Mountain Top Hardware Guess where our antennas are!

Transcription

1 Vol 59, No. 02 February 2012 Mountain Top Hardware Guess where our antennas are! Hamfests Past and Present Club Repeaters (3) Note from the editor (4) SB Endurance Race (5-6) Get Really HF Mobile (7-9) Membership Renewal (9) Classes & Training (10-11,13) Hamfest Planning 2012 (12-13) Palm Springs Hamfest (14-17) Tower Antics (18) Calendar of Events (19)

2 2 SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 SANTA BARBARA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB An Educational, Charitable, Non-Profit Corporation Founded in ARRL Special Service Club Board of Director Cyril Johnson, AF6GW Executive Vice President cyril@physics.ucsb.edu Mike Wapner, K6QD VP Education & Training k6qd@cox.net Bruce Gordon, N6OLT VP Emergency Services bgordon@rain.org Rick Whitaker, KG6VLB VP Operations rickwhtr@cox.net Michael Taylor, WA6RQV Secretary mst56@yahoo.com Tom Saunders, N6YX Treasurer tsaund@cox.net Rod Fritz, WB9KMO Director at Large rod@sbatv.org Darryl Widman, KF6DI Director at Large auditron@juno.com Bill Talanian, W1UUQ Director at Large w1uuq@cox.net Al Soenke, WA6VNN Director at Large ajsoenke@aol.com Dave Jacobs, K9KBX Director at Large k9kbx@hotmail.com Committee Chairs and Other Positions ATV Rod Fritz, WB9KMO rod@sbatv.org Outreach Rod Fritz, WB9KMO rod@sbatv.org Club Station Dave Milton, K6HWN sbsailguy1@aol.com Finance Tom Saunders, N6YX tsaund@cox.net Membership Harry Rouse, K6PDQ k6pdq@verizon.net Hamfest Tom Saunders, N6YX tsaund@cox.net Red Cross Mike Wapner, K6QD k6qd@cox.net Repeater Trustee Bill Talanian, W1UUQ w1uuq@cox.net Rover Tom Saunders, N6YX tsaund@cox.net Key-Klix Editor: Al Soenke, WA6VNN ajsoenke@aol.com Membership Data Base Kevin Schmidt, KD6NCA kps@ucsb.edu VE Team Leader Tom Saunders, N6YX tsaund@cox.net VE Team Contact Darryl Widman, KF6DI auditron@juno.com Webmaster Michael Reynolds, NO6O no6o@arrl.net Key-Klix is published monthly by the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 3907, Santa Barbara, CA The contents do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of SBARC, its Board, or its members. Material contained in Key-Klix may be reprinted provided credit is given to Key-Klix and the author, except material published by permission of a copyright holder. This publication may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the SBARC Board of Directors. Notes SBARC Club Station, located behind the Red Cross, 2707 State Street open Sat urdays, 0900 to noon, and Tuesdays, 1930 to The station telephone number with voice mail is Club meetings the 3rd Friday of the month, September through November and January through May at Location and topic are announced in Key-KIix, on the Club phone, and net Nets on K6TZ (-)(131.8): Mon ARES 1930; Tue ATV Net 2030+; Wed Newsline 1900*; Club Net 1930*, Swap Net 2000*; Thur Tech/Elmer Net *; Sat YL/XYL Net 1600; Weekdays Cuckoo Net 0700* SSB Net USB Wed 2030 NTS Traffic Net (+)(131.8) Sun 2100 * usually linked to (-)(131.8) and (-)(131.8)

