December General Meeting, Holiday Party, Open House!

December brings thoughts of new radio toys, Nut Crackers, Sugar plum ferries…. Wait! Wake up, sorry I drifted off there! Lets get real, our December meeting will afford us a look back at how we started, what we’ve accomplished, new friends we’ve made some really wonderful members we’ve gained and more importantly where we’re headed! I’m hoping you may want to bring your friends (hams or not). Introduce them to us, us to them and show them what you do at a boring radio club meeting!

Remember for those interested we will have a “white elephant” style gift exchange. Just go through your radio “junk box” and find something of interest worth $10 (less/More?) bring it with you and we’ll see how this craziness plays out!

I plan on showing a photo presentation of our past year, including field day, picnic in the park, our swap meet outreach and some hamfest photos etc. If ANY of you have photos you would like to include please contact Kathi (kd6caf@gmail.com) with those photos. We will do a “face Net” and ask for any ideas for our coming new year and discuss existing plans and events for 2020.

I would like to take this opportunity to say that it is not Me, or the officers that makes GOTAhams the Fun Energetic group that it has become. It is our members and attendees, whether it be the people we meet at that park events, swap meet, our general (dinner) meetings, each of you bring your own interests and personalities. Many of our “Non-licensed” guests have brought some of the most exiting stories and experiences to our group. You all have heard me and others say “We are a Social Club that does Radio”. It is important that we promote the social side of GOTAhams.

Our November meeting was the most exiting and energetic meeting I can recall with members sharing their interests, be it Ham Radio or whatever else interests you. It Energized Kathi and myself to do all we can to support our members and officers to support this group in whatever direction it may take us. Ken, KC6WOK

Post Script (PS), We will be sharing our “DIY projects”, “Homebrews” or anything you’ve MacGyver’d to help you in this hobby. I know several of you have constructed some version of a “Go Box”, a few have constructed Fox hunt antennas I have an example of a BITX 40 SSB 40 meter transceiver I’m sure a few folks are Arduino or Raspberry pi hobbyists. Bring whatever you’ve been experimenting with to share with the group (remember “Show-n-tell” from elementary school) This should be FUN! (c;

By the way, we will meet December 10th, 7pm at our usual location, Casa Jimenez Mexican Restaurant!

HOMINGIN and GOTAhams at Bonelli Regional Park

Link to HomingIn’s website posts for past local foxhunts

http://homingin.com/joemoell/ardfinla.html

Radio Orienteering mentors Joe Moell KØOV, April Moell WA6OPS and Marvin Johnston KE6HTS, Graciously hosted a ARDF practice “Foxhunt” at Bonelli Regional park San Dimas on Saturday November 23rd.

Kathi and I were early arrivals in the park finding a 5k/10k event in full swing! well they finished up before 10:00 AM leaving us a beautiful park on a beautiful fall day, not too hot, not too cold, perfect for “chasing Foxes”. I bought and built one of Marv Johnston’s antenna kits which was very easy, fairly quick and the only thing I needed was a short cable (BNC to SMA) to connect my HT. Actually any receiver that is capable of reception between 140 to 155 MHZ will suffice if it also has a signal strength meter it is a plus. if you use a transceiver, being able to “lock out” transmit is highly advisable.

GOTAhams made a wonderful showing with Kathi KD6CAF, Myself, Mark Arlotti KM6AHY, Vilma Arlotti, Bruce Vanbuskirk KM6WBI, Charles MacCanns KM6CEM, Charles Mother and Sister made a showing to bring us Texas Chili!, Tim Adams N6DLC, Grace Clark KM6LJL, James Jansen W6FRQ and son Samuel.

As GOTAhams do, we served lunch to all that attended the HOMINGIN event including our hosts (that insisted we put out our “Tip Jar”) the attendees were quite generous and nearly covered all our expenses, that was completely unexpected.

Several of us Chased the “practice foxes” but we didn’t do the timed course, (Next time?) folks that hadn’t attended one of HOMINGIN’s events learned how much fun this aspect of Amateur radio can be, along with our GOTAhams hospitality in a scenic setting? how can you miss!

