TRO SIGNAL BULLETIN 06 APR 13
TULSA REPEATER ORGANIZATION
P.O. BOX 1422
TULSA, OK 74101
http://www.tulsahamradio.org/index.html

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IN THIS ISSUE:
Weather On The Web #4
Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook

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Last week, I talked about the Storm Prediction Center’s website:http://www.spc.noaa.gov/.

This week, I’ll look at weather apps for smartphones.

Well, technically, smartphone weather apps don’t access information over the triple W, but they do use the Internet, which is pretty much the same. Many cell phones besides smartphones can access the Web, but the small screen size make them hard to use. Because smartphones have more memory and more processing power than regular cellphones, but still have relatively small screens, developers have created apps that can more adequately display weather info. Smartphones also come with Web browsers, so you can access any of the websites I’ve already discussed with smartphones.

Most smartphones will come with a basic weather app from outfits such as The Weather Channel or AccuWeather. These apps will usually display temperature, sky conditions, precipitation, etc, But sometimes us hams like to have information than that, especially when storm spotting/chasing, or if the weather could affect an public service event or club meeting. So, we will want an app that is more detailed.

I don’t have an iPhone or Blackberry, just an Android, so I will not have much to say about weather apps for those platforms.

The only app I can recommend for the iPhone is Radarscope: http://www.basevelocity.com/RadarScope/index_ios.php. This product comes from Weather Decision Technologies, based in Norman OK: http://www.wdtinc.com/wdtinc/index.html. They produce many other ways for people to get to weather information.

The app is use the most is PYKL3 Radar: http://www.pykl3radar.com/.

The two things I like the most about this app are the amount of information it gives access to, and that you pay only once per device for the program and updates are free.
I have not used many of the app’s features, so I will focus on those I do use.
In the lower right hand corner of the radar display is a crescent-shaped icon. Tapping on this icon toggles looping on and off. I usually want to see where and how storms or precipitation are moving, so I almost always use this.
In the upper right hand corner is an icon that looks like a stack of papers. This icon is labeled “Viewset.” It represents the different layers of information that you can choose to add to the display. Tapping on this icon cycles through the layers. By default, Viewset 2 appears, showing state and county borders, and major roads. Viewset 3 adds surface conditions reported by airports with ASOS stations. Viewset 4 adds storm vectors, if any are available.

Next week, I’ll take a quick look at websites for forecast models.

Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook
Many of you have probably already seen this, but for those that haven’t, or those who could use a reminder, I offer this from a message passed on by Mark Conkin, N7XYO:

The Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook is now available from amazon.com for the Kindle. This e-book is for all hams who volunteer their time and skill in service to their communities. It provides knowledge needed for communicating quickly and effectively during disasters, emergencies and community events, as well as an opportunity to learn more about the Amateur Radio Service and its unique role in supporting the public.

You do not need a Kindle to download and purchase The Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook: those who have the Kindle application installed on their Apple iPhone, iPod touch or iPad or Android smartphone -- or even on their computer -- can download the book for use on these devices. The Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook is available as a Kindle book from amazon.com for $24.99. The soft cover version is also available for $39.95 ($34.95 for ARRL members).

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ARES-Oklahoma Tulsa Metro Zone 5 Weekly Thursday Night NET
2000 hrs (8:00 PM) , Every Thursday
TARC W5IAS UHF Superlink System 443.850 (East Tulsa hub), 442.000 (Mannford), 444.600 (Mounds/ NW Okmulgee Co.), or 443.100 (Muskogee), all with (+) offset and 88.5 PL.
Backup on 146.880 (PL 88.5 or 141.3), or 147.390 (second backup)

Repeater status: Report problems with any repeaters to the appropriate club: www.w5ias.com or www.tulsahamradio.org.

Tour de Tulsa 2013
The Tulsa Amateur Radio Club will once again provide comm support for the Tour de Tulsa, Saturday, May 4, 2013. To volunteer for this event, contact Jay Eimer, AD5PE, at ad5pe@arrl.net or 918.852.2885 or 918.371.9137. For more information about the event itself, check this website:
http://www.tulsabicycleclub.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=539195&module_id=107743

Maple Ridge Run
The TRO will again provide comm support for the Maple Ridge Run, a 5K run that occurs every year on Memorial Day in the scenic and historic Maple Ridge Neighborhood. This year’s event will happen on Monday, May 27, 2013.
To volunteer, contact Tom Stroud, KD5OPH at KD5OPH@tulsahamradio.org, or call 918-695-3735, or sign up through the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/165454470273767/?ref=2

ON TAP: Tour de Cure, Tulsa Tough, and ARRL Field Day in June. Details to follow soon.

