October 2018 Presidents Message
Greetings one and all and all the ships at sea.
If you did not make the September meeting, well, I don’t know what to tell you. We had a great time. First off was the annual hot dog feed. Before the usual meeting we BBQ’d up several pounds of hot dogs and everyone had a good time just socializing with the rest of the members.
The program that evening was well received. Bill KD6KTV and Roland KE6NPN from the Mile High Radio Club made the trip down to tell us about their experiences during the Cranston Fire. Of special interest was the operation of an AM broadcast station on 1610 KHz. It gave out information on evacuation areas, fire situations and when the evacuation orders were lifted for what areas.
The November meeting will be the annual elections. All of the board positions are open, so if you’d like a chance to get a little more involved in the club, let myself or Gavin know. Our contact information is on the club web site.
I think that is about it. We have some changes coming up and some fun big announcements. But I think I will leave those for next month.
See you on the bands (by the way, they still are in the pits)
Glenn WB6RLC
President
Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18th at the usual place (3000 E. Alejo Rd. Palm Springs).
We will be having a presentation from Bob Turner on changes in the ARES organization. He will clarify the changes in roles and responsibilities recently implemented in ARES. This promises to be an informative talk on one of Amateur Radio’s most important emergency groups.
The Great California Shakeout
Please check in to the Great Shake Out (GSO) Net, on Thursday, October 18, at 10:18, from American Legion Post 519 Amateur Radio Club on the following frequencies:
10:18-10:45 a.m.: 2-meters, 146.760MHz (-) (107.2) (San Jay)
10:45-10:50 a.m.: 70 cm, 445.860MHz (-) (107.2) WB6RLC
10:50-11:00 a.m.: 1.25 Meters 224.480MHz (-) (110.9) RATS 220
11:00-11:10 a.m.: Simplex 145.450
11:10- 11:18 a.m.: HF 7.278MHz
Note: The HF frequency will be receiving calls from 9:30 a.m. until the net shuts down.
Please show your support for this important event!
The net will officially begin at 10:18 a.m. and will last approximately one hour. You may check in anytime during that hour. Also, someone will be on frequency at 9:30 a.m. for early check-ins. Normal operations will be in effect, but participants should be allowed to break in to check into the net and transmissions should be kept short between 10:18 and 11:18
To read more about the Great Shake Out, click here: https://www.shakeout.org/california/
Project: Cup Holder Mobile Mount
by Glenn WB6RLC
Several yearsago, someone made a left turn in front of me and totaled my Infinity. Now, a little out of paranoia but mostly from practicality, I bought a Hyundai Santa Fe, a SUV. These are great vehicles, lots of room for camping gear and trips to the home supply store. They have everything including enough cup holders for the 3rdMarines, but not much in the way of space to mount a small VHF mobile rig.
Somehow, I came up with the idea of using the convenient cup holder, at the driver’s right elbow. The form is a 12oz plastic cup. I took a piece of ¼ inch threaded stock, bent it to about 45degs (for a better viewing angle) and attached a large fender washer with 2 nuts at the bottom. This keeps the rod from working its way loose in the epoxy. I added some gravel to the bottom of the cup, put the rod in place, then added more gravel. The gravel gives a little more weight and uses less epoxy. I then filled the cup up with common fiber glassing epoxy and let it set up. Tap it several times to help work out any air bubbles. I also had to set it in a shallow pail of water to cool if off. It was starting to bulge at the sides from the heat of the reaction. Once it was set up and cooled, I mounted 2 more nuts and 2 fender washers at the top to attach to the mobile mount of my radio.
Alas, it was not quite right. It sat too low in the consoles cup holder. The radio was resting against the passengers seat and was also blocking the exhaust fan of the radio.
Rev 2. This time I took another cup out to the car and kept filling it with gravel to see how much I need to raise the existing mount. I then just epoxied the first cup into the second. The whole assembly will be painted with black epoxy paint and will look great. By the way, the drivers side cup holder makes a great mic holder.
Reminder – ARES NET Activity
Banning Pass ARES will be having their Tuesday night net on Mt. Edna 147.915 (-) PL 123 at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evening.
….Mike Mendoza EC Banning Pass ARES
Elections and Notice of General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 20that 7:00 p.m.
Our annual elections for officers will be held at the November meeting. All Board positions are open. If you wish to declare your candidacy, please contact Gavin K6GAV at k6gav@outlook.comor in person at the October meeting.
That is all……
