FD 2008 was a HOT Event

The Mount Baker ARC operated Field Day 2008 at Berthusen Park northwest of Lynden, WA this year.  The group operated as class 3A with a CW Station, SSB, and Digital positions.  AC7UM also set-up and manned a V/UHF satellite station.  An estimated 40 club members participated in the event over the three days of June 27 - June 29 from set-up to tear-down. Pictured at right is Mert, AC7KY operating in PSK-31 mode at the MBARC Digital Group tent.

The SSB and Digital operators were hearing a lot of stations but had difficulty being heard.  Perhaps our antennas were not performing up to snuff.  Everyone struggled with the 90 degree heat on Saturday and during tear-down on Sunday.

Despite the heat and the mosquitoes at dusk, I think every one had a good time.  We learned a bit more about the radio and antenna gear, and that the big generator does not have an alternator and has to have a battery charger applied to avoid conking out at 0600. There were many non-ham visitors during the event- I would estimate 20 or more, many of whom were interesting in getting licensed.

As part of the planned activities, the Digital Group tested some CW decoding software to copy the Field Day Bulletin as sent by the ARRL.  The Multi-PSK program proved very adept.  KA0WFI made contacts on VHF Winlink2000 and on HF using Pactor 3.  KN0N tried briefly to raise a QSO on D-Star simplex but got no returns.

 

MBARC Field Day Activities

MBARC Field Day 2008

The Mount Baker Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the ARRL “Field Day” exercise from Saturday June 28 at 11 am until Sunday June 29 at 11 am.  Complete details, operator sign-up, and a map to Berthusen Park (Northwwest of Lynden) can be found on the MBARC site.  We will be operating THREE stations for the duration of the event- Side-Band (Voice), CW (Morse code), and digital/misc modes. Members/non-members, visiting hams, and the general public are invited to observe and participate.  Please see the MBARC site for sign up details if you want to reserve an operating mode/time.  For liability reasons, ONLY MBARC members are allowed on site for set-up and tear-down.

Set-up will begin on site at 4 PM Friday June 27 for MBARC members only.

Operations will run for 24 hours starting at 11 AM Saturday June 28.  The general public and visiting hams who are not club members are welcome to visit during this time.  VIP tours will be given Saturday afternoon.

Break-down of the site will begin at 11 AM Sunday June 29 for MBARC members only. 

Whatcom County #2 in SET 2007 for WWA

Thank you W7RE for compiling all of the paper work and to all of the hams in Whatcom County that participated in the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) September 29.  While “points don’t matter” in disaster exercises, it is one measure of the level of participation.  Whatcom area amateurs should be proud of their contribution and performance.  -KN0N

 

From Jim Pace’s email bulletin:

 

The 2007 SET results were posted in QST for July.  Congratulations to the Western Washington ARES program, which finished in the top ten in the Nation.  The various Counties participating finished as follows:

 

1.  Pacific County

2.  Whatcom County

3.  Kitsap County

4.  Thurston County

5.  Clalam County

6.  Lewis County

7.  Island County

8.  Grays Harbor County

9.  San Jaun County

 

I’m sure that these and other Counties will ‘kick it up a notch ‘ for this coming SET.  Let’s see if we can get into the top 5.

 

Many thanks to SEC Ken Dahl K7TAG, for his leadership in the 2007 SET.

 

 

73 and have a Great Field Day!!

 

Jim Pace K7CEX

Section Manager

Western Washington

 

No BPL for Centralia

According to the following release by Jim Pace, ARRL SM for WWA, a proposed Broadband over Power Lines proposed for Centralia, WA has been nixed.

I met with Mayor Browning this morning (May 25) who informed me that the City of Centralia, Washington BPL project is a NO GO!  The cost and performance of the equipment were outside of the parameters that the City had set for the original test project. 

 

Many thanks to Technical Coordinator Tom Herman, N1BEC, Centralia College Electronics Instructor Jim Vandermeer, KC7ASV who were very involved in recording band conditions before and during the BPL test, and all the local hams in Lewis County who monitored the test.  Our effort shows that when Amateur Radio and government agencies cooperate, good things can happen.

 

73

 

Jim Pace K7CEX

Western Washington Section Manager

ARRL = Speedy VEC

The new Technician licensees and upgrades from the ARRL-VE test session on the 10th snuck by me last Thursday since I was not looking for them for at least a week.  I mailed the paperwork to Newington on the 12th and the FCC posted them to the database on the 15th.  That’s service!  Here is a link to the QRZ daily harvest from 0800 on the 16th.

