1600 UTC October 5, 2019 to 2200 UTC October 6, 2019
CQP & improving your operating skills From an operating point of view, what do Public Service, chasing DX or working contests have in common? They all require accurate copy of information under stress – whether the stress of the moment, the adrenaline rush of rare DX or contest pile up, you have to accurately copy and relay information. Entering a contest either casually to give some points or as a serious effort, Contesting provides a great learning experience for information copy “under fire”. The first weekend of October (October 5-6 this year) sees the 54th running of the California QSO Party – a great opportunity for stations in California because everyone else HAS TO WORK US! We are the DX! Whether you are a “big gun” with stacked yagis and 1500 watts, or a “little pistol” with 100 watts to a vertical or a wire antenna, everyone else in the world wants to work YOU to pick up one of the 58 counties in our state. It’s a lot of fun being on the receiving end of a pile up or searching & pouncing for other states and countries. For California stations the object of the contest is to work as many stations as possible on SSB and CW. You can work the same station on each band and each mode for score credit. Every US state and Canadian province you work counts as a multiplier – 58 total for us just like the number of counties in California.
Nominations are now open for CARS President, Secretary, and Public Information Officer (PIO).
Balloting will end in November 2019. Elected officers begin their terms January 2020.
The President presides at the club meetings and oversees most activities of the club. He also ensures that the club constitution and by-laws are upheld.
The Secretary keeps the meeting minutes, updates the club roster, and conducts club correspondence.
The PIO keeps the club updated of activities, interfaces with the media if needed, and helps to spread information to the public and club members when necessary.
All members, new or old, please give consideration to joining the group of volunteers who help keep the CARS club running smoothly. We need constructive input, fresh ideas, and new faces to continue supporting our organization.
You DO NOT need any qualifications to run for an office. You can learn on the job and there is plenty of support from the officers that preceded you.
**** ALL MEMBERS PLEASE CONSIDER RUNNING FOR AN OFFICE ****
At our Sept. meeting it was brought up that the CARS XMAS PARTY has yet to be organized. It is not too late for a member to head a Xmas Party Committee that could bring about the annual event.
The topic of “FIELD DAY 2020” has surfaced so the club is looking for an interested member wishing to head up a Field Day committee for next year.
Renewed interest in the clubs endeavor to see the E-COMM trailer come to fruition was discussed during our meeting. We are still paying annual DMV fees for the trailer parked at Chuck’s house in San Andreas. Anyone handy with tools, construction, or mechanics might find this project stimulating.
PLEASE LET ANY OF THE CLUB OFFICERS KNOW THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE ABOVE TOPICS. THE CLUB WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR HELP.
CONTACT PERSON: CHUCK FARR- PRESIDENT-W6AJW, cefarr@hughes.net
Thank you for your support.
Mark, n6iv
FALL IS AROUND THE CORNER. THE SUMMER HEAT IS GOING AWAY? TIME FOR HAM STATION MAINTENANCE AND RENEW YOUR CLUB CONTACTS. PLEASE JOIN US THURSDAY SEPT 12 AT ROUNDTABLE PIZZA, ANGELS CAMP AT 6:30PM FOR A CLUB MEETING. ARRIVE EARLY AND GRAB A BITE TO EAT OR DRINK. SEE YOU THERE. 73. MARK, N6IV
Here are a few more pictures taken by Mike, KB6USJ, on his sojourn to Newington, CT. home of W1AW.
For the past several decades I have been an avid reader of QST and seen photos of W1AW, casually thinking someday I would visit the league. Because of the distance needed to travel , again the notion was at the bottom of my bucket list.
An invitation from a relative for a 50th wedding anniversary celebration plus my eldest son’s career being a pilot at Southwest Airlines, I found myself in Providence Rhode Island a mere 90 miles from Newington CT. I set my sights on a visit to HQ.
The staff at the league was gracious and accommodating as I proceeded to take a tour of several departments of ARRL. I viewed areas where the staff works to produce the monthly magazine plus meeting technicians in the radio lab where products are tested.
The finale was a short walk over to W1AW. I viewed banks of radios positioned in cabinets with the job of sending daily bulletins broadcasting from HQ. The staff asked for my radio license and then positioned me in front of a Yaesu-5000 rig and rotated the 20 meter 5 element mono band beam. With the Yaesu amp set at 800 watts my cue for my phone transmission was set.
If you would ask me “Mike, did you pinch yourself”? Yes, I was at awe I had operated W1AW. I worked a pile up of stations on 20 meters from North to Southern United States. A notable QSO was with a 97 year old ham from west of Green Bay, Wisconsin, his first QSO with W1AW. We both completed a check mark on the old bucket list. Thank You again to the whole staff of the American Radio Relay League for a very memorable day.
Mike G kb6usj
Here are two articles concerning the Sun’s cycles. Although not very encouraging for ham radio at least insightful about the nature of the beast.
New study corroborates the influence of planetary tidal forces on solar activity
https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=58444&pNid=0
Solar experts predict the Sun’s activity in Solar Cycle 25 to be below average, similar to Solar Cycle 24
https://www.weather.gov/news/190504-sun-activity-in-solar-cycle
Remember: HAVE RADIO, WILL TRANSMIT.
73
Mark, n6iv