Thursday, December 7, 2017

NET Training: Winlink

Related imageTonight we talked about Winlink.  You can view the slides I was working off of here.  You can download the Winlink software at https://winlink.org/WinlinkExpress.  We will be discussing this more among other thing during our in-person training January 13th.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Club Officer Nominations

Image result for ballotPart of getting organized involves voting in club officers. We are looking to fill the following positions:

President, Vice President, Secretary, Net Coordinator, Education and Training Coordinator

Duties of each position can be found in the preliminary bylaws found here.

Tenure is normally two years.  However since this is the first year, President and Secretary will be for one year initially before elections are re held.  If you are interested in running for one of these positions or if you would like to nominate an individual for a position please send an email to info@wvcarc.com.


Nominees must be 18 or older, licensed in amateur radio, and be members in good standing of
the WVCARC and be aware of the responsibilities listed above in the by-laws for the respective
officer position. There are no term limits for any offices. Anyone of these individuals can
nominate themselves in addition to being nominated by a member of the WVCARC. Nominees
do not have to be present at the January meeting. The email option nominating window closes 24
hours before the January monthly face-to-face meeting. All nominee must accept their
nomination before voting occurs.

The email nominating option window will open when the notice for solicitations for nominees is
released. Email nominations will be sent to info@wvcarc.com. If a member nominates someone
by email, it is that nominating member's duty to also copy that nominee in the email to the
Officers.

Election results will be determined by the majority of votes cast. Voting may occur by ballot or
by a show of hands. Only members of the WVCARC may cast a vote and have to be present at
the January meeting. No proxy voting will be allowed.



Thursday, November 30, 2017

Getting Organized! WVCARC Bylaws For Review

Image result for by lawsI'm trying to get things organized for a couple reasons.  First it is just a good idea and secondly Jason and I need help.  Below is a link to our current draft of By Laws.  If you have a chance please read it over and let share with us any comments.  I would like to have these ratified at January 13th's in-person meet.

You can download a copy here.

NET Control Operators Needed


WVCARC is in need of more NET Control Operators.  The goal is to have someone for each week of the month.  It is easier the it looks (sounds).  We have scripts and will train.  If you are interested please send an email to info@wvcarc.com.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Get Your Packet On

Image result for packet radioI have a 2 meter packet node up on 145.050 Mhz.  It's SSID is K2WVC-6.  Give it a try if you have the gear.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Mat


Monday, November 20, 2017

No Net Thursday

The Standard Load

Last NET we talked about "The Standard Load"  This is a standard programming sequence designed to make your radio operations faster and easier. It is also designed to give you local control over your own frequencies while somewhat standardizing channels and channel names county-wide.

We have 10 memory slots allocated for club use.  I am looking for suggestions as to what we should put there.  Below are a few of my suggestions.  If you have a suggestions add it to the comments below.


ChannelReceive FrequencySite NameNotes
21146.700Wasatch F SLC - Salt Lake Repeater
22147.580West Valley City (Secondary Frequency)Simp
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30


Monday, November 13, 2017

Fire Station 75 Antenna Install

We successfully installed a new antenna on Station 75 Saturday.  The weather was great!

We had a request to move the radios from their existing location to a new location so we will need to schedule a time to do that.  Once done this station will be good to go!

Saturday, November 4, 2017

November In Person Meet

Related imageThis Saturday, November 11th, is our monthly in person meeting at 9:00 AM.  As of right now the plan is to meet at fire station 75 which is located at 3660 South 1950 West  You can also find directions here: https://goo.gl/maps/RhnHauRJXSn.  We will be working to install the antennas and radio at this location.  This should be a bit less involved then last months install as the coax is already ran.

If things don't work out due to weather issues we will meet at station 72, which is by the West Valley Fitness center.  We will do training on how to use the new packet radio system.

Please check the website the day of the event for any changes.  Below is the existing setup.
Yes that is a dot matrix printer and a laptop with Windows 95 on it!

Looks like two antennas up there.  We won't know the condition until we get up there.  Ladder truck anyone?

Monday, October 30, 2017

Fire Drill for 11/2/2017 NET

For Thursday's Net (11/2/2017) we are asking that you go to the fire station you selected in the Operator Portal.  Unless you are invited in, you will just meet in front of the building or parking lot, whichever is most convenient and out of the way.  I know this goes without saying, but please be respectful of the property and of the people who work there.  The fire stations are aware that you are coming. 

If you have not assigned yourself a station please go to http://portal.wvcarc.com, register and select a station.  This is a great opportunity to make sure your go kit is ready for possible deployment and that you are able to communicate effectively.  This will also give us an idea of what communications challenges we may need to address in the future.  This Net will be conducted over our simplex frequency which is 147.580 Mhz.  We will also be monitoring our normal Net frequency of 146.700 Mhz, negative offset 100 hz tone.  Hope to hear from each of you!

