THE AIRWAVES December 2014

SIERRA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

An ARRL Special Service Club

RACES ARES

P O Box 1442 Ridgecrest California 93556-1442

BOARD President Dave Aubin W6TLA aubindav@verizon.netFirst VP Paula Herr N6VGW 608-3176 n6vgw1@gmail.com

OF Second VP Tammy Johnson KG6VYA 793-0348 kg6vya@arrl.netSecretary Bill Burns WA6QYR 375-8566 bburns@mediacombb.net

OFFICERS Treasurer Julie Stephens KI6YRA 446-3095 KI6YRA@webstephens.com

SARC OWNED AND MAINTAINED REPEATERSRandsburg WA6YBN 145.34 MHz (-), PL 100.0 Hz, Wide Area, Emergency PowerRidgecrest WA6YBN 147.00 MHz (+), PL 107.2 Hz, Local, Emergency Power

SARC CommitteesTechnical Assistance: Mike, WA6ARA 375-5324 Public Relations: Paula, N6VGW 608-3176Program: Tammy, KG6VYA, 793-0348 Airwaves Editor: Mike, WA6ARA 375-5324RF Interference: Bill, WA6QYR 375-8566 Emergency:

THE AIRWAVES CALENDAREvery IWV Emergency Net 730pm

WA6YBN Repeater-147.00MHz+600KHz offset, 107.2 tone

Monday Visitors Welcomed!

75 Meter AM Rag Chew netNight 8pm 3935 Kcs

08 Dec SARC General Meeting

USO Building 7:30pmProgram - Antennas!

Also Christmas goodies...

07 Dec OTHTC Ultra Marathon

12 Jan SARC Installation Dinner

17 Jan FOX HUNT !

Every Even Month, Second Saturday

13 December Amateur Radio License Exam SessionLocation: Guns 4 Us, basement classroom417 East Ridgecrest Blvd, Ridgecrest CANo handicapped access Pre-reg by 08 December. Limited to 9 applicants. All must register at 9 AMContact Elvy Hopkins NØLV 760-384-3589E-mail <lvrh7589@iwvisp.com>

SARC Renewal Time!It's that time again, dues time. SARC runs it's dues year to year, so, beginning in January 2015, the2015 dues are due. Included with this newsletter is a membership form, please fill it out and send it in with your dues or better yet, bring it to the January 2015 dinner meeting.

President's ShackThank you SARC members for two wonderful years as a board member. After the election this Monday evening, our new officers will be ready to take us on to new adventures.

I want to thank my Board. Treasurer Julie Stephens, KI6YRA. She's always there, keeping our books in line. We see her at most meetings coordinating the raffles, even passing out tickets. The budget report can always be found in the Airwaves. At board meetings she keeps us in line on spending decisions. Secretary Bill Burns,

WA6QYR. Steady. He's at every meeting taking notes and sees them published in the Airwaves. When asked he can remind us what we were doing or what did we decide "last time". Second Vice Pres Tammy Johnson, KG6VYA. She chairs the Program Committee, arranging the program for each meeting; these are where a guest speaker or one of our own presents a topic of interest to the members - they've always been relevant. Tammy also coordinates the horse rides throughout the year, often operating as net control from base camp. First Vice Pres Paula Herr, N6VGW. She is our public relations coordinator. Through her efforts, coordinating with our newsletter editor, necessary information gets to where it needs to be. Paula is often the person behind the scenes helping to set up the meetings, tear them down, organize special events. She also ran the meetings when I couldn't be there.

While not a Board member, a big thank you to Bob Pyke, KK6ECM for his many hours bringing the 147.000 repeater up to snuff. And our Airwaves Newsletter Editor Mike Herr, WA6ARA, has been dedicated in fulfilling the Editiorializorship. We always have a quality monthly newsletter. He coordinates the marathons and bike rides that require ham support, often acting as net control. He facilitates the Monday night SARC Emergency Net, and the 75m AM Net. He teaches the club-sponsored Ham licensing classes. Mike is dedicated to the T-Hunts, making our Saturday morning every other month, a pleasure. A big THANK YOU, Mike.I know there are several others who contribute their time and knowledge, and I thank you for your help as well.

My thanks to all for making the past year a success. We are a volunteer club in the Amateur service, and together we do well. Let's keep it going!

73Dave, W6TLA

Minutes November 2014 SARC Board meetingThe board talked about getting others to attend the EOC meeting on first Thursday of the month at RPD office.

The repeater committee fixed the 147 machine and now the Randsburg machine is starting to be scratchy.

Community support is needed for the 15 November desert bike ride and the 7 December Ultra Marathon. Other upcoming events include the 20 mule team horse ride and the Fire Mtn 50 ride.December officer elections are covered with all the current officers staying on board. Any one new is welcome to join the team.

