W100AW/6 Now On The Air!
Special Event Station W100AW/6 began operations this evening (Thursday) at 5:00 pm and will run continuously until 12 noon Sunday. The station will be operating from the sight of PACIFICON-the ARRL Pacific Division Convention in Santa Clara, California.
Operating frequencies are as follows (+/- QRM): Just concluded! 6,600 QSO's!HF CW:
3.550 MHz, 7.050mhz, 14.o5o MHz, 21.05 MHz, and 28.050 Mhz HF SSB: 3.870 Mhz, 7.270 Mhz, 14.270 Mhz, 21.370 Mhz, and 28.670 Mhz HF Digital: 3.582 Mhz, 7.032 Mhz, 14.072 Mhz, 21.072 Mhz, and 28.122 Mhz VHF Simplex: 146.490 Mhz Silverman Tri-athlon gets Ham Aide Dan Nezgoda KE7TBB mans the radio's at Aid Station One
One of the many events which Nevada amateur radio operators has recently supported is the Silverman 70.6 triathlon, a part of the Ironman Series. Under the guidance of Ryan Dudinski KE7FYB fifteen hams provided logistical and safety communication services. |
Ham-Com Just Got A Whole Lot Bigger!
Irving, TX – Ham-Com, the largest amateur radio convention in Texas, announced today that it would be moving the location of the 2015 convention from the Plano Center to the Irving Convention Center. The Ham-Com board of directors deemed the move necessary due to the increased growth they have experienced over the past several years.
Board member Bill Nelson explains, "The Plano center served us very well for years but in 2014 we realized we had outgrown it. We had to turn away vendors because of the lack of space. The move to the Irving Convention Center immediately triples our vendor and flea market spaces while still allowing additional room for growth. Our move to this beautiful, new facility is part of our commitment to provide a first-class convention experience." The move to the new location not only provides an increase in convention capacity but also increases transportation, lodging, and parking availability for Ham-Com attendees. DFW international airport and Dallas Love field are connected by the DART light rail station providing easy access. Irving Texas also boasts more than 75 hotels, 11,000 rooms and hundreds of restaurants. Ham-Com 2015 starts Friday, June 12th and ends on Saturday, June 13th. About Ham-Com Ham-Com is a yearly amateur radio convention and is produced by an all-volunteer staff. The first annual convention was held in June of 1978. Over the next 36 years the convention has moved from venue to venue as the attendance and need for space increased. Because of its central US location, Ham-Com draws attendees from every state and visitors from around the world for the yearly event. Ham-Com hosts various American Radio Relay League (ARRL) division events and also has the longest-running Boy Scouts of America radio merit badge program held during the convention. About Irving Convention Center Irving Convention Center opened in 2011. It contains 275,000 sq ft of luxurious space and is located on 40 acres with an adjoining mixed used entertainment district. The facility is designed to serve exhibition, conventions, meetings and a variety of other events with the focus being primarily on groups of 800 to 1,200 people with a capacity of 4,000 for a general session. The facility consists of several levels, outdoor covered terraces, and adjacent parking garage. |
Martha "Marte" Wessel KøEPE is SK Last Charter member of Colorado YL's
The last Charter Member of the Colorado - YL's Martha "Marte" Wessel KøEPE of Liberal, Kansas passed away Tuesday at the age of 89.
Marte, was a long time DX enthusiast and she held 372 on the DXCC Honor Roll. She was a member of the American Radio Relay League, Ohio Ladies Amateur Radio Club (Buckeye Belles), Quarter Century Wireless Association, Young Ladies International Single Sideband System, and the Quarter Century Wireless Women. Mrs. Wessel was also a 55 year member of the Young Ladies Radio League where she served on the Presidents Advisory Committee. Marte also ran the Scholarship drive for the YLRL. This year she raised $4,588.00 Marte is survived by her husband of 69 years, Walter (Pete) WøCM and other family members. In addition to amateur radio, Marte was also an avid bowler. She was a Red Cross "Grey lady" at the Lowry Airforce base hospital. She also served as a Blue Bird (Camp Fire Girls) leader. Wisconsin Ham falls from Tower and Dies Tower involved in fatal fall
James G. Linstedt W9ZUC of Eau Clair, Wisconsin died Tuesday evening from injuries he sustained when he fell 95 feet ham tower in Eagle Point, just outside of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
Linstedt, age 59, is reported to have had extensive experience climbing and working on towers. He also was reported to have been wearing an over the shoulder safety harness, but was not tied off while working on the 100 ft. tower at the home of Ronald Anderson W9RMA, located on the shore of Lake Wissota. Linstedt was a member and past President of the Chippewa Valley Amateur Radio Club. QCWA Plans Live Demo
Silver State Chapter 190 of the Quarter Century Wireless Association is planning a special presentation on electromagnetic communications.
