SACRAMENTO VALLEY SECTION WEB RESOURCES
Section News: www.arrlsacvalley.org
Section Nets: http://sites.google.com/site/arrlsacvalley/nets
Sacramento Valley ARES: www.sacvalleyares.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ARRLSacramentoValley
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARRL_SV
Thanks to Greg Kruckewitt KG6SJT for maintaining our Section ARES web page and assisting with our Facebook page and Twitter feed.
Thanks to Les Cobb W6TEE for maintaining the Section Net list.
ARRL Affiliated Club web resources are now listed on this web page
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County Fire Takes down KE6YUV Berryessa Repeater
Posted July 10, 2018
The County Fire converged onto the Berryessa repeater site on June 30 taking down the KE6YUV repeater as well as the packet nodes KBERR, BERRY, and BERR37. The web site http://www.barkradio.org shows more info
On July 4 the Berryessa Amateur Radio Club received Cal OES photos of the County Fire damage to the repeater site showing the melted antennas and coax cables.
By July 8 Thanks to major efforts of Bill, K6KN, and Ken, K6WLS, KBERR/BERRY packet node were back on the air using a temporary antenna & coax, & shifting the functioning solar to KBERR radio, it was ready for use. The repeater was next for repair.
From Section Affiliated Club Coordinator, Max Soucia, N1KGS
Posted March 11
Hi Sac Valley Hams. I’m the newly appointed section Affiliated Club Coordinator. I’ve been a ham for 28 years or there about. I relocated from northern Maine in 2009 after I retired where I was Section Emergency Coordinator and I helped write and develop the original EC 101 course. I was an online mentor for EmComm for several years. I’m a big cheerleader for Amateur Radio’s ability to assist in emergencies when nothing else works. As such I’m a proponent of ARRL affiliation for the support we can give it in return for the technical and particularly legislative support they provide. In the present atmosphere of monetizing all aspects of society we will be feeling more and more pressure to privatize the EM spectrum including our slivers of it. Witness the development and expansion of 5G services. Protection and expansion of our spectrum is where we as individual hams can benefit from League activity as we support them with sheer numbers through membership and club affiliation.
I’ll be contacting each ARRL affiliated club in the Sacramento Valley Section over the coming weeks to update your club information and to help bring your League affiliation up to date if needed. I also want to visit each club over the coming months for an eyeball QSO. There is much of Northern California I have not seen and I’m looking forward to the travel. In the meantime, if you want assistance in utilizing the benefits of affiliation such as club insurance, or updating your Special Service Club status or have questions about any of these issues or just want to rag chew my cell number is (916) 607 6524 and my email is N1KGS@arrl.net.
73 de Max Soucia, N1KGS, Affiliated Club Coordinator, Sacramento Valley Section, ARRL
Sacramento Valley ARES Volunteer Activity Report
Posted July 10, 2018
Total volunteer hours for June 2796.18
Section Information for FSD-96
ARRL Section: Sacramento Valley Section
Month: June
Year: 2018
Total number of ARES members: 376 change: 1 +
Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 21
Number of ARES nets active: 86
Number of nets with NTS liaison: 13
Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KJ6IYM, KJ6WYW, N5BMU, KI6YUK, N7JIL, KF6OBI, KI6NHP, KA7AJQ, N6CKV, KB6FMZ, KJ6HNP, K6WLS, KK6EVX, KK6LDS, KJ6OCL, KG6SJT, K6ME, W6RWL, KE6GLA, KI6WAN, N5TEN
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 79
Person hours: 1538.68
Number of public service events this month: 17
Person hours: 1257.5
Number of emergency operations this month: 0
Person Hours 0
Total number of ARES operations this month: 96
Total Person hours: 2796.18
Comments:
KJ6WYW, Daniel L. Edwards: Good Field Day in Walmart parking lot
KI6YUK, DL "Larry" Trotter: The month started out with the SBTS Lost & Found Bike Event, 45, 60 and 100 mile rides, all done on Simplex (we were all pretty surprised). Since May, we have been gearing-up for a 3-County (Plumas, Lassen and Sierra) EmComm Drill with Health Care facilities, a first for the Northern Sierras and Southern Cascade counties: over 8,000 square miles and about 58,000 people now have back-up communications, in the event of a CommDark scenario. Turned out to be a success! More work ahead to develop and fine-tune, but it's a good start. Our VEs gave a Tech Class and with an assist from SNARS, gave a Technician Test to 13 folks on the 30th, 11 of whom passed plus one General to Amateur Extra Class. The youngest Tech was 10 years old! (Start 'em early) Many Thanks to our Instructors and VEs for a great Session. A long and full month on the Plumas!
