Because it falls close to the Independence Day Holiday (July 4), we will not meet on Friday, July 01, 2016. If you show-up expecting a meeting, you will be disappointed. There will be no food, no meeting, no presentation, and the clubhouse will be locked. COMPLETED
The Board will still meet on Thursday, July 14.
NO MEETING ON FRIDAY, JULY 1
Posted in Club Events
Amateurs asked to avoid operating on 7.060 MHz for Ecaudor Earthquake Traffic
Posted in Operating Events, Uncategorized
2016 Public Service Season Begins
Our 2016 Public Service Schedule begins with Ridge to Bridge on Saturday, April 30. Contact Michael Fischer, K6MLF; Rob Rowlands, NZ6J; or Randy Jenkins, KA6BQF to sign up.
| Event | Date: | Mars Organizer | Description |
| Upcoming events: | |||
| Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s Dirt Fondo [mtn. bike ride] | Sunday, August 28, 2016 | Michael Fischer K6MLF | Communications support for the Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s Dirt Fondo bicycle event. The ride courses cover trails in Marin County. The start and finish is in the Marin Headlands, and routes run as far north as East Peak. |
| Dolphin Club Escape from Alcatraz {triathlon – footrace} | Saturday, September 24, 2016 | Randy Jenkins KA6BQF | Communications support for the run portion of Dolphin Club triathlon event. There are 40 – 60 participants, including relay teams. The event starts with a swim from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park in San Francisco. Participants then transition to bicycles to ride to Mill Valley. The run portion is from Mill Valley over the Dipsea Trail to Stinson Beach and back to the finish in Mill Valley. |
| Breast Cancer Fund’s Peak Hike {hike} | Sunday, September 25 , 2016 | Rob Rowlands NZ6J | Communications support for Breast Cancer Fund’s Peak Hike, which covers trails on Mt. Tamalpais. |
| Zero Breast Cancer’s Dipsea Hike {hike} | Saturday, October 08, 2016 | Michael Fischer K6MLF | Communications support for Dipsea Hike For Zero Breast Cancer , a six mile fundraising trail hike on trails on Mt. Tamalpais. The event begins and ends at Old Mill Park in Mill Valley. |
| 2016 Completed Events | |||
| Ridge to Bridge {hike, footrace, et al} | Saturday, April 30, 2016 | Michael Fischer K6MLF | Our first public service event of the calendar year; The Ridge to Bridge (hike, run, mountainbike, horseback) event is sponsored by the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and follows the Ridge Trail (of course) from Samuel P. Taylor State Park in central Marin south to the Golden Gate Bridge. The participants gather in the Presidio (the location of net control) and are transported by bus to the various stages of different lengths (the longest starts at Sam Taylor, the shortest from Muir Woods.) There will be 300-500 participants. Be prepared for route changes. |
| Miwok 100K {footrace} | Saturday, May 7, 2016 | Rob Rowlands NZ6J | The Miwok 100k is a highly competitive footrace around the Mount Tamalpais-Marin Headlands hills of Southern Marin. Net control will be at the Stinson Beach start-finish. There will be seven rest stops with radio operators—a dozen volunteer communicators will be needed. Be prepared for route changes. |
| The Dipsea Race {footrace} | Sunday, June 12, 2016 | Randy Jenkins KA6BQF | Communications support for The Dipsea Race, an annual 7.4 mile trail run from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, over Mt. Tamalpais. 1,500 runners participate, with staggered starts according to age and gender. First run in 1905, The Dipsea is the oldest trail run in America. MARS has supported this event for decades, It’s a tradition! |
| Double Dipsea {footrace} | Saturday, June 18, 2016 | Michael Fischer K6MLF | Communications support for The Double Dipsea, an annual trail run event that starts and finishes at Stinson Beach. Around 800 participants run from Stinson Beach over Mt. Tamalpais to Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, and back over the same course to Stinson Beach, about 14 miles of steep terrain. This event has a staggered start according to age and gender. |
| Arthritis Bike Classic [bike event] (NEW EVENT 2016) | Saturday, July 09, 2016 | Rob Rowlands NZ6J | Communications support for the Arthritis Foundation’s Bike Classic event. The event projects 200 cyclists, has 26 and 60 mile routes. |
| Tour de MALT [bike event] (NEW EVENT 2016) | Saturday, July 23, 2016 | Michael Fischer K6MLF | Communications support for the Tour de MALT bike ride, which benefits the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. The event projects 300 cyclists, and has 40 and 80 mile routes. |
| Marin Century [bike ride] Due to road closures, there will be course changes in 2016 | Saturday, August 06, 2016 | Rob Rowlands NZ6J | Communications support and / or sag support for the Marin Double Century bicycle event. The ride courses cover roads in Marin and southern Sonoma Counties. About 2,800 cyclists participate. There are 32 mile, 63 mile, 100 mile, 126 mile and 200 mile routes. The start and finish is in Terra Linda, and routes run as far south as Muir Woods, and as far north as Occidental. THERE ARE ROUTE CHANGES IN 2016 |
Posted in Club Events, Public Service
Amateur Extra Question Pool Changes 7/01
The question pool for the Amateur Extra is scheduled to change for exams beginning July 01, 2016. The last date that one can take an exam under the current pool is June 30, 2016. Our next exam session in Mill Valley is scheduled for May 15 at 2PM. If you are studying for your Amateur Extra license, get a move on!
