The Official Newsletter of the Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association Volume 1, Number 2

Transcription

1 April 2017 In This Issue 2017 Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Race Get Involved: ARES You re Invited! NASA Armstrong Amateur Radio Club Trasmitter Hunt A Sense of Humor ARRL Calendar of Events TARA Calendar of Events Important Information - Local Repeaters - Club Websites - TARA Officers & Committee s - TARA Meeting & Club Information - Transmitter Hunt Flyer - Membership Application The Official Newsletter of the Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association Volume 1, Number Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Race The annual running of the 2017 Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Race took place last month on March 24 th and 25 th. The race, commonly refer to as the B2V or Baker to Vegas runs 120 miles from just outside Baker, CA to the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. With over 20 stages ranging from about 4 miles on up to about 10.7 miles. Elevation begins at about 475 feet then up over about 5,500 feet and then back down to about 2,000 feet in Las Vegas. Temperatures can range from freezing to overheating. This all takes place out in the middle of nowhere. Over 8,000 runners, guests, family members and support staff participate to help make this event successful. As you might guess, communications over this expanse is critical to the safety and welfare of all those involved. Cell phones only work in limited areas near Pahrump. Short range FRS radios are used to communicate between the vehicles used to follow the runners. Commercial radios can be rented and used for team communications. Finally, amateur radios can be used for team communications if the operators are licensed. Net Control stations are set up in Pahrump, NV and near the Finish Line in Las Vegas, NV. Without these dedicated volunteers operating that ham radio stations I don t see how the race could take place. Ham radio teams are present at every stage. One team sits about a mile before each stage. They report the bib number of the runners as they pass. This is announced by the ham team at the stage the runner is approaching so the next runner in the relay can prepare. As the runner approaches closer to 100 yards out from the stage, another radio team announces the runners bib number allowing the next relay runner to step into the chute to grab the baton and begin the next stage. The radio team at the stage then reports this information to Net Control providing a paper trail, if you will, just in case the tracking system fails at one stage or another. In the event of a medical emergency, the ham radio team provides the link to emergency services that are manned throughout the course. If necessary, runners can be airlifted to the hospital. I was proud to participate on the support team for both 2016 and I look Courtesy: BakerVegas.net forward to next year. For more information visit: BakerVegas.net.

2 Contact Us Visit us on Facebook! TARAtehachapiamateurradio Visit our Website! tehachapiareahams.yolasite.com Mail: Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association (TARA) P.O. Box 1681 Tehachapi, CA Get Involved: Amateur Radio Emergency Service Are you interested in serving and supporting you community during an emergency? If so, you might be interested in working with a local group of amateur radio operators who volunteer their time and skills to assist first responders and local governments during such emergencies. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leader and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. To find out more about ARES and its operations in the Kern County area you can begin your search at: Additional resources include Western Kern County ARES at and, of course, members of our club. Members of the local ARES group check into the Net every Sunday night at 7:00pm local time. The Net can be heard on the local repeater listed below. Suggestions or Comments Via Mail: The Dummy Load Attn: John Dyer KM6DXY P.O. Box 1681 Tehachapi, CA BVS Repeater: Hz Tone W6SLZ Open Machine You will hear Net Control announce the net at 7:00pm SHARP and then work through the Roll Call of current ARES members. Net Control will also check for late member Check-ins, Guests and, finally, any Echo-Link check-ins. The whole process only takes about 15 minutes. By listening you will get an idea of what is involved for Check-in, however, there s more. To be able to fully participate in an emergency situation you will need to additional training. Over the next several months I will review the steps I go through as I begin my training online and fully develop my skills in support of ARES. Via To: KM6DXY@ARRL.net Subject: The Dummy Load Newsletter Or Click Here ARES VHF/UHF Net Control Vehicle W5TIC in Action during the Tactical Interoperability Exercise, New Mexico Preparedness Area #1 Courtesy:

3 NASA Armstrong Amateur Radio Club Transmitter Hunt We received an invitation to NASA Armstrong Amateur Radio Club s Transmitter Hunt being held at Apollo Park in Lancaster, CA on April 8 th. An invitation sent out via emai, however, I also wanted to make sure we posted it in the newsletter. I will include a copy of the flyer near the end of this newsletter; however, here is the information in short (well almost). Please RSVP by Tuesday, April 4 th to Kevin Reilly at (661) or via at buffpilot1@att.net. Kevin will need to know your name, the number of people in your party and the potluck dish you will be brining to the event. Your potluck item will need to feed people. The NASA club will provide Burgers and Brats w/fixins in addition to water. Please no alcohol as this is a county park and alcohol is NOT ALLOWED. RSVP to Kevin by phone or no later than April 4th. A Sense of Humor Feel free to submit your jokes too! This month s selection is courtesy of one of our members. Can You Raed This? fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghi t pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

