SATURDAY BIARC MEETING UPDATE: Remember that BIARC meets at 2 p.m. this Saturday, June 10, at an alternate location. Due to the Keaau Community Center being under renovation into July, President Gary Schwiter has arranged for the club to meet temporarily in the nearby Shipman business park at the Keaau offices of the Big Island Substance Abuse Council at 16-179 Melekahiwa St.

PROGRAM: Pascal Nelson AC7N will lead the presentation, with help from Tom English WH6EBS and John Bush KH6DLK/V63JB.

“We will share our learning from our recent tests using digital modes between Hawaii and Micronesia,” said Pascal.

What are the ham radio “digital modes” and how do they work? A brief explanation of what the “digital modes” are, and how they differ from the “analog modes” will be given.

Examples of digital modes: AX.25 (packet), PSK31, Olivia, Thor (and more)

Examples of analog modes: SSB, FM, CW (yes, CW – this will be explained)

Digital voice modes will be mentioned and discussed briefly, but will not be the focus of the session. (D-Star, Fusion, DMR, Free-DV, and more)

The program will focus on FLDIGI and its supported modems and adjuncts such as FLMsg. We’ll talk about NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging  Software) for both HF and VHF-UHF. JT modes (JT65, JT9, etc.) will be mentioned and briefly discussed, but will not be the focus of the presentation.

“The presentation will be supported by slides and a live demo setup. You’ll see some of the digital modes in action,” said Pascal. “Future sessions can delve deeper into digital voice, jt modes, and other areas.”

TESTING SESSION: Also on Saturday at the BIARC meeting: Doug Wilson KH7DQ says there will be a VE testing session at 3:30 p.m., for any folks wanting to get their Technician License or upgrade an existing FCC amateur radio license. Cost: $15 per test, in exact cash only.

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FIELD DAY PLANNING SESSION ON FRIDAY: And, for anyone wanting to help plan for the ARRL Field Day later this month, Puna Emergency Radio Club President Bob Gomez KB6EGA invites all to attend a lunch get-together at 11 a.m. this Friday, June 9, at the Hilo Coffee Mill in Mountain View. For more info, call Bob at 430-6001. Field Day will be June 24-25 at Eden Roc Community Center, with BIARC, ARES and other area clubs participating in the PERC-sponsored event.

Aloha and 73,

Leigh

Aloha es 73 de

Russell Roberts (KH6JRM)

Public Information Coordinator

Hawaii County, ARRL Pacific Section