Mike WA6ARA needs $350 for new Technician class books. Mike also would like clarification of money set aside for repeater repairs in the budget.

Minutes November 2014 SARC meetingFirst Vice President Paula, N6VGW lead the meeting. Thanks went to Julie, KI6YRA for bring the snacks. The snack list was at the back of the meeting room for people to sign up for the coming months. Visitor were Greg, WA7IRW from Reno and Tom Green from Ridgecrest. Treasurer’s report didn’t make the newsletter but copies were available. It was voted to increase the repeater repair budge from $500 to $1000. Tammy, KG6VYA reported the success of the Bill Thornburg ride with some new hams helping out. And she reminded the membership of the upcoming 20 mule ride and the Fire Mountain 50 ride. Paula indicated that the upcoming T-Hunt on 22 November will start 9 am at the Crest Donut shop. The Desert Classic bike ride on 15 November and the Ultra Marathon on 7 December are coming up and need support. The AMATEUR RADIO exams administered by the Volunteer Examiners (VE) are coming on 13 December. Show and Tell had Rick W6RIC bring in some books to give away. Dave, KC6UUR had an IR imager for an Iphone. Greg, WA7IRW had a spectrum analyzer box to show. Keith talked about getting DX QSL cards checked and he has 68 countries and the Worked All Zones award. Mike, WA6ARA indicated the SARC made the ARRL

Field Day list at 27th from the bottom in 2014 instead of 3rd from the bottom last year. It was voted to spend $350 for Technician Class books. Mike, N0MFA , is to look into a wireless mike for our PA system.

Bob, KK6ECM began his talk on the 147 repeater with a demo of the echo link feature by talking with John AI6A in Dallas TX. Bob had reworked the computer controller so it would function with the rest of the system better. He gave a block diagram of the repeater showing the internet connections. The repeater works full duplex. There was a list of the function codes to place the repeater in the different modes. The computer has IRLP (Internet radio linking page), Echolink, and Allstar modes. Members should remember the repeater has a 20 minute time out limit and a half second delay between key up and talking function starts. The repeater has high speed Voice over internet server mode also. Bob gave super talk explaining how the repeater functions. Bob has been the main guy repairing the repeater along with Mike, WA6ARA.

The 50/50 drawing of $16.50 was won by Mark, W6BST. The door prize of a $25 Home Depot card was won by Mike Alamo.

Treasurer's ReportBeg Balance $8,498Income $36Expense $(80)End Balance $8,454

Reserve $(1,000)Available Cash $7,454

Julie Stephens

SARC TreasurerKI6YRA

SARC December Program - Antennas!We all have antennas, but do we really know them. Should they be high, or sometimes low? Is bigger always better? How do I know if my antenna is working well? How do I tune up an antenna? How do I use one of those analyzers? We will be discussing antennas, both HF and VHF, how to buy / build and make them work for you, and hopefully answers a lot of questions. There will be some demos along the way.

Emergency Council Meetings The Emergency Council in Ridgecrest meets every second Thursday of the month at 1130 am at the Kerr McGee Center . The room is in the Northwest section of the center. If you are interested in emergency operations, RACES / ARES, try to make the meeting. It is recommended to park on the west side

The Horse Rides UpdateEditor's note - Tammy had sent this in on time for the November meeting but I lost it while on a trip up north. It is included here for December. I apologize for the late publication

Man vs Horse Ride had another successful year. Bob Rose KK6UTC, Bill Burns WA6QYR, and Tom Perkins W1ERG all signed up to help. Tom ended up not being able to help due of surgery, but did stop by after surgery to see how things were going. Thanks Tom!!!! Bob Rose went to the top and operated there. Thanks Bob, I really appreciate that!!!! Bill was at the Mine, a new spot this year. Thanks Bill!!!! At times I was having difficulties hearing Bill Burns, Jerry Brooks KK6PA's grandson was in the event so he was there supporting his grandson and listening to the net. He volunteered to relay the messages from Bill (he continued this from home also) since he could hear via backdoor???. (Hmmm sounds like a topic for a presentation) Thanks Jerry!!! This new knowledge helped me with the Bill Thornburgh Ride. Thanks Bob Pyke KK6ECM and Mike Herr WA6ARA for making sure the repeater was available for the event.

AH, the Bill Thornburgh ride. This was a near miss. A disaster diverted. Thank you to all who volunteered and saved the event.

Sooooo How did it go??? Right off the bat two horses had gotten away during the night. The owners had been looking for them since 3am. Mike and Stanley had the Little Lake box Canyon site Saturday AM. The first ones to the water hole were those two missing horses which is approximately 12 miles from camp. Mike and Stan contained the horses until the owners could show up and get them in the trailer. The ride coordinator was very appreciative of the radio operators participation in this the event.

