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ARRL Southwestern Division e-Communicator
by Marvin Johnston 04 Feb '17

04 Feb '17

ARRL Southwestern Division e-Communicator Amateurs in California and in several Arizona communities are facing recently enacted or impending bans on handheld electronic devices while driving. Here’s what we currently know about these laws. In California, Assembly Bill 1785 took effect on January 1 of this year. Now included in Section 23123.5 of the Vehicle Code, this law provides that “a person shall not drive a motor vehicle while holding and operating a handheld wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device unless the wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice-operated and hands-free operation, and it is used in that manner while driving . . . For the purposes of this section, “electronic wireless communications device” includes, but is not limited to, a broadband personal communication device, a specialized mobile radio device, a handheld device or laptop computer with mobile data access, a pager, or a two-way messaging device.” Whether intentionally or unintentionally vague, interpretations of this language have ranged from applying to all mobile communications (a traffic court commissioner speaking to a radio club) to excluding mobile radios (a CHP spokesperson in Orange County). One of our ARRL Volunteer Counsel attorneys spoke with a staff member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, which introduced the bill. The staffer told him that the law was intended to apply to smartphones and similar broadband devices, not to Amateur Radio or other radio communication services. Another Volunteer Counsel attorney is attempting to get a clarifying statement to that effect entered into the official record. Meanwhile, CHP in Sacramento has provided guidance to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office that wired microphones permissible but handheld radios are not. Until the law is amended or clarified, it might be prudent for California Hams to avoid wielding a handheld while driving. In December, the Town of Oro Valley (in Pima County), Arizona adopted a “hands-free” ordinance that states, "No person shall, except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, use a mobile telephone or portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle upon a street or highway, unless that device is specifically designed or configured to allow hands-free listening and talking and used in that manner while operating a motor vehicle." The ordinance defines "hands free" as the "use of a mobile telephone or portable electronic device without the use of either hand by employing an internal feature of, or an attachment to, the device." Like the new California law, this one was ostensibly targeting smartphones and the like, but its lack of clear definitions or specific exclusions has Amateurs concerned. The town has provided for a warning-only period of a few months during which mobile radio operators can make their case if stopped. (Source: Oro Valley Web site) A similar bill was passed earlier in 2016 in the City of San Luis (in Yuma County) but has not led to any enforcement cases to date. On January 10, the Tucson City Council approved in concept a law similar to Oro Valley’s, and the final language is expected any time now. The stated purpose was to enable better enforcement of the city’s four-year- old ban on texting while driving, and it appears that the implementation will be as a secondary offense, one for which you can be cited only of you are already being stopped for another offense such as speeding. (Source: Tucson News Now.) Tucson Amateurs are contacting their council members to request inclusion of appropriate exemption or exclusion language. It is worth noting that an overly broad mobile-communications ordinance enacted in Coconino County, Arizona in 2014 was amended after pressure from both Amateurs and commercial trucking interests, according to Section Manager Robert Spencer KE8DM. In Dave Sumner’s editorial devoted to this subject in February 2012 QST, he noted that “Safety must be our number one concern. Guiding a motor vehicle is an awesome responsibility. Radio amateurs have been operating mobile for decades without being perceived as a threat to public safety, but if there is ever any doubt in your mind about your ability to discharge that responsibility you should either pull off the road (if it is safe to do so) or turn off the radio.” I encourage you to read the full editorial. -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Southwestern Division Director: Richard J Norton, N6AA n6aa(a)arrl.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from messages, go to: http://p1k.arrl.org/oo/55210d6929e5ff29dec2a61588e338cb

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Baker to Vegas
by Ken Alker 26 Jan '17

