Welcome to September! As the Labor Day weekend comes to an end we begin a month of exciting club activities, starting with a VE session on the 8th. We normally conduct our testing and mentoring session on the first Monday of the month, but this time it lands on a holiday so we’ve rescheduled it to next week. Unlike most ham exam sessions where people walk in and leave, SFARC members volunteer their time to act as Elmers (mentors) who help explain all that can be done in the amateur radio hobby, share ideas, and answer the crucial “What’s next” question.

Our club meeting will be held at 7:30 PM on the 12th, and this month we are focusing on outdoor operation with John (KO6COW), Jayden (W6EFM), and Jimmy (N6FMD) collaborating for a talk all about POTA and SOTA operation. Many already have the mental image of ham radio being in an elaborate and sometimes messy radio shack with antennas and towers close by, but for many others radio plays very well with the great outdoors. Whether you’re heading out to a park or scaling a mountain, there’s unique fun and stunning experiences that just can’t be had operating from home. Come join us as some of SFARC’s most experienced outdoor operators discuss what goes into a successful activation, how to prepare for an outing, and what to look out for when operating in the field. We’ll also get a glimpse of portable stations in the field, with plenty of pictures that show great examples of outdoor setups. Along the way we’ll take questions and comments from others, whether they’re seasoned outdoor operators or newly-licensed hams interested in radio beyond the shack!

As always, we’ll meet for breakfast on the last Saturday of the month. It’s quite a popular event, filling up the entire restaurant and great social time for those that might not otherwise see each other. We also hold a radio direction finding exercise following the breakfast, and it’s interesting to see others’ setups improve as they learn what works well and what others have built that help them catch the fox.

I’m really looking forward to the annual club campout, starting on the 18th and running through the 21st. Though I’ve heard many wonderful stories about the amazing time people have up there, I haven’t been able to attend until this year. More than great food, fresh air, and excellent views, it’s being able to relax with other club members that make events like this so exciting. I’ve already started preparing for the trip, and I hope to see you there, even if for a few hours!

73 de W6JCZ

Earlier in the year, Bob (KD6QVD) approached me to discuss something he’s been working on for quite some time. Interested in what he had to show, I arranged to visit his workshop and was amazed at the grab-and-go boxes he engineered. Best described as no-nonsense to-the-point, these were professionally designed communications kits made for demanding situations. That’s why I’m really looking forward to August’s club presentation where he’ll show us several of his tactical radio setups, focusing on goal-oriented approaches to engineering and design. Many of us (me included) aspire to put together go-boxes and easy to deploy communications systems, but along the way things often end up more complex than they need to be. Something that makes sense to you or me might be fine, but that’s only if we’re the one using it. Can one ensure ease of us not just for themselves but any potential operator? Come join us as Bob explains what goes into his builds and how easy they are to operate, both as an individual and a team. If you’ve ever been interested in top-spec portable operations, this is one presentation you won’t want to miss out on! Ask questions, get inspired, and find out about good design practices!

We’ll have our club breakfast at Wings again this month, and if it’s anything like July’s it’ll be very well attended. A change of venue brings with it great food and amazing views of the runway. Join us afterward for a radio direction finding event and walk off all those calories!

With that, we’re only a little more than a month away from the club campout! We have a section of our website dedicated to the event, with an RSVP form, campsite map, directions on how to get there, and even a merchandise shop with T-shirts, hats, mugs, bags, and more! It’s shaping up to be an awesome time, and I’m real excited to see you all there!

See you around,

Jim W6JCZ

Wow. It’s already July. With half of 2025 behind us, it’s time to take a look at what the latter part of the year has for us. After two VE sessions last month, the SFARC VE team will be taking a break this month, scheduling the next club examination session for August 4th. Our July club meeting is on the 11th, and we’ve got two great speakers with topics that are sure to generate some excellent conversations. Jeff (AK6OK) will show the club how to make use of lab-grade test instrumentation to help with antenna design, complete with live demonstrations and hands-on experimentation. Scott (KM6RFB) has made some major upgrades to the Placer County ARES website, and he’ll present to us all the new features and information that can be found there.

As many club members know, the 2-meter repeater comes alive with the Elmer Net on the first and third Wednesdays, and we gather together on Zoom for In the Shack on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Once in a while we have a month where there’s a fifth Wednesday, so rather than break up the energy we do something special. Sometimes we’ll meet up to have a dinner social, other times we’ll host a guest speaker. July’s fifth Wednesday will feature Dr. Ed Fong (WB6IQN), with a presentation on how you can build a tri-band 144/220/430 MHz antenna for your VHF and UHF operations. Come join us on Zoom at 7:30 PM on the 30th with plenty of questions and get inspired!

SFARC will resume its monthly fox hunt right after breakfast on the morning of the 27th. Come join us at 7:30 AM for breakfast at Wings by the Auburn Airport, and stick around once you’re all filled up and ready for a walk around town looking for the hidden transmitter. Remember, you don’t need to have an amateur radio license to participate in radio direction finding, all you need is a receiver, antenna, and your competitive spirit!

I’m really looking forward to the fall campout in September. Though it might seem far away, I’m already preparing for it and considering what I need to pack. I’m sure many of you are doing the same, so get a head start on it and have a wonderful time up there!

73 and stay cool as the weather warms up,

Jim W6JCZ