3 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX SBARC Repeaters Call Location Frequencies/PL Manager Phone K6TZ 1 LaVigia Hill / Pat Lennon, WA6QBT W6YJO 2 Santa Ynez Peak / Bill Talanian, W1UUQ K6TZ Goleta (Portable) / Bruce Gordon, N6OLT K6TZ 3 Santa Cruz Island / Jug Jogoleff, WA6MBZ K6TZ 4 La Cumbre Peak / Jug Jogoleff, WA6MBZ K6TZ 2 Santa Ynez Peak / Jug Jogoleff, WA6MBZ K6TZ 5 UCSB / Jug Jogoleff, WA6MBZ K6TZ 1 LaVigia Hill / Bill Talanian, W1UUQ Call Location Frequencies/Software TNC/Specs APRS Network - National K6TZ10 LaVigia Hill javaprssrvr KPC-9612, 1200 baud, APRS I-Gate K6TZ Dablo Peak WXTrak TinyTrak, 1200 baud, WX xmit only K6TZ11 La Cumbre Peak West WXTrak TinyTrak, 1200 baud, WX xmit only APRS Network - Santa Barbara Special Events K6TZ-12 LaVigia Hill javaprssrvr KPC-9612, 1200 baud, APRS I-Gate K6TZ-15 La Cumbre Peak West Kantronics, firmware 9.1 KPC-3+, 1200 baud, APRS Digipeaer 9600 Baud Backbone K6TZ-13 La Vigia Hill (out-of-service) MFJ+mod, 9600 baud K6TZ-11 Santa Ynez peak (out-of-service) Tapper tiny-2, 9600 baud Local Access Network K6TZ-14 La Vigia Hill Winlink2000, LinuxRMS KPC-9612, 1200 baud K6TZ-4 SBPBBS La Cumbre Peak East Kantronics, firmware 9.1 KPC3+, 1200 baud K6TZ-3 SBDIGI La Cumbre Peak East Kantronics, firmware 9.1 KPC3+, 1200 baud

4 4 SBARC KEY- KLIX February The Year in Review Welcome to the second edition of Key-Klix for In this edition you ll find opportunity on pages 5 and 6 at the Santa Barbara Endurance Race. See what Dave K9KBX did to mobile his rig. Take time to visit a Hamfest in the High Desert. Or, check into one of our Classes in session at the Red Cross offices. Join Cyril and Dave Milton with Dave Larson and Mike Wapner to learn all you need to get that new license or upgrade yours. Plan on coming to the monthly club meetings to see what our friends and fellow hams have to offer - like this months meeting where you ll get the low down on antennas and a chance to compare 2M antennas. Bring your favorite, or not so favorite 2 meter antenna and we will analyze it Looking to the future we will see the return of the Annual Bazaar and Quality Junque sale (otherwise known as the Great Santa Barbara Garage Swap). And, as a follow up we will start planning the 2012 Hamfest tentatively scheduled for August 12th. We ll take a look at the 2011 Hamfest and start planning for our next Hamfest this month - we are planning to include YOU! 73 and enjoy, Al WA6VNN

5 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX 5 Get Ready for the Second Annual Santa Barbara Endurance Race (April 13-15, 2012) By Rick Whitaker- KG6VLB For those of you who participated in last years big Ultra Trail Race, otherwise known as the Santa Barbara Endurance Race or Blacksmith Endurance Race, I hope you had fun. For those who did not, here is a new opportunity. This year s race will start and finish at the Sage Hills campsites, located behind the Rangers Station on Paradise Road. Unlike last year, it will not involve the Rancho Oso guest sites. This year is planned to be more trails and less road oriented. Most of the aid stations are the same with a couple of new ones. The furthest point is still Divide Peak but more emphasis will be on trails and river crossings. The Rover will be used more strategically this year, and we need people to operate it from the top of Camino Cielo. There will be more scenery like the picture below, taken on the hike from Sage Hill. (Continued page 6)

6 6 SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 Get Ready for the Second Annual Santa Barbara Endurance Race (Continued from Page 5) This year s race will be a bigger challenge to the runners so the demand on communication is going to be even more critical. Last year, thanks to the Ham operators, we were able to change the entire Sunday Race Course to overcome strong winds on the mountain tops. We were able to coordinate transporting a runner to a hospital at 2AM. At the end of the event many runners commented they felt a comfort once they saw the guy or girl with a radio and they did not feel so alone in the backwoods. With our help they have decided that satellite phones are not needed and the race director is now in the process of studying for his Ham license. We also received very nice cash donation for our effort. This event took a lot of Ham operators and many hours of volunteer time to make it a success. If you were there last year, you got a chance to make a difference and to do a little camping in areas you normally are not allowed in. This year, have some good outdoor fun, please contact me (rickwhtr@cox.net) so we can support a very worthwhile event. For more information about the event, visit 73 Rick

7 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX 7 Get Really HF Mobile Photos and Text: Michael Taylor WA6RQV One Honda Civic car model has an HF designation after it. This usually means High Fuel - it can go a long way on a gallon of gas. But the Honda Reflex 250 motorcycle had no such suffix--- until Dave Jacobs (K9KBX) got a hold of it. He decided to install a Yaesu 857HF/UHF/VHF rig on his motorbike But the biggest challenge was where to put everything. As it turned out, it was like the bike was built for HF! The 857 and the LDG Z100 Antenna tuner fit nicely under the seat..

8 8 SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 The remote head fit (with a mounting bracket) above the instrument cluster. And the mic sits on the center console.. The VHF/UHF antenna (left-a Diamond) and HF antenna (right-an MFJ telescopic) were installed with custom brackets Hollister Avenue Santa Barbara, CA

9 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX 9 All in all, Dave created a pretty sleek and compact mobile communications machine. It really is a thing of beauty. If you would like the details (and there are many!), get a hold of Dave via one of the many SBARC repeaters, at the club station on most Saturday mornings--or better yet--come to an SBARC Board of Directors meeting. He would be happy to tell you about it. 73, Michael Have you renewed your Membership in SBARC? Your membership can be renewed on-line at Your dues can be paid on-line at

10 10 Classes By Dorothy Oksner, Call Pending Student and reporter SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 Let me guess, the subject was antennae? R - L : Jayne, Jeff, (?), Trinity, LeeWhay and Tony. The current Technician Class has completed all of the ARRL training modules as of Feb 7. The class has maintained at ~15 students (some have left and some new have joined). 13 have signed up to take the exam on Saturday (2/11) with at least two prepared to take the General class as well (individual study). There will probably be more who want to take the General exam if they pass the Tech. test even though they may not be prepared.

11 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX 11 Classes Continued - with added comments from Mike Wapner K6QD, VP Education and Training Cyril ponders the screen on his computer, while Dave ponders the graph on the screen. Subject - the analysis plot for the J antenna on the Table. Cyril tuning demo J pole antenna, class looking on in total amazement. Current plans are for a General Class beginning in May. I'd like to start sooner if I can get some additional instructors (volunteers?) Several have expressed a strong interest in an Extra Class but only one committed. My current plan is two General classes (another late in the year) and two more Tech. classes, one in Sept. & one in Dec. The Extra class will depend on student interest. (See Education and Training continued on page 13)

12 12 SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 Hamfest Planning By Al Soenke WA6VNN For at least the past 34 years, SBARC has held an annual Hamfest. The earliest of the annual event were held at Tucker s Grove Park. In subsequent years we have Fest d at several locations nearby, including Elk s Picnic Ground in Goleta and for big bashes the Earl Warren Fairgrounds facility. It has always been difficult to choose the ideal site for 300 people to picnic and shop with vendors or view demos. For this size crowd, the best and most affordable facility has been the Elk s. Earl Warren s was the minimum we could use to handle the 1000 visitors we had for the 2009 Convention and over 450 visitors for the 2010 Hamfest. After deciding who will be the event chairperson, the first step in planning is to review past Hamfests. The most recent, being 2011, we identified the key personnel and defined their roles. The need to set a date was foremost and critical in reserving the facilities. After presenting a list of initial needs to the Board of Directors, a tentative budget is set. This includes the facility costs, based on selecting the venue, and the cost of prizes and meal preparation. The next task was to get the word out to our guest community and vendors/sellers for the parking lot sales. Posting the event on the ARRL webpage and preparing bulletins and making announcements are key to a good turnout. The printing of drawing tickets and advance sales of the tickets will ensure good financial results if done as early as possible. For the 2011 Hamfest, Tom, NY6X and Lorraine Saunders, KG6HGE, began the job of perfecting his Tri-Tip marinade for the BBQ and a list of needs was provided to the Elk s. Reservations for facilities were made and a task sheet was prepared by Darryl KF6DI for review. Dave Hackleman K6VML was contacted and given the budget for the prizes and he took off running to contact vendors and secure the prizes. In the mean time Al, WA6VNN and Tom, NY6X made arrangements with the Elks facilities and prepared a menu for the BBQ. Al set out to gather Oak from a familiar Avocado Grove and hauled in a load of firewood.

