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THE AIRWAVES October 2010
SIERRA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB An ARRL Special Service Club
RACES ARES
P O Box 1442 Ridgecrest California 93556-1442
BOARD President Harry Stephens KI6PSZ 446-3095 [email protected] First VP Fred Moses KG6STR 371-3582 [email protected]
OF Second VP Gene Brewer W5DQ 382-5201 [email protected] Secretary Paula Herr N6VGW 375-5324 [email protected]
OFFICERS Treasurer Julie Stephens KI6YRA 446-3095 [email protected]
SARC OWNED AND MAINTAINED REPEATERSRandsburg WA6YBN 145.34 MHz (-), PL 100.0 Hz, Wide Area, Emergency PowerRidgecrest WA6YBN 146.64 MHz (-), Translator, No Squelch Tail, Emergency PowerRidgecrest WA6YBN 147.00 MHz (+), PL 107.2 Hz, Local, Emergency Power
SARC CommitteesTechnical Assistance: Greg, WA7IRW 446-4383 Public Relations: Fred, KG6STR 371-3582Program: Gene, W5DQ 382-5201 Airwaves Editor: Mike, WA6ARA 375-5324RF Interference: Bill, WA6QYR 375-8566 Emergency and Public Service: Mike, W6PM 793-0541
THE AIRWAVES CALENDAREvery IWV Emergency Net
Visitors Welcomed!1930 hrs (7:30pm)
Monday WA6YBN Translator 146.64 MHz (-)
East Kern County Emergency NetNight Visitors Welcomed!
Rand repeater 145.340, pl 1002000 hrs (8pm)
13 Oct SARC Board Meeting 7:00pm– Heritage Inn
13 Oct SARC General Meeting 7:30pm– Heritage Inn
“101 things you can do in Amateur Radio” by Mike WA6ARA
16 Oct Git-R-Done ride Need volunteers!
16,17 Oct JOTA! Need volunteers!
16,17 Oct Pacifcon Details inside
21 Oct The Great Shakeout
AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXAMSEvery Even Month, Second Saturday
9 October Volunteer License Exam SessionLocation: Guns 4 Us, basement classroom417 East Ridgecrest Blvd, Ridgecrest CANo handicapped access Pre-reg by 4 OctoberLimited to 8 applicants All must register at 9AMContact Elvy Hopkins NØLV 760-384-3589E-mail <[email protected]>
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President's ShackGreetings and Salutations!
It’s time to prepare for another SARC meeting, and for an “event-rich” month. Thanks to Ed KI6PSP,Jim KI6PTA, John KC6UWM, Lorilyn KG6LEW, Milt AF6MY, and Tammy KG6VYA for working theKiwanis walk-a-thon, and for bearing with me in trying to learn on-the-fly to operate as “base”; thanksalso to Fred KG6STR for taking the reins while I was temporarily on the “injured reserve” list. Wedidn’t lose any walkers, and it was a pretty quick and easy gig.
Recently I spoke with someone in the community about doing something for the Boy ScoutJamboree-On-The-Air (JOTA) event the weekend of 16 October. The short story is that we mutuallydecided not to do anything formal due to the nearness of the date, but we’d like to do it up right nextyear. A few SARC members told me that Bill WA6QYR and Greg WA7IRW used to do a terrific jobon the JOTA, and that it was a rewarding event for which to volunteer. Note that just because we’renot doing anything formal does not mean you can’t do something on your own. I’m challenging theclub now to make the JOTA a priority next year, and to create a memorable experience for theScouts. Getting young people excited about something other than Twitter and video games is whatit’s all about!
Another October event is the Git ‘er Done ride coming up this month (I believe that’s also 16October). Please sign up if you can spare any time at all. I know the riders and event organizersappreciate having us there.
The Great Shakeout will be on 21 October this year. Those of you who are involved in ARES/RACESwill definitely be interested. It isn’t clear yet how much SARC (if anything) the SARC will be doing forthat event.
Last month I mentioned that it would soon be time to hold our club elections, and the time has cometo put together a nominating committee. Please consider volunteering for the committee as well asrunning for an office. If you like the way things are going, great! If not, speak up! Either way, activemember involvement in any capacity is the only way to make the club better (and better…)
It looks like our best candidate for “new badge supplier” is showing signs of life after a hurricane blewthrough Baton Rouge, LA. We’ll have more news on that at the meeting. Hope to see you all there!
Treasurer’s ReportAs of September 30, 2010, Submitted by Julie Stephens, KI6YRA, SARC Treasurer
Beginning Balance(May 31) $5,277 Income $ 27 Expense $(216) End Balance $5,088
Expense is for June and September meeting room and balance of All Star Nodeexpenses.
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FOX HUNT! Now that the weather has cooled a bit, the bi-monthly Fox Hunt are restarting! The first T-Hunt of theseason will be November 13 at 0900, starting in the Crest Donut parking lot. Note the change in thestart locations! It has a tad more room and we can start with fat pills early. The hunt frequency is146.565 Mhz. Now is the time to get the equipment out and those that want to build some trackingantennas and / or active attenuators contact Mike WA6ARA.
October Meeting ProgramProgram for October will be “101 things you can do in Amateur Radio” by Mike WA6ARA
BadgesWe are getting closer. I have received a sample logo from the new supplier. We are currentlytweaking the colors. Thank you again for your continued patience. Julie Stephens, KI6YRA
ARRL AUDIO NEWSEd, KI6PSP, has taken up the task of retransmitting the ARRL Audio News on Monday nights. Ed is inthe process of integrating it with the ALSTAR repeater system, automating the whole process. Youcan find the ARRL Audio news on Monday nights, at 7pm, on 445.925 MHz. Give it a listen.
