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TracyARC, Manteca ARC
TracyARC, Manteca ARC San Joaquin Amateur Radio News
Friday
21Nov
Holiday Party Set for 12/4
Friday, November 21, 2008 at 11:15PM Everyone is invited to the Manteca Amateur Radio Club’s annual Holiday Party, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, at a pizza place (to me decided, watch this space) in Manteca. The club buys the pizza, you buy your own beverage(s).
The Tracy club will be joining the Manteca club for this event, which is open to all amateurs who wish to attend.
Talk-in will be on the Manteca club repeater: 146.985 - PL 100.0.
Monday
17Nov
SJ ARES "Standards" Sought
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 3:01PM I am working on compiling a list of “standards” that will make life easier for our emergency responders. There are a few obvious ones, like Anderson PowerPoles and, well, what else is obvious?
Here are some of the categories I am thinking about, but would appreciate your input and suggestions:
1. DC Power Connection — 30 amp Anderson PowerPole (compatible with 15 and 45 amp PowerPoles as well)
2. State Map — State Thomas Bros. map book (this is what CAL FIRE uses)
3. San Joaquin County Map — ?? (Thomas Bros. or Compass or ?)
4. Stanislaus County Map — ?? (Thomas Bros. or Compass or ?)
5. GPS Settings — I need to know what Lat/Long format is most appropriate, along with the appropriate map datum. I also need to know which should be used with UTM coordinates. (UTM is based on the WGS 84 datum, though I need to make sure that UTM used on topo and forest maps is also WGS 84.)
The value of UTM is that it make it easy for a human to find or plot a location on a (UTM) map using nothing more than a metric ruler. Lat/long locations are much more difficult to plot by hand, which is why the military developed and uses UTM for its mapping needs.
If you have thoughts about this, please send me an email or post a comment.
Update on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 11:18PM by
David Coursey, N5FDL
David Coursey, N5FDL
At the Tracy club meeting yesterday, we decided it would also be useful to add some crossband repeater settings to the ARES Frequency Plan. If you have thoughts about this, please contact me.
in SJ ARES
SJ ARES Thursday
13Nov
Manteca Flood Drill a Success
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 12:45PM On Wednesday, November 5, more than a dozen hams participated in a flood evacuation drill in Manteca, sponsored by the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Stockton, San Joaquin County, FEMA, and other agencies.
This was the first time in recent memory that hams were invited to participate in such a large-scale event, intended to simulate the response to a levee break and subsequent flooding.
The amateurs taking part were: KO6UW, KE6UTO, N5FDL, WB6AGR, W6JCG, KI6OAD, KI6OEE, WY6E, KI6LVA, KI6QLE, W6MJA, KD6YWO, KE6UWE, and a non-ham who is planning to attend the HamCram on December 6.
According to event organizer, Jim, KO6UW, Manteca fire officials were very impressed with amateur radio particpation in the event and we look forward to participating in more exercises in the future.
Read more about the event on N5FDL’s blog.
Friday
24Oct
Next Round of PAVE PAWS Mitigation Contacts Begin
Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:53PM 
PAVE PAWS radar, Clear AFB, AlaskaZCZC AG16
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 16 ARLB016
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT October 24, 2008
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB016
ARLB016 Next Round of PAVE PAWS Mitigation Contacts Begin
On Wednesday, October 22, the FCC notified the ARRL that they would
immediately begin making direct contact with owners or trustees of
approximately 40 repeaters. The US Air Force identified these
repeaters earlier this year as contributors to the harmful
interference affecting the Beale Air Force Base PAVE PAWS radar
installation near Sacramento, California.
“ARRL understands that contact with individual amateurs will be made
from the DFCC’s San Francisco office,” said ARRL Regulatory
Information Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. “The owners of these
newly identified repeaters will be provided the operating parameters
determined by the Air Force engineering unit’s testing to be
necessary to mitigate the interference. The owners will be requested
to meet signal strength limits as soon as possible. The ARRL Lab and
staff are available to answer specific questions for the owners of
these newly identified repeaters and to provide technical
information to assist them in implementing the mitigation.”
Henderson said that as the Amateur Radio Service is a secondary user
on the 70 cm band, “It is important for amateurs to remember that it
is 100 percent our responsibility to eliminate harmful interference
to the primary user. While we realize that this is and will continue
to be an ongoing process, this third round of mitigation should mean
that each of the known repeaters in the affected area have been
tested at least once. How the FCC will address approximately 50
repeaters previously identified as interference contributors — but
which have not apparently completed the required modifications —
still remains. Nor is it clear when a process by which new
coordinations can be issued in the area might commence.”
Henderson reminded amateurs that “It is important to remember that
this isn’t a one-time solution. The amateur community needs to
remain aware of this problem and responsibly utilize the band in the
future to avoid any large-scale problems such as those we have
experienced in this situation.”
NNNN
/EX
Wednesday
22Oct
Hams Help as 1,400 Vaccinated at Drive-Thru Flu Clinic
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 9:36PM 
Cars line up at drive-thru flu shot clinic.A dozen new Hams, all trained through EMS Agency-sponsored HamCrams in 2008, played a role in Wednesday’s successful “Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic,” sponsored by San Joaquin County Public Health and held at the fairgrounds in Stockton. Some 1,400 vaccinations were given during the four-hour event.
Amateurs taking part included: Mike, KI6PCD; Mark, KI6OWF; Wilfrido, KI6QFU; Mike, KI6OVT; James, KI6OVF; Justin, KV6DER; Dennis, N6DDJ; Phil, KI6OAG; Renee, KI6OAG; Robert, KI6OAQ; Judy, KI6OAZ; and Dennis, KI6OVR.
Also taking part were Elionora, K6SWE; Herman, W6FAA; and myself, David, N5FDL. (Sorry for any names/calls that I got wrong).
Drive up, get a shot, miss the flu this year.All the new hams work for agencies that took part in the event, including Public Health, Behavioral Health, EMS, and Stockton Fire.
While Amateur Radio was not a specific part of the flu clinic, some official communication did take place on amateur frequencies during the event. The event provided an opportunity to do coverage tests at the fairgrounds, a location likely to be used when any of several types of major emergencies occur in San Joaquin County. We also gained experience working together as well as generating some ideas for future projects.
This was the first time the event, which allows residents to get free flu shots while seated in their cars, has been held. Organizers said 400 vaccinations would have made them happy with the event. They brought vaccines for 1,000 people to start the event, but ended up needing an additional 400 doses to meet demand.
Phil, KI6OAG, was an evaluator at the flu clinic.
The event was a low-stress way to test equipment, repeater coverage, simplex coverage and to make friends for ham radio. When it’s held again, ARES members will be invited to participate and play a larger role.
Elionora commented on how nice all the agency folks were—everyone was extremely pleasant and easy to work with. “Little” events like this one, as well as the ham and other training we’ve done together, will be a big help when something bad happens.
Overall, it was a very nice day, both weather-wise (it was gorgeous) and with the success of the event. With 1,400 participants, the vaccinations are almost certain to prevent serious illness and could even save lives this winter.
Update on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 9:09AM by
David Coursey, N5FDL
David Coursey, N5FDL
Justin’s call is really KV4DER.
in Training, Public Service, Events
Training, Public Service, Events 