13 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX 13 Hamfest Planning In attendance at the Elk s for preparations and setup was Jim Allen, KF6HHX, Harry Rouse, K6PDQ, and his lovely wife Carmen, Bruce Coffman, KG6NRW, Marina King, KA6JWL, Millie Stauffer, KE6HTT; Jean Perry, KJ6KEK, and Diana Widman, KA6YTL. Jim Allen took on a big job when he offered to head up the setup and take down crew. Rick Whitaker, KG6VLB, Handled several operations to ensure our guests had a good time. Dave Milton, K6HWN, provided the talk-in communications from the Club Station in order to direct all the out-of-town folks who were trying to find their way to the Elks. Michael Jogoleff, WA6MBZ, came forward to run the QLF contest and his efforts were very much appreciated.there were many other contributors who made for a great Hamfest What is needed now for the 2012 Hamfest is the rallying of volunteers to again help in all phases of preparation. We have a good lead on it this year and we want to make this the best Hamfest we can offer to the thousands of hams in the Tri-Counties area. To join in with the preparation contact this years Chairman, Tom Saunders at tsaund@cox.net (Education and Training, Continued from Page 11) Training: There are a number of disciplines within our hobby where training can be offered. Various attempts have been made and some continue. e.g. club station on Saturdays & Tuesdays. Interest has been expressed in training being presented in a more organized & disciplined manner by various local HAMs, both SBARC members and not. Currently, I am looking for more potential subjects to consider. Current expressed interest areas: Morse code, digital-to-radio interfaces, contests, emergency communication (non-ares), equipment purchase (how to evaluate choices). PLEASE: Give me your thoughts. 73, Mike K6QD

14 14 SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 News from other Clubs Another Memorable Hamfest in The Desert Dave Hackleman, K6VML SBARC Inland Empire Correspondent PALM SPRINGS (January 28) - It was very windy in San Bernardino, where I now reside, as the day dawned. Our next door neighbor s palm tree toppled over around 8:30 am. The wind was forecast to be just as strong in Palm Springs, so I hesitated. But by 11:00 the wind here had subsided dramatically, so I headed out. At around 12:15 I arrived at the Hamfest. There was no wind, sparkling skies, and lots of people! As was the case last year by the way, this also happened to be the day that the Salvation Army conducted a very important training for the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) in San Bernardino that draws people from all over the southland. I paid my $2 entrance fee and headed to the swap area, outside of The Barn, on the property of Desert RATS (Radio Amateur Transmitting Society) members Gary and Susie Boskovich KD6QLT and KD6TVO. If you would like to see your business card sized ad in Key-Klix you can. The rate is $33 for one year of card size ads in Key- Klix. Please send ad copy quality artwork or business card to: Editor - Key-Klix: wa6vnn@sbarc.org Mail payment to: Treasurer - SBARC PO BOX 3907 Santa Barbara, CA

15 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX 15 News from other Clubs I soon spotted Dave Jacobs K9KBX and Bruce Coffman KG6NRW among the tailgaters. It was sure good to see SBARCers! I spotted some very cool boat anchors, including three Yaesu FT-101s in very good condition offered by three different sellers. This year s event had the biggest turnout yet of vendors and tailgaters as well as attendees. Among the vendors were SBARC Hamfest veterans Richard WD6X and Tina Hammerschlag of Hi-Tech Liquidators in Costa Mesa, Ham Pole Man Dinnie Echols N6TLW from Winton, California, and Jim Shryne N6DHZ from the DX Store in Whittier. Gordon West WB6NOA did a presentation and SBARC Hamfest veteran Clint Bradford K6LCS demonstrated satellite communications. Soon I settled down behind The Barn to an $8 lunch combo of a hamburger, macaroni salad, cookies, and beverage, during which I had a very enjoyable eyeball QSO with W. A. Spud Monahan K6KH from Manhattan Beach. We shared our enjoyment of going to ham events such as this one while not having operated a lot lately ourselves. He was very much looking forward to the division convention in Yuma in mid-february. Afterward I took another look at the vendors inside The Barn and spotted HRO Burbank manager Eric Christensen K6EJC, longtime SBARC Hamfest veteran, wandering among the visitors. Chip Margelli K7JA was manning the CQ Magazine booth. They had a very nifty compact Atlas A-Z, a handy reference useful for DXers for only $10 so I snatched it up. Chip appreciated my compliment on his forum at last year s division convention on quick antenna setup configurations, and gave me the URL for an outfit that sold military surplus metal mast sections and tripod bases that I remembered he favored. Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton N6AA and Orange Section Manager Carl Gardenias WU6D were manning the ARRL Table. Dick offered a choice between four free ARRL books if I renewed my membership, and I obliged and chose The ARRL Emergency Communication Handbook (publ. 2010). Upon perusing it later I found it to be a nononsense reference with surprisingly useful information for even experienced ARES or other emergency services ham communicators.

