Do you use Ten Meters? #ARRL #hamradio #RSGB

Where is 10 meters open now?

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Even when it's not "open", it's frequently open. With the sunspots on the rise, so should the activity on the band increase.

Have you found http://ten-ten.org/daily_nets.html yet? Nets listed there will help determine if the band is open. If you look at http://www.qsl.net/steelcity/nets/whichnet.html, one will see a search box that lets you know which nets are in operation.

http://www.dxwatch.com/dxsd1.php?f=92 or http://hamspots.net/10/ will also give you DX Cluster spots, just for 10 meters.

At http://www.vhfdx.info/spots/warnings.php, one can get email alerts when six meters is open. If SIX is open, it's almost a given that TEN is open.

http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=28&ML=M&Map=W2L&DXC=N&HF=N&GL=N also offers a map of openings AND the ability to post spots all in one place.

http://propnet.org/catch3.php?band=HY&last=24&call=&center=NAgives a map and paths band openings over a 24-hour time period. The site lists the stations and who heard who over PSK.

Another propagation tool is http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.htmlwhere one will find forecast for six- and ten-meters.

There's a number of 10 meter software defined radios that one can use to see where's the band is open. Two are dedicated to the "Beacon Band".

http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/bcn.htm is a list of beacons on Ten. Tune here to see where the band is open, even when it's not.

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Thankfully, there's plenty of tools to take some of the Magic out of the Band.

Who is on FM Simplex? #ARRL #hamradio

Are you using FM Simplex?  What frequency or frequencies do you monitor and your location?

Locally, I use 147.51, 146.52, and 446.000 in the scanner.  Traveling, I use 146.52 mostly but occasionally monitor the APRS alert (144.39 with 100 PL tone).


73

Lloyd, KC5FM

Where is 10 meters open now? #ARRL #hamradio @tentennet

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Even when it's not "open", it's frequently open. With the sunspots on the rise, so should the activity on the band increase.

Have you found the Daily Nets yet? Nets listed there will help determine if the band is open. There's  a search box that lets you know which nets are in operation at a particular time.

DX Cluster spots, just for 10 meters, are available to use as a guide for band conditions.

DXMaps offers a map of openings AND the ability to post spots all in one place.

Also, there's a map and paths band openings over a 24-hour time period. The site lists the stations and who heard who over PSK.

Another propagation tool gives up a forecast for six- and ten-meter openings.

There's a number of 10 meter software defined radios that one can use to see where's the band is open. Two are dedicated to the "Beacon Band".

Also, a list of beacons on Ten is available. Tune here to see where the band is open, even when "it's not".

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Thankfully, there's plenty of tools to take some of the Magic out of the Band.

#RedCross Ready in #Hurricane Season @RedCrossOK

Did you miss preparing for the first of Hurricane Season in Oklahoma?

1.  "We are too far inland to deal with hurricanes."  In other words, it won't happen here.

2.  "We will never be in a hurricane."  In other words, it won't happen to me.

Both are common reasons for "Okies" to pass over Hurricane Season.

However, can we remember some facts?

1.   Hurricane Katrina hammered the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts.  Both left damages that, even today, are not repaired.

The outcome of Katrina was a flood of evacuees into Oklahoma and every other State.  The American Red Cross operated a shelter at Camp Gruber for days following that fateful event. 

Please don't say tropical weather does not happen here.  Five tornadoes resulted when the storm came ashore south of Altus along the Red River.

2.  Never is a long time and folks have a way of going on vacation.  The only way you can assure yourself that a Hurricane won't harm you is to stay home.

Even then, as one can see, you can't get too far away from the Gulf to be impacted.

Please become #RedCrossReady during Hurricane season.  Those preparations will help during Winter Storm Season, Football Season, Tornado Season, and the other months of the year.

Please consider being a  volunteer with the American Red Cross .

Skywarn folks know the answer

The Storm Prediction Center has a tornado watch in your area.  Your local weather service office has broadcast a tornado warning.