KF6OBI, Michael A. Ellithorp: Field Day 2018, not much fun because of heat and wind, but lots of education for club members. Club station KJ6HCG operated 2ASV and made 14 solid contacts. See our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KJ6HCG/
KA7AJQ, Sheila Clement: 2018 June Alpine/Douglas Comment Our DCART (Douglas County Amateur Radio Team) members participated with several area events this month: The Viet Nam Moving Wall Memorial, the Pony Express Reride, Field Day, and the Alta Alpina Challenge ride in Alpine County. Also planning is taking place for the annual Tour of the California Alps/Death Ride in Alpine County. The Churchill Amateur Radio Society hosted a Field Day at Lake Tahoe. Jeff Brown, K5BLS, our Douglas County Comm Tech, and President of C.A.R.S, and our 911 Director, Ron Sagen, have planned for our DCART Center to receive all brand new Yaesu Fusion radio equipment including an FT-991A in the coming year. The CARS repeater was an important resource during the early part of the Pony Express ReRide. The Pony Express ReRide from West to East, June 21 to 23, across Nevada, was supported by pony followers, relays and base stations. The hotline was updated as well and texts were sent to participating parties. The SIERA (Sierra Intermountain Emergency Radio Association) has provided communications for the Ride from 1989 to 2018 (29 years). Many DCART members are also SIERA so we have a great interaction. One of our members and SIERA member, Tom, KE7NCJ, coordinated and planned this event's Amateur Radio communications part for this ReRide. John, KD7NHC, put in 58 hours and 1147 miles following the pony to Ibapah, Utah. For Field Day, SIERA members put up stations at the Douglas County Airport. Many members rushed back from their Pony assignments to participate. The SIERA emergency communications trailer was a key feature. A lot goes into the trailer's maintenance and engineering. June 30th, DCART supported the Alta Alpina Challenge Ride cycling event- mostly taking place in Alpine County. DCART members staffed our 911 station all day to facilitate any incidents into the 911 system that might happen in communications dark spots. July 14 brings the "Death Ride" (Tour of the California Alps) cycling event in Alpine County. And the Nevada State Amateur Radio Convention (NVCON) comes to the Boomtown Casino Hotel in Reno, July 20-22 2018. nvcon.org Sheila Clement, KA7AJQ ARES Emergency Coordinator Alpine and Douglas Countyies
N6CKV, Carl First: There was good participation in Field Day and the Western States 100 Mile run
KJ6OCL, KARL FISHER: This month we provided communications for two horse events and one bicycle event.
KG6SJT, Gregory Kruckewitt: Work on Winlink forms, meetings with ARES groups, Western State Endurance Ride NC,
KE6GLA, Jay Harmor: Pony Express Ride support
N5TEN, Scott A. Schlefstein: June 26th: A Tri-County Emergency Radio Comms drill was activated, with Plumas ARS, Sierra County Offices, Sierra County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Loyalton Skilled Nursing Facility, Eastern Plumas Hospital, Lassen ARC and the Sierra County EC (N5TEN) on simplex from Sierra Brooks HF Station/Repeater site. N5TEN was able to communicate with Plumas ARC in Quincy California via 146.550, testing signal with 10 watts to 160 watts off a 20 element yagi at 100% pure communications quality both ways. Sierra Brooks was also in communication with the Loyalton Hospital ham station, operated by John Mitchell W1RK of Calpine (Sierra County). The drill was a success and insurance for when EMS and law enforcement lose all communications, dispatch, and telephones in the area during a severe storm, fire, or other emergency event. I want to thank Plumas ARC and Larry Trotter KI6YUK for coordinating the event.
Greg Kruckewitt, KG6SJT, ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Section Emergency Coordinatorwww.sacvalleyares.org
Modoc ARES June Activity Report
Posted July 5, 2018
We deployed the ARES Comm Trailer at the Modoc Sportsman Expo Sat June 16th in Alturas, CA. We were able to talk to some of the public about the hobby but also gave the tour to several first responders.
Jim/N7JIL talking Modoc County Sheriff Elect “Tex” Dowdy about Winlink.
Photo by Chad/N5BMU
Chad/N5BMU was showing “Sammy” Ham Radio by talking to Deanna/W6DWS on the local repeater with an HT at the EXPO. Who knows…. Sam may get his license in a few years!
Photo by Jim/N7JIL
On June 18th-20 Jim/N7JIL and Marie/N6REE attended the 2018 Emergency Preparedness Workshop in Sacramento. This event is put on by the CA Public Health Dept. and the CA Emergency Medical Services Authority. There was a lot of good lessons learned and shared with us due to all the fires, hurricanes and mud slides this year. Jim Linden/N7JIL did a 1 hour break out session there about Ham Radio with an emphasis on Winlink. The public agencies represented there really understood the concept of Winlink and will go back to their counties to ask if their local hams are familiar with Winlink. So don’t be surprised if you get some new contacts with folks in the Health Care business.
Photo by Marie/N6REE
73, Jim Linden, N7JIL, n7jil@arrl.net
ARES Emergency Coordinator, Sac Valley District 1 (Trinity, Siskiyou, Modoc and Lassen Counties)
CalOES Visits Placer County ARES
Posted May 3, 2018
On April 28th Placer County ARES held a face to face meeting, with 21 members and guests. The guest speaker was Ben Green WD8CZP Assistant Chief Tactical Communications CaOES. Ben spoke about the role of CalOES in large disasters and events, and the role of volunteers including HAMS in these activities.
Submission and photos by Carl First, N6CKV, Placer County ARES Emergency Coordinator
The Placer County ARES group
Ben Green WD8CZP
Ben Green’s work SUV
July 14 - Sacramento County ARES Training
Posted July 9, 2018
The next Sacramento County ARES training and meeting is scheduled for Saturday July 14, 2018 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Sacramento Sheriff's Central Division, 7000 65th Street, Sacramento, CA 95823.
Vince Cracchiolo KI6NHP is the Sacramento County EC.
For more information, visit the Sacramento County ARES web site at www.saccountyares.org
From Norm Lucas, WB6RVR (SK),
Section Official Observer Coordinator
Posted January 11, 2016
Do you have what it takes to be an ARRL "Official Observer?"
Update May 4, 2018 - In the light of unanticipated delays in the approval and implementation of revisions to the Official Observer program, ARRL HQ will resume accepting a limited number of Official Observer appointments under the current rules and standards. Any new OO appointments are being made with the understanding that a new program is coming, with new requirements and new standards for OOs.
Reference: ARRL Executive Committee April 21 Meeting Minutes Item 16.
Official Observer Program Update
Update April 6, 2017 - The ARRL and the FCC are currently working together to update and to make changes to the Official Observer/Amateur Auxiliary program. Because of these expected upcoming updates and changes, ARRL has placed a temporary hold on applications for new Official Observers and Official Observer Coordinators at this time. Read more here.
The Official Observer (OO) program has been sponsored by the ARRL for more than 85 years to help Amateur Radio operators assist each other to operate their stations in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
Official Observer appointees have assisted thousands of Amateur Radio operators to maintain their transmitting equipment and comply with operating procedures and regulations. The object of the OO program is to notify amateurs of operating and technical irregularities before they come to the attention of the FCC and to recognize good operating practices.
The OO program serves as the first line of "eyes and ears" for the FCC. It is the backbone of the Amateur Auxiliary. OOs are certified in the Auxiliary by passing a mandatory written examination.
Pot grow lights interfere with Ham Radio
Submitted by Rene Smythe, WB6PSY, posted March 4, 2017
I have experienced this interference for the past few years. I found the interference by swinging my 10m Yagi monobander around until the noise became over S9. I then went outside to see where the beam was physically pointed and discovered a garage where indoor pot is being grown. The lights are on a time cycle so the interference comes and goes. 40º degrees in either direction takes the noise out.
Now that marijuana is being legalized in more states, more hams are going to experience this noise.
WB6PSY
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c1b607bfbbab459ba9e21d4c282996e4/growing-problem-pot-lights-give-ham-radio-operators-buzz
Radio Frequency Interference
posted February 3, 2018
ARRL and the FCC have a cooperative agreement in radio frequency interference matters. You may submit interference reports together with your supporting documentation to ARRL EMC Engineer Mike Gruber W1MG who then files the report with the FCC Gettysburg office.