Question Pools usually are in effect for a four-year cycle, one class of license at a time. The last the Amateur Extra question pool changed was July 1, 2012. The Technician Class question pool is scheduled to change July 1, 2018 and the General Class question pool is scheduled to change July 1, 2019. Current question pools and upcoming question pools would be available at NCVEC Question Pools
Posted in Club Events, Education, Regulatory
FCC Seeks Comments on Petition to Grant Lifetime Amateur Radio Licenses
From the ARRL Website:
02/24/2016
The FCC is seeking comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM 11760) that asks the FCC to grant lifetime Amateur Radio licenses. Mark F. Krotz, N7MK, of Mesa, Arizona, filed his request with the FCC last November. He wants the FCC to revise § 97.25 of its rules to indicate that Amateur Radio licenses are granted for the holder’s lifetime, instead of for the current 10 year term. Krotz noted that the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) already is issued on a lifetime basis, and he maintained that not having to renew licenses would lighten the FCC’s workload.
“It would be mutually beneficial for the FCC and Amateur Radio operators to update Part 97 to grant operator licenses for lifetime, Krotz said in his filing. “The FCC would benefit by reducing administrative costs.”
In 2014 the FCC granted lifetime credit for examination elements 3 and 4, but applicants seeking relicensing under that provision still must pass examination element 2.
Individuals may submit comments via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
UPDATE posted 8/20/16: The FCC announced that the Petition for Rule Making (RM 11760) has been dismissed.
Posted in Regulatory
MDARC Announces a General Upgrade Class Beginning 3/31/16
COMPLETED
Education & Training
Classes – 2016
Classes – 2016
Location: The Salvation Army
3950 Clayton Road (at West St.), Concord
3950 Clayton Road (at West St.), Concord
The Salvation Army Team Emergency Network (SATERN) together with the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club hold their classes at the Salvation Army Church at the above address.
Registration:
Registration:
Registration is required. All classes are FREE. (There may a required materials fee.)
However, for License Classes, each student must have full access to a copy of the required manual (see link below), both in class and outside of class for study. In addition, handouts and homework assignments will be sent by email in PDF format in advance of each class session. These MUST be printed, completed (for the homework) and brought to each class.
Sign up with an email to: HamRadioClass@gmail.com.
License Testing:
License testing will be conducted after the last session of License Classes. See the schedule below. An FCC-mandated additional fee applies. Currently, that fee is $15.00.
However, for License Classes, each student must have full access to a copy of the required manual (see link below), both in class and outside of class for study. In addition, handouts and homework assignments will be sent by email in PDF format in advance of each class session. These MUST be printed, completed (for the homework) and brought to each class.
Sign up with an email to: HamRadioClass@gmail.com.
License Testing:
License testing will be conducted after the last session of License Classes. See the schedule below. An FCC-mandated additional fee applies. Currently, that fee is $15.00.
Schedule:
Class sessions normally begin at 7:00 pm sharp and end by 9:00 pm. The first class session of each License Class begins 1/2 hour earlier, to provide for registration, manual & materials distribution and other administrative necessities. March 31 – May 19 (8 Sessions)
More information at: MDARC 2016 Classes
Posted in Education, Uncategorized
Guest Speaker 2016 Schedule
Presentations given in 2016:
2/5/2016 – Our guest speaker program for 2016 started off with a presentation by Brett Stewart, K6BPS. Brett talked about building a PAN adapter.
3/4/2016 – Antonis Papatsaras, AA6PP – SF club digital Fusion repeater Antonis Papatsaras spoke on the installation of a Yaesu Fusion digital repeater in San Francisco.
4/1/2016 – Richard Dillman, W6AWO – Marconi / KPH history
Richard Dillman spoke on the history of the coastal station KPH located on the Marin coast. See our page on: Night of Nights Come become a True Believer.
May 06, 2016 – Kenneth Finnegan, W6KWF – Wildflower Triathlon
Wildflower Triathlon Webpage
June 03, 2016 – Edison Fong, WB6IQN – Tri-band J-pole Ed’s Antennas Webpage
Edison Fong brought his latest j-pole design, at triband antenna that works on 2M, 1.25M, and 70 cm.
No Presentation / Meeting in July
August 05, 2016 – David Messerschmitt, KK6KFQ – Interstellar Communication
David Messerschmitt, from Cal, spoke about the challenges faced in communications at interstellar distances.
September 02, 2016 – Joe Fischer, K5EJL – Mesh Networks
Joe Fischer returned to explain more about Mesh Networks.
October 07, 2016 – Jack Troup, WA6JYL- World Above 500 MHz. Our own Jack Troup was our speaker.
November 04, 2016 – Jim Colletto, N6TQ – Heard Island DXpedition.
Jim Colleto, a member of the latest Heard Island DXpedtion, presented a talk on his experiences.
Thursday, December 08, 2016, 6:30PM – Our annual Holiday Party was our December General Membership Meeting & Board Meeting. No presentation in December. We charge a fee to attend our Holiday Party, which includes dinner and door prizes. Paid members and guests are welcome. We had 41 members and guests. PLEASE RSVP to rsvp@w6sg.net if you are coming.
Posted in Club Events, Uncategorized
Next Education Meeting Set for 7/10
We are planning a follow-up meeting on teaching classes again for Sunday, July 10 at 11:00AM. People who are interested in teaching classes are meeting with outgoing instructors, to plan a strategy to present classes. Please RSVP to rsvp@w6sg.net, if you plan to attend. COMPLETED
Posted in Club Events, Education, Uncategorized
MARS dues were due 1/01/16, Deliquent 6/30/16
MARS dues for 2016 are now due and payable. The dues are only $25.00 for 2016. You will be delinquent after June 30, and you will not receive the newsletter after that date. You may pay your dues on the website, using our PayPal account, at Renew .
Posted in Club Events, Uncategorized
