Category Archives: Club News

Slate of Candidates for 2023

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This year I appointed 3 members to serve on the nominating committee. The 3 members were Dave – AI6VX, Doc – W6EW, and Tom – N6YX. They completed their mission and presented a slate of nominees at the last board meeting. I want to thank Dave, Doc and Tom for volunteering for this important function. The slate of nominees for 2023 are as follows: Brian Milburn K6BPM President / CEO Larry Martinez WA6MVJ Secretary Tom Saunders N6YX Treasurer / CFO Levi Maaia K6LCM Director at Large Dave Schmidt AI6VX Director at Large Wayne Beckman AF6GX Director at Large Mike Wapner K6QD Director at Large Matt Lechliter W6XC Director at Large We will officially be opening additional nominations for all positions at the October 21 2022 meeting. Any member in good standing can nominate another member in good standing for any elected position above. A member in good standing is any member who is paid up on their dues. Additionally, a nominee must be a member in good standing for the period of 28 days prior to the election. This year, that day is October 21, 2022. This year we will be allowing on-line voting, mail in voting, and in-person voting. As such, there are various cutoff dates we need to set so that we can do all our work behind the scenes. Here is the schedule: October 21 – Open nominations from the floor at meeting. November 6 – Nominations from the floor close at midnight. November 10 – Mail-in and online voting begins at midnight. November 16 – Mail-in and Online ballots close at midnight. November 18 – Election night – In-person voting, tallying, etc. There is also a bylaws change proposal on the ballot this year. The bylaw changes mostly involve the way we now handle the membership system, and the way we pay bills and expenses. Normal procedures such as auto-pay, credit card and debit card purchases, were never addressed in the current Bylaws, however it is the way we pay most bills and expenses. The proposed changes merely bring the Bylaws up-to-date with the times. You can view the proposed changes here: https://sbarc.org/Downloads/BylawEdits_10-2022.pdf Brian – K6BPM President, Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club Post expires at 7:51pm on Sunday November 20th, 2022 but will still be available in the archives.

General Club Meeting – July 18, 2025

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Our Club Secretary, Larry Martinez – WA6MVJ is an expert on trash. Not just any trash though. Specifically the trash orbiting our planet also known as Space Junk. Space junk started accumulating with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957. From that point on, every subsequent launch, including those of satellites and rocket stages, has added to the growing cloud of space debris orbiting Earth. Space junk, also known as space debris, refers to any non-functional, human-made object orbiting Earth. This includes defunct satellites, discarded rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or explosions. It poses a significant risk to active satellites and spacecraft due to its high orbital velocities. Space junk encompasses a wide range of objects, from large pieces like defunct satellites and rocket bodies to smaller items like screws, paint flecks, and even frozen water. These objects are no longer serving a useful purpose in space and are instead orbiting the Earth, posing a potential hazard to active spacecraft and satellites. Larry, who is a Professor Emeritus at California State University, Long Beach, travels the world talking about this and other cyber and outer space issues. This is sure to be an interesting evening. This is an in person meeting and will also be available on Zoom. SBARC General Club Meeting Friday, July 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM Goleta Union School District Board Room 401 North Fairview Avenue in Goleta Doors Open at 7:00pm and the meeting will start at 7:30pm Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89799115190?pwd=50IzE1T6hN5T23EQ7q347cwGIrSQid.1   Post expires at 1:10am on Saturday July 19th, 2025 but will still be available in the archives.

Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation announces annual scholarship winner

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July 10, 2025 – SANTA BARBARA, Calif. The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of its annual scholarship, awarded to an outstanding local high school graduate who plans to pursue higher education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM). Olivia Hall, a 2025 graduate of Orcutt Academy High School, was selected as the 2025 recipient of the award. Hall graduated with a 4.55 GPA and plans to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in the fall, where she will major in either industrial or mechanical engineering with a focus on manufacturing. An active student on campus and in her community, Hall participated in FRC Robotics, Debate Club, National Honor Society, Freshman Connect Crew, Surf Club, and Garden Club. She is also a STEM pathway student and a first-generation college student. “This scholarship will help me reduce the need to work full-time while I’m in college,” said Hall. “That means I can stay focused on my coursework, graduate on time with less debt, and begin my career in manufacturing sooner.” “Olivia’s academic achievements and her clear goals for a future in engineering and manufacturing made her an excellent choice for this year’s scholarship,” said Milburn. Hall is the latest recipient of this scholarship, which is awarded annually. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors in Santa Barbara, Ventura or San Luis Obispo Counties who plan to study Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics in higher education. Applicants should have an excellent academic record. While not requirements, preference is given to applicants who hold an active FCC amateur radio license.  Donations to the scholarship fund and applications by members of the class of 2026 may be submitted at scholarships.sbwireless.org. The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation, together with the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, forms a nonprofit, public benefit organization that develops and supports wireless telecommunications technologies in support of public safety, emergency communications, community service, and scientific research in the Santa Barbara region. More information can be found at www.sbarc.org and www.sbwireless.org.

