Author Archives: Barbara Curtis

May 8th, 2025 ARES Meeting

On the May 8th, 2025 meeting, after roll call and introductions, we discussed Task Books and updates.  We then discussed our next drill which will be a “Round Robin Radiogram”.  Information will be sent out through groups.IO.  It will consist of the EC starting the message per the chart of frequencies/times/dates/operators and progress through the listings.  This drill will confirm the ability to receive and to transmit a radiogram as well as switch to different frequencies to do so.  Integrity in following directions will determine our ARES team’s ability to successfully aid during emergency communications and Health & Welfare Traffic.

We also discussed locating a map with topographical features to locate “high spots” of the Wiregrass area to in enhancing communications via radio operations during distress events.

Discussion and encouragement in participation was provided regarding “calling the ARES net.”  It is important to be a part of the net and especially the Rag Chew at the end of our weekly net.  It builds camaraderie and you just might hear a tidbit of useful information.

Topics for Workshops were presented.  It was agreed that all ARES members should learn how to operate the club radio (Yaesu FT-MP) and some additional antenna demonstrations.  Interest was high on a DIY power booster.

The fundraiser at the Samson Rocket Launch was cancelled due to weather and scheduled for a later date.

June 7th is the Tri-States bike ride.  A great time to check and make sure your portable rig is in operational order.

A separate rag chew on 80 meters was discussed and heartily agreed to for Thursdays at 8:30pm.

A NVIS antenna demonstration with handouts was given by our EC.

A lively discussion on antennas followed with much internet sites and pictures being produced.

Another wonderful ARES meeting came to a close.  Looking forward to the next,…

May 1, 2025 Wiregrass Amateur Radio Club Meeting

Thursday, May 1st, the W4DHN Wiregrass Amateur Radio Club held its monthly meeting in the American Red Cross Building located at 1004 Montezuma Avenue in Dothan, Alabama at 6:30pm.  After the preliminaries of establishing a quorum, acknowledging any first-time visitors, minutes of previous meeting and treasurer’s report, our President, Bruno Trenkler reminded us of upcoming events.  There was a recap of the Tailgate event.  Charles Woodall passed out information regarding the Tri-States Bike Ride coming up on Saturday, June 7th which is:

The Wiregrass Amateur Radio Club is partnering with the Tri-States 100 Bike Ride to provide comms support using the W4DHN repeater. Each WARC operator must have the ability to access the repeater from their location, either via mobile or portable equipment. 

Responsibilities of WARC operators on ride day

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME TO BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH BEFOREHAND! You can go straight to your location.

  • Be at your designated location at least one hour before the first riders begin arriving/passing, and stay there until the last rider has passed and you are released by Net Control. 

  • Report to Net Control when you see the first rider at your location

  • Communicate to Net Control any issues with riders, especially medical, equipment, etc. 

  • Communicate with SAG and rest stop personnel 

  • Report to Net Control when the last rider has passed your location

Information not needed

We are not tasked with counting the number of riders that pass our locations, or reporting individuals or groups that pass. You are welcome to count the number of riders that pass your location if you like, which will help know when the last rider has passed. But, we do not need this information reported to Net Control. 

Since the Tri-States is the first Saturday after our meeting date in June, which would normally be our New and Not-So-New Ham Workshop, the workshop is cancelled for this date.

Greg Lane was supposed to give a demonstration/talk on Fox Hunting but had a conflicting appointment at the last moment.  He will be on the agenda at the June meeting.

There was a question of whether Field Day could be held at the Northside Baptist Church as in the past.  Charles is monitoring the situation because of construction and will let us know if a new location is warranted.  Others made suggestions of locations, just in case.

It was noted that our July meeting date will fall on July 3rd and is a conflict with the 4th of July weekend.  A motion was made that we cancel our July meeting and New and Not-So-New Ham Workshop because of the holiday.  The motion carried.

There were 16 members present.

BLC

April 26, 2025 Wiregrass Amateur Radio Club Tailgate

The W4DHN Wiregrass Spring Tailgate on the Square in Headland, Alabama was a wonderful event.  Quite a nice turnout in vendors and we even had a little Fox and Hound fun.  There were 7 folks that passed in testing today (4 new Techs and 3 new Generals).  Kudos to our phenomenal Volunteer Examiners (VE) Team;-)

Thanks to everyone who came out and especially to Daleville Amateur Radio Club for a large turnout.  Enterprise had a good showing too.  Thanks to the vendors and to ARRL for being onsite today to boost our sport!

Congratulations to the winners of the raffles, especially Mr. Ken for winning the Grand Prize!

Great day all the way around!  Way to go W4DHN Amateur Radio Club!

     

April 3, 2025 Meeting

The W4DHN Club meeting was held April 3, 2025.  All the obligatory reports were given and approved.  There was discussion of the Tailgate being held in Headland or if it should be moved.  For now, it was agreed to keep it in Headland.

Flyers are available on Groups.io for printing and distribution.

The club decided to cancel the New and Not-So-New Ham Workshop this month to support the Daleville Hamfest on the same Saturday, April 5, 2025.  Our club was providing the VEC’s for them to offer testing during the event.

Joe Varner of TriStates 100 Bike Ride came and gave us the particulars of the ride this year.  They have a new beneficiary, Girls, Inc of Dothan.  They will have the 25 mile “Blue”, 43 mile “Yellow”, 62 mile “Red”, and the 104.6 mile “Century White” Rides again this year.  First riders roll out at 6:45am and should finish by 4pm.