COAX Soldering Jigor
How I spent an afternoonEver try to solder LMR-400 coax. It's stiff, real stiff. You can't really twist it except to flip the wholecoax bundle around and then it really isn't that clean. Well, Bob, AF6WN decided to tackle the job ina engineering way. Enclosed is some photo of what Bob did. And, it actually works. Here is Bob's ownwords.
“Here are a couple pixs of the cable braid soldering jig. I think I can add a foot control sewingmachine motor to the jig to give better control on rotational speed and leave both hands free tomanage the iron and solder. It did work as I had envisioned, to my relief - nothing like an investmentof time and money into such a project to find it doesn't even come close to doing what you want -been there, done that. “
Good build Bob - Editor
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Pacificon !
After a one year hiatus, PACIFICON 2010, the great west coast ham radio convention, returns.Pacificon 2010 will take place Friday, October 15th through Sunday, October 17th, at the San RamonMarriott Hotel at 2600 Bishop Drive in San Ramon, California. This is the premier west coast amateurradio show featuring just about everything you can imagine. There will be lots of equipment vendors,swap meet, T-Hunts, and forums. In particular, the forums will discuss DX, HF Pack, D-Star,Education just to mention a few. Check out the web page at www.pacificon.org
So you think you want to climb a tower?
Several hams sent me this to look at. It's a helmet cam from a service man climbing a 1700 foottower. If you haven't seen it, give it a whirl. Not for the faint of heart or OSHA inspectors.
http://video.yahoo.com/network/101149635?v=8244494&l=5144241
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ASK ELMER!
October Ask Elmer question... I want to design a simple 4 element yagi 2 meter antenna. I‘d like touse, ½ inch diameter copper pipe for the elements and have a conductive boom. Can anyonerecommend a software package? To help in the spacing and dimensioning
From Elmer...
Yep, there is a lot of software out there for modeling antennas and to do exactly what you want.Certainly the various forms of NEC software will work but really are not for the casual user. Instead Iwould recommend the following web based program for yagi design.
http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=11183
This software is easy to use and allows you to vary the dimensions, diameters, etc.
Also there are various “how to” build instructions on the web. While not using copper pipe, a goodexample is shown in:
http://www.rmvhf.org/thinktank/TwoMyagi.html
RACES, ARES and INDIAN WELLS VALLEY EMERGENCY NET MEMBERSIn case of impending or current emergency, monitor the SARC translator on 146.64/04 MHz or thebackup simplex frequency of 146.52 MHz. W6PM, Mike or AI6A, John, the local RACES ECs, will coordinatemobilization. An Emergency Net Control Station will direct radio communications. Check in. Stateyour capabilities. Be prepared to go outside the IWV for at least three days. An E-Pac shouldcontain: your RACES card, radios and accessories, batteries, charger, paper, pen, clipboard,flashlight with spare batteries, timepiece, headgear, sunglasses, spare glasses, your medications,your medical history, first aid kit, severe weather clothing, non-perishable food, 3 gal. water, sleepingbag.
Check out the SARC Web Page www.qsl.net/wa6ybn/
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Local Repeaters
SARC OWNED AND MAINTAINED REPEATERS Updated: April 25th 2010
Click the Freqs for Coverage Map of Repeater
Status Location Call Freq in MHz Tone Notes Distance
Up Randsburg WA6YBN 145.340 (-) 100.0 Wide Area, Emergency Power S 18.6 Mi
Up Ridgecrest WA6YBN 146.640 (-) - Translator, No Squelch Tail, Emergency Power S 2.5 Mi
Up Ridgecrest WA6YBN 147.000 (+) 107.2 NOT currently linked to 145.340 W 2.5 Mi
Open Area RepeatersClick the Freqs for Coverage Map of Repeater – Contact [email protected] if any data is invalid, or missing
Status Location Call Freq in MHz Tone Notes Distance
Up Ridgecrest W6DWF-10 145.050 - WinLink Node @ 1200 Baud (Available 1000-2200)
Up Ridgecrest KM6JM-10 145.050 - WinLink Node @ 1200 Baud (Backup for W6DWF-10 )
Down El Paso Pk WI6RE-2 145.050 - Packet Digi S 10 Mi
Up El Paso Pk WI6RE 144.390 - APRS W1 Digi, iwvaprs.net – [email protected] S 10 Mi
Up Trona K6YYJ 146.970 (-) 123.0 RF Linked to 447.020. TX Audio is low E 15.9 Mi
Up Little Lake W6TD 147.210 (+) - RF Linked to Mazourka Peak NW 24.9 Mi
Up MazourkaPeak
W6TD 146.760 (-) 100.0 RF Linked to Little Lake N 96.5 Mi
Up Ridgecrest W5HMV 447.020 (-) 123.0 RF Linked to 146.970. Input is about -4 KHz off. SE 2.6 Mi
Up Ridgecrest WI6RE 446.500 100.0 IRLP-3741, contact [email protected] for codes W 2.8 Mi
Up El Paso Pk WI6RE 448.800 (-) 100.0 IRLP-3877 S 10 Mi
For additions, deletions or corrections, please contact Ed, KI6PSP ([email protected])
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