ARRL Dayton Weblog

Here is a snapshot of the ARRL reps en-route to the Dayton Hamvention.  You can track their operations on the ARRL Dayton Weblog.

http://www.arrl.org/blog/Dayton%20and%20ARRL%20Expo

You might also follow the antics of some camera-helmeted hams that are posting live video of their Hamvention adventure:

http://w5kub.com/

 

FCC Denies “Anti-Digital” PRM

Many of you responded to KAØWFI’s email and posting on this blog regarding a petition to the FCC that would effectively kill Pactor III and other digital modes on the HF bands.  The FCC read your responses and has denied the petitions.

An ARRL story says:

The FCC noted that it had received more than 650 comments and reply comments to this PRM, “most of which oppose the petition.”

Thank you all for giving your feedback to the FCC and squashing PRM-11392.

Ham Classes and Exam Notices

I added a link to the banner called “CLASSES & EXAMS” that will bring up a list of upcoming Amateur Radio license classes and exams. I have taken on the job of being the Contact Person / Session Manager / Team Liaison for ARRL-VEC exams that we will be giving at the end of scheduled license classes.  These exams are not replacing the W5YI-VEC tests that are given in Ferndale every other month by W5NYT.  Due to space restrictions, some exams may require pre-registration and not allow “walk in” testers.  All of this information will be posted on the page. There will be a Tech class in Sudden Valley on May 3 and 10 with the exam given on the 10th at the end of class. Details on the class & Exam page.

If you have a VE testing team in the region or are holding your own classes and would like to have the information posted on this site, please send me an email with the details.

-KNØN

A Call for VEs

The Volunteer Examiner program needs YOU! (picture Hirum Percy Maxim in red white and blue pointing at you). We need to form a Volunteer Examiner team to administer tests at the conclusion of Technician and General classroom sessions.  The current reliance on using the bi-monthly W5YI VE tests at Ferndale puts a heavy burden on those good people and limits the scheduling of our class calendar.  The solution is to give the test in the classroom at the end of training. I have offered to be the contact person and do all of the paperwork for the ARRL-VEC administration. 

I can’t do it alone though.  I need several of you to become ARRL-VE credentialed so you can help proctor and correct exams.  Many of you are credentialed through the W5YI program and you can get the ARRL-VE badge free by just filling out a form and sending a copy of your FCC Amateur License and a copy of your W5YI certification.  If you are going to become a brand new VE, WELCOME!  I will put a link at the end of this post to the ARRL website where you can download a copy of the ARRL-VE guide (This updated version was just posted in Feb 08 by the way).  All you have to do is complete and OPEN BOOK set of review questions on the material and send the completed review and a copy of your FCC Amateur License to the ARRL. In short order you will receive a fancy certificate and a handsome official VE badge.

 The more people that we have credentialed, the better.  Some classes may have over thirty students, so there will be a job for everyone.  We also have to take in to account that some VEs will be unavailable for some sessions.   I don’t expect every VE to come help at every test.  I want to make it clear that this will be just for testing at classes and perhaps special events. I have no intention of establishing regularly scheduled test sessions on a repeating basis.  W5NYT and his crew do a great job up in Ferndale on the third Saturday of even numbered months and we want them to continue.  We just want to take a load off them when we run classes.

So, if you are interested in helping out and sharing the rewarding job of handing a brand new ham her certificate, here is what you need to do. Go to http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/become-a-ve.html and use the links along the right side to read about the program.  Be sure and download the VE manual to study the procedures and print the forms contained therein to become an ARRL-VE.  You do NOT need to be an ARRL member to be an ARRL-VE.  While we need Extra class licensees to administer Extra and General class exams, General class licensees are WELCOME to become VEs to administer the Tech license exams- by far the largest category of test takers (unless we are concluding a General class classroom session). Advanced class holders may administer the General or Tech class.  The rule is that the three Volunteer Examiners that correct the test and sign the paperwork must hold a higher level of license than the test they are administering.  The exception to this is that three Extra class VEs may adminster the Extra exam.

Once you have your ARRL-VE badge, or if you already are an ARRL-VE, drop me a note with your contact info (name, telephone, and especially email adress(es) so I know who is available to help at exams.  Note to W5YI VEs- no more numbers! The ARRL-VE program just uses your call sign. As long as I have a copy of your certification on file, you can help at tests even if you forget the badge.

73, KNØN  kn0n@WhatcomRadio.org

Technician License Classes February 2nd and 9th

Whatcom County RACES is sponsoring a two day intensive class for anyone interested in Amateur Radio to obtain their Technician Class License. Remember, Morse code is no longer a requirement for ANY Amateur license class, so all you need to do is spend two Saturdays learning the basics of radio theory and FCC laws to join the fun.  Print out this form, fill it in, and mail it to Rodger by January 23 (We need the lead time to order class materials).  Location will be the Laurel Fire Department.  Tests will be given at the Ferndale Library on Saturday February 16th.