~~NOTOC~~ ==== News Archive - 2023 ==== Archived news items will be posted here, with the most recent items at the top. ---- ==== DECEMBER 2023 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On Saturday, December 16th, a test session was held in Lakeport. Of the six people that tested, five passed - two new technician-class, one upgrade to general-class, and two upgrades to extra-class. ---- ==== DECEMBER 2023 TEST SESSION ==== A test session will be held at **10 AM** on **Saturday, December 16th** at the [[https://goo.gl/maps/ywX93xfJrNqyHaan9|Lake County Office of Education]] in Lakeport. If you are interested in testing, please contact [[tdhanna@msn.com?subject=December 2023 test session|Tim WB9NJS]]. If you would like to participate as a volunteer examiner, please contact [[ki6rit@gmail.com?subject=December 2023 test session|Nick KI6RIT]]. For links to video recordings of the technician and general-class license training sessions, click [[:training_resources|here]]. **ALERT**: Effective April 19th 2022, the FCC will be implementing a $35 application fee for new license applications. Upgrading an existing license to a higher class is exempt. The fee is in addition to the $15 test fee. Volunteer examiners (VEs) won't be collecting the application fee; you will need to make payment to the FCC directly. Click [[https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee|here]] for more information. ---- ==== NOVEMBER 2023 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On November 4th and 11th, test sessions were held in Fort Bragg and Ukiah, respectively. Six people tested in Ukiah and five passed - three new technician-class, one upgrade from technician to general, and one upgrade from general to extra. The Fort Bragg test resulted in one new technician-class licensee and one upgrade to general-class. ---- ==== NOVEMBER 2023 TEST SESSIONS ==== Test sessions in inland and coastal Mendocino County have been scheduled for shortly after the general class license courses! | ^Ukiah^Fort Bragg| ^Where|[[https://goo.gl/maps/NVU1HeuduXfgjSwN9|Redwood Academy]] \\ 1059 N. State St.|[[https://goo.gl/maps/h4ZkdA7kTiBTGfXQA|Redwood Coast Senior Center]] \\ 490 N. Harold St.| ^When|November 11th @ 9:30 AM|November 4th @ noon| ^Info|No walk-ins, pre-registration required, $15 test fee|| ^Registration contact|[[tdhanna@msn.com?subject=November 2023 exam session|Tim WB9NJS]]|[[ken@kw6v.com?subject=November 2023 exam session|Ken KW6V]]| **ALERT**: Effective April 19th 2022, the FCC will be implementing a $35 application fee for new license applications. Upgrading an existing license to a higher class is exempt. The fee is in addition to the $15 test fee. Volunteer examiners (VEs) won't be collecting the application fee; you will need to make payment to the FCC directly. Click [[https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee|here]] for more information. ---- ==== 2023 GENERAL CLASS LICENSE COURSE ==== === The evening classes which started on October 3rd have concluded. To view recordings of these class sessions, follow the links below (right click and select "Open in new tab"). === Zoom presentations on the 10 subject areas of the FCC General Class Amateur Radio license test will begin October 3 at 1800 hrs (6:00 PM), and continue each Tuesday evening in October. The two hour presentations will be recorded and available below: * October 3rd - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O5VOP7PpW0|Section 5 (Electrical Principles) and Section 6 (Electrical Components, Circuit Diagrams, & Component Functions)]] * October 10th - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak8jPl30oaE|Section 3 (Radio Wave Propagation) and Section 9 (Antennas & Feedlines)]] * October 17th - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyYIzM3Kqz4|Section 4 (Amateur Radio Practices) and Section 8 (Signals & Emissions)]] * October 24th - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pqb5ZxIDK4|Section 0 (Electrical & RF Safety) and Section 2 (Operating Procedures)]] * October 31st - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMoiX0_B-dc|Section 1 (FCC Rules & Regulations)]] To receive the Zoom link to the live presentations, send an email with GENERAL CLASS in the subject line to: [[stkj6eif@gmail.com?subject=GENERAL CLASS|stkj6eif@gmail.com]]. Include your name, callsign, if licensed, and the name of your community. A Zoom link will be emailed to you. Please help us spread the word to anyone you think might be interested by sending them the {{:news:2023_general_course_flyer.pdf|attached flier}}. Thanks for your help. 73s Steve, KJ6EIF and the presentation team //Editor's note: Click [[:training_resources|here]] to view recordings of the technician class license course held earlier this year, as well as links to practice exams and other useful resources.