K4LKW Repeater in the Hospital

On Nov 7 early afternoon the K4LKW repeater machine suffered a pulmonary embolism on the receiver side and is currently in route to the radio hospital with KJ4INW and professional EMT WB4KZM  keeping it alive.

Both the cavities and radio are being x-rayed swept to be followed buy surgery. We will be back on the air a.s.a.p.. Please thoughtful during this time of crisis.

Some of us over on the Bartow machine during this time - 146.985 - PL 127.3.

***NEW EXTRAS***

***CONGRATS** Are in order for the 2 newest EXTRA CLASS operators to the LWRA.

Dorshaine (WN4USA) and Rich (KJ4INW) both took their EXTRA exams this morning at the Red Cross in Winter Haven, FL and passed with flying colors. Finally, no more tests to take or study for and we have FULL priveledges on the Ham Bands.
Thanks to everyone who encouraged us and stood behind us with confidence and good wishes.

Thanks again, Rich (KJ4INW)

LWRA Traders Net (15) 10-19-2010

OUTSTANDING EFFORTS::: YES, we have done it AGAIN. For 2 consecutive weeks we have had RECORD BREAKING checkins. Tonight's net was our BEST EVER Net to date. We got *32* checkins tonight and that beats last weeks number of *28*!!!!
Everyone keep up the GREAT work and keep checking in on the LWRA's Tuesday night Net.

Thanks again and keep it coming.

Rich (KJ4INW)

Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications Support During Chilean Mine Rescue

As the last of the 33 miners who were trapped 2300 feet deep inside (and 3 miles from the mine entrance) the San José Mine -- located about 27 miles from the Chilean town of Copiapó in the Atacama Desert -- rose to the surface at 0055 UTC on October 14, the world cheered in unison. The miners, who were underground for 69 days -- the longest time ever for miners to be trapped and survive -- all emerged relatively healthy.

According to the Radio Cub de Chile (RCCH) -- that country’s IARU Member-Society -- amateurs with the Radio Club Copiapó, CE1CPI, provided communication support between the authorities and emergency equipment operators inside the San Jose Mine complex, as well as with family of the trapped miners in the complex and authorities in Copiapó. “There are no other means of communication at the scene,” said Radio Club Copiapó President Jose Maldonado Lazo, CE1RXY. “The group is working in the area of the mine with three phones, while amateurs in Copiapó “are covering all the needs of SENCO [a construction company], SAMU [ambulance and EMT], the Interior Administration and the fire and police departments. We do this gladly and hope that this has a happy ending.”

According to Erico José Andrade, CE2EPB, Radio Club Copiapó has a lot of equipment, enabling the club to cover almost all of the Atacama Region: “This helped effectively from the outset after the accident, because the mine complex where the emergency occurred did not have contact with ordinary phones that could coordinate the rescue effort in the shortest time possible.”

Some of the 80 members of Radio Club Copiapó installed amateur equipment in the mine complex, and volunteers from the club have, from the moment the mine collapse first occurred on August 5, have taken shifts to provide communication support. “This, together with additional mobile police stations, hospitals and fire battalions, kept everyone abreast of all the needs and urgent requirements,” Andrade explained.

Original Article From the Arrl Web site: http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-operators-provide-communications-support-during-chilean-mine-rescue 10-14-2010

 

 

Thomas Ryan K4KH

President

 

LWRA Traders Net (14) 10-12-2010

HOLY COW......We did it, We BROKE our old record of 27 checkins last night. We are only 14 weeks into doing the LWRA NET and have set a NEW Record. We had *28* Checkins last night and are still going strong. We are doing an outstanding job at this with lots of Great participation from our members and others checking in too.
Everyone needs to keep up the good work and keep checking in every week and bring some other hams to join us as well.
Thanks to all who take the time to join in with us and keep it going....

Rich (KJ4INW)

Homebrew 2m groundplane

Ok, myself, KJ4IDH and Jax KJ4RMC were a little bored this afternoon. We decided to strip some TV coax and make an antenna. While it is not very pretty and not real sturdy, it was a great was to spend a little while together in the shed. Tried it out at about 10 feet or so and was able to get in our repeater, Bartow and one of the NI4CE 2m repeaters. Jax gets the credit, he did the measurements, cutting, soldering, etc.

