Category: events

W6TJ 2 Meter Net

Posted on by w6tj-admin

The Riverside County Amateur Radio Association provides communications support during many Public Service Events throughout the year. A weekly net is held to foster emergency preparedness every Monday evening at 7:00 PM. The Monday night net provides bulletins of upcoming club activities and events.

For the first three Mondays of the month, we host the Net on the W6TJ club repeater. It is also possible to check into the net via the W6CDF repeater located on Box Springs Mountain which is linked to the W6TJ repeater.

The fourth Monday of the month is followed by a SIMPLEX net on 147.510 MHz. This is done as practice for emergency preparedness as an exercise in being able to operate in a power outage WITHOUT the repeater.

NET Tally for Monday Night Net Results:

September 1,
2025		 September 8,
2025		 September 15,
2025		 September 22,
2025
 September 29,
2025
Regular Check-ins: 22 26
Guests/Visitors: 0 0
TOTAL CHECK-INS: 22 26
Courtesy Check-ins: 0 0
20 Check-ins: 0 0
EchoLink Check-ins: 0 3
Early Check-ins: 3 1
Marlene
KK6CTX		 Jim
AG6EA		 Marlene
KK6CTX		 Juan
AJ6PH		 Shannon
KO6AYV

Regular 2M Net Operators:

  • Week 1: Marlene KK6CTX
  • Week 2: Jim AG6EA
  • Week 3: Bruce W6SOW
  • Week 4: Juan AJ6PH (SIMPLEX)
  • Week 5: Shannon KO6AYV

RCARA 6 Meter Chat

Posted on by Juan Mejia

Join us Tuesdays for a 6 Meter Chat on 50.500 MHz FM.

The Tuesday 6 Meter Net begin at 7:00PM PST on 50.500 MHz FM.

Assisting in this chat is a remote receiver placed on Sierra Peak in Corona. The receiver was placed there to foster conversation primarily on the Six Meter AM Roundtable hosted by Will AA6DD, which happens every Sunday at 10:00 AM, on 50.400AM.

The receiver and its functionality are accessible to anyone who has the software and a little bit of time. AA6RF described the steps:

Here’s what you need to do to get on the 6 Meter Sierra Peak remote.

You need a Windows or Android computer. Log into remotehams.com, RemoteHams.com – Home It is free to create an account there if necessary.

Then download rcforbclient setup RemoteHams.com – Downloads. After that open up app and there are many remotes to log into. You want to log into W6RYO Sierra Peak.

It’s that easy.


FIELD DAY 2019 SHINING STARS

Posted on by w6tj-admin

RCARA’S MVPs:

  • OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – PETE SELLAS – PARK PROCUREMENT
  • SCOUT TROOP 116 – OPENING CEREMONIES
  • ART AA6CA – PUBLICITY
  • BOB KG6NIB – EQUIPMENT & OPERATOR
  • JUAN KM6CFH – RADIO EQUIPMENT & OPERATOR, SET UP
  • JOHN KM6YLK – RADIO EQUIPMENT, OPERATOR & SECURITY, SET UP, GOTA CAPTAIN
  • DAVID KM6WVH – RADIO OPERATOR & SECURITY
  • JIM AG6EA – VE COORDINATOR, TESTING SITE, EQUIPMENT LOAN, SET UP
  • MADELEINE KM6QCF/AG – SAFETY OFFICER, GENERAL ASSISTANCE, SET UP, TEAR DOWN
  • RICK AI6AU – TOWER, RADIO ANTENNAS, EQUIPMENT
  • CHRIS KM6LOQ – SAFETY OFFICER, FIRST AID, SECURITY
  • LARRY WA6PMY – LOGGING SOFTWARE & MAINTENANCE, TEAR DOWN, TRUCK LOAN
  • RICK KK6CTT – EMCOMM, MESH NETWORK DEMO, COOK, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT,             DOOR PRIZE DONATIONS AND BEHIND THE SCENES SUPPORT
  • ALAN KM6KPW/AG – WEB SITE & TECHNICAL LOGGING, RAFFLE PRIZE DONATIONS
  • EMCOMM MEMBERS – STAFFING PAVILION #1 AND PROVIDING DEMOS, SUPPORT, ETC.
  • JURUPA CITIZENS CORP – PARTICIPATION WITH EMCOMM GROUP
  • NINA – POTLUCK COORDINATOR, GENERAL ASSISTANCE
  • RON KE6RYX – PORTA POTTY PROCUREMENT, TEAR DOWN
  • CARRIE N6LMA – MOST RAFFLE TICKET SALES, VE TESTING, EMCOMM SET UP
  • MIKE AI6PD – VE TESTING, EMCOMM SET UP
  • MIKE W6OSO – CLUB PRESIDENT, LOAN OF EQUIPMENT
  • PHIL KJ6KE & MARGARET KC6UDH – DONATION OF RADIO FOR RAFFLE PRIZE, VE TESTER
  • DANA KM6YLM – DONATION OF MUGS FOR RAFFLE PRIZE, GOTA STATION ASSISTANT
  • FIRE STATION #5 – A WELCOME VISIT
  • RPD – MAKING THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND; A TALK ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY/NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR SERVICES:

