The Airwaves
March 2005
SIERRA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
 An ARRL Special Services Club
-- RACES -- ARES --
P.O. Box 1442, Ridgecrest, California 93556-1442

BOARD    President    Bill Burns    WA6QYR    375-8566   
    First VP    Paula Herr    N6VGW    375-5324   
OF    Second VP    Gene Brewer    KI6LO    446-1315   
    Secretary    Tom Ingram    WB6EPD    375-7950   
OFFICERS    Treasurer    Pam Evans    KC6UUS    375-4240   

SARC Owned and Maintained Repeaters

Randsburg WA6YBN 145.34 MHz (-600 kHz), PL 100.0 Hz, Wide Area Coverage, Emerg. Pwr.
Ridgecrest WA6YBN 146.64 MHz (-600 kHz), Translator, No Squelch Tail, Emergency Power
Ridgecrest WA6YBN 147.00 MHz (+600 kHz), PL 107.2 Hz, Autopatch, linked to 145.34
Ridgecrest YBNBBS:WA6YBN, 145.050 MHz, Bulletin Board, 1200 Baud
Ridgecrest #YBNSW:WA6YBN-4, 223.580 MHz, Node, 1200 Baud
Ridgecrest #YBNSW:WA6YBN-4, 439.025 MHz, Node, 9600 Baud

SARC Committees

Technical Assistance: Greg, WA7IRW 446-4282 Public Relations: Paula, N6VGW 275-5224
Program: Gene, KI6LO Airways Editor: Mike, WA6ARA 275-5224
RF Interference: Bill, WA6QYR 275-8566 Emergency and Public Service: Jerry, KK6PA 446-2228

THE AIRWAVES CALENDAR 

Every Monday Night
    ARRL Audio News
    1910 (7:10 p.m.) on 146.64 MHz
    SARC Net - Visitors Welcomed!
    1930 hrs (730pm) 
    WA6YBN Translator 146.64 MHz (-)

Mar 09   12VDC Distribution and Power Sources

AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXAMS
Second Sat, Even months
Apr 09   Volunteer License Exam Sessions
    Kern County Library Ridgecrest Branch
    131 East Las Flores Ave. Meeting Room
    Pre-registration ONLY by 9 Feb 
    All must sign in at 9 am. Code test 11 am
    Contact Elvy NØLV 760-384-3589
    E-mail ehopkins@ridgenet.net
    Dates for the rest of the year are:
		11 Jun
		13 Aug
		08 Oct
		10 Dec
From the President's Shack

I hope the rain is going to slack off for a while soon. We have had lots of rain in the first two months something on the order of 5 inches, which is over the normal 3 inches. Some of these times I wondered if we were going to get called out to watch areas of town for damage or head off to places that had too much rain had moved people into shelters. Just part of some of the things we could be called to do with emergencies.

The twenty Mule Team 100 mile 24-hour horse ride is about to happen as I write this. There are several hams who will be helping out: Jerry, KK6PA; Hal, KM6JM; Gary, KE6CE; Mike, KB6NIZ; Greg WA7IRW; Dave, KC6UUR; Jack, NL7SX; Bruce, N8RXJ; Bill, WA6QYR; and Judy KC6UTF. With light rain on the night before the event, it could be an interesting time for both the riders and the people out to help communicate where the horses/ riders are.
73's Bill WA6QYR

Board of Officers Meeting Minutes
By Secretary Tom Ingram (WB6EPD)

The February 9, 2005 board meeting was called to order at 1908 hrs. Those present: Pres. Bill Burns (WA6QYR), 2nd Vice Pres. Gene Brewer (KI6LO), Treas. Pam Evans (KC6UUS), Secy. Tom Ingram (WB6EPD) and Airwaves Editor Mike Herr (WA6ARA). A leader is needed for the 100-mile horse ride on 26 February. Gene has a filler for the March program if it is needed. There was a discussion on possible program for future meetings. There is a VE session this Saturday. Bill provided a list of meeting dates to the Heritage. Bill talked to Mike Hugo to Bill about the Randsburg repeater link. The club received a $150 donation and a card from the Valley Riders for our support in the 50-mile horse ride. There will be a Foxhunt on March 12. The meeting was adjourned at 1921 hrs.

Minutes of the General Meeting
By Secretary Tom Ingram (WB6EPD)

The 9 February 2005 meeting was called to order by the President, Bill Burns (WA6QYR) at 1930 hrs at the Heritage Inn. The Sign-in sheet was started around.

Greg, WA7IRW, showing his Fox Hunting equipment
Announcements:
1. 50/50 tickets are available.
2.The Treasurers Report is in the newsletter.
3. The audit committee report is complete.
4. Bill talked to Mike Hugo about problems with the Randsburg repeater link. Over Deviation may be the cause of the link problems.
5. The 100-mile horse ride needs a leader/coordinator.
6. There will be a VE session this Saturday.
7. The Club received a thank you from the ARRL for the $500 donation to the Spectrum Defense Fund.
8. The Club received a $150 donation and a thank you card from the Valley Riders for support of the 50 miler.
9. There will be a Foxhunt in March 12th. Will start at the Heritage at 0900.
10. Pam Evans (KC6UUS) provided homemade cookies

The program on Fox Hunting was provided by Gene Brewer (KI6LO) after three Ham Operators finally got the DVD program going.

16 Members signed in for the meeting.
Bob Wagner (K6WAG) won the 50/50
The meeting was adjourned at 20:25.

TREASURER'S REPORT 

Treasurer's Report As of February 28, 2005:
Draft Account $   831.73
Share Account $ 5,517.50
BALANCE:      $ 6,349.23
Submitted by Pam Evans, KC6UUS

Indian Wells Valley Emergency Net Report

Check ins
February 14 - 12
February 21 - 18
February 28 - 17
Thanks to Bill, WA6QYR for taking net control for February.
...Mike Herr WA6ARA

STAY-AT-HOME DRILL

The drill will be held Saturday March 19th starting at 0900.

The scenario is a major flood in Ridgecrest. The SE part of town is the hardest hit. You will receive timed messages by email prior to the start of the drill. The time listed on the message is the time you will send it out. At that time you call net control to pass the message on. The net control will route the message to the appropriate organization or to the appropriate ham. Hopefully, the timing that I have for the messages will create an atmosphere of havoc on the frequency with several messages trying to be passed at the same time.

I have to get the proper messages to the proper participant at least 30 minutes before the drill starts. I'll need at least a day to organize and assign them to you and the other volunteers. It's for that reason that I need to know a couple of days ahead of time if you wish to participate in the Drill. If you wish to participate but aren't sure if you will be available, let me know anyway. You can always cancel, preferably a couple of days before the drill.

Come on out and have some fun, along with some training.

Jerry, KK6PA

20 Mule Team 100-mile Endurance Horse Ride

This year there were 214 horses from USA and England out for the ride in a wonderful sunny day with wild flowers around the hills to the south of Ridgecrest. The ride started with the 100 milers out at 0600 am on the 26th of February. Bill, WA6QYR held down the Fairgrounds Headquarters site while Gary, KE6CE was at the old rail crossing on 395 and Greg, WA7IRW was at the junction of 395 and China Lake Blvd/Brown road. Greg had set up the portable repeater the evening before so we had communications to start with. The 65 milers went out at 0700 am while Judy, KC6UTF came to the Vet 1 site in the old gravel pit off Brown Road. Dave, KC6UUR manned the Trestle site along the old Inyo Railroad track.

The 35 milers left at 07:30 am to complete the horses on the ride. From then on it was keeping track of which horses were where. Some were pulled (didn't meet the Vet standards for that part of the ride) from the race at vet checks so the 'Horse Taxi' had to be called to come pick them up. As the horses made their way around Black Mountain Jerry, KK6PA went to the Vet 2 site out along highway 14 where the billboards are and the Burro Smyth Tunnel road swings off and meets the Red Rock/Inyokern Road. Communications to this location have always been hard so it was elected to use the Rand Repeater to reach back to base Camp. Bill had a Boy Scout interview to make at 0900 so Hal, KM6JM took over the Base Camp site. About 10 am two of the 35 milers with greener horses got dismounted out around the Wagon Wheel area of the ride. The horses took off running together along the Searles Station / 395 road south while the male rider walked after the horses. The lady rider was walking back to base camp and had met a rider with cell phone. Word was passed to the communicators and a search was started. Bill drove along the 35-mile trail and found the lady and continued on to look for the horses with her. Eventually the male rider had caught the horses and came into base camp and the searchers rejoined the ride locations. The western loop closed down mid afternoon and Jerry went 4 wheeling looking back along the trail for any missing riders. As time continued on sites were closed down and people went home. Mike, KB6NIZ came out to relieve Greg and remained the night until about 3 am when the last horse passed his site at Vet 3/5. Dave had moved to site 359 south for the last of the 100 milers until the last horse passed his site around 2 am. Bill took the last shift at base camp and remained until 4 am when all the horses were accounted for. Another nice communications event for all who participated.

Bill WA6QYR

Fox Hunt!

