October San Joaquin Valley Section Report

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SM Dan Pruitt, AE6SX- ASMs K6YK and N2NS, ACC W6DPD, SEC KF6FIR, ASEC
WL7COO, OOC N1VM, STM K6RAU, PIC KJ6OUI, TC W6TE.
Happy Turkey Day!  Let us remember what we have to be thankful and pass
it on.
This is hoping you receive this in time.  It has been very busy over the
last 30 days and I can not stress the fact that Emcommm and Public
Service has been on all of our calendars.  We have 2 new bands, new
satellites and world wide recognition.  We need to Elmer the youth to
continue our legacy.  DIY projects and maker fairs should be in our
vocabulary.  We helped bring in the digital age and we should continue
all the facets that are integrated in Amateur Radio and remember to have
fun!

Pacificon and Rally in the Valley had good presentations alluding to
MESH Networks and digital communications.  With digital, all modes are
available and logging, spotting and APRS.  Find your niche and enjoy.

Remember to support “The Amateur Radio Parity Act”. Go to the link
on the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act .  We
have to continue the support for this legislation.

73;

Dan Pruitt, AE6SX

NEWS: From ARRL newsletters.  Read complete articles from October to
now.
10/13/2017 | ARRL Section Manager Evacuates When Fire Comes Within Two
Blocks
10/15/2017 | Amateur Radio Facilitates Another Patient Evacuation on
Puerto Rico
10/16/2017 | Volunteer Shelter Duty Slots in Northern California Filled
on the Fly “via RF”
New Ham Bands Spring to Life; Veteran LF Experimenter Denied Amateur
Access to 2200 Meters
10/18/2017 | Focus on Emergency Communication at Pacificon 2017
10/19/2017 | Chinese CAS-4A and CAS-4B Amateur Radio Satellite
Transponders Activated
10/20/2017 | RadFxSat (Fox-1B) FM Satellite Set to Launch in November
10/23/2017 | New IOTA Website is Up and Running
10/24/2017 | New BBC Amateur Radio Station G8BBC Officially Opened
10/26/2017 | SSTV Goes Very High Profile
10/27/2017 | Caution Urged in Using High Duty Cycle Digital Modes on
Satellites
10/27/2017 | CWops Announces Awards for Advancing the Art of CW
10/27/2017 | CW Gets the Message Through in Wake of Hurricane Irma
10/27/2017 | Tiny LF Signal Makes the Hop from Newfoundland to the UK
10/31/2017 | American Red Cross Hails “New Partnership” with ARRL
Following Puerto Rico Deployment
11/02/2017 | New Digital Modes Changing Complexion of Bands and Perhaps
of Ham Radio
11/06/2017 | SKYWARN Recognition Day is Saturday, December 2
11/09/2017 | Radio Amateurs in Spain, Argentina Gain New and Extended
Bands
11/09/2017 | Announcing: The ARRL International Grid Chase!

Contests:
November 2017
+ SKCC Sprint
0000Z-0200Z, Nov 22
+ RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB
2000Z-2130Z, Nov 22
+ CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW
0000Z, Nov 25 to 2400Z, Nov 26
+ UKEICC 80m Contest
2000Z-2100Z, Nov 29
+ RSGB 80m Autumn Series, CW
2000Z-2130Z, Nov 30
December 2017
+ NCCC RTTY Sprint
0145Z-0215Z, Dec 1
+ QRP Fox Hunt
0200Z-0330Z, Dec 1
+ ARRL 160-Meter Contest
2200Z, Dec 1 to 1600Z, Dec 3
+ TOPS Activity Contest
1600Z, Dec 2 to 1559Z, Dec 3
+ EPC Ukraine DX Contest
2000Z, Dec 2 to 1959Z, Dec 3
+ Ten-Meter RTTY Contest
0000Z-2400Z, Dec 3
+ SARL Digital Contest
1300Z-1600Z, Dec 3
+ ARS Spartan Sprint
0200Z-0400Z, Dec 5

+ ARRL 10-Meter Contest
0000Z, Dec 9 to 2400Z, Dec 10
+ International Naval Contest
1600Z, Dec 9 to 1559Z, Dec 10
+ AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party
2300Z, Dec 9 to 2300Z, Dec 10 and
2300Z, Dec 16 to 2300Z, Dec 17
+ QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint
2000Z-2359Z, Dec 10
+ CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run
2100Z-2259Z, Dec 10
+ 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint
0100Z-0300Z, Dec 11

CLUBS — Download the whole newsletters from the links.  There is much
more info than I can paraphrase.

