=== INDEPENDENCE DAY EDITION ===
The Radio Amateur is:
PATRIOTIC...station and skill always ready
for service to country and community.
(from - “The Amateur’s Code”)
A REGIONAL Bulletin for ARES and other EMCOMM Stations and Public Safety
Officials in northern California, southern Oregon, northern Nevada, and
elsewhere. D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, SV Section EC, Editor.
INTERNET: www.emcomm.org E-MAIL: k6soj@arrl.net
L = LCL (Local time in the (PST winter / PDT summer) zone
Z = ZULU (Universal Coordinated Time - UTC)
+ IN THIS EDITION:
- SHORT CIRCUITS
- EC CORNER
- FEEDBACK
- “Q and A” -
- WEDNESDAY EVENING REGIONAL ARES NET IS
CHANGING
- TRAINING and CONTINUING EDUCATION
- NWS-SKYWARN NEWS
- WX SPOTTER CLASS SCHEDULE - UPDATED
- ARES TRAFFIC AND OTHER NETS REMINDER/SCHEDULE
=== SHORT
CIRCUITS ===
+ INCREASE YOUR FIRE AWARENESS AND MAINTAIN YOUR READINESS -
- Observe all fire rules and regulations.
- Survey your perimeter/horizon hourly (or more often).
- Report all suspicious smoke.
- Carry a shovel, rake, water hose, bucket, radio, and personal safety gear
at all times when traveling in rural areas.
- Keep a dedicated hose of sufficient length ALWAYS ready at home.
- Inform your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.
- EARLY REPORTING MAY PREVENT A MAJOR DISASTER!
+ WELCOME NEW SUBSCRIBER -
- Jason Green, N1IIC, Assistant SEC, New Hampshire -
Jason says:
“I am extremely intrigued with EMCOMM 2002 that you organized. I would like
more information about this, so it may be possible for us to have one here in
New England in the future. I also would like any links or information
about the communications vehicles that were on display attended or others that
you know about. I have an old Red Cross ERV that was donated for
communications, and I want some ideas and plans to finish it. Thank you
for your help!”
COMMENT: A fledgling group may soon be formed in the New England area to
possibly plan for an “EMCOMM NORTHEAST”, and Jason has been steered in the
right direction. He would also like to correspond with others that have,
or
are in the process of, equipping an emergency communications vehicle. His
email address is: n1iic@qsl.net
+ NEW FORMAT(S) AND SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT REGIONAL NETS -
Tomorrow, July 3, will be the first Wednesday night regional net under the
new schedule: The “WINCO REGIONAL EMCOMM NET” (Washington, Idaho,
Nevada, California, and Oregon. However, ARES and other EMCOMM stations
anywhere are welcome...and encouraged to participate).
The net meets on the first Wednesday of every month @ 1930 PDT (PST winter) on 3987 kHz LSB. The primary purpose of the net to advance the mission of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service through practice, training, the exchange of ideas, and by simply keeping in contact with EMCOMM stations throughout the west.
Any member that has a question or appropriate topic, that they would like to
hear addressed, on either the WINCO Net or the Regional ARES Leadership Net
(same time and frequency but on the 3rd Wednesday of the month); please
send to the net manager: k6soj@arrl.net.
+ PLACER COUNTY EC RESIGNS -
Citing personal reasons, Wayne Mikel, KE6DJE has resigned his post as EC for
Placer County. Wayne will remain on as an active member of the ARES team.
Thanks to Wayne the Placer County ARES team has grown under his leadership. The
process for selecting a replacement has begun. If you are an active ARES
member and reside within Placer County, and would like more information or to
apply for the appointment...please contact Gary Willett, KB7QWC, District 4 EC
at: kb7qwc@arrl.net
+ EC CORNER -
Monthly EC reports (FSD-212) for June are due. SV ARES leaders may report
online at: www.emcomm.org/svares/reports/main.htm.
Reports already received from: Butte/Glenn, Lassen.
