DELARA NEWS is the monthly publication of the Delaware Amateur Radio Association, Delaware OH.
March, 2019 VOL 38 Number 3
Welcome
This is the official newsletter of a great ham radio club! Our DELARA family appreciates what
you’re doing with the hobby! Why not take a few minutes and write out what interests you in
our hobby! We have room for your article always! Send it to Stan [at] standi.com by the end of
the month.
There’s always something to do!
The best thing about our hobby is the variety of avenues
Amateur Radio has always been noted for its technical developments. Many of us remember
walking around with a “brick” (crystal-controlled hand held) actually dialing and talking on the
phone- much to the amazement of others. Many have played with real-time, color television or
“slow scan” across HF. Eyebrows raised when we talked about our own satellites in orbit strictly
for ham radio use, and it still draws attention when an amateur station makes contact with the
occupants of the International Space Station. Of course lately it’s been advances in the linking
of computers to radios. And interest is actually growing for good ol’ CW. The bottom line is just
about when you’ve reached the limit of your attention in one aspect, several others are right
there!
The Prez’s Shack
The Prez’s Shack
It is March, time to venture bravely from our warm, snug shacks and into the nice Spring
weather. I do not think that Buckeye Chuck’s early Spring prediction was very accurate but,
hopefully, we are turning the corner and can put the snow blowers away and get the lawn
mowers ready to go.
I have not paid much attention, but the home improvement stores have probably been putting
big stacks of lawn fertilizer and weed killers out just like they put Christmas stuff out in July. So
we know the new season is upon us.
I know one thing that I’m going to have start getting used to again is grounding my antennas
when I’m done operating for a while. It is also time for us to pay attention to threats of severe
weather that can brew up around this time of year. Many counties have emergency alerts that
one can sign up for in order to get a heads-up on severe weather and several apps for smart
devices are available that can show weather radar views and also issue alerts. If you would like
to get a deeper education into the severe weather business, the National Weather Service offers
classes in each county for free. Some require pre-registration and can be found by going to the
NWS web site, looking for the Wilmington office and searching for weather observer training.
The Wilmington office covers the central Ohio area.
Stay safe enjoy the warmer temperatures. It’s also a good time to get those long-planned
antenna projects completed before the hot days of summer roll in, which might be in May the
way our weather works.
We look forward to seeing you at our March meeting, March 20, 7:30 EDT, at the Delaware Red
Cross, 380 Hills-Miller Road. Everybody is welcome, no amateur radio license required.
73, Joe, AA8TA
Tornado!!
Tornado season got off to an early
start down south, with a history-
making outbreak that claimed
around 23 lives in Alabama. We
know that cycle will soon follow the
spring weather patterns into our
areas. Later in the DELARA News,
look for info on the Delaware
County severe weather training.
If you’re new, we do not have a
specific weather net for Delaware
County. We are covered by one of
the oldest nets at Columbus- the
Central Ohio Severe Weather Net.
(COSWN). Anytime you hear of
watches or warnings, make sure
you have a radio on the 146.76
repeater (123 tone) for COSWN.
The “Weather Net” is directly linked
to Wilmington NWS to receive and
report significant activity. It’s not
unusual that a trained ham radio
operator turns in something before
or just as it becomes a threat0- thus
saving lives in the process!
Our training session is set for April
4, 7-9PM A new location: Delaware
County Board of Developmental
Disabilities (Rt. 23 and Orange Rd.
No pre-registration is requested.