You may also contact our Section Technical Coordinator Bob Wortman, WB6VYH, or our Section Official Observer Coordinator Bob Hess, W1RH, for assistance. More information is posted under the "From the Section Manager" notes in the November 2016 Section News - Carol KP4MD
Our Official Observer Coordinator Bob Hess, W1RH, shares this helpful web page by NK7Z for identifying sources of Radio Frequency Interference http://www.nk7z.net/rfi-snapshots
Club and Member News - July 2018
The club had a very successful Field Day event. We were given a travel trailer to be used as a disaster communications center and put it into service for Field Day. In an effort to garner more public exposure, we decided to use a public site for our Field Day station and with the cooperation of our local WalMart store were able to set up in their parking lot. This worked well and accomplished both communication activity as well as community interest.
John Stettler, KI6DWP, PIO
FIELD DAY PHOTOS
Update from River City ARCS
Posted July 9, 2018
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Lots of HEAT, lots of sweat, lots of antennas in the air, and lots of tired people. Sounds like another Field Day in the books. Our Field Day for 2018 is now history, it was not the best we have ever had but it was not the worst either. While the HEAT is/was a big factor, our participation could have been a lot better. At our next club meeting we will have a discussion on ways to make it better and have more participation in the future.
In July our own Kevin Hooke KK6DCT will demonstrate the amazing feats of the new popular FT8 digital mode!
In August we are having our Mobile Station and GO Kit show so bring your mobile installations and your go kits for show and tell.
In September our home brew night and we will have Money $$ prize for first and Second and a first prize in newbie (ham for less than a year) category. Last year we had some great projects using Raspberry Pi, antenna projects, and go kits. So what will we have this year?
October is our White Elephant sale so start cleaning out your closets and garages of any unused items for the sale.
In November we have our elections so we need to start thinking who we will want to lead us in the next year. I will NOT be able to do another year as my health is beginning to restrict things that I do.
We are trying to get Kevin Amey (AA6KA) to do a Digital Voice mode presentation.
Dave Martin, WB6YLK, President
Here are a few shots from our Field Day in Nyack.
Photos by Mike, KK6GLP, V.P.
73, Carl, WF6J
PIO Sacramento, CA
Meetings - Monthly Members second Friday Monthly at Auburn City Hall, Rose Room. Everyone welcome. Breakfast last Saturday Monthly at Mel's off 49 in Auburn.
Nets - Thursday night at 7:30 on the W6EK repeater system is the weekly club net. Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday is the Elmer Net. Please join us.
Groups.io - Dennis, WU6X has converted us from the Yahoo Group to the Group.io. This allows a good forum for events, notices, files and database. There are now 105 members.
VE Exams - Every 1st Saturday each month at Raley's Granite Bay. Starts at 8am. Walk ins welcome. Contact is Al, NI2U at vechair2015@w6ek.org.
As with any SFARC net or meeting, we love visitors, so come on down and join the membership check out our website at: w6ek.org
Carl, WF6J, PIO Sacramento, CA
Newsletter at: http://www.w6ek.org/newsletters/current.pdf
VE Report July 2018
Thanks again for all the VE's that were able to come to the session. Today, the VE’s at 8 and 14 candidates. We had a very successful session again. We administered 21 elements to 14 candidates. 13 earned a new or upgraded license. We have 5 new Technicians and 8 new Generals. Thanks Al NI2U
Update from Plumas ARC
Updated July 9, 2018
The Plumas Amateur Radio Club (PARC) has been working for about 10 years now, placing radios, power supplies, coax and antennas at our 3 hospitals in Plumas County, to provide EmComm. Last year, our neighbor Sierra County experienced a CommDark situation, losing landline, cell and internet service at their Loyalton Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). Soon after, the Club, working with LeTina Vanetti of Sierra County Emergency Preparedness, set up a complete Dual-Band/Dual-Display Station in the SNF, which they purchased. We also set up a Ham Class and Test in Loyalton, with help from our friends from SNARS (Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society) over in Reno, which brought new Techs into the fold.
Around March of 2018, PARC/ARES learned of a FEMA grant funding requirement for Plumas County, that hospitals have an alternate form of Backup Emergency Communication. Our County Public Health Agency's Lori Beatley, chose Amateur Radio. Since early May of 2018, we have been steadily working toward developing resources to get our EmComm system up and running for our first Drill on 26 June 2018. Our three Hospitals in Plumas County, the Loyalton SNF in Sierra County and Lassen County's Northeastern Health Care Clinic along with Banner-Lassen Hospital, will connect on VHF for the Drill. We are located in a mountainous area in Northeastern California (Northern Sierras) that covers over 8,000 square miles and a population of about 58,000 people.
