54th Running of Calif QSO Party

Posted on by September 30, 2019
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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.

http://www.cqp.org/Rules.html
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CARS ELECTIONS & NEWS

Posted on by September 18, 2019
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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

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CLUB MEETING THUR 9/12

Posted on by September 8, 2019
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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

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CARS MEMBER KB6USJ ACHIEVES THE “HOLY GRAIL”

Posted on by August 19, 2019
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\”Here is W1AW, QRL? QRL?”
Mike, KB6USJ, looking mighty happy!

    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

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    SOLAR CYCLE 25

    Posted on by July 25, 2019
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    Coronal Mass Ejection

    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

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    Field Day, Monitor Pass, 8,314 ft

    Posted on by June 24, 2019
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    View of Leviathan Peak to the north from campsite.
    Lousey photo of me at my typical Field Day setup.

    The club did not sponsor a Field Day this year so I thought I would share my personal experience this weekend with you. (Please send in your reports to share with the club)

    Weekend began Friday morning with the 2.5 hr drive up through Markleeville to the campsite at Monitor Pass off highway 89, just south of Leviathan peak. Full blown aspen forest. I’ve wanted to camp here for 19 years. Sent my wife to visit a friend in Lemoore, Ca. with the dog, and I took off.
    Arrived Fri at 11:30am, set up camp, tent, antenna( cf zepp), radio station, etc. A few casual qsos were made on cw fri pm to check equipment. Wow, really high qrn on 40m.. must be band condx.

    Next morning 27degF… burr. FD start time 1800z. Wow, really high qrn, S7- S9. Fiddled with my Ft 857 for an hour, checking generator, antenna, equipment, etc. No go!. Pulled out my trusty 25yo. Ts570 and problem solved. Great band conditions. Weird. (Either the ft857 is not good for crowded bands or I am not fully adept at working that machine). Worked as 1B SV on 15, 20, and 40m casually hunting and pouncing all day into early evening. Nice. Made my 100 contacts.

    Sunday morning, 30F,  but warmed to 73F later. During 6:30 am breakfast I heard strange noise to my southeast. With coffee cup in hand went to investigate. BIG black bear raised it’s head over the brush looking at ME. Having read bear protocol I shouted and waved my arms.  After the second time the bear did a 180, crashing through the forest and did not return :). Ate breakfast and FD continued. Made another 25 qsos and packed it up by 12pm. Home in one piece at 2pm. Overall, best FD ever!!. 

    Yes,  lots of work and planning but this year I did not cook in Calaveras county. ( Alas, missed Fred, WB6QVI, my FD partner for many, many years who did not accompany me this time)

    Will submit my score to ARRL. Hope not alot of dupes.
    73
    Mark, N6IV

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