We discussed drone operators but lacked any conclusive trackage on it.  As of now, TriStates will look into hiring a professional drone service if they want one.

Charles Woodham is our coordinator for this event.  If you are willing to work a “stop” and monitor riders, please contact him so he can get you on the roster and your shirt size.  Please make sure to test your equipment prior to the date to ensure it can send and receive properly.

After Joe’s presentation, the meeting was adjourned.

BLC

 

April 10, 2025 Meeting

This month’s ARES meeting discussed Task Books and getting tasks signed. 

Remember to date the Communications Drill and add a date if you have called the net and if you have programmed a radio or taken a course. This picture is of the ARES Task Book Intermediate Level Page. Notice under participation the Net Participation, Public Service Event Participation (i.e. Field Day), and Simulated Emergency Test or Exercise (i.e.,Communications Drill). Add the dates and get Alan Curtis to sign them off. Also, if you were at the Antenna Workshop, there is under proficiency/skill the Build a Simple Dipole Antenna…

 

We also talked about what we wanted to see at the next workshop.  Some of the suggestions included:  Building Dummy Loads, a DIY Antenna amplifier, or of course we can follow some of the requirements in the task book like soldering a PL259 connecter to coax, or programming frequencies and off sets into a radio or perhaps we can demonstrate cross band repeat on Mobile Radio (UHF-VHF).    We have also added setting up a go box design class.

Discussion was held about the May 10th Fundraiser at the Rocket Launch in Samson, AL.  The decision was made to just sell chips, candy and water due to initial outlay and the limited intended crowd size.  We would still appreciate help at the event.  AND OF COURSE, please bring a rocket to launch.

During the last storms that rolled across Alabama, there seemed to be very little radio chatter.  We decided to increase our presence on the 2 meter radio during or right after storms.  Also, we will start monitoring the Hurricane Net.

A suggestion was made to add a rag chew to our weekly net to make it a more “friendly” net instead of just “can I make a check in?”  We decided to add the rag chew.

We will also be having a few HF net calls to check the connections and configurations to make it work.  We are working out the kinks in this area.

All in all, we had a great meeting.  Thank you all who attended.

BLC

March 1, 2025 Communications Drill

Saturday, March 1, 2025, the Houston County W4DHN ARES Club conducted our first Communications Drill.  At 0900 hours 11 Ham Operators manned 6 strategic locations around the Dothan area (American Red Cross Building, Dothan EOC, Farm Center, Westgate Rec Center, Southeast Health, and First Baptist Church) to test the efficacy of the 2M FM Repeater in the Houston County Alabama area as well as the Simplex capabilities of these operators spread throughout the Dothan area.

There were a few glitches in getting started but once underway most signals were 5/9 with few exceptions.  Operators followed the Script of the Drill making the connections as prescribed.  Handhelds with rubber ducky antennas could hear others but did not have the transmitting ability to connect to others consistently especially on Simplex.  Of note, the Southeast Hospital operator reported that from his vehicle (the adverse condition location) seemed to have a clearer signal than when in the building on the taller antenna.  There were a few issues with radios jumping stations or squelch issues, but on the whole the drill ran very smoothly. We did have one outside contact from Troy, Alabama during the 2M FM Repeater part of the drill.  We concluded the drill by 0948 hours.

During the Hot Wash session at the Golden Corral in Dothan afterwards, comments and experiences were shared.  It was agreed that the ARES group conduct another Drill within the next 6 months with a few tweaks and possibly some other locations added.

Thank you to all the operators who came out and participated today!  Great Job

A few of the operators took selfies:

January 4, 2025 Antenna Building Workshop

January 4, 2025 ARES had an antenna building workshop.  There were demonstrations  on building a portable 6 meter antenna, a J-pole antenna using Faraday Tape and ribbon and a handheld directional 2 meter/70cm tape measure antenna.

     

It was a fascinating day with great information and great camaraderie.  And,… some of the ladies were on hand to brighten up the event.

                    

February 13, 2025 Meeting

February 13, 2025 Meeting

February 13, 2025, at the W4DHN Wiregrass Amateur Radio ARES Club Meeting:

✅Task Books were updated.

✅The “Net Caller” list was updated.

✅Ideas for our next workshop March 8:
-Portable Radio Antenna
-Anderson Power Pole

✅Start checking in once a week to the
Alabama Traffic Net 80 meters on
3.965 either at 0600 or 1800 CST.

✅We agreed to pass one Radiogram
per month to gain this skill.
Feb. 18th will be next one.

✅March 1st, will be our communications
Drill.  Details discussed.  Forms to be
Provided on Groups.IO for ARES.
After the drill, we will meet for a Hot
Wash at Golden Corral.

✅March 8th, we will have a workshop on
Anderson Power Poles and
Portable Radio/Antenna.

✅Discussed fundraising.
Need volunteers to help with cooking
And selling Hot Dogs/Hamburgers, chips,
And drinks for the May 10th Rocket
Launch Field Operation Day in Samson.

✅Demonstration on an NVIS Antenna 

Thanks to all who participated!  Looking forward to a fantastic year for ARES!

ARES March 8, 2025 Anderson Power Pole Demonstration

On Saturday, March 8th, ARES members meet at the American Red Cross Building at 0900 along with the New and Not So New Hams Workshop crowd to learn about Anderson Power Poles.  They are a great time saver (as well as frustration reliever) in connecting electronic “gadgets” together.  The demonstration was easy to understand and even with all the jibs from the spectators, our presenter performed a flawless connection.  Job well done