Short Circu Short Circuit Short Circuit

Simi Settlers’ Amateur Radio Club
Short Circuit
February 2013
Inside this Issue
1
February Program
Static & Sparks
2
Static & Sparks continued
3
4
Nets of Interest
ACS Corner
Free Tubes!
Events
Thank You's
Special Event Raffle
5
For Sale
Other News
6
November Meeting Minutes
7
Simi Settlers’ Leadership
Letter From the Editor
8
Membership form
General Meeting
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Simi Valley
Senior Center
3900 Avenida Simi, Simi
Valley, CA 93063
1
February 14, 2013
February Program
Static
tatic & Sparks
By President, Rick Galbraith W6DQE
Emergency Communications
(Mobile Command Post Radio
Configurations)
onfigurations)
- Joy Matlack
Matlack-KD6FJV
Hello Simi Settlers,
Joy will speak on the subject of
setting up and operating a Mobile
Command
mmand Post. Such as the one
used for the Baker to Vegas relay
race.
Joy Matlack KD6FJV holds a
General License and is a member
Radio Baker Vegas Club as the
PIO. She is Vice-Chair of the Los
Angeles Area Council of Amateur
Radio Clubs (LAACARC).
Since the 147.180 repeater has be
taken down from Chatsworth Peak
and there are plans to move it to
Verdugo Peak sometime in the
future, many of us have now found
much of the activity being on
146.520 simplex here in Simi Valley.
This certainly has been nice to see a
great deal of radio activity with many
of our members improving their
stations and working on their
antennas. Thanks goes out to
George KN6LA and the ACS group
for letting us still us the K6ERN
146.805/445.580 repeaters for our
Sunday Evening net at 8:30 pm, this
has been very nice as between the
2m/440 bands it offers handheld
coverage throughout much of Simi
Valley.
Continued on page 2...
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Continued from page 1... Static & Sparks
We certainly started off the year with a packed house at our last general meeting at the Senior Center, with all
thanks to Frank KI6OQ Valdez and the fine presentation of his great trip to Alaska. Which gave those of us
who have never been there a chance to see the great sights that our 50th state has to offer. Then this double
featured presentation offered a detailed pictured tour of space shuttle Endeavour's trip from LAX through the
city streets to downtown Los Angeles. Frank you have inspired me to plan a trip to Alaska sooner than later,
thank you! Maybe I should take my family's advice to audition for the show "Gold Rush".
As I mentioned in last month's newsletter I was returning to Vail Colorado for its 50th anniversary this first
week of January. This trip was 25 years in the making, as I was there back in 1987 with my dad to celebrate
the 25th anniversary of this massive ski resort. My family stayed in touch on the slopes and in town with the
great radio coverage of the Vail 146.610 repeater. Let me tell you that the ski resort has over 5,000 acres of
skiing and many peaks at over 11,000 feet elevation. This repeater covered every part of this mountain, even
in the deep canyons of the back bowls. Here are a few family pictures and a multiple page trail map link for
you skiers who are interested, (http://www.vail.com/mountain/explore-mountain/mountain-trail-map.aspx)
Just to keep you all informed we had a great SSARC board meeting a couple of weeks ago. First, the monthly
$5 membership drawing will now be starting off with $10 in the can which will then carry over to the next
meeting if no one wins. Remember you need to be a paid SSARC member and present during this drawing to
win. Since there have been no winners over the last few meetings, this month's lucky winner will receive $30! .
We are also planning another spring picnic sometime in April at Rancho Madera Park in Wood Ranch. Jim
KI6MZ and Jay AG6JF are planning on debuting their portable antenna test range there in the grass field next
to the picnic grounds. So be prepared to bring one of your antennas to test and really see how they perform.
Also be prepared for a special field trip this summer to the Electronics Expediter's store in Camarillo.
Hold on to your hats folks, the Simi Settlers will be holding a special raffle at the April meeting, the prize will be
the Comet CAA-500 antenna analyzer !
(http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=10&childID=20). This raffle will take place at
our April meeting with a cost of $5 per ticket. Tickets will only be sold at the general meetings, and will be
openly sold to any licenced radio amateur who attends our February, March, April meetings. You do not need
to be present to win so don't worry about it if you happen to miss the April meeting when the lucky winner will
be chosen. Also feel free to buy as many tickets as you want to, good luck !
