Month: April 2018
Skynet 4-28-18 “10 Weird Objects” & Constellation Canes Venatici 9PM CT
SKYNET!!!! 9PM CT – 10:30PM CT
Saturday’s Topic: “10 Weirdest Objects in the Universe” and “Tour of the Constellation Canes Venatici”
Net Control: Billye KF5PDS
Afterglow Movie 10:30PM: Battlefield Earth (2000)
2-Meter Repeater W5FC: 146.880MHz, PL 110.9, –
Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.
Youtube.com Search “DARC Skynet”
Facebook.com Search “DARC Skynet”
Twitch.tv Search “KE5ICX”
Direct Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCishlh8WmW7OXy9Q6sxsaag
Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skynet
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/
Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Discussion topic of the evening.
The 10 Weirdest Objects in the Universe
What can you see in the sky over the next couple of weeks? Continue reading
Tech Net News 04-28-2018
On the air, we have a few operating activities in progress this weekend. The 10-10 International Spring Digital Contest is probably the biggest, but there’s the Florida QSO Party, too.
If you like an interesting communications challenge, don’t forget that the annual Armed Forces Day cross-band communications test is coming up on May 12th.
Because it will take place on the first day of the month, our next club meeting would be easy to miss by accident. Don’t do that! Our next meeting will be this coming Tuesday, May 1st. Tim, K5TCJ, is going to give us a high-level overview of what the new FT8 digital mode is—and what it isn’t. We’ll see a video of an actual FT8 QSO, too.
Tech Net News 04-21-2018
We’ve got some fun coming up! The next Lecture and Lab, a week from today, should be a blast; I really want a cheap little software defined receiver to play with. The North Texas Mentorfest is coming up next weekend, too.
Our next club meeting on Tuesday, May 1st, is going to focus on the new FT8 digital mode. President Bill tells me that Tim, K5TCJ, will give us a high-level overview of what FT8 is—and what it isn’t—and we’ll see a video of an actual FT8 QSO.
On the air, it’s another active Spring weekend. The QRP in the Field and International Marconi Day events will be wrapping up before the net begins, and the Worked All Provinces of China should provide a challenge to amateurs with well-equipped HF stations and low noise floors. There are also QSO parties in Nebraska, Michigan, and Ontario.
If you’re looking for a really unique listening experience, the historic SAQ station in Sweden will try broadcasting on May 1st…at 17.2 kHz. You’re going to need a long, long wire—but you can receive the station with a computer sound card.
Skynet 4-21-18 The Voyager Missions (Part 3) & Constellation Ursa Major 9PM CT
SKYNET!!!! 9PM CT – 10:30PM CT
Saturday’s Topic: “The Voyager Missions (Part 3)” and “Tour of the Constellation Ursa Major”
Net Control: Kelley K5KTX
Afterglow Movie 10:30PM:
“Starship Invasions” (1977)
2-Meter Repeater W5FC: 146.880MHz, PL 110.9, –
Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.
Youtube.com Search “DARC Skynet”
Facebook.com Search “DARC Skynet”
Twitch.tv Search “KE5ICX”
Direct Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCishlh8WmW7OXy9Q6sxsaag
Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skynet
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/
Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Discussion topic of the evening.
The Voyager Missions (Part 3)
Voyager Interstellar Mission, the Pale Blue Dot, and the Golden Record
WMPLOTA 2018
WMPLOTA 2018 – “Wallmart Parking Lots On the Air” is a special event and award scheme for amateur radio satellite operators that encourages the practice of portable operation in the ubiqitous and easily accessible location of Walmart parking lots. Scheduled to take place Apr 28-29, 2018 Additional details and links on the official web site http://wmplota.org
Lecture and Lab 4/28/18 – SDR Radio on the Cheap! 10AM – 2PM
Our next “Lecture and Lab” will delve into the Software
Defined Radio (SDR) receiver. We’ll be using the
venerable RTL2832 AD Chip in an inexpensive USB
dongle. You’ve seen them, but you’ve never played
around with one. Well now you can!
Skynet 4-14-18 Tracking Apollo 8 by Telescope & Constellation Leo Minor 9PM CT
SKYNET!!!! 9PM CT – 10:30PM CT
Saturday’s Topic: “Tracking Apollo 8 by Telescope” and “Tour of the Constellation Leo Minor”
Net Control: Tom KE5ICX
Afterglow Movie 10:30PM: WarGames (1983)
2-Meter Repeater W5FC: 146.880MHz, PL 110.9, –
Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/
Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCishlh8WmW7OXy9Q6sxsaag
Discussion topic of the evening.
Tracking Apollo 8 by Telescope!
Radio In The Park Day – May 6 2018
Save the date! On Sunday afternoon 1pm May 6, 2018 the DARC will be out at Custer Park in Richardson for Radio In The Park Day.
Tech Net News 04-14-2018

It’s a busy weekend in the world of Ham Radio. The ARRL Rookie roundup will be taking place from 13:00 to 18:59 local time tomorrow, and the Yuri Gagarin International Contest runs until 16:00 local on Sunday. There are also QSO parties taking place for Georgia, North Dakota, and New Mexico.
Our next Lecture and Lab will be about a really fun software-defined receiver. To participate, just bring $20.00 and any computer—even a Raspberry Pi—to the 3rd-floor community room of the Dallas Medical Center at 10:00 am on April 28th. You’ll leave with a wealth of knowledge and a neat, metal-cased USB receiver with an adapter to connect it to a PL-259. If a USB-powered receiver isn’t your thing, the North Texas Mentorfest will be taking place in Rowlett on the same day; I hope you’ll visit one or both!
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