New SDR HF Radio at Club Station

By | |
1 Comment
JT65 Signal Reports

JT65 Signal Reports

The club station now has a brand new computer and a FlexRadio Flex 3000 SDR (software defined radio) up and running and on the air. Unlike traditional radios, the Flex has no knobs or buttons. It is completely software driven and has all the features (and then some) of the high end radios from the major manufacturers. The Flex is hooked up to a computer running Windows and uses sophisticated, but easy to use software to control everything.

In addition to regular SSB/FM/AM operation, we also have seamless digital operation for whatever modes we want to operate. Our first test used JT65 on 15m and we quickly logged QSO’s from the Czech Republic, Belgium, France, England and Germany. The screenshot on the right from PSKReporter.info shows signal reports from stations that heard K6TZ from all over the USA, Europe, South America, and even South Africa. Great DX is easily accomplished from our “noisy” club station.

If you have never operated an SDR radio, you are in for a great experience. The display shows a wide area of whatever band you are working using a panadapter and waterfall so you can see all activity at once. This graphical representation of the band lets you find and tune activity quickly and easily. This new radio is available for members to use during regular club hours, Tuesdays 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am to noon. Come on down and check it out! If you are interested in reading the user manual and learning how this exceptional radio works, it is available for download here.

Post expires at 3:40pm on Tuesday December 1st, 2015 but will still be available in the archives.

Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net – October 29, 2015

By | |
Leave a comment

The audio archive can best followed by downloading the .mp3 file for the appropriate date here and listening with the media player of your choice. You can move the progress slider forward or backward to the subject of interest to you.

Tonight’s Technical Mentoring and Elmering (TM&E) net yielded 13 check-ins plus net control (Shackmaster Dave, K6HWN) and 9 chat room visitors. Topics discussed included:

  • A follow-up on steerable antenna arrays.
  • Direction finding using a 4 antenna (vertical) array.
  • The proper procedure to re-purpose a repeater and user conduct to be expected when an emergency arises.
  •  Proper preparation and contents of a good functional go bag and good practices to follow before actually leaving your domicile and becoming part of the problem.
  • Affects of toroids on baluns especially related to heat.

Tune in to the SBARC TM&E Net next Thursday at 8:00 PM (2000 Hrs) and see what interesting questions will arise or ask some of your own! All club members and visitors are encouraged to check in to the TM&E net each week and join in with questions and /or answers to and contribute the knowledge of new and seasoned amateur radio operators alike.

For Sale – Ameritron Amp and Misc. Tuners

By | |
Leave a comment
  1. Used Ameritron AL84 600 watt HF Linear Amp. Extra tubes, works fine. Includes interface for Yaesu rigs.    Sold
  2. Used MFJ 993B 300 watt automatic antenna tuner.    Sold
  3. Used Ten Tec 228 manual antenna tuner, with SWR bridge.

Any offer will considered for each of these items.

Contact: Michael – WW6USN by phone: (805) 450-9645 or by email at michaellthompson@verizon.net

Operators Needed for the SB International Half Marathon

By | |
Leave a comment

Need 2m operators, HT’s and mobiles for the Santa Barbara International Half Marathon coming up Saturday November 7, 2015. It starts early and should be finished early.

This is the last event of the year for SBARC. Organizers rely on amateur radio operators for their communications because nothing else works reliably. Please help if you can and let’s have a good turnout to finish up the event season this year!

Contact Rick KG6VLB by email at rickwhtr@cox.net or if necessary, by phone at 964-5440.

Post expires at 5:00pm on Saturday November 7th, 2015 but will still be available in the archives.

Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net – October 22, 2015

By | |
Leave a comment

The audio archive can best followed by downloading the .mp3 file for the appropriate date here and listening with the media player of your choice. You can move the progress slider forward or backward to the subject of interest to you.

The net tonight was very interesting with 11 check-ins, net control (Shackmaster Dave, K6HWN) and 7 chat room visitors. Tonight’s subjects included:

  • Ways to secure an antenna and mast to a building without having to drill holes into the structure.
  • Hackerspace (http://sbhackerspace.com/) set up an ATV channel and the question was asked by Eric (K6HMD) if and when the ATV feed to the SBARC club station would be back on the air at BATC.tv.
  • Chuck (N6CPN) asked why windows wants to install an ActiveX plugin when installing AllStar.
  • Antenna arrays, steerable antenna arrays and phased arrays.

Tune in to the SBARC TM&E Net next Thursday at 8:00 PM (2000 Hrs) and see what interesting questions will arise or ask some of your own! All club members and visitors are encouraged to check in to the TM&E net each week and join in with questions and /or answers to and contribute the knowledge of new and seasoned amateur radio operators alike.

October General Club Meeting

By | |
Leave a comment
Presentation of award to Jug WA6MBZ by Brian K6BPM

Presentation of award to Jug WA6MBZ by Brian K6BPM

This months meeting was thrown into disarray because of monumental traffic problems caused by the closure of I-5 and other roads hit by heavy rains and floods. Our regularly scheduled speaker Orville K. Beach, W6BI was unable to make the meeting because of the incredible traffic delays coming from his home in Simi Valley. Many members were forced to abandon their plans to attend because even the local side street traffic was bumper to bumper.

That didn’t stop us from having a great meeting though. The highpoint of the meeting was the well deserved presentation of the SBARC Lifetime Achievement award to “Jug” – WA6MBZ. Jug has spent decades dedicating his time to the furtherance of Amateur Radio and service to SBARC. The award was given to recognize his considerable contributions to our club and our hobby. Jug has always been on the cutting edge of amateur radio technology going all the way back to our very first area wide repeater systems. His contributions are everywhere and almost everything the club has done over the years has benefitted from Jugs expertise. He is the embodiment of the spirit of experimentation and a “real” amateur radio enthusiast in every sense of the word. Congratulations Jug!

The rest of the meeting was basically a “ragchew” and listening to Jug relate stories about the early days of amateur radio in Santa Barbara. It was a real treat to all that were able to attend.

Post expires at 10:48pm on Monday November 16th, 2015 but will still be available in the archives.