Author Archives: Orange County Radio Amateurs, INC

OCRA Club Meeting Minutes – July 12th, 2021

Posted on by

SEE LATER NOTICE regarding postponement of OCRA in-person meetings due to resurgence of COVID. The August OCRA club meeting will continue with the 442.150 Net & Zoom video conference format.

ORANGE COUNTY RADIO AMATEURS

Monthly Membership Meeting – July 12, 2021 – 7:30 pm

Platforms Utilized: OCRA UHF Repeater

Minutes

MEETING CONVENED AT 7:30 PM.

MEMBER CHECK-IN: Attendees: N1QYW, Steven; N8BR, Bill; KR3AM, Mark; W4SAR, Dave; KD4YJV, Karen; W4ORD, Lad; KU4GC, Dee; N1LN, Bruce; KR4UB, Dan; N4JQR, J.R.; KN4VXB, Aurora; KO4DHJ, Ken; KA5ETS, Doug; NA4VY, Dave; KI4RAN, Bill; KZ1X, Steve; KM4MBG, Jack; WA2JLW, Roy; N1YXU, Laurie; KM4WXW, Jeff; WB4OSU, Sherri; KO4RQN, James.

OFFICERS’ REPORTS:

W4SAR (David-President): We will begin our meeting with reports from club officers.

W4ORD (Lad-Vice President): Nothing important to report except that we are still waiting for a decision on the Christmas party. We have also been clearing trees to replace antennas that fell during our last storm.

KR4UB (Dan-Treasurer): As of this month 95 members are current, 4 need to renew and 5 are expiring. In the last 12 months 27 new members have joined with 13 being newly licensed and 20 memberships have expired.

N8BR (Bill-Secretary): No report.

W4SAR (David-President):

(1) The Baha’i Center has analyzed the progression of the pandemic and decided that face-to-face meetings will again be permitted to take place at their facility. Therefore, at the August 9th general club meeting OCRA will re-assume its traditional face-to-face format for the first time in over 18 months. Also, as a special surprise we have been informed that the NASA group who recently cancelled last month’s presentation, will be available to deliver their program at the August meeting. Technology for their planned presentation will be managed by KR3AM (Mark). At this point in the planning process we anticipate that there will be both a live presentation as well as one on Zoom for folks who are unable to attend the meeting in person. Hopefully this plan will mark the end of our dependence on the repeater-based club meetings that prevailed during the pandemic.

(2) Volunteer Examiner (VE) Sessions will be re-established face-to-face on August 28th at 10 a.m. Club members with VE accreditation from the ARRL are encouraged to participate in this important club activity. Additional information will be forthcoming in August.

(3) Field Day Success Early reports suggest that club field day efforts from home stations were successful. Club participation was great with scores submitted by 37 operators representing many levels of experience using a variety of modes, equipment, antennas, and operating styles to collectively earn a preliminary total of 30,576 points.

Numerous comments from participating operators indicated that field day provided a myriad of learning experiences, a superb opportunity for development of operating skills and an enhanced appreciation and understanding of how communications technologies can be used in ways that bolster human safety and well-being.

(4) Meeting Adjourned – 8:40 p.m.

WLB/DE/s

.

 

 

OCRA Club Meeting Minutes – June 14, 2021

Posted on by

ORANGE COUNTY RADIO AMATEURS

Monthly Membership Meeting – June 14, 2021 – 7:30 pm

Platforms Utilized: OCRA 442.150 UHF Repeater and Zoom Video Conference

Minutes

MEETING CONVENED AT 7:30 PM.

MEMBER CHECK-IN: W4SAR (David), KU4GC (Dee),), KM4MBG (Jack), KF4PAB (Lenore), KZ1X (Steve), KO4DHJ (Ken), KA5ETS (Doug), KD4YJZ (Karen), KR4UB (Dan), KA1HPM (Nick), K4SAR (Joe), KN4BTI (Mark), KO4GJO (Boyd), N1YXU (Laurie), W4ORD (Lad), KX4P (John), KN4GUM (Nan), KN4VXB (Aurora), N4JQR (J.R.), KR3AM (Mark), WB4OSU (Sherri), NA4VY (Dave), N1LN (Bruce) and W4BOH, Wilson.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT – W4SAR (David): There will be no formal president’s report tonight. However, we will give club officers an opportunity to make brief comments as necessary and we will then conclude our planning for field day. W4ORD (Lad) – Nothing important to report. We are just finishing preparations for field day and awaiting club consensus on the preferred format for our Christmas party. KR4UB (Dan) – 94 club members are current with their dues. Membership for 15 has expired, membership for another 7 is expiring soon, and 5 need renewal.During the past 12 months we have acquired 24 new members,12 of whom are newly licensed. There is no recent news about our repeaters. Noteworthy is the fact that the towers are going up in Chatham County and there will probably be opportunities for more new ones. Over all I believe there is a good outlook for the future.