Monday, October 16, 2017

Saturday Antenna Install

We successfully installed two 2 meter / 70 cm antennas on Fire Station 73 last Saturday.  A special thanks goes out to all those who participated.  It was a cold roof and KG7RZX had to climb into the attic as well, but we got the job done!  The end result was two functioning antennas, a  radio, and laptop all setup and ready for action!


Sunday, October 8, 2017

October In Person Meet

Related imageThis Saturday, October 14th, is our monthly in person meeting at 9:00 AM.  As of right now the plan is to meet at fire station 73 which is located at 2834 S. 2700 W.  You can also find directions here: https://goo.gl/maps/S5jW5jVF4Gs.  We will be working to install the antennas and radio at this location.  I will post a list of things to bring a little later in the week.

If things don't work out due to weather or construction issues we will meet at station 72, which is by the West Valley Fitness center.  We will do training on how to use the new packet radio system.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Puerto Rico Help Needed

Dear ARRL Member:

There are few times when I have needed to reach out directly to you for your help. This is one of those times.

The American Red Cross (ARC) has asked ARRL for assistance with relief efforts in Puerto Rico. In the nearly 75-year relationship between ARRL and ARC, this is the first time ARC has made a request for assistance on this scale. Hurricane Maria has devastated the island’s communications infrastructure. Without electricity and telephone, and with most of the cell sites out of service, millions of people are cut off from communicating. Shelters are unable to reach local emergency services and people cannot check on the welfare of their loved ones. The situation is dire.

How can you help?

1)    Volunteer. ARC needs up to 50 radio amateurs who can help record, enter, and submit disaster-survivor information into the ARC Safe and Well system. There are very specific requirements and qualifications needed for this deployment; for instance, familiarity with Winlink, an Amateur Radio license of General class or higher, and previous experience in disaster response. Deployment will be for up to 3 weeks (at ARC expense). If you would like to be considered for deployment, please complete the following online ARRL form, which asks for your qualifications and skills: Volunteer Deployment Form: http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-form-for-deployment-consideration

2)    Donate to Ham Aid. ARRL’s Ham Aid program loans Amateur Radio equipment kits to established Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) groups and partner agencies during disaster response, in order to establish Amateur Radio communications support. Ham Aid is supported by donations from individuals and corporations – including many of our ham radio industry partners. ARRL has previously staged Ham Aid equipment in Texas, and in the last few weeks, we have supplied kits in Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Our supply of Ham Aid kits has been rapidly depleted. Your donation to Ham Aid will help us now. Your contributions to Ham Aid are 100% tax deductible. To make a donation online, go to www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-form and select “Ham Aid” from the ARRL donation form. To donate by mail, print a donation form, and mail it with your check payable to ARRL, noting “Ham Aid” on the memo line of your check; mail to ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111 USA.

It has been four weeks since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas. In little over a month, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have left paths of destruction and catastrophic flooding that will impact the lives of people throughout the southeast U.S. and Caribbean for years to come. Throughout these disasters, our trained ham radio volunteers, and especially those in coordinating roles, have helped us meet the requests of our partner agencies and organizations. To all ham radio operators who have been on alert, activated, deployed, or donated, THANK YOU. We are grateful for your service and for your generosity.

73
Rick Roderick, K5UR
ARRL President

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Notes from tonight's net.

  1. June's in person meet has been moved to the 17th, 09:00 @ Station 74. June's speaker will be a Representative from Rocky Mountain Power. He will Speak to us about RMP's response to Disasters.
  2. July's In Person meet will be the Regular 3rd Saturday of the month. 09:00 @ station 74s the Salt Lake County Emergency Manager will be speaking about the SAFE Neighborhoods program.

  1. ARES has their meeting on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 18:30  The meeting is at the IHC Employee Service Center at 5245 S. College Dr., Murray, UT. 84123

Tonight's Training was on Go Kits.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Tape Measure Yagi - Harbor Freight

The stars have aligned!  If you need to get a tape measure for your tape measure Yagi, you can grab one for free over at Harbor Freight May 19th - 21st.


Thursday, May 11, 2017

VHF 3EL Tape Measure Yagi


I am hoping that one of our in person meets will be a fox hunt.  One tool that will be very helpful is a portable yagi antenna.  Below is a link to one that looks pretty easy to build and has great instructions.


http://nt1k.com/blog/2012/vhf-3el-tape-measure-yagi/

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Special Utah Great Shake Out Net Tomorrow!


Banner Get Ready Red 300

We will be holding a special NET, tomorrow (April 20th) at 12:00 PM, in conjunction with the Great Utah Shake Out.  We will be using the 146.70 Mhz  repeater (100 hz tone negative offset).  Be sure to take a radio to work and make yourself heard!

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Repeater is back up!


Image result for It's fixed

Looks like the repeater has been repaired.  We will hold Thursday's Net on the 146.70 repeater 

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Backup Frequency

Remember that our backup frequency is
147.580 Mhz
And since the repeater seems to be down right now, we will be holding our weekly Net on that frequency.

KEEP CALM AND CHANGE FREQUENCY