To: QST To All
From: Bill Talanian
Subject: 223.92 Island repeater
The Island 223.92 repeater was taken off the air a few weeks ago due
to the repeater transmitter becoming activiated without any signal on
the input. Today we made a trip by helicopter to Diablo Peak and did
some troubleshooting. The problem was traced to the two meter and six
meter remote base controller. The remote base controller and
transceivers have been removed and are now permanently decommissioned
from the repeater. The 223.92 now functions normally. The 121.5 ELT
remote receiver is still part of the system.
Thanks to Matt, w6kgb and Paul wd6eby from Ventura County who helped
out with technical issues at the peak.
There is a General Class scheduled to begin next Tuesday, Feb 5. Please
confirm your plan to attend or not.
Tentatively, classes will be held on Tu & Th nites from 6:30 - 9:30.
However this remains somewhat flexible depending on student preferences.
Thanks & 73,
Mike Wapner, K6QD
Michael: Please post on Website
Jay: Please post on sbarc-list
SBARC Members:
I have told some of you personally about this event but I want to be sure to reach any anyone who may be interested in attending ...
NASA Astronaut Richard Linnehan
will give a free presentation on the future of human spaceflight
this Monday, January 28 at 7:00 PM
at the SB Public Library's Faulkner Gallery on Anapamu Street
His presentation is part of a special series on space at Anacapa School and is part of the work my students in the Anacapa Near Space Exploration Club - KK6BBL are doing leading up to their scheduled ARISS ham radio contact with the International Space Station in May with the help of SBARC.
You are welcome to attend this extraordinary opportunity to meet this astronaut, who over a career total of 58 days in orbit helped service the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.
K6LCM, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Levi C. Maaia
lcm(a)comcreations.com
www.levi.maaia.com blog
twitter.com/levimaaia Twitter
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
The next southern California ARDF event will be Saturday, February 9,
2013, sponsored by the Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club (CPARC). It is open
to ham operators and non-hams of all ages and takes place on the
beautiful campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis
Obispo, California. Your hosts are David Troy KJ6RPX of CPARC and
Marvin Johnston KE6HTS.
All you must have is a transceiver or scanner that covers the ham radio
two-meter band. You can build your own direction-finding antenna and
attenuator on the spot from kits if you aren't already equipped. Then
try your hand at a 5-fox two-meter international-rules ARDF course of
low to moderate difficulty. Experts will be on hand to help you with
kitbuilding and they can teach you the basic techniques of on-foot
direction-finding.
Beginning about 9:00 AM, Marvin will conduct a clinic for building his
kits for measuring-tape yagis and for 90 dB offset-type attenuators in
room 116 of Building 20. You can also get the yagi kit and an
assembled/tested attenuator in a special housing that goes inside the
boom of the yagi. If you register in advance by sending e-mail to
marvin-at-west.net, he will have the kits reserved in your name waiting
for you. If you're not an electronic technician, don't worry because
there will be plenty of experts to help you. We want you to succeed!
The transmitter hunt will start about 10:30 AM. Hunters may start the
course at any time until 1 PM. Course closes at 3 PM. A $5 donation to
the club is requested for participation in the hunt. The course will
include the main campus and Poly Canyon, so be sure to bring some water
and wear suitable shoes. A barbecue and social session will follow the
transmitter hunt.
San Luis Obispo is on the central coast of California. From northbound
Highway 101 downtown, take the Grand Avenue exit, turn left and go north
uphill to the campus. From southbound Highway 101, take the Monterey
Street exit, continue on the frontage road three blocks to Grand Avenue,
then go right and uphill on Grand to the campus.
Look for event signs or an orange and white orienteering flag. Park as
close as you can to Engineering East Building 20 (the one under the ham
radio tower). Parking permits are not required on Saturday in the
general lots, but parking meters may be enforced, so be sure to check
the signage in the lot where you park.
