SBARC-list February 2006

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6 participants
8 discussions

Diablo Peak camera
by Bill Talanian 26 Feb '06

26 Feb '06

The cracked globe on the Diablo Peak camera has been replaced by Colin Ebert of UCSB. <http://www.diablo.sbarc.org/imageview.cgi>

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Computer Demolition
by Marvin Johnston 20 Feb '06

20 Feb '06

I ran across this site when the owner posted a message to the ClassicCmp listserver. http://terryking.us/parport/ The two projects that look the most interesting are: COMPUTER DEMOLITION! Take an old computer apart with kids. How-to manual in PDF format (300K). PR Crane: A computer-controlled crane made from an IBM Graphics Printer! PRCRANE.ZIP Size: 300K The basic thrust is education, and I *love* two quotes in the introduction to "COMPUTER DEMOLITION!": Will American kids be Inventors in 10 years, or just operate appliances designed elsewhere? and, by the way, Whatever happened to the Kid who took Alarm Clocks apart to discover how they worked? and YOU HAVE TO DEMOLISH TECHNOLOGY TO UNDERSTAND IT. KIDS LEARN THE MOST WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DO THINGS, HANDS-ON. KIDS CAN COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLE OLD IBM XT-TYPE COMPUTERS , LEARN WHAT THE DIFFERENT PARTS DO, AND REBUILD THEM IN 1-1/2 HOURS .

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ARDF Saturday at Lake Los Carnaros
by Marvin Johnston 16 Feb '06

16 Feb '06

This Saturday (February 18), we will again hold the Beginner's T-Hunt at Lake Los Carnaros. We will be meeting at 9:00 AM and get started hunting shortly after that. This will be an on-foot hunt with five transmitters and a course length of about 2 miles. The expected time to find all transmitters will be about 1 - 1 1/2 hours ... faster if you run and have experience :). This is a free practice and some equipment will be available to borrow.

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February SBARC Meeting Friday
by Marvin Johnston 16 Feb '06

16 Feb '06

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Beyond the Boilerplate! Guest speakers are from the Santa Barbara South County Amateur Radio Emergency Service group. You've probably already learned a lot about how to prepare for a disaster and we'll discuss that, including emergency kits. But we'll go beyond the usual: Survival psychology, lessons learned from Katrina and Rita, communications in a disaster, and what ham radio operators can do after a disaster. Please join us! on Friday, February 17th, 7:30 p.m., at the Goleta Union Schools District Administration Center Board Room, 401 N. Fairview Ave. Free admission, free parking, refreshments, raffle!

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ONeill Regional Park ARDF Course
by Marvin Johnston 13 Feb '06

13 Feb '06

ONeill Regional Park ARDF Course Sunday, February 12, 2006 ONeill Regional Park is shaped like a V with the left side of the V a hilly and rugged area while the right side of the V is mostly flat. The park extends up about 1.6 km on the right side with a width of about 500 meters, and about 2.2 km on the left side with a width of about 700 meters with a larger "bulge" at the top. A road runs along the very right side of the V and is about 50 meters above the flat portion. The flat portion is challenging because there are a lot of reflections from the hill in the middle of the V. This course was put on in conjunction with an LAOC Score-O event, and we had eleven competitors including first timers show up. The course was not designed to be easy, but rather practice for those people planning on attending the 2006 US ARDF Championships in North Carolina. Transmitters #4 and #5 were located near the road on the right side of the V about 50 meters higher than the rest of that area with #5 being the farthest. Almost everyone found these difficult to find because of the reflections. Part of the problem seemed to be that being about 50 meters below the transmitters, the reflections were stronger than the main signal. Jay went to the high ground first, and had little problem finding both transmitters. Several people added to the climb by going up to #5, going back down, and then climbing again to #4 (or vice versa.) The left side was the most physically challenging but was fairly straightforward with a road running along the inside of the V most of the way up. Transitters #3 and #4 were about 50 - 100 meters from the road, and 2 was the farthest out near the top. Course Length - 7 km Course Climb - 195 meters Course length is measured point-to-point and is not necessary a feasible route. The course climb is the total climb along a reasonable route. ARDF (11) 3 Hour Time Limit 5 Transmitters Place Name Time Found 1 Jay Hennigan 1:38:28 5 2 Bob Cooley 2:11:10 5 3 Scott Moore 2:50:36 3 4 Ken Ericksa, Jim Ford 2:21:58 2 5 Tom Gaccione 2:26:11 1 6 William Smathers 2:58:58 1 7 John Frerichs 1:35:42 0 7 Micheal Helmeste 1:11:04 0 7 Jerrod Bickler 7 Joe L, Tony B, Joe C, 7 Brian Roode

