The Airwaves, November 2006

The Airwaves
November 2006
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	John Andrus	KC6UWM	371-2190
OF	Second VP	Fred Moses	KG6STR	371-4034
	Secretary	Lloyd Brubaker	WA6KZV
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 446-4383	Public Relations: John, KC6UWM 375-5324
Program: Fred, KG6STR 446-1315	Airways Editor: Mike, WA6ARA 275-5324
RF Interference: Bill, WA6QYR 375-8566	Emergency and Public Service: Jerry, KK6PA

THE AIRWAVES CALENDAR

Every Monday Night

ARRL Audio News
1910 (7:10 PM) on 146.64 MHz

IWV Emergency Net
Visitors Welcomed!
1930 hrs (7:30 PM) 
WA6YBN Translator 146.64 MHz (-)

East Kern County Emergency Net
Visitors Welcomed!
Rand repeater 145.340, pl 100
2000 hrs (8 PM)

Nov 08 SARC Meeting Heritage Inn -- MARS show and tell, see info inside

Dec 03 OTHTC UltraMarathon

AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXAMS Second Saturday, Even months Dec 09 Volunteer License Exam Sessions Kern County Library Ridgecrest Branch 131 East Las Flores Ave. Meeting Room Pre-register by 05 Apr. All must sign in at 9 AM. Code test 11 AM. Contact Elvy NØLV 760-384-3589 E-mail ehopkins@ridgenet.net

From the President's Shack

It is now Fall and things are cooling down. Time to think about putting that swamp cooler to bed and firing up the heater. We will be having the horse rides coming up soon after the first of the New Year, so think about your mobile capabilities and staying warm on the outings to help keep the horses and riders on track.

We had a good Jamboree-On-The-Air in October thanks to Phelps, W6PTH, Greg, WA7IRW, Mike, WA6ARA, Bill, WA6QYR, John, KC6UWM and Lorilyn, KG6LEW who came out and set up the tower trailer and HF station, T Hunt area, kit building things, and a satellite station. A number of families interested in Scouting came by along with several Cub Scouts from local packs. We had some good contacts using K2BSA/6 call sign from National Boy Scout of America International Division advisor Ray Moyer in Texas. Phelps contacted one other K2BSA station in 7 land. Another K2BSA/9 was heard but not contacted.

Club elections and installation dinner are coming up soon, so please volunteer to help out in the operations of the events. This club operates with the help of great volunteers. Thanks to all who help keep us running.
Bill WA6QYR

Board Meeting

The board meeting was called to order at 1900 hours by the president Bill Burns.

    1. Who plans on retaining office for the coming year?  
    2. The nominating committee was selected from volunteers
during the general meeting which follows.  
    3. Gene Brewqer and Bruce Ornsten volunteered for the audit committee 
    4. The Installation Dinner was discussed. A vote would be taken during
the General Meeting which follows. 
    5. A speaker was requested. The Secretary (Lloyd) suggested
Harry Hodges, AAM9LX sometime in the coming year. Lloyd will arrange if possible.  
    6. Fify/fifty tickets were sold.  
  
General Meeting

The general meeting was called to order by president Bill 
Burns at 1930 hours.  

    1. Greg Roush gave a Walk-A-Thon report. 516 walkers. 
There was enough communications help, some confusion 
in the water supply team.  
    2. Mike Cash gave a report on the Orange County 
RACES meeting. New systems are being organized (SIMS 
replaced with RIMS and FEMA courses are being required 
for membership.) A background check is being required as 
well.  
    3. The Program was presented by Chuck Swedblom on 
the Owens Valley Radio Astronomy group outreach 
program. The dish antennas are being used as moon 
bounce (EME) and tried out by the children in the area and 
adults in Southern California. Chuck and Bill Burns built the 
devices needed to modify the huge antennas. Cal Tech is 
cooperating of course. A film was shown when the first 
EME contact was made on microwave.  
    4. Tammy Johnson, KG6VYA, won the $12.00 drawing.

Lloyd Brubaker WA6KZV - Secretary

TREASURER'S REPORT

Treasurer's Report as of November 1, 2006:

Draft Account $   507.09 
Share Account $ 5,115.89 
BALANCE:      $ 5,622.98

submitted by Pam Evans, KC6UUS

IWV Emergency Net

Net check in for October is as follows:

02 Oct - 19 checkins 
16 Oct - 18 checkins 
23 Oct - 16 checkins 
30 Oct - 17 checkins

November SARC Meeting

The November meeting will bring us two activities. The first will be a presentation on the Military Affiliated Radio Service, or MARS. The second portion will be a show and tell on ham radio related items. Bring something you have built, bought or think is neat to the club meeting and share it.

Over The Hill Track Club Ultra Marathon

The Over The Hill Track Club Ultra Marathon will be held December 3 and we have been asked to provide communication support. I am looking for 5 or 6 operators to help out with the communications. We will be starting at about 0630 and go a good portion of the day. We will set up communications at the various aid stations. In the past we have been crucial, in relaying the status of the race, locating possible lost runners, and relaying info on injured runners. Please let me know if you can volunteer.
...Mike WA6ARA

SARC JOTA 2006

The SARC antenna trailer set up for JOTA

On Saturday 21 October 2006 a number of Sierra Amateur Radio Club members to help put on Jamboree-On-The-Air for local Ridgecrest Scouts. Phelps, W6PYH was the HF operator with his transceiver at the Social Hall of the Ridgecrest United Methodist Church. The SARC tower trailer along with its TA-3 Jr. tribander worked well since John, AI6A had recently cleaned the traps. Most of the operation was on 15 and 20 meters. The station used the National BSA call sign K2BSA/6. We had a number of yet to be Cub Scouts stop by to learn about amateur radio and about where they could join Scouting. We had on dad and son from California City come to Ridgecrest to participate in JOTA and learn about where the Cub Pack was in Cal City. Several other Cub Scouts stopped by during the day to play transmitter hunt and build an Infrared TV remote control listening device guided by Greg WA7IRW. Mike, WA6ARA had brought his hand held dual band satellite antenna and radios to try out during some of the satellite passes. Mike and Greg managed to have some boys talk over satellite to other JOTA stations. Later John, KC6UWM and his wife Lorilyn, KG6LEW stopped by and helped point the antenna while Mike and Greg kept the radios on the Doppler shift frequency. JOTA participation cards were given out to the visiting boys and Cub Scouts. Bill, WA6QYR was the gofer during the operation, taking pictures and covering Scout program questions. Bill's wife Judy, KC6UTF brought in lunch for the crew. All who came had fun. Thanks to everyone helping out. Bill
WA6QYR.

Greg and a visiting boy building a IR thing.	Greg and the Winslow Cub Scouts.
Mike, WA6ARA, Greg, WA7IRW and John, KC6UWM at the Satellite station.	Phelps, W6PTH and a boy have fun talking to another station.

FCC releases long-awaited "Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order

ZCZC AG19 
QST de W1AW   
ARRL Bulletin 19  ARLB019 
From ARRL Headquarters   
Newington CT  October 12, 2006 
To all radio amateurs  
 
SB QST ARL ARLB019 
ARLB019 FCC releases long-awaited ''Omnibus'' Amateur 
Radio Report and Order 
 
Ending a protracted waiting period, the FCC's Report and 
Order in the so-called ''Omnibus'' Amateur Radio 
proceeding, WT Docket 04-140, was adopted October 4 

and released October 10, 2006. In it, the FCC adopted 
nearly all of the proposed changes in the Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking released back in 2004. The FCC 
has: 
 
+ expanded the phone subbands in the 75 and 40 meter 
bands; 
 
+ permitted auxiliary stations to transmit on portions of the 
2 meter band; 
 
+ permitted the use of spread spectrum on 222-225 MHz; 
 
+ permitted amateurs to retransmit communications from 
the International Space Station; 
 
+ permitted amateur licensees to designate a specific 
Amateur Radio club to receive their call sign in memoriam; 
 
+ prohibited an applicant from filing more than one 
application for a specific vanity call sign; 
 
+ eliminated certain restrictions on equipment 
manufacturers; 
 
+ permitted Amateur Radio stations in Alaska and 
surrounding waters more flexibility in providing emergency 
communications; 
 
+ clarified that ''amateur stations may, at all times and on all 
frequencies authorized to the control operator, make 
transmissions necessary to meet essential communication 
needs and to facilitate relief actions''; 
 
+ deleted the frequency bands and segments specified for 
RACES stations; 
 
+ deleted the requirement for public announcement of test 
locations and times. 
 
In addition, the FCC took several other miscellaneous 
actions. 
In ''refarming'' the frequencies currently authorized to 
Novice and Technician Plus licensees, the Commission 
increased the voice segments for General, Advanced and 
Amateur Extra licensees. 
 
On 75 meters, Generals will be able to use voice from 
3800-4000 kHz, an increase of 50 kHz. Advanced class 
licensees will be able to use voice from 3700-4000, an 
increase of 75 kHz, and Amateur Extras will be able to use 
voice from 3600 to 4000 kHz, a generous increase of 
150 kHz. 
 
On 40 meters, Advanced and Extra Class licensees will be 
able to use voice from 7125-7300 kHz, an increase of 25 
kHz. General class licensees will be able to use voice on 
7175-7300 kHz, an increase of 50 kHz. 
 
On 15 meters, General class operators will have phone 
privileges on 21275-21450 kHz, an increase of 25 kHz. 
 
ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, expressed the 
ARRL's gratitude to the FCC Commissioners in a letter 
dated October 11: ''On behalf of the ARRL and the 
Commission's licensees in the Amateur Radio Service 
I want to express appreciation for your release yesterday 
of the Report and Order in WT Docket 04-140 (FCC 06- 
149) amending Part 97 of the Commission's Rules. The 
Commission's action in clearing this pending proceeding 
will assist the Amateur Radio Service in meeting its 
objectives, particularly with regard to providing emergency 
and public service communications.'' 

The changes will go into effect 30 days after the R&O is published
in the Federal Register.

Stuff For Sale!

New, unused Cushcraft A4S HF Yagi. $500.00 Nearly $750 from a business.
Jerry Brooks, KK6PA

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 Fri Nov 3 15:01:50 PST 2006