N5VLZ > ALL 09.09.25 14:45z 319 Lines 8626 Bytes #193 (0) @ WW
BID : 35997_NS2B
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Subj: PCL NET SEP 8 2025
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Sent: 250909/1436Z 35997@NS2B.#WNY.NY.USA.NOAM BPQ6.0.25
PCL NET SCRIBE SEP 8 2025
N5VLZ, Daryl, Arkansas (Net Control/Scribe)
NS2B, Bob, New York (Sysop)
KF5TVG, Bob, Oklahoma
VA7RBP, Rick, Canada
**
N5VLZ:
First, I hope everyone had a safe Labor Day
Weekend. Our next net holidays aren't until
the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
New Years.
Second, I went to the oldest hamfest west
of the Mississippi River this weekend, at
Queen Wilhelmena State Park near Mena,
Arkansas, up on Rich Mountain.
There were thunderstorms in the region Friday
night into Saturday, with some severe storms
in southwest Arkansas. We were delayed leaving
Little Rock by an hour, and stopped off in
Arkdelphia to pick up a fellow ham, then we
headed to Mena.
We stopped at a McDonald's for breakfast, but
they had the kiosks to order. I groaned "What
am I going to do?? All I have is cash". At
least there was a human employee to take the
order. I'm sure it'll be cashless one day.
After breakfast, we started up the mountain,
and the fog was so thick that you could cut
it with a knife, and you couldn't see more
than 1/8 of a mile. The dense fog didn't lift
until about an hour before the event ended.
We finally got to where we needed to be, but
nobody could get a good internet or phone
signal up there...so the QCWA Sunflower Net
was a disastrous bust. Each of us bought 20
tickets for $20, but we didn't win anything.
Even though they had a minature train, I did
not feel like walking the distance to board
the train. The cool temperatures made the
arthritis hurt more.
I'm going to look into a portable power supply
for these hamfests, if I set up a table with
QCWA. On the way back, we stopped off at The
Fish Nest in Glenwood, and devoured catfish,
chicken, shrimp (not from Wal-Mart (hi hi)),
cole slaw, hush puppies, salad, and some other
items. We waddled back to the van, and were
glad the tires didn't go flat when we got back
into it (hi hi). And, I think the mosquitoes
followed us both ways...I've got bites all over
me...so, I have to find the anti-itch cream.
The internet has been flakey today, so I'm
hoping it'll stay up for the net tonight. It
looks like no rain, with increasing heat and
humidity over the next week...so, it seems that
summer won't go down without a fight.
I may look at going to HandiHams Radio Camp
next year, but I've got to save money up, and
get specifics on it.
GE Bob (NY)...how was the last 2 weeks?? >>>
**
NS2B:
GE All!
It went by quick! It was an uneventful holiday.
Didn't do anything holiday specific. It has
cooled off here - been in the 60s the last
couple of days. The WX people even threatened
of a frost warning in the higher elevations.
It's time to cool off - but too soon to cool
off that much! hihi
I've got to where I don't care for McDonalds -
I like Burger King better if I'm going for a
fast food burger.
Speaking of fish - there's a place in Syracuse
called the Fish Cove. Their fish is darned good!
I'll go out of my way to get some of theirs!
And speaking of fog, and a minor rant - the
brain trust at NASCAR has moved their race at
Watkins Glen next year to May 10th.
Lots of things wrong with that.
1) Mothers day weekend.
2) That race has historically been in August,
and lots of people from around the country go
to it as they're on vacation - not many vacations
in May due do kids being in school or whatever.
3) The ground there is just coming of of winter
and it's SOFT - I've been stuck down there more
than once in May and I know where NOT TO GO!!
4) I've seen May races cancelled due to fog in
May.
Ok rant off...
On the radio front, been play with APRS and the
ISS. I finally have my technique perfected I think,
so I can almost always get a digi with an ISS pass.
That's it for me. BTU Daryl >>>
**
N5VLZ:
Bob, sounds like they are all brown eyed idiots,
because their heads are so far up their butts that
they can see their throats. It probably will be
stormy or foggy that weekend, and the event gets
canceled, and they won't be able to have it, won't
be able to reschedule it, and lose all that money.
As for the fish stuff, hams know where the good food
is. FB on the APRS and ISS...I check into the APRS
Thursday net every week. As for McDonald's, one of
the hams had a gift card there, so he practically
ate for free.