4 ARRL CALENDAR of EVENTS This page will be devoted to providing our members with events sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). We will review the calendar on their website monthly and update the list below. You may also find information on their website at: April Rookie Roundup Phone May 2017 Nothing Scheduled June June VHF 18 Kids Day Field Day (#ARRLFD) TARA CALENDAR of EVENTS This page will be devoted to providing our members with events sponsored by or involving the participation of our club. We will review the calendar on a monthly basis and update you accordingly. April Club Board Meeting 8 NASA Armstrong Amateur Radio Club Transmitter Hunt 10:00am At Apollo Park, Lancaster, CA 13 Club Meeting May Club Board Meeting 6 High Desert Trails Rally (See Phil Dolber, W6WBT, for more info) 11 Club Meeting June Club Board Meeting 8 Club Meeting

5 IMPORTANT INFORMATION This page will be devoted to providing our members with events sponsored by or involving the participation of our club. We will review the calendar on a monthly basis and update you accordingly. LOCAL REPEATER INFORMATION TARA APRS Digipeater No Tone KA6PTJ-3 APRS BVS APRS Digipeater: No Tone WA6LDQ-3 APRS BVS Repeater: Hz Tone W6SLZ BVS Repeater: Hz Tone W6SLZ Tehachapi Repeater: Hz Tone KI6HHU Tehachapi Repeater: Hz Tone KG6KKV Tehachapi Simplex: No Tone Tehachapi Simplex: No Tone Open Machine Open Machine Open Machine Overlooks Bakersfield Local Simplex Local Simplex CLUB & Other WEBSITES TARA TARA Facebook Page: AVARC BVSERT KCCVARC ARRL:

6 TARA Officers and Committee s President: Phill Turok (AE5PT, phill.turok@gmail.com) 1 st Vice President: Dan Mason (AB6DM, imprezaspeed@yahoo.com) 2 nd Vice President: John Dyer (KM6DXY, km6dxy@arrl.net) Secretary: Valerie Mason (KK6WLQ, val3mason@yahoo.com) Treasurer: Sylvia Dolber (KD6UUC, sylviaquilts@gmail.com) Web Page: Dan Mason (AB6DM, imprezaspeed@yahoo.com) Facebook: Aaron Ray (KG6OVR, arayboomer@gmail.com) TARA Meeting and Club Membership Information The Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association meets every second Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM (except for July - no meeting). Our meetings are held at the Mountain Aire Estates Activities Center, 600 South Dennison Road in Tehachapi, Ca. Drive in the entrance and the Activities Center is straight ahead. T.A.R.A. Member Annual Dues: Additional Family Member: $25.00/year $12.50/per person Club address: T.A.R.A., PO Box 1681, Tehachapi, CA Membership Application On the last page of this newsletter will be a copy of our current Membership Application. Applications can and will be accepted at all club meetings. If you prefer, you may mail your application along with the applicable dues to the club Post Office Box as follows: Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association (TARA) P.O. Box 1681 Tehachapi, CA A Note from the Editor If you have any questions, corrections, ideas, suggestions for content or even an article to share please send them to my attention. (See Side Bar for Information) Keep in mind that I am not only an Amateur Radio Operator; I am an amateur newsletter editor. 73 s Everyone.

7 NASA Armstrong Amateur Radio Club is Hosting a Transmitter Hunt Date: April 8, 2017 When: 10:00 AM Where: Apollo Park This invitation is open to NASA Armstrong, Antelope Valley, California City and Tehachapi Amateur Radio Club/Association members and their guests. Please RSVP by Tuesday April 4th to Kevin Reilly (661) or buffpilot1@att.net, we need to know your name, the No. in your party and your potluck dish (to feed people). We need an accurate count to ensure there is enough food and water. We will provide Burgers and Brats w/fixins and water. If you desire something else to drink please bring it with you. Remember, no alcohol this is a county park. Timeline: 10:00 Start BBQ and cooking 10:15 Direction Finding tutorial and practice. Bring your HT and T-Hunting equipment, we have some extra antennas, attenuators and a couple of HT s. You will learn how to use just your HT and your body to block signals. 11:00 Lunch: BBQ and Potluck More practice and mentoring can happen after lunch before the hunt begins 12:30: Start Transmitter Hunt NOTE: The Pavilion location is TBD we will try to get one in the North West Corner of the Park near the rest rooms Talk-in simplex backup, simplex Note: Baofeng hand-held transceivers may not be suited for use with offset attenuators. I have experienced this with mine. It will still work for signal blocking techniques (bring a cookie sheet). Questions? Contact Phil w6wbt@arrl.net, (661) or Kevin buffpilot1@att.net, (661)

8 MEMBERSHIP TYPE: Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association (Check all that apply) P.O. Box 1681 Tehachapi, CA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Date of Application / / YEAR New Member Individual $25.00 / Year Renewal Family $12.50 / Add'l Family Member / Year APPLICANT INFORMATION: First Name Call Sign Technician General Extra Last Name License Classification / License Held Street Address Apt. / Unit City State Zip Code Home Phone Number Cell Phone Number ( ) ( ) Address Background Have you ever been convicted of a crime (misdemenor, felony, etc.)? If so, please provide details below: No Yes Details: Other Memberships ARRL ARES RACES CERT OTHER Family Members in Household (Fill out only if completing a Family Membership Call Sign Class ( T/G/E) First & Last Name Age Amount Paid Cash / Check Date Approval Applicant Signature: Date: