PanhandleARES.org

Due to the winter weather and road conditions the Christmas party has been canceled again. We will discuss possible rescheduling at the next club meeting in January.

STORM SPOTTERS AND WEATHER OBSERVERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELAY ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AMARILLO ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOW TO THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHEAST TEXAS PANHANDLE TO 12 TO 15 INCHES ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AND THE NORTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE.

BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ALONG WITH AREAS OF NEAR WHITEOUT AND NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING DUE TO NORTH WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WIND CHILL VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS LATE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING ACROSS ALL OF THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AND MOST OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

A BLIZZARD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE…AS WELL AS FOR NORTHERN…WESTERN…CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE FOR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR REMAINING SECTIONS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE EXCEPT FOR THE FAR SOUTHEAST PART.

Packet radio is the fourth major digital radio communications mode. Earlier modes were telegraphy (Morse Code), teleprinter (Baudot) and facsimile. Like those earlier modes, packet was intended as a way to reliably transmit written information. The primary advantage was initially expected to be increased speed, but as the protocol developed, other capabilities surfaced.

The technology itself was a leap forward, making it possible for nearly any packet station to act as a digipeater, linking distant stations with each other through ad hoc networks. This makes packet especially useful for emergency communications.

Station configuration

A basic packet radio station consists of a computer or dumb terminal, a modem, and a transceiver with an antenna. Traditionally, the computer and modem are combined in one unit, the terminal node controller (TNC), with a dumb terminal (or terminal emulator) used to input and display data. Increasingly, however, personal computers are taking over the functions of the TNC, with the modem either a standalone unit or implemented entirely in software. Alternatively, multiple manufacturers (including Kenwood and Alinco) now market handheld or mobile radios with built-in TNCs, allowing connection directly to the serial port of a computer or terminal with no other equipment required.

We are currently looking for an experienced packet radio operator to give a presentation to the radio club and ARES group. Please contact KE5ZRT or N5YXN to help out.

To learn more about Packet Radio, CLICK HERE.

The Panhandle Amateur Radio Club Christmas party has been rescheduled for Tuesday December 20th. Please join us at Dyer’s Barbecue at 7:00 PM. Preregistration is not necessary.

The consenus is that we should cancel the Christmas Party that was to be held tomorrow night (12/6/11).

We will try to reschedule for another time and/or place. When this is done we will notify everyone.

Please put the word out…

73,

Bob