SM Dan Pruitt, AE6SX- ASMs K6YK and N2NS, ACC W6DPD, SEC KF6FIR, OOC N1VM, STM K6RAU, PIC K6QI, TC W6TE. Time springs forward in March! In fact the day after the “15th annual M Squared Open House”. That event is 16 March, one of the 2 large events in San Joaquin Section. The other is the DX Convention in Visalia! This year is the first time M Squared has been an ARRL Sanctioned event. I'm looking forward to seeing Bob W6RGG, our Pacific Division Director at M Squared. At present Ron W6KJ, Section Manager of Sacramento Section and Jim AF6AQ, East Bay Section Manager, have plans to attend. The Open House is always well attended. As is usual, Burgers, Dogs and Chili will be copiously consumed. Vendors, new Ham goodies, Amateur Exams, T-Hunts and prize drawings just for fun. I enjoy networking with hams from all over. We get to chew the fat and compare ideas. See you there! 73; Dan AE6SX NEWS: John K6MI placed first in Pacific Division A Class January 2012 VHF Contest. Patrick K6BRW placed first Pacific Division RL Class January 2012 VHF Contest. Rob AE6GE took First Place in January 2012 VHF Portable for Pacific Division Q Class Patrick K6BRW placed first and Duane KI6QEL placed second in June VHF Contest RL Class. 02/05/2013 | ITU Offering Free Download of 2012 International Radio Regulations 02/06/2013 | New International Reply Coupon Introduced 02/07/2013 | IARU Region 2 Seeks Input on HF Band Plan 02/11/2013 | Three New “How To” Videos on the ARRL Website http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-adopts-sweeping-changes-to-experimental-radio-service 02/11/2013 | FCC Adopts Sweeping Changes to Experimental Radio Service 02/14/2013 | Oklahoma Ham Helps Develop New Winter Weather App for NOAA In a Report & Order (R&O) -- FCC 13-15 -- released February 4, the FCC adopted numerous changes to its Experimental Radio Service (Part 5), revising and streamlining its rules. 02/21/2013 | American Red Cross to Phase Out Emergency Communication Response Vehicles ARRL DXCC credit: 5X8C in Uganda (commencing in 2012) and the T6TJ (commencing in 2012) and T6BP (commencing in 2011) operations in Afghanistan. 02/21/2013 | Amateur-created “Varicode” Adopted as ITU Recommendation 02/27/2013 | ARRL Website Debuts New Features 03/04/2013 | Montana Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Mobile Amateur Radio Operations from Distracted Driving Regulations and right to a 100 ft tower. 03/07/2013 | More Than 20,000 arrl.net, arrl.org E-mail Addresses Blocked by Microsoft Contests: March + Idaho QSO Party 1900Z, Mar 9 to 1900Z, Mar 10 + North American Sprint, RTTY 0000Z-0400Z, Mar 10 + Wisconsin QSO Party 1800Z, Mar 10 to 0100Z, Mar 11 + BARTG HF RTTY Contest 0200Z, Mar 16 to 0200Z, Mar 18 + Russian DX Contest 1200Z, Mar 16 to 1200Z, Mar 17 + North American Sprint, SSB 0000Z-0400Z, Mar 17 + CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB 0000Z, Mar 30 to 2400Z, Mar 31 April + SARL 80m QSO Party 1700Z-2000Z, Apr 4 + LZ Open 40m Sprint Contest 0400Z-0800Z, Apr 6 21 Apr Rookie Roundup – Phone Mark your Calendars: The annual M Squared Open House is scheduled 16 March. For more details contact sales@m2inc.com. Radiofest Monterey Bay is March 23rd, 2013. For more information, go to www.radiofest.org. The Turlock ARC Spring Auction is April 13, 2013. For information check www.w6bxn.org The 64th Annual International DX Convention sponsored by the Northern California DX Club will be held at the Visalia Conference Center in downtown Visalia, California from April 19-21, 2013. See www.dxconvention.com for the latest information. EMCOMM West for 2013 has been postponed. Field Day is June 22-23, 2013. PACIFICON 2013 is scheduled for October 11-13, 2013 at the Santa Clara Marriott. See www.pacificon.org for information. CLOVIS ARP ++ First big event for public service was the annual “Blossom Trail 10K Run”. Communications from supporting groups included ARES, RACES, SATERN, Fresno CERT (Cedric KI6FHD) and at least 4 Ham Clubs. www.k6arp.org/ FRESNO ARC ++ Members Steve NA6G, Richard KE6SHL, Bob N2NS, and John K6MI were all heard operating on RTTY contesting in February. Bob N2NS and Steve K6AAB also were in the CW contests. Of course M Squared Antenna Open House was mentioned for 16 March! www.w6to.com/ SEQUOIA ARG ++ This month is all about humor. Pig stories, road signs and a reprint of a 1923 QST article. On a serious note, an discussion on how to avoid being computer hacked while traveling. www.n6krv.org SIERRA ARC ++ Hal N6HAL reports on the results of CW training and the continued rag chew net on 75 meter AM. This is a Monday net at 2000 hrs. The March meeting is on preparedness. He also states that the plan is to meet on 4 May as the second annual “BARC and SARC in the Park”. Last years combined Bishop and Sierra clubs had a great time. www.qsl.net/wa6ybn/ STOCKTON Delta ++ Flysheet includes an article about managing the wireless microphones at the Super bowl, Thank you Shirl AA6K. February's presentation on SDR radio by Guy, W6MSU, was well received. Nice description of Public Service events during February. Congratulations to the 11 new Ham techs! www.w6sf.org TURLOCK ARC ++ April 13 is the date for the auction. Maps, fees and details are in the “ARCOVER” newsletter, on the website. The TV show “Last Man Standing”, is previewed showing the ham shack that well be used in the episode. Hints to the upcoming episode regarding ham radio, from the producer. The Field Day plans are well set with the assignment of frequencies. www.w6bxn.org The following Amateurs became Silent Keys since the last report: Stan AC6TO, Karen AF6DR and Ed K6AHQ. They will be missed. Traffic for February 2013: ORS: WS6P 273, K6RAU 11, W6SX 5 Total 289 PSHR: WS6P 160, W6SX 29, K6RAU 67 CTN (Calif Traffic Net)-FEB 2013: See Sacramento Valley Section] 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. San Joaquin Net meets nightly on 3918khz, at 6 PM Pacific 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. Western Public Service System (WPS) 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. The Young Ham Net every Saturday 2:00 PM local time 145.230 –0.6 PL 100 or Echolink KR6DD-R 271122 or N6WN-R 477737 The K6RAU (our Section Traffic Manager) Morse Code Instruction Course is available at www.kj6art.com or www.pdarrl.org/k6rau. No need to know a "dit" from a "dah", simply with paper and pencil, and following the instructions. 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 to the present. K6ZZ can check cards for 160 meters. 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. 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. As space allows I will enjoy relaying any events or occurrences, which illustrate Amateur Radio as a hobby and public asset. It need not be a newsletter, if you think it important, it probably should be here. You should also send your newsletter to the Affiliated Club Coordinator (w6dpd@arrl.org) and the Director (w6rgg@arrl.org) vice director (k6jat@arrl.org) and to ARRL HQ (clubs@arrl.org). -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL San Joaquin Valley Section Section Manager: Dan Pruitt, AE6SX ae6sx@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------