What’s happening at SBARC? Here you will find the latest club news, events, projects, net activities, and news from our special interest groups (SIGS).
Be sure to check in frequently so you don’t miss out on any of the interesting things going on with the club and its members!
We have moved content for the Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net here, and content for the Digital Modes Net here.
Cottage Health is in need of volunteers to assist with its drive-though community vaccination clinics. Volunteers who assist with the effort may be eligible to receive the vaccine.
There are openings for SBARC members to assist with event support, logistics and registration. This is a great opportunity for us to continue our mission to provide public service to the community, particularly during this disaster.
Clinics are ongoing and will be scheduled in the weeks ahead as vaccine availability permits. Volunteers are asked to sign up for either full-days 07:30-16:30 or half-days mornings or afternoons.
If you are interested in assisting, please complete the Eventbrite volunteer signup form at the link below. When you are contacted, please be sure to identify yourself as an SBARC member.
Register to volunteer (updated link)
After you register, keep an eye out in your SPAM or Junk folder for a reply from @sbch.org in the next few days. Cottage emails have a tendency to be captured by filtering.
*** DO NOT SHOW UP AT THE CLINIC UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY COTTAGE STAFF DIRECTLY ***
Happy New Year everyone!
We will be having our general club meeting on Zoom and YouTube again this month and we are going to have an “Open House” / “Town Hall” style meeting. We hope to have several non-ham visitors and we are going to focus on talking about resources for learning about amateur radio and getting licensed to operate. We will be opening up the floor for questions and suggestions from current members and prospective members alike. So bring your questions and suggestions and we’ll talk about them.
Zoom information is shown below. Checkins will open at 7pm and the meeting will start at 7:30pm.
SBARC K6TZ is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: January 2021 General Club Meeting
Time: Jan 15, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83374517664
Meeting ID: 833 7451 7664
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxygBPHnL0E
Hope to see you there!
Post expires at 9:00pm on Friday January 15th, 2021 but will still be available in the archives.
Are you new to amateur radio or already an experienced licensed operator?
We have set up a new discussion group, the Elmering Discussion Group list server. If you are a new ham, or just considering getting into the hobby, then this group is for you! We’ll do our best to answer your questions and get you headed in the right direction. And because this is a group email list, you may get multiple responses from experienced hams who have all volunteered to help.
We are also encouraging all interested SBARC members to join the group as volunteer Elmers. The only requirement is that you are a licensed ham, and can contribute to helping new and prospective hams with occasional questions about getting licensed, getting their stations set up, and all the other things new hams typically need help with.
The audio archive of this net can best be followed by downloading the .mp3 file for the appropriate date here and listening with the media player of your choice. You can move the progress slider forward or backward to the subject of interest to you.
We had another interesting net tonight with 9 check-ins plus net control Brian, K6BPM. Tonight’s topics included:
Tune in to the SBARC TM&E Net every Thursday at 8:00 PM local (2000 Hrs) and see what interesting ham radio questions might arise or ask some of your own! All club members and visitors are encouraged to check in to the net each week.
In our nation’s present highly contentious political climate, we are surrounded by controversy and incivility amplified and broadcast for all the world to see and hear. Despite this uncomfortable reality, I am continually impressed by the kindness of most of our local radio operators both on the air and off. Despite the tremendous diversity of our individual backgrounds, opinions, experiences, education and interests, our local radio operators can be counted on for civility and professionalism.
With this new year comes a new beginning and opportunities to reaffirm our commitment to a welcoming, inclusive and respectful community of radio amateurs. In today’s video, Dave Casler – KEØOG, the famed licence course YouTuber, reminded his viewers of The Radio Amateur’s Code, which is printed in each edition of the ARRL Handbook. I hope you’ll take a moment to re-read this 93-year-old code and continue your noble efforts to amplify and transmit civility. We are all a part of ensuring fraternity, friendship and goodwill here on the K6TZ repeater network and on airwaves across the globe in 2021 and beyond.
The Radio Amateur is
CONSIDERATE…He/[She] never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.
LOYAL…He/[She] offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, the IARU Radio Society in his/[her] country, through which Amateur Radio in his/[her] country is represented nationally and internationally.
PROGRESSIVE…He/[She] keeps his/[her] station up to date. It is well-built and efficient. His/[Her] operating practice is above reproach.
FRIENDLY…He/[She] operates slowly and patiently when requested; offers friendly advice and counsel to beginners; kind assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the marks of the amateur spirit.
BALANCED…Radio is a hobby, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.
PATRIOTIC…His/[Her] station and skills are always ready for service to country and community.
– adapted from the original Amateur’s Code, written by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928
Levi C. Maaia, K6LCM
K6TZ Trustee
Brian Milburn (K6BPM), SBARC President (right) presents Bill Talanian (W1UUQ), K6TZ Trustee Emeritus (left) with the plaque that will be installed at the newly dedicated Talanian Communications Site on the Mesa.
On Saturday, January 2, 2021, SBARC President Brian Milburn (K6BPM) presented Bill Talanian (W1UUQ) with a plaque dedicating the Club’s communications facility atop the Mesa in Bill’s name. Bill has worked tirelessly for decades as the K6TZ trustee. Due in a major part to Bill’s efforts, SBARC maintains repeaters and data systems at prime locations throughout Santa Barbara County in cooperation with government agencies and other private, non-profit organizations.
The Talanian Communications Facility building was erected in 2011 atop the City of Santa Barbara’s Vic Trace Reservoir site with grant funds secured by Bill Talanian and Andy Seybold (W6AMS). Since then, the facility has been the hub for the SBARC communications network and is home to the Club’s flagship repeater on 146.790 MHz. The facility was dedicated by unanimous action of the SBARC Board of Directors.
We are pleased to end 2020 with the announcement of some exciting new capabilities on the SBARC repeater network …
Two linked FM repeaters on Santa Cruz Island join the K6TZ linked repeaters on La Vigia (146.79) and Santa Ynez Peak (145.18).
Diablo Peak 2-meter Repeater
Output: 146.655
Input: 146.055
PL 131.8
Diablo Peak 1.25-meter (220 MHz) Repeater
Output: 223.920
Input: 222.320
PL 131.8
Both the 2-meter and 220 MHz repeaters at Diablo Peak on Santa Cruz Island are in service with FM voice linked via microwave to our hub at La Vigia. The two Diablo repeaters offer excellent dual band coverage for coastal stations in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
At 2,429 feet above sea level, Diablo Peak is the tallest mountain on an ocean island in the contiguous 48 states. SBARC and the Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation maintain public safety and amateur radio telecommunications facilities there.
A crew of volunteer amateur radio operators set out to Diablo with the help of the Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit (and its newly acquired Black Hawk “Firehawk” Helicopter) to perform maintenance and install linking capabilities on December 2, 2020.