The radar went down 15 minutes ago.

What does one do?

With only a very few exceptions, the radar on your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone is provided by your tax dollars.

Skywarn folks know the answer

In Oklahoma, Skywarn offers training to everyone so everyone know what's fake and what's not as well as how to report to whom the observation.

There are tools like MPING to  help.see who is reporting what.

In Oklahoma, the Mesonet has a network of Stations giving wind speed and direction.  For the public safety folks, there's a plugin that displays lightning using the Nationwide Lightning Network. 

Skywarn folks know the answer.

So, the storm has passed.  Your weather radio went off while it was in the area.  The radar will come back in six hours.  In the mean time, what did you do?  What were you supposed to do?

Skywarn folks know the answer.  Find your local emergency manager and ask him or her how to be involved in Skywarn.  Your life may depend on your being aware, especially when technology fails.

Tour that Lugert Dam August 8 #AltusOK

“The Dam Tour!” Who: Southwest Young Professionals (SYP) – all welcome, ages 21-45, residing in southwest Oklahoma, (civilians and military alike), with an interest to learn and network with like-minded young professionals! What: Lugert-Altus Irrigation District Tour – Enjoy a unique, behind the scenes, all access tour provided by Tom Buchanan, Lugert-Altus Irrigation District General Manager. Where: Meet at 6:00 pm Quartz Mountain Lodge Entrance – turning at the big sign off Hwy 44, and park just across the railroad tracks off the side of the road. Carpooling encouraged from Altus Chamber of Commerce, leaving at 5:30 pm. 7:30 pm – Dinner buffet, $14.95 including non-alcoholic beverage(s), cocktails, and socializing at Quartz Mountain Lodge. When: Tuesday, August 8th  Share This Invitation With  A Young Professional Southwest Young Professionals (SYP) offer networking, professional development, and volunteer opportunities to ambitious young adults from 21-45 years of age.  The group gathers for scheduled events that showcase local businesses and inspires these professionals to share their talents and engage with the community.   Constructed in the early 1940’s, Lugert-Altus Irrigation District irrigates about 46,000 acres in Jackson Co., with a smaller percentage of acres in Greer County. These acres are owned by 330 different land owners and 99% of the water is devoted to cotton, which waters enough plants to produce 160,000-200,000 bales of cotton annually. On average, each acre of irrigated land produces 3-4 bales, and each bale is valued at $375-$400/bale. Additional dividends are gained from seed and ginning, including Cotton Growers Gin – which was the Nov. 15, 2016, SYP tour. Gross value is $450/bale and therefore an approximate $60 million economic impact to southwest OK! Lugert Dam consists of over 30 miles of main canal and 300 miles of smaller ditches. A Bureau of Reclamation project, the Altus Irrigation District is the farthest east in the U.S. with an irrigation component. The Irrigation District has the oldest and largest water right in Oklahoma, with 85,000 acre feet of water being pulled from the dam. Lugert-Altus Irrigation District, the 330 land owners, are responsible for maintenance of canals and dikes, an embankment to prevent flooding. Lugert was constructed for the following purposes, 1) municipal supply for city of Altus, 2) flood control, and 3) irrigation supplies. Therefore, there are no benefits naming wildlife and tourism, which is unique compared to other Oklahoma lakes/dams. Because there is no dedication to this usage, the district doesn’t receive any state or federal money in storage and maintenance, and hence, there aren’t any recreational fees for boaters and/or swimmers. There are a host of ongoing maintenance costs associated with the dam to aid with flooding and further irrigation, to the tune of millions of dollars! Interested to learn more about how this single body of water continues to economically impact southwest Oklahoma in a big way? Yes! Join us for firsthand look that is sure to not disappoint! RSVP/questions to Jennifer Howard at JenLHoward1@gmail.com, or 605-210-0191. Please note dinner and/or tour for an accurate count. Bring a friend, and we hope to see you there!