[SBE] Hamnets

[Tom Bosscher]

Barry,

     The IRLP/Echolink "Hams in Broadcast" conference bridge 
is a 24/7 conduit/platform for anyone in broadcast to talk 
to anyone in broadcast. A conscious decision was made to 
call the conference bridge "Hams in Broadcast". Not just 
engineers, but news people, operations mangers and others in 
broadcasting are invited. Even Herb Tarlek. As the host of 
the IRLP/Echolink "Hams in Broadcast" conference bridge, I 
see no benefit is "allowing" only engineers on it, nor 
excluding any class of ham radio license.
     So that conference bridge is there 24/7. Now, even 
though it is open to anyone in broadcasting, the reality is 
that 99% of those using it are "us" engineers. TV and radio, 
it makes no difference. And if your ham license is tech, 
general or extra class, you are allowed!

     Within the use of this platform, we encourage those 
involved with the SBE to join the twice a month SBE 
sanctioned "Hamnet Chapter on the Air", that is hosted out 
of Denver. That net meets at 1 pm ET, on the 1st and 3rd 
Saturdays of the month. I'm very sure that the net controls 
for that net encourage everyone to check in, whether an SBE 
member or not. To make a picture, the official SBE Hamnet 
out of Denver, uses the "Hams in Broadcast" conference bridge.

     In addition, we have started a  Sunday night at 8 PM 
ET, a very informal "Hams in Broadcasting" net. Everyone is 
encouraged to check in. Again, the preponderance of 
check-ins will be engineers, and that it OK. Brew, WA2ZST is 
the Toastmaster of that net. He's a great guy for the job.

       And outside of those nets, anyone in broadcasting is 
encouraged anytime to drop in on the "Hams in Broadcast" 
conference bridge. If a local repeater has an IRLP or 
Echolink node, use that. Otherwise, the software for 
Echolink is free, and you can set up your own node at your 
work or home computer. In addition, there are apps out for 
Echolink for the I-phone and the Androids, and we had 3 or 4 
check-ins using those. That is cool.

     One minor but critical note. If there ever is a nation, 
regional or local disaster that requires the use of the 
conference bridge, that situation gets the priority use of 
the bridge. Common sense here. At the same time, for the 
next Katrina, the conference bridge is there for broadcast 
engineers across the country to talk to each for any need, 
such as looking for critical parts to get a station back on 
the air, or help with a situation.

     The use of the conference bridge costs no one anything. 
It is owned by Mike, KB8ZGL, and he pays for any physical 
cost. He has turned over IRLP reflector # 9615 and Echolink 
bridge # 96150 to me as its host.

     Things are different today. Not only do we have the 
email reflectors for the engineers across the country ask 
each other questions, we now have this way cool conference 
bridge for hams in broadcasting to talk to each other.

     Tom Bosscher K8TB   Host of "Hams in Broadcast" 
IRLP/Echolink conference bridge


On 5/9/2011 12:26 PM, Barry Thomas, CPBE CBNT wrote:

> Tom;

>

> Thanks for your post.

>

> For the non-hams on this list, what is your Hamnet on 

> contrast or in respect to the SBE "Chapter of the Air?"

>

> http://www.sbe.org/sections/IRLP.php

>

>

>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/sbe/attachments/20110510/9ba57812/attachment.htm>