One of the responsibilities of the Technical Coordinator in the Ohio Section is to submit something for the Section Journal. The Section Journal covers Amateur Radio related things happening in and around the ARRL Ohio Section. It is published by the Section Manager Tom – WB8LCD and articles are submitted by cabinet members.
Once my article is published in the Journal, I will also make it available on my site with a link to the published edition.
You can receive the ARRL Ohio Section Newsletter and other Ohio Section news by joining the mailing list. Anyone can join and do not need to be a member of the ARRL, Ohio Section, or even a ham to join the mailing list. Please sign up!
If you are an ARRL member and reside in the Ohio Section, update your mailing preferences to receive Ohio Section news in your inbox. Those residing outside the Ohio section will need to use the mailing list link above. Updating your ARRL profile will deliver news from the section where you reside (if the leadership chooses to use this method).
- Go to www.arrl.org and click the Login button.
- Login
- When logged in successfully, it will say “Hello <Name>” in place of the Login button where <Name> is your name. Click your Name. This will take you to the “My Account” page.
- On the left hand side, under the “Communication” heading (second from the bottom), click Opt In/Out
- To the right of the “Opt In/Out” heading, click Edit
- Check the box next to “Division and Section News.” If it is already checked, you are already receiving the Ohio Section Journal.
- Click Save
- There should now be a green check mark next to “Division and Section News.” You’re all set!
Now without further ado…
Read the full edition at:
- https://arrl-ohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/OSJ_January_25.pdf
- https://arrl-ohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/OSJ_January_25.docx
Archive index: https://arrl-ohio.org/ohio-section-newsletter/
THE TECHNICAL COORDINATOR
Jeff Kopcak – TC
k8jtk@arrl.net
Hey gang,
When was the last time your operating underwent a major change or ventured to try something new? We all get in our comfort zones and decide, for various reasons, not to go for something different. Going from operating amplifiers and high-end base stations to barefoot and a wire for a POTA activation. Operating digital radios using hotspots to building an HF station or operating at 10 GHz. Even within your local club being a technical resource and change to a leadership position like President/Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer. Maybe help out in a different area assisting the Newsletter editor with publication or contributing content.
Just this past year, I found myself facing new challenges and changes, both personally and professionally. I promise this won’t be riddled with crappy business catch phrases and “tech bro” talk. Primary, I work with firewalls and remote access technologies. Last year, I was on two M&A (merger and acquisitions) projects as lead for Information Security. M&As happen when a company decides to purchase (in part or in whole) another company. The goal of the project is to evaluate the current situation of the company being acquired from a technology perspective. Changes happen to technology and processes which follow the new owner’s standards.
I’m responsible for relaying and enforcing company policy and practices, like when a vendor wants wide open remote access, from the Internet, to the new owner’s network. Hello, Target? Also making sure the right people are involved when the business asks for something related to Information Technology security. This is addition to integrating and configuring technologies I’m responsible. One M&A project was the reason I was able to make a return stop at ARRL HQ last year.
To be cliché, this is where you find yourself. One might be good at technical aspects but find they like administrative tasks or discover one of the billion other things you can do with ham radio. Well-rounded individuals have skills and experiences across various areas, typically making them more desirable in their profession and community.
Need ideas or a place to discover those billions of other things in ham radio, the ARRL has four online publications (or in some cases print):
- QST – monthly publication including news, reviews, technical tips, and projects
- On The Air – for beginners and experts alike covering a wide range of operating interests and topics
- QEX – bimonthly technical publication featuring experimentation, technical articles, and columns for hams and radio professionals
- NCJ – bimonthly contesting journal with hints, stats, scores, and QSO parties
Current ARRL members have access to the latest issues online through the links above or can search past articles. Non-members can find these resources on the ARRL Periodical DVD available for the last couple years via the store (under Station Resources), try the local library, or ask a member to borrow theirs.
Earlier this year was the start of my next major change in ham radio: recovering from storm damage. Or possible tornado – you know, whichever is more attention grabbing. In that article and in addition to the storm damage, I mentioned the shack itself would soon need replacing. Well, soon is now.
This was something that happened over time and due to age. It wasn’t something that happened out of nowhere. If you don’t know or haven’t seen my QSL card, my shack was an old pull-behind travel trailer (also known as an RV trailer or camper). I checked with Mom and it’s older than we thought. The last time it was out and used as a recreational vehicle was about 1998-99. Since then, it was used for storage until I had the bright idea to get on HF about 10 years ago and Dad (SK) thought it would be good to use as a shack.
Even then it was showing its age. A little tar on the roof and some patch work put a stop to major issues. For the time being. With the rain storms just before New Years, it gave up the ghost. It was showing signs of water damage (again) over the summer. By the end of the year, it became too much. No equipment was damaged but New Years Eve was spent shuttling ham gear into the house for safe keeping.
I have been looking out for cabin or shed builders in the area. Maybe I stick with the somewhat mobile theme and get a toy hauler – except the toys would be ham gear. I’ve also seen hams with their shacks in a tool or hobby shed. My preference is to keep the shack isolated from the house if (when?) another lightning bolt takes out the antenna (the first time the antenna was destroyed) it doesn’t cause other issues in the house.
To make matters worse (which just means I have to come up with more solutions), both trees which held up ends of my 100′ wire antenna sustained damage in the August storm and one was removed due to proximity of houses. With no other trees to support a horizontally polarized antenna of that length, I could go vertical or install a solution the neighbors won’t be happy with, or maybe both. A tower would be nice to get my VHF/UHF antennas up higher and some SHF equipment on there too. A possibility would be to setup antennas inside the house as a temporary workaround. You know what they say about workarounds, they become permanent solutions. Alot of things to think about and a lot of work to be done.
I’ve always said my operating interests were computer based and, in recent years, added networking. It looks like mine will shift from mostly digital operation on the HF bands to HT operations using IP devices, such as hotspots, mesh, and maybe more SDRs.
How old is that travel trailer? 45, coming up on 46 years old.
The story of an Alabama broadcaster that received global news coverage, and covered here last March, has taken an unfortunate turn. Owner and general manager of WJLX in Jasper, Alabama, Brett Elmore has died at 41 according to AR Newsline. Elmore made headlines after reporting the AM radio station’s tower was stolen mysteriously overnight last February. The case remains unsolved. No cause of death or what will happen to the AM broadcast station was given.
Thanks for reading and 73… de Jeff – K8JTK