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Green Country Hamfest, March 7 & 8, 2014 (tentative)
Regular planning meetings are the 2nd Thursday of every month at the Rib Crib, 81st & Yale. The committee will take a few months off and resume planning efforts in late summer or early fall.
http://www.greencountryhamfest.org/

Dayton Hamvention, Dayton OH - May 17 - 19
http://hamvention.org/

Ham-Com, Plano TX - June 7 - 8
http://www.hamcom.org/

Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs (CORA) Ham Holiday 2011 July 26 - 27
http://www.hamholiday.org/

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Walk-ins are welcome at the following ARRL affiliated sessions:

Tulsa Repeater Organization
Third Thursday of odd-numbered months, 1900 (7 PM), except March
American Red Cross
10151 E 11th (11th & US 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128
Next scheduled session: 16 MAY 13
Contact: Merlin Griffin WB5OSM at 918-520-7668 - leave message, or email: WB5OSM@hotmail.com

First Saturday of odd numbered months - 0930 to 1100 (9:30 to 11 AM)
Hardesty Regional Library
8316 E 93rd Street
Tulsa, OK 74133
Next scheduled session: 04 MAY 13
Contact: Loyd Beeson, AE5MM at ae5mm@arrl.net or 918.638.2393 (text msg or voice)

Broken Arrow Amateur Radio Club
Second Saturday of EVEN numbered months at 0930 (9:30 AM)
Church of Christ
505 East Kenosha Street
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
Next scheduled session: 13 APR 13
Contact: Don Doyle AC5II at AC5II@arrl.net or 918-379-0962

American Airlines Amateur Radio Club
Last Saturday of every even numbered month, 1000-1130
Martin East Regional Library
2601 S Garnett Road
Tulsa, OK
Next scheduled session: 27 APR 13
Walk-ins WELCOME
Contact: John Campbell, K5ENA, at k5ena@cox.net, or 918 346-8284

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Sunday
American Airlines net @ 2100 147.000 or 147.345 (as backup) No PL required
ARES Oklahoma HF Net @ 2130 hrs UTC, Every Sunday 7.260 MHz (alt freq 3.900 MHz)+/- QRM

Monday
BAARC net @ 2000 146.91
Muskogee ARC net @2100 146.745

Tuesday
RCWA (Claremore) net @ 1900 147.09
NORA (Vinita) net @ 2000 147.36 88.5 PL

Wednesday
Youth At Heart net @ 1700 146.91
Bartlesville ARES net @ 2000 146.76
KC5DBH (Rose, OK) net @ 2100 146.985 110.9 PL

Thursday
Mayes County ARC (Pryor) net @ 2000 147.06 88.5 PL
Tulsa ARES/RACES net @ 2000 146.88 (see Public Service Events & Training for more details)
USS Batfish & USS Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club Net @ 2000 146.910
Side Winders On Two net @ 2000 144.250 ssb
Okmulgee ARES/RACES net @ 2100 147.225 (inactive)

Friday
Youth At Heart net @ 1900 147.09
Tech Net @ 2000 146.910

Saturday
Simplex Net @ 2100 146.550

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Tulsa Repeater Organization (WA5LVT)
Fourth Tuesday of each month except June (Field Day), and possibly December (Christmas)
Location: Tally's Good Food Cafe, 11th & Yale
Next scheduled meeting: 23 APR 13
Program: Unknown at this time
http://www.tulsahamradio.org/index.html

Broken Arrow Amateur Radio Club (W5DRZ)
First Monday of each month 1900 hrs. (7 PM)
Broken Arrow Community Center
1500 South Main Street
Broken Arrow OK
Next scheduled meeting: 06 MAY 13
Program: Unknown at this time
http://w5drz.org/

Tulsa Amateur Radio Club (W5IAS)
Third Tuesday of each month 1900 hrs. (7 PM)
Room M Keplinger Hall, University of Tulsa
441 South Gary Place (West of 5th and Harvard)
Tulsa OK
Next scheduled meeting: 16 APR 13
Program: Unknown at this time
http://www.w5ias.com/
 

American Airlines Amateur Radio Club (K5JME)
Last Saturday of each even numbered month 0900 hrs. (9 AM)
Martin East Regional Library
2601 S Garnett Road
Tulsa, OK
Next scheduled meeting: 27 APR 13

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Request For Feedback

For the Bulletin to continue to be the useful tool I intend it to be, I need your feedback. I need to know of any items that I should add, remove or change. I will consider all suggestions.
Plus any comments about the quality or the handling of the Bulletin will be appreciated.
Please send any comments, corrections, additions, etc., to kc5zqm@cox.net. DO NOT send them as a reply to the WA5LVT Yahoogroup, unless you want the entire group to see them before I have a chance to review them.

73 de Doug KC5ZQM