Business Name WECAgram

Fall 2015 Edition

Ham Volunteer Month

1

Field Day Report 2

Field Day 3

Membership & Dues Buddipole Fun

4

Hudson Valley Bike 5

Toughman Half 6

Director Reports 7

Director Reports Miscellaneous

Future Meetings Public Service VE Sessions

8

WECA.org

WECAgram

Westchester Ham Volunteer Month

WECA is declaring that October 2015 will be the first annual

Westchester Ham volunteer month! That is because we have been

asked to participate in several events in October! We will need as

many of you as possible to participate. The events vary, as will the

timing and duties, but I am asking you to please take the time to show

the community what it is we do!

These events are an opportunity for us to learn new skills and to prac-tice emergency communications. We have really had a good year so far with participation and cross-training. These events will be the per-fect opportunity to give others the chance to learn something new as well. I would love to see some of the long-term members out, showing the new folks the ropes! (or should I say wires!)

Contact Kathleen at KC2VCT@yahoo.com

Sunday, October 4 The Paine-to-Pain Trail Half Marathon http://www.painetopain.com/

Saturday, October 17 The Thunderbird Games (Boy Scouts) at Croton Point Park http://www.wpcbsa.org/Activities/Thunderbird/

Saturday, October 17 The Red Cross Drill-- Info to follow

Sunday, October 18 The Harry Chapin Run against Hunger

http://www.runagainsthunger.com/

Field Day 2015 Submission

articipants:15

100% Emergency power 400

Media Publicity 100

Set-up in Public Place 100

Information Booth 100

W1AW Field Day Message 100

Site Visit by invited served agency official 100

Youth participation 60

GOTA Bonus 40

Submitted via the Web 50

Educational activity 100

Field Day 2015 Submission

Page 2 WECAgram

QSOs Pwr(W) QSOs Pwr(W) QSOs Pwr(W)

160m

80m 230 150 49 150

40m 318 150 173 150

20m 353 150 342 150

15m 47 150

10m 3 150

6m 35 150

2m

1.25

Other

Satellite

GOTA 15 50 58 50

Field Day 2015 Submission (Continued)

You can see by the above pictures that it was one heck of a Saturday evening, rain, wind, and

lighting. Still by the early morning it was clear that all the antennas had survived and even the

quickly deployed tarps managed to be almost completely unharmed.

Al K2DMV

Page 3 WECAgram

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Membership and Dues Peter N2TFC

The membership renewal letters went out in late August and are due back by October first. To those who have renewed - THANK YOU. For those that haven't sent in their dues yet, please send in your renewal and if you need a new letter, send email to Membership@Weca.Org.

We need the dues to keep things going here so please send them in as soon as you can Al K2DMV

BuddiPoles Al K2DMV

On the afternoon of the Hudson Valley Bike Ride, Tom WB2NHC surprised us an broke out some-

thing new to try out, a Buddipole. As it was I decided to break mine out at the Waterstop 4 right near

Ward Pound Ridge Park. I knew it was a bad place for a signal so I setup a J-pole configuration on

an 18 foot tripod and pole to get some elevation. I was hoping a full sized J-pole would give me a

boost in my signal to help get me through, it seemed to help.

So, it was just coincidence that Tom brought his to demonstrate for those that stayed after the race.

We both set them up for the heck of it as mine was in the car post race. I have to ask Tom how he

made out using it on his vacation, the real reason he got his.

Al K2DMV

Page 5 WECAgram

Thank all of you WECA-Heat-Warriors! You were instru-mental in the success of Sunday's Hudson Valley Bike Ride. On what has to be one of, if not THE hottest events we have participated in, you did a great job!Several instances of riders unable to finish were aided by your efforts.

As anticipated, last minute changes were needed and you rose to the occasion. Simon did a good job of getting maps together and correcting my call sign errors, while Victor kept the traffic flowing smoothly. Our newest par-ticipant, Jay from the "Midnight Riders" was a great last minute addition, filling in at the uppermost portion of thetour! I appreciate you coming out and look forward to meeting you in person at another event. Our Bicycle Ham, Bob W has got the stamina to ride. He has APRSand a radio! What a nice way to show why we make a difference! After the TOUGHMAN, I anticipate we should be able to get to train some of our new Hams in the Shadow and Net Control slots.

Since we were able to get through this event so easily, the next event, TOUGHMAN TRI on September 13 will be a cakewalk! It is a longer event, with more positions to fill and more participants. Some posts start as early as 6:30-7:00 am, but those slots will also end earlier! Later positioning will be available as well. The area covered is bigger since there is a Half-Triathelon -13 mile run and I think 26 miles on the bike. The northern most post is near the Ansville Circle and the southern most is Briar-cliff. Start thinking about your availability and let me know if there will be any timing needs I can TRY to ad-dress. This is one of the events where our ability to com-

municate is paramount. It is also where phonesdon't work! I do so appreciate your time, yourefforts and your ability to work under such severe heat conditions.

Thank you so very much, Kathleen KC2VCT

Hudson Valley Bike Ride Kathleen KC2VCT

Page 5 WECAgram

Hudson Valley Bike Ride Kathleen KC2VCT

I hope you were able to enjoy a beautiful sunrise Sunday morning as you were setting up or getting ready for the TOUGHMAN HALF-TRI! Your efforts were not unrecognized and I want to thank you for all those efforts. I really appreciate you taking the time from your busy lives to help out at this event. There was the pre-event preparation, such as meet-ings to attend and the remote antenna "Radio Check" that took even more of your precious time. The practice session paid off, as the remote was set up and operated flawlessly by one of our newmembers, Steve. Thank you Simon, Steve, Bob,and Tom for your efforts.

I think we may benefit by using the remote at our next event, the Fall Equestrian Pace on Sunday October 18. I hope we will see you all out there! It will be a great opportunity to get others trained in how to use it.

It was a long day, and thankfully, your good weath-er practices paid off. Remember those moves be-fore Field Day next year!! Please send a video of those sun dances and we will compile an entry for America's Home Videos!

Thank you again for all you do.

73s Kathleen KC2VCT

Toughman Half Triathlon Kathleen KC2VCT

Page 6 WECA.org

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Director Reports

RACES/ARES Report: Tom WB2NHC repor ted that the remote had been tested on the Eastside

of the Croton Reservoir Dam, but after the tests he and Steve drove around to the Westside access

road and determined that the Remote would serve better if set up there. He will arrange with the

appropriate agencies for Steve and Simon to have access there. Another Issue with the Tough Man

is the role of the bike trail “vehicle” and details will be worked out with Bob N2DVQ.

There will be a joint event at the Westchester Fire Training Center to train the Civilian Emergency

Response Teams (CERT) in 6 vital functions in real life simulated emergency scenarios. RACES

will be the sole means of communication between the CERT group at the various simulation sites

and emergency net control tactical and medical radio stations. The drill is scheduled for September

26.

We have been approached to provide emergency communication coverage for the upcoming Boy

Scout Thunderbird event. There is also a separate Scout group that is interested in us supervising

them as amateur radio operators for that event. The Thunderbird games is scheduled for Saturday,

October 17.

Tom noted that on the same day, October 17, there is a Red Cross Drill. We have to see if the re-

cent “renewed interest” within the Red Cross to cooperate with RACES will require our participa-

tion.

Tom reported that the next day Sunday, October 18, will be the Equestrian event and we will have

to get clarification if the Chapin Hunger Run at Croton high school will require our participation.

On any final note, Tom reported that he had tested the RACES Automated Message System and it

appeared to be successful in sending both voice and text messages to the RACES members.

Repeater Operations: Dwight N2FMC repor ted that we have approximately 2 new D Star regis-

trations per week on our repeater and that all of the receivers and transmitters appeared to be work-

ing and stable.

Bob N2DVQ reported that the PL tone was turned on with our Repeater to reduce intermodulation

with the EOC system. He explained that the EOC has 3 transmitters for their direct hands-on us-

age. One is at the Fire Training Center, one is at Grasslands, and one is at the County office

building. It is obviously critical that the EOC can communicate with their units and with its coun-

terparts in Rockland and Orange counties, as well as North to Putnam County.

Bob also reported that the new RACES Flex 6500 radio for the Westchester Fire Training Center at

4 Dana Rd had arrived. The cabinet should be arriving this week and a determination needed to be

made whether the cabinet will be set up with the appropriate wiring in classroom 2 or classroom 3.

It was noted that wall between the 2 classrooms may be coming down and replaced with a movable

wall. We are still awaiting approval to put up the antenna and to work out the technical issues con-

cerning how the metal girders of the Fire Training Center roof structure will affect propagation.

Westchester Emergency Communications Association

PO Box 831 Sleepy Hollow, NY 10509-0831, 914.741.6606

Upcoming Meetings:

Next Meeting Tuesday October 13th (Not on Monday the 12th which is Columbus Day)If you have an idea for a WECA Meeting or would like to make a presentation to the group, please contact Brian / W2BZT or send email to Meetings@Weca.Org Next meeting on 11/9.

Upcoming Public Service Events: Paine To Pain, New Rochelle Oct 4th Rockwood Estate Equestrian Event Oct 18th

Please contact Kathleen PublicService@weca.org

Upcoming VE Sessions:

Exams are given at the Westchester County Fire Training Center, 4 Dana Road, Valhalla, NY (off route 9A). Contact: Stan Rothman (WA2NRV), 914.949.1463 or send email to wa2nrv@weca.org. Call in 147.060 (PL 114.8)

The session test fee as of Jan 1, 2009 will be $15.00 per test although if you pass a test you may

take the next exam at no additional cost during the same test session. Two forms of ID are required

with copies to send in with the paperwork.

Miscellaneous

Director Reports

Education Committee: Larr ie W2UL expressed his appreciation that his fellow WECA Board

Members thought enough of his efforts to nominate him for the Hudson Valley award.

He reported that the fall Technical License course is being reviewed and revised. The course will

start on September 15 and run consecutive Tuesdays at the Westchester Fire Training Center until

November 10. There will be a licensing VE session on that Thursday, November 12. He not-ed

that the students really responded to hands-on practical training on equipment and he will try to

set up 2 of the course dates with practical training exercises. One will be setting up a VHF net

with an instructor as net control and the students checking into the net with HT radios. The 2nd

practical exercise will hopefully utilize The New Flex Radio, perhaps a portable/mobile rig or a

base station rig to give the students more hands-on experience.