All posts by W6EK

Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

Hello SFARC Members and Friends,
We’ve got a summer full of fun lined up and some updates for the week.

FIELD DAY
  • T-SHIRT CONTEST
    You final chance to vote for your favorite 2024 SFARC Field Day T-shirt design is today. Voting closes at 5PM PT so go out to w6ek.org now and select your favorite 3. The winner will be announced on social, on the website, and by email tomorrow.
  • PLANNING MEETING – MAY 16TH @ 6PM PT
 

 
BARKS ON THE AIR – POTA PARTY – MAY 26th @ 10AM PT
For those new to the hobby, what is a POTA?
Parks on the Air (POTA) is an international radiosport award program that encourages licensed amateur radio operators to visit, enjoy, and operate portable equipment in a variety of parks and public lands. POTA issues awards to participants based on a wide range of criteria including the total number of radio contacts made, number made on each amateur radio band, and for different modes of communication including voice, Morse code or FT8.

We’ve got our first POTA of the season coming up on May 26th @ 10AM. We will have two HF portable stations available for everyone to use (Yaesu FT-710 & Yaesu DX-10). You do not need prior POTA experience, or even a call sign. We promise to teach you everything you need to know for your first successful POTA activation.

More information about the event can be found @ https://www.w6ek.org/activities/pota 

SPECIAL PRESENTATION ONLINE -May 29th @ 7:30 PM PT
An Introduction to WSJT’s DXpedition Mode

On the 5th Wednesday evening this month, Al (K7AR – https://www.qrz.com/db/K7AR) will cover what DXpedition Mode is, why it was created, how to setup and operate as a Hound, what to do and most importantly what NOT to do as a Hound. Real world scenarios from the VK9LAA expedition will be presented, so viewers can see how a Fox operates. Please join us on Zoom at meeting.w6ek.org as we welcome Al and acquaint ourselves with what it takes to run a DXpedition and learn about good operating practices. A Q&A session will be held after his presentation.

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

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Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week (Extra Helping)

MAY we have a POTA party?!?!?

Have you ever thought, “I kinda want to get into Parks On The Air” or “Portable set-ups sound fun” or “How does Christina put up with going to the parks with Thomas and Chris all the time?” Come join our POTA party and find out!

We are getting the summer fun started with a Sunday POTA party at Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley on May 26, 2024. We’ll kick things off @ 10AM and continue as long as we have willing operators (or we get kicked out).

 
We will have two HF portable stations available for everyone to use (Yaesu FT-710 & Yaesu DX-10). You do not need prior POTA experience, or even a call sign. We promise to teach you everything you need to know for your first successful POTA activation.

What we will have:
  • 2 radios with full set up
  • Shade
  • Way more energy than we should have
  • Computers for logging
What you will need to bring:
  • A chair to sit in
  • Some snacks
  • Something to drink
  • Your best CQ voice
 
If you are interested in joining us or have any questions please contact Thomas KN6MJB or Chris N6CTC. All are welcome, but we would like to get a head count.
 
If this is your first POTA please go to https://parksontheair.com/ and create an account (It’s free!)

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
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Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

It’s Time To Vote!
 
The entries for the 2024 Field Day T-Shirt Contest are in and we wanna hear from you. Visit https://www.w6ek.org/contest and select your top 3 favorites and then scroll to the bottom and click to vote.

Deadline to vote is May 15th
The winner will be announced on May 16th with further instructions about ordering a shirt.

 
BOARD MEETING, THIS THURSDAY (5/9) @ 6PM PT
Want to learn more about what’s going on behind the scenes at SFARC or help encourage the direction of the club, join us this Thursday @ 6PM ion the club Zoom room.

CLUB MEETING, THIS FRIDAY (5/10) @ 7:30PM PT
Join us in person this Friday night or by Zoom for the SFARC monthly club meeting.
https://www.w6ek.org/activities/meetings 

 
 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
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twitter.w6ek.org
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youtube.w6ek.org

Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

SFARC Members and Friends,
 
May is almost here and we’ve got some fun lined up.
 
FIELD DAY T-SHIRT CONTENT
Field Day isn’t until June but the SFARC Field Day T-Shirt Contest is underway. We’ve received some incredible designs. Show us your design skills, tap your creative juices, and channel your “inner radio geek”. It’s not to late to submit a design, just head over to w6ek.org

DEALINE TO SUBMIT: Monday, May 6th, 2024
A winner will be announce at the general club meeting on Friday, May 12th.

