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2723 discussions

Fwd: [K6MEP] Silent Key – Roderick M. Austin, KA6GSU
by Dave Schmidt 20 Apr '26

20 Apr '26

Rod Austin passed last week. He used to live in Goleta and may have been a club member back then. Dave Ai6vx ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *Robert Shank KM6RSS * Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 Subject: [K6MEP] Silent Key – Roderick M. Austin, KA6GSU It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our fellow club member and amateur radio operator, Roderick M. Austin, KA6GSU.Roderick became a Silent Key on April 14, 2026. He was a valued member of our club and contributed to the amateur radio community for many years. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Lilly and family and friends. Roderick will be remembered for his many years of service to our club; as our president (2003-2007) and our board member (2007-2019). A moment of silence will be observed during our April 20th 2m. net and at our May 8th club meeting in his memory. 73, Rod – you will be missed on the airwaves. _._,_._

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Tim Merideth, KD6REG
by Diane Sova 07 Apr '26

07 Apr '26

Greetings. I am very sorry to let you know that Tim Merideth, KD6REG, passed away on Saturday, April 4th in Santa Barbara. A memorial service will be planned and held at some point; details to follow. Life is far too short for regret, please stay in touch with your old friends! Diane Sova KF6YGI

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March 11 Luncheon Speaker – Larry Martinez on Space Law
by William Theeringer 07 Mar '26

07 Mar '26

Group: Our own Larry Martinez, WA6MVJ, will present a talk on the evolving efforts to limit the weaponization of outer space and to address legal gaps created by the rapidly expanding commercial presence in Earth’s orbital realm. Are commercial space systems now targets for military operations as they pass over areas of international conflict? These and other questions will be explored in the March 11 presentation. Larry will present in person at the Community West Bank conference room, 445 Pine Avenue (off Hollister Avenue) in Goleta, and will also be available via Zoom. When you register, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom information, directions to the in-person location, and meal details. You are welcome to attend without purchasing a meal. Bill Theeringer W8PEY

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Napster - again again
by Ken Alker 30 Jan '26

30 Jan '26

Napster has re-created itself a second time (third instance, if you will). See https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/napsters-back-and-its-new…. I thought Brian (K6BPM) would like this particularly, considering his mentions of personality trade-marking. The first re-creation of Napster was when they took over the Rhapsody brand, which is why I was researching them. I have had a Rhapsody (now Napster) music streaming subscription since 2006 as a beta tester for Sonos (wow - how time FLIEs). I got a special deal at $49.95/year but it only works with my Sonos system. When I tried to stream music yesterday on my Sonos system it told me that they no longer support Napster (formerly Rhapsody) and that I should delete the icon from my Sonos app entirely. Hmmm... I've already been charged my $49.95 for the year by Napster. I think Rhapsody may have been the first ever music streaming service (not sure, though; maybe just "one of the first"). Another one bites the dust. Ken

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Winter Field Day is this weekend!
by Dave Schmidt 24 Jan '26

24 Jan '26

Winter Field Day is this weekend! *Rules can be found here: <goog_1699972291>* https://winterfieldday.org/downloads/2026-rules-v3.pdf *When:* Saturday 8:00AM PST until Sunday Jan 25 2:00PM (Jan 24th 1600 UTC - Jan 25 21:59 UTC) *Power: *All stations are limited to a maximum of 100 Watts PEP. *Bands: *All Amateur bands may be used except 12, 17, 30, and 60 meters *Modes: *All modes, except WSJT* modes, may be used. Modes are combined into three groups: CW, Phone, and Digital, may be used. Phone includes SSB, AM, FM, DMR, C4FM, etc. If the end result is voice, it’s Phone. Digital includes PSK, RTTY, Olivia, Packet, SSTV, ATV, JS8Call, and other soundcard modes. If the end result is text or a picture, it’s Digital. *(*WSJT modes include FST4, FT4, FT8, JT4, JT9, JT65, Q65, MSK144, WSPR, FST4W, and Echo. These modes do not support passing emergency traffic effectively and therefore are not appropriate for Winter Field Day.)* *Exchange: *Your call sign, a category number, a class identifier, and a location identifier. *Category: *A number designated by the number of transceivers (stations) at your location that are capable of transmitting simultaneously. *Class Identifier:* *H* - Home station: is any station located inside a permanent livable residence. *I *- Indoor station: is any station operating away from Home but from inside an insulated, weather-protected building (or structure) on a permanent foundation. Indoor stations typically have plumbing, heating/cooling, and running water. Church, EOCs, a club shack, a cabin, and community centers are all examples of an Indoor station. *O* - Outdoor station: Outdoor stations operate from a partly or fully exposed building or shelter that does not typically have plumbing, heating/cooling, or running water available. Operating from a picnic table, park pavilion, tents, or under pop-up canopies are all places that could be considered Outdoor. These are locations where you may have to provide your own heat source and/or protection from the elements. *M *- Mobile / Mobile Stationary: These stations are operations from a mobile or potentially mobile structure like an RV, car, van, sailboat, cargo trailer, mobile EOC, bus, plane, ETC. These are operating positions that may offer some sort of built-in heating/cooling. Mobile stations do not have to be mobile during the event. They must have the ability to be mobile, should it be necessary to move during the event. RVs and cargo trailers with external antennas set up are still considered Mobile. *Location Identifier:* US and Canadian stations will use the ARRL / RAC Section as designated by those organizations (SB for us) Very much like Field Day in June. My exchange from my house would be *"AI6VX 1H SB"* Give it a try! Even if you don't plan on uploading your logs, there will be lots of opportunity to play with radio this weekend! Dave AI6VX

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KVM needed
by Ken Alker 21 Jan '26