+ FEEDBACK -
From Dave Walizer, K6DDW, Auburn, CA
(Ref: 5-1-2+ BULLETIN - 25 JUNE 2002 - No. 112
“Just for info, Topaz and Coleville are located in Mono County, and Topaz Lake
is half in Douglas County, Nevada and half in Mono County. There really isn't
any town named Topaz, but there is a Casino just across the state line on Hwy
U.S. 395 that they call Topaz. Oh Well...everything you ever wanted to know
about Topaz. -:)”
COMMENT: You are so correct! Thank you. I should have checked
a map with better county line definitions. This means that Topaz and Coleville
are in
the San Joaquin Valley Section, where Kent LeBarts, K6IN is the SEC and the
Mono County EC is Mark Spencer, WA8SME, in...believe it or not...Coleville!
As far as California OES is concerned, Mono County is in the Southern
Region. - de K6SOJ
From Bart Lee, KV6LEE, San Francisco
“I read all the EMP materials (5-1-2+ Bulletin No. 112) and it is an
issue with which I have some prior familiarity. I wonder if it would make sense
to catalog working vacuum tube amateur radio stations looking to involving the
operators in a back-up traffic net for ARES/RACES. I would start maybe with the
subscription lists from Electric Radio, the Antique Wireless Assn. Old Timer's
Bulletin, and Antique Radio Classified, and reach out to readers of QST, CQ, 73
etc. The stations are definitely out there and many of them are operating
regularly in the AM nets. I am reminded that Russian avionics continued to use
vacuum tubes not because it was backwards, but because of the relative immunity
to EMP. If terrorists watch American movies, and they seem to, all they
have to do is see Oceans Eleven for an non-nuke EMP scenario.”
- 73 de Bart, KV6LEE
COMMENT:
Maybe. Most hams that I have met that are in the categories you mention
are
also in the "it's only a hobby camp" and have little or no interest in
emergency or pubic service communications. (I know there are exceptions.)
The same can be said about the majority of DXers and contesters...where some of
the best (and best equipped) operators can be found! I think we’d have
more success enlisting ARES/RACES operators to become interested in vacuum tube
gear... and they would have a whale of a lot of fun restoring and maintaining
vintage rigs! However, what you suggest might be worth a try...but someone
other than yours truly would have to do it...for "my cup runneth
over!" ;-) And now I'll have to be sure to see the re-make of
"Ocean's Eleven"...I liked the original version...with Frank, Peter,
Dean, Sammy...and the rest of “the pack”.
- de K6SOJ
+ “Q and A”
-
Q - From Stanley Bown, W6SRB (previously: KA7UJX) Oroville,
CA:
“I need suggestions about running a wire antenna when you don’t have a lot
of space or trees to out one in. It’s about 30 feet from the house to
the back fence and about 30 feet to the front of the house, but I’m not sure
about running wires in that direction. You know how the neighbors
generally feel about wire and such. I hope to put up a tower
someday, but for now I need something better than a vertical. Thanks for
your help and suggestions. 73 Stan”
A - While this is not a technical bulletin, and I am not a highly technical ham,
and wars have been started over antenna discussions...I will stick my neck out
and take a stab at this one. Based upon the information you have provided
you might consider a balanced fed “Inverted V”. You could
operate on 7 MHz (and higher) with elements of only about 33 feet long.
Support the center fed dipole from a mast about 25-30 ft. high, mounted on your
roof, or near your house, and support/anchor each element in opposite
directions. Or, put up a mast or other suitable support near the edge or near a
corner of your lot (DO NOT USE PUBLIC UTILITY POLES), and erect a sloping
Inverted V antenna with the angle of the elements at least 90 degrees apart.
Feed either configuration with balanced line (300 ohm TV twin lead will work). Use an ATU with a 4:1 balun and you should have pretty good results from 10 to 40 meters. The more sloping (towards horizontal) the V is...the more directional it will be.
