Hey SFARC Members and Friends
We heard from Greg (KN6WGV) and there’s a real need for volunteers to help support the Canyons Endurance Runs. They’re still looking for some aid station and net control operators. Can you help? If so, please contact us @ https://www.w6ek.org/aboutsfarc/contactus. The race starts next Friday, April 24th so please don’t hesitate.
Hungry for some donuts?
Have the Coffee Break net controllers serve you free coffee and donuts on May 9th @ 9AM. Bring a chair, play some radio with us, or just shoot the breeze with your radio friends. I heard a rumor that we might even setup a rig for POTA.
In other news, the Field Day T-Shirt Contest is underway and we’ve already received a few cool designs. You can check them out now @ https://www.w6ek.org/fieldday/tshirtdesign and even upload your own! We’ll continue to take entries until 11:59PM on Sunday, April 26th with the winner being announced at or around May 1st.
The camp out may seem far far away but we’re seeing a lot of activity with folks reserving sites. As mentioned before the meeting, there is plenty of space at Logger Campground. However, if you’re one of those people that wants to be near base camp, now is the time to reserve your spot (campsite map below).
Summer Field Day Is Coming …
DID YOU KNOW SUMMER FIELD DAY IS A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS AWAY?
For 2026 we’ve brought back our annual SFARC Field Day T-Shirt Design Contest.
AI and original designs are welcome.
SUMMER FIELD DAY IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS AWAY
COME OUT AND ENJOY DONUTS AND COFFEE WITH SFARC
Amateur Radio Exams / VE Testing: May 4, 2026
Looking for a local location to take your amateur radio license or upgrade exam? Sierra Foothills VE Team provides in-person exam sessions on the 1st Monday evening of the month.
Scholarships are available for students currently enrolled in Elementary, Middle, High School, or Undergraduate College programs and are 21 years of age or younger as of the date of the
exam. Upon passing an exam, the student will be eligible for an instant $14 refund for the cost of the exam and also awarded the $35 FCC licensing fee.
NEXT IN-PERSON DATE: May 4, 2026 @ 7 PM
Need more information before signing up? CLICK HERE
Watts Up This Week
We hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend, no matter how you celebrate.
In less than a month, SFARC and the Coffee Break Net presents our annual Donuts and Coffee in the Park. Free donuts and coffee will be served at the Auburn Recreation Park picnic pavilion by the Coffee Break Net control operators. Bring a chair and have a fun start to the weekend, hanging out in park with your ham radio friends. Maybe even bring your POTA gear and show off your gear! The fun starts at 9AM on Saturday, May 9th.
THE NEW PHOTO UPLOADER IS ONLINE
We’ve made it easier for you to upload videos and photos to SFARC. Check out the all new Photo Gallery and Uploader at w6ek.org. To get you even more excited, we’re giving away a $100 HRO gift certificate to one lucky photographer for the best photo of 2026. The prize will be awarded at the SFARC Christmas Party in December.
THIS FRIDAY, CLUB MEETING, 7:30 PM
Jim (WA8MPA) will do a technical dive into Common Mode Currents, the skin effect in coax cable, and how to visualize it all with a Nano VNA. Got a kink in your garden hose, and wonder how that works with your cables? What kind and how many ferrite beads cause a given result? They’re not all the same, and with apologies to Yogi Berra, if you don’t know what you have, it’s probably going to do something different! Come to the April meeting and find out how to make sense of all of this, and keep the currents (and garden hoses) flowing the way you want them to. But wait! There’s MORE! Our April SFARC General Meeting will have a SPECIAL “Help yourself” opportunity for those attending. We have a large quantity of items from our recent HamSwap that will be given away FREE!
FIELD DAY 2026 UPDATE
We’re a little over 60 days away from ARRL Field Day 2026. This is one of the biggest events of the year for SFARC. Maybe you’re not a big contester? NO BIG DEAL! While working a station at Field Day is encouraged, many come up to visit, eat some good food, and enjoy a fun weekend of camping. If you plan to attend, we need your help. The Field Day Resource Center has a TON of information so check out https://fieldday.w6ek.org/. Keep an eye on the website, social, and of course email
April 2026 Newsletter
Watts Up This Week
We start this week’s email with a BIG thank you to all the volunteers that helped with Hamfest last weekend.
We believe feedback is a gift and we’d like to hear from YOU. Go to https://feedback.w6ek.org/ and tell us what you thought of Hamfest!
We want your Hamfest photos?
The process to share photos with SFARC has gotten easier with our new photo uploader. If you took photos (even on your phone), go to https://www.w6ek.org/media/photos/uploader and share them with us today. Thanks to the hard work put in by Tom (NN6H) we even have a ton you can go out and enjoy @ https://www.w6ek.org/media/photos.Â
How About That Mystery Box?
A BIG congratulations going out to Adam (W6AGT), the winner of the Hamfest Mystery box.
Adam’s bid of $400 will go into the SFARC Scholarship fund.
The big question… What’s In The Box????
- Kent Iambic Paddle
- Signal TNC
- Clamp Amp Meter
- ATC Fuse Kit
- LED Voltage/current meter
- HRO Gift Certificate $25
- Soldering Aids
- RF Connectors N-style, UHF, SMA Kit
- Tripod
- Dual Band HT
- PC Power management station
- SWR/RF Power meter
- Mobile antenna mounting accessories
- Equipment Case
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
Watts Up This Week
SFARC Members and Friends,
Before we dive into Hamfest, a few call-outs for the weekend.
- While there is no Fox Hunt this weekend, the Club Breakfast is still taking place on Saturday (3/28 — 7:30 AM) at Mel’s.
- We launched a new Photo Gallery page and upload portal on w6ek.org (Link: https://www.w6ek.org/media/photos)
- We have one last Hamfest planning meeting this Thursday (3/26 — 5:30PM) onsite at the Loomis Train Depot.
HAMFEST 2026
We’re still short on our volunteers for this weekend. If you can help, please go to https://hamfest.w6ek.org and click
For Saturday. we’re looking at partly cloudy skies with temps in the 80’s so it’s going to be a beautiful weekend. A reminder that even with partly cloudy skies, don’t forget sunblock as the UV index is elevated.
One more BIG thanks to all who donated items and funds to Hamfest 2026. We have you to thank for the awesome prize pool this year and THE MYSTERY BOX! What is the mystery box?
Well… It’s new for 2026 and a mystery. 🙂 All joking aside, it’s a silent auction for a crate that contains a TON of cool stuff.
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
April 2026 Meeting
For the April meeting, Jim WA8MPA will do a technical dive into Common Mode Currents, the skin effect in coax cable, and how to visualize it all with a Nano VNA. Got a kink in your garden hose, and wonder how that works with your cables? What kind and how many ferrite beads cause a given result? They’re not all the same, and with apologies to Yogi Berra, if you don’t know what you have, it’s probably going to do something different! Come to the April meeting and find out how to make sense of all of this, and keep the currents (and garden hoses) flowing the way you want them to.
But wait! There’s MORE!
Swap Meet – Attic giveaway
Our April SFARC General Meeting will have a SPECIAL “Help yourself” opportunity for those attending. We have a large quantity of items from our recent HamSwap that will be given away FREE!
This includes:
• Test gear
• Tools
• Project Boxes
• Build it yourself kits
• Meters
• RF connectors
• RF adapters
• Crimp-on, Stay/Con connectors
And much more!!!!
Come a little early – we will limit the per person haul to 4 – 5 items