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.
With Field Day coming this Saturday and Sunday, this will be our final update before the event. Contact the Field Day team if you have questions at fieldday@sbarc.org.
Set-up & Break Down:
The operations team and those planning to set-up their own station may begin work at 7:00 AM this Saturday. You may drive your vehicle onto the field to unload gear. If you do drive onto the field, please use the auto ramp located at the pedestrian cross-walk. Driving onto the curb/sidewalk at other locations may damage the concrete.
Once vehicles have been unloaded, please park in the “Palm” parking lot, just West of Chase Palm Field. Those planning to operate after dark Saturday may park in the small lot across E Cabrillo Blvd from our operating area – please contact Warren or Mike if you require nighttime parking.
Field day operations officially begin at 11:00 AM Saturday and end at 11:00 AM Sunday. We must be entirely vacated from Chase Palm Field by 3:00 PM. This will allow ample time to enjoy the Field Day picnic before we pack-up our equipment.
Operating Details:
We expect a good turn-out, nicely spread over the 24 hour operations window. And, we identified a third club transceiver so operators will have a choice of ICOM IC-7300 and Yaesu FTdx-10. What a good opportunity to compare two of the better transceivers on the market today!
Please bring your own Key if you plan to operate CW during the contest. You may also wish to consider bringing a pair of headphones.
As for logging QSOs, Jim – W6JFE, has prepared three laptop computers with N3FJP logging software. We will provide instruction sheets for N3FJP, as well as for the Field Day “QSO Exchange” (callsign is K6TZ, section is Santa Barbara (SB)). We will also have traditional paper logs on hand for those that prefer them.
For those operators licensed within the past year, as well as those that have not worked HF for a while, please plan to operate as a “GOTA” (Get On The Air) operator. GOTA QSOs bring a scoring bonus! Please ask Warren – KN6ZZI, Mike – K6QD, Jim – W6JFE or Michael – K6RQV for instruction. Hint: GOTA QSOs are worked the same as regular station but with using the callsign K6SBA, instead of K6TZ).
Public Relations:
Levi has issued a nice Press Release to the Santa Barbara media. And so, we may well be visited by news media, in addition to the general public.
Please wear your SBARC badge! Doing so make it obvious which of us are radio operators and club members. Wearing a badge will also lend an air of professionalism to our presence during Field Day.
Please bring your HTs. We will use them to coordinate amongst the group, and also to demonstrate our repeater network, in the event of public interest/inquiry.
We will have a public information table facing E Cabrillo Blvd. The table will help steer members of the public to a safe location (away from antenna masts, guy-lines, and feed-lines). The table will also hold reference materials on SBARC and amateur radio. Please encourage visitors to move to this location during conversation. Please also accompany visitors in the event that they wish to view radio stations & antennae.
If you will, please try and spend some time at the Public Information Table. This will help SBARC make best use of our time in the public eye.
Weather and Meals:
Sunny warm days and cool evenings are forecast. We will have sun-shades covering the club stations and public information table. Do bring sunscreen and hats though as you won’t be under cover all of the time. And, bring warm clothes if you intend to operate Saturday evening/night time.
Meals have been arranged for Sunday breakfast (JoAnn – KA6RPN is preparing breakfast burritos), and Sunday lunch (Steve – AK6CE is bringing a grill, hotdogs & hamburgers, and summer trimmings for our picnic lunch). Importantly given the sun, Les – KN6CKG, is bringing beverages! Given the relatively few participants on Saturday evening, we will order take-out food to suit preferences of those present. Please note that donations are encouraged to cover the costs of these meals – look for the donation box near the food service table.
Local radio operators to participate in national Field Day exercises at Chase Palm Park on June 22-23
The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club invites people of all ages to participate in the nationwide 2024 Amateur Radio Field Day at Chase Palm Park this weekend. (SBARC file photo)
June 18, 2024 – SANTA BARBARA, Calif.
Despite the ubiquity of Internet-enabled cell phones, email, and text messaging, every year, whole regions find themselves in the dark, or worse. Wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides, storms, ice, and other disasters often leave people without the means to communicate. In these cases, the one consistent communications service that has never failed has been amateur (ham) radio.
On the weekend of June 22-23, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (SBARC) operators and see for themselves what the amateur radio service is about, as radio operators across the nation will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities as part of the nationwide 2024 Amateur Radio Field Day.
Every June, more than 40,000 amateur radio operators throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate amateur radio’s science, skill, and service to our communities and our nation. Field Day combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in amateur radio.
Using only emergency power supplies, radio operators in all 50 states and Canada will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools, and backyards. Their slogan, “when all else fails, amateur radio works,” is more than just words to the operators as they prove they can send analog and digital communications without the use of phone systems, the internet, or other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis.
SBARC, established in 1920, has a long history of promoting education and emergency preparedness through amateur radio. SBARC is a non-profit, public benefit corporation organized to promote education for persons interested in telecommunications, to disseminate information about scientific discoveries and progress in the field, and to train communicators for public service and emergency communications. SBARC also encourages and sponsors experiments in electronics and promotes the highest standards of practice and ethics in the conduct of communications.
This year, the SBARC Field Day site will feature several stations set up for worldwide, direct radio communication as well as our local radio repeater system. The public is welcome to observe and learn at the information table available on site.
Members of the public interested in learning more are invited to visit the SBARC Field Day site at Chase Palm Park on Saturday, June 22 from 11:00 AM through Sunday, June 23 at 11:00 AM. Santa Barbara amateur radio operators will contact thousands of other stations throughout the US, Canada, and the world using a variety of wireless techniques, including the use of frequencies from shortwave though microwave bands and amateur radio satellites in orbit.
Encourage your friends and family to visit and learn about the vital role of amateur radio in our community and nation.
Post expires at 11:01am on Sunday June 23rd, 2024 but will still be available in the archives.
Brian Milburn, organization president (right) and Levi C. Maaia, chair of the scholarship committee (left), presented Mateo Olin Ferreira (center) with a scholarship award on behalf of the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club & Wireless Foundation at the Santa Barbara Courthouse on Monday
June 4, 2024 – SANTA BARBARA, Calif.
The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club and the Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation are pleased to announce the recipient of their annual scholarship, awarded to an outstanding local high school graduate who plans to pursue higher education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).
Mateo Olin Ferreira, a graduating senior at Orcutt Academy Charter High School, was awarded the 2024 scholarship at Santa Barbara Courthouse on Monday, June 3. Ferreira is set to graduate with a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend Allan Hancock College for initial credits before transferring to California State University, Long Beach to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Business.
Ferreira is an Eagle Scout in Troop 87, a tenor saxophone section leader, a football player and referee, and a Catholic altar server. He plans to continue his education with summer internships to gain practical experience in his field and aims to contribute to the advancement of green energy production.
Brian Milburn, the president of the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club and Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation, and Levi C. Maaia, Ph.D., a board member and the chair of the scholarship committee, presented Ferreira with a certificate and a financial award to support his college expenses.
“Our goal is to ensure that more students choose academic and career paths in science and technology,” said Milburn. “Mateo has set himself up for success with his plan to attend community college and then Cal State Long Beach.”
Ferreira is the latest recipient of this scholarship, which is awarded annually in June. Applicants must be high school seniors in Santa Barbara, Ventura or San Luis Obispo Counties who plan to study Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics in higher education. Applicants should have an excellent academic record. While not requirements, preference is given to applicants who hold an active FCC amateur radio license.
Donations to the scholarship fund and applications by members of the class of 2025 may be submitted at scholarships.sbwireless.org.
The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation, together with the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, forms a nonprofit, public benefit organization that develops and supports wireless telecommunications technologies in support of public safety, emergency communications, community service, and scientific research in the Santa Barbara region. More information can be found at www.sbarc.org and www.sbwireless.org.
We have been alerted that someone is broadcasting on the output of SBCO Sheriff’s Office Yellow frequency 460.325. They are not using PL. This is happening in the area of Mountain View School and may be kids using Baofeng type radios that have transmit capabilities in that frequency range.
If you are in the area, you might try monitoring this frequency and keeping your eyes and ears open. Obviously, we don’t want kids interfering with public safety frequencies.
Lots of things have been happening with the Vic Trace Reservoir / TCF situation we’re sure you will want to hear about. We have some new video to show you as well as picture of the progress at the site.
Field Day is only a month away and the team is making good progress in making this Field Day SBARCs best event in a long time. We’ll be bringing you up to date and let you know what’s coming up.
If you are planning on attending Field Day this year, please complete the survey via the link below indicating your participation preferences.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VV3CC8S
If you haven’t subscribed to the special SBARC Field Day mailing list, simply send a blank email to fieldday24+subscribe@sbarc.org No subject or message is necessary, and you can unsubscribe any time you want.
SBARC General Club Meeting
Friday, May 17, 2024 at 7:30 PM (Doors open at 7pm)
Goleta Union School District Board Room
401 North Fairview Avenue in Goleta
Zoom Details:
Topic: General Club Meeting – May 17, 2024
Time: May 17, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89318082804?pwd=RUEwZUN5Ukd3dlBIY3BvaVFoNEV2Zz09
Post expires at 1:00am on Saturday May 18th, 2024 but will still be available in the archives.
With just over a month until the Field Day, excitement is growing. Not only does SBARC have an excellent site at Chase Palm Field, but the solar cycle is surely approaching its peak! And, over twenty five people have expressed interest in attending Field Day in some capacity. It is sure to be a fun event!
Since the last Field Day update, several individuals have graciously volunteered to prepare food and beverages for the event. JoAnne – KA6RPN, has kindly agreed to prepare a special treat for Sunday breakfast, Steve – AK6CE, has volunteered to grill burgers & hotdogs for a club picnic on Sunday and Les – W6CGE will arrange a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Donations for food & beverage will be gratefully accepted at the time of the event.
To aid in final preparations, we need your input once again. Please complete the survey via the link below indicating your participation preferences. This will enable us to purchase the right amount of food & beverages, and also to be prepared from a radio operations perspective. We realize that plans change, and so your response here will not preclude you from adjusting your plans to suit your needs as Field Day draws near.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VV3CC8S
If you haven’t subscribed to the special SBARC Field Day mailing list, simply send a blank email to fieldday24+subscribe@sbarc.org No subject or message is necessary, and you can unsubscribe any time you want.
73s from the SBARC Field Day Team
Post expires at 2:27pm on Friday May 31st, 2024 but will still be available in the archives.
As we all know, we are losing our primary repeater site on the Mesa. We have received no help from the city thus far in finding a new location. It’s time to show support for SBARC and let the Mayor and City Council members know how we feel. We would like to get SBARC members and friends of SBARC to send an email to the City Council so we show them how we feel.
I prepared a sample email that you can copy and paste or you can write your own. Emails need to be sent to the following email address: sbcitycouncil@santabarbaraca.gov
The sample email is below:
Dear Council members,
I am writing in support of the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club. Over the years, they have provided communications support for dozens of parades, marathons and bicycle races, entirely on a voluntary basis. They have made their availability a priority in many of our worst disasters and have been instrumental in helping many neighborhood groups develop emergency communications programs.
I am aware that the City has ordered them to vacate the location they have used for 50 years for their primary communications systems. I would urge City officials to do everything possible to help this non-profit organization find an alternate suitable communications site so the community can continue to depend on this valuable resource.
