Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net – 06/04/2015

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Note:  The timestamps listed below are best followed by downloading the Mp3 file here and listening with Windows Media Player or similar program.

The Technical Mentoring and Elmering net on Thursday, June 4th yielded 11 check-ins plus net control Dave (K6HWN).

00:08:40 – Gary (KK6KPJ) started the net off with a question about a simple to use 2 m radio without all the bells and whistles. He’s not interested in programming frequencies and memory channels. Several comments were made by Hayden (KK6OYV) and Shackmaster Dave (K6HWN) confirmed Hayden’s point of view that the older the radio the fewer advanced features it’ll have and he mentioned a couple of Yeasu that might work.

00:24:03 – Eric (KG6WXC) wondered how the club station could have so many different radios in use and not interfere with each other. Shackmaster explained that with the casual type of operating done at the station, a really good grounding system, and the antennas in different places that the radios pretty much stayed clear of one another.

00:27:40 – Shackmaster asked Glen (WZ) more about his setup and somehow connecting Lompoc hams to Santa Barbara hams and allowing them to listen in to our nets and communicate with us, etc. Glen has a 220 beam antenna and a new radio at 50 watts and he beams solidly into 224.08. Glen mentioned that he hadn’t had time to consult with some of the local hams there but would at the next club meeting coming up this Saturday so the discussion will continue down the road.

00:31:05 – Ken (KA6KEN) asked questions about using an amplifier in conjunction with a tuner and the procedures necessary to keep the antenna and amplifier tuned as he might transgress the different amateur bands. A lot of valuable information can be learned about this and related subjects including the different types of amplifiers by listening to the audio recording of the net here.

01:00:40 – Gary (KK6KPJ) asked about using an antenna tuner with 2 m radios, say if the antenna were up at 30 ft. or so. Shackmaster has never known or heard of a 2 m antenna tuner. The frequency difference from one end of the band to the other is quite small as compared to HF frequencies so there’s no need to re-tune as you spin the VFO around. You’d pretty much just set it up correctly on the bench, mount the antenna an d go.

As I mentioned before, you can listen to the entire audio archive or go to the approximate time stamp listed at the beginning of each subject. It’s most accurate if you download the .mp3 audio file and play it in Windows Media Player or similar program.

Tune in to the SBARC Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net next Thursday at 8:00 PM or 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 Technical Mentoring and Elmering net each week and join in with questions and /or answers to and contribute the knowledge of new and seasoned amateur radio operators alike.

Amateur Radio Newsline Co-Founder, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, SK

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ARRL 6/12/2014 – A well-known voice in the Amateur Radio news media has gone silent. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, of Santa Clarita, California, died June 11 following a period of ill health. He was 73. Pasternak was co-founder (with Jim Hendershot, WA6VQP) ofAmateur Radio Newsline™ (formerly The Westlink Report) ham radio news webcast and a frequent presence at Amateur Radio conventions. Pasternak served as Newsline’s managing editor and occasional newscaster for the program. Read More…

General Club Meeting – Friday, June 19, 2015

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Levi Maaia, K6LCMSBARC member and local Santa Barbara ham Levi, K6LCM recently had the opportunity to travel to Cuba legally under the U.S.’s new relaxed travel policies. While he was there he visited a Cuban Amateur Radio station and met with local radioaficionados in Havana! Levi will share photos and video from his visit which includes a never-before-seen peek at some of the ingenious homebrewing and repairs that have kept Cubans stations on the bands – including operating many digital modes – despite so many challenges to maintaining radio equipment.

Join us for Levi’s presentation at the June SBARC Club meeting. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get an inside look at life in this mysterious and forbidden island and learn what being a ham in Cuba is really like!

Also on the agenda for the evening will be a brief discussion about this year’s ARRL-sponsored Field Day, which starts on Friday, June 26, for the setup and goes on the air for 24 hours straight beginning at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 27. Tom, N6YX, is da man in charge. He invites you all to come out to the Camino Real Shopping Center at Storke Rd. and Hollister Ave., just across from the movie theater, and see what you can do to help us to get on the air and make those contacts and to show the public what Amateur Radio is all about. What an opportunity that will be! There is some talk about a BBQ afterwards. Come find out.