As a note, with the exception of Loyalton's SNF, our equipment is all older, some radios dating back to 1984. Our next goal is to upgrade to dual-band/dual-display radios to cover 2 frequencies simultaneously. This Drill will likely require utilizing at least 2 repeaters and a handful of Simplex frequencies to accomplish the goal of connecting our three counties in what's known as the Tri-County Health Care Coalition (TriHCC).
Results to follow!
73 de KI6YUK, PCARES EC, PARC Secretary/Events Coordinator
Next Meeting: Monday July 9, 2018 doors open 6:30pm, meeting at 7pm
K9JM - Jim will give us the details on his DXpediton to Spratly Island. Jim is an experienced DX'er and CW operator. Come and hear how the "big boys play".
Holiday Raffle: Tickets for the Holiday Raffle will go on sale starting with the July 9th Meeting. Tickets this year will be limited to 200 so plan on making your purchase early as we expect a sellout. Tickets again will be $5.00 each. The prize this year will be a complete 2 meter mobile installation package. Details will be announced at the July 9th meeting.
Nevada County Amateur Radio Club members hold impromptu meetings at the Omega Rest Area on highway 20. Elevation is around 5000 ft and the views are tremendous. Our activity always draws the interest of motorists coming through the rest stop.
73, Cal McKitrick AI6MC, NCARC President 2018 Newsletter Facebook Group
COFFEE CHAT (Ham n' Coffee)
Thursdays, 8 am at Valentina's Bistro, 841 Sutton Way, Grass Valley
FIELD DAY PHOTOS
Update from Paradise ARS
Posted July 9, 2018
Field Day 2018
Many in our club have attended Field Day many times. Some of us, including me, attended our first this year and I believe we brought honor to PARS. We organized equipment and food, were perhaps a bit unorganized on-site, but looking at the stars at night and helping several visitors better understand radio was time well spent. Thanks to those that participated and those that cheered us on that were not able to attend.
I have already modified my inventory list for Field Day 2019; count me in!
Grant Hunsicker, KK6FKW
Update from Mount Shasta ARC - pending
Posted May 30, 2018
Spring has sprung and is headed into Summer, and Summer in Siskiyou County means public service events!
MSARC is the little club that could. With an average meeting attendance of 12 and a total membership of under 20, the club, somehow, manages to handle 5-7 large public service events every year. 2018 is no exception and the festivities kick off on June 23, 2018 (yep, on Field Day) with the Castle Crags Century bike event - wherein we cover over 150 miles of rugged riding in the mountains. We need a minimum of 12 hams (14 would be better) to handle health/welfare/location/logistics traffic for this event - most of which is physically located in areas without cell coverage. Please let us know you are willing to help by signing up at w6bml.com/events
A dedicated troop of volunteers from the club have been teaching a ham radio technician level class at Sisson Elementary School and the final (licensing) exam was held on May 29, 2018 at the clubhouse. We are proud to say that one of our students worked hard and earned his ticket! Please join MSARC in welcoming Jake, KM6TNG (kilo mike six the next generation) into the world of ham radio. Huge props to the hams who volunteered their time to make this class happen: KD2JLY, KD6MC, WA6KJV, KI6LIT, KX6MMM, and NR6J! We have been invited back to the school to teach a full year course starting in Fall.
The attached photo shows former Mt. Shasta Mayor and founder of Snowcrest ISP, Dennis Engdahl - NR6J, congratulating Jake on his achievement and gifting him with his first ham radio.
Submitted by Mark Dibelka, AB2LI
Hello members,
Thank you again for an amazing Field Day event! Inside this month's newsletter we recap the event as well as give our Field Day 2018 results. Also, you will find a summary of N6ADT's club presentation on Direction Finding along with other helpful information about the club and it's upcoming activities. I hope that you all enjoy the newsletter. If you have any questions, comments or would like to add something to our webpage, or next months newsletter please be sure to email us at this address.
We appreciate your continued membership and support of the SFM ARC. Without YOU this group could not exist! 73, Michael, N6MQL, SFM ARC President 2018
Newsletter
FIELD DAY PHOTOS
Ham License Testing - Wednesday, Aug 1, 6 PM (No Tests in July)
WPARC offers Ham radio license testing on the first Wednesday of each month at Round Table Pizza at 6 PM (see below for map and directions.) For more information please email Chuck KK6DOA
WPARC Board Meeting - Wednesday, TBD, 7:30 PM
WPARC conducts Board Member meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at Round Table Pizza at 7:30 PM (see below for map and directions.) The board welcomes members and guests who wish to observe or bring business before the board.