GE Bob (OK), how was your last 2 weeks?? >>>
**
KF5TVG:
GE guys! Glad to be here tonight!
xyls birthday is tomorrow, along with one of our
granddaughters, so we are pulling the youngster
out of school for a b-day lunch. May have fish!!
hi hi
Have been tinkering more with meshtastic...and now
I'm helping several others in the club get started
with it. Be careful about what you ask about...around
here you get tagged as the "go to guy" pretty quick.
I've heard the Mena hamfest is a fun one to go to.
Maybe I'll get to go to it sometime.
We've been struggling with armadillos in our front
yard over the last week and a half. Haven't found a
good repellant yet... suspect they are allergic to
12 guage shells, but the neighbors may frown on that.
That's all from the central plains for now.
BTU Daryl>>>
**
N5VLZ:
GE Rick, be with you momentarily.
Bob, FB on the XYL's and granddaughters birthday...I
know she's glad to get out of school early. On the
"be careful what you ask for", that's the NAVY (Never
Again Volunteer Yourself) Rule that I keep violating
(hi hi). Armadillos are possum on the half shell...too
bad you can't tell the game warden you're hunting (hi
hi). Mena is like a big tailgate party/swapfest. The
worst part is the weather, as it can be snowing, foggy,
flooding rain, hot, or cold...take your pick.
GE Rick, how was your 2 weeks?? >>>
**
VA7RBP:
Good evening Daryl and all on NET.
It has been a good couple of weeks, haven't done much,
though.
The smoke from all the wildfires has been keeping me
indoors.
Doing lots of reading (sci-fi), and the usual morning
PACTOR on 40M and 20M.
T've been chasing a hum in the shack for the past few
days, it's an elusive critter.
But, I think I have it narrowed down to my audio mixer,
might need new caps, or just buy a new mixer, which I
would love to do. The old mixer is a Radio Shack
Realistic 6 channel unit, but I need to move into the
21st century and get something that has USB connectivity
and bluetooth.
Arlene is supposed to hear from the surgery scheduling
people tomorrow regarding her knee replacement surgery.
We are hoping the date will be before the snow flies, as
the high mountain passes are brutal in the Winter.
I managed to add an HF PACKET port on my VA7RBP-7 NODE
using my FT-890, on NET105. It's actually on 14.1023 USB
dial, HF packet on 1000 hz cf and IL2P packet on 2000 hz
CF. Thinking about adding VARA and PACTOR at 1500 hz CF...
we will see...
OK, I think that's about it, so BTU Daryl >>>
**
N5VLZ:
Rick, our ozone index and fire danger are up to moderate,
and no rain is seen for at least a week or two. Hope you
can find the humming critter. Technology is changing so
fast it's dizzying. Hope Arlene can get that surgery done,
as many folks are saying it'll be a bad winter. FB on the
HF Packet deal.
That's it for round 1...back to the top for final comments.
Bob (NY), thanks for the use of the BBS...anything else?? >>>
**
NS2B:
Forgot to mention - an update for BPQ for Windows came out
over the weekend -
I'll take a crack at upgrading the node sometime this week -
hopefully it's painless - it usually is - but now I've
jinxed it!!
That's all for me - everyone have a good week - 73 >>>
**
N5VLZ:
Thanks for being here. BTW, I sent both NS2B and KF5TVG
a photo of us at Mena.
Bob (OK), anything else?? >>>
**
KF5TVG:
No, but thanks for the pic!
And, thanks to you and Bob (NY) for making the net
possible.
Hope all have a great week! 73 and BTU>>>
**
N5VLZ:
73, Bob...have a good week.
Rick, if your email is good on QRZ, I can send it to
you as well. ANything else?? >>>
**
VA7RBP:
Sure, on the photo!
That's all I have for this week, so everyone have a
great week, stay well, and 73 until next time... and
thanks Bob for providing the BBS!
BTU Daryl >>>
**
N5VLZ:
Rick, will send the email shortly...thanks for being
here.
That'll do it for tonight's PCL Net. I'll post the
scribe in the morning, as I have to eat some dinner,
and prep for another net.
Stay safe, healthy, weather aware, and radio-active
(just avoid the shrimp from WalMart (hi hi)).
73 and GN DE N5VLZ >>>
**
Daryl Stout, N5VLZ, Little Rock, Arkansas
Please see my QRZ bio for more information.
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