21 Jan '26

If anyone has a spare KVM with ethernet port (ie. remotely accessible via the Internet) that they'd like to donate to the WB6OBB repeater project, please let me know. I'm on the hunt for one. Thanks! Ken KA6KEN

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NAQP SSB is this coming Saturday
by Dave Schmidt 12 Jan '26

12 Jan '26

Official rules are here: https://ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf When: 1800 UTC Jan 17 to 0559 UTC Jan 18 0600 (Saturday 10AM PST until Saturday 10PM PST) Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters only, except no 160 meters for the RTTY contest Someone check that I converted the times to PST correctly. Dave AI6VX

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Two Meter SSB Breakfast Saturday!
by Ken Owen 01 Dec '25

01 Dec '25

Join us this coming Saturday (12/6) for the at the biannual Santa Barbara Two-meter SSB Net breakfast to be held at Cody's Cafe, 4898 Hollister Ave, starting at 9:00 AM. It's a good time to dine on good food and catch up on all things ham radio. We'd love to have you join us, and all are welcome! Ken Owen, N6KTH https://www.qrz.com/db/N6KTH

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Want to make a QSO on Saturday 10/18/25 to grid squares CM94TB/TA/UB/UA ?
by Ken Alker 18 Oct '25

18 Oct '25

I will be on San Miguel Island tomorrow from around 11:30am - 4:00pm. I will bring my VHF/UHF HT (and MAYBE a QRP HF rig - although unlikely since I don't think I have one small/light enough). I have no idea what the terrain is like or if I'll even be able to find a suitable spot to transmit, so don't hold your breath, but, if interested, do monitor the SBARC repeater network and WB6OBB. I'll try to announce via the SBARC Santa Ynez Peak repeater (145.180MHz) and/or the WB6OBB Broadcast Peak repeater (147.000Mhz). If I can hit one of those, I will announce first. If I can't hit them, but I can find a suitable place from which to transmit, I'll start on simplex 146.520. I'll probably eat lunch and do some hiking before trying to transmit, so I have no idea what time I will/may be transmitting, so be patient. Feel free to spread the word down south (into LA/San Diego area). Some people down there may not have a logged contact with grid square CM94 even though I've lit it up from Hollister Ranch/Gaviota Campground in the past, as they may not be able to see that spot, while they might be able to see out toward San Miguel Island. Ken

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Noozhawk Article
by WILLIAM TALANIAN 12 Oct '25

12 Oct '25

To: All Board and membership Several months ago, Rollin Gartzke stopped by my house and handed me a $5000 check for SBARC on behalf of the Gartzke Family. Rollins father, Fred Gartzke, K6YD, and I worked side by side at Raytheon for many years. We collaborated on navigation systems long before GPS where I had skilled myself with the Boston Police Department using phase ranging techniques of UHF transmissions for vehicle location systems. Fred passed away rather young. He was a brilliant mathematician and mentor in amateur radio. I never forgot his guidance and support with establishing a tri-county VHF net for the SB Section of the ARRL. His legacy lives on. Bill Talanian Cue for Success: 805 Pool Table Services Brings Billiards Back Into Style Owner Rollin Gartzke started his business to fill a local need; since then, his business has expanded around the stateby Daniel Green, Noozhawk Staff WriterOctober 10, 2025 | 9:46 pm - - - - Rollin Gartzke stands in his workshop where he runs 805 Pool Table Services. He started his company during the COVID-19 pandemic after he purchased his own table. Daniel Green / Noozhawk photo Many people started new hobbies during the COVID-19 pandemic, but few turned them into a business. Even though Rollin Gartzke, the owner of 805 Pool Table Services, had an interest in pool and played in a local league, his first real step into reconstructing pool tables came during the pandemic, when he bought a table from a neighbor for $500. After moving the table to his house, Gartzke and a friend discovered there are no local installers. He said many of the local vendors either retired or were dealing with medical issues. Some local shops were using a team out of Los Angeles. The distance created an issue for people who had to wait for the LA installers to travel up to Santa Barbara every few weeks to work on a few tables. However, despite saying that describing the trade of servicing tables as a dying industry, Gartzke believes the popularity of pool as a hobby is growing. “I feel like since COVID it is really taking off again,” Gartzke said. “That’s kind of where this whole business spawned from. I got a table, my friend got a table and my uncle got a table. All three of us needed to have them done, and that’s when we realized nobody did it.” That hole in the local scene inspired Gartzke to begin his company, 805 Pool Table Services, which offers cleaning services, repairs and alterations. As a self-described self-starter, Gartzke said the process of starting the business was fairly easy for him. He watched videos on how to repair tables on YouTube and figured out which techniques worked best for him. “There was a lot of R&D at home, never at the customer’s house, but it’s a learning curve,” Gartzke said The first pool table that Rollin Gartzke restored and that piqued his interest in repairing pool tables. Courtesy photo He said learning how to apply new felt or put together a table was more time-consuming than difficult. Every table also comes with its own unique challenge. Gartzke had to learn how to know when to stop stapling and leave enough room for the pockets, as well as how to work with tables that require glue instead of staples. He repairs tables in his garage or on-site, depending on what is needed and the type of table. Since starting the business, 805 Pool has rapidly expanded to cover a significant portion of the state. Gartzke became a certified installer for Costco and for Jack Game Room. The company now serves customers in areas including Bakersfield, Cazadero and parts of Los Angeles. For now, Gartzke said he has no plans to expand his business, adding that he takes pride in his work and is concerned that having more people will make it harder to ensure that all the work is done to his standards. “It’s one of those things that’s keeping me busy enough that I don’t feel the need to expand this early yet,” Gartzke said. “I’m not having a backlog of people on the schedule.”

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