WPARC Members Meeting - Tuesday, Jul 17, 7 PM
WPARC holds Member Meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at Round Table Pizza at 7 PM (see below for map and directions.) Come out to enjoy some camaraderie, food, beverage, and tales of the radios! Round Table Pizza offers a pizza and salad bar buffet dinner on Tuesday evenings for about $12/person. Scheduled Topic: TBD
WPARC Meeting and Testing Location
> Join us at Round Table Pizza, 1020 Pleasant Grove Blvd #170, Roseville. This location faces Roseville Parkway at the northeast corner of the complex, just around the corner from the CVS store. View map and directions
The club website, http://wparc.us/index.html, has a new look and new information. Jey KQ6DK is now club web master and is updating the the site on a regular basis. Thanks to Jey for all his work on the website.
Don’t forget about our WPARC Facebook page. It is at: https://www.facebook.com/WPARC
Want more? We now have a Twitter account! Just search for @k6pac (the club repeater call sign with the “@” symbol). We are following the ARRL, the ARRL Sacramento Valley Section, Kenwood, and Yaesu and a few others. If you think of someone we should follow, please email me. I know there are a few local clubs with Twitter accounts and I will add them.
73, Michael Buck. K6BUK
WPARC on Facebook and Twitter
Check us out on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter (@k6pac)
FIELD DAY PHOTOS
Once again the club participated in another successful ARRL Field Day Event. We worked as an 8A station in the Sacramento Valley (SV). The weather was great and band conditoins were not too bad. Thanks to all who came up to help and participate. Here are a few pictures that were taken at the event. I'll post our scores when I get them.
Newsletter
FIELD DAY Photos
Update from Yuba-Sutter ARC - pending
Posted May 5, 2018
Club Meeting Location Change
Starting June 2018 the general membership meeting location will move to the Marysville United Methodist Church Assembly Hall at 730 D Street, Marysville.
The Mini-Field Day at Live Oak High School on April 28th was a success. to see pictures of the event visit the club's Facebook Page. If you are not a member of our Facebook Group, just request membership and Kevin or Chris will add you to the group, or, go to this photo page.
EDITORS COMMENTS
✓YSARC’s new web page is: www.ysarc.net - click on the upper right-hand icon on the homepage to join the club’s Facebook page. Past issue’s of the VHN are available on our new website.
✓Send your ham related articles and pictures to share in your VHN. Pictures of ham shacks, antenna projects, antenna parties, etc. are appreciated KI6CSN@arrl.net or KF6FVP@arrl.net
Newsletter
Eleanor Knox KI6CSO - SK
Eleanor Knox, past ARES Emergency Coordinator and long time member and net control of the Yuba-Sutter ARC became a Silent Key on Monday June 18.
Elk Grove-Florin ARC—Section News
Remember how much fun the Install-O-Rama was last August? Attached is the announcement for this year's event. Please share it with your radio club and others who may be interested. Thanks... Dave Reingold, KK6MVJ
Christine Lay, KG6JFO, President EGFARC, 916/715-8091 Install-O-Rama Flyer
FIELD DAY PHOTOS
Update from Oroville ARS
Updated July 9, 2018
OARS Monthly Meeting Reminder
The OARS regular monthly meeting will take place Friday, 13 July 2018, 7 pm, at St. Paul’s Parish Hall, 1430 Pine Street in Oroville. The doors will open at 6 pm for a social hour prior to the meeting.
St. Paul’s has advised me that the Parish Hall flooring is to be redone, starting 6 August, so the club will need to find an alternate venue for (just) next month. Any ideas or suggestions will be welcome at this Friday’s meeting. Hope all can attend.
73, Jim, W7XZ
OARS Monthly Breakfast--New Place
This month’s OARS Breakfast will take place Saturday, 28 July 2018, 9 am, at Tabletop Restaurant & Catering, 109 Table Mountain Blvd (where Hof Brau used to be) in Oroville. Hope all can attend. 73, Jim W7XZ
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, including the club's computer crashing, there will be no July meeting of the SOTARS/QCWA combined radio groups. Hopefully things will all be straightened out prior to the August meeting.
73 and I hope to see all of you next month. Dan, WA6VPJ
The meeting is usually at: Denny's Restaurant, 7900 College Town Drive, Sacramento. Phone (916) 383-7071, Located at the southwest corner of Howe Ave. and College Town Drive one block North of Highway 50.
