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.
We’ll have a lot to talk about this meeting!
First, we have news about the status of the Vic Trace / TCF site you will want to hear. As most of us know, we have been under a deadline of October 31 to remove our equipment and relocate the building. We’ve been busy and we’ll bring you all up-to-date.
Every November SBARC holds its annual elections. The election will be held at the November Club Meeting. One of my jobs as president is to appoint a nominating committee to provide candidates for the club officers and directors at large. This year Dorothy K6DSO and Larry (WA6MVJ) comprised the nominating committee and we’ll present the slate of candidates at this meeting.
This year we’ll also be proposing some organizational changes that will require a vote by the membership. We’ll be discussing these thoroughly, explaining everything and answering any questions. Some of the changes are ones we have worked on for several years. Bill W1UUQ will also provide us some background that will help to define the issues we hope to address and how SBARC can position itself to reestablish our community relevance moving forward.
Additional election information and schedule will go live on the website immediately after this months meeting.
As we have done for the past few years, you will be able to vote in person, by mail, or using online voting.
You will definitely want to attend this meeting or listen in on ZOOM.
SBARC General Club Meeting
Friday, October 18, 2024 at 7:30 PM (Doors open at 7pm)
Goleta Union School District Board Room
401 North Fairview Avenue in Goleta
Doors open at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30pm
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87896497627?pwd=noXxHmQeFAWaaVIclEw31nRYweaEDF.1
Post expires at 11:59pm on Friday October 18th, 2024 but will still be available in the archives.
Wayne, AF6GX, tilting the 145.18 tower back up into service. Photo: Michael, K6RQV
The antenna for the K6TZ Santa Ynez Peak repeater on 145.18 was replaced today. As a result, its coverage is now vastly improved!
If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to test your signal into this repeater and the new 446.400 repeater on La Cumbre Peak West. Both are standard negative offset, same PL 131.8.
Together, these two repeaters have increased our systemwide coverage tremendously.
SBARC Members enjoying the fine food!
We had a great turnout for the annual SBARC picnic this year. Dave AI6VX handled the cooking again this year and many others brought food to share. No one went away hungry. Of course Darryl held a transmitter hunt as is his custom. Many people helped to put this together. Dorothy K6DSO picked up the burgers, hotdogs, and all the fixings. Mike K6QD brought the new popup tents (they we didn’t use). Larry, WA6MVJ brought water and ice. Big thanks to everyone who helped out and helped clean up afterwards.
Dave, AI6VX at the grill and Levi, K6LCM picking up a few pointers.
Post expires at 7:02pm on Thursday October 10th, 2024 but will still be available in the archives.
Wayne, AF6GX and Levi, K6LCM installing the new BridgeCom repeater at La Cumbre Peak West. Photo: Michael, K6RQV
It was a foggy, cool day at La Cumbre Peak when SBARC members Levi, K6LCM; Wayne, AF6GX; and Michael, K6RQV, headed up to the site to install the club’s new BridgeCom FM repeater on 446.400 MHz. Despite the low visibility and brisk weather, the team successfully completed the installation, bringing a significant upgrade to the repeater system.
The new repeater offers excellent coverage and is now linked to the club’s wider system, ensuring even greater range for members and improving communications across the region. This installation is part of SBARC’s ongoing efforts to enhance the reliability and reach of its network for amateur radio operators in Santa Barbara and beyond.
Stay tuned for more updates and make sure to give the new repeater a try on 446.400- PL 131.8.
We’re going to break with the format of the past few meetings and show a video provided by Darryl KF6DI.
The FT5ZM Amsterdam Island 2014 International DXpedition. It became known as the DXpedition of the year 2013-2014. Where is Amsterdam Island? Little Amsterdam, also known as Amsterdam Island and New Amsterdam, is an island of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in the southern Indian Ocean.
We’ll still be bringing everyone up to date with our repeater relocation efforts, and with any luck, the new 440 repeater will be in operation at its new location by meeting time.
If you don’t have 446.40 in your radios, you will want t add it. You can also bring your HT to the meeting and I’ll program it for you if there’s time. If you have a programming cable, be sure to bring that along.
We hope to see you this Friday!
SBARC General Club Meeting
Friday, September 20, 2024 at 7:30 PM (Doors open at 7pm)
Goleta Union School District Board Room
401 North Fairview Avenue in Goleta
Doors open at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30pm
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82648150046?pwd=Xgys9KTbsEVTEtjaWmiLcLLwipkD7V.1
Topic: General Club Meeting – September 20, 2024
Time: September 20, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Post expires at 1:00am on Saturday September 21st, 2024 but will still be available in the archives.
We have moved the club VHF packet node from the Mesa to La Cumbre Peak West. At nearly 4,000′ above sea level, this station has a Winlink gateway that can gate mail between RF and the internet (Starlink-capable and perfect for emergencies), as well as a few other features, including a local keyboard chat room!
Check it out if you have a TNC or sound card modem for VHF packet on 145.050.
The main node is K6TZ-2 but the following aliases will connect you directly to the various services: LCPW (main node), TZPBBS, TZCHAT, TZRMS (Winlink)
Note that BPQ is a little different than Kantronics. Commands like MHEARD and CONNECT (to hop) require a port number (in this case the port number to use is 2). More details in the welcome message.
Thanks to Doc, W6EW for donating the Kenwood TM-D700 to the club.
If you are interested in learning more about VHF packet radio and other digital modes, join us on Tuesday nights for the Digital Communications & Technology Net and consider joining our group mailing list.
-Levi, K6LCM
K6TZ Trustee
Please join us for a good old fashioned summertime potluck barbecue. SBARC will host this years get-together at Stow Grove Park on La Patera Lane in Goleta just before it intersects Cathedral Oaks Rd. We will be in Area 2 This once-a-year SBARC event will be held on September 22, 2024, from 10:00 AM until 2:30 PM. With all the various projects going on related to the relocation of our repeaters, this will be a welcome break.
This year will work much the same way as last year. SBARC will supply delicious 1/3 lb. hamburgers and cheeseburgers with all the fixings for all SBARC members and their immediate families. For non-members, burgers will be $5 each. You are welcome to bring your own beverages and we will have cold sodas and water available for $1.
Since this is a potluck, we are encouraging everyone to bring something to share. You can bring a salad, potato chips, beans, hot dish, cookies or other desert, whatever you like and whatever you have time for.
We hope you will join us for a relaxing meal and take the time to catch up with old friends. Of course, we can always use a little help setting things up before the event and cleaning things up afterwards. If you have a little time we would surely appreciate your help.
Please RSVP so we know how much food to buy. Call our message line at 805-456-K6TZ (456-5689) or send a message through our Contact Us link and let us know if you are attending and how many people you will be bringing.
Hope to see you there!
Post expires at 1:05am on Monday September 23rd, 2024 but will still be available in the archives.
