Yolo ARES News

Ham Radio and California's of New Cellular phone laws

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:55:22 PST

From the California Department of Motor Vehicles web site In the FAQ of New Cellular phone laws that go into effect July 1, 2008 It looks like we can use a ham radio in a vehicle after July 1. Q: May I use a dedicated two-way radio while driving? A: Yes. The use of dedicated two-way radios such as walkie-talkies or Citizen Band (CB) radios is not affected by the new law.

Fire Season 2008

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:36:29 PST

Fire season is rapidly approaching. Despite the rainstorms we've had at the start of the year and being told that we would not be facing a drought, forecasters are predicting a much hotter, drier season this year. As a result, Cal Fire (formerly CDF), has posted some helpful tips on creating a defensive zone. * Remove all flammable vegetation 30ft from all structures. * In an additional 70ft, create a reduced fuel zone by spacing trees and plants from each other. (This creates a total of 100ft of defensible space.) * Clear all needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters. * Trim branches 6ft from the ground. * Remove branches 10ft from all chimneys. * Use trimming, mowing and power equipment before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m., not in the heat of the day. * Landscape with fire-resistant plants. KCRA, Sacramento, CA: Calfire: Prepare Your Home For Fire Season California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection The below links are to various news Websites about this years fire season predictions. They are mainly for Southern California, however, Northern California is facing the same predictions. KABC, Los Angeles, CA: Officials bracing for bad fire season KEYT, Santa Barbara, CA: Predictions For 2008 Fire Season San Luis Obispo, CA: Horrible fire year forecast for California KXTV, Sacramento, CA: Spring Fires Hint of What's to Come?

Hamfest 2008

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:25:14 PST

The North Hill Radio Club is hosting the Valley's largest ham swap meet, Hamfest 2008. Hamfest is a flea market for amateur radio operators. The swap meet allows radio operators to look for those rare parts and excellent deals on used, slightly used, and near new equipment that other operators no longer need or want. More importantly, we meet fellow hams. There will be hourly raffles with a drawing for the main prizes at 1100hrs (11:00am). The main prizes are a Yaesu FT-60R, dual-band radio; an Alinco variable output, switching power supply; and a Diamond X30 dual-band, base station antenna. Unfortunately, it does not say if there will be one drawing for all three or three separate drawings. My guess is they will be having three separate drawings. This year's Hamfest will be on, Sunday, 18 May 2008, and starts at 0700hrs (7:00am). It ends at 1200hrs (12:00pm). The Hamfest is being held at Bella Vista High School, in beautiful Fair Oaks. The school is located at 8301 Madison Avenue, on the corner of Madison Avenue and Kenneth Avenue. To see a map and directions from I-80, please click here: Directions from I-80 & Madison Avenue. For a map and directions from US 50, please click here: Directions from US 50 & Suunrise Boulevard. There is also a talk-in frequency that you can call on for directions and to find available parking. The talk-in is on the K6IS repeater. Frequency: 145.1900MHz, negative (-) offset, PL is 162.2. It doesn't say who to contact, but if you were to call out on the radio that you are looking for Hamfest info you will get a reply. North Hills Radio Club - K6IS Hamfest 2008 Please note: The Website is slow to load, including the PDF. Please be patient. Hope to see you there!!!

EMCOMM WEST 2008

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:28:20 PST

Emergency Communications conference "The Biggest Little Ham Convention in the World" May 2-4, 2008 at the Circus Circus Hotel in Reno, Nevada

New Operators Training Class

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:50:52 PST

Operators Training Class March 22, 2008, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Red Cross Chapter House 120 Court Street Woodland CA Sponsors: ARES, ARC, BARK, YARS The goal of this class is to help you learn options when buying a radio, get comfortable with radio, talk on the radio, and meet fellow ham radio operators from local radio groups who can mentor you. Come and have fun!

EMCOMM WEST 2008

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:53:28 PST

"The Biggest Little Ham Convention in the World" May 2-4, 2008 at the Circus Circus Hotel in Reno, Nevada 2008 Keynote Speaker Dennis Dura K2DCD ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager

January 28 ARES net will be on 146.5500 SIMPLEX

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:43:20 PST

The BARK repeater is running on emergency power. The Yolo County ARES net on Monday, January, 28, will be at 8:00 PM 146.5500 SIMPLEX. During a simplex net, it is important to act as a relay if you hear a station that is not being heard by net control.

Yolo County ARES meetings are moving!

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:42:25 PST

Beginning with our February 19, 2008 meeting, Yolo County ARES will be meeting at at the Yolo County Red Cross Chapter House. Our next meeting is February 19, 2008 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Yolo County Red Cross Chapter House 120 Court St Woodland CA 95695

Gary Matteson appointed Red Cross Response Technology Coordinator

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:18:26 PST

Gary Matteson, WA6TQJ, has been appointed as the Yolo and Lake County American Red Cross Response Technology Coordinator. Response Technology, in the American Red Cross, is a team of individuals that establish, coordinate, and maintain continuity of communications during disaster relief operations whenever normal communication channels are disrupted or overloaded. As Response Technology Coordinator, Gary will be responsible for planning and supervising the following activities: Response Technology Team during emergencies and disasters, oversight of Response Technology Equipment, establishment of a Response Technology Amateur Radio Communications Team, operation Yolo/Lake County Red Cross Chapter Response Technology-Communication Center.

Google Map of California Red Cross Chapter Houses

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:40:43 PST

The Google Map of Red Cross Chapter Houses contains phonumbers, addresses, and links to each Chapter web site.

Photos from the November 13, 2007 Yolo County ARES meeting

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:43:41 PST

The meeting included a presentation by Gary, WA6TQJ, on his Red Cross participation at the San Diego Wildfire Response and a presentation by Bill, K6KN, on his & quot;Ready to Go Kit& quot; that he took to his Red Cross assignment at Hurricane Katrina.
Read the Meeting minutes and notes

Yolo ARES Monthly Meeting, Tuesday November 13, 2007

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:08:09 PST

Due to Thanksgiving, we are holding our meeting one week early! Date: 11/13/2007 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Waite Hall, Yolo County Fairgrounds Contact: Darrin, KG6FJL, ec@yoloares.org Details: Our monthly meeting will be at back side of Waite Hall at the Yolo County Fairgrounds. All members are asked to bring their GO KIT.

Yolo ARES Monthly Meeting, Tuesday October 16, 2007

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 10:39:59 PST

Date: 10/16/2007 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Waite Hall, Yolo County Fairgrounds Contact: Darrin, KG6FJL, ec@yoloares.org Details: Our monthly meeting will be at back side of Waite Hall at the Yolo County Fairgrounds.

Yolo County ARES will now be using the BARK repeater

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 18:38:57 PST

The Yolo County ARES net will now meet every Monday evening at 8:00 PM on the KE6YUV repeater- 146.970 MHz negative offset. with a P.L. in 123.0. We are moving to the BARK 2 meter repeater due to the shut down of many 440 repeaters in this area. We'd like to thank Steve, W6KCS, for allowing us to use the W6KCS repeater for the last 3.5 years for our nets.

Yolo County ARES Meeting August 21, 2007

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:15:36 PST

The next meeting of Yolo County AREs will be Tuesday, at 7:00 PM, May 15th at Waite Hall at the Yolo County Fairgrounds. For more information email ec@yoloares.org