The group plans to recreate the experiment of Hans Christian Oersted which shows that currents in a closed loop create their own magnetic field. They also plan to demonstrate vintage telegraph equipment. These demonstrations will be held in conjunction with the QCWA's bi-monthly brunch/meeting, tomorrow September 13th. Everyone is invited to attend. You do not need to be a member. The event begins at 10:00 AM in the meeting room of Carrows Restaurant at 880 E. Plumb Lane in Reno (SW corner of E. Plumb and Kietzke). Attendees are invited to bring something ham-related for the show-and-tell. The format is intended to be an open discussion with reminiscences. More information may be obtained from Chapter Chairman, Greg Rousch - WA7IRM groush@mchsi.com Help Is Urgently NeededA last minute request has came in for amateur radio communications at the Viva Bike Vegas perimeter ride this coming Saturday, September 13th.
It appears that there may be new organizers for this year's event and they might have stumbled a bit on arranging for ham radio support. Dennis Simon KB7UTV is trying to quickly throw together a staff of operators to cover this event. If you can lend a hand please contact Dennis at: kb7utv1@embarqmail.com or call 702-643-1670 
NARRI Server's Are Down, IRLP and EchoLink Lost
The Nevada Amateur Radio Repeaters Inc.(NARRI) servers which power IRLP and Echo-Link operations across the state of Nevada have been knocked off-line.
NARRI President Kent Johnson W7AOR has indicated that condensate from a roof mounted air conditioning unit seeped into several of the Main servers and have rendered them useless. Nevada Section Emergency Coordinator Glenn Hale KB7REO reports: "Impacts are huge. This shuts down multiple regularly scheduled nets, our NV Section IRLP/Echolink network, CCNVARES, and NVGATE Conferences. I don't have a backup IRLP Reflector we can use in the mean time". Although NARRI is working around the clock, it is expected to take several days to restore the operability of the system. Mr. Johnson has shed some light on an aspect which adds to the complexity of fixing the problem: "The NARRI VoIP system is not duplicated in the IRLP and Echo link world. It is unique and special to optimize communications among the VoIP clients. Normally IRLP reflectors do not have integrated Echo link servers, each is usually installed separately with no ability to interact". Tuskegee Airman and Congressional Gold Medal recipient George Mitchell K6ZE is SK
Lifelong amateur radio operator George T. Mitchell K6ZE of San Diego, California passed away today at the age of 94.
Mitchell, an ARRL Life Member, was a member of many amateur radio groups, including the OMIK Amateur Radio Association, the Air Force Flyers Club, the Old Old Timers Club and the Quarter Century Wireless Club. He was awarded a 75 year certificate from the QCWQ in 2012. Mr. Mitchell was also a co-recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, the United States' highest civilian award. He received this honor in March of 2007, for his wartime service as a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. MItchell, who built his first amateur radio at age 12, was responsible for teaching radio operations and Morse Code to the aviation cadets at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama from 1943-1946. Following the war, Mitchell took to the seas as a civilian engineer for the Navy. This employment took him to Guam, San Diego, and to the Philippines. He later retired to San Diego, but soon returned to work on the sea, this time for the Scripts Institute of Oceanography.  George T. Mitchell K6ZE
Mr. Mitchell was a member of the B.O. Davis Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen's Association, remaining active until his death. He frequently spoke to school and civic groups about the role the Tuskegee Airmen played in the nation's history.
A long time member of the Chollas View United Methodist Church, he was born in Philadelphia in 1920. Mr. Mitchell was proceeded in death by his first wife Lillian Mitchell, in 1985 and by his son John Mitchell. HIs second wife D'Andrea Mitchell survives. Mitchell is also the father of actor Brian Stokes Mitchell of New York. Additionally, he is survived by sons George Mitchell, of Los Angeles, Richard Mitchell, of Harrisburg, Pa, his daughter, Lorna Mitchell, of Fresno; and stepsons Deon and Robert Coons, both of San Diego. Memorial services are pending. 
LCARES will be hosting an EMCOMM Level 1 Certification Course to be held September 3rd thru December 3rd, Wednesday nights from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
For more information regarding the course and to register, please contact Doug Abramson at: ka7foo@gmail.com 
The fall edition of the Reno Ham Swap will take place on Saturday September 27th at the Tamarack Junction Casino on S. Virginia Street in Reno.
The event, which is sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society, will begin at 7:30 AM. Seller set-up will begin at 7:00 AM and the Dining Car Restaurant will be open for breakfast beginning at 6:00 AM. Amateur radio examinations will be offered, beginning at 9:00 AM. Space rental will be $10.00 per 8'x16' parking space. A reservation for space can be made online by clicking this button: Raffle drawings will take place throughout the morning, including one for a Yaesu FT-60 radio.
