[CALV-AUXCOMM] Calvert AUXCOMM Meeting - Jan 16 at 7PM

[Shawn Donley]

Hello Calvert AUXCOMM members and happy new year.
 
Our first meeting for 2025 will be Thursday, Jan 16, 7PM at the usual spot, the EOC in the Public Safety Building. 
 
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5NtRQjw8yCHWb8uSA
 
Bring your digital gear (laptop/transceiver/interface) and a dummy load or mag mount antenna on a cookie pan.   We will work though any issues getting you up and running on Packet Winlink and MT63.
 
MT63 is part of the fldigi software available at http://www.w1hkj.com/
 
The Winlink client software, Winlink Express, is available at https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpress
 
Based on the experience during our November net, it's clear that skills with digital modes is very perishable.  It's not only operator skills but the infernal settings on Windows sound ports and linkage between client software and external sound cards. Maintaining a stable software/hardware environment is difficult.  To overcome these challenges, I'd like to establish a more routine use of digital modes within Calvert, perhaps once a week net or other practice sessions invloving sending messages via Winlink Gateways.
 
As a reminder, one of our nearest Packet Winlink gateways is KB2SKP-12 in Hollywood, MD on 145.070 MHz.  Our packet digipeater, K3CAL-1 is purposely on that same frequency.  Another option is WG3K-10, again on the same frequency.   If you remember the days of plain old AX25 packet, connecting to WG3K on 145.070 will take you to Eric's Bulletin Board (BBS).   I believe it's still up and running.
 
There's already an established Winlink practice session the second Tuesday of the month sponsored by the MDC section of ARRL.  It involves sending in a very short and simple message via any Winlink means, VHF packet, HF packet, VHF or HF VARA and even Telnet (although that's cheating as no RF is involved).  I try to check in every month.  Further details at https://qsl.net/mdcasec/MDCSectionWideWinlinkTestInstructions02122020.pdf
 
There's also "Winlink Thursday" sponsored by EmComm-Training.org.  Those exercises tend to be a bit more challenging, sometimes involving peer-to-peer communications with designated stations.  Further details at https://emcomm-training.org/Winlink_Thursdays.html
 
One only has to pay attention to the disaster occurring in Los Angeles to realize how quickly things can change for the worse.
 
73
N3AE
Calvert EC