FIELD DAY UPDATE:

1. N1LN (Bruce) – There will be another session dealing with N1MM software on June 19th at 10:30 am. This will be held on a new zoom account. We have tested the latest N1MM software and discovered glitches in the scoring tools. This was reported to the N1MM folks and elicited an immediate response. We will test the revision needed. Regarding logs, it is important to submit a document in Cabrillo format and to have proper instruction on that task prior to sending off logs. Be sure to bring your questions to the Saturday meeting.

2. KR4UB (Dan) – Commented on digital modes. Thanks to Bruce for building the spreadsheet on field day interests and intentions. 11 members attended the meeting on digital formats. Attendees will be using various digital modes. We are making good progress in getting educated for the event.

3. W4SAR (David) – Many folks will be using N3FJP software for station control and logging in field day. The program is very user friendly. We are available for answering questions as needed.

4. N1LN (Bruce) – Inquired about individual plans for hosting and emphasized the need to get the information out to prospective attendees.

5. W4ORD (Lad) – indicated that he had hosting opportunities for both ssb and digital operating and was waiting to hear from anyone interested.

GENERAL COMMENTS:

KR4UB (Dan) – The cancellation of our planned NASA presentation was due to a death in the family of one of the presenters and computer problems experienced by the other. We are working to reschedule this important event. Several options are being explored. Hopefully It will be possible to bring the speakers to our usual meeting spot at the Efland Baha’i Center. If this option eventuates, we will have to arrange for a wifi hotspot to be installed so the presentation can be distributed to those attending our meetings virtually.

For future planning purposes Dan requested the meeting attendees as they checked out of the net meeting to answer two questions:

How many would attend a rescheduled NASA presentation?

  • Of the 26 attendees at the meeting (several late arrivals missed the poll) 23 expressed that they would attend.
  • Given the late breaking (day of the event cancellation) two methods were used to notify attendees:
    • direct mailing of members
    •  posting on groups.io.

What is the preferred and most relied on method of notification?

  • 14 preferred exclusive direct mailing notification (in this case from the OCRA mass emailer of the NASA cancelation).
  • 9 stated they received the direct mailing and some also received a group.io email notification of the posted cancelation notice.
  • One concern expressed with groups.io was that a late breaking notificcation may not be received in a timely manner based on the various notifications options .i.e. the daily digest (of the previous day postings sent the morning of the next day), or no email notification.

W4ORD (Lad) – Will be presenting poetry readings at the Colonial Inn in Hillsboro on a regular basis and invites all club members to attend.

NA4VY (Dave) – Wants to discuss with club members various ways to interface digital ham gear with N3FJP software.

W4SAR )Dave) – The Efland Baha’i Center has announced the facility will re-open and be available for club meetings to resume. There are already events scheduled for July, precluding a meeting then and also might be too soon after Field Day, but it will be available in August. As a cost cutting measure, the internet access has been dropped, but WiFi hotspot access via cell phone can be used given the close proximity to a cell tower. In addition to use of a hotspot for presentations, the club still wants to maintain the Zoom capability at the club meetings for members unable to attend in person.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:35 P.M.

WLB/DE/s

 

2021 OCRA/DFMA Field Day Score – “preserving history…”

Posted on by 


2021 OCRA/DFMA Field Day ARRL Score Totals


Thanks to all who not only worked 2021 Field Day, but went the extra mile in submitting (and correcting) submissions to make sure all our points rolled up as a single OCRA/DFMA Field Day Club submission


________________________________________________________________________________________________


                             from last July's post Field Day participant score submission effort....

The 2021 Field Day results below compiled from your email reports and, cross checking with the ARRL Submission site
indicates all scores have been correctly reported for a combined OCRA/DFMA club score. Your final review is needed
to make sure it is 100% accurate before further distribution. Please point out anything that needs to be corrected.

Copy me on any remaining ARRL Submissions or Corrections to http://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php

thanks, Dan KR4UB


ARRL Score Calculation Formula

[CW-CNT x 2 = CW Pts] [SSB-CNT x 1 = SSB Pts] [Digi-CNT x 2 = Digi Pts] ARRL Score = [CW + SSB + Digi Pts Sum) x Pwr_Mult + Bonus Points]


    
                                
          MBR.FCC.ID_FirstStationStation_Band_Mode Bonus_ActivityFDay ClassCW QSOCW MultDigi  QSODigi MultSSB QSOSSB MultPwr MultQSO ScoreBonus ScoreARRL Total        
                                
                                        N4GF                                                            Roger                                                            Port able                                                            40M                                                            Education, Emerg Pwr, Public Loc, Youth Ops, Web Submit                                                            1, A, B                                                            4                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5x                                                            40                                                            370                                                            410                                  
            
                                        WA2JLW                                                            Roy                                                            Home                                                            80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, CW                                                            Emerg Pwr, Web Submit                                                            1, E                                                            82                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5x                                                            820                                                            150                                                            970                                  
            
                                        WB4OSU                                                            Sherri                                                            Home                                                            40M, 20M, WSJT, PSK31                                                            Emerg Pwr, W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, E                                                                                                                                                                                    79                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                    5x                                                            790                                                            250                                                            1040                                  
            
                                        N2XZF                                                            Paul                                                            Home                                                            20M, 10M, SSB                                                            Emerg Pwr, Web Submit                                                            1, E                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            32                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            64                                                            150                                                            214                                  
            
                                        KX4P                                                            John                                                            Home                                                            80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, CW, SSB, WSJT                                                            Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                            239                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2x                                                            956                                                            50                                                            1006                                  
            
                                        WA4PSC                                                            Howard                                                            Home                                                            160M, 80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, CW                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                            1369                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2x                                                            5476                                                            150                                                            5626                                  
            
                                        N4JQR                                                            J R                                                            Home                                                            80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, 6M, SSB                                                            W1AW Msg                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            60                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            120                                                            50                                                            170                                  
            
                                        W1KES                                                            Keith                                                            Home                                                            80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, 6M, WSJT                                                            Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                    114                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                    2x                                                            456                                                            50                                                            506                                  
            
                                        W4KIL                                                            Andy                                                            Home                                                            40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, 6M, WSJT                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                    213                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                    2x                                                            852                                                            150                                                            1002                                  
            
                                        KR4UB                                                            Dan                                                            Home                                                            40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, WSJT                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                    426                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                    2x                                                            1704                                                            150                                                            1854                                  
            
                                        N4KW                                                            Pete                                                            Home                                                            All, CW, SSB, not sure about 2023                                                            Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                            356                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                    163                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            1750                                                            50                                                            1800                                  
            
                                        N8BR                                                            Bill                                                            Home                                                            80M, 40M, 20M, CW                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                            641                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2x                                                            2564                                                            150                                                            2714                                  
            
                                        KO4DHJ                                                            Ken                                                            Home                                                            80M, 40M, 20M, SSB                                                            Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            45                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            90                                                            50                                                            140                                  
            
                                        AJ2X                                                            Mark                                                            Home                                                            40M, 20M, 15M, SSB                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            207                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            414                                                            150                                                            564                                  
            
                                        KY4HU                                                            Charles                                                            Home                                                            40M, 20M, SSB, WSJT                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                    123                                                            2x                                                            5                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            502                                                            150                                                            652                                  
            
                                        K1ZW                                                            Larry                                                            Home                                                            20M, 15M, 10M, SSB                                                            Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            14                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            28                                                            50                                                            78                                  
            
                                        KZ1X                                                            Steve                                                            Home                                                            All, CW, aka W4EZ                                                            Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                            123                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2x                                                            492                                                            50                                                            542                                  
            
                                        KO4TXN                                                            Steve                                                            Home                                                            All, SSB                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            160                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            320                                                            150                                                            470                                  
            
                                        KJ4VWG                                                            Sam                                                            Home                                                            All, SSB                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                                                                                                                                                    73                                                            2x                                                            81                                                                                                                        2x                                                            454                                                            150                                                            604                                  
            
                                        N1LN                                                            Bruce                                                            Grp_1                                                            Captain, 80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, CW, aka NC4KW                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, D                                                            1351                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                    486                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            6376                                                            150                                                            6526                                  
            
                                        N1YXU                                                            Laurie                                                            Grp_1                                                            All, SSB, aka NC4KW                                                                                                                        1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            486                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            972                                                                                                                                                          
            
                                        W4BOH                                                            Wilson                                                            Grp_2                                                            Captain, All, CW                                                            Web Submit                                                            2, D                                                            623                                                            2x                                                                                                                                                                                    37                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            2566                                                            50                                                            2616                                  
            
                                        KN4VXB                                                            Aurora                                                            Grp_2                                                            All, SSB, aka W4BOH                                                                                                                        2, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            36                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            72                                                                                                                                                          
            
                                        NA4VY                                                            David                                                            Grp_3                                                            Captain, All, SSB, WSJT                                                            Web Submit                                                            2, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            222                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            444                                                            50                                                            494                                  
            
                                                                                                    William                                                            Grp_3                                                            All, 20M, SSB                                                                                                                        1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
            
                                        K4SAR                                                            Joe                                                            Grp_4                                                            Captain, 80M, 40M, 15M, 10M, SSB                                                            Emerg Pwr, W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            1, E                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            491                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            982                                                            250                                                            1232                                  
            
                                        KI4RAN                                                            William                                                            Grp_4                                                            All, SSB                                                                                                                        1, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
            
