February is a dreary month for most.  Feb 12^th, Sunday, can be especially hard.  No more football (!) and Spring is a long ways off.

So….  We’re going to have some fun!

We’re working on doing a LIVE webcast tour of W1AW on Sunday, Feb 12^th at 5pm Eastern Time to make that afternoon a little more interesting.  With the volunteer help of pro videographer Al Petrunti, KA1TCH, you can take the tour and watch what is going on in the ARRL flagship station.

I don’t have all of the particulars quite yet, but I will post them as I get things get hammered out.  In the meantime, please “pencil it in” on your calendars.

Allen Pitts, W1AGP

Media & PR Manager

ARRL – the national association for Amateur Radio

225 Main St.  Newington, CT 06111

(860) 594-0328

www.ARRL.org (http://www NULL.arrl NULL.org/)

The East Bay Amateur Radio Club and West Contra Costa Adult Education will offer a class to prepare applicants for the Amateur Radio Technician Class License, starting Sept. 13, 2011 and ending Dec. 13. The class will meet each Tuesday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Alvarado Campus, 5625 Sutter St., Richmond, CA 94804. Textbook is The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual Revised 2nd Edition, which will be available for purchase.

Register at the West Contra Costa County School District Adult Education Office, 6028 Ralston Avenue, Richmond (510) 236-5355. Class fee is $15 paid to WCCAE. FCC examinations and license applications will be administered at the final class session by the EBARC Volunteer Examiners. Exam fee will be $15.

Contact Ken Fowler at 510-222-0830 or email: ko6no@comcast.net .

I’m coordinating the third annual National Night Out Amateur Radio Net on the N6NFI repeater. The details are:
Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2011.
Time: 7:00PM to 8:00PM local time
Freq: 145.230 MHz (N6NFI repeater).
PL: 100 Hz

I will be NetControl, and we’ll take check-ins from around the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2009 and 2010, we checked-in over 50 block parties from around the bay!

All Amateur Radio Operators in EB are encouraged to locate their neighborhood NNO party, go meet their neighbors, and check-in to the NNO Net on N6NFI.

So far we’ve collected 16 block parties around Fremont where we’re sending local Amateur Radio Operators to go and talk to the neighbors about Amateur Radio. Another 7 parties have asked for an Amateur Radio operator to attend – so we’re still inviting operators to contact me, so I can introduce them to those party coordinators.

Our focus this year is to encourage parties in all cities to check in to the Net. At the parties, we’re asking Amateurs to tell residents that they should meet the Amateur Radio operators living in their neighborhoods, become friends, and invite them to be part of their neighborhood emergency plans. We’re also asking Amateurs to tell neighbors that they can become licensed Amateurs as well, and explain the power of these radios, and just how easy it is to get an FCC license.

Thanks so much for your support of Amateur Radio in the East Bay.

Have a wonderful day, God Bless and 73

John Vargas
KI6BEN
Fremont, CA
(510) 792-1367

Ham Radio Test Session
June 29, 2011

“Last Chance General”

The Benicia Amateur Radio Club will conduct an ARRL VE Ham Radio test session at the downtown Benicia Fire Station at 150 Military West on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Cutoff to start testing is 8 PM. This will be the last opportunity to take the General exam using the current question pool. All exam levels will be offered. Enter via the West 2nd Street door – not the front door of the Fire Station. The Benicia Amateur Radio Club is a community-service-oriented non-profit group that works with the Benicia Fire Department and the Benicia Emergency Response Team to provide communications in the event of a disaster.

The examination session is administered under guidelines issued by the Federal Communications Commission by accredited examiners. This session occurs periodically in Benicia and prospective Ham operators or existing Hams interested in upgrading their license are invited to attend. The exam administration fee is $15, cash or check. (Sorry, no debit or credit cards accepted.) Applicants must bring a government issued photo ID (DL or passport). In the case of children or when no photo ID is available, please email (address below) for additional info.

Existing licensees wishing to upgrade must bring their original license plus a photocopy of it. Retests of a failed exam at the same test session will require payment of an additional test fee and a different test will be administered. Walk-ins accepted – no pre-registration is required. As required by the FCC, applicants will be required to provide their S.S. number or their FRN number as part of the application process. Additional information, contact ab6hb@arrl.net.

For more than seven years Am-Tech day has embodied what it means to be an amateur radio operator. Dave Cooper, K6WA has worked tirelessly on an event that combines the excitement of new technology with good old-fashion radio fun. Whether folks were enjoying the BBQ lunch or the incredible list of speakers that have been featured over the years, Am-Tech Day became an institution on the Peninsula and beyond. For many, just getting the chance to operate on-air with the GOTA (Get On The Air) station was for many folks their first opportunity to operate an amateur radio, and likely launched a lifelong journey to exploring this hobby. At the heart, Am-Tech day brought amateur radio technology to the people, and showcased what is possible in amateur radio today. It will be greatly missed.

Now that the final scheduled event will take place this Saturday, June 11th at SLAC, won’t you please join us in making this event the largest, finest send off ever? Please find some time to come out, and personally thank Dave, K6WA for the really incredible legacy he has provided us. The event runs from 8am to 6pm. Directions and details are available athttp://www.fars.k6ya.org/amtechday/.