We are almost there June 22-23 2019, Saturday 1800 UTC (11:00 AM PST) to Sunday 1759 UTC (10:59 AM PST. http://www.arrl.org/field-day Visit our Field Day page at: https://gotahams.com/field-day-2019/ You can also visit us on our Facebook Group at: Adventures of GOTAhams Group/ Adventures of GOTAhome

Location

We are returning to East Shore RV park at Bonelli regional park at sites C31 and C33 not on the bluffs like last year but in a more protected and much greener area with a large picnic area and fire pit. We can still see the lake but should be away from “On-Shore” breeze that dropped the evening temp to Brrrrrr!

1440 Camper View Drive, San Dimas, CA 91773

Kathi and I are planning to arrive at East Shore on Friday about 12:00 noon, several people have volunteered to help set up our pop-ups, tables Chairs Antenna masts and pulleys and our triple power system, 12 volt solar power for stations, 120 volt AC Solar powered inverter for stations and mains power for our GOTA station and kitchen/serving area. Our Field Day is Family Friendly and all Hams or Non Hams are welcomed. Come out and watch us operating our radios, feel free to ask any questions about Amateur radio, emergency communications, CERT teams etc. Bring the kids, let them play with some “Snap Circuits” learn Morse code, hunt a fox (transmitter) or just hang out and enjoy the company! GOTAhams is an energetic, very friendly group that really loves the social side of this Hobby after all, Amateur Radio is the first “Electronic Social Media” We hope to see you there ’73 Ken KC6WOK

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Saturday June 15 was another really wonderful day with My GOTAhams Family, Mark set up a hospitality booth at the Claremont Swap meet and served up free hot coffee and some Doughnut bites that were enjoyed by attendees including some quietly famous Amateurs including Bob Brehm of Palomar Engineers (Kathi and I have attended his RFI seminars at a couple Hamfests). Mark, Jack, Bruce, Bob, Charles, Chris, James with his son Samuel, Kathi and I talked with many new and old friends promoting Ham Radio, Field Day and of course our fledgling club. I almost forgot, A very generous Ham at the Swap Meet donated two thirty foot push-up antenna masts to our club that we will definitely be using for Field Day. after close of the swap meet, as usual we went to San Dimas Canyon park and set up our field station with the “GOTAhome”. As usually happens with these outings, the typical struggles with new canopies, setting up slightly different antenna configurations and setting up Bruce’s new Yaesu FT991A we finally got on the air. Well this was “Kids Day” so we were hoping for some of those contacts but we mostly heard the Big Gun stations responding to QRP stations on the eastern seaboard, nothing was really heard close to home. Our New member Charles KM6CEM sat down at the IC-7300, got comfortable tuning the rig and made a contact with W6GGI, operating from Pismo Beach. I was impressed with how well a 80 meter off-center fed diploe could quickly tune almost flat and how broad-banded it was on nearly all bands 80 and below. I do believe this may be our “go-to” all bander for Field Day along with our Diamond CP-6AR Vertical. We were visited by new friends from the general public and old friends with whom we’ve spent other field days. Kathi fed the hungry crew with a giant Sub sandwich from Capri Deli in Covina along with cold drinks and chips supplied by Mark. These Field Operations are very energizing but sure leave me tired the next day. I hope to see LOTs of smiling faces Saturday the 22nd at East Shore RV park, look up our information on our Field Day page. ’73 Ken KC6WOK

I would like to personally Thank ALL the GOTAhams and our guests for a really wonderful dinner meeting Last night. So many new faces and many friends with their Wives made for some great personal exchanges and wonderful stories about how Amateur Radio has effected your lives (and your wife’s life?)

I want you all to know, THAT was the most fun Kathi and I have ever had at a Radio Club meeting.

Some of my favorite stories were actually about the bad experiences people have had at license testing sessions. these are things that GOTAhams would like to focus on in an attempt to improve peoples experiences in Ham Radio. We did have a guest (new member?) that suggested a plan to add friendly supportive test sessions to our clubs roster of events. Thank You So much Scott for your input and insight.