CALAVARAS Amateur Society++ The Calaveras Amateur Radio Society elected
Chuck Farr W6AJW & Jerry Tannhauser WA6AVR as Co-Presidents at the
November Club Meeting.
  calaverasars.org/Web/

CLOVIS ARP ++   Christmas Party – Friday December 1st, 2017. JORDAN’S
FIRST SATELLITE – JY1-SAT.  Elections for the 2018-2019 term of the
Clovis Amateur Radio (CARP) Board of Directors was held at the CARP
Annual Business Meeting on November 3, 2017. Congratulations to the new
Board of Directors members: James Majors K6JDM Tom Reinhart N6MQG Craig
Roberts W6CMR A Board of Directors meeting will be held on November 8,
2017.    www.k6arp.org/

FRESNO ARC++ Oct. Presentation on the new mode FT8! Very popular!
Christmas
Dinner, Dec. 8, Friday 6 P.M. The November meeting of course will be a
swap meet!
It will be on Saturday, November 11th,  Wayne decided to come up the San
Joaquin Valley and formed a microwave rover team consisting of himself
N6NB, John K6MI, Dave W6TE, and myself N6MTS. Wayne also brought
portable microwave stations so that we could all make microwave band
contacts. So now instead of operating the usual 4 bands, I am able to
make contacts on 11 bands, from 6 meters all the way up to 24Ghz. .. 
www.w6to.com

LODI ARC ++  Program presented by Barry Marson, K6ZZD, on how to operate
ham satellites.  Barry is a retired high school chemistry teacher.  Bob
Schuldheisz spoke about his plans, for the ARRL “Kids Day” January
6th, at the Galt library.  He plans to have rigs set up on HF and the
WB6ASU VHF repeater.  Treasurer Andy and Mike Zane volunteered to count
ballots.  The results were: Emilia for President, Ron for VP, Jim for
Secretary, Andy for Treasurer. lodiamateurradioclub.org/

LOS BANOS ARC ++  Will K6WJR, spoke about emcomm from March meeting. 
The September meeting found the club locked out of the meeting place so
discussions were held on the street.  Orchestrated by Will K6WJR, John
KE6UCX, Bill WB6KBS, Anne KK6QLR and Dave KG6NUO, the impromptu sidewalk
meet was a success..   www.aa6lb.org

SIERRA ARC ++ In the interest of expanding club activities, there has
been discussion of taking some of the “boat-anchors” from Elvy’s estate
and using them as teaching tools in repair and restoration of old
radios. If this sounds interesting to you get in touch with either Mike,
WA6ARA or myself. There are some nice Hammarlund and Hallicrafters
receivers just waiting for someone to work on them. Dennis WW6DQ
mentioned the passing of Tammy KG6YZW.  The program was presented by
Mike WA6ARA on the 147.00 MHz repeater status. Some time back the power
supply died and was on battery backup until they ran down. There needs
to be some on air indication that it is on battery power.    .
www.qsl.net/wa6ybn/ 

SEQUOIA ARG ++  Before you jump in your car or run out the front door
with your HT, studying some FEMA guidelines is not only helpful, but it
is more and more being required for membership in ARES (Amateur Radio
Emergency System). The minimum is to learn the structured system which
an
emergency response functions in.
https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspxfor the list of courses.   We
received word from his son, Jeff Payne, that his father Dale N6PUF,
passed away at home on September 15, 2017, at the age of 87.. 
www.n6krv.org

STOCKTON DELTA ARC ++  We are a Hobby We are a National Resource We are
Life Savers
Part 2–I’m following the national news coverage of the disaster in
Puerto Rico and several stories about the deployment of Amateur Radio
Operators after the devastation. The most intriguing story so far has
been the “call up” of ham operators by the Red Cross to the CEO of
the ARRL for 50 volunteers to be sent to Puerto Rico. In last month’s
President’s message, I related the story of helping out with an
Emergency Preparedness Fair sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints and the questions we got. Questions like:Q: “What do
you guys do anyway?” A: “We save lives” Q: “HUH?” A:
“Besides talk to people all over the world, we train, we prepare, we
experiment and we stand ready in a disaster to assist – not just with
radios, but with a pool of resourceful minded professionals (who are
Amateurs)”  
On Saturday, September 9, the ARRL’s September VHF Contest was held, so
John K6YK and Dave
N6LHL loaded up the pickup with radios, batteries, antennas , coax,
turkey sandwiches and Pepsi’s and
headed for the mountains to do battle with the gods of VHF propagation.
From 7000 feet on Highway 88 antennas with coax were set up, radios were
plugged into batteries, and the 11am start was awaited..  www.w6sf.org

TULARE Co. ARC ++  A major sponsor of Rally in the Valley, partnered
with the Boy Scouts and SATERN to put on the SJV Section Hamfest
centered on digital modes.  Boy Scouts and Eric, N6VYT put together a
splendid lunch and a DMR Radio was the main prize.  www.tcarc.net/

TURLOCK ARC ++  The W6HHD D-Star system was the inspiration of Rick
Swanson, KF6FR. He called up one day and said, “Grady we gotta get
going on D-Star”. What’s D-Star I retorted. “Man it’s the latest
greatest and we gotta have it.”After a short break, Dick Decker
(K6SUU) gave a very detailed presentation with hand held visual aids
(radios) on what to do and not to do when buying a Chinese Radio, his
experiences as well as that of others in making on line purchases, the
“ins and outs” of warranty providers, and as to the continuing
progress the Chinese have been making on quality,
particularly as to DMR systems. .   www.w6bxn.org.