KEYT News Reel Shines Spotlight On SBARC & FieldDay 2025

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John Palminteri, KEYT News reporter, recently interviewed SBARC board member Warren – KN6ZZI.  The interview focused on SBARC’s 2025 Field Day activity.  The interview also provided insight into SBARC’s mission and  capabilities.  Importantly, the piece inspired many visitors, including a dozen or so youth, to attend the SBARC Field Day.  Notably, two that attended last year’s event, having subsequently obtained their Technician level FCC license, worked many stations during Field Day this year.  Thank you to all that contributed to Field Day, 2025 for helping make it a big success! Follow the YouTube link, below, to view the video recording of the interview. Post expires at 8:35am on Thursday July 31st, 2025 but will still be available in the archives.

SBARC to Demo Emergency Communications

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Youth-Focused Activities, Earthquake Commemoration, Historic Reenactment, and Public Demonstrations Highlight 2025 Field Day The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club invites people of all ages to participate in the nationwide 2025 Amateur Radio Field Day at Chase Palm Park June 28-29. (photo: Jim Smart) June 23, 2025 – SANTA BARBARA, Calif. When cell towers fail and internet connections go silent, one form of communication continues to deliver: amateur radio. Each year, the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (SBARC) joins thousands of operators across North America to demonstrate this essential technology during the nationwide: Amateur Radio Field Day June 28–29 at Chase Palm Park. Field Day is the most anticipated event on the amateur radio calendar—a 24-hour emergency communication exercise that mixes public service, technical skills, and community outreach. Now in its 92nd year, Field Day reminds us that when all else fails, amateur radio still works. New for 2025, SBARC will also be activating a special radio station on State Street as part of the City of Santa Barbara’s centennial reenactment of the 1925 earthquake. The station will showcase how amateur radio can provide critical communication in disaster scenarios when modern infrastructure is compromised. We will be located on State Street between Amapamu Street and Figueroa Street. A map showing our location (and others) is shown below. (Click to enlarge) At the Chase Palm Park Field Day site, SBARC will operate three High Frequency (HF) stations, powered entirely by emergency generators. The public is encouraged to drop by, ask questions, and learn how these stations connect with others across the globe—entirely off-grid. Licensed amateur radio operators are invited to operate under the club’s call sign, within the privileges of their license. This year, young people are especially encouraged to attend. In 2024, more than 20 local children and teens participated in Field Day, sparking curiosity and even helping scouts fulfill requirements for their Radio Merit Badge. With hands-on demonstrations and real-world communication scenarios, Field Day is a perfect introduction to the world of radio for all ages. SBARC has served Santa Barbara since 1920, fostering public service, technical experimentation, and emergency preparedness. The club maintains a robust network of repeaters, remote stations, and trained operators dedicated to community resilience. 📍 Join us at Chase Palm Park from Saturday, June 28 at 11:00 AM through Sunday, June 29 at 11:00 AM. Activities will be ongoing throughout the day and night. 📡 Learn more:… Continue reading →

SBARC General Club Meeting, June 20, 2025

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This month we will have a presentation from Warren, KN6ZZI. He recently traveled to an African country to activate this remote location. He is going to share his experiences with us. Many of us have hunted DX. Whether drawn by the promise of Logbook of The World awards, the challenge of working rare and distant stations, or just talking with people from all over the world, DXing is fun! Most of us have wondered what is it like to “Be the DX”. Curious about these questions, Warren – KN6ZZI, activated a VHF/HF radio station in Cape Verde, an African country comprised of an island archipelago 400 miles west of Senegal. Warren obtained a Cape Verde radio license (D44ZZI), arranged transportation for himself and his radio equipment, prepared medically and mentally, and set off on a great adventure! There were many challenges including water, food, shelter, insect infestations and electrical supply, to name a few. In spite of the challenges, operating as D44ZZI for over two weeks Warren logged 3074 QSOs, 2360 of them with unique callsigns from over 100 countries. Come hear Warren tell of his exciting and challenging experiences that lead him to conclude that “To be DX is better than to work DX.This is an in person meeting and will also be available on Zoom. SBARC General Club Meeting Friday, June 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM Goleta Union School District Board Room 401 North Fairview Avenue in Goleta Doors Open at 7:00pm and the meeting will start at 7:30pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2240814679?pwd=YlpjOTVFWUFMc0xOWHZXNXpRd3Bidz09&omn=83734556683   Post expires at 7:38am on Saturday June 21st, 2025 but will still be available in the archives.

SBARC Members Activate Santa Barbara Island

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On May 19, 2025, Ken, KA6KEN and I joined The Explorers Club expedition to Santa Barbara Island. It’s the smallest and most remote in Channel Islands National Park. There’s no dock, no cell service, and landings are only possible by skiff when weather and sea conditions cooperate. We brought along a VHF handheld and a directional antenna and made simplex contact with KK6SXA and KN6ZZI from the island’s summit, Signal Peak. It was a quick turnaround. We had less than 90 minutes on shore. But we made it work. I documented the trip and put together a short film that tells the story, with some help from fellow explorers we met along the way. 📺 Watch the video below: —Levi, K6LCM

SBWF To the Rescue

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Wayne AF6GX, Michael K6RQV, and Bill W1UUQ made a trip to Channel Islands Harbor this week to troubleshoot and repair a radio problem on the National Park Service Park Ranger patrol boat. The were able to locate and fix the problem which was due to an improperly installed and damaged antenna connector. This is a perfect example how the Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation provides valuable public services. Thanks Wayne, Michael and Bill! Post expires at 6:23am on Monday June 16th, 2025 but will still be available in the archives.