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 07/12/2019
Responding to Tropical Storm Barry, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) and WX4NHC— the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami — have announced plans to activate.
The HWN will activate today (July 12) at 2300 UTC on both 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz.
“We will operate on 14.325 for as long as propagation allows and will suspend operations on 7.268 MHz at 0300 UTC,” HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. “Net operations will resume Saturday morning at 1230 UTC (on both 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz) or as soon as the Waterway Net concludes operation.” Graves said that once the net activates on Saturday, it will remain in operation until further notice.
Continue reading HWN, WX4NHC at National Hurricane Center to Activate for Tropical Storm Barry
 ARRL has produced and is making available the downloadable video, “What is Amateur Radio?” to use at club meetings and at public events, including ARRL Field Day, June 22 – 23. A PowerPoint version is also available for members to download.
Recognizing the tremendous need and desire for such a product among ARRL members, ARRL’s Lifelong Learning Department initiated the project. ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, produced the video, which runs just under 3 minutes long.
The QST Editorial Department, with input from the Lifelong Learning and Communications departments, developed the script, and QST Assistant Editor Jen Glifort, KC1KNL, collected and collated images. QST Managing Editor Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY, narrated the video.
 A New Jersey radio amateur, David S. Larsen Sr., WS2L, of Highland Park, will surrender his Amateur Extra-class license and pay a $7,500 civil penalty as part of a Consent Decree with the FCC to settle an enforcement action. An FCC Enforcement Bureau Order released June 18 said Larsen violated the Communications Act of 1934 and Part 90 rules by operating on frequencies licensed to the Borough of Highland Park for public safety communication.
As part of the settlement, Larsen agrees that he will admit making the unauthorized transmissions, not engage in unauthorized use of a radio station, and surrender radios in his possession capable of transmitting on the town’s public safety frequencies. If the Commission finds that Larsen has made unauthorized radio transmissions or otherwise violates the terms of the Consent Decree, he’ll be subject to an additional $32,500 civil penalty. The agreement stipulates that Larsen may not apply for a new Amateur Radio license for 3 years.
Continue reading Radio Amateur to Lose License as Part of Enforcement Case Settlement
Once again it is time for ARRL Field Day and once again, ARRL Affiliated
Clubs in the West Texas Section will be competing for the coveted West
Texas Section Manager’s Award. This will be the 17th year that
Affiliated Clubs have tested their emergency operating and traffic
handling skills in a friendly competition for the plaque that honors our
first West Texas ARRL Section Manager Gene Smith (SK). Gene (W5GSN/AE5I)
was known as “Mr. Traffic” for West Texas and it is fitting that we
honor those that excel in our annual emergency traffic event in his
name. The award will go to the highest scoring ARRL Affiliated West
Texas Section Club and will be presented at the Midland Hamfest in March
2020.
Continue reading 2019 West Texas Section Managers Award
 In the past few years, social media have become a dominant force in coverage as Hams no longer have to rely on traditional media outlets of newspapers, broadcast radio and television to get out word about Field Day. Across all social media platforms, please use and encourage the use of the hashtag #ARRLFD in all posts. This will have two benefits: first, it will capture all social media posts using this hashtag to form a common thread across North America. If enough PIOs and operators use the #ARRLFD hashtag, traditional media news outlets will follow the trend. Secondly, use of the hashtag will make it easier for Communications Manager David Isgur, N1RSN, and his staff to review metadata generated and analyze the impact of social media coverage from Field Day. Please have your ARRL members join the ARRL Field Day 2019Facebook page. Enrollment information is midway on the Field Day webpage athttp://www.arrl.org/field-day
Traditional media do not have the dominance they once did, however they remain a potent force in their own right, and they complement social media. The #1 traditional media source for Field Day coverage are weekly newspapers. Hundreds of weekly newspapers publish pre-and-post Field Day stories, largely because they will publish copy and pictures submitted from PIOs. ARRL appointed PIOs and informal club PIOs have access to Field Day media packets on ARRL’s Field Day webpage ofhttp://www.arrl.org/field-day athttp://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019%20New%20Field%20Day%20PR%20Kit.pdf
Pictures of youth operating Field Day stations are enormously popular. Legally, however, pictures of minors under age 18 cannot be published without a release signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please let your ARRL members know that a release form is available to download from ARRL at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Model%20Release%20/ModelReleaseForm.pdf A signed release form must accompany each youth whose picture is sent to newspapers and magazines, including ARRL publications.
The new video “What Is Amateur Radio?” is now available at https://www.dropbox.com/s/wftnzhn1klvyk9a/What%20is%20Amateur%20Radio%20Video%20%281%29.mp4?dl=0 Please encourage your clubs to have a copy ready to show to visitors and media at their FD locations.
Special Bulletin 5 ARLX005
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT June 17, 2019
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX005
ARLX005 2019 W1AW Field Day Bulletin Schedule
Continue reading ARLX005 2019 W1AW Field Day Bulletin Schedule
 Dale Durham, W5WI, Re-elected WTX section Manager Time flies! Field Day this year has caught a lot of us by surprise.
This year June has five weekends and since Field Day falls on the fourth
weekend of June, many of us are not ready.
In checking the Field Day locator on the ARRL webpage I don’t see many
West Texas Section clubs listed as having Field Day activities. If your
club is planning on participating in Field Day and they are not already
listed on the Locator, please do so.
Continue reading Field Day June 22-23, 2019
 Over this past weekend I had the pleasure of attending Ham-Com at Plano. This Hamfest has really matured since its move back to Plano from Irving. Parking is much better, the outdoor flea market is filled with opportunities to add to your collection of stuff. Our major radio vendors were in attendance and we visited Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood and Elecraft. Elecraft had their new E4 radio there for all to see and droll over. Also present were our popular equipment suppliers MFJ, MTC, HRO, West Radio, Radiowavz and many others. Booths were maintained by several Radio Clubs, the Radio Club of America, 10-10 International, MARS and others. The Lone Star DX Association has DXCC Card Checkers available.
Continue reading Ham Com 2019! Hello fellow West Texas Hams!
A reminder to all that Texas’ largest hamfest — Ham-Com — starts Friday, June 7, 2019 at High Noon at the Plano Event Center. The Outdoor Flea Market opens on both Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 a.m. Ham-Com’s excellent seminars start Friday, June 7 at Noon.
The annual ARRL West Gulf Convention is also being held at Ham-Com.
The ARRL Forum will start on Saturday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m. and will be
held in the Northbrook 1 and 2 rooms.
Continue reading Ham-Com and The ARRL West Gulf Convention
 Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) has announced the impending launch of the CAS-7B satellite, also designated as BP-1B, a short-lived spacecraft that will carry an Amateur Radio payload. An unusual feature of the spacecraft is its “sail ball” passive stabilization system. The 1.5-U CubeSat is attached to a 500-millimeter flexible film ball — or sail — that will offer passive “pneumatic resistance” stabilization. CAS-7B is expected to remain in orbit for up to 1 month.
Continue reading China Set to Launch New Amateur Satellite with “Sail Ball” Stabilization
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