Welcome to a “Hawaii Amateur Radio News” update from Big Island ARRL News.
Views expressed in this Amateur/Ham Radio news summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Content supplied by Joseph Speroni (AH0A), ARRL Pacific Section, Section Manager.
Accessed on 11 April 2019, 2145 UTC, Post 931.
Source (via email);
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm#inbox/FMfcgxwCgCQMPsFxQmhkLXsrzZdhXDWQ
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As Hawaii radio amateurs begin to use all segments of the RF spectrum for Emergency Communications, please don’t forget the capabilities of HF for inter island communications. Many of us are familiar with the 40 meter net run by Bob Stoffer (AH6GT)–a net that fills in the important gaps left by VHF and UHF frequencies. In this post from Pacific Section Manager Joseph Speroni (AH0A), we learn more about this valuable communications resource which provides more than just backup communications for Hawaii’s amateur radio repeater and simplex systems.
“Interisland HF Activity in Hawaii
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Bob Stoffer (AH6GT – Kona Bob) has been contributing to Hawaii HF
activity for years. Many know of his logging web site,
His net logging system has grown in popularity to the point where just
about every HF NCS is a confirmed user. It allows creating an on-line
log shared with check-in stations and others who might just want to
monitor looking for a friend. He keeps a monthly cumulative log that
came to our attention as we plan to roll out the new ARRL ARES Connect
program in Hawaii.
Recently ARES has been more focused on VHF/UHF and repeater activity.
The 40Meter.net web site reminds us of the importance of HF for EmComm
in Hawaii. HF operations deserve the attention brought to it by the
40Meter.net web site.
Even with poor propagation the last few months, the HF nets have
remained active. Most Hawaii nets start on 40 meters but quickly QSY to
60, 80 and some days to 160 Meters. Many stations are upgrading
transceivers to operate on 60 meters and finding antenna solutions for
the lower bands. Recognition of their efforts is important to a growing
Hawaii HF EmComm capability.
The web site has accurate propagation information for interisland NVIS
communication based on a US Air Force Space Weather station at Lualualei
on Oahu that is updated every 15 minutes. Learning use of this
leading-edge technology can assist operation. Interested? Check in to
one of the HF nets and you will get help using it.
With Bob’s help we can now capture the HF net statistics. In March,
58 nets had 601 check-ins with an estimated 384 person hours activity
– testing equipment, learning about propagation, experimenting with
antennas and practicing communication skills. All things the VHF/UHF
nets do.
Bob’s web site is also keeping stats on frequent contributors. So far
for April the activity leaders with 10 or more check-ins are,
21 – KK6GM Gary
16 – AH6GT KonaBob
14 – NH6M Dewey
14 – KH6FHI Joe
11 – AH6SN Peter
10 – KH6PXM Rob
Bob has agreed to help us plan a wider adoption of EmComm activities
under the new ARES Connect program. His solution is simple and can
reduce the work involved in reporting and allow participants to
concentrate on communications. The Brandmeister DMR net run by Blake
(KH7MS) is one of the UHF based nets experimenting with it.
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ARRL Pacific Section
Section Manager: Joseph Speroni, AH0A
ah0a@arrl.org”