~~NOTOC~~ ==== News Archive - 2024 ==== Archived news items will be posted here, with the most recent items at the top. ---- ==== DECEMBER 2024 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On Saturday, December 14th, a test session was held in Lakeport. Of the three people that tested, all passed! There were two new technician-class licensees and one upgrade to general-class. ---- ==== DECEMBER 2024 TEST SESSION ==== A test session will be held at **10 AM** on **Saturday, December 14th** 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 2024 test session|Tim WB9NJS]]. If you would like to participate as a volunteer examiner, please contact [[ki6rit@gmail.com?subject=December 2024 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. ---- ==== EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING ==== The Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services, in conjunction with the Mendocino Auxiliary Communications Service (MACS), will be offering two one-hour ZOOM presentations on emergency radio procedures and on emergency radio documentation. Unlike our regular day-to-day chatting, emergency communications require special considerations to be efficient and to document what you have done. These two presentations will be offered twice in October on the following dates from 1800 to 1900 hours: *Oct 21 - Monday - Procedures *Oct 25 - Friday - Documentation *Nov 4 - Monday - Documentation *Nov 8 - Friday - Procedures You need only attend one presentation for each topic. When registering, please give me the dates you wish to attend. For those wishing to attend, please [[mgmcarter@outlook.com?subject=October emergency communications training|register with me]] so I can send you the invitation with the ZOOM meeting link and the appropriate forms for the practice sessions. Please share this information with other hams you know. 73,\\ Mike KC6MGM\\ MACS Coordinator ---- ==== SEPTEMBER 2024 TEST SESSION ==== A test session will be held at **10 AM** on **Saturday, September 21st** at the [[https://goo.gl/maps/NVU1HeuduXfgjSwN9|Redwood Collegiate Academy]] in Ukiah. If you are interested in testing, please contact [[tdhanna@msn.com?subject=September 2024 test session|Tim WB9NJS]]. If you would like to participate as a volunteer examiner, please contact [[ki6rit@gmail.com?subject=September 2024 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. ---- ==== COASTAL REGIONAL EXERCISE ==== Mendocino County, along with Humboldt and others, will be participating in the 2024 Coastal Region Radio Exercise. The exercise will be held **Thursday August 22nd** beginning at **0900** with a general briefing. Most activities will take place between **1000** and **1300**. This is an opportunity for Ham Radio operators in the county to gain experience responding to an emergency incident, in this case a simulated 7.8 Earthquake. Participants may respond via their home or office stations. We need radio operators to simulate field assignments and pass information to the county Emergency Operations Center (EOC). There will be a short Zoom training prior to the event and a general briefing for participants the morning of the exercise. We need your support! To register for the exercise, please follow the link copied below and register in the role of **Player**. Once you have registered, or if you have questions, please send an email to [[maheil@pacbell.net?subject=August Coastal Regional Exercise|Mike, K6MAH]]. Click [[https://humboldtgov.org/calendar.aspx?EID=12091|here]] to register for the event. The registration deadline is **Monday, August 19th at noon**. ---- ==== PETER KOOLS, NB6H, SK ==== It is with sadness that we report that our friend and colleague, Peter Kools, NB6H, passed away recently. Peter had recently joined the amateur radio world but in a short period, worked his way up to an extra-class license, became active on the VHF and HF bands, became accredited as a volunteer examiner (with participation in 10 sessions in a year!), gave presentations at our last general license training class, and stepped up to be the secretary for McARCS. He was known for his warm personality and willingness to help. The McARCS officers and members extend our condolences to Peter's family. ---- ==== JUNE 2024 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On Saturday, June 15th, a test session was held in Lakeport. Of the three people that tested, two passed - two upgrades from technician-class to general-class. ---- ==== JUNE 2024 TEST SESSION ==== A test session will be held at **10 AM** on **Saturday, June 15th** at the [[https://goo.gl/maps/ywX93xfJrNqyHaan9|Lake County Office of Education]] in Lakeport. If you are interested in testing, please contact [[exams@mcarcs.org?subject=June 2024 test session|McARCS]]. If you would like to participate as a volunteer examiner, please contact [[ki6rit@gmail.com?subject=June 2024 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. ---- ==== NET UPDATES ==== There have been some changes with the regional [[:nets|]] over the last month or so: * **Swap Net** - The net schedule has changed from weekly to **the first Thursday of the month** due to lack of items being posted and lack of response to a request for a second net control to split duties with * **Trivia Net** - A fun trivia net is being run by Mike, KC6MGM, **weekly on Thursdays at 7:30 PM**, with the exception of the second Thursday of the month as that's when the WARS net runs * **APRS Net** - A net utilizing [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System|APRS]] will begin running as a pilot on **Wednesdays** starting **May 8th from 5 PM to 7:30 PM**. To check in, send a message to AE6LJ on 144.390 MHz from a radio with APRS capabilities //(no APRSdroid!)//. If successful, you should get an automated response. If participation is high enough, this may become an official net. ---- ==== APRIL 2024 TEST SESSION RESULTS ==== On Saturday, April 27th, a test session was held in Ukiah. Of the six people that tested, four passed - two new technician-class, one new general-class (technician/general in one sitting!), and one upgrade to extra-class. ---- ==== LAUGHLIN RIDGE REPEATER SITE REPAIRS ==== Repairs have been made on the equipment hosted at the Laughlin Ridge repeater site located between Willits and Redwood Valley. The WIN System repeater on 147.120 MHz is operational again //(in standalone mode, currently no connection to the WIN System)//, as is the APRS repeater. A [[https://winlink.org/|Winlink]] packet node on 145.050 MHz has also been added. Thank you to everyone that worked on this project! ---- ==== APRIL 2024 TEST SESSION ==== A test session will be held at **10 AM** on **Saturday, April 27th** at the [[https://goo.gl/maps/NVU1HeuduXfgjSwN9|Redwood Collegiate Academy]] in Ukiah. If you are interested in testing, please contact [[tdhanna@msn.com?subject=April 2024 test session|Tim WB9NJS]]. If you would like to participate as a volunteer examiner, please contact [[ki6rit@gmail.com?subject=April 2024 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. ---- ==== MENDOCINO ULTRA MARATHON ==== This year's Mendocino 50K ultra marathon will be held on **Saturday, April 20th**. More volunteers are needed! If you would like to participate, contact [[mgmcarter@outlook.com?subject=Mendocino Ultra Marathon|Mike KC6MGM]]. For more information on the event, click [[https://mendocinoultra.com/|here]]. ---- To view older news postings, click [[:news_archive_2023|here]]. //{{counter}} visitors to this page since March 2025//