Operators for the event were Jim Wilkie KI6PTA, Mike Herr WA6ARA, Stanley Chassagne KJ6TJY, Dave Aubin W6TLA, Kenda Lampe KK6LLW, Bill Burns WA6QYR, Harry Stephens K6HLS, Cap Casperson WX1WIZ, Dave Gossage AD7GU, Additional volunteers were Skip N6SR from Wofford Heights, Andy from California City (who stopped by to see the event running), Paula Herr, Steve Luhn, John (Pat) Weaver KK6BCM. Thank you Ed Czajka for your white board and maps. Thank you Bob Pyke KK6ECM and Mike Herr WA6ARA for your work on the repeater before this event. We had another successful event!!!!! Thank you Jerry Brooks KK6PA for your words of wisdom at the Man vs Horse. I actually retained the info you shared with me and was able to use it for the Bill Thornburgh ride to continue successful communications when there was noise I could not hear over. Thank you to all of you for volunteering your participation !!!!!

PS This was Kenda's and Stanley's first event ask them how it was. They did great!!!!!!

News from the Nominating CommitteeAs per the Sierra Amateur Radio Club Constitution and Bylaws, three members of the SARC were appointed by President Dave Aubin, W6TLA to present a slate of officers to be voted upon at the December meeting. This slate was to be presented at the November meeting and was not. My apologies, we had a family matter that kept us from the meeting.The members of the nomination committee are: Steve, KK6JTB; Jim, KJ6OIB; and Sandy, KJ6VRW. The slate to be presented and voted upon at the December meeting is as follows:

President Harry Stephens, K6HLSFirst VP: Steve Hendricks, KK6JTBSecond VP: Tammy Johnson, KG6VYASecretary: Bill Burns, WA6QYRTreasurer: Julie Stephens, KI6YRA

Nominations will be accepted from the floor prior to voting. All members in attendance at the December meeting will determine by majority vote, the 2015 officers for the Sierra Amateur Radio Club. Respectfully submitted: Sandy Aubin, KJ6VRW

Technician Class 2015We are starting to plan for the Technical class 2015. The start date is tentatively February 5th. The classes would be on every Thursday, for 8 weeks, ending with the test on class night. The start date and class night is still in flux until we get the location nailed down. The cost will be in the $35 range, which will include the book and all materials, except for the test at the end of the class. So, if you know anyone who is interested in earning their technician class license, please have them contact me to be put on the list. Also, note that the test questions, and the study material, changed as of July 2014. If you have the older book most of the material will be the same, but the presentation, page numbers and some of the questions will be different.

November T-Hunt

For today’s event we had 10 participants, including the fox. The transmitter/antenna were disguised as a water spigot at the park East of the Post Office . The winner was Todd W6TOD accompanied by Pam KC6UUS . The next finder was Richard Rutenbeck KF6AOY who will be the next fox as Todd will not be available in January. KF6AOY has custody of the fox transmitter at this time. Everyone enjoyed the event, people were in the right area but never suspected the water tap!! Richard KJ6VRX

Upcoming ActivitiesOTHTC Ultra Marathon - 7 December (Sunday) starting at 7am till about 2pm. Contact Mike, WA6ARA to sign up to help.

SARC Installation Dinner - 12 January - This is in place of our normal meeting. The format isn't fixed at press time but usually we have a nice pot luck with SARC supplying the main course, and plenty of door prizes. There will be more about it in the January issue of the Airwaves. Hope to see you all there.

Tid BitsGood Safety note for those 9 volt batteries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnVDayI-gwI

And...Tim Allen, like his Last Man Standing character Mike Baxter, is now a licensed amateur radio operator. In September, the Denver, Colo.,native who grew up in Birmingham Mich., joined two dozen members of the sitcom’s crew in earning his technician license. The former Home Improvement star, 61, will reprise his role as the voice of Buzz Light-year Dec.2 in the ABC Christmas special Toy Story That Time Forgot. Tim's call sign (his real name is Tim Dick) is KK6OTD.

Extra credit - on the show “Last Man Standing” Mike Baxter's call sign is KA0XTT - what does it stand for and for super extra credit, is it a legal call sign? Why? Question will be answered at the Monday night net.

For SaleAstron VS50M power supply. As new condition, lightly used. $300.Elecraft KX1 QRP CW transceiver. Covers 20/30/40/80 meters (KXB8030). Includes internal automatic antenna tuner (KXAT1) and plug-in keyer paddle (KXPD1). $350.