  • CLAIR – K6LG – CW OPERATOR, eESL CARD COORDINATOR & MAINTENANCE
  • DAVID – K9LMR – EMCOMM, MESH NETWORK, EDGAR ANTENNA
  • MATHEW THURMAN – PHOTOGRAPHER
  • KATRINA SCHIRMER – GOPHER
  • CHERYL THURMAN – GOPHER, MOTHER STABILIZER, SOCIAL DIRECTOR
  • THOMAS JUNKER – TEAR DOWN & TRUCK LOAN

Thank you to all the folks who contributed to the potluck picnic.  There was an abundance of food and goodies to more than please the most discerning tastes.

MUCH APPRECIATION TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED, CONTRIBUTED AND DEDICATED THEIR TIME, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES TO MAKE FIELD DAY 2019 A HUGE SUCCESS.  If I forgot anyone, please remind me and forgive me for the oversight.  We had a great team of volunteers… your time and efforts have not gone unnoticed.

The July 11, 2019 RCARA meeting will consist of an “AFTER ACTION REVIEW” for the purpose of discussing Field Day 2019 … goals, what was accomplished, what was successful, what went wrong and what the club can do to make future Field Days better.

Please come prepared to critique the FD but be mindful that if you have a criticism, you are expected to follow it up with a solution.

This is a meeting to help iron out some of the “wrinkles” that were observed followed by a suggestion for change to those areas that are in need of “fixing”.

 Plan ahead and bring your constructive thoughts and solutions.

 APPRECIATIVELY,

~Marlene

KK6CTX

 

Members Only – Field Day 2019

Posted on by w6tj-admin

Members Only – Field Day 2019 (Updated 6-18-2019)

If you wish to volunteer for specific duties or as needed, please sign up at the June 13th meeting.

Boy Scouts (Troop 116 – not confirmed) will facilitate the Opening Ceremonies at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday

RCARA Field Day 2019 Technology Plan

Volunteers needed:

  • QSO Loggers – Software to be used will be the N1MM Logger
  • Setup crews (Friday beginning at 11:00 a.m.)
  • Cleanup crews (Sunday, 11:00 a.m.)
  • Overnight security (4 hour shifts) for Friday and Saturday nights
  • Radio equipment and operators
  • Folding tables
  • Potluck food donations or $5.00 for Saturday night dinner
  • Cook for BBQ Pot Luck
  • Overnight campers
  • Donations of items for Door Prizes
  • Offering of Tickets for raffle prizes by members (see Marlene KK6CTX for tickets)
  • Main raffle will be for a new DMR radio with programming cable, HT, $100 Home Depot gift certificate; $50 Starbucks gift certificate and other assorted items.

 

Field Day 2019

Posted on by w6tj-admin

 

ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO / EMERGENCY PREPARATION

FIELD DAY 2019

June 22 – 23 2019

 

*** Field Day 2019 Shining Stars! ***

 

The community is invited to join the Riverside County Amateur Radio Association at Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park, 5759 Jurupa Ave., Riverside, CA for a weekend of outdoor Amateur Radio. The event is open to the public and is free of charge. The activities begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and run through 11:00 a.m. on Sunday

Martha McLean - Anza Narrows ParkThis is a great opportunity to learn about Ham Radio and how you too can be prepared for emergency communications when disaster strikes.  Additionally, ham radio is a great hobby for all ages and affords many opportunities to utilize the airwaves to communicate with others who have similar interests.  Ham operators are service oriented and often help out when needed during events such as marathons, races, search and rescues, as well as communications after major storms, flooding, fires, etc. 

Several organizations will join us to help demonstrate survival techniques, emergency preparedness, safety methods and other helpful resources.  There will be many opportunities to learn how to become a licensed ham operator and experience several features of the new trends and digital functions of radio communications.

Come join us and see what it is that we do and how to do it.  When a disaster strikes, we can communicate without electricity, cell phones or computers relying only on battery, generators or solar power.

