TALARC D-STAR NET REPORT Station W4CDA conducted the monthly net on Reflector 056C on Monday, 2 December 2019 and Monday, January 6 2020. The nets began at 2000 EST with Ken (KY4KD) acting as net control. In December there were 24 check-ins, including net control from 8 states and 2 Canadian provinces. In January there were 31 check-ins, including net control from 11 states.
TALARC D-STAR NET REPORT
Station W4CDA conducted the monthly net on Reflector 056C on Monday, 2 December 2019 and Monday, January 6 2020. The nets began at 2000 EST with Ken (KY4KD) acting as net control. In December there were 24 check-ins, including net control from 8 states and 2 Canadian provinces. In January there were 31 check-ins, including net control from 11 states.
During both nets we were joined at the post by Gene, who is the Post 46 service officer. Gene, who is also retired from VA, answered questions and gave advice on VA services and eligibility; this will be an ongoing part of the TALARC monthly D-Star Net.
Dec 2019 Call Sign Name/QTH
1 KY4KD Ken Post 46 KY
2 KM4QOY George Post 46 KY
3 K3KZU Dennis Post 46 KY
4 N3ZKV George Rincon GA Post 209
5 KC5SAM Virgina Frontenac MN
6 K4FT John Post 46 KY
7 W8OJ Dan Punta Gorda, FL
8 KA4SWT Doug Post 46 KY
9 KB4TC Tony Commander Post 46 KY
10 ND8G Bud Post 42 KY
11 KF4FMQ Mike Post 46 KY
12 VE3EJF Mike Ontario Canada
13 KD4ADJ Steve Mt. Sterling KY
14 AB8MW Mike Columbus, OH
15 KB5LNC Ron Fredericksburg VA Post 231
16 N4AIR Paul Mineral Bluff GA Post 82
17 W4KYC Tom Nicholasville KY
18 KD8GES Jason Columbus, OH
19 VE7LEE Ted Maritime Mobile BC RC Legion 229
20 KD4IZ Jack Parkton MD
21 W4GLE Grady Fayette AL
22 K4NDC Tony Savannah GA
23 AC4NE Ron Post 46 KY
24 KG4UQL Chris Post 46 KY
Net Announcements
December 2019
Net Control Station Operators please note:
• If asked, the website for TALARC is www.legion.org/hamradio. The email address is k9tal@legion.org.
• Net Control Station operators are free to select a subject for discussion during their net. Please keep those subjects relevant to the Legion and/or amateur radio.
• Within a few days following your net operations, please provide an after-action report to Josh, KD9DHX, atjmarshall@legion.org. Narrative style is fine.
Item: Eligibility Periods for Legion membership have been greatly expanded
On July 30 of this year [2019], President Trump signed a bill that declares the United States has been in a state of war since Dec. 7, 1941. The LEGION (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service) Act also opens the door for approximately 4.2 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible.
Now that the legislation is law, The American Legion’s eligibility criteria have changed from seven war eras to two: April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918 (WWI), and Dec. 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the federal government. No other restrictions to American Legion membership are changed. In general, anyone who served honorably for even one day between December 7, 1941 and today, and has a DD-214 to show active duty dates and honorable military service, is eligible to join The American Legion. Consult a local American Legion post or the state headquarters for complete eligibility criteria. The larger pool of veterans now eligible for The American Legion also opens their family members to eligibility in the Sons of The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary.
If you know veterans who fit these new criteria for Legion membership – especially amateur radio operators – invite them to join with us in the Legion and become a member of The American Legion Amateur Radio Club.
Item: Net Control Station operators wanted
In an effort to expand net options for Legion radio club members, Legion National Headquarters is looking for a TALARC club that is interested in serving as a net control station [NCS] for a monthly national or regional TALARC net. Depending on your equipment and your desire, the net can be HF, VHF/UHF, IRLP, CW, EchoLink or digital VOIP.
A “national” net would require equipment that allows near coast-to-coast communication. A “regional” net might be served by a TALARC club station that could communicate regularly in and around their state, and with surrounding states.
There is an immediate need for a national 40 meter SSB net control station operator.
If your club is interested in serving the needs of TALARC, please contact Josh KD9DHX at Legion National Headquarters, via email at k9tal@legion.org.
Let us know your idea for a particular region, what might be the best time/day schedule for you, and what mode and bands you'd like to try. We would be particularly interested in an assist from American Legion post amateur radio clubs that would like to host a TALARC net, but assistance from individual TALARC members is certainly welcome, as well.
Note: The Wednesday night December 11 Combined IRLP and EchoLink net operations will be the last, until further notice, for this net.
Item: Season’s Greetings
From the TALARC Board of Officers at Indianapolis and those of us who serve the club as net control station operators go our sincere best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. We hope Santa treats you well and that you find under your Christmas tree everything you need to build up your radio room and further cultivate your interest in amateur radio operations.
