K5TAL Net Report, 21 Feb 2018

The K5TAL Wednesday Night American Legion Net on 3.815 MHz was called into session at 1830CST (0030Z) by NCS KA5DON. Band conditions were fair to poor with band being up and down on strength of signals. Announcements from the February Net included the American Legion 99th Birthday Special Event on March 10 from 1300 EST to 1900 EST on 14.275, 7.225, IRLP Node 9735 and Echolink *CrossRoads* Conference Node. See note below for additional comments and special guest National Commander Denise Rohan's comments. 13 check-ins. No VHF or digital check-ins due to national commander’s visit.
KA5DON Post 1992, Gautier, MS
KB5AGW Post 1992, Gautier, MS
K5CUB Post 1992, Gautier, MS
KE8AVT Post Commander, Post 24, Waterville, MI
KE8GKY Post 170, Three Rivers, MI (Snowbird in Clarksville, TX)
KB4TC Post Commander, Post 46, Danville, KY
W4OZA Post 35, Columbus, GA
W5JGW Retired AF, Non-AL, Biloxi, MS
KB5PCI Post 119, Gulfport, MS
W5TUT AL Member, Hattiesburg, MS
WD4NG Post 193, Chapin, SC
KE5BSB AL/TALARC Tremont, MS
K4FT Post 46, Crab Orchard, KY
OPENED 0030Z CLOSED 0050
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NATIONAL COMMANDER DENISE ROHAN ADDRESSED THE GROUP FROM POST 1992. DURING HER BRIEF COMMENTS, SHE EXPRESSED THE GRATITUDE OF TEXAS, FLORIDA AND PUERTO RICO TO THE HAMS WHO PASSED TRAFFIC DURING THE HURRICANES, AND TO ALL HAMS INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.
COMMENTS WERE TAKEN FROM THE CHECK-INS, AND WHILE SOME WERE ONLY ABLE TO CLEARLY HEAR THE FIRST PORTION OF HER COMMENTS, SOME THE SECOND HALF OF HER COMMENTS, THERE WERE SOME WHO WERE ABLE TO CLEARLY HEAR ALL OF HER COMMENTS DUE TO THE UNDULATING BAND CONDITIONS.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A DIGITAL NET USING OLIVIA 8/500 MODE. THERE WERE A FEW WHO COMMENTED THAT THEY SEE THE NEED OF LEARING DIGITAL MODES, AND WOULD WELCOME A NET AS A LEARNING PLATFORM.
SUGGESTION: DOWNLOAD FLDIGI (FREE GOOGLE IT) AND GET IT SET UP ON YOUR RADIO. THEN, LOOK INTO THE PURCHASE OF A SOUNDCARD MODEM SUCH AS SIGNALINK ALONG WITH SPECIFIC CABLE TO CONNECT TO YOUR RADIO.
THAT SETUP WILL ALLOW EVERY DIGITAL MODE THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS EXCEPT PACTOR.
THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THE DIGITAL MODES, YOU CAN TURN YOUR AUDIO OFF BECAUSE YOU ONLY NEED THE MONITOR ON YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN.

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73
Don
KA5DON