 
TRIVIA NIGHT – THIS FRIDAY NIGHT @ 7:30 PM
Every first and third Friday at 7:30 PM PT, Dawn (KG6FZZ) and Simon (K6DXN) host Friday Night Trivia Night. Dawn and Simon recently moved to Northern California and Simon joined SFARC in January. They previously hosted trivia night on a Southern California repeater system for 15 years.
 
 

SFARC CAMPOUT UPDATE
There’s still plenty of space available at Stampede Reservoir. We’ve updated the camp map so you can determine how close (or not) you want to be to others. 🙂
Learn more @ campout.w6ek.org

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
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Watts Up This Week

Watts Up The Week

It’s hump day and we’re half way through another week.
 
Coming up this Saturday (4/27) is the club breakfast at Mel’s in Auburn. The fun “officially” starts at 0730 but we recommend arriving early or you may have to sit at “the kids table”. Following breakfast, those interested will be heading down to Roseville for our monthly Fox Hunt. This month’s tender is Chris (N6CTC). The Fox Hunt team will meet in the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 0930 (Foothill Junction Shopping Center, 5010 Foothills Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747). More information can be found @ foxhunt.w6ek.org
 
REPEATER USE THIS WEEKEND (April 26-27):  Starting Friday (4/26 @ 0900), the 2M and 70cm (440) repeaters will be linked in analog to support the Canyons 100 Mile Endurance Run. Contacts and OSOs on the system should be limited giving the Canyons 100 Mile Endurance Run communications team priority. The repeaters should be back to normal operation by Saturday (4/27 @ 2100). There will be no Coffee Break Net on both days.

 
 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
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Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

Well that was embarrassing. My apologies for the extra email but let’s try this again. 🙂
Hello from Las Vegas! That’s right, your PIO is out recruiting new members and doing research for an SFARC Casino Night. <- 100% joking. DONUTS AND COFFEE AT MEADOW VISTA PARK — THIS SATURDAY APRIL 20TH. Come one, come all and bring your appetite. The fun starts at 9AM. We’ll have an HF station setup so spin the dial and work the bands if you want. FOX HUNT NEXT WEEKEND - APRIL 27TH There have been a few changes to next weekends Fox hunt. Unfortunately, they are not captured on the main page but if you click for more info and go to the Fox Hunt page you’ll see it's happen in Roseville this month with a meet up at 9:15 AM at the Dunkin Donuts parking lot. FIELD DAY 2024 The t-shirt contest is underway and we’ve already had some really cool submissions. Get your designs in now at W6EK.org — the submission deadline is Monday, May 6th. SFARC FALL CAMPOUT There is only one spot remaining on our basecamp loop. However, the adjacent loop has PLENTY of room and is only a 1 minute walk to where we’re serving shared meals. There’s a map on the website showing where people have reserved. No harm reaching out to those who already have a spot to see if they want to share a spot. This event is going to be a lot of fun, we hope you’ll join us. A reminder, both RV’s and tents are welcome. 73, The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK) (530) 492-0920 Website: www.w6ek.org Groups.io: groupsio.w6ek.org
Social: facebook.w6ek.org twitter.w6ek.org linkedIn.w6ek.org instagram.w6ek.org youtube.w6ek.org
Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

Hey SFARC Members and Friends,
 
BOARD AND GENERAL MEETINGS
It’s a busy week at SFARC with our board meeting coming up this Thursday (4/11) in the club Zoom room.  All our welcome to attend. Then on Friday we’ve got our general club meeting this Friday (4/12) at 7:30 PM at the Crossroad Church gynasium,1101 Auburn Ravine Rd, Auburn, CA 95603 (located off Dairy Road).

DONUTS & COFFEE IN THE PARK IS BACK FOR 2024!!!

Looking ahead a week, join SFARC for a fan-favorite event on April 20, 2024, Donuts & Coffee in the Park. This year we’re taking the action to Meadow Vista Park, 1101 Meadow Vista Road in Meadow Vista. The fun starts at 9 AM. Come with an appetite and enjoy some donuts and coffee with SFARC.

