News last updated: Fri, December 18, 2009 at 1:18 AM ET
San Francisco Section News - December 2009
Wow! Where has the time gone? It has been a busy year for me at work with the trials of the economy affecting my clients and their tenants. Time to do a little catch-up.
The Field Day results are out in the December QST, so let’s start there.
Field Day was great again this year. For the past several years, I have been leading a Civil Air Patrol group up to our host club’s Field Day in Eureka. The Humboldt ARC treated the cadets and their adult leaders to a good time on Woodley island where they learned about Amateur Radio, contesting and, or course, camping! This year our group was joined by John Shappell KM6XO and Anthony Neong KE6EIO from Santa Rosa. We had tours of the National Weather Service facility and two Coast Guard facilities, the airport facility and the main Coast Guard station Humboldt Bay. There was some ‘tourist” activity on the road to and from Eureka, too. Check the SF Section website at ARRL for some pictures.
Ron Gove AF6MO reports on the joint Field Day for the Redwood Empire DX Association and the Marin ARS: “The Marin and Redxa combined Field day at the Marin Rod and Gun Club at the west end of the San Rafael - Richmond Bridge, went off with only a few of the normal glitches. The military crank up towers, with the 2 and 3 element Step-IRs and the other tri-band Yagi, the inverted V for 80 meters all looked great after taking the Yagi down to replace a bad connection, all was ready to go. The Phone station took the first contact at 10:00 hrs utc. with Ron Castro N6IE at the mike. The CW contacts were also fast and furious, to the point the operators decided to put a little fun in the day with fancy head gear. (See pics) The GOTA station on solar was manned and after a little practice some new Ham’s were on the air the youngest was 6 years old (ed. Nikole Fiden, harmonic of Josh Fiden W6XU). Messages were sent on packet, by Jerry Foster WA6BXV and the weather was great about 85 F with a breeze. In the afternoon the Marin Fire boys brought out there Big 4 wheel drive fire wagon and an EMT unit. There was a nice hamburger and hot dog BBQ in the evening with gourmet chili ala Jim Lee KE6VGV. The high Bands were open late and the low bands were hot all night. So all and all it was a great Field day!” Thanks for the report, Ron. The joint effort yielded the group ninth in total rank for 2A stations and first in Section. See more pictures at: www.redxa.com
Kristine Souza KI6YYW from the Lake County ARS sent in the following report: “OK all! Another year of field day has come and gone! And what a day! It was a hot one in Lakeport this year. Over 100 degrees! But, despite the heat, we did pretty good. We had 96 contacts when all was said and done.”
“Along with the great weather, we had a gorgeous view. Looking out over clearlake from a hill in lakeport. We were in a large empty parking lot next to the chamber of commerce, at an elevation of approximately 1343 ft. We brought plenty of artificail shade for everyone with the camper that stayed overnight and the easy-up gazebos.”
“We had a few visitors join us in the fun. Then we took a break and had a bbq. There were quite a few of us that stayed late into the night trying to make contacts.”
“As a rule, our club does this for fun, not the contest, but it would be interesting to see how we rated against some of the other local field day locations, don't you think? I know I have seen some clubs from other states that got over 1000 contacts, but now we have something to aim for! Hope to talk to you all next year!” Kristine sent in some pictures of the Lake County ARS Field Day. You can check them out on the Section website. There are more pictures at the club website at: http://lcarsofca.yolasite.com/ Look’s like they had a great time, too!
Many thanks to the clubs that sent in information.
