All posts by Smitty (WB1G)

Hamtrak (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS HAMTRAK?
NOW BOARDING …

“Hamtrak” is a biennial (every two years) optional trip for members to ride the rails together on Amtrak’s California Zephyr. It’s a beautiful, scenic five-hour journey through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, ending in Reno. If we’re lucky, we might even get snowed in.

Along the way, we sightsee, chat with each other on the radio, and do everything we can to make the folks not on the train wish they were. Once we reach Reno, we check in, make dinner plans, and enjoy each other’s company.

Departing: February 24, 2027 @ 10:41 AM
Returning: February 25, 2027 @ 9:32 AM

HOW DOES THE EVENT WORK?

You book your train ticket directly with Amtrak from Roseville to Reno on the California Zephyr. Train number, departure and return times, and an Amtrak link are all listed below.
You book a room in Reno for the night of February 24th, 2027. Folks usually stay at the Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, or the El Dorado — all connected and part of the same complex.
No RSVP Needed.
Book refundable train tickets now, no risk.
We’ll be doing a group dinner together (informal) at the Silver Legacy.
And That’s It!

Train Schedule

AMTRAK TRAIN #6 — SACRAMENTO/ROSEVILLE → RENO

According to the Amtrak schedules in effect as of the date of this email, Amtrak #6 leaves Roseville at 10:51 AM and arrives in Reno at 3:27 PM. If it’s more convenient, you can board the same train at Colfax, Sacramento, Davis, or other stations, although the departure times will be different. This train is usually on time or close to on time since it originates in Emeryville.

AMTRAK TRAIN #5 — RENO → SACRAMENTO/ROSEVILLE

Amtrak #5 is scheduled to leave Reno at 9:24 AM and arrive in Roseville at 2:14 PM. If you’ve never ridden Amtrak, the return train will likely be delayed since it originates in Chicago, IL.

TICKETS

Tickets for this trip from Roseville are $62 each way if purchased in advance. You will want to reserve your tickets on the Amtrak website.

PHOTOS

Hamtrak II, Back On Track 2025

Roseville CA to Reno, NV - Ridding the Rails

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Fox Hunt (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS A FOX HUNT?

Fox Hunts are a fun outdoor activity. Regional hunts may involve driving around and taking bearings with a Yagi to triangulate on a hidden transmitter. Low-power hunts may involve walking through parks & neighborhoods to find one or more hidden transmitters. Fox hunt equipment ranges from simple TOA (time of arrival) devices, Yagi antennas, and or Doppler techniques.

SFARC runs monthly Fox Hunts where members hone skills in locating hidden transmitters. Fox Hunting skills are not only fun but may be useful in situations where a transmitter needs to be located (e.g. search & rescue or tracking down interference).

DON’T HAVE EQUIPMENT?
SFARC has equipment for anyone to borrow > CLICK HERE

DON’T HAVE A LICENSE?
An amateur radio license is not required to participate in a Fox Hunt.

For more information, contact Fox Hunt coordinators Greydon (KC6SLE) or Doug (W2VX) using the form below. Guidelines and Fox Hunt Files are available below.

Fox Hunt Guidelines	Fox Hunt Files

I’M READY — WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE?

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Fall Picnic in the Park (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club invites you to our annual Fall Potluck in the Park, where the only thing better than a clear signal is good food and even better company. Bring a dish to share, pull up a chair, and swap your best stories from the airwaves. Maybe it’s that impossible DX contact, the antenna project that almost worked, or the field day that turned into legend. It’s a chance to put faces to callsigns, catch up with old radio friends, and make a few new ones under the crisp early-October sky with no propagation forecast required. Just show up, dig in, and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship, laughter, and the kind of ragchewing that never needs a repeater. 73 and good eats await.

CHECK OUT WHAT OTHERS ARE BRINGING AND SCROLL DOWN TO TELL US WHAT YOU’RE BRINGING!

The 2026 picnic is in the rearview mirror, but check back in 2027 for more information.

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Hot RF Nights (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS HOT RF NIGHTS?

Hot RF Nights is an annual SFARC event that promotes the use of Amateur Radio on the go and in emergencies. It’s a chance to show off mobile rig installs and go-kits, and to build fellowship among Northern California amateur radio operators and groups.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HOT RF NIGHTS?

SFARC decided this year to take a hard look at future Hot RF Nights (HRFN) events. Based on feedback from both the organizers and the participants last year, it was decided that the event had strayed far from its original objective, was not serving well the emergency services groups who attended, and had become, frankly, very volunteer-intensive and costly to plan and implement.

We took on the task of creating a new vision for Hot RF Nights and presented it to the SFARC Board earlier this month. I am pleased to announce that the Board accepted and embraced the new vision for HRFN. The Board also discussed whether there was time, under this new vision, to squeeze in an HRFN 2026 within the very busy remaining SFARC 2026 Calendar of Events. It was decided that there was not a viable opportunity to schedule, plan, and host HRFN 2026. Therefore, we are taking a break from HRFN this year, but it will be back in 2027.

So, what does this new vision for HRFN include?

Get back to the roots (original purpose) of HRFN.
Keep HRFN simple and solely focused on Amateur Radio.
The main participant focus for HRFN will be SFARC membership, but we will invite and welcome our neighboring amateur radio clubs.
HRFN is a celebration of ham mobile and field-based equipment creativity, design, and implementation.
HRFN will be scheduled in conjunction with a regularly scheduled SFARC second-Friday-of-the-month General Membership meeting, at the regular General Membership meeting location.
HRFN should be simple to plan and implement at a minimal cost, and exciting and fun to attend and participate in.
HRFN should be a no-cost event for participants to attend and participate in.

The next step is to get Hot RF Nights 2027 on the SFARC calendar for 2027. I am looking forward to it, and I have agreed to head up this event for the Club next year. There will not be a large need for volunteers, as in the past, but there will be a need for a few. If you are interested in joining the HRFN 2027 Team, please drop me a note. Your service will be most valued and appreciated.

73,
Greydon (KC6SLE)
Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club

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Parks on the Air (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS A POTA?

Parks on the Air® (POTA) started in early 2017 when the ARRL’s National Parks on the Air special event ended. A group of volunteers wanted to continue the fun beyond the one-year event, and thus, POTA was born.

The golden rules of POTA are to have fun and keep it simple.

General information about the program is available at parksontheair.com, so we highly recommend checking out the information there. You may also want to join the POTA Slack Channel or the POTA Facebook group, where you can easily interact with the POTA community online. POTA also maintains accounts on Twitter and Mastodon if you prefer to interact on those social media platforms.

Got an idea of a cool park we should consider?
Chime In and let us know!

More information about Parks on the Air can be found @ https://parksontheair.com/. While you’re there, create an account (It’s free) and get started.

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