Category Archives: Featured

This months meeting is going to be a little different than usual. If you attended the last meeting, we talked about getting our members getting set up to do MeshCore communications. So this meeting is going to be a HANDS ON and we will help everyone get set up and on the air. MeshCore is an OFF-THE-GRID messaging system and works whether you have internet/cellular or not. If everything is down, you can still communicate.  THIS IS NOT COMPLICATED. If you can use text messages on your smartphone, you already know how to use this. It also requires repeaters, but SBARC/SBWF has already installed 9 repeaters that blanket most of the area with coverage. You only need 2 things to get set up, a smartphone and a small “Companion” transceiver.  The smartphone app is called MeshCore. It is available for FREE on the iPhone App Store and also on Google Play App Store for Android users. There are a lot of options for companion nodes. There are several models that are ready to go, right out of the box, or you can build one yourself, There are several kits available, or you can buy the individual parts and assemble them yourself. This may not be a good option for many users because you need a little experience choosing and using transceiver boards, batteries, and all the assorted little parts that go along with it. I evaluated some of the off-the-shelf units and found one I particularly like and think would be a good option for a lot of our members. They are called “ThinkNode M1”. Everything is assembled and ready to use. They use a Nordic processor which is very power efficient. They have a built in battery that provides about 2.5 days of use on a charge. They also have built-in GPS which is switchable so you can use it only when needed. This is nice because GPS cuts your battery life in half, GPS is rarely useful, so being able to turn it on and off is very useful. They also use an ePaper display that only uses power when the display changes. These are very small and lightweight, and you can easily put one in a pocket. We purchased a few of these and they will be available to club members for a $63.00 reimbursement at the meeting. Tax and Shipping is included. You can also purchase… Continue reading →

Part of the attraction to amateur radio is experimenting with new things and learning things you thought you would not be able to understand. A couple of members have suggested we have some sort of group projects that everyone can participate in and learn new things that have been confusing in the past. Some of the fun things our members do seem too complicated or confusing and a lot of us miss out on things they would enjoy. It doesn’t matter what your age is, or what background you have, you studied, passed a test, and have an amateur radio license. This meeting I am going to be introduce a couple of projects you can participate in that will provide you with hours of entertainment after they’re finished. If everyone is interested then we’ll devote next months meeting to providing hands on instruction. We have a couple of projects in mind that anyone can do with minimal expense, and involve no soldering and the only tools you will need is a screwdriver. We’ll have some additional informational handouts at the meeting. Please join us this Friday! SBARC General Club Meeting Friday, July 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM (Doors open at 7pm) Goleta Union School District Board Room 401 North Fairview Avenue in Goleta Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84169511388?pwd=oQFS75Hb6VrOa9oWQ1eHWD5xAfcX7H.1 Post expires at 1:04am on Friday September 18th, 2026 but will still be available in the archives.

May 29, 2026 – SANTA BARBARA, Calif. The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of its annual $1,000 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). Kenneth Smith, a senior at Valley Christian Academy, was selected as the 2026 recipient. Smith is graduating with a 4.0 GPA and plans to study chemical engineering at Oregon State University in the fall. Smith holds the Amateur Extra class radio callsign AA7KS. He is an active student on campus and in the community and has been a member of the Satellite Amateur Radio Club W6AB for more than three years. He restarted Northern Santa Barbara County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) in Santa Maria and acted as the organization’s emergency coordinator. He is involved in the Boy Scouts, Troop 91 of Orcutt, helping with the coordination and execution of the yearly Boy Scout Jamboree-on-the-Air event. He also enjoys playing tenor saxophone in his school band. “This scholarship will help me attend Oregon State University, which is an extremely highly rated school for chemistry and chemical engineering,” said Smith. “I will have access to high quality education and training as an engineer, while still being close enough to fulfill my responsibilities in taking care of my parents’ farm for them.” We look for students who have the potential to turn technical skills into service for their community,” said Brian Milburn, the president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation. “Kenneth doesn’t just show that potential, he’s already acted on it. We’re proud to support his pathway into higher education.” Smith 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 a STEM field 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 2027 may be submitted at scholarships.sbwireless.org. The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation is 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. The foundation supports local amateur radio activities and… Continue reading →

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

The antenna for the K6TZ Santa Ynez Peak repeater on 145.18 was replaced today. As a result, its coverage is now vastly improved! If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to test your signal into this repeater and the new 446.400 repeater on La Cumbre Peak West. Both are standard negative offset, same PL 131.8. Together, these two repeaters have increased our systemwide coverage tremendously.

It was a foggy, cool day at La Cumbre Peak when SBARC members Levi, K6LCM; Wayne, AF6GX; and Michael, K6RQV, headed up to the site to install the club’s new BridgeCom FM repeater on 446.400 MHz. Despite the low visibility and brisk weather, the team successfully completed the installation, bringing a significant upgrade to the repeater system. The new repeater offers excellent coverage and is now linked to the club’s wider system, ensuring even greater range for members and improving communications across the region. This installation is part of SBARC’s ongoing efforts to enhance the reliability and reach of its network for amateur radio operators in Santa Barbara and beyond. Stay tuned for more updates and make sure to give the new repeater a try on 446.400- PL 131.8.