CAMPOUT UPDATE

 
FRIENDS OF SFARC
The 2nd annual StanJoaquin Amateur Radio Picnic and Swapmeet is fast approaching and our friends at the Stockton-Delta Amateur Radio Club and the Stanislaus Amateur Radio Association want to invite you! Save the date, April 27th @ Northgate Park in Manteca. Check out the attached flyer for more information.

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
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Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

WELCOME TO APRIL FRIENDS AND MEMBERS!!!
 
If you’re thinking about coming camping with SFARC in the fall, make sure to read all the way to the bottom.
 

LAST NIGHT’S VE SESSION WAS A HUGE SUCCESS
Congratulations to Daniel Dillon, Steven Foley, Jason Knorr, and Laurie Thornley for getting your Technicians license. Also a even bigger congratulations to Robert Calvo (KO6DXL /AG) and Charles Nowell (KN6CTK /AG). And then we had those that went the “Extra” mile, Paul Dyer (N1PCD /AE), Todd Glass (KN6TUH /AE), Bob Jackson (WN6AMS /AE), Michael Mitchell (KN6WYK /AE), and Jeff Morgan (KM6RGO /AE) — a HUGE accomplishment. We also broke a record tonight with 12 concurrent tests running at once.
 

DONUTS & COFFEE AT MEADOW VISTA PARK | APRIL 20
Join SFARC for a fan-favorite event on April 20, 2024. This year we’re taking the fun to Meadow Vista Park, 1101 Meadow Vista Road in Meadow Vista. The event starts at 9 AM, bring yourself and an appetite and enjoy some donuts and coffee with SFARC.
 
 
THE HUNT IS ON IN APRIL | APRIL 27
Join SFARC on Saturday, April 27th for another Fox Hunt. This month’s event will start at 9:30 AM at Mel’s Diner in Auburn. The finer details are being ironed out, check w6ek.org for updates. https://www.w6ek.org/activities/foxhunt
 


SFARC CAMPOUT IS ON THE CALENDAR | SEPTEMBER 19-22
You may be thinking, “Smitty, we’ve hardly made our way into Spring and you’re talking about the fall…” While there’s plenty of space at Logger Campground, space in the “basecamp loop (base of operations and shared meals) is filling up REALLY fast. If you’d like to stay on basecamp loop, head over to https://www.w6ek.org/readmore_2024_campout and, at a minimum, book your campsite NOW.
 
AND GET READY – THE PLANNING HAS BEGUN – STAY TUNED
 
 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
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twitter.w6ek.org
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youtube.w6ek.org

Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

Hey SFARC Members and Friends,
We’ve got a busy remainder of the week and weekend, check this out.
 
THURSDAY
Tomorrow night (Thursday, 03/28 @ 6PM) we’ve got our first Field Day Planning Meeting.  Jeff (KM6RGO) is the chair for this years event. If you want to learn more or volunteer to help, join us in the club Zoom room.
 
SATURDAY
This Saturday (03/30 @ 7:30 AM) we’ve got the club breakfast at Mel’s Diner in Auburn.  Come early or you might end up at the “kids table” with Brian (AI6US).
 
Immediately following breakfast @ 9 AM we’ve got a Fox Hunt happening. The pre-hunt meeting is in the Mel’s parking lot and the fox will be somewhere in the greater Auburn area. The full event flyer is attached and more information can be found @ www.w6ek.org as well.
 
SUNDAY
Happy Easter to you and your loved ones.

_ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
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twitter.w6ek.org
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Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week – The Hamfest Edition

Hello Members and Friends of SFARC,

Hopefully you all have decompressed from Hamfest 2024. Early numbers are in, check this out:

We had 62 volunteers, 45 vendors and 318+ buyers, for a total of 425+ people = WOW!!!

We’ve got the first batch of photos on the club website @ www.w6ek.org<- click on the group photo on the main page. If you have photos from the event, PLEASE upload them before you forget @ https://www.w6ek.org/media/upload 
 
And last but not least, this Thursday (March 21) @ 6PM the Hamfest Team will be meeting on Zoom to discuss “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” of Hamfest. If you have feedback to share with the team, you can either reply to this message or come to say hello on Thursday @ 6. 🙂

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

73,
The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (W6EK)
(530) 492-0920

Website: www.w6ek.org
Group.io: groupsio.w6ek.org

Social:
facebook.w6ek.org
twitter.w6ek.org
linkedIn.w6ek.org
instagram.w6ek.org
youtube.w6ek.org