Contact Adrian. 760 258-7411. N6ZA at ymail dot com

And For SaleCopper wire enamel coated #14 fifty feet coils $1 each.TVRO dishes 10 ft, 6 ft, and 5 ft free2 motor home motorized Az/el 5ft TVRO dishes $10 each6 ft and 4 ft 19 inch racks $5 eachHP 5381A 80 MHz counter $152 meter to 6 meter transverter TenTec $306 meter Ringo vertical antenna $10

Contact Bill WA6QYR 247 Rebel Road 375-8566 bburns@mediacombb.net

Mike, WA6ARA and Rick, WA6RIC, trying out a new radio for Summits On The Air operations

www.qsl.net/wa6ybn/

Open Area Repeaters

Status Location Call Freq in MHz Tone Notes Distance

UP WA6YBN 145.340 (-) 100.0 Wide Area, Emergency Power S 18.6 Mi

Down WA6YBN 146.640 (-) S 2.5 Mi

UP WA6YBN 147.000 (+) 107.2 W 2.5 Mi

Standby WA6YBN 147.060 (+) 100.0 Club Portable Repeater, used only for events SW 1 Mi

UP N6BKL 52.680 (-) 82.5 S 18.6 Mi

UP WI6RE-2 145.050 Packet Node (ELPASO) S 10 Mi

UP Calif City KG6COM-10 145.05 RMS Packet - WINLINK 2000

UP WI6RE 144.390 S 10 Mi

UP WI6RE 147.975 (-) 100.0 S 10 Mi

UP

K5GFM 146.970 (-) 123.0

E 15.9 Mi

UP Little Lake W6TD 147.210 (+) 103.5 RF Linked to Mazourka Peak NW 24.9 Mi

UP Bird Springs KF6FM 146.085 (+) 141.3 WSW 27 Mi

UP Mazourka Pk W6TD 146.760 (-) RF Linked to Little Lake N 96.5 Mi

UP K6OX 146.730 (-) 100.0 SSW 80 Mi

UP Keller Pk KE6RYZ 146.385 (+) 146.2 SSE 104 Mi

UP Sawmill 145.450(-) 156.7 Lake Isabella area W 60Mi

UP W5HMV 447.020 (-) 123.0 SE 2.6 Mi

UP WI6RE 446.500 100.0 W 2.8 Mi

UP WI6RE 448.800 (-) 100.0 S 10 Mi

UP NC9RS 927.0125 (-) 88.5 Input: 902.0125 – Linked to others - NC9RS SW 2.0 Mi

Email to wa6ybn@gmail.com to report invalid data.

Last Update: Nov 11, 2014

Randsburg

RidgecrestTranslator, No Squelch Tail, Emergency Power

RidgecrestAllstar #27178, Echolink #518309, Info *510

IWV Emergency Net Mondays @ 7:30 PM

Ridgecrest

Randsburg Linked to other 6m repeaters in SoCal. Net

Thursdays @ 6:30 PM

El Paso Pk

El Paso Pk APRS W1 Digi, iwvaprs.net – KI6PSP@gmail.com

El Paso Pk Allstar Node usually on WINSYSTEM

Trona

RF Linked to 447.020. 6m Remote Base on FM call frequency 52.525 MHz - Controls: Rx 61, Tx 62, Off 63

Wide coverage of Indian Wells Valley - swrrc.org

Hauser Pk Near Palmdale, Wide coverage of Antelope Valley

kpra.net - Near Big Bear, Wide SoCal Coverage

Ridgecrest RF Linked to 146.970. Input is about -4 KHz off.

Ridgecrest IRLP-3741, contact tiplerek@iwvisp.com for codes

El Paso Pk IRLP-3877 - WinSystem.org

Ridgecrest

Sierra Amateur Radio ClubMembership Application

Please fill this out. It is used to make the club roster and newsletter mailing list. This form must accompany all membership and badge payments. All renewals are due by March 31st. Please mail this application along with your payment to:

SARCP.O. Box 1442Ridgecrest, CA. 93556-1442or give them to the Secretary at a meeting.

Membership

Individual or Family Member Date:

Last Name:

First Name: Callsign:

Class:

Address: Phone:

Email Address: < – Required for newsletter delivery

Radio Interests:

Are you currently an ARRL Member?

May the club publish your Name, Callsign and Interests only, on its web page?

Second Family Member (For more Family Members, please duplicate)Last Name:

First Name:Callsign:

Class:

Email Address: < – Required for newsletter delivery

Radio Interests:

Are you currently an ARRL Member?

May the club publish your Name, Callsign and Interests only, on its web page?

Badge OrderClub Badges are now done Online. Visit the club web site at www.qsl.net/wa6ybn/ and click on

Club Badges for more information and to place an order.http://www.qsl.net/wa6ybn/ - Membership Application v2 by KI6PSP (May 2010)

Individual - $17.00

Family - $27.00

Full Time Student - $8.50

Active Duty Military - $8.50

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