
***August 23 to 29 – General Class License – Class is 79 dollars and includes the manual ($25.00 and exam fee $14.00). Class is dependent on student sign ups. They require at least 5 students minimum. They will be held at the CNM Workforce Training Center, located just west of I-25, and north of Alameda. Class is listed under Public Safety on the catalog and descriptions and registrations may be found at www.cnm.edu.wtc. Frank Warren, Sr., AB5WJ will be the instructor for this class.
*** August 27-28, 2011 – MS 150. This is a two-day, 150-mile bicycle ride to raise funds to fight multiple sclerosis. The event organizers count on radio amateurs for essential communications support year after year. Tentative plan: There will be two rides starting and ending in Pojoaque. The first day route will be a circuit running through San Juan Pueblo, Ojo Caliente, El Rito, and Abiquiu. The second day route will be a circuit through San Ildefonso Pueblo, Espanola, and Chimayo with an out-and-back spur going to the Puye Cliffs. We will need volunteers for one or both days to operate mobile along course segments with the riders, to accompany tour officials and supply trucks or medical personnel, and to operate from rest stops. Please contact Ed Ricco, N5LI, n5li@arrl.net, 247-4866(h); 768-7314(w).
***September 3, 2011 – Alamogordo Hamfest – 27th Annual Hamfest in Alamogordo will be held at the Otero County Fairgrounds starting at 7 AM till everyone is tired. Contact Dave Pote, AE5OV (ae5ov@arrl.net) or Jim O’Leary, N7DRB (n7drb@arrl.net)
***September 18, 2011 – Tour of the Rio Grande Valley. This popular bicycle tour ran for more than 20 years during the 1970s-1990s. Long-time public service hams may remember it. It is being revived this year by a new sponsor. It encompasses rides of 25, 50, 65, and 100 miles originating in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. The longer rides go through Isleta and Los Lunas and south of Belen. Communications support for the event is expected to involve amateurs positioned at rest stops, with event officials, mobile along segments of the course, and possibly in support vehicles. A coordinator is needed for this event. Please contact Ed Ricco, N5LI, n5li@arrl.net, 247-4866(h); 768-7314(w).
***September 16-18 – Sixth IARU Region II ARDF Championships – the Albuquerque Amateur Radio Club, the Albuquerque Transmitter Hunters, New Mexico Orienteers and the Amateur Radio community is hosting the Sixth IARU Region II ARDF Championships. Central headquarters will be at the Marriott Albuquerque Pyramid North and participants will be bussed to the competition sites. For full details go to http://www.wb8wfk.com/2011_ARDF_WEB/main.html Thanks to Jerry Boyd, WB8WFK. Co-Chairman.
***October 15 – High Plains Drifters – W5YI/VEC testing. Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, 501 Elizabeth St. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123. Contact Darryl, NX5W at 505-286-1672 – nx5w@arrl.net]
***October 23, 2011 – Duke City Marathon. Albuquerque area amateurs have supported this event for more than 20 years. Tentative plan: The marathon will follow an out-and-back course from downtown Albuquerque north along the Bosque bike path to Paseo del Norte and east to a
turnaround point near Edith Blvd. A half marathon and 5K race is included in the event. We will need a substantial number of volunteers to cover rest stops along the course or to shadow race
officials, as well as a few bicycle mobile stations. Information/volunteers: please contact Ed Ricco, N5LI, n5li@arrl.net, 247-4866(h); 768-7314(w).
***November 19 – High Plains Drifters – W5YI/VEC testing. Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, 501 Elizabeth St. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123. Contact Darryl, NX5W at 505-286-1672 – nx5w@arrl.net
The Net Counts for May are:
NET NAME CONTACTS QSTs
NM Roadrunner Traffic. Net: 1264 77
NM Breakfast Club: 1183 86
Caravan Club Net: 87 8
Yucca Net: 788 37
Four Corners Net: 431 30
Valencia County. ARA Net: 54 13
Rusty’s Raiders Net: 466 123
High Desert ARC Net: Not Reported as of 6/8
SCAT Net: 724 160
220 Ragchewers Net: Not Reported as of 6/8
40-Meter Anchor Net: Not Reported as of 6/8
It is our objective to be able to publish this news letter on or before the 6 of each month. It is important that all nets report their numbers before that date to Don Grab, K5BIS.
(Many thanks to Don Grab, K5BIS, for keeping track of all the nets and reporting each month.)
If you do not see your net here send your end of month numbers to Don Grab, K5BIS! I would like to see the ARES nets represented as well.
For a listing of all nets in New Mexico, please go to www.arrl-nm.org
ARRL Silent Key Report, May 2011
Name, Call, and Address of Silent Key:
Denton E Sprague – K4AK
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Reported by: Don Grab, K5BIS & Art Priebe, N5ART
Obituary : http://www.remembertheirstory.com/obituaries.htm
Several club newsletters are sent to me and I greatly appreciate receiving them. I have also received information from people for inclusion in the newsletter. Be sure to give me all the information. Don’t assume I know names, calls, dates and locations. They are all important. This is your Section and what you do is important. If your club does not have a PIO please get one and let me know the important things your club is doing. Have a great month.
Don – W5FHA
Thought For The Day: Heal the past, live the present, dream the future.
