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