You may download a copy of the flyer here: Stolen: Yaesu VX-7RATTENTION: Swap meters, tailgaters, and e-bayers. Keep a sharp lookout for Yaesu VX-7R handheld, serial number 4N490654
Stolen August 16th from the parking lot of the Sizzler 1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA. Concord Police Department report #14-225-47101 Contact: Chuck KI6DCD 925-689-7640 Reno Hams Man New Information Booth
This past Sunday, several Reno Area hams began manning a new Amateur Radio Awareness booth at the South Reno Farmers Market. They even operated Net Control for the New Hams Informational Network from their location.
On Sunday July 27, 2014 several hams manned the new community amateur radio awareness booth at the South Reno Farmers Market. Because the event fell on my turn for the New hams informational net, the net was controlled from the parking lot... of the South Reno Squeeze inn restaurant. The farmers market was a complete success and the organizers of the event would like to have us back. This event will be a weekly event until sometime in mid September and is open for all of the Reno area amateur radio organizations a community outlet to introduce our amazing hobby in a positive light. These pictures were taken of the first event and gives you an idea of how it went. Centenarian Ham Ken Pollard w1RPk now a silent Key
On Monday 100 year old amateur radio operator Ken Pollard W1RPK of Windsor, Vermont became a Silent Key.
An Advanced Class amateur radio licensee and a retired draftsman, Ken was born Kenworth Coburn Pollard on March 26, 1914. Licensed for more than 70 years, Mr. Pollard operated daily until he entered the Brookside Nursing Home in White River Junction, Vermont during the past year. A member of the Straight Key Century Club, Ken was also a Freemason for more than 60 years. A practicing magician, Ken performed for many years in the New England area. He volunteered as a Little League baseball coach and was also the voice of Windsor High School baseball as the announcer and organist at Macleay-Royce Field. There will be no services. Kati Stenrud K7KTI Appointed Youth Coordinator
Nevada Section Manager Gary Grant -K7VY has announced the appointment of Katherine "Kati" Stenstrud- K7KTI of Reno as the new Nevada Section Youth Coordinator.
Kati, who is 14 years old, was named the 2012 Young Amateur of the Year by the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club. A General Class licensee, Kati enjoys contesting, volunteering for communication evemts, Field Day, Kids Day and going to hamfests to promote ham radio to other youth. She also likes to solder kits, and is working to master CW. In addition to ham radio Kati is active in the theatre arts. History is about to repeat itself in Nevada
Regular readers of this site already know the story about how 150 years ago James Guild worked hunched over his telegraph key to send the entire text of the Silver State's newly adopted Constitution to President Lincoln, thus gaining statehood for Nevada.
Till this very day, that event maintains the record as being the longest message ever transmitted via telegraphy. On October 31st history will repeat itself, when the Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society in cooperation with the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, will recreate the sending of the original message to President Lincoln in Washington. As a part of Nevada's 150th Anniversary celebration, the State of Nevada has designated this re-enactment by SNARS as a Nevada Sesquicentennial "Signature Nevada 150" event. SNARS will have a public operating site where Nevadan's and their guests can view the telegraphy in operation and to learn about the original 1864 event, as well as learning about modern methods of communications via amateur radio. Event organizers are finalizing plans concerning the actual transmission and delivery of the message New Club Organizes in PiocheA brand new Amateur Radio Club has emerged in the Lincoln County town of Pioche. Christened the Great Basin Amateur Radio Club, the group is already off to a flying start.
Officers were elected and By-Laws were adopted at the groups first meeting July 11th. Mark Robinson N7MDR has been chosen to be the first President of the new club. A logo and club patch have already been designed and approved by the membership. The group has hit the ground running and are already working on a project to establish a repeater in the town of Alamo, Nevada. |
Arnie Zelig WA2SOE is Silent Key
Long time Las Vegas area ham, Arnold Daniel "Arnie" Zelig WA2SOE passed away July 18th, at age 51, following a lengthy illness.
A native of New York, Arnie was a fixture of the Las Vegas Amateur Radio community for a number of years. He served a term as President of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club, a term as Vice-President of the Nellis Radio Amateur Club, and was the webmaster for the Frontier Amateur Radio Society. Zelig was an officer in the Civil Air Patrol and was also an avid communications volunteer for area public service events. Arnie received a life extending, multiple organ transplant some 15 years ago which ended his employment. He subsequently returned to school, eventually becoming an Educational Specialist at the College of Southern Nevada. Zelig is most widely known as the team leader of the LVRAC volunteers who manned the fund raising booths at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for more than a decade. An accomplished CW operator, Arnie enjoyed Field Day activities and operating day trips to Mt. Charleston and Red Rock canyon. Arnie Zelig is survived by his mother Gloria Zelig of Las Vegas and sister Rita of New York. A graveside service was held July 29th at Woodlawn Cemetery in Las Vegas. Ham radio aids Injured Colorado HikerWhen Bill Eberle AMØMY of Boulder, Colorado goes hiking in the rugged wilds of that state, he always takes his handheld.
While he and his wife Mary were out hiking on Monday, they came upon two paramