By Danny Straessle, KE5WLR
Scott, Ark. -- Taking advantage of a textbook example of what a spring day should be, the Cabot Area Simplex Group hosted its latest Hammin' in the Park event on Sunday, March 29th at Willow Beach State Park.
Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) enthusiasts gathered near the banks of the Arkansas River for an afternoon of socializing, making long distance contacts, and a bit of show-n-tell as some participants displayed new equipment and others rolled out homebrew projects.
Hammin' in the Park is a tailgate exercise that takes place in a public park and offers Ham Radio operators (as well as non-Hams) an opportunity to work several modes of communication, regardless of license class, under the authority of a properly licensed operator.
The four transceivers set up on this day included a Yaesu FT-817 (demonstrating QRP), a Kenwood TS-430S (demonstrating HF), a Kenwood TM-V71A (demonstrating VHF/UHF) and a laptop (demonstrating CQ100).
HF operating conditions were much better than expected with a surprise performance on 10 meters as the band was open internationally, which netted the group some overseas air time.
"We made several contacts across the country and around the world, some of them QRP, with as little as 3.5 watts," says event organizer Steve Tune (KC5FWE). "We did not immediately recognize the origin of some of the international callsigns, which meant a little homework later that night."
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
"Fox hunts" Making a Comeback in Central Arkansas
By Joshua Carroll, N5JLC - Arkansas Section Asst Public Information Coordinator
The Central Arkansas UHF Group (www.cauhf.org) held it's first "fox hunt" on Saturday and everyone had a great time. The event was likely to have been the first of its kind in over a decade in central Arkansas.
A "fox hunt" is a direction finding contest (also known as a "transmitter hunt" or "T-hunt") in which participants use directional antennas to locate a hidden transmitter. The participating Ham radio operators were scattered all over Pulaski County at the beginning of the event (and some were still scattered at the end of the event).
Tem Moore (N5KWL) was the winner, being the first to locate the "foxes" at Mimi's Cafe.
"It was a ton of fun. I still think it was just luck. It made me very aware that my fox-hunting skills need to improve. I learned that a simple tape-measure antenna could out-perform a factory-made fox-hunting antenna. I thought it was just a huge amount of fun," said Moore.
The Central Arkansas UHF Group (www.cauhf.org) held it's first "fox hunt" on Saturday and everyone had a great time. The event was likely to have been the first of its kind in over a decade in central Arkansas.
A "fox hunt" is a direction finding contest (also known as a "transmitter hunt" or "T-hunt") in which participants use directional antennas to locate a hidden transmitter. The participating Ham radio operators were scattered all over Pulaski County at the beginning of the event (and some were still scattered at the end of the event).
Tem Moore (N5KWL) was the winner, being the first to locate the "foxes" at Mimi's Cafe.
"It was a ton of fun. I still think it was just luck. It made me very aware that my fox-hunting skills need to improve. I learned that a simple tape-measure antenna could out-perform a factory-made fox-hunting antenna. I thought it was just a huge amount of fun," said Moore.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
CAREN Supports 7th Little Rock Marathon: Early pedestrian accident underscores need for preparedness
By Danny Straessle, KE5WLR
Little Rock -- Members of the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN) provided communications support for the 7th annual Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 15th. More than 6,000 runners participated in the event, which included a 5K, a half-marathon, a marathon relay and the Little Rock Marathon itself.
Twenty-Eight Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) enthusiasts donated their time, resources and equipment to staff the 26-mile route that began on Clinton Avenue in the Little Rock River Market District, traversed Downtown areas of Little Rock & North Little Rock, Central High School, the historic Hillcrest neighborhood, and Murray Park before concluding at Riverfront Park in Little Rock.
While several CAREN members were stationed at each of the 17 water stops, other members were positioned among aid stations, the race finish line, with the race director, and even behind the very last marathon runner in a position known as "Tailgate Charlie." Net control was rotated among several CAREN members who were located in the City of Little Rock tactical communications vehicle amid other net controls for LRPD special events, MEMS, LRFD and other city services.
In direct support of race officials, CAREN members tracked the three lead marathon runners for both men's and women's categories as they progressed through the course. Additional tracks were requested for leaders of the half-marathon. Of special note were the five wheelchair racers who were each tracked the entire length of the course.
"Tracking the lead runners is not always easy but the CAREN team works very hard in getting me that information," explains Little Rock Marathon Race Director Bill Torrey. "This helps build excitement in the finish area for both race organizers and the spectators waiting on their family members. Keeping pace with the last runner is a practice in patience. These people are working hard to finish and it has been a long day for them and the volunteers. I have been associated with CAREN for well over 10 years and it is my pleasure and good fortune to work with such a dedicated and professional group."
Little Rock -- Members of the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN) provided communications support for the 7th annual Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 15th. More than 6,000 runners participated in the event, which included a 5K, a half-marathon, a marathon relay and the Little Rock Marathon itself.
Twenty-Eight Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) enthusiasts donated their time, resources and equipment to staff the 26-mile route that began on Clinton Avenue in the Little Rock River Market District, traversed Downtown areas of Little Rock & North Little Rock, Central High School, the historic Hillcrest neighborhood, and Murray Park before concluding at Riverfront Park in Little Rock.
While several CAREN members were stationed at each of the 17 water stops, other members were positioned among aid stations, the race finish line, with the race director, and even behind the very last marathon runner in a position known as "Tailgate Charlie." Net control was rotated among several CAREN members who were located in the City of Little Rock tactical communications vehicle amid other net controls for LRPD special events, MEMS, LRFD and other city services.
In direct support of race officials, CAREN members tracked the three lead marathon runners for both men's and women's categories as they progressed through the course. Additional tracks were requested for leaders of the half-marathon. Of special note were the five wheelchair racers who were each tracked the entire length of the course.
"Tracking the lead runners is not always easy but the CAREN team works very hard in getting me that information," explains Little Rock Marathon Race Director Bill Torrey. "This helps build excitement in the finish area for both race organizers and the spectators waiting on their family members. Keeping pace with the last runner is a practice in patience. These people are working hard to finish and it has been a long day for them and the volunteers. I have been associated with CAREN for well over 10 years and it is my pleasure and good fortune to work with such a dedicated and professional group."
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