[HCARC] Hello from Harper

Sat Jun 1 11:36:06 EDT 2013

Welcome John,

My name is Gary Johnson and I am the Secretary of the HCARC.  A year and a 
half ago (in Feb 2012), I was in almost exacly the same position you find 
yourself in - ready to jump into Ham Radio without a clue as to how to do 
it.  I had fortunately signed up for Dale Gaudier's Technician Class and by 
April had completed the class and in early May passed my Technicians 
license.  I then kept studying and passed my General Class exam in early 
June 2012.  June is a great month for a new Ham Operator as Field Day occurs 
in late June (this year 22/23 June with antennas being put up on the 
afternoon of the 21st).  Field Day is the opportunity for non and newly 
licensed Hams to get on the air in a controlled setting on HF using the 
priviledges of Amatuer Extra Licenses.  Field Day begins in early on 
Saturday morning the 22nd of June and continues straight through the night 
until sometime Sunday morning.  I urge you to come out to Field Day and stay 
for as much as you can.  I found out that one of the best times to be at 
Field Day was after dark when the crowds had gone home and I had the chance 
to get on one of the radios for an extended period.  Field Day this year is 
being held at Our Lady of The Hills Catholic School which is just off of Hwy 
27 before you get to the airport.  You turn left at the first blinking light 
you come to BEFORE you get to the airport.

As said by one of the other responders, our June club meeting is on 6 June 
at 7 pm, however I get there early to set up and usually have the doors open 
by 5:30 -5:45 pm.

Another opportunity you can have to see radios in operation is today at the 
Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg.  We are representing Museum in the annual 
Museum Ships on The Air contest.  We will be there all day.

Something else you might be interested in is the Hill Country Preppers who 
meet to discuss Emergency Preparations at Buzzies BBQ in Kerrville on the 
second Thursday of each month at 6 pm - come early and eat BBQ.  The 
majority of the participants in Dale's last radio class were from the 
preppers Club.

Gary Johnson
N5BAA
HCARC Secretary 2013
830-496-0102
qltfnish at omniglobal.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Luttrell" <darksky.astro at gmail.com>
To: <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 9:51 PM
Subject: [HCARC] Hello from Harper

> Greetings everyone!
>
> My name is John Luttrell and as noted in my subject line, I am from 
> Harper.
> I have been around radios of one type or another since the 70's of when I
> had my first shortwave receiver that lit up my room with a warm glow from
> the vacuum tubes, upon my bulletin board I had so many post cards from
> around the world of stations I had tuned in to and listened with great
> wonder.
>
> Through the years I have gone many places, but now I am settled down (my
> wife Kimberly and I are retired Military). I had been wanting to help out
> with the local Volunteer Fire Department here in Harper, or to help with
> any of this region, but because of some of my injuries I am not a 
> candidate
> to be pulling fire hoses around or standing for long periods of time.
>
> So that made me think that pursuing my Amateur Radio Operator's License
> might be something to look into. I am a Medic by Military specialty as is
> my Wife, so that also put me into the light to want to help with any
> emergencies or training in our area. Also Volunteer work is our only
> option,  (as opposed to a full or part time job).
>
> At any rate, a Google helped me find you guys and now I have yet made it
> but  one more step closer to receiving my license and helping as many as I
> am able.
>
> Also, since this is pretty new to me, as far as what I know, being old
> vacuum tube assemblies and or watching my Commo guy send in daily reports
> on his comsat radio.. I am totally clueless when it comes to trying to put
> all of this together and as it stands, I do not want to just merely earn 
> my
> license and not really know anything else about Radio except what narrow
> info I might know to have passed the tests.
>
> Which is also why I hope to have also found you all in great spirits and
> joy to have a "noobie" around. Hehe
>
> I will eventually need equipment, but I am sure that will all come in due
> time also. - Currently I have not a clue on what transceiver, or piece of
> gear is best suited for me at the moment or what price range to shoot for,
> alone I would most likely spend a fortune or not enough.
>
> So thank you and feel free to contact me whenever you feel, as I will be
> studying and reading with great hopes of helping out my Community and
> Neighbors.
>
> Thank you in advance
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John Luttrell
> Harper, TX
> 830-864-4212
>
> --
> One Universe for ALL Mankind!
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2013.0.3343 / Virus Database: 3184/6372 - Release Date: 05/31/13
> 