Talk-in is on the CPARC linked repeaters: 146.76(-) PL91.5 and 442.3(+)
PL127.3. Both repeaters are located on the campus.
Questions about the hunt? Send e-mail to kj6rpx(a)gmail.com
73,
Joe Moell K0OV
Palm Springs Hamfest 2013
PALM SPRINGS HAMFEST 2013 HAS BEEN CANCELLED, DUE TO LAND USE RESTRICTIONS!
Press Release: Palm Springs Hamfest 2013 cancelled!!
Riverside County acts to protect Dinacoma Caseyi (Brunnescens?) beetle
habitat! WIKI-Casey's June Beetle
The members of the Desert R.A.T.S. are sad to announce that Palm Springs
Hamfest 2013 had to be cancelled and regret any inconvenience to those
who already made travel and accommodation plans. Some of the area in
which previous Desert R.A.T.S. Palm Springs Hamfests had been held with
great success has been deemed a protective habitat for the beetle and is
therefore no longer available as an event site.
Please foward this information to anyone you think may have been
planning to attend the 2013 event.
Palm Springs Hamfest 2014-better, bigger, and beetle friendly. First
weekend in March 2014.
The Desert R.A.T.S. are pleased to announce that the next event will be
held in an extended format with additional activities and added
opportunities for overnight stays in the heart of Palm Springs while
still maintaining the nostalgic, old-time atmosphere of Hamfests of an
almost gone era.
For further information you may contact: Past President, Peter Reinzuch,
VE7REZ at ve7rez(a)gmail.com
I just found out yesterday that Jim Cook, former SBARC member as K6ZEM,
passed away last Saturday. He and his wife moved up to Oregon a few
years ago. Jim did a lot of service on Tektronix through his company (I
think) Amber Systems before he retired.
Marvin, KE6HTS
To All:
Roy Curran, AD6LW, passed away on Saturday in Buellton, CA.
His death was not unexpected since he was, I believe, suffering from
emphysema.
Bill W6FF
SBARC Wednesday Nets -- TRIVIA NIGHT!
-------------------------------------
Beginning at 7:00 pm on the following linked repeaters:
146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill)
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 -- !! TRIVIA NIGHT !! Hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN
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
SBARC Wednesday Nets
--------------------
Beginning at 7:00 pm on the following linked repeaters:
146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill)
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
<http://www.noozhawk.com/>
Noozhawk.com Santa Barbara & Goleta Local News
[]
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Andrew Seybold: Speak Up for Cell Sites, Smart Meters
http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/010212_andrew_seybold_cell_sites_a…
By Andrew Seybold
[]
During the past few months, I have received many
emails and phone calls from people who are
concerned about the lack of cell phone coverage
in Montecito since the shared
<http://www.att.com/>AT&T and
<http://www.verizonwireless.com/>Verizon cell
site at <http://www.qad.com>QAD was shut down.
Both AT&T and Verizon are trying to replace this
key cell site with others that will provide cell
phone coverage to the Montecito area, Summerland
and Carpinteria. I have also received many
questions about smart meters, how they work, the
type of wireless connections they provide and any
possible dangers they present.
So let me start with cell sites. If you want cell
phone services, you have to accept cell sites. No
sites means no cell phone coverage.
Reading the local papers, including
<http://www.noozhawk.com>Noozhawk, it is evident
that a minority of people who dont understand
are making it difficult for the rest of us to
have the level of cell phone coverage we want and need.
As of this month, 35 percent of all U.S.
households no longer have wired phones and rely
completely on cell phones; the percentage of
homes for those under 25 is much higher. This
sector grew up with cell phones and doesnt
understand why anyone would want a wired phone in
a fixed location rather than a cell phone that is
always with them. They assume they will have cell
phone coverage wherever they are.
Those who show up at hearings for new cell sites
and write most of the letters are part of a small
minority who are afraid of what they have heard
about health hazards or who dont like the way
they look. The vast majority of us understand
that we need cell sites for cell phone service,
and over time we will need more sites to handle
the increasing demand for wireless voice, data,
video and Internet services. Unless the silent
majority starts showing up at these hearings, the
few will put pressure on city and county
officials, and cell phone companies will continue
to have to battle to provide the service we want and demand.
If you dont like the service you are getting
from your cell phone operator, get involved. If
you dont, the few will win the day and we will
continue to be deprived of the cell phone services we want.
Cell sites are safe. They are only dangerous if
you are within 4 feet of one of the antennas and
directly in line with its output. The federal
government has set standards that require cell
companies to provide information about cell site
radiation, and prohibit health issues from being
used as grounds for counties or cities to reject
an application for a cell site.
If you have a problem with that, you will have to
take it up with your U.S. senator or
<http://www.house.gov>U.S. House representative
since they oversee the
<http://www.fcc.gov/>Federal Communications
Commission, which makes the laws cell phone
operators, counties and cities must follow.
Cell sites are safe, and they are necessary for
the cell phone coverage we need. In fact, in the
coming years we will need three times the number
of sites we currently have to support the demand for wireless services.
Bottom line: By letting the few who are opposed
be the only ones to show up at the hearings, we
are empowering them to hold up wireless progress.
Those who want and need wireless coverage need to
stand up and be counted as well.
Smart Meters
I have a smart meter. I also have a lot of very
expensive equipment to measure radio frequency
(RF) signals. Once the new meter was in, I set
about measuring the RF output from the meter.
I found two things: The meter sends out radio
signals on two different portions of the radio
spectrum. One signal is designed to be read by a
meter reader driving down the street so he or she
does not have to enter my backyard. The second is
for our use. I can monitor the usage myself, and
in my case, compare it with what my solar panels are generating.
I measured both signals, and I measured the RF
put out by my Wi-Fi access point. The results are
that my Wi-Fi access point puts out five times
more RF energy in my home than either of the
smart meter radio signals. The one designed to be
read by the meter reader on the street was at a
level, in my home, less than my microwave oven,
and the one designed for my own use was 50
percent lower than what I was exposed to by my home Wi-Fi access point.
Some of those opposed to smart meters are
concerned about the power company being able to
monitor their exact usage at any time. I wont
get into that issue, but those who oppose the fee
to opt out of the meter need to realize that the
power company has determined what it costs to
have someone walk into your backyard to read your
meter. If you are the only one of the block who
opts out of a smart meter, the meter reader still
must enter your yard and read your meter
manually. If you have a smart meter, it can be
read from the street and no one must enter your
premises. The difference is what it costs the power company.
Conclusions
Wireless services are all around us. We use them
for our cell phones, tablets and notebook
computers. Others use them to provide us with
services we need, such as the smart meter. But no
matter the use, wireless communications is about
making our lives easier and extending
communications to the person rather than to the
house or office. Soon we will be using our phones
instead of our ATM cards to buy groceries, do our
banking, and even to adjust the seats and the
temperature in our cars. Those who have a heart
condition or diabetes will be monitored in real
time via wireless. Our children are already growing up in a wireless world.
Wireless is about freedom. With that come some
issues regarding privacy, costs and other
factors, but health is not an issue with which we
need to be concerned. Even so, until those who
want and demand wireless services everywhere
start showing up at hearings for cell sites and
smart meters, the few who oppose them and wont
listen to logic will continue to have the power
to slow down progress. All it takes is an email
in support of a permit, attending a smart meter
hearing and speaking out, and being as vocal as the few opponents.
It is time for the majority of us to be heard.
Santa Barbara resident Andrew Seybold heads
<http://www.andrewseybold.com>Andrew Seybold
Inc., which provides consulting, educational and
publishing services.
<http://www.andrewseybold.com>Click here for more information.
http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/010212_andrew_seybold_cell_sites_a…
