July 2011 - SBARC-list - lists.netlojix.com

Ocean Tracking Coordinator needed for the Balloon Launch...
by rod＠sbatv.org 15 Jul '11

15 Jul '11

Hello, I hope by now you're well-informed about our Balloon Launch tomorrow. My leads have fizzled and I need your help to locate someone who knows about boating (doesn't need a boat), so they can help communicate with boaters if the balloon falls in the drink. They will need to be on-call between 9am and 2pm. The need for this person to really do anything is unlikely, but I need a contact person just in case. So. Do you know someone who knows someone who's a boater somewhere between Point Concepcion and Point Mugu? Please let me know if you do. Regards, Rod Fritz, WB9KMO Land-lubber Extraordinaire (I can swim, though)

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Natural History Museum/SBARC/SBHX High-Altitude Balloon - Press Release
by rod＠sbatv.org 15 Jul '11

15 Jul '11

Hello High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) Friends, The first page of the attached file was submitted as a press release to virtually all news agencies in the Santa Barbara area and we anticipate some good press as a result. Please keep your eyes and ears open for publicity and if possible, capture it electronically and send it to me so we can put it in our archives. I hope many of you can observe the launch and monitor the progress on amateur radio as we track and recover the payload. Send your signal reports to wb9kmo(a)sbarc.org. We hope to get reports from 450 miles away or more. The flight from Santa Barbara is expected to last about three hours. We currently anticipate a landing near Maricopa, California! We will use three balloon coordination frequencies that you can listen on. . 146.43 SIMPLEX (TRANSMIT IS ENCOURAGED) - This is the primary "simplex" channel for balloon communications. Between 7am and 3pm, all radio amateurs can LISTEN and TALK here, but try to keep communications brief and please give priority to BALLOON COMMUNICATORS, who you can recognize by their tactical call signs, like PAYLOAD, SCIENCE, SB TRACKING, VENTURA TRACKING, etc. We'd love to chat with you about the balloon event on this frequency. . 147.000 TALK (LISTEN MOSTLY, TALK BRIEFLY) - This is an alternate channel for the MONTECITO-SUMMERLAND RUN and HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOON directed net from 7am to 3pm. You can LISTEN and TALK here as long as you are brief and give priority to net traffic. . 146.79 CALL (LISTEN ONLY) - This is a directed net from 7am to 3pm. It is the primary channel for the MONTECITO-SUMMERLAND RUN and HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOON communications and must be strictly controlled to ensure that emergencies and other traffic are handled effectively. You can LISTEN, but DO NOT TRANSMIT on this repeater during the net unless you are an authorized EVENT or BALLOON COMMUNICATOR. Javier Rivera and the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum sparked the idea and sponsored this launch. I truly appreciate the help from Levi Maaia, K6LCM, who consulted on the balloon launch, composed the press release and submitted it to news agencies. Bill Brown, WB8ELK and many others are providing much-needed assistance. Thank you for your help to prepare us for a successful mission. Enjoy the day, Rod Fritz, WB9KMO SBARC OUTREACH Committee Chair BALLOON PAYLOAD Coordinator

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Balloon Flight Prediction - Saturday, July 16 at 10am
by rod＠sbatv.org 15 Jul '11

15 Jul '11

The attached picture shows where we predict the balloon will go. - Rod Fritz, WB9KMO

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Balloon Launch Site - Saturday, July 16 at 10am
by rod＠sbatv.org 15 Jul '11

15 Jul '11

The attached picture shows where we plan to launch the balloon.

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Morse Code
by Paul Cronshaw 14 Jul '11

14 Jul '11

A nice article about "the music of Morse": http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/us/14morse.html?_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&e… 73s Paul Cronshaw KF6TRT

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Technical Elmering Net
by Michael＠NO6O.com 14 Jul '11

14 Jul '11

Come Join the Technical Elmering Net ------------------------------------ Thursday, 8:00pm until 9:00pm On the following repeaters: 146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill) 223.92 MHz (Santa Cruz Island) 224.08 MHz (La Cumbre Peak) Minus offset, PL 131.8 Hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN All Amateur Radio-related topics are welcome. Bring your questions, experiences, and/or expertise. ---Michael, NO6O

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Reminder: ARDF at Mt. Pinos this weekend
by Marvin Johnston 13 Jul '11