The following Amateurs became Silent Keys since the last report: 
Dale N6PUF, Joe WB6EAN, John KF6JG, and Tim K4EOV.
They will be missed.

Traffic for October 2017:
ORS: WS6P 2571,  K6RAU 10  Total 2581
PSHR: WS6P 410, K6RAU 70
de K6RAU

Mark your Calendars:   

01/21/2018 | QuartzFest Convention
Location: Quartzsite, AZ
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: QuartzFest Planning Committee
Website: http://quartzfest.org

02/16/2018 | Southwestern Division Convention (Yuma Hamfest)
Location: Yuma, AZ
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Yuma Amateur Radio Hamfest 

04/14/2018 | Communications Academy 2018 – 20th Anniversary
Location: Seattle, WA
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: King County ARES, Seattle ACS, Bellevue ACS, WWA Medical
Services Comm.
Website: http://www.commacademy.org

06/01/2018 | Northwestern Division Convention (SEA-PAC)
Location: Seaside, OR
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Oregon Tualatin Valley ARC
Website: http://www.seapac.org

07/20/2018 | Nevada State Convention (NVCON 2018)
Location: Reno, NV
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://nvcon.org

Need to take an Amateur exam? Are you having an exam? Check the ARRL web
page, www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml for exam information. You
can also search for Amateur Radio Classes in your area and register your
exam. Instructors can also register classes there.
Card Checking in the Section: You can get cards checked for awards
within the section. W6XK, K6ZZ, and W6DPD can check your cards for DXCC
in accordance with the rules for field checking. DXCC card checkers may
now check cards dated from Nov 15, 1945, including Deleted DXCC
Entities. K6ZZ can now check 160 Meter Cards. DXCC card checkers may, at
their discretion, check cards for WAS, WAC, and VUCC. W6DPD and K6ZZ can
check cards for the CQ Awards, WAZ, DX, Field, and Prefixes. The card
checkers may also check applications for the IARU Region 2 Award. ARRL
Special Service Clubs may appoint a HF awards manager for WAS and a VHF
Awards Manager for VUCC.

The Webinar by Hank Garretson, W6SX, has been posted to the WWROF
webpage (www.wwrof.org) under the Webinars link. 
Hanks presentation will be of particular interest to “Little Pistols”
and those who are space limited. It’s worth checking out!

Hank added a link to the elevation plot which can be viewed at
http://www.heywhatsthat.com/ 
Also the Ladder Snaps in the presentation can be found at
http://www.73cnc.com/product_p/ls100.htm You can e-mail Hank at
w6sx@arrl.net for additional details.

The K6RAU (our Traffic Manager) Morse Code Instruction Course is
available at www.pdarrl.org/K6RAU or www.pdarrl.org/k6rau.
No need to know a “dit” from a “dah”, simply with paper and pencil, and
following the instructions.

San Joaquin Valley Nets:
The Noontime net meets on 7.268.5 MHz. This net handles a lot of
messages. 
Daytime Region 6 Traffic Net meets daily at 3:30 pacific time on or near
7.275 MHZ. This one is probable not in operation at this time.
The California Traffic Net meets daily on 3.906 MHZ and 6:00 PM local
time. 
The Golden Bear Amateur Radio Net meets nightly at 7:00 PM local time on
3.975 MHZ. 
Northern California Net (NCN), the Section Traffic Net, meets nightly on
3.533 MHZ at 7 PM Pacific Time. 
San Joaquin Net meets Monday-Saturday on 3918khz, at 6 PM Pacific Time.
Western Public Service System (WPSS) meets nightly on 3952khz, roll – at
7:30 PM local Pacific Time.
The Mission Trail Net meets nightly on 3.856 MHZ at 8:00 PM local time.
Northern California Net 2 (NCN2) The slow speed training session of NCN,
meets nightly on 3.533 MHZ at 9 PM Pacific Time. Handling traffic on CW
is a good way to improve your CW skills. 

CWops Tests are held weekly – Every Wednesday at 1300Z, 1900Z, and
0300Z (Thursday). Info and rules at http://www.cwops.org/cwt.html .

——————————————————————–
ARRL San Joaquin Valley Section
Section Manager: Dan Pruitt, AE6SX
ae6sx@arrl.org
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