//End of Items//
Jan 2020 Call Sign Name/QTH
1 KY4KD Ken Post 46 KY
2 KM4QOY George Post 46 KY
3 K3KZU Dennis Post 46 KY
4 KD0HYA Dan Post 46 KY
5 W4GLE Grady Fayette AL
6 KC5SAM Virgina Frontenac MN
7 ND8G Bud Post 42 KY
8 N3ZKV George Rincon GA Post 209
9 K4NDC Tony Savannah GA
10 KB4TC Tony Commander Post 46 KY
11 AI4E Brad Campbellsville KY
12 K6FED Frank Rancho Cucamonga, CA
13 W0QI Greg Independence KY Post 275
14 NN4H Larry Nancy KY
15 KD4MYW Norma NN4H Larry's xyl KY
16 W1ORO Judy Independance KY Post 275
17 WB2LUA John Woodstock NY Post 1026
18 W4IOD Odis Scott Co KY Post 200
19 KA8YID Dave Jamestown, KY
20 N7SE Steve Montrose, CO
21 K3EP Emmitt Stafford VA Post 28
22 KF4FMQ Mike Post 46 KY
23 KY4RW Ray Post 46 KY
24 KB0DJP Pam Post 46 KY
25 N4JES Jessie Mt. Sterling, KY
26 AF6MB Harold Post 46 KY
27 KB5LNC Ron Fredericksburg VA Post 231
28 N5WWL John Denham Springs LA
29 KD9MRJ Jon Scheboygan, WI
30 K9NQW Nick Marion IN
31 KB9CRA Kevin Gas City, IN
Net Announcements
January 2020
Net Control Station Operators please note:
• If asked, the website for TALARC is www.legion.org/hamradio. The email address is k9tal@legion.org.
• Net Control Station operators are free to select a subject for discussion during their net. Please keep those subjects relevant to the Legion and/or amateur radio.
• Within a few days following your net operations please provide an after-action report to Josh, KD9DHX, atjmarshall@legion.org. Narrative style is fine.
Item: Legion Birthday Special Event – March 14
The next American Legion Amateur Radio Club special event station operation will commemorate the 101st birthday of The American Legion, March 15-17, 2020. While the three-day period is typical for the full observance, K9TAL operations will be limited to one day, Saturday, March 14, 2020, from 1300 to 1900 ET [1700Z-2300Z].
Call sign for the special event will be our club call sign: K9TAL. We plan to operate on 20m at 14.275 MHz; 40m at 7.225 MHz; IRLP Node 9735; and EchoLink *CrossRoads* Conference node.
As with all TALARC special events, certificates will be issued free, on request, to those who are entered into the TALARC log books on that day.
Full information on the special event will soon be on the Legion website at www.legion.org/hamradio, and on the K9TAL page of the QRZ.com website. Please see those sites for the latest updates as we move closer to the day of the event.
Item: Sign up for American Legion Flag Alerts
Interested American Legion Family members, patriots, supporters and others are now able to subscribe to the organization’s text alerts when the flag has been ordered to fly at half-staff.
To receive text messages for the flag alerts, follow this two-step process. First, to subscribe to Flag Alerts, text Flag to 534466. You will receive a text asking for a valid email address for the two-step authorization. Once that is complete, you will receive the text alerts.
For more information, text HELP to 534466, or call 800-433-3318.
Note that data rates may apply. Depending on your text plan, you may be charged by your carrier.
Item: A page out of the TALARC history book
In mid-year 2010, the following brief and straightforward clarification of amateur radio was offered to a limited number of the national leaders of The American Legion. These words were among the first used to justify the existence of what we know today as TALARC: The American Legion Amateur Radio Club.
"While some people may think that ham radio is an old technology, the simple truth is that hams were working with digital transmissions long before folks had home computers, and they provided the impetus to make ‘wireless’ happen. They were transmitting emergency calls from their cars long before anyone had a mobile phone to do the same. Today, hams are conducting broad-spectrum experiments on ham bands that may eventually become routine ways to communicate for all of us."
//End of Items//
TALARC Monthly and Weekly Nets
What follows is for the benefit of the Net Control Station Operators and need not be communicated as an "item," but it could be helpful if you're questioned by those on your respective net. Here are the Net Control Operators, their QTH, and their monthly schedules:
National EchoLink and 20-Meter Nets meet the 2nd Saturday of each month.
EchoLink NCS is Marty W9WMJ; 20m NCSs are Bill KIØCW, SD, and Everett WA3DVO, MD.
National/West Region EchoLink Net meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
NCS is Shannon W6SPY, ID. (Idaho Post 155 ARC, N7ALR)
National D-Star Net meets the 1st Monday of each month.
NCS is George KM4QOY, KY. (Kentucky Post 46/Wilderness Road ARC, W4CDA)
National 80-Meter Net meets every Wednesday.
NCS is Don WV5Q, MS. (Mississippi Post 1992 ARC, K5TAL)
National Digital Voice Net meets every Thursday.
NCS is Lee K5CUB, MS. (Mississippi Post 1992 ARC, K5TAL)
January 2020 Net Schedule
Mode Day Date Time [Zulu] Where to find the Net
D-STAR KM4QOY 1st Monday Jan 6 0100 UTC D-Star Ref 56C
EchoLink K9TAL 2nd Saturday Jan 11 1700 UTC *FMCA-ARC*
Conference Node
HF (20m) 2nd Saturday Jan 11 1800 UTC 14.275 MHz [+/- 5 kHz]
EchoLink N7ALR 2nd Wednesday Jan 8 0500 UTC *TALARC* Conference Node
HF (80m) K5TAL Every Wednesday Jan 1,8,15,22,29 0030 UTC 3.825 MHz [+/- 5 KHz]
Digital, All Voice K5TAL Every Thursday Jan 2,9,16,23,30 0100 UTC See www.openquad.net
D-STAR KM4QOY 1st Monday Feb 3 0100 UTC D-Star Ref 56C
End of Announcements and Information
- Ham Radio