SBE HAMnet

Want to receive an email reminder the day before, and the hour before, each monthly SBE HAMnet broadcast (HF or IRLP)?  Members of the SBE can contact Scott Jones at the SBE National Office at kjones@sbe.org or (317) 846-9000. Provide Scott with the email address you wish to use and he will add you to the list to receive timely email reminders!

HAMnet, the Society of Broadcast Engineers’, “Chapter of the Air,” was developed more than 25 years ago for those HAM operator-members who are not in close proximity to local SBE chapters. It’s a great way for broadcast engineers and other amateurs (all are welcome) to contact one another, share technical information, discuss broadcasting techniques and get the latest information on SBE programs and activities on a monthly basis

The HF HAMnet takes place on the second Sunday of every month at 2400 GMT. Hal Hostetler, CPBE, WA7BGX, serves as net control. The published frequency is 14.205MHz. Occasionally, that frequency is busy and you may need to move up (no more than 10kHz) to find the SBE meeting. Hal is a long-time member and lives in Tucson, AZ.

On Monday nights, HAMnet is on The Internet Repeater Linking Project, or IRLP.  The SBE IRLP HAMnet is based in Denver using the repeater 449.625 (in Denver, 141.3pl),  IRLP Node #9615, Echolink *SBE*, or node #96150 on the first and third Mondays of each month at 9:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern Time, 6:00 p.m. Pacific. The SBE IRLP Reflector, Node 9615 is connected to the world via Echolink.  Amateurs can access the reflector via Echolink using a computer as well as via radio.  This reflector is also connected to the WA2CBS repeater in New York City.  The Echolink connection is via Node #96150, or *SBE*.

The IRLP is a method of connecting different repeaters across the country and the world via the Internet. A ham in Denver, using the N0PQV repeater for example, enters a 4-digit node number to connect to, 9615 the Great Lakes Repeater Group IRLP reflector in Grand Rapids, MI. For the SBE IRLP HAMnet, the net control station connects to the Denver IRLP reflector, which allows other repeaters and the Echolink system from all over the world to connect to it, creating a net that all can hear from their local repeater or computer.

Jack Roland, (KEØVH) CBRE, CBNT, AMD, who developed the idea of using the IRLP as a way to get SBE members together, said, “We came up with the idea for this net because the SBE HF “Chapter of the Air” is not always accessible by hams who cannot erect HF antennas and because of the HF band’s susceptibility to HF radio propagation characteristics.” Jack is the Denver-based Colorado/SE Wyoming/Western Nebraska Educational Media Foundations KLove/Air 1 regional engineer.

This Amateur Radio net, called The SBE IRLP HAMnet, is a great way for broadcast engineers and other amateurs (any and all are welcome) to contact one another, share technical information, discuss broadcasting techniques and get the latest information on SBE programs and activities. IRLP HAMnet and the HF SBE HAMnet, are official functions of the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

For more information about the IRLP net and how to participate, go to  http://www.ke0vh.com/net/net.html or, you can contact Jack Roland, KEØVH, net control at ke0vh@q.com.