opened

20:00

closed

20:35

Check-ins (26)

• Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)
• Brad Snyder (W5BLS)
• Jeff McDowell (KI5CES)
• Avery McIntosh (N7ALM)
• Don Ling (WB5CKO)
• Vic Pears (KX8V)
• Larry Shiver (KJ5KFU)
• Ken Wilson (KE5DFR)
• Matt Robinson (W5XMR)
• Brian Gaskamp (N5WCT)
• Bill Rose (K5WTR)
• Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)
• John Graesser (KC5DWD)
• Dick Zimmer (W5DZ)
• David Bailey (K5DKB)
• Ron Estes (KJ5EFO)
• John Walpole (K5ZY)
• Marshall Walpole (KG5IQY)
• Kevin Walton (N4RMF)
• Harold Turbyfill (KG5SDG)
• Joe Napoli (KG5SDF)
• Michael Bobinski (N5NYL)
• Rich Rychetsky (W5SON)
• Pierre Catala (WA1UAT)
• Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)
• Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

Opening Remarks

• Thank you to everyone who checks into our net and make it special!
• Echolink troubleshooting:
  • SVX Link was up and running, carrier was keying the repeater, but audio wasn’t coming through
  • Audio devices weren’t enumerating properly, and we aren’t sure why
  • Restarting fixed it!

Officer Reports

President

David Bailey (K5DKB)

• Monthly club meeting coming up
  • 2025-12-20 09:30
  • American Legion Post 159, 101 Waco St, Bryan [Google Maps]
  • Officer elections on the agenda, so we’ll need quorum
    • Our ballot is the same slate of officers, unopposed
    • Will proceed with elections by the book
• We owe much of the success of this net to you, Phil (N5ZKF)!

Vice-President

Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)

• Keeping Winter Field Day on everyone’s radar
  • 2025-01-24/25
  • We’ll have swap tables!
  • Committee meeting last week
• Echo sentiments and appreciation for Phil!

Secretary

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

• Minutes will be sent out after the net.
• Again, thank you, Phil, for keeping the nets engaging and welcoming!

Treasurer

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

• 81 members
• Bank balance: $11,963.97
• Next License Exam
  • 2025-12-20 11:00 (after the club meeting)
• Club Holiday Party this Sunday, 2025-12-14 14:00/18:00
  • Lorna’s place, 509 Wheelock St, Hearne [Google Maps]

Announcements / Comments

Question #253 for conversation: Are there parts of your amateur radio hobby that you don't do anymore or haven't done in a while?

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

Ron Estes (KJ5EFO)

• On behalf of Ron Hambric (N5SBN):
  • CEOC visit this Friday, 2025-12-12 09:00
  • ARES meeting coming up
    • Monday, 2025-12-15 18:30
    • American Red Cross, 4244 Boonville Rd, Bryan [Google Maps]

Brian Gaskamp (N5WCT)

• Active in POTA: was in Port Lavaca on Black Friday, 2025-11-28
  • Got permission to operate in a wildlife management area
  • Park had only 3 activations prior
  • Broke my personal record with 257 contacts logged in 5 hours of operation!
  • 15 m band was very active
• ARRL 10 m Contest this weekend
  • 2025-12-13 00:00Z/2025-12-14 23:59Z
  • See website linked above for rules

Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

• I’ve noticed I don’t build things as often as I used to, especially antennas
  • The stuff I’ve made previously is still working
• I won’t be listening to law enforcement anymore: encryption has been enabled on all of their channels
• K5WTR: TV stations are probably upset… If you could decrypt their encryption, would be OK to listen at that point? Some signals (military) might be considered illegal to decrypt and listen.
  • N5ZKF: not aware that it’s illegal to listen, but it would be illegal to act on what you hear.

Closing Remarks

• Visit us online at w5bcs.radio.