13 Jul '11

The two-day ARDF training camp at Mount Pinos, west of Frazier Park, will take place this Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17, as a mix-in with a meet of the Los Angeles Orienteering Club (LAOC). Remember that this is the weekend of the big closure of the 405 freeway, so plan your driving route carefully and allow extra time. A representative of Scarborough Orienteering Supply will be present, giving you an opportunity to purchase supplies such as e-sticks, orienteering clothes, and so forth. Host and course-setter is Marvin Johnston KE6HTS. There will be a full 2-meter course Saturday morning, a sprint course Saturday afternoon (where the goal is to catch each transmitter on its first cycle) and a Santa Barbara style tri-tip BBQ supper Saturday evening. Sunday morning's schedule has a full 80-meter course followed by transmitter pickup and departure. This two-day session is open to all radio-orienteers, but please understand that these are advanced courses. You must be capable of walking or running at high elevation for at least 5 kilometers. A ham radio license is not required. An excellent map by Los Angeles Orienteering Club will be provided each day. There will be a nominal charge of $5/day to cover the maps and e-punch. The cost for the optional barbecue will be about $8 per person. If you plan to attend, please send e-mail to Marvin to help him make plans and to insure that you'll be expected at start time. (marvin(a)west.net) He will reply to tell you the starting locations and times for each day. Mount Pinos terrain is mostly runable forest. The air is clear and there is no poison oak. There will be a 3-hour time limit for both the 2m and 80m courses. Scoring will be electronic. If you have an "e-stick," be sure to bring it. Please be on time for this event. The starts for all courses will only be open long enough to get everyone going (about 30 minutes). We will try to monitor 146.52 MHz simplex for incoming ham operators, but may not be able to hear you if you're not close by. Directions: Take the Frazier Park exit from Interstate 5 and go west on Frazier Mountain Park Road. Continue 8 miles, passing Frazier Park and Lockwood Valley Road (which is your last chance for supplies and water). Four miles beyond the Lockwood Valley turnoff, stay left at the fork onto Mt Pinos Road. (If you reach Pine Mountain Club, you went the wrong way, so turn around and go back to the fork.) Go another five climbing, winding miles to McGill Campground on your right or continue to the announced gathering point. Forest Service Adventure Passes are not required for this area, but there is a day-use fee for vehicle parking at McGill Campground. Overnight camping is available for $12 per campsite on a first-come-first-served basis at McGill Campground. The campgrounds are dry, so bring your own water. If you don't want to camp, you can stay at the Holiday Inn Express or the Motel 6 (formerly the BestRest Inn), both at the Frazier Park exit of I-5. There is also an Econolodge at the Gorman exit of I-5. Links to these motels are at www.homingin.com. 73, Joe Moell K0OV

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[Sbarc-list] We need an Astronaut! - Re: Balloon Launch on Saturday, 7/16 at 10am on West Beach in SB
by rod＠sbatv.org 13 Jul '11

13 Jul '11

Hello Balloon Friends, Contest: This "contest" is for anyone and everyone, regardless of affiliation... Objective: By noon Friday (7/15/11), provide a working model of a "robot" (that is preferably quite animated, but it's not an absolute requirement) that will either hang above the balloon payload on the 15' line to the parachute above, or preferably will "walk" up and down the line during the flight. Specifications: Wide open, but weight, agility and appearance are factors. Nothing over 8 oz will be considered and 4 oz or less is preferred. Size doesn't matter as long as the Flip Ultra HD camcorder on top of the box can see it. Other Considerations: The robot will be subject to -40 degree temperature, near vacuum to normal atmospheric pressure changes, possible loss and possible submersion in the ocean. In other words, it may not survive the trip. We will not be held liable for it's return. Prize: There is no prize other than a chance to get publicity for your robot and a possibility that I might buy you dinner after we recover the payload. Contact Info: For questions and submissions, contact me at wb9kmo(a)sbarc.org . Thank you and I hope we can have some fun with this, Rod Fritz, WB9KMO wb9kmo(a)sbarc.org

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SBARC Wednesday Nets
by Michael＠NO6O.com 13 Jul '11

13 Jul '11

SBARC Wednesday Nets -------------------- Beginning at 7:00 pm on the following linked repeaters: 146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill) 223.92 MHz (Santa Cruz Island) 224.08 MHz (La Cumbre Peak) Minus offset, PL 131.8 ---------------------------------- 7:00pm - 7:30pm -- Amateur Radio Newsline (www.ARNewsLine.org) 7:30pm - 8:00pm -- Weekly Club Net 8:00pm - 8:30pm -- Swap Net, hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN ---------------------------------- Then, at 8:30pm, on 144.210 MHz, is the VHF Single Side Band Roundtable, typically hosted by Ken Owen, N6KTH. This popular roundtable is now in its fourth year. Some People start checking in early between 8:00pm and 8:30pm. For details, visit www.n6kth.com/vhf. ---Michael, NO6O

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Old field day photo
by Jay Hennigan 11 Jul '11

11 Jul '11

I stumbled across the following photo amongst some miscellaneous files. http://www.west.net/~jay/pic.jpg It's an SBARC field day at La Mesa Park near Shoreline and Cliff Drive. Can anyone tell me which year this was taken? I'm guessing either 1979 or 1980. -- Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay(a)impulse.net Impulse Internet Service - http://www.impulse.net/ Your local telephone and internet company - 805 884-6323 - WB6RDV

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