                                        KD4YJZ                                                            Karen                                                            Grp_5                                                            All, SSB, PSK31                                                                                                                        1, E                                                                                                                                                                                    105                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
            
                                        KU4GC                                                            Dee                                                            Grp_7                                                            Captain, 80M, 40M, 20M, 15M, 10M, SSB, WSJT                                                            W1AW Msg, Web Submit                                                            2, D                                                                                                                                                                                    309                                                            2x                                                            40                                                            1x                                                            2x                                                            1316                                                            150                                                            1466                                  
            
                                        KF4PAB                                                            Lenore                                                            Grp_7                                                            aka KU4GC                                                                                                                        2, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
            
                                        KM4MBG                                                            Jack                                                            Grp_7                                                            aka KU4GC                                                                                                                        2, D                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2x                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
          
  


________________________________________________________________________________________________


Orange County Radio Amateurs & Durham FM Association ARRL Submission Score to date : 35,560


CW QSO Total Count : 5,009, Digi QSO Total Count : 1,850, SSB QSO Total Count : 2,589, Bonus Activity Points : 3,520


31 Hams on 2021 Field Day N1LN Sign Up List, 12 Group Station Participants, 18, Home Stations, 1 Portable Station


________________________________________________________________________________________________

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

			

				
OCRA Membership Meeting – June 10th, 2019

				
Quote

			


			

				Posted on   by  			


					


				

			
Original post date June 2019


Dave W4SAR, club president opened the meeting with introductions, the topic for tonight’s meeting being Field Day Planning and call for officer reports.  He reported that at the last VE Session on June 8th, 6 candidates were tested with 5 passing the exam earning their license.


Dan, KR4UB, treasurer reported 74 members are current with their dues with 25 members needing renewal. Club treasury balance is in line with ongoing expenses.


Dan also covered the need for attendees who plan to have a Saturday dinner or Sunday breakfast meal from the field day grill to pre-pay for the food to be purchased on their behalf. Costs for some food items have increased as much as 15% from last year and we need your help in keeping the cost per meal low.


Nick, KA1HPM made an announcement of a request he had made to the ARRL via Carl Bowman, Section Manager requesting that an ARRL contest be organized to celebrate the 150th birthday of Hiram Percy Maxim on September 2nd, 2019.  The ARRL responded with an alternative option of a Special Event Station be set up to celebrate the event. Nick made the call for volunteers to set up and run such a station, using his call sign KA1 H(iram) P(ercy) M(axim)  on September 2nd from 8am to 8pm.


Next, Dave W4SAR began the planning discussion for the 9A class battery powered 5 watt station operation for 2019 OCRA/DFMA Field Day to be held at the Wilson, W4BOH QTH on   3117 Moorefields Road , Hillsborough.


Starting Friday morning at 8am focus will be on tower setup and all other outdoor ground activity to get as much as possible done prior to mid day heat.


Stations and Band Captains are as follows:


    

  • CW Stations – Bruce N1LN Captain – 3 stations located inthe MCU covering 80 -10M CW operating antennas onf 3 towers. 2 sets of headphones are on each radio so interested observers can listen in on the operation. Operator slots are available.
    • 

  • 80M SSB Station – Steve, W3AHL Captain – located in the W3AHL motorhome using two 75M dipoles. Typically band conditions mean 75M is a 6pm to 6am operation. New operators are welcome.
    • 

  • 40/15M SSB Station – Joe, K4SAR Captain – located in an air conditioned trailer using a 3 element 40M wire beam and 3 element 15M beam. Joe needs operators to sign up.
    • 

  • 20M SSB Station – Lad, W4ORD Captain – located in an air conditioned trailer using tower mounted team, solar power charged batteries.
    • 

  • 10M SSB/Digi Station – Dave, NA4VY Captain – located in the air conditioned “red barn”  using a Moxon beam.
    • 

  • 40/20M Digi Operation – Dave, W4SAR & Sherri, WB4OSU are co-captains operating PSK-31 and maybe FT-8 located in the handicap accesible garage at the food area.
    • 

  • 6M VHF Station – Doug, KA5ETS principle operator also located in the “red barn” building.
    • 

  • Satellite Contact: Dan KR4UB & Bill N8BR will be out on the grounds at the scheduled times for satellite overflights.
    • 



Additional operators are needed on all stations.


Bonus Point areas were covered next. Volunteers signed up for the various areas are listed OCRA website home page.


Bruce, N1LN then gave a presentation and demo of the N1MM logging software to be used at field day. The presention is available on the OCRA website home page.




Steve, W3AHL discussed the networked logging setup using the pre loaded and configured laptaps that will be available to each station.  All stations need to be ready to participate in the isolated WiFi network setup test at 9AM Saturday morning.


Dan, KR4UB filling in for Keith, W1KES club secretary.