Kathi Mark and I stayed to help or hosts police the area and get their gear to the vehicles, luckily staying afforded us locating a backpack left behind by one of our members. Yes Kathi and I got it back to his QTH even before realizing it was missing.

GOTAhams will keep a vigilant watch on HOMINGIN’s events and keeping our membership apprised of upcoming practices close to our area. When they return to our local park I’m sure we will Host another picnic for the event and try to get some other local Clubs to join us in the fun!

SoCal ARDF @ Bonelli Regional Park Nov. 23, 2019

http://homingin.com/joemoell/bonelli1119.html

Our friends from Homing In will be holding a Transmitter Hunting educational/practice session at Bonelli Regional Park on Saturday November 23rd 2019. We need to show our support by Logging in to their website, registering for the event and if you would like to build your own tape measure Antenna let them know. While your there, add yourself to the ARDF mailing list to stay informed about whats happening at “Homing In”.

GOTAhams will be serving a picnic lunch at this event. Even if you are not planning on “hunting” Come out, have something to eat, socialize with other Hams and their families, watch others “Fox-Hunt”! I’m sure you will learn something new, and may be inspired to use some loaner equipment to try your hand at Transmitter locating (ARDF). Bring your friends! this is a “receiving” only mode so No License needed! so bring the Kids/Grandkids. If you are planning on attending Please send a e-mail to Kathi KD6CAF (kd6caf@gmail.com) to RSVP, We look forward to seeing you ALL there!

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Homing In ARDF training/practice

“Homing In” has an extensive Website that covers all aspects of “Radio Orienteering” from the basics into serious international competition. Your time will be well spent researching this very useful aspect of our hobby.

Kathi KD6CAF, Mark KM6AHY and myself spent time at an ARDF training session at Fullerton, Joe Moell KØOV and Marvin Johnston KE6HTS are terrific “Elmers” and took great pride in showing us “Newbies” the basics of Radio Fox Hunting.

Saturday Oct 26, Antennas in the park! 10:00AM San Dimas Cyn.

Saturday Oct 26th is our plan for “Antennas in the Park”. A antenna planning, building, testing but also learning soldering techniques and testing what we’ve built etc. We will also have a transmitter “Fox” to try our hand at some “T-hunting” and most importantly Socialize! We’ll enjoy the fresh air while we “Get On The Air”.

Kathi and I met Vicki Zumwalt N6KLS of Next Generation Antennas at Pacificon. She requested we contact their station on Saturday, the weekend of the CQ World Wide contest. This dictates that we have a HF station “On The Air” during our event and will allow our attendees to get on on HF with the Club Call WG6OTA. With plenty of “control operators” everyone will get a chance.

If you are looking for something to do Saturday, Want to learn a new skill, brush up on old ones or just want to hang out with other Hams or curious non-hams ? Meet us Saturday at San Dimas Canyon Park (east side as usual) at approx. 10:00am ’til ?

Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS)

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Kindron, KJ6VGX at the Claremont swap meet. Bob is the Operations Section Lead for ACS and informed me that they will be holding Technician classes in Rancho Cucamonga starting in January 2020. He also informed me that many participants he speaks to are looking for a local Amateur Radio Club in the area and was glad to have seen our booth at the swap meet. After a nice conversation and a quick exchange of information, Bob grabbed a few of our flyers to hand out at their future events. The Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) functions as a community service organization and a disaster or emergency service asset consisting of highly-skilled volunteers using amateur (ham) radio to accomplish stated and implied missions. For more info about ASC and the next Technician classes in January, see www.tricityacs.net! ’73 Mark KM6AHY

Pacificon Saturday, what we’ve learned & who we met?