On 12 March (Saturday after the SARC club meeting) at 9am we will hold a Fox Hunt. The meeting place is the parking lot of the Heritage Inn. This will be done in two halves. The first will be a beginners hunt on foot. All that would be needed is a two-meter hand held. The second hunt will be a tad more demanding. A small beam and attenuator or Doppler DF unit would be helpful. We can split up into teams and make a go of it. Hopefully we will see you all there. If there is interest, we hope to do a monthly Fox Hunt.

BARC Visit

On the 10th of February Paula (N6VGW) and I attended a meeting of the Bishop Amateur Radio Club (BARC). We met a great bunch of guys, they even let me win the 50/50 drawing! If you have a chance, I encourage you to attend one of their meeting.
...Mike WA6ARA

AMATEUR RADIO SPECTRUM PROTECTION ACT OF 2005 INTRODUCED
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 08
February 25, 2005

At the urging of the ARRL, Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced The Amateur Radio Spectrum Act of 2005 into the US House of Representatives. The bill, designated HR 691, has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee where Bilirakis serves as vice chairman. Like previous versions of the proposal, the current measure would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, expressed his appreciation to Bilirakis this week.

"As president of the American Radio League and on behalf of the more than 670,000 federally licensed Amateur Radio operators throughout the country, I would like to thank you for once again sponsoring the 'Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act,'" Haynie told the Florida Republican. "As you know, this legislation is vital for ensuring that the Amateur Radio Service, the only 100- percent fail safe emergency communication capability, remains a viable public safety option."

HR 691 references Amateur Radio's role in providing "voluntary, noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications," and it points out that hams have "consistently and reliably" provided communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters including tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and rail accidents. As the measure notes, FCC actions already have led to the loss of at least 107 MHz of spectrum to radio amateurs.

Rep Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) has signed on as the bill's first co-sponsor. Bartlett chairs the Projection Forces Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee. One of three scientists in the 109th Congress, Bartlett also is a senior member of the House Science Committee.

Efforts now will focus on attracting additional cosponsors for the legislation. The League is encouraging members to urge their congressional representatives to sign aboard HR 691. A sample letter is available on the ARRL Web site

More than 100 lawmakers agreed to cosponsor similar legislation in the 108th Congress, where it was designated HR 713. Work is proceeding to have identical legislation introduced in the US Senate.

The text of HR 691 [PDF document] is available on the Government Printing Office Web site

For general guidance on the best methods of contacting your members of Congress, see "Communicating with Congress," by Derek Riker, KB3JLF, on the ARRL Web site [PDF document]

Looking for News, Ads or Comments!

I'm always looking for local news for and about the IWV amateur radio community. Also, if you have something for sale or are looking for something else, drop me a line and I'll put it in the Airwaves.
Ok, let's say you have some news for the Airwaves. The best way is if you can send it to me via email. The text can be in Word or Works, but the most universal is as text body of the email, no HTML, PLEASE!
Email, while fast and easy, it is not 100% reliable. If I get Airwaves input via Email, I will send a note back as a receipt. If you don't get a receipt back, then likely I didn't get it.
However, if you don't have email, I can take paper copy. You can send it to me at 613 Rebel Road, Ridgecrest.

...Editor, Mike, WA6ARA, herr@ridgenet.net

For Sale

Ham Radio Mobile Crank-up 55' tower, mounted on trailer. With tool box and guy wires. Excellent for Field Day. $2,000.00 (760) 373-2105 California City

SARC Membership / Newsletter

Remember that the SARC newsletter is now available via email, in TWO formats, Adobe Acrobat PDF and in plain text. The PDF version is complete, and in color, but you will need Acrobat Reader to view it. Most have it and it is available free to both PC and Mac users. The plain text version can be read by just about anything! ...but you lose the graphics.
If you want the newsletter via Email make sure you check the proper box on the membership form, add your email address and the version you want. If you have already renewed and want to convert to email, or have changed your email address, drop the secretary, Tom Ingram, WB6EPD, (375-7950) a note, as he is keeping the email address lists.
...Editor, Mike, WA6ARA, herr@ridgenet.net

RACES, ARES and INDIAN WELLS VALLEY EMERGENCY NET MEMBERS

In case of impending or current emergency, monitor the SARC translator on 146.64/04 MHz or the backup simplex frequency of 146.52 MHz. KK6PA, Jerry, the local RACES EC, will coordinate mobilization. An Emergency Net Control Station will direct radio communications. Check in. State your capabilities. Be prepared to go outside the IWV for at least three days.

An E-Pac should contain: your RACES card, radios and accessories, batteries, charger, paper, pen, clipboard, flashlight with spare batteries, timepiece, headgear, sunglasses, spare glasses, your medications, your medical history, first aid kit, severe weather clothing, non-perishable food, 3 gal. water, sleeping bag.

Updated Sun Mar 13 18:33:50 PST 2005