The Future of Ham Radio

I just wanted to share this photo of my Grandson, KYLE WATSON and couldn't resist.
Kyle came to stay with me last night and he ALWAYS wants to sit on my lap and listen to the radio. Tonight, he decided that he wanted to talk so he was telling Judson (KJ4IDH) and Fred (KA4TDW) hello. It was totally cool for him to talk to them and he recognizes their voices when they were talking to me. Kyle is only 2 years old, but he loves to listen to the radio and watch the waterfall when I run PSK-31 everytime he comes over to PAPA'S house.

73's
Rich (KJ4INW)

Get Ready for the 2010 Simulated Emergency Test

The 2010 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is just around the corner and ARRL Field Organization leaders are planning an event that will actively involve members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the ARRL National Traffic System (NTS) and many other related groups that prepare for and respond to emergencies. Public service and emergency response agencies and organizations in your community, ARRL Section Leaders and/or local and state officials will also be invited to participate. You, too, are invited to be a part of this annual tune-up for emergency response.

Make the Best of the Opportunity

To help make the best of this training opportunity, contact your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager to find out the details. Although October 2-3 is the focal point weekend, some ARRL Sect ions and ARES® teams and nets may conduct their exercises anytime -- especially during the months of September through December. If you don’t know who to contact, please touch base with your ARRL Section Manager and/or Section Emergency Coordinator or Section Traffic Manager for assistance. See page 16 of QST for contact information for your Section Manager or consult the ARRL Web site for the referrals to your Section Leadership officials. From there, you’ll find links to ARRL section home pages with appropriate contact information. Listen in on nets, too, or attend your local club meeting. The net leaders and club leaders will often have announcements and be able to provide general information on the local plans or arrangements for the SET.

Be Prepared to Respond

The SET is a training opportunity to try out something new under simulated emergency conditions. You can try or practice skills in a variety of areas, such as testing a communication mode that you may have not been too involved with yet and have an interest in. This experience could prove worthy so that you would be ready to operate if a real activation were to take place. You can also spruce up your traffic handling and net operation skills or use this time to help a newcomer in these facets of Amateur Radio.

ARRL Field Organization officials in your area and Section are planning the simulated emergency scenarios that will be used during the SET event. These scenarios are designed to involve public service or public safety agencies and organizations. They, too, will learn firsthand through this SET how Amateur Radio can assist in emergencies.

Of course, some agencies have long-standing working relationships with ARRL, ARES® and other associated Amateur Radio groups. The Simulated Emergency Test is one of the best opportunities to exercise the relationships. Check here for more information about who the ARRL maintains a National Memoranda of Understanding with.

National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is an annual nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. Once again this year, ARRL is a coalition member. National Preparedness Month 2010 is sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security (USDHS). The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action. Throughout September and the months surrounding it, DHS will work together with a wide variety of organizations, including local, state and federal government agencies, as well as the private sector, to highlight the importance of family and business emergency preparedness. They will also be promoting individual involvement through events and activities across the nation. You can find more information here.

You are encouraged to consider this year’s ARRL Simulated Emergency Test and all preparations, as well as post-exercise evaluations, as a demonstration of your readiness -- and Amateur Radio’s readiness. Be an active participant in SET and join others nationwide in National Preparedness Month.

Additional background on the annual SET is presented in the article in the July 2010 issue of QST [“2009 Simulated Emergency Test Results,” pages 69-71]. You can also find guidelines and specific SET reporting forms for the ARRL Section and Field Leaders on the ARRL Web site here.

LWRA MEETING 9-9-10

***WOW*** We had a GREAT turn out for our meeting tonight and had a good meeting. Lots of topics covered and we now have a NEW LOGO for our club. Stay tuned to see it on the web site and lets see what kind of creations will come from this new logo.
Thanks to Lynne Bracewell (KJ4RLG) for her work on this new logo and a nice job on the creation of it.

Thanks again,
Rich (KJ4INW)

LWRA Traders Net (9) 9-7-10

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the Net tonight and it was a GREAT one!!! We had a record setting Net with a total of *27* checkins tonight. We just need to keep it going and only 4 of the 27 checkins were non-members. This is a very good net we have going and we need to keep everyone checking in and participating to keep me busy.
Keep checking the website for those "SWAP" ads and let me know if there is anything you need to add to the page. You do not have to wait until the net to get your stuff put on the "SWAP" page, just shoot me an e-mail to: KJ4INW@YAHOO.COM

73's
Rich (KJ4INW)