Our morning started early again at “Breakfast with Gordo” leading directly into his “Ham instructor Academy” where Kathi and I found ourselves up on stage with Gordon West delivering some of his “Classic”? tongue in cheek jokes. We learned a lot about ways to promote/improve attendance pitfalls to avoid and keep students involved and focused during our presentations. Gordon asked for the longest licensed Ham in the room to help him and wouldn’t you know? Bob Heil!

  • Bob Heil Sending 120V “Code” into a stack of pickles!
  • Gordon shows a better way to present a “Band Plan”
  • Gordon explaining Tropospheric ducting
  • Eplaining open Circuit
  • Explaing Closed circuit
  • Current/Voltage as flow
  • Lighting ip some LED strip lights

Bob Heil followed Gordo with “Understanding Human Speech articulation” which is Bob’s secret code for “We dont listen well as Hams”! Kathi and I came away with a new found appreciation for those of us that “Pull out” those nearly unintelligible stations during our field operations! (Scott, yes I’m referring to You). We learned much about speaker enclosure construction, how certain Microphones change the game, and how simply increasing mid-range (2.5 khz) brings out the weak signal stations.

The most Storied Ham, and the Ham with the most stories

We also learned from Kristen McIntyre that SWR does matter, sort of? and after a lunch break we learned about Digital Amateur Television (wait I didn’t get a chance to try Analog Amateur TV). We followed with another presentation from Dr. Bob Heil concerning “Cheap and Easy 40/80 meter phased array”. We continued on to “Elmering in the age of Devices” presented by Jim Aspinwall NO1PC, the founder of facebook group “Amateur Radio Elmers”. he made some interesting points but I believe the GOTAhams could give him some pointers? we’ve run across Randy K7AGE, Jeri Ellsworth, and Amy Henron, also Dr. Fong, this is a VERY active convention. We are having a wonderful time, learning a lot, at this writing we are preparing for the Saturday evening Banquet.

  • Yes CALfire is here also!
  • CALfires Ham radio CommVan
  • The Youth kit building area,
    AHH the smell of solder in the Morning

As a Side note, yesterdays Views of our website set a new record for visits by nearly double! Kathi believes she had some influence by handing out several GOTAhams tokens, I’m hoping today is better with our Swapmeet Goats spreading the word. Keep it up GOTAhams, make us proud and we’ll represent on the North side (c; ’73 Ken KC6WOK

Friday Opening at Pacificon

Kathi and I Started our day early here at Pacificon. The registration desk opened at 7:00 AM, the hotel cafe opened at 6:00, rise and shine, had a nice breakfast buffet, scurry over to registration and collect our conference ID’s and other passes/raffle tickets etc. The Volunteers at registration said they were having trouble with organization but from our side of the desk it wasn’t apparent. This Fest seems well organized, on track and everything started on time. I personally was very impressed with our Bay Area hosts.

Friday’s single seminar was a day long antenna seminar presented by 7 speakers covering many aspects of arguably the most important subject in Amateur radio. We sat in a room of about 400 Hams focused on each speaker, 50 minutes at a time, with ten minute breaks between. I wasn’t sure I could focus on a single subject that long but with varied topics and different speaking styles the only thing I nodded out slightly on was “Antenna Modeling”.

During a lunch break we got to view the Special Event station, connected to the antenna array from the photo in the last post. This station sports a collection of Band pass filters and multiplexers sharing three antennas on a single tower with at least six stations from 80 through 10 meters on multiple modes from CW through digital. These folks know how to put on a field operation along with their skills as Hamfest hosts.

The “Vendor Hall” opened at 3:00 PM and Kathi was excited to meet some old friends and hopefully some new ones? She got her chance in a hallway outside Vendor Hall when she bumped into David Brackett KE6OPK our friend from TCARA and the Covina parade work. Gordon West WB6NOA Kathi’s buddy from Quartzfest and YUMA. A new friend was hanging out in the HRO booth with Gordo was Bob Heil, of course everyone is charmed by our hard working GOTAhams secretary so I got photos of Kathi with her freinds.

Enjoy these photos and I will try to keep everyone up to date on our exploits at Pacificon ’73 Ken KC6WOK