ARES Texas HF Net Report 1-18-2021

STXARES
1

ARES TEXAS HF NET

NCS: WP2AHG Russ

Conditions: Fair degrading to poor

Duration: 32 minutes

Check-ins: 70 HF + 3 VHF via Relay

2

The whole issue is propagation. It was pretty good for the Texas Traffic Net, and I was able to check in via relay, but by the time D1 was called, I couldn’t hear you or anyone else. I was able to hear the Gulf Coast Hurricane Net on 3935. What I am going to try for the next time as NCS is to take checkins from all of STX and instruct all operators to use their district when checking in. I figure it’s a race against the band going completely long.

73

3

David,
You could try to ask the loudest station you hear from each district to make a net call for you. Jut a suggestion.

Ron
KE4DRF

4

Thanks, David.

I also played with the idea of calling nearby districts first and working my way out. The district numbers would not be in numerical order, but I might get a better chance of getting all the check-ins as the band starts to go longer.

Best Regards,
Russell G. Richter
russellrichter@yahoo.com

Emoji832-498-3864

WP2AHG

ARES STX Dist 14 SW Unit EC / PIO
RACES Harris Co CLO ALT 16-201-CC
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Houston Citizen’s Police Academy (HCPA) Class #64
HCPA Alumni Association Member

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Amateur - L. amator “lover”; we do it because we love it, not because we get paid.

The whole issue is propagation. It was pretty good for the Texas Traffic Net, and I was able to check in via relay, but by the time D1 was called, I couldn’t hear you or anyone else. I was able to hear the Gulf Coast Hurricane Net on 3935. What I am going to try for the next time as NCS is to take checkins from all of STX and instruct all operators to use their district when checking in. I figure it’s a race against the band going completely long.

73

ARES TEXAS HF NET

NCS: WP2AHG Russ

Conditions: Fair degrading to poor

Duration: 32 minutes

Check-ins: 70 HF + 3 VHF via Relay

5

Great suggestion. I tried that my last time as NCS, so I’ll try that again this time.

6

There really isn’t an optimal solution given the ionosphere right now. Hopefully, it gets better when we get more daylight.

73

7

Ron, that’s a great strategy.

Gus K5GMB

8

Good job Russell!

I have performed Net Control duty the Texas ARES net with the following approaches:

  • Good success using relay station in an area that has propagation to all of Texas (have used stations (prearranged) in Tenn and Alabama; this represents a real possibility during an EMCOMM event)

  • Less success trying to have a relay station in each district (you generally do not have propagation to every district called in the net during times of poor propagation)

  • Fair to good success with using the farthest relay station that I can hear at my Spring, Texas location. (usually somewhere out in West Texas)

  • Good success using an Internet based SDR for receive (usually one in N. Utah) and running full legal limit on transmit but this defeats the purpose of the net in my opinion.
    Thoughts:

  • Ask the net manager (what say Mark) if we can try a start at 1800 local (before the TTN) during winter months to test propagation to the districts at that time.

  • Try using 160 meters (I know this is a popular idea - not ) where propagation is still possible.

  • Take CW check-ins.

  • Take Winlink HF P2P check ins.

  • (I do like the reverse district / any district call out approach)

All in my humble opinion.. And to illustrate how long the band gets during the net I worked Bulgaria with good signals on 80 meters during the half hour net timeframe last night.
(using my loop and 100 W)

Great thought provoking thread!

73,

9

Dave, your suggestion to take Winlink HF P2P checkins gave me an idea - keyboard to keyboard checkins with FLDIGI using MT63.

This would have a slightly steeper learning curve for new users than Winlink HF P2P, but would be less disruptive to the (hybrid) net. Also, many of our operators already have FLDIGI and know how to use it for other digital modes like RTTY, PSK31, etc. (that’s how I first learned it).

FLDIGI with MT63 is standard EMCOM stuff, is fun, is cheap, and is a capability much appreciated by local EOCs, and by state and federal agencies. Such FLDIGI operation could be simplified with the use of 2 simple MACROS, which we can easily provide and are easily installed. If allowed, it could be a nice training opportunity for those that want to try it.

Just a thought.

73,
Gus K5GMB

10

I think digital check-ins will be difficult too with the long band unless you can do a connection to someone further away… One of the beauties of a regular Winlink check-in to an RMS station is that the individual users can find a connection that works for them plus everyone won’t be bunched up trying to do a digital connection to some P2P station.

Tom N5TW

11

I think digital check-ins will be difficult too with the long band unless you can do a connection to someone further away… One of the beauties of a regular Winlink check-in to an RMS station is that the individual users can find a connection that works for them plus everyone won’t be bunched up trying to do a digital connection to some P2P station.

Tom N5TW

12

Tom,

I like your idea. We have a Winlink checkin weekly for the Highland Lakes Amateur Radio Club. I routinely can find multiple gateways on 40 and 80 meters to pass messages through and do so at different times of the day to check actual propagation. Right now I am using a dipole just two feet off the ground (wanted it to be NVIS but it isn’t!!). KB5LZK in AR and WA5TED (Lubbock) as well as your gateway on 80 meters (can’t connect to you on 40!) are reliable Gateways from here but there are many others! I have used statons in Mexico and all around the US as conditions vary.

P2P is going to have the same challenges the Voice Net is having right now, just not going to work well.