2013 is a great year to be a Simi Settler !
73, Rick
W6DQE
SSARC President
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Nets of Interest
Simi Settlers Sunday Evening Net on the Chatsworth Repeater 146.805 -0.6MHz PL100.0 or 445.580 5.0MHz PL100.0 Sundays at 8:30 pm
CW-QRP Saturday mornings at 9am 7.030 MHz
LSB Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday at 8pm 3.908 MHz
Condor Connection Monday at 7pm (Plays Newsline)
223.940-1.6 MHz PL156.7 Thousand Oaks
224.720-1.6 MHz PL156.7 Frazier Mountain
Simi Valley ACS Tuesday 7:05pm 146.805 -0.6MHz PL100.0 or 445.580 -5.0MHz PL100.0
ACS Corner
1. Monday 2/5/13 - ORT night.
2. Sunday 2/17/13 - 2013 Bandit 50K run Yes, it is time to start thinking about and getting ready for the 2013
Bandit 50K run. Please take a look at your calendars, and if you can help (I know it seems like a long way
off, but it will get here quickly) let me know as quickly as you can. This really helps in figuring out just what
stations can be manned and where to assign you great people.
3. Saturday 2/9/13 - Maple Elementary School Safety and Preparedness Fair - The public is invited to a
Safety and Preparedness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 9 at Maple Elementary School, 3501
Kimber Drive, Newbury Park.
The free event will feature representatives from the Red Cross, the Ventura County fire and sheriff’s
departments, the Office of Emergency Services, CERT and other emergency responders.
Participants can learn CPR, get free children fingerprinting and explore police and fire emergency vehicles.
There will also be games for the kids and a free raffle.
For more information, call (805) 498-4373.
4. Coyote Backbone Trail Ultra 68 Mile run March 30-31, 2013 - The coyotes are at it again! If you have ever
wanted to help or have before and had a good time, here is another chance. The coyotes are back to play
this time back in the Santa Monica Mountains where the original Mugu 50-50 and Coyote four Play where
held. This is a 68 mile ultra event in the park with numerous aid stations to support. The work shifts are a
lot less time than the previous coyote two moon…4 - 7 hours. All locations are drive in. Digital and voice
radio will be used. Come out and help, practice, learn, and prepare yourself for the next time we are
needed for a real disaster. See http://coyotebackbonetrail.com/event-details/aid-stations/ for a little more
detail. Call or email Dan Dicke KE6NYT at (805) 444-9120 or [email protected] if you have any
questions.
- Steve King KE6WEZ ([email protected])
FREE TUBES!
Hundreds of vacuum tubes, mostly receiving types. Tubes
include octal, loctal, 7 & 9-pin miniatures including some
compactrons. Perfect for restoring old radios and TVs. Would
like to dispose of them NLT April 2013 at request of XYL. If
interested, please call Mike Tweedy KV6I at (805) 522-9863
(home) or (805) 231-9683 (cell).
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Events
Thursday, February 7, 2013, 6:00pm SSARC Pizza Night
Round Table Pizza, 2345 Erringer Road, Ste. 100, Simi Valley
Sunday, February 10, 2013, 8:30am Ham Radio License Exam Session
Ventura County Sheriff's E County Station
2101 E Olsen Rd (Between 23 Hwy & Reagan Library);
Community Room, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Walk-ins-Allowed.
Contact: Jeffrey M Reinhardt (818) 706-3853
See: http://www.cvarc.org/ for more information
Saturday, February 23, 2013, 7 am W6TRW Swapmeet
(7am) and Exam Session (10am) Redondo Beach, CA
http://w6trw.com/swapmeet/swapmeet.htm
And thank you to Electronic
Expediters, Inc. for making space
for our newsletters in their retail
store.
Electronic Expediters, Inc.
3700 Via Pescador
Camarillo, CA 93012-5049 Telephone: 805-987-7171
April Special Event Raffle!
Get your tickets at the February, March and April General Meeting for a chance to
win a Comet CAA-500 Antenna Analyzer ! You have to buy your tickets at a
meeting but you don't have to be a member or be present to win! Tickets are $5.00
each so buy as many as you want!
4
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For Sale
19’ two-section push-up mast. Needs locking clamps. $15.00.
Aluminum carrying case. Size is 18” W x 13” H x 6”D. It would make a great “GO BOX” case. It is in good
condition. $10.00.
Call Spencer, N6IWY at 805 583-1127 or email [email protected].
Other News
Reminder: US Postal Rates Raised Again on Jan. 27
The cost of mailing a first-class letter, a postcard or a package within the
United States increased on January 27, as did the cost of flat-rate
Priority Mail packages. First-class postage raised to 46 cents for the first
ounce and postcards will now cost 33 cents each to mail. The ARRL Letter notes that this is the third hike for
postcards in less than two years.
The US Postal Service will also be introducing a "Global Forever Stamp" to complement its current domestic
version, which will remain valid for one ounce of international postage regardless of future rate increases. The
initial cost of the Global Forever Stamp is $1.10.
Boy Scouts OK Amateur Radio Operator Uniform Patch
Youth and adult members of the Boy Scouts of America
who hold FCC amateur radio licenses may now wear a
special "rating strip" on their scout uniforms. According to
the ARRL Letter, the strip recognizes the Scout or
Scouter’s availability as an Amateur Radio operator for communication services for events and activities, as
well as emergencies. This follows last year's introduction of a Morse code interpreter strip.
ARRL: Amateur Licenses Remain at All-Time High in 2012
ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, reported that the ranks of amateur radio operators in
the United States have continued to grow at a "healthy" clip, ending the year 2012 with a recordhigh 709,575 licensees.
According to the ARRL Letter, Somma said the number of new licenses issued in 2012 was more
than 3000 higher than in 2011, and that amateur radio in the U.S. has grown by 7% in the past
four years. The fourth call district continues to be home to the greatest number of hams (140,000),
followed by the sixth call area (100,000).
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Simi Settlers Amateur Radio Club
General Membership Meeting, January 10, 2013
Call to Order:
President Rick Galbraith, W6DQE, called the meeting to order at 7:04pm. Rick
welcomed everyone to this meeting held at the Simi Valley Senior Center. Buzz Hall,
KJ6SPN, led the recitation of The Pledge of Allegiance. 11 Officers and Board Advisors
were present. The total attendance was 34, with 5 visitors.
Announcements:
Rick mentioned that the 147.180 repeater has now been taken off the air. He made the
suggestion and members agreed that we can hold our next Sunday NET on the 146.805,
K6ERN, ACS repeater. The PL for this is 100Hz. Jim, KI6MZ, said that a Field Strength
Meter is being offered for sale.
Introductions:
A brief round of introductions was held. The Club congratulated Mike Whittek who is
newly licensed as KK6BIK. Also present were visitors Chet Skinner, KI6OMO, Charles
Engman, WB6MIO, Stephen Curiott, Doug Del Muro and Christine Del Muro.
Program:
The speaker for this meeting was our Vice President, Frank Valdez, KI6OQ. Frank
presented a photo slide show and narration of his trip to Alaska at the time of Field Day in
June of 2012. He took a cruise ship that made stops at a number of Alaskan port cities.
Frank had pictures of points of interest he saw on walking tours of Juneau, Skagway and
Ketchikan. His cruise continued to Glacier Bay where he took impressive pictures of
where glaciers meet the ocean. Frank told of some 2Meter radio contacts he made from
the cruise ship with Alaskan hams. He stressed how important Amateur Radio is in
Alaska. At the end of his cruise, he toured the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island,
Victoria, B.C.
As a second part of his program, Frank showed pictures he took of the Space Shuttle
Endeavour as it was transported in a final Fly-Over tour of California. He had photos
taken from the Griffith Observatory where a large crowd had gathered to view the Shuttle.
Frank later followed the progress of the Shuttle being slowly moved through the streets of
Los Angeles on a large trailer. There were interesting photos showing how obstacles like
signs, lights and trees were taken down to let the Shuttle pass on its way to the California
Science Center in Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display.
Break:
A 15 minute break was taken at 8:27pm with members enjoying refreshments.
Prize Raffle:
The raffle prize drawing was held with the winners selecting the prize of their choice. The
“Grand Prize” winner was Jay Harland, AG6JF.
Member Drawing:
The progressive membership prize drawing was held and the name drawn was Peter
Grace, AI6PG, who was NOT present to win the $20 prize. The prize fund will therefore
increase to $25 for our next regular meeting on February 14, 2013.
(Secretary’s Note: At the January 24 Board Meeting, the Board members agreed that the
Club will increase the amount added each month to the Membership drawing prize from
$5 to $10. Thus the prize in February will be $30, so you want to be sure to attend!)
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 pm.
Submitted by: Secretary, John Percival, WI6O
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Simi Settlers’ Leadership
President
Rick Galbraith
Vice President Frank Valdez
Secretary
John Percival
Treasurer
Norbert Rehaut
Committee Chairpersons
Webmaster
Swapnet
Ex-President
Newsletter
Membership
PIO
Jim Parker
Forrest Oden
Peter Grace
Joe Partlow
Larry Pyle
Linda Parker
Field Day
Youth
Coordinator
Historian
Net Coordinator
Food Services
What will you do?
W6DQE
KI6OQ
WI6O
W9YPM
(805) 433-4513 cell
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
KJ6LXJ
NQ1S
AI6PG
W6JWP
AD6ST
(805) 368-6745 cell
(818) 621-2575 cell
(805) 285-3063 cell
(805) 428-7907 cell
(805) 526-9556
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
KV6I
KI6LKD
KJ6HDD
(805) 404-3246
(805) 304-2455
VACANT
Mike Tweedy
Ray Campbell
Mike Watts
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Elmers and Members at Large
Elmer
Advisor
VACANT
Bill Everett
KI6KSV
[email protected]
Advisor
Advisor
Advisor
Jim Hutchinson
Brad Rife
Spencer Smith
KI6MZ
KI6KSY
N6IWY
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
(805) 583-1127
Simi Settlers’ Amateur Radio Club Web Page: http://www.simisettlers.org/index.htm
Simi Settlers' ARC Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SimiSettlersARC
Mail: P.O. Box 2125 Simi Valley, CA 93063-2125
Letter From The Editor
Looks like it's going to be an exciting year for the Simi Settlers starting out with a great January meeting. New
speakers, projects, prizes and events. It's going to be a busy year too. I've finished putting together my 2
meter packet/voice go-box. I hope to take it out into the field for testing this weekend.
Over the holidays my XYL gifted me with an Arduino. For those of you who don't what an Arduino is, it's an
open source microcontroller that can be expanded and programmed to do just about anything. And it's dirt
cheap. A basic one, called an Uno, goes for about $20-$30. The really neat thing is all the information on the
web on how to use one and what to do with it. If you're interested just google Arduino and check out the
tutorials on YouTube.
- 73 Joe W6JWP
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Simi Settlers Amateur Radio Club
P.O. Box 2125
Simi Valley, Ca 93062 --- (www.simisettlers.org)
Membership Application
(Membership Year is counted from July 1st of the current year to June 30th of the
following year. Membership fees will be prorated accordingly.)
Type of Application:
New Member 1
Renewal
1
Type of Membership:
Individual ($12/yr) 1
Family ($18/yr)
1
Name: ________________________________________________ Day & Month of Birth: ________
(Omit year)
Call: ___________________________ Class: ____________________ ARRL: Yes 1 No 1
Address: ________________________________ City: _______________ State: ___ Zip:_________
Phone: (____) _______________________ Alt. Phone: (____) ______________________________
E-Mail Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Additional Family Members:
Name: ________________________________________________ Day & Month of Birth: ________
(Omit year)
Call: ___________________________ Class: ____________________ ARRL: Yes 1 No 1
Name: ________________________________________________ Day & Month of Birth: ________
(Omit year)
Call: ___________________________ Class: ____________________ ARRL: Yes 1 No 1
Name: ________________________________________________ Day & Month of Birth: ________
(Omit year)
Call: ___________________________ Class: ____________________ ARRL: Yes 1 No 1
Badges requested: Yes 1 No 1
How many? __________ X $15.00 = $ ______________
Name (s) Call(s): ___________________________________________________________________
Shirts requested: Yes 1 No 1
How many? ___________ X $35.00 = $ _______________
Name (s) Call(s) Size(s) (Sm, Med, L, XL, etc):____________________________________________
Jackets Requested: Yes 1 No 1
How many? ___________ X $88.00 = $ _______________
Name (s) Call(s) Size(s) (Sm, Med, L, XL, etc):____________________________________________
OFFICE USE ONLY
Application type: New 1 Renewal 1
Membership type:
Individual 1
Family 1
Date Received: _______________ Amount Received: _________ Database completed: __________
Badges and Shirts ordered: ___________________________________________________________
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