The ARISS station crew at the Santa Rosa Junior College have been busy the last several months. The local ARISS team of Tim Bosma W6MU, Herb Sullivan K6QXB, Don Dalby KE6UAY, Bill Hillendahl KH6GJV and Jeff Basham KK6JAB has handled quite a number of contacts for students around the world. On August 20th, during the KIPP:3D Academy from Houston, TX, contact, the station had some visitors watching. The Ham family of Donald Laird WE4MOO, Cathy Laid KJ6BPM and eleven-year-old Sutter Laird KI6ZON were in the observation room when Bill at the console noted that the school was moving through their questions rather quickly during the 10 minute pass. He told Sutter to prepare a question and at the end of the Houston school’s series of questions, Sutter was able to ask one of his own. Sutter was quite excited about the opportunity and the ARISS team was glad to be able to talk to the astronaut Timothy Kopra KE5UDN. (see pics on web)
Fred Leif W6WTI from the Anchor Bay ARC reports: “The Anchor Bay Amateur Radio Club held its annual picnic on Saturday, September 12 at the Point Arena QTH of Leighton, KG6FPP and Alice, WA6EXM. 25 members attended. President Jack, K3FIV and Vice-President Fred, W6WTI, displayed ABARC's Official Certificate of ARRL Affiliation. Jack read the citation on the certificate. It will be displayed in our official club room. Thanks to ARRL SF Section Manager Bill KH6GJV who came out to our May 18 meeting to make the official presentation. The BBQ honors were performed admirably by Leighton KG6FPP - burgers and chicken were the specialties.. Salads, casseroles and deserts were pot luck. A very talented group of hams. (See pics)
The first week of October, I took off on a short cruise with Rich KF6SZA and Jane Freitas of Santa Rosa and an old cohort from my Las Vegas days, Jay Peskin KE7EGO. (I browbeat Jay into getting his license a few years ago before another cruise with fellow Hams.) Of course, we brought radios with us and with the captain’s permission ran a little HF from the suite. It was a great trip, very relaxing and a few contacts. (See photos)
On October 15th, the Sonoma County ARES unit participated with the local Red Cross chapter for their shelter exercise as part of the Great Shakeout drill. The communications contingent was organized by ARES DEC Rich Freitas and Red Cross Comm Lead John Lemmer W6FQX. Red Cross set up a shelter facility in the Coddingtown mall. Communications points included the shelter, mock shelters, Red Cross HQ, Blood Bank of the Redwoods and Oakmont. Red Cross communicators and ARES members were able to test their interoperability. The exercise went well. Good job, everyone!
San Francisco ARC President Tony Dowler KM6DA sent in this report on the club’s participation in the Big Rumble in San Francisco: “The San Francisco Amateur Radio Club operated it's first ever special event station on Oct. 17, 2009 as part of a citywide event called The Big Rumble. The purpose of the day was to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake and bring awareness to the public with activities and exercises in emergency preparedness. The SFARC set up on the Marina Green along the waterfront in San Francisco's Marina District which was one of the most devastated areas after the 7.0 temblor in 1989.”
“Club members began assembling early that morning to set up our station in Field Day fashion and began operating promptly at 1600z. The operating tent featured public access for interested passers by and an information table that offered fliers and brochures on earthquake preparedness, the ARRL and the SFARC.A club member attended the table to answer questions. Despite an unexpected equipment shortage and a few last minute changes from the organizers, the SFARC operated smoothly throughout the duration of the Big Rumble, making many contacts across the United States and Canada. A Special QSL card is available to confirmed contacts.”
“The day ended with a presentation from Mayor Gavin Newsome, honoring those who lost their lives, were injured, made homeless and, of course, the emergency personnel who fought so bravely during this disaster. More pictures are available at www.sfarc.org.” Thanks, Tony. Great job, SFARC!
On the weekend of October 17 and 18, Scout Leader John Chavez KG6PEP put together another Jamboree on the Air for the local scout troops. This was his second year of organizing the event. With Pacificon not conflicting with JOTA this year, John was able to get a lot of local Hams to help out, even me! There were a number of different venues of learning activities for the scouts, including a CW station ably operated by John Breckenridge WB6FRZ, ATV by Brian Torr N6IIY, HF by Fred Polkinghorn KQ6OB and Pat Coyle KG6JSL, and IRLP by Darryl Paule KI6MSP and Sutter Laird KI6ZON, among the Hams I remember (sorry, there were so many). John had also created several project tables for additional learning as well as a class for the radio merit badge. Over 100 scouts were run through the JOTA encampment learning about all aspects of communication by radio. It was a great weekend! Way to go, John! I’m proud to say that John and his family were students in my 10-week Ham classes a few years back.
Lastly, as we approach Christmas, please remember that even if your family is not doing as well as last year, that there are others who are doing worse. As some of you know, at Christmas time, I pick out a number of tags at the local giving trees. I either shop for what the person requests or provide cash so that their wish can come true. If you have even a little room in your budget, please help someone else. Thanks much!