26 Jan '17

My wife (Lena - no call sign), is a Deputy DA for Santa Barbara County. Her colleagues at the DA's office participate in an annual event called "Baker to Vegas". As I understand it, this is a relay (foot) race that is 120 miles long, covers about four counties, two states, and 6500 square miles, and elevations from 470' to 5495'. There is no cell service on about half of the course. They have a need for radio communications amongst their five "shuttle vehicles" and the "follow vehicle", and, ideally, their coordinator (home base) in Las Vegas at the end of the run. Communications over this distance is quite a challenge. There are two closed repeater systems on Potosi (Vegas) and Turquoise (Baker), however, this still doesn't cover the entire race. I'm told by the frequency coordinator, Jeff Lee (KF6NXQ), that some ham clubs and RACES/ACS units use the race as their annual "exercise" so they get real fancy with equipment, trailers, temporary repeaters, lots of people, etc. Is this something anyone in the club has had experience with, and is there any interest in trying to support our local DA's office? They have to have their frequency coordination in by February 2 and the race is on March 25 and 26 so this is very last-minute, but I'm interested in seeing if there is interest, even if not until next year. Because it is so late, this year they will likely have to rent commercial radios that use the MRA trunking system that probably cover 70-80% of the course. The group supplying this system has permanent repeaters on Potosi and Turquoise and they bring out temporary repeaters at Ibex Pass and at the California/Nevada state line to support the race. I have no idea how well this system works, and/or if the hams can do better. Jeff tells me that San Diego County RACES puts out 30 people and supports six teams. They use a combination of simplex and repeaters and mostly 50-watt mobile radios. Here is a link: <http://bakervegas.net/>. I also have a power point that Jeff put together detailing the various means of radio communications (and there are a LOT used in the race... also including ham HF, CB, GMRS, MURS, satellite phones, etc.) which I can supply if anyone wants a copy. As an aside, they also have a full-blown private APRS system that will be tracking all of the runners (via the follow vehicles) which will be displayed on findyou.com. That said, each team has to supply their own APRS beacons if they want to participate. Ken Alker KA6KEN

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SYP Weather
by Bill Talanian 26 Jan '17

26 Jan '17

Folks: HPWREN has been installing sensors on several peaks in SB County. This includes cameras and weather instrumentation. Here is the link to the latest Vaisala station on top Santa Ynez Peak. This is a quality unit. http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/Sensors/SYP-WXT520/ Bill Talanian

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Revised/Expanded N6ZE/Rover Plans For January VHF Contest
by peter h 20 Jan '17

20 Jan '17

Pete, N6ZE, plans a daytime 3 grid rove on Saturday, 21January2017, during the ARRL VHF Contest. At 11AM PST, Pete & Woodie, KJ6VZC, plan to begin in Ventura, CA (DM04); travel up US-101 past Santa Barbara to Grid CM94 for some limited operating . CM94 ops will be sometime about noon-time. We then plan to travel on CA-1 (PCH) Southward along the coast to Santa Monica (DM03) & Palos Verdes; and thence back to Ventura & Thousand Oaks by approximately 1800 PST. We plan to use vertical antennas for (6m) SSB 50.125 /CW/FM 52.525; (2m) SSB 144.200/CW/FM 146.52/146.55; (135cm) 223.5 MHz FM; (70cm) SSB/CW 432.1/446.0 FM; & (33cm) 902.1 & 927.5 MHz FM. We will try to specifically monitor FM frequencies for minutes 00 - 05 of each hour. (IF we operate on Sunday, we hope to also use 23 cm from the Thousand Oaks area only) The weather forecast for Saturday is decent; for Sunday, weather will be unsuitable for much roving! The contest begins at 1100AM PST, Saturday, and ends at 8:00PM PST, Sunday. We will occasionally check n6ze(a)aol.com for schedule requests. Good Luck to al. bt73 Pete, N6ZE

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WA6MBZ SK
by Jay Hennigan 09 Jan '17

09 Jan '17

http://www.independent.com/obituaries/2017/jan/09/michael-jogoleff/ -- -- 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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Re: [Sbarc-list] SBARC-list Digest, Vol 162, Issue 1
by theo howe 09 Jan '17