We meet Friday, June 19, 2015 at the Goleta Union School District, 401 No. Fairview Ave. across the street from the Goleta Library. The doors should open around 7:00 PM so come early and shake some hands, especially those of Levi.

Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net – May 28, 2015

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The Technical Mentoring and Elmering net on Thursday 5/28/15 yielded 9 check-ins plus net control Dave (K6HWN).

The timestamps below are best followed by downloading the Mp3 file here and listening with Windows Media Player.

00:08:00 – Jim (KK6SXB) started the net off asking questions of Brian (K6BPM) regarding setting up for digital modes. It seems that Jim has recently acquired two devices (SDRplay and Airspy boxes) that he’d like to use in setting up the ability to use digital ham radio modes with his computer. The HDSDR software he also acquired along with the correct supporting driver software will display 8+ MHz of any band on the computer screen giving you visibility of any signal there. So basically what he’s purchased should get him receiver and display capability but to actually practice digital modes on ham radio I believe he’d be lacking some other required components and setup.

00:13:45 – Brian (K6BPM) began by trying to understand the two devices and interpret what Jim is trying to accomplish. Most digital mode software out there requires a sound device that can handle input and output to act as a mic and speakers. The conversation was joined by Levi (K6LCM) and Eric (K6HMD) and all had comments and ideas about digital modes basics and how Jim might get the results he’s looking for. You can listen to or download the audio for the net here.

Tune in to the SBARC Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net next Thursday at 8:00 PM or 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 Technical Mentoring and Elmering net each week and join in with questions and /or answers to and contribute the knowledge of new and seasoned amateur radio operators alike.

Operators Needed for SB 100 Run

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Ham operators are needed for the grueling Santa Barbara 100 wilderness run in July. The event begins on Friday July 10 at 18:00 local, and extends through Sunday July 12. This event takes place in the backcountry of the Santa Ynez Valley and is the toughest run of the season. Operations will take place mostly on 2m. There are many stations and times to fill, so be sure to get in early for the best selection. If you have never done an event, Rick needs you as a relief operator. This is a good opportunity to learn how this is done. The event will be using the Rover repeater so make sure you have the frequencies in your radio. Click here for more information. Help is available at the Club Station.

Contact Rick – KG6VLB by email (preferred) rickwhtr@cox.net or by phone at 964-5440

Post expires at 2:00pm on Sunday July 12th, 2015 but will still be available in the archives.

Field Day 2015 – UPDATED

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Camino Real Marketplace

Field Day 2015 Location

Field Day is an intense 24 hours of ham operations. SBARC will have the Rover set up at the Camino Real Marketplace near the movie theater.

Setup will begin on Friday June 26th at 12:30 hours and operating will begin on Saturday June 27th at 11:00 hours and continue nonstop until Sunday June 28th at 11:00 hours.

Operators are needed for 2 hour time slots during these times. Operation will be on SSB, CW and Digital Modes. People will also be needed to meet, greet, and explain amateur radio to the general public.

Contact Tom – N6YX at 805-967-7351 or tsaund@cox.net to sign up for this fun event!

UPDATE – June 10, 2015 – From Tom N6YX

You are welcome to join the SBARC Field Day event. Field Day starts 11 AM, Saturday, June 27 and runs for 24 hours. We will be located at Camino Real Market Place, about 70 yards south of the movie theatre.

The club will operate as a 1A station (single transmitter). We will make hundreds of short HF contacts to stations in US, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii. Contacts will be made using phone, CW, and digital modes. This is a great learning experience for new as well as old hams.

We need help with setup Friday afternoon, operators, loggers, and greeters for the public.

Setup involves the assembly and mounting of an antenna on the club’s Rover van. We will check out the equipment to make sure everything is working properly before we start operating Saturday morning.

Loggers enter contact information into a computer. It is a very simple program that is used to log station call sign, operating classification, and ARRL section information from each contact.

Technician class and unlicensed individuals can operate as long as there is a properly licensed ham as the control operator. You do not need any experience to be an operator or logger.

This is a great outreach event for the public. This is why we chose the Camino Real mall for this event. We get a lot of interest from the public. Greeters answer simple questions about ham radio and get interested people to sign up for more information or to start a license class.

You are also welcome to stop by and check it out.

Post expires at 11:00am on Sunday June 28th, 2015 but will still be available in the archives.