16 16 SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 News from other Clubs While Carl was busy with another ham, I asked his XYL Cathy K6VC if she knew of anyone who installed mobile ham rigs professionally, as I had new rigs that had been waiting for several years for someone that could do this for me. She immediately suggested Jim Eason AD6IJ, whom I already knew as current president of the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club (CBARC). Vice President Jeff Richardson W6JJR was there and suggested I bring my radios, antennas, and mounts to the CBARC Club Station to show Jim so he could get an idea of the layout, which I did just last night as I write this and we will set a time in early March to do the job together! This is so neat. I had asked the same from SBARCers years ago but they all kept telling me how to do it pretty much on my own! There were lots of raffle prizes drawn throughout the day. For my 24 raffle tickets costing $20 I was rewarded with winning a $50 gift certificate from Yaesu! It came time to leave and I wanted to get something special. I pretty much have all the ham gear I need or want, so I settled on the Kaito KA500 Solarcrank radio available from Bob and Sharon Harris at the QuakeSafe Kits booth, Hamfest priced for only $60 that receives weather and shortwave as well as AM and FM. I never tire of a new receiver. Sharon was very enthusiastic about giving a presentation on emergency preparedness

17 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX 17 News from other Clubs Before I left I happened upon yet another veteran SBARC Hamfest tailgater Ron Pollack K2RP from Encinitas. We visited while checking out some nice Model A s displayed on the grounds. Then SBARCer Rod Fritz WB9KMO arrived and we quickly got each other caught up before we had to go our separate ways. Due to my late start to the Hamfest this year I did not make my usual stop at the Palm Springs Air Museum afterward, which you pass on the Gene Autry Trail going directly back to the I-10. However, you can check out photos from my visit to both in 2010 at ab134/dhackleman_2010. It was great to be able to see the familiar faces of ARRL officers, SBARCers, and other ham friends! Just as with its SBARC counterpart, the Palm Springs Hamfest is a super place for us hams to indulge ourselves

18 18 SBARC KEY- KLIX February 2012 Have you Hugged your tower lately? The new tower on Santa Ynez Peak houses antennas for many agencies including SBARC. Coverage unlimited. If you would like to be a part of the activities involved in building and maintaining the many facits of the huge network of repeaters, APRS, and other linked systems that SBARC owns and operates, please contact our Repeater Committee Chief Officer, Bill Talanian, W1UUQ and let him tell you of the many opportunities we have to offer. Bill can be contacted at W1UUQ@cox.net.

19 February 2012 SBARC KEY- KLIX Calendar of Events February 8 SBARC Board Meeting - 7:00pm Red Cross 13 SB South County ARES Meeting - 7:00pm SB Public Health Auditorium 17 General Club Meeting - 7:30PM Goleta Union Schools Administrative Board Room 28 Key-Klix Deadline for March Issue March 10 SBARC VE Session - 8:30AM Santa Barbara County Health Care Services 12 SB South County ARES Meeting - 7:00pm SB Public Health Auditorium 14 SBARC Board Meeting - 7:00pm Red Cross 17 Barbara Ireland Walk 16 General Club Meeting - 7:30PM Goleta Union Schools Administrative Board Room 31 Key-Klix Deadline for April Issue April 9 SB South County ARES Meeting - 7:00pm SB Public Health Auditorium 11 SBARC Board Meeting - 7:00pm Red Cross Blacksmith Endurance (aka SB Endurance Race) 20 General Club Meeting - 7:30PM Goleta Union Schools Administrative Board Room 30 Key-Klix Deadline for May Issue August 12 SBARC Hamfest Elk s Picnic Grounds Kellogg Avenue - Goleta Editor s Notes inquiries and articles should be sent to Al, WA6VNN at wa6vnn@sbarc.org Inserts in the Swap Net are free, or try Key-Klix. Business card ads are $33 per year SBARC Listserver Subscribe to the listserver at: Follow the instructions under the section Subscribe to SBARC-list The administrator for the listserver is Paul, KF6TRT, beemancron@hotmail.com 19

20 KEY-KLIX SANTA BARBARA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Post Office Box 3907, Santa Barbara, CA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Monthly Meeting Two Meter Antenna Night Bring your best shot for a 2M Shootout Come Join Us Friday, February Hrs - Goleta School Administration Building 401 North Fairview Avenue, Goleta