[NFB-Hams] hf nets for the group, some thoughts and other items

[Richard]

Greetings colleagues,

Sorry I got to the meeting the other late, got braindead and forgot to 
factor in eastern time, so was late getting there, but did get involved in 
some of the discussion of hf nets.

I do occasionally check into the cross country blind hams group that my 
friend Lloyd operates on Sunday afternoons, when I can hear him and he can 
hear me.  Maybe with some sunspots returning we'll actually have some 
propagation and more participation.

I don't have 75 meter capability, no antenna for the band these days, but 
am running a barefoot  Icom 746 pro to an mfj 40 through 2 meter vertical.

I've often thought that a 40 meter net for the group during the evening 
hours would be great.
Even if I had 75/80 meters that band is too populated with nets and 
various ragchew groups of a night.  This is partially due to tradition, 
back when 40 meters was inundated with broadcasters lots of folks avoided 
phone activity on 40 at night, but these days we could probably do 
something in the low end of the general portion of 40 and do quite well 
after sundown.

I'm willing to help organize and even run with the baton.  I"m suggesting 
0200 UTC on a week night.  Daytime workers could participate and still get 
to their local nightly newscast before bed, and during most of the year 
we're going to have nighttime propagation characters and that will help.

I'm pretty much good any night but Tuesdays for this one.  Those with 
capabilities for 7 megahertz let me know which night you'd prefer, and 
suggestions of possible frequencies within the general class privilege 
portion of the band, and w'ell go from ther.

For those without transmit capabilities such as our technician class ops 
this will maybe give you an excuse to get a general coverage receiver and 
tune in as well.  IF we get a good enough group we might actually get some 
discussions going that might benefit a lot of our newcomers.

NOw on another topic ...

I note with some interest the discussion at general convention session on 
stem education etc.
WE older blind hams might know of severla educational resources that might 
be of use to young people interested in the stem fields.
The Smith Kettelwell technical file comes to mind immediately.  Lots of 
projects there that are useful to blind folks such as adaptive measuring 
equipment etc.  Many of them are fairly simple to build as well.

Our division could be a resource for the stem educators etc.

Finally, I'm glad i finally reconnected with the list.

73

Richard, nf5b