Update from North Hills RC
Posted July 9, 2018
The next meeting for The North Hills Radio Club will take place on Tuesday evening, July 17, 2018. This month's presentation will be about Ham Radio Go Kits. Kim Scheidel, amateur call sign KE6RKX will do a presentation on his go kit! Come see how it's done and bring your kit to show, and your questions for the group.
Club meetings are always held on the third Tuesday of every month, at the former (SMUD) building located at 5026 Don Julio Blvd, at the northeast corner of Don Julio and Elkhorn Blvds. The board meeting begins at 6:00 P.M., followed by the general membership meeting at 7:30 P.M.
See you there! From Doug Emerson, Vice-President, North Hills Radio Club. Amateur call sign N6NFF
Link to NHRC Field Day 2018 site photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/83496362@N06/albums/72157695519374495
K6IS Field Day web page http://www.k6is.org/fieldday.html
Update from Glenn ARS
Posted July 9, 2018
Prez Says for July 2018
Greetings to all club members and guests. It’s almost Independence Day and I want to thank you for your service this club and to this great country. I hope you find the club newsletters and ‘Prez Says” message useful and informative.
Over the last couple of months there has been great work on the new club website which can be found at this link < https://garshamradio.org/> and the club Facebook page at < https://www.facebook.com/KJ6HCG/ >. I want to thank the following for their hard work on these two projects; Rick Hubbard, KI6VOS; Phil Zabell, KI6SMN; and Michael Maddalena, KJ6KIZ. Much work has been done on these two sites and they will continue to grow and become much more useful in the months ahead. So give these two new sites a visit, share with friends and family, and tell me what you think.
Ah!, as in refreshing. Field Day 2018 is now past us and it went much different than planned due to the high temper- atures and wind storm we experienced here in Norcal. It was decided at last minute to move the Field Day site to the QTH of KF6OBI. One, the Disaster Response Trailer was already located there and two, it would make it easier for most club members to visit. Phil, KI6SMN was the main operator.
Although we had two HF transmitters and antenna systems to use there was a common mode RF problem that pre- vented the use of the two radios at the same time. This problem was across all the bands. We operated as 2ASV. Phil, KI6SMN, logged some 14 contacts across the 20, 40, and 80 meter bands where the conditions varied but were not too bad thanks to some Sun spots that showed up the day before. Please visit our Facebook page to see the maps Phil produced to show just where these contacts were located.
We used two new antennas, the first was an End Fed Half Wave by MyAntennas, model EFHW-8010-1K, which was flown West to East at about 22 feet more or less. The second antenna an Off Center Fed Dipole, Windom if you prefer, was a BUXCOMM model 802134 this one was flown in a semi-inverted V arrangement. Its ends were about 10 and 1⁄2 feet high and the center was at 15 feet, suspended on a fiberglass push-up mast.
As we now focus all our attention on Steakbake September, pun intended, and with warmer months ahead please re- member to stay hydrated and seek cooler climes if you feel you are getting overheated.
At this month’s membership meeting we will be starting the process, and formalizing plans, for this years Steakbake event, which will be held on the 8th of September 2018, at the Fellowship Hall in Artois, CA.
We are selling raffle tickets during our membership meeting this month and for the next two months will be visiting GEARS and OARS to show off the radio and sell even more tickets. Tickets are one for $5.00 or 5 for $20.00. The donated prize is the AnyTone AT-D868UV, Digital DMR / Analog Radio. Will have the radio for all to see at this months meeting.
We will be meeting at the Artois Lutheran Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm, on Thursday, the 12th of July. Late arrivals and guests are always welcome. So be safe in all you do and may you all have many blessings in the days ahead!
Mike Ellithorpe, KF6OBI President, GARS kilofox6obi@yandex.com 530-518-3730 Newsletter
The Prez' Says:
This newsletter will, unfortunately be brief.
Our Editor, Dorothy Post, must return to Washington due to the re-hospitalization of her brother who this time is experiencing even more serious issues. She is leaving almost immediately, and tells me she will stay as long as required.
If there are those among you who wish to assume the duties of publishing a GEARS Radiator newsletter each month, please contact me, otherwise we will wait until Dj returns.
Thank you!
Field Day photos posted by Rick Hubbard & Kathy Favor Are located as indicated below:
1. Three photos (I took) have been posted to GEARS’ Google Drive>>080-Media>>Field Day-2018:
2. One is a Panographic view of the site,
3. The other two center on Randall Stone (an elected official)
Here’s a link to the folder: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Y_6fTHQScn08KDa1qC0X00fu11Pyy464
[Modesty prohibits me from mentioning that...] KHSL-TV ran a segment about Field Day which is now included as a Post on https://gearsw6rhc.com/khsl-covered-gears-field-day-2018/ Hope this helps!
73 de KI6VOS, Rick +1.415.624.5865
73, Tom Rider W6JS, President GEARS rustyboyrider@aol.com Newsletter
Member Updates and Feedback
Rich and Ron's Field Day Report
posted July 9, 2018
Rich and Ron's Field Day at 38°31'51.6"N 120°24'43.2"W, Pioneer, CA, KJ6HRO. Operators Ron Monnie KJ6HRO, Rich Leaman KJ6SII & Michelle Leaman KJ6TUA operated from California State Highway 88, Pioneer, CA.
FIELD DAY PHOTOS
W6YAR Field Day Report
submitted by Jay Ballinger, N6SAC, posted July 9, 2018
Four clubs came together to operate Field Day 2018 as W6YAR. The UC Davis Amateur Radio Communication Society (UCDARCS), the Sacramento Amateur Radio Club (SARC), the Yolo Amateur Radio Society / Mt. Vaca Radio Club (YARS/MVRC), and Yolo County ARES operated from the UC Davis campus right next to the Special Olympics events.
We operated all 24 hours using two stations for SSB and CW along with a GOTA station switching between five different antennas.
The heat and the wind did not deter the operators nor visitors from enjoying the event. A huge thank you to all of the operators and food organizers who helped to make this Field Day successful.
The picture includes the organizers from each of the clubs standing in front of a multi-band Yagi on an antenna mast trailer. From left to right: Jay Ballinger, N6SAC, UCDARCS, Tom Preston, KQ6EO, SARC, Gary Matteson, WA6TQJ, YARS/MVRC/ Yolo ARES, Bill Ragsdale, K6KN, YARS/MVRC. 73, N6SAC
The Yolo Amateur Radio Society/Mt Vaca Radio Club, UC Davis Amateur Radio Club, Sacramento Amateur Radio Club and Yolo County ARES joined together for 2018 Field Day on the UC Davis Campus. 15 operators attended and 17 visitors came by.
Gary, WA6TQJ, President, Yolo Amateur Radio Society/Mt Vaca Radio Club.
FIELD DAY PHOTOS
ARRL Puerto Rico Section ARES and Hurricane Beryl
submitted by Carol Milazzo, KP4MD, posted July 10, 2018
In response to a gracious invitation by ARRL PR Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, and Asst. Section Manager Dr. José "Otis" Vicens, NP4G, Roger KI6FYF and I met with ARRL Puerto Rico Section ARES Members at the Vega Baja Public Library on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Link to Photo album
- ARRL PR SEC Juan Sepulveda KP3CR opened the meeting at 9 am with a welcome and introductions of attendees,
- Ramon Ramos KP4DH then gave a technical talk on how to improvise VHF and UHF ground plane antennas and HF dipole with household items in an emergency,
- ARRL PR Section Manager Oscar Resto KP4RF gave a recap of emergency preparedness lessons learned from Hurricane Maria and progress on networking with other local agencies,
- ARRL PR Section Traffic Manager Pedro Irizarry KP3PI gave an update on Caribbean Traffic nets and the National Traffic System,
- Carlos Roig WP4AOH gave a talk on Emcomm,
- and Jorge Camacho, WP3XH, demonstrated his 2 meter backpack Go-kit
The meeting adjourned at 12 noon as we proceeded to a lunch at the Bambu Burger restaurant in Vega Baja. We connected Hector Roman, KP4AMU, of the San Juan VA Medical Center with Don Righello, W6PJJ, trustee of the California VA Amateur Radio Emergency Service K6VAH, for assistance in establishing a similar amateur radio station at the San Juan VA Medical Center which lacked outside communications during the three weeks following Hurricane Maria.
Hurricane Beryl
The alarm went up once again as Hurricane Beryl took aim at Puerto Rico where many are still struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. With Beryl predicted to graze the southern coast of the island on July 9, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló declared a state of emergency and ordered closure of schools and government offices. Fortunately, Beryl had been degraded to a tropical storm by the 9th. The island did experience intermittent torrential rains, gale force gusty winds and several flash floods. The eastern coast of the island was mainly affected with over 47,000 losing electric power and 8,600 losing water. Teams of utility workers promptly responded to restore service.
Carol Milazzo, KP4MD. ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Manager, kp4md@arrl.org
