Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week


AMATEUR RADIO EXAMES / VE TESTING – JANUARY 5TH
With the new year comes your first opportunity to get your first license (or upgrade) is happening next week, Monday, January 5th @ 7PM at Confluence Church. Need more information before signing up? Visit https://www.w6ek.org/activities/testing

IN-PERSON BOARD MEETING – JANUARY 8TH
The monthly SFARC board meeting will be a face to face meeting to help facilitate the transition of the outgoing board and the newly elected incoming 2026 board. The meeting will be held at the Newcastle Denny’s. There will not be a zoom component for this meeting, board members and interested general members are expected to attend in person on January 8th. Future broad meetings will be held via Zoom at zoom.w6ek.org unless designated as otherwise.

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Amateur Radio Exams / VE Testing: January 5, 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: January 5, 2026 @ 7 PM

Need more information before signing up? CLICK HERE

Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week | Holiday Edition

The SFARC Board of Directors wishes you a Happy Holiday season.

CLUB BREAKFAST AND FOX HUNT (DECEMBER 27, 2025)
A reminder that coming up this weekend (December 27th) we have a club breakfast at Mel’s in Auburn followed by a very special Family Fox Hunt. The fun begins at Regional Park in Auburn (3770 Richardson Drive). The pre-meeting will start at 0900 at the main parking lot near the paddleboard courts (38.952465, -121.107092). Bring your family, friends, spouse, kids, significant other, pets, and grandkids (did I miss anyone?) to this family-friendly event. It will be a “walk in the park” kind of hunt, with accessible paths for all. We’ll have hot chocolate and prizes for the kids.

With hours left until the big day, the following was posted on Facebook by our outgoing club President Aaron (W1ATB) and is too good to not share.

’Twas the day before Christmas and I was out in my shack,
With the rig humming softly and the meters all back.
The coax was coiled with meticulous care,
In hopes that a DXpedition soon would be there.
My antennas stood tall in the crisp winter air,
Each element glistening with frost everywhere.
I tuned up the bands with a twist and a glide,
Letting 20 meters open up wide.
When out on the spectrum there arose such a clatter,
I spun the dial fast to see what was the matter.
A rare call was booming through static and snow—
A station from far where the trade winds blow.
I keyed up my mic with a confident grin,
“QRZ, de Kilo…” — let the contact begin.
The pileup was fierce, but I gave it my best,
Threading my call through the noise and the rest.
At last came the words every ham longs to hear:
“Copy your signal, you’re five-nine, my dear.”
A Christmas Eve QSO, logged neat and complete,
A gift from the ionosphere—simple and sweet.
Then back to the shack came a warm, gentle glow,
As the tubes dimly pulsed in their comforting show.
I leaned back content, hearing faint distant chatter,
Hams wishing each other good cheer in the clatter.
So whether you’re chasing DX or ragchewing tonight,
May your signals be strong and your noise floor be light.
For on this fine evening, from shack roof to tree,
Merry Christmas to all—and to all, 73.
 

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

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

Watts Up This Week

We’ll start this week by sending out a BIG thank you to Brian (AI6US) and Don (WB6LPJ) for co-chairing the 2025 SFARC Christmas Fiesta. If you couldn’t attend, you missed out. However, you can check out the SFARC Year In Review (slideshow) @ www.w6ek.org.
 
Did you take photos at the Christmas Fiesta? Your photos are what make the SFARC Year In Review so much fun each year. DON’T FORGET TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS @ https://www.w6ek.org/upload – choose “Upload Photos and Videos”.
 
In fact, we want to “sweeten the pot” for 2026. The Board of Directors will vote on the best uploaded photo of 2026 (this includes the 2025 Christmas Fiesta Photos) and the winner will take home a $100 Ham Radio Outlet gift certificate next December.
 
 
DECEMBER FOX HUNT | DECEMBER 27TH @ 0900
Come one, come all. The December fox hunt will be like no other. Join SFARC on December 27th at the Regional Park in Auburn (3770 Richardson Drive). Our pre-meeting will start at 0900 at the main parking lot near the paddleboard courts (38.952465, -121.107092). Bring your family, friends, spouse, kids, significant other, pets, and grandkids (did I miss anyone?) to this family-friendly event. It will be a “walk in the park” kind of hunt, with accessible paths for all. We’ll have hot chocolate and prizes for the kids.

As always, a big thanks to this month’s tenders: Brian (AI6US), John (KO6COW), Jayden (W6EFM), and Frank (KG9M). More info can be found @ https://www.w6ek.org/activities/foxhunt 
 
 

 
TRIVA NIGHT
This coming Friday @ 7:30 PM on the repeater, don’t forget to join us for Friday Night Trivia!!!
 
 

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

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

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DECEMBER HOLIDAY FAMILY FOX HUNT

Come one, come all. The December fox hunt will be like no other. Join SFARC on December 27th at the Regional Park in Auburn (3770 Richardson Drive). Our pre-meeting will start at 0900 at the main parking lot near the paddleboard courts (38.952465, -121.107092). Bring your family, friends, spouse, kids, significant other, pets, and grandkids (did I miss anyone?) to this family-friendly event. It will be a “walk in the park” kinda hunt, with accesible paths for all. We’ll have hot chocolate and prizes for the kids.

As always, a big thanks to this month’s tenders: Brian (AI6US), John (KO6COW), Jayden (W6EFM), and Frank (KG9M). More info can be found HERE.

Watts Up This Week

Last Chance RSVP | 2025 Christmas Party RSVP | Closing Soon

If you haven’t RSVP’d for the 2025 SFARC Christmas Party, this is your last reminder.
If you’re on the fence about coming, consider this!!!
 
We’re giving away:
  • (1) $500 HRO gift card
  • (1) $250 HRO gift card
  • (4) $50 Amazon gift cards
  • (5) $25 Dutch Bros gift cards
  • (4) TIDRADIO H3’s
  • Emergency First Aid Kits – Thanks to Placer County EC Scott (KM6RFB)
  • LiFePO4 Batteries – Thanks to Dan (KN6WQU)


https://www.w6ek.org/rsvp
DEADLINE: Tomorrow, December 8th
 
If you’re planning to attend, please…
  • remember to bring a generous non perishable food donation for the food bank. Extra tickets for the drawing will be provided as a thank you for the donation.
  • remember to bring cash for the $10 per person fee. We’ll accept other methods of payment, however, cash is usually the easiest.
We hope to see you, Saturday the 13th @ 5PM.
 

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

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

Looking Forward

Looking Forward December 2025

Welcome to December! As we close out the year I’d like to thank everyone in the club for helping out to make such an awesome community possible. From our monthly VE sessions and club meetings to once-a-year events like Hamfest, Field Day, and the Holiday Party, it’s the amazing teamwork that makes all that possible. It’s been an excellent two years serving as the club vice president, and the number of people stepping up to give insightful presentations about a variety of topics keep people interested in what we do.

Just ahead is our annual Holiday Party, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all and spending an evening together with warm spirits. I’d also like to congratulate those that are taking upon positions of leadership within the club next year, knowing that you’ll all do your best.

When I joined SFARC I joined a community that really cares. A group of hams that went above and beyond to create a club that did more than just amateur radio. By helping out at various events I got to know many others and formed lasting friendships. In the year ahead I hope to continue lending a hand whenever possible while transitioning into a new life as I welcome my fiancee (and soon to be wife) into my family. I look forward to being together with her and showing her what a wonderful club we’ve got in our neck of the woods.

To everyone out there, have a wonderful Holiday season, blessings to you and your family, and may the new year bring many more unforgettable memories.

73 de W6JCZ
Jim Zheng
Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club
Vice President 2024 – 2025

Watts Up This Week

Watts Up This Week

Let’s start with some news from the SFARC VE desk.
 
CONGRATULATIONS to the newest Ham Radio Techicians licensed last night (12/1). Jack Anderson, John Carlstrom, Vasiliy Kormarchuk, David Nash, Daniel Quistgard, Michelle Russo, and Corde Wagner /AT. Also a BIG congratulations going out to Charles (KO6FNI /AG) who upgraded to General.
 
Congratulations to all and a big thanks to the SFARC VE team for another successful year of exams, mentoring, and making new hams. 🙂
 
 
CHRISTMAS PARTY UPDATES
Last chance to RSVP for the SFARC Christmas Party is December 8, 2025; DON’T DELAY. RSVP now @ https://www.w6ek.org/rsvp
 
We also have our last planning meeting coming up this Thursday (12/4) @ 6PM in the club Zoom room.
 
 
DON’T FORGET ABOUT SFARC TRIVIA NIGHT — THIS FRIDAY!

 _ ___ _ ___ _ ___

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

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