KB6USJ-11 On The Move

Posted on by July 8, 2023
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After being launched on May 20th the balloon took a Northerly track across the United States then turning slightly South over the Great Lakes to New York, leaving North America at St. John’s, New Foundland. An unusual weather system over the North Atlantic created a brisk Easterly wind which pushed back the forward progress of the balloon from Southern Ireland back to the North Atlantic. It languished in a slow area of wind for several days, then met a trough of wind which transported it to Iceland. Since Iceland it has continued on its journey in the last 72hrs traveling through Norway, Sweden and today Finland.

Daily Progress can be checked on

https://www.aprs.fi

For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace. We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding.

John F. Kennedy

We choose to go to the Moon Speech

September 12th 1962

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ARRL JUNE VHF CONTEST

Posted on by July 8, 2023
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Contest Objective: For amateurs in the US and Canada (and their possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US & Canada (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions) and Canada.

Dates: The second full weekend in June. (June 10-12, 2023)

Contest Period: Begins 1800 UTC Saturday, ends 0259 UTC Monday.

Contest Rules are now maintained as a single downloadable document.

Click Here for Complete ARRL June VHF Contest Rules (PDF)

For contest information contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0232

All legal modes are permitted. For Cabrillo file mode definitions, Digital modes should be represented as “DG” (for all things digital), SSB Phone as “PH”, FM voice as “FM”, and CW as “CW”.

Stations in KH0-9, KL7 & KP1-KP5, CY9 and CY0 count as W/VE stations and can be worked by DX stations for contest credit.

New For 2022:

Single Operator entrants can now enter in either All Mode (which includes all digital modes) or Analog-Only (CW/SSB/FM) subcategories. See the complete rules for more details.

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Museum Ships Weekend

Posted on by July 8, 2023
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Museum Ships Weekend is not a contest, it’s a fun operating event so you don’t have to be a “contester” to come out and get on the air.  The event starts Friday, June 2nd at 5:00PM (0000Z June 3rd) and continues through Sunday. We will have 4 stations running all modes including SSB Voice, CW, and Digital (FT8 mostly) from any station.  If you’re a new ham or new to HF there will be plenty of “Elmering” on board to help you get on the air.  Since it’s not a contest, you can make contacts at your pace and learn a lot about HF operating.  Pretty much everything is there – bring your own headphones if you like.  Water and snacks will be available. Come for an hour – stay on board for the weekend.  Night shift operators are encouraged and needed!

 

The USS Lucid is an amazing piece of US History.  Built 70 years ago, the ocean going mine sweeper is the last of the “great Navy wood boats”.  Her motto:  “Wooden Ships and Iron Men”.  Even if you don’t want to get on the air and operate, you’re welcome to join us on the Lucid and tour her fascinating history.  

We will be on the air from Friday 5PM to Sunday Noon.  After that we will remove the radio’s and the antennas.  (Come back noon on Sunday and give us a hand with that!)

Questions?  call John NZ6Q 209-687-0774

Don’t miss this exciting on-the-air event!

Welcome Aboard the USS Lucid & 73,

John NZ6Q

You can find out more about Museum Ships Weekend on the Battleship New Jersey website here:

https://www.nj2bb.org/museum/

Article Courtesy of the Stockton Delta ARC Flysheet

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KB6USJ To Join W6SF As High Altitude Balloons Circle The Earth

Posted on by June 1, 2023
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Enthusiasm abounds as members of Lodi Amateur Radio Club and Calaveras Amateur Radio Society, Tuolumne Amateur Radio Club ,the group also included members of families as well as students of Mt. Oaks Charter School Sonora, prepare for release of the Pico Balloon. The students over the past months have been learning about the history of radio technology, pico balloon science as well as the HAM radio hobby and what it takes to become a licensed radio amateur. Students were interested in the various facets of the hobby many thinking most amateurs just converse by voice on their radios, but got their beliefs updated on this fascinating activity of how these tiny balloon can transmit GPS and telemetry, about temperature and altitude as it orbits the earth.

Tucked away as seen in photo at right in the rear of the solar panel are messages and names of Students, from the school which will follow with the tiny balloon on its journey. Where will it finally land we do not know, but the dreams and hopes are tucked away as it flies over far away lands.

“The growth of our science and education will be enriched by our new knowledge of our universe and environment, by new techniques of learning and mapping and observation, by new tools and computers for industry, medicine, the home as well as the school”

John F. Kennedy

We choose to go to the Moon speech, September 12,1962

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Mr. Frogs Wild Ride

Posted on by May 8, 2023
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If their are more photos from this event that members would like to share please email to houston12@arrl.net we would love to see them.

Mountain Ranch
Mountain Ranch
Sheep Ranch
Mountain Ranch

On and off showers was the WX last Saturday, but it did not dampen the spirits of the cycling participants nor the volunteers of the radio club. How can you go wrong with an abnormally wet season that has made the hill sides a deep green and the streams and brooks flowing with abundant water, which has not been observed in years. Its a season for the frogs, an A+ was given out to the radio club volunteers from the event organizer for their efforts in providing information on progress of the cyclist and safety. Once the final reports are in we will have more to say about Mr. Frogs Wild Ride. As you must know it a tradition around these parts.

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Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test

Posted on by May 7, 2023
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The US Department of Defense (DoD) will host this year’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test on May 13, 2023. This annual event is open to all licensed amateur radio operators and will not impact any public or private communications. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in this event.

The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS), as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise scenario.

Military stations will transmit on selected frequencies and will announce the specific ARS frequencies monitored. All of the times are Zulu (Z), and all frequencies are Upper Side Band (USB) unless otherwise noted. The frequencies used for the test will not stray outside the confines of the exercise.

A complete list of frequencies, time periods, QSL cards, and other information can be found at DoD MARS – Armed Forces Day.

AFD is a time of honor. It will be celebrated on Saturday, May 20, 2023. The first AFD was celebrated with parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. Today, many events and activities take place and may include multi-service military displays in areas open to the public, various educational activities that teach children about the armed forces, and large parades with local celebrations.

The longest running AFD parade in the United States is held in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Certain types of music will be played at AFD 2023 events to show respect to those in the armed forces who died for their country.

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