2025-10-07 Net Minutes

opened: 20:00
closed: 20:41

Check-ins (31)

Officer Reports

President

David Bailey (K5DKB)

Within 2 weeks of next meeting
- Saturday 2025-10-18 09:30
- American Legion Post 159, 101 Waco St, Bryan [Google Maps]
After meeting, we’ll head out to Washington on the Brazos
- (First ever) W5BCS Club Parks on the Air activation
- Confirmed with the park that the picnic area will be open!
to N5WCT: we’d be thrilled to have Washington County folks join us!
- We’ll most likely arrive sometime between 11:00 and 12:00

Vice-President

Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)

Winter Field Day
- Still looking for volunteers and suggestions for meals and programs
- If you are interested or have any ideas, contact me at tomdj56@yahoo.com or on QRZ

Secretary

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

Minutes will be sent out after the net.
Looking forward to the meeting

Treasurer

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

78 members
Bank balance: $12,082.92
Next ham license exam will be 2025-10-18 11:00 after club meeting
- If you’re taking the Technician Class exam, be sure you have your FCC Registration Number (FRN)!
- K5WTR: Message from ARRL to bear in mind… Due to gov’t shutdown, it might be difficult to get a FRN if you don’t have one.

Announcements / Comments

Question #244 for conversation: Have you ever contributed to citizen science with your ham radio activities?

(If interested in submitting a weekly question, email n5zkf@arrl.net)

Ron Hambric (N5SBN)

CEOC visit this Friday 09:00
- If you’re late call on W5BCS repeater
ARES net tonight
- 20:30 or after this net

John Walpole (K5ZY)

With government shutdown, everything will just go into a queue with the FCC

Matthew Cadman (KJ5IIF)

Regarding FRN:
- New applicants are not able to register and request FRN
- We’re using a workaround with W5YI VEC
W5AC will have next meeting tomorrow evening
- Wed 2025-10-08 19:00
- Haynes Engineering Bldg (HEB) 137
- License exam starts 18:00

Ron Estes (KJ5EFO)

Didn’t know about HamSci; I’ll have to check it out!
Thanks to all who showed up to National Night Out!
- Both in-person and on the air!
Special thanks to Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ) for coordinating!

Matt Robinson (W5XMR)

How is the 220 MHz (1.25 m) Repeater? I haven’t been able to hit it lately
KG5IIF:
- Reports that it hasn’t been ID-ing, so it has been turned off.
- 220 MHz operations limited among club members (we don’t have radios)
- Hoping to get it fixed soon, but our repeater director is currently in Dallas
- Only other repeater issue is that 70 cm machine isn’t transmitting a CTCSS tone

Dick Zimmer (W5DZ)

Windows 10 is reaching its end-of-life on 2025-10-14
- You can still use it, but they won’t be pushing out security updates
- You can buy extended security updates (ESU) from Microsoft for $30
Recommend upgrading to Windows 11

Secretary’s Notes:

You can also get it with 1000 “Microsoft Rewards points” or by syncing files to OneDrive. More info here.
There has been a lot of pressure lately (e.g., from Consumer Reports) for Microsoft to extend this end-of-life.

Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

Saturday, 2025-10-18, is a busy day…
- Club meeting
- License Exam Session
- Parks on the Air
- Also 07:00/14:00 Twin Oaks Household Hazardous Waste

Buy / Sell

Matt Robinson (W5XMR)

I have two Dell Optiplex 7070 Medium Towers
- Got them refurbished, but video card won’t fit, so I’m selling them :(
- CPU: Intel Core i7 9700
- SSD: 512 GB
- RAM: 16 GB and 32 GB, respectively
- Asking $300 and $325, respectively
Go-kit also for sale
- Radios, battery, tuner, etc.
- Good on QRZ

Closing Remarks

Visit us online at w5bcs.radio.