09 Jan '17

Bill- I think I remember that event. Did it go back into the garage space? If so, who has access to that storage. I left before the diagnostics' were completed. Theo > On Jan 9, 2017, at 12:00 PM, <sbarc-list-request(a)lists.netlojix.com> <sbarc-list-request(a)lists.netlojix.com> wrote: > > Send SBARC-list mailing list submissions to > sbarc-list(a)lists.netlojix.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.netlojix.com/mailman/listinfo/sbarc-list > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > sbarc-list-request(a)lists.netlojix.com > > You can reach the person managing the list at > sbarc-list-owner(a)lists.netlojix.com > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of SBARC-list digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Honda generator (Bill Talanian) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2017 18:06:11 -0800 > From: Bill Talanian <w1uuq(a)cox.net> > To: sbarc list <sbarc-list(a)lists.netlojix.com> > Subject: [Sbarc-list] Honda generator > Message-ID: <7a2c4a6b-ec61-3385-2770-01148fe2561c(a)cox.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed" > > BOL > > Club Honda generator. > > Last seen a couple of years ago at the ARC parking lot. It would not > run. Then it disappeared. Need it for power at the ARES Van which is > slated for possible sell-off. > > Bill Talanian > > >

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Honda generator
by Bill Talanian 08 Jan '17

08 Jan '17

BOL Club Honda generator. Last seen a couple of years ago at the ARC parking lot. It would not run. Then it disappeared. Need it for power at the ARES Van which is slated for possible sell-off. Bill Talanian

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ARRL 10 Meter Contest Wrap-Up: Data Needed!
by peter h 13 Dec '16

13 Dec '16

13Dec2016 To: All Hams in the Santa Barbara ARRL Section From: Pete Heins, N6ZE/K1FJM Subject: 2016 ARRL 10 Meter Contest Wrap-up Data Requested Santa Barbara Section Manager, Jim Fortney, K6IYK, has requested that I write a short summary of SBA Section Members' participation in the recent ARRL 10 Meter Contest. I request as much data as possible from SBA Section Members who participated in the Contest: 1. Name & Callsign 2. Location 3. Hours of operating 4. Numbers of QSOs; listing of States, & countries worked 5.Score 6. Rig 7. Member of which Amateur Radio Club(s), if any 8. Ever operated in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest in the past 9. Class License & Number of Years Licensed. PLEASE SEND YOUR DATA TO: K1FJM(a)aol.com or N6ZE(a)aol.com AND SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY/SCORES TO: http://www.arrl.org/10-meter and: http://www.3830scores.com/scoreform.php?arg=wqC4R7NRoMDkm%2BPTsX79Av29Xr%2F… Thank you. bt73 Pete Heins, N6ZE/K1FJM

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CoCoRaHS California
by Bill Talanian 07 Dec '16

07 Dec '16

Hello CA CoCoRaHS Observers! Here's the newest edition of the /California Cumulonimbus/. Inside there are a lot of great articles. Feel free to share it with friends and family. Thanks for being such great observers! http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/newsletter/2016Fall_CaliforniaCumulonimbus.pdf <http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/newsletter/2016Fall_CaliforniaCumulonimbus.pdf> Thanks! Jimmy -- *JIMMY TAEGER* California CoCoRaHS State Co-Coordinator General Forecaster - National Weather Service: San Diego, CA (858) 675-8700 <tel:%28858%29%20675-8700>

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Amateur Radio Parity H.R. 1301 Act in Jeopardy
by Levi C. Maaia, K6LCM 17 Nov '16

17 Nov '16

Dear SBARC Members: The Amateur Radio Parity Act H.R. 1301 is in jeopardy of not passing into law unless the U.S. Senate acts to pass it before the holiday recess. This may or may not directly affect you now but ensuring access to reasonable antennas for amateurs across the nation supports the health of our hobby and ensures that all amateurs will have on-air capabilities, especially in an emergency. Click the link below to send emails to Sen. Boxer and Sen. Feinstein. Let them know that you want them to pass the Act NOW: https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ H.R. 1301 has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and has the endorsement of the ARRL and the American Red Cross. It is now up to the U.S. Senate to send the Act to the White House. Here’s what ARRL has to say about the matter: ARRL once again is calling on its members to urge their US Senators to support the Amateur Radio Parity Act (H.R. 1301) when it comes up in the Senate during the "lame duck" session of Congress that adjourns in mid-December. The House of Representatives approved the bill in September, but if the Senate does not follow suit, the bill will die, and the entire process will have to be repeated. ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who chairs the ARRL Board's Legislative Advocacy Committee and has been heavily involved in efforts to move H.R. 1301 forward, said today, "The clock is ticking!" LCM Levi C. Maaia, K6LCM www.levi.maaia.com +1.805.604.5384

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