The topic was on the MCI-2016 exercise due for Wednesday May 18 in the morning. The staffing chart was discussed. Also the frequencies on the ICS-205 form. Pete Hnat (KI6UVJ), the MCI-2016 exercise director, was present and helped us understand issues regarding victims and other matters. Thanks Pete! Some of the new badges were issued to those who came. Others should get badges at the May 13 SF-ARC general monthly meeting, if you are there. Send me a badge-sized photo to get yours finished and delivered. We want every member to have their badges by the time of the May 18 exercise.

If you have specific questions on the MCI materials please contact Carl for details.

Thanks to all the participants! Great Job!

John Hestenes, NT6ET, Placer County Emergency Coordinator

Club and Member News

Update from Western Placer ARC

Posted June 20, 2016

Greetings from the Western Placer Amateur Radio Club:

Wow! Finally a newsletter. This is the first one in about the last 6 months. I am back to the point where I have the energy and the focus to write again. My ankles are almost healed and I am able to walk a little bit. Happy not to rely on a wheelchair all the time. Thanks to all who sent cards, best wishes, and came to visit me while I was in the hospital and the skilled nursing facility. I hope to get back to my usual routine of writing a newsletter every week. We'll see....

The exciting news this week is that Field Day 2016 is this weekend. Field Day is the biggest event of the year in amateur radio and you want to make sure you set aside some time to attend. Our club will stage at Gary's (WA6IKE) again this year. Gary's ranch is an ideal place to hold the event. There is lots of room and the location is terrific. For those of you who haven't been to Gary's, his ranch is at an elevation of 1,200 – 1,300 feet and is on the edge of a cliff which gives an unblocked radio opening to much of the world.

Jerry (N6JKH) is coordinating the event this year so if you are interested email him at jerrykhaar@yahoo.com. We will serve lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. The cost for all 3 is only $10! If you want to participate in the food please bring your $10 to the meeting Tuesday night and give it to Jerry. If you can't make the meeting please email Jerry to make other arrangements.

Our previous Field Day's have been very productive with lots of contacts. Usually we hit at least 45 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. We have a lot of fun as we usually have a large turnout and the airwaves are very busy. If you have never attended a Field Day, come up to Gary's to find out what it is all about. You don't have to bring a radio – there are plenty to share. If you can bring a radio, make sure to coordinate the frequencies and logging with Jerry N6JKH. I am actually very disappointed because I won't be able to go this year. Usually I stay the whole time and do most of my operating during the darkest hours of the night. I love being able to watch the bands move around the country and world as the terminator moves. One band goes dead so you switch to another and boom! Hawaii and Guam come booming in. Then Australia, Japan, and the southern Pacific. Then as the night goes on the U.S. East coast starts waking up and you hit New York, Virginia, Florida, and the Canadian province of Ontario. Then the mid-west comes on and you hear Detroit, St. Louis, and the middle southern states. You jump from band to band to see what is coming back to life – first 80 meters, then 40, and then back to 80, then maybe something on 20. 80 is the real night time band for DX. You can tell when it is starting to die off because you start hitting other Sacramento, bay area, and San Joaquin valley stations, and maybe something from southern California instead of Asia. The middle of the night is quiet and cool and the contacts are there just waiting for you.

As mentioned above, the June club meeting is Tuesday night, June 21 at 7:00 PM at the Woodcreek Oaks Golf Club in Roseville. Many of us arrive early to eat, drink, and share in stimulating conversation. We will review our Field Day plans at the meeting this month. I really missed not being able to attend meetings for a few months but now I'm back and I enjoy the fellowship and technical sharing that goes on at our meeting. Make sure you join in this month. If a time comes when you can't make the meetings you will wish you had attended all of them.

I don't think everyone is aware of it yet, but we installed a new repeater in May. The box itself is a Yaesu System Fusion DR-1X that operates in both analog and digital modes. We also installed a new antenna as our old one was suffering from old age. Many thanks to LC N7VQC, Frank KB6KYK, Gary WA6IKE, Steve N6HTV, Roger N6OU, and Eric W6ETJ for setting up the new unit and making it work so well. LC was the lead for the installation of the new repeater. He has immense technical knowledge and skills so you know that if LC did it, it is done right.

Yaesu System Fusion is making strong gains in the digital market place. It is a good protocol with excellent sound quality. Yaesu wants to gain market share so they were selling the repeaters at 2/3 off! There are several Yaesu radios featuring System Fusion with something for everyone with HT, base, and mobile radios. They also go from inexpensive radios to full featured units that will dazzle you with features. We already have a number of users who have System Fusion radios so we have started a digital only System Fusion net. It is on Monday nights at 8:30 PM and offers technical support and advice for System Fusion users.

Gary, WA6IKE, hosts the repeater at his ranch with no charge to the club. Gary is a 2 meter SSB operator and has nets on Wednesday and Sunday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Our repeater is in close proximity to Gary's antenna and interferes with his SSB net. We request that no one use the repeater during those time periods. We have a great location at Gary's and we don't want to lose it so please stay off the repeater during those time periods. It took us 8 years to find a location as good as what we have now and we don't want to take any chances on losing it.

As if that isn't enough, Clay K6AEP has set up VOIP for the repeater. The system was designed by Clay, one of our most technically astute members. He has an amazing history with amateur radio stretching back more than 60 years. You can look on his website to view some of his history or look up the first trans-Pacific SSTV QSO between Clay and the Japanese government on YouTube. With VOIP on the repeater we can operate on Echolink and Allstar networks and operate thousands of station all over the world. Of course, you can also operate these networks using a smart phone. Clay has posted instructions on how to use the system on the club website at http://wparc.us/voip.html. However, you must never, ever connect to the WinLink System. Never. Ever. Please remember this.

Don't forget our regular weekly nets on the repeater. We have one on Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM that is always hosted by Katy KJ6YCP and then 2 nets on Thursday evenings starting at 7:30 PM. Bill, KJ6YCO, is the net coordinator now and often hosts the 2 meter net. When he isn't on, the trusty Dennis, KI6HHA, is on, and handles the net with his usual style and skills. They both do a fine job and it is a pleasure to hear them lead the net. Many thanks to both of them for dedicating time to the club net to make it a success. If you would like to be a Net Control for one of our nets, please contact Bill at bugout@surewest.net. Five minutes following the 2 meter net we have an HF net. LC, N7VQC, is on the spot to handle the HF net. LC is also an excellent Net Control and it is always a pleasure to hear him on the bands. This net changes bands every week so listen to the 2 meter net for any change in frequency. The usual schedule starts from the first Thursday of the month on 10 meters, then 15, then 40, and finally 75 meters at the end of the month. If there are 5 Thursdays in a month, the last one will be on 10 meters. Here is the schedule for the next 6 weeks (Remember to listen for the frequency on the 2 meter net as it may change):

June 23 – 75 meters (3.855 MHz)

June 30 – 10 meters (28.410 MHz) A good chance for Techs to join in!

July 7 – 10 meters (28.410 MHz) A good chance for Techs to join in!

July 14 – 15 meters (21.355 MHz)

July 21 – 40 (7.225 MHz)

July 28 – 75 Meters (3.855)

The next big event we have coming up is the WPARC Hamfest on September 17th at McBean Park in Lincoln. The gates open at 7:00 AM but we need several volunteers to be there around 5:00 AM to set up and to control parking for buyers and sellers. Katy KJ6YCP has been coordinating the hamfest for several years and does a terrific job every year. If you would like to help out please email Katy at entertainangels@surewest.net. This is a big event for the club and how we operate it reflects on the club so please volunteer. We all (and especially Katy) appreciate it. We have our city permit and our liability insurance in order so the event is set to go.

A month ago we handled all communications and SAG wagon duties for the Tour de Lincoln. As usual, the event came off without a hitch thanks to the exceptional organizational skills of Roger K6OU and the help of many dedicated club members. We have supported this event for 10 years now and we just keeps getting better. Usually I operate as Net Control but was unable to do so this year so the job was carried out by Dennis KI6HHA and Katy KJ6YCP. They did an outstanding job handling all the traffic and keeping tabs on all the SAG wagons. I listened in from home for a while and I was surprised how busy the radio was. When I am there as Net Control I don't notice how busy it is, but when I am just listening in as an observer I am suddenly aware of how much work the WPARC club members do to support the riders. As usual, it was a great job performed by a great group of hams. Many, many thanks to all who helped out.

Well, there is more to say but I am running out of steam. I'm not fully back to my normal self so I apologize for any errors! I look forward to seeing everyone this Tuesday night at the June Club Meeting!

73, Michael Buck K6BUK

Update from Samuel F Morse ARC

Posted June 11, 2016

SFMARC June news

The W6SFM Samuel F Morse Radio Club June meeting was called to order by club President Mike, N6MQL on June 2 at the Carmichael Presbyterian Church in Carmichael CA. 16 members and 1 guest were in attendance. We welcomed 2 new members, Terry, KI6KWS of Sacramento , and Jennifer, NS3O also from Sacramento.

Mike, N6MQL read the Month's budget report and announced the current funds available.

Club Secretary, Chris, AI6U proceded to read the minutes of last month's meeting and the totals for our On-line/On-air net meetings for the month.

Snacks provided by Chris, AI6U.

Topics of Discussion at our in-person meeting included the club Bug Roundup Event (CQ BR).

An update as to the W6SFM CW Beginners Class was given by Mike, N6MQL.

More information on the NPOTA (National Parks On The Air) event was discussed.

The ARRL's support of petition RM-11767 asking the FCC to allow more than 15dB of gain on an amplifier was also discussed.

Another RM, RM11769 was briefly discussed. This was a measure that was presented to the FCC asking that CW become known as another "Symbol Rate" data. It also asked that what is now the ARRL's "gentleman's agreement" on band use plans should become the 'fixed' data and voice areas.

Once again positive feedback on the new "The Doctor Will See You Now!" Pod Cast was given. Those who have listened to the 20 minute show are encouraging others to listen to the Bi-Weekly pod casts based on the QST article by the same name.

The club has taken the opportunity to purchase new QSL cards. These cards will be used to answer incoming QSL requests when the club station call letters are used in special events, outings in the park and other PR related events.

In addition to the QSL cards the Club has also purchased "business cards". These cards will be used to pass out at events such as the Kids Day in the park event and other like PR events.

For our “show and tell” portion of our meeting we opted to take this time to discuss the up coming ARRL 2016 Field Day event.

This year for the first time the club will introduce both a 40 meter ground mounted Phased Vertical array as well as a Tri-Band Yagi antenna to be placed on a 30' tall pneumatic mast. Those antennas will be provided by members Mike, K6LQ and Norm, WB6RVR. The club will also set up its 80 meter Inverted Vee antenna for 80 meter operations throughout the night shift.

Our next SFM ARC in-person meeting will be held at its normal time and address July 7th (followed by our Aug 4th meeting). The SFM ARC in-person meeting will be held in the Howa Crowley room upstairs at the Carmichael Presbyterian Church. More information including a Google Map is available on the homepage of our website.

Update from River City ARCS

Posted June 5, 2016

New! Click to watch the ARRL "Clarity on Parity" video