// ---- ==== JUNE 2023 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On Saturday, June 17th, a test session was held in Lakeport. Of the two people that tested, one passed both the technician and general-class tests! ---- ==== 2023 FIELD DAY ==== As officers of our local amateur radio groups, we would like to extend an invitation for you to meet with the amateur radio operators of our community as we participate in the national ARRL Field Day event, **Saturday and Sunday, June 24-25** at the Baechtel Grove School, 1150 Magnolia St, Willits. More information {{:fd2023invite.pdf|here}}. ---- ==== JUNE 2023 TEST SESSION ==== A test session will be held at **9:30 AM** on **Saturday, June 17th** at the [[https://goo.gl/maps/ywX93xfJrNqyHaan9|Lake County Office of Education]] in Lakeport. If you are interested in testing or would like to be a volunteer examiner, please register [[exams@mcarcs.org?subject=June 2023 test|here]]. For links to technician class video recordings from spring 2023, click [[:training_resources|here]]. For study materials and copies of the PowerPoint presentations used in the classes, contact [[ki6rit@gmail.com?subject=Technician class resources|Nick KI6RIT]]. **ALERT**: Effective April 19th 2022, the FCC will be implementing a $35 application fee for new license applications. Upgrading an existing license to a higher class is exempt. The fee is in addition to the $15 test fee. Volunteer examiners (VEs) won't be collecting the application fee; you will need to make payment to the FCC directly. Click [[https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee|here]] for more information. ---- ==== APRIL 2023 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On April 8th and 15th, test sessions were held in Fort Bragg and Ukiah, respectively. Five people passed the technician-class exam in Fort Bragg and two in Ukiah. Congratulations to all participants! ---- ==== 2023 TECHNICIAN CLASS LICENSE COURSE ==== === The evening classes which started on March 7th have concluded. To view recordings of these class sessions, follow the links below (right click and select "Open in new tab"). === The Willits Amateur Radio Society (WARS), Mendocino Auxiliary Communications Service (MACS), and the Mendocino County Amateur Radio Communications Service (McARCS) hosted a **free**, five-week course for those interested in obtaining a technician-class amateur radio license. * March 7th - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prvH4Gxyrko|Section 5 (Electrical Principles) and Section 6 (Electrical Components, Circuit Diagrams, & Component Functions)]] * March 14th - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXKsYKZ1IE8|Section 3 (Radio Waves & Propagation) and Section 0 (Safety)]] * March 21st - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4SoLZLa0ws|Section 8 (Signals & Emissions), Section 9 (Antennas & Feedlines), and Section 7 (Practical Circuits)]] * March 28th - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhCqyrd4U9Q|Section 2 (Operating Procedures) and Section 4 (Amateur Practices)]] * April 4th - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7XjygxFe24|Section 1 (FCC Rules and Regulations)]] For those that want to view all of the videos in sequence as a playlist, click [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8gUg1HVa0xAGWgn1tMDEwbcBDUMC2oyA|here]]. Students are encouraged to obtain a copy of the Gordon West **2022-2026** Technician Class study guide, available [[https://www.amazon.com/2022-2026-Technician-Class-WB6NOA-Gordon/dp/0945053010|here]]. ---- ==== MARCH 2023 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On Saturday, March 18th, a test session was held in Lakeport. Of the two people that tested, one earned their technician-class license and one upgraded to general-class. Congratulations to all participants! ---- ==== APRIL 2023 TEST SESSIONS ==== Test sessions in inland and coastal Mendocino County have been scheduled for shortly after the technician class license courses! | ^Ukiah^Fort Bragg| ^Where|[[https://goo.gl/maps/NVU1HeuduXfgjSwN9|Redwood Academy]] \\ 1059 N. State St.|[[https://goo.gl/maps/h4ZkdA7kTiBTGfXQA|Redwood Coast Senior Center]] \\ 490 N. Harold St.| ^When|April 15th @ 9:30 AM|April 8th @ noon| ^Info|No walk-ins, pre-registration required, $15 test fee|| ^Registration contact|[[exams@mcarcs.org?subject=April 2023 exam session|McARCS]]|[[ken@kw6v.com?subject=April 2023 exam session|Ken KW6V]]| **ALERT**: Effective April 19th 2022, the FCC will be implementing a $35 application fee for new license applications. Upgrading an existing license to a higher class is exempt. The fee is in addition to the $15 test fee. Volunteer examiners (VEs) won't be collecting the application fee; you will need to make payment to the FCC directly. Click [[https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee|here]] for more information. ---- ==== 2023 MENDOCINO COAST 50K ULTRA MARATHON ==== This is a 50k run through the Jackson Demonstration Forest starting and ending at Big River beach. Due to a lack of cell phone coverage along the route, the event organizers have requested ham radio support for their event to provide information to the race officials on race status and safety issues. We are looking for six or seven volunteers who are willing to staff the checkpoints. It is a fun experience and a chance to practice your skills operating on a radio net. The event will be on **Saturday, April 22nd** and has a net control station at the start/finish line and five checkpoints along the route. The race begins at **7:00 AM** from the start point and normally lasts approximately 9.5 hours. The check points are staffed in succession as the race progresses with the start point and station one being staffed at 7:00 AM. We normally do a split shift for the net control with a 7:00 AM to noon operator and a noon to 5:00 PM operator. You can learn more about the event at [[https://mendocinoultra.com/|https://mendocinoultra.com/]] For additional information or to volunteer for the event, contact [[mgmcarter@outlook.com|Mike KC6MGM]]. ---- ==== MARCH 2023 TSUNAMI DRILL ==== The annual west coast tsunami drill will be held on March 29th from 1100 to 1200. We need radio operators for the following locations: * Ten Mile * Pudding Creek * Noyo Harbor * Caspar Beach * Mendocino Bay * Van Damme * Albion * Manchester * Point Arena * Anchor Bay * Gualala Prior to the exercise, instructions and maps will be sent to all volunteers. If you will be available to staff one of the above locations on March 29th, please email [[mgmcarter@outlook.com|Mike KC6MGM]]. ---- ==== MARCH 2023 TEST SESSION ==== A test session will be held at **9:30 AM** on **Saturday, March 18th** at the [[https://goo.gl/maps/ywX93xfJrNqyHaan9|Lake County Office of Education]] in Lakeport. If you are interested in testing or would like to be a volunteer examiner, please register [[exams@mcarcs.org?subject=March 2022 test|here]]. For links to technician class video recordings from summer 2021, click [[:training_resources|here]]. If you have questions regarding the license test sections covered in the videos above, click {{news:tech_class_self-study_flier.pdf|here}}. For study materials and copies of the PowerPoint presentations used in the classes, contact [[ki6rit@gmail.com?subject=Technician class resources|Nick KI6RIT]]. **ALERT**: Effective April 19th 2022, the FCC will be implementing a $35 application fee for new license applications. Upgrading an existing license to a higher class is exempt. The fee is in addition to the $15 test fee. Volunteer examiners (VEs) won't be collecting the application fee; you will need to make payment to the FCC directly. Click [[https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee|here]] for more information. ---- ==== UPDATED THURSDAY NET TIME SLOTS ==== Effective February, there will be a change to the time slots of the Thursday nets. The Swap Net will shift from **7:30 PM** to **7:00 PM**, and other nets (YL, Part 97, WARS, etc.) will shift from **7:00 PM** to **7:30 PM**. The reason for this shift is that the Swap Net usually runs for 15 to 20 minutes, while the other nets often stretch past 30 minutes. This change will allow the other nets to be "open-ended" and run for longer if needed. //Edit: The schedule change was a success! This month's WARS net was able to run for nearly an hour and had a lot of good discussion. Thank you to all net control operators for agreeing to the change.// ---- To view older news postings, click [[:news_archive_2022-prior|here]]. //{{counter}} visitors to this page since October 2024//