About The Cabot Nightflyers Net And Its History
The Cabot Nightflyers Net was created in order to promote amateur radio activities during the late evening hours, for those operators and listeners that might not be available during times of the day when the majority of normal net activities tend to occur.
As noted on this page, the net went on hiatus several years ago...and attempts to revive it were ''put on hold'' by Net Founder, Steve Tune, KC5FWE. He says he still wants to revive the net at some point, but there is no indication of if, or when that might be. Note that the webmaster, Daryl Stout, has changed his callsign to N5VLZ.
The purpose of the net was to provide training, amateur radio fellowship, and to promote discussion on a variety of topics that include both radio-related items, as well as other items not necessarily related to radio (as long as they are FCC legal). The net had covered a wide variety of topics that included topics on emergency communications training and preparedness, introduction to newer modes of radio communications, VHF/UHF weak signal operations, and even such topics as technology assisting those with disablities.
The general net format was participatory in nature...meaning that all operators who checked into the net were encouraged to act as part of the net by contributing their thoughts and comments on net topics and/or other discussion activities.
Note that if there is thunderstorm activity in the central Arkansas area at net time, the net may be shortened, or cancelled that evening...to both protect from lightning damage...and to leave the net frequency clear to assist with possible weather related traffic..
1) KC5FWE, Steve, Cabot, AR (Net Control)
2) WX1DER, Daryl, Little Rock, AR (Webmaster)(now N5VLZ)
3) KC0EQA, Doug, Denver, CO
4) KF5TKF, Stephen, Conway, AR
5) KG5LWK, Garland, Vilonia, AR
6) KG5CYU, Richard, Gravel Ridge, AR
7) KG5NBJ, Paige, Vilonia, AR
8) AE5NW, Patrick, Conway, AR
9) KG5CSE, Jarrod, Conway, AR
10) KG5CSC, Amanda, Conway, AR
11) AF5WN, Mason, Cabot, AR
12) KK5WA, Darrin, Beebe, AR
13) KC5ETZ, Mare, Beebe, AR
14) KG5OTJ, Stephen, Cabot, AR
15) KG5PEB, Tom, Bryant, AR
16) KD7CYO, Bruce, Sherwood, AR
17) KG5PBF, Chris, Pine Bluff, AR
18) W5STO, Brad, Conway, AR
19) KJ5SF, Stan, Searcy, AR
A recording of the Pre-Net Music Show can be found here. A recording of the Net can be found here -- (Presentation begins at 23:30.
The 2015 Halloween Net Presentation was on ''The Mystery Surrounding The Ghosts of Flight 401''.
A recording of the Net Presentation and comments can be found here. A link to the Pre-Net Music Show is located here. A special thanks to the Cabot S.T.A.R.S. Club for the use of their Echolink node for the net.
A recording of both the 10/30/2014 Halloween GME Music Show and Special Format Net can be found at:
We had a number of first time checkins, and several are getting close to either getting their
Nightflyer number, or entering the Century Club. Keep up the good work, Nightflyer Nation!! As always, a big thanks to everyone who checked in, and for their comments.
As always, a big thanks to everyone who checked in, and for their comments.
Pre-Net Show (Audio was apparently a little hot, but it
improved after about 10 minutes)...and the Net itself.
Other recordings of the net, with the May 6, 2012 Net can be found with the GME Pre-Net Music Show,
and the actual net (presentation and comments only). These were done
by Steve, KC5FWE.
A recording of the Dec. 4, 2011 net is in 2 parts...part 1, and
part 2 (comments).
For those who inquired about a recording of the Pre-Net Show, for this special occasion, we apparently did get a
successful recording so, for a limited time, it is available here.
Information on history of TAPS begins at about the 31:00 minute mark on the pre-net show.
The first one is a report on satellite work by N5NBJ, Jason, and AJ5C, Bob.
The second one is a brief overview of Amateur Satellites. Further pictures and videos can be found here.
''These are the pictures that I mentioned on the Halloween net. As you can see, there is some kind of energy that showed up in the pictures. There was no flash...just the light from above the garage. Under the truck, you can see something strange, and there is no way it could be a reflection. What do you think?''
2) For those who were able to join us for the Special Format Net on Feb. 15, 2009, the video for thermal imaging at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was done by TAPS during the filming of ''Ghost Hunters''; and can be found here.
July 20, 2008 - Cabot Nightflyers Net has it's first presentation by an official guest speaker. The presentation was on the topic of Technology for the visually impaired - a brief history and how it relates to ham radio, and it was given by special guest speaker Scott Berry (N7ZIB) via Echolink.
August 10, 2008 - First official Nightflyer Certificate with official Nightflyer number is issued via e-mail.
August 24, 2008 - First Cabot Nightflyers Net with more than 10 checkins.
October 19, 2008 - Cabot Nightflyers Net web site is officially launched on Geocities.
October 29-30, 2008 - First Holiday Special Edition Net takes place - Halloween Special Edition Nightflyers Net.
December 14, 2008 - Tenth official Nightflyer number and certificate are issued.
February 22, 2009 - First official Cabot Nightflyers Net is broadcast on the internet, via live streaming audio from the Cabot Nightflyers website.
August, 2009 - Cabot Nightflyers groups are set up on the Arkansas Amateur Radio Operators Social Network, and the Facebook social networking websites. Unfortunately, the Arkansas Amateur Radio Operators Social Network is no longer available.
October, 26, 2009 - The original Cabot Nightflyers website, off of Geocities, is shut down. The site was moved to a link off of the homepage of AE5WX.
Nov. 2, 2009 - A new domain and Guestbook were obtained for the Cabot Nightflyers, at http://www.thecabotnightflyers.net...with redirection pages at the old links.
Dec. 20, 2009 - Two special milestones were reached during the special Christmas format net:
1) Thanks to the relay assistance of several stations, this was the first Cabot Nightflyers Net to officially take checkins from the Nightflyer Chatbox on the website.
2) This was the first Cabot Nightflyers Net to officially surpass the 20 checkin mark, with a record setting 23 checkins. This record may be broken with future nets.
Dec. 27, 2009 - Due to scheduling conflicts, this was the last night the net met at its ORIGINAL start time, of 10pm Central Time. The start time for the net was MOVED BACK ONE HOUR, to 9pm, Central Time, effective with the Jan. 3, 2010 net.
Jan. 3, 2010 - The net now meets at 9pm, U.S. Central Time on Sunday. With the new time, which is apparently MUCH BETTER for all concerned...we BROKE THE RECORD of 23 checkins that was set on Dec. 20, 2009; there were 28 checkins on the Jan. 3, 2010 net.
Apr. 11, 2010 - The Special Format Net on Storm Spotter And Storm Chaser Safety with Shane, KF5FBR, as Guest Net Control...BROKE THE RECORD with 30 checkins... surpassing the previous record of 28 checkins that was set on the Jan. 3, 2010 Net.
July 11, 2010 - A new record was set on the net, with 33 checkins...breaking the previous record of 30 checkins set 3 months ago. The new 33 checkin record was tied again on the Mar. 6, 2011 net.
August 15, 2010 - Reached the half-century mark for Cabot Nightflyers Certificates earned. For a list of members on the net who have obtained their certificates, with at least 5 checkins, click here.
Nov. 21, 2010 - Reached the century mark for Cabot Nightflyers members reaching 100 checkins. Members of the Cabot Nightflyers Century Club have an exclamation point (!) beside their Nightflyers Number, located here.
Mar. 13, 2011 - A new record was set on the net, with 39 checkins...breaking the previous record of 33 checkins that was set on July 11, 2010, and tied on March 6, 2011.
Oct. 30, 2011 - A new record was set on the net, with 40 checkins...breaking the previous record of 39 checkins that was set on Mar. 13, 2011.
Dec. 25, 2011 - In the holiday spirit, several courtesy checkins were given to those stations who check into the net regularly, but were unable to do so, for whatever reason that evening. That set a new record for checkins, at 47... breaking the previous record of 40 checkins that was set on Oct. 30, 2011.
Jan. 15, 2012 - With courtesy checkins to the stations that regularly checkin to the net...as well as to the others who checked in, a new record of 49 checkins was set...breaking the previous record of 47 checkins that was set on Dec. 25, 2011.
Feb. 5, 2012 - With courtesy checkins to the stations that regularly checkin to the net...as well as to the others who checked in, a new record of 53 checkins was set...breaking the previous record of 49 checkins that was set on Jan. 15, 2012.
Feb. 12, 2012 - With courtesy checkins to the stations that regularly checkin to the net...as well as to the others who checked in, a new record of 57 checkins was set...breaking the previous record of 53 checkins that was set on Feb. 5, 2012.
Mar. 18, 2012 - With courtesy checkins to the stations that regularly checkin to the net...as well as to the others who checked in, a new record of 58 checkins was set...breaking the previous record of 57 checkins that was set on Feb. 12, 2012.
Apr. 1, 2012 - With courtesy checkins to the stations that regularly checkin to the net...as well as to the others who checked in, a new record of 59 checkins was set...breaking the previous record of 58 checkins that was set on Mar. 18, 2012.
Apr. 8, 2012 - With courtesy checkins to the stations that regularly checkin to the net...as well as to the others who checked in, a new record of 60 checkins was set...breaking the previous record of 59 checkins that was set on Apr. 1, 2012.
May 13, 2012 - Due to several issues in recent weeks, the net was forced to reduce its on the air presence. This was the last regularly scheduled weekly net, although additional Special Format Nets will be announced in the future, on this page.