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Communicators Class
by Lou Dartanner 11 Feb '06

11 Feb '06

Dear Folks, Sharpen your skills in a refresher course for emergency and event communicators at the meeting of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service group this Monday. Handouts on "Fundamental Operating Principles for Radio Operators" will be available and we'll even have some "off-the-air" exercises in an informal setting to give you practice. Come join us at 7 p.m. Monday, February 13, at the County Health Services Auditorium, 300 N. San Antonio Rd. (where the VE sessions are held). Refreshments included -- such a deal! See you there! 73, Lou, N6ZKJ

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Sprint PCS
by Bill Talanian 10 Feb '06

10 Feb '06

Building can have cell phone antennas, Goleta council rules THOMAS SCHULTZ, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER [] February 8, 2006 12:00 AM The Goleta City Council on Monday night unanimously approved four cell phone antennas for a commercial building on Calle Real, denying an appeal brought by neighbors concerned about aesthetics, health effects and the prospect of still more transmitters being "co-located" at the site housing offices and a Spectrum Health Club. Because they comply with national standards for acceptable levels of radio frequency radiation, federal law prohibited the council from ruling on the basis of safety. Hidden in a wall and faux pipe vent, the devices' appearance did not amount to visual blight, the council decided. "Our hands are pretty much tied," said Mayor Jonny Wallis, who joined colleagues in urging Sprint PCS to find another location in the face of public outcry. "This is not good for your business." Sprint agent David Thornburgh, of InfraNext Inc., said the antennas are safe and needed to improve cell reception along Highway 101. The devices will produce roughly 5 percent of the maximum radiation exposure allowed under federal law, according to Sprint. Mr. Thornburgh said the company investigated other locations, including the Fairview Shopping Center and a nearby church steeple, but none panned out. Opponents suggested putting the antennas atop the Fairview Avenue freeway overpass, but that is too difficult due to Caltrans restrictions, Mr. Thornburgh said. "To allow a maintenance vehicle to enter and exit here is not permissible." Andrew Seybold, a Santa Barbara wireless consultant supporting the project, noted Cottage Hospital has two rooftop cell sites with a third likely on the way. Hospital spokeswoman Janet O'Neill confirmed this Tuesday, describing a total 18 existing antennas from various companies, some dating back 10 years. Sprint attorney John Boat told the council it could not legally overturn the city zoning administrator's November approval of the Calle Real project based on fears of an "antenna farm" sprouting there. "Sprint cannot control who is going to show up next." Led by Verdura Avenue resident Bob Wignot, opponents of the project from the Fairview Avenue and Los Carneros Organized Neighborhoods (FALCON) complained of being caught in a bureaucratic time warp. Based on a rule inherited from Santa Barbara County when Goleta incorporated in early 2002, the antennas must be 50 feet or more from the closest residence. The county has subsequently made placement of a cell site within 300 feet of a home more difficult. Goleta is expected to strengthen its ordinance as well, though a change would come too late to affect the Sprint project. Among the most vocal opponents was Malva Avenue resident Jackie Chapman, who gathered 200 signatures from like-minded neighbors. "The whole situation brought our community together," she said Tuesday. "It made me really proud. Even the City Council members would have definitely voted for us. I'd like it known that it's pretty sad that you get lawyers in there and this big company and they can pretty much push a little town around." Even before the decision, Mr. Wignot offered a similar David-versus-Goliath portrayal of the situation. "FALCON was going to use the same attorneys at 'Dewey, Cheatem & How,' but they weren't available," he told the council. At least one health-conscious member plans to abandon the Spectrum fitness center for either another branch or a new gym. Brian Lee said he works out up to 18 hours a week, and noted the Calle Real club has a child care center. Ted Ontiveras, general manager of the Spectrum branch, said company executives attempted to communicate concerns about the project with the property owner. "It doesn't seem to have done much good." Sprint has permission through a conditional use permit for two arrays of two antennas each, in addition to a nine-inch global positioning system rooftop antenna and a rooftop air conditioning unit, plus associated equipment. An antenna array proposed for the roof will be in a cylinder designed to resemble a pipe vent, the other recessed into the wall of the southwest corner of the building. The off-white roof cylinder will be 12 feet tall and set back 25 feet from the nearest roof edge. e-mail: tschultz(a)newspress.com

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Suit Sat - no good here
by W1PR 01 Feb '06

01 Feb '06

According to http://science.nasa.gov/Programs/Pagebuilding/trackJPass.asp?zip=93111&lati… there will be no local Santa Barbara fly-overs of ISS and SuitSat during the couple of days the batteries are expected to last. In fact, ISS won't be over us again until Feb 14! 73, Paul, W1PR

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SBARC-list February 2006