That’s it for now. Have a terrific and safe Holiday Season. See you in the New Year!
73, Bill
HARC FD - Of course there had to be a stop at Confusion Hill on the way to Eureka!
Anthony Neong KE6EIO teaches a CAP cadet how to whistle with a blade of grass.
Anthony KE6EIO and CAP Lt. Will McFarland set up camp.
Antennas up!
Let's make some contacts!
At the National Weather Service
Tour on a historic WWII vessel.
John Shappell KM6XO (middle) and Anthony Neong KE6EIO (right) talk with docent.
Let's not forget great food!
Chow Hounds!
Our host chefs Rachael KE6SDB and Jim Shryne.
ASM Marci Campbell KE6IAU helps out a cadet.
A visit to the Coast Guard Air Base.
Anthony, "Can I take it for a test drive?"
On the Watch Tower at the Coast Guard base.
Checking out the hi-tech patrol boat.
No, you may NOT take it on a test drive!
Oh no! He got it stuck in a tree!
REDXA and Marin ARS Field Day site.
Bruce Butler W6OSP and Jerry Foster WA6BVXset up the CW station.
Frank Wiebusch KD6KVL with unusual headgear.
Fire and EMS on hand in case the rigs burst into flames or the cook doesn't follow the right recipe.
Dave New AA6YX and Jerry Foster WA6BVX go over notes.
Proud papa Josh Fiden W6XU watches over daughter Nikole as she makes contacts.
Jim Lee KE6VGV (right) dishes out his killer chili.
Lake County ARS Field Day site.
LCARS President Ronald Atteberry KN6U making the first contacts.
Jim Plank KE6HMJ, Ron Atteberry KN6U and Ken Alvey KG6TXU setting up an antenna.
Jeremy Redick KI6UGA making one of his 14 contacts.
ARISS station at the Santa Rosa Junior College. 11 year old Sutter Laird KI6ZON makes an impromptu contact with the ISS.
Sutter taking a pose at the ARISS console.
Anchor Bay ARC picnic attendees Frances Buentjen KG6PUB, Bob Sears AA6VS and Don Heimburger K3DH.
Joyce Gaudet KG6VHC, Jane Tate KI6CHA and Leighton Nelsen KG6FPP
John Haverty K3FIV and Frederick Leif W6WTI with Anchor Bay's ARRL affiliation certificate.
A little vacation on the Holland America MS Zaandam.
Rich Freitas KF6SZA dancing with a totem in Victoria BC.
Our "fishing pole" on the veranda.
Yours truly relaxing on the couch with the K-2.
Jay Peskin KE7EGO enjoying the finer things in life aboard ship.
The Great Shakeout. Red Cross sets up a shelter at Coddingtown mall.
The shelter looks pretty comfortable.
Shelter radio operators Lorenzo Valensi N6LAV, Jim Kerschner K6HKY and Bill Hammerman KI6GOO.
At Red Cross HQ were Robert Roberts WB6AOK
and, John Guaraglia KI6CAU and Denise Lebel KI6REP
San Francisco ARC participates in the Big Rumble. Early morning setup.
SFARC President Tony Dowler KM6DA operating.
The Big Rumble gang.
SF Mayor Gavin Newsome shares his comments.
JOTA 2009: Greg Farrell K6SRO and Sutter Laird KI6ZON warm up the HF station in Windsor.
Greg assists the scouts in making HF contacts with other JOTA stations.
The HF station was pretty popular.
Darryl Paule KI6MSP shows the scouts IRLP.
The que for the HF station gets bigger!
Brian Torr N6IIY discusses the finer points of ATV with the scouts.
John Breckenridge WB6FRZ shows the magic of CW to a scout.
Scout Leader and JOTA organizer John Chavez KE6PEP (right) shows scouts how easy CW really is (especially for young brains).
Check out that smile after this scout made his first HF contact!
Working to break through the pile up.
Mike Polkinghorn K6PUD advising his harmonic the on finer points of making contacts.
Proud Grandpa Fred Polkinghorn KQ6OB supervises his grand-harmonic. Third generation in training?
But it really is a flag pole, honest!
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