I believe the positive energy in last nights meeting should easily carry through to Saturdays “Radio in the Park” where we will do some practical preparations for Field Day and continue on to an exiting, Fun and Friendly Field Day event. I have never been more exited about any Field Day because of the excitement within our GOTAhams Radio Family!

’73 Ken Kc6WOK

It has been a busy weekend working on the GOTAhome adding our second solar panel, adding a larger fuse and testing a new remote for the 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter/charger etc. We have also been researching things other Radio Clubs are planning for Field Day, that has been an adventure in itself. I know what we have planned, we haven’t been secretive in the least and our plans are fully in line with ARRL’s description of the true spirit of field day, “Amateur Radio’s open house”.

ARRL begins a lengthy description and within the first two paragraphs states that “Field Day is NOT a contest”. I personally view Field Day as Ham Radio’s largest “Social Event” of the year and would like to keep that spirit at our field day site as we do at all our monthly field events.

Many of the clubs are pushing to “Stay away if you are unwilling to work” and /or ” Radio is not a spectator sport”… Really? If anyone at all feels put off by this type anti-social behavior, please feel free to “spectate” at our Field Day site.

You are welcomed to watch, listen, have a bite to eat, ask any questions and just “Hang Out” to learn what Amateur Radio, Emergency Communications, CERT, and disaster response is all about. Bring your kids, friends and family members, we are a friendly group regardless of what you have heard or experienced about other Radio Clubs or field Day sites. GOTAhams welcomes Kids with activities to do involving Communications, Electronics and STEM focused projects including hunting hidden transmitters.

GOTAhams looks forward to meeting anyone with an interest in wireless communication whether you are a licensed operator and want to sit down at a transceiver or just want to find out what we do in this hobby. Even unlicensed folks can “Get On The Air” with our GOTAhams G.O.T.A. station and communicate with folks all over the country without the help of the internet! “When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Prevails”!

Me and all my “GOTA’s” will see you there ’73 Ken KC6WOK

I hope these tips will help during Field Day 2019- Vic KM6RWB

Kathi and I would like to Thank the entire membership of GOTAhams for your participation and invaluable input at last nights Field Day 2019 planning meeting. I have been to many Field day site/operations, but served on only one other planning committee, I’ve done LOTS of research on what other clubs do to plan and what works for other Clubs field days. The amount of interaction, comradery, focus and just plain hard work that we accomplished in a very short 2 hour meeting was inspiring and has Kathi and I energized about our inaugural Field Day. We are looking forward to THIS field Day more than any other we/I have ever attended or been involved in, GOTAhams is certainly going to make this 2019 Field Day their own and set the bar high for our Field Days in the future! Again as always I want to Remind our membership/Family/Friends that will join us to HAVE FUN and enjoy this Event. ’73 Ken KC6WOK

We certainly are NOT trying to be the point grabbers that these clubs are but the comradery, teamwork and friendship between these four clubs is very inspirational. this video is something to strive for in the future, I would really like to be the driving force that brings several radio clubs together for a shared field day Operation.

Myself and Kathi received our letter of affiliation from ARRL, it recommends several things I had not been aware of, including coordinating a “charter Party” which would include inviting the Division Director, Section Manager, Affiliated Club Coordinator. Maybe our July meeting could facilitate that along with meeting those Orange Section managers?

They Also gave us a Link for ARRL’s Active-Club-Primer full of Helpful information for active clubs! This gives LOTS of great ideas and includes a “Club Presidents Workbook” and a “Special Service Club Manual”.

I would like all our GOTAhams to consider this “Active Club Primer” required reading, this club IS driven by its members, so please read this primer as if you were president of GOAThams. I believe the ideas from ARRL will help all our “GOTA’s” with their creative and interesting input will keep our little club moving in a positive direction.

Don’t forget this Saturday Swap Meet in Claremont-