The July QST has an interesting, “short but efficient” 7 MHz antenna,
“how-to” article by Lew Gordon, K4VX (p. 40). That might be one worth
considering. I also refer you to the ARRL and other sources who have
scores of books available on wire antennas. - de K6SOJ
Any of our readers who have a suggestion, may contact Stan at: ka7ujx@hotmail.com
+ WEDNESDAY
EVENING REGIONAL ARES NET IS CHANGING - (repeat)
The Wednesday night ARES Leadership Net has enjoyed a very successful “run”
for over five years. Dedicated and effective leadership is essential if
any amateur organization expects to survive AND remain a viable “service to
the public”. Cooperation and coordination between leaders is essential.
This Regional ARES Net might well be the only net of its kind, since it crosses
over county, district, section, state and even division lines! The ARES
leaders who have participated in the net on a regular basis have learned a lot
from each other...and as a result are more effective leaders.
However, it seems to have possibly “run its course”, the value of the net as
it is currently being utilized has been reviewed; and as of July 3, 2002 the net
will take on a slightly different “character”. Each Wednesday the net
will have a different focus. (Note the ARES Leadership Net will now be
MONTHLY on the third Wednesday.)
ALL NETS WILL ACCEPT FORMAL TRAFFIC AT CLOSE OF NET.
NETS BEGIN AT: 1930 PDT summer (PST winter) on 3987 KHz LSB
1st Wednesday:
Regional “open” ARES net (any and all ARES stations welcome). ARES
members everywhere (within range) are invited to submit appropriate topics for
discussion or questions via e-mail or at net time.
NCS: Active ARES members will share in the net control responsibility on a
pre-scheduled basis.
If you will serve as a NCS contact the net manager at k6soj@arrl.net.
2nd Wednesday:
Sacramento Valley Section ARRL net (any and all stations welcome). ARES
and other topics of general interest to ARRL members. Stations outside the
SV Section are welcome.
NCS: An ARRL leader or other designated station within in the SV Section.
3rd Wednesday:
Regional ARES LEADERSHIP net (same as current).
NCS: An ARES Leader on a pre-scheduled basis.
4th Wednesday:
Sacramento Valley Section ARES Net. (ARES stations outside the SV Section
are welcome.) NCS: SV SEC, DEC, EC. or AEC.
5th Wednesday of the month:
No net.
DATE - TYPE OF NET - NET CONTROL STATION
JUL 3 - OPEN ARES NET - Sacramento Valley SEC K6SOJ
JUL 10 - SV SECTION ARRL NET - TBA
JUL 17 - REGIONAL ARES LEADERSHIP NET - Josephine County AEC KC7IXX
JUL 24 - SV SECTION ARES NET - TBA
JUL 31 - bye
---------------------------
+++ TRAINING
and CONTINUING EDUCATION SECTION -
(Previous training bulletins are archived at:
www.emcomm.org/svares/training/index.htm
+ AN EXCELLENT NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS) TRAINING WEBSITE IS AT: http://www.qsl.net/aresco/nts-top.htm
ADDITIONAL (VERY) USEFUL information is available at:
http://www.remote.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec2-ch11.html
http://www.area-ham.org/tngdocs/ntsdocs/ntsman.htm
When composing a RADIOGRAM, pretend that you will be charged ONE DOLLAR for
every “word”.
“TRAFFIC HANDLING IS FUN AND REWARDING!”
+ NWS-SKYWARN
SECTION
Jim Reynolds, KD7MLO, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Gary Peterson, N7GK, Acting Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained
volunteer
spotters reporting severe weather. The ARRL/ARES has a national
“memorandum of understanding” (MOU) with the NOAA/NWS.
MEDFORD NWS SKYWARN WEBSITE: www.emcomm.org/skywarn
+ NWS MEDFORD WX NET PARTICIPANTS ARE POSTED EACH WEEK ON THE NWS WEBSITE:
www.emcomm.org/skywarn/nets.htm
+ NWS / SKYWARN WEATHER SPOTTER CLASS SCHEDULE -
All Spring classes have been completed. Future classes “to be
announced”.
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER / SKYWARN NETS:
The Medford NWS WX SPOTTER NET every Wednesday at 1915L on:
147.26+ / CTCSS: 123.0, (Mt. Ashland - Jackson County and more)
146.55 SIMPLEX (eastern Siskiyou and Klamath Counties)
146.97- (Likely - Modoc County Relay)
3987LSB (1982 LSB alternate).
SKYWARN nets will be activated on these frequencies during severe weather
events.
NWS SKYWARN NET CONTROL STATIONS -
DATE 147.26+
3987 LSB
JUL 03 K6SOJ
KC7WEU
JUL 10 N7GK N2RSN
JUL 17 N2RSI
KC7WEU
JUL 24 N7GK KB7EKF
JUL 31 TBA
ADDITIONAL NWS NET CONTROL OPERATORS SOUGHT -
For more information contact:
Gary, N7GK, gpederso@OregonVOS.net;
or,
Dave, K6SOJ, k6soj@arrl.net
NWS PACKET NODE ON MT. ASHLAND is on 145.030 MHz, ID is: skywrn.
NWS is asking for SKYWARN and ARES packet stations to connect and let them know
your location, the type of antenna and power you use to access the Mt. Ashland
node. The “connect” to NWS packet bbs (direct) is 145.090 and the ID is
NWSMFR. Then connect to NWSBBS, e.g., c nwsmfr. Then, c nwsbbs. The NWSMFR at
nws mfr is a node.
Questions? contact Gary, N7GK e-mail: gpederso@OregonVOS.net
Check in to the JEFFERSON NOON NET daily at 1200L on 7232 LSB
(alt. 3987) for announcements regarding anticipated or actual severe WX.
+ REMINDER -
5-1-2+ REGIONAL ARES AND NWS NETS
DAILY:
1200 to 1230L: Jefferson Noon Net on 7232 LSB (3987 LSB alternate)
NOTE: ALL STATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR AND/OR CALL ON 146.52 and/or 146.55
MHZ DURING THE NOON NET TO RELAY CHECK-INS OR TRAFFIC.
WEDNESDAYS:
1915 to 1930L: NWS WX SPOTTER NETS (see NWS-SKYWARN section below)
1930 to 2000L: ARRL/ARES NET on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate)
ALL ARES and other EMCOMM stations are welcome.
+ ARES TRAFFIC NETS - A list of local and regional ACTIVE daily
traffic nets capable of handling formal traffic in ARRL RADIOGRAM format will be
listed. Managers of nets that meet this criteria are welcome to submit their
information for listing in this format:
- JEFFERSON NOON NET (JNN):
Check in between: 1200-1230 LCL. Traffic at: 1230 LCL
7232 ± LSB (3987 ± LSB alternate) plus relays (when available)
via 146.55 // 146.52 // 147.26+/123.0 (Mt. Ashland)
Primary service area: Northern California, southern Oregon. Extended service
area: Washington, northern Nevada, Idaho, southern California, ships at sea, and
“anywhere else the signals reach”.
- ALASKA ARES / TRAFFIC NETS -
The ALASKA ARES maintains a “listening watch” on 3535 and 7042 kHz (CW)
for NTS traffic within or into ALASKA. Listen for AL7N, Fairbanks; and/or
KL5T and KL7HF, Anchorage. Full details at:
www.qsl.net/aresalaska/news/ACWN.html
Also check out their main page at:
www.qsl.net/aresalaska/index.html
- ALASKA-PACIFIC EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS NET 14292 kHz at 1630Z
weekdays.
- ADDITIONAL ARES and other EMCOMM NETS - list at:
www.emcomm.org/SVARES/nets/index.htm
+ BACK ISSUES OF THE 5-1-2+ BULLETIN ARE ARCHIVED AT:
www.emcomm.org/svares/archives
+ The “5-1-2+ BULLETIN” - Copyright (c) 2002 - D. W. Thorne,
K6SOJ
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce and re-circulate items from this
bulletin providing appropriate credit is given to the “5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES
BULLETIN” and/or the author or originator of the material. Send
corrections, updates, etc. to: k6soj@arrl.net
--- end of bulletin ---