February 14, 2019 Meeting Presentation – DMR

Posted on by w6tj-admin

The title of our February presentation will be “DMR The Mysteries Exposed”

Our featured guest speaker will be Michael Rickey AF6FB.  He has been a licensed ham since about 1982 and is now an Extra.  He knows and lives DMR, but more important he can bring it down to the simplest of levels.

Michael is well versed in Motorola and the Chinese radios on the market today and can answer many of your questions.

His web site can be found at http://mrickey.com/

Michael says he is mostly active on UHF – Analog, D-Star, and DMR.  You will frequently find him on the DMR using the SoCal (31066) or California (3016) talk groups.

Please join us and bring a friend or two to hear about the current trends in DMR.  You know you want to learn more and this is the best of the best.

Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. and location is at the La Sierra University Church, 4937 Sierra Vista Ave. in Riverside, CA.  Talk in is on the w6tj repeater.

November 8th Meeting Agenda

Posted on by w6tj-admin

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ:

Check in to the RCARA Public Service Net tonight, 7:00 p.m. on the w6tj repeater.

Thursday, November 8th is the final FORMAL meeting of 2018 for RCARA.  It is probably one of the most important meetings of the year because elections will be held for the new Board of Directors for 2019.

Please consider volunteering or nominating someone who is willing to be a part of the planning and implementation of club activities.  Without these dedicated members, RCARA could cease to sustain the status of an outstanding and functional radio club.  Nominations can be made from the floor at the November meeting prior to the election.

All positions are open for nominations.  The following club members have volunteered to serve:

  • PRESIDENT:  Open
  • VICE PRESIDENT:  Alan Serl KM6KPW
  • SECRETARY:  Margaret Albanese KC6UDH
  • TREASURER:  Jim Wiley AG6EA
  • COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR:  Ron Braley KE6RYX
  • DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP:  Open
  • EDITOR OF THE MONITOR NEWSLETTER:  Open

 

APPOINTED POSITIONS:   All positions are open.  The following members have volunteered to continue in their present roles:

  • W6TJ TRUSTEE:  Don Williams KD6UVT
  • CLUB PHOTOGRAPHER: Rick Schirmer KK6CTT
  • SUNSHINE CHAIRMAN:  Art Sutorus AA6CA
  • WEB MASTER:  Alan Serl KM6KPW

 

Annual Club Dues for 2019 are coming up.  There has been a change in the dues structure and amount as well as in the application methods.  You can find the information on the w6tj.org web site in the Club Membership Link.

 

November 8 is the last day to submit your nomination letter for the Harry Crawford W6TJ Memorial Award or the LEJO Perpetual Award.

 

The Annual Christmas Party is scheduled for FRIDAY, December 14, 2018 at Kountry Folks Restaurant, 3653 La Sierra Avenue, 6:00 p.m.  Further details  on the web site in the Upcoming Events link.

 

Michael McBride K6MJM has come up with an “On Line Tech Class” using specialized software and will share details at the meeting.  We will need a couple of volunteers to assist.

 

 

SOCIALIZING IS FUN TOO

 

Several of us meet prior to the meeting, 4:00 p.m. for dinner at the Kountry Folks Restaurant before proceeding on to the meeting.  Everyone is invited to join us.

 

Tuesday, November 13 the Hungry Hams Lunch Bunch will gather at the Back Street Café, 3735 Nelson Street at Brockton, 11:00 a.m.  Join us for some further socializing and camaraderie.

 

Your attendance at the November meeting is very important for the reasons stated above.  I look forward to your attendance and participation.

 

Sincerely,

 

~Marlene

KK6CTX

 

W6TJ’s Field Day eQSL Cards

Posted on by w6tj-admin

FIELD DAY BEHIND THE SCENES:

  W6TJ’s Field Day eQSL Cards

 

The tradition of exchanging post cards (QSLs) to confirm radio contacts goes back to the very first ham radio operators.  The cards usually bore the call sign, and station and contact information, of the station sending.  Many ham shacks even today have these cards plastered on their walls.  ARRL Awards such as Worked All States, DX Century Club etc. required the submission of these cards as proof of contacts made.  The ARRL manages bureaus for incoming and outgoing paper DX QSL cards, primarily for this purpose.  For information go to ARRL.org web site.

In recent years online electronic QSLs have become popular through eQSL.cc.

These are often received in one’s inbox, shortly after a contact is made.  Registration and use, is free, and set up is easy.  Check it out at www.eQSL.cc.

For the past twenty years, Clair, K6LG, has been managing the W6TJ eQSL account.  We have received many (800 to date) from our Field Day contacts, and other public demonstrations .  All incoming eQSLs have been sent the W6TJ QSL shown below.  Some of the incoming eQSL’s for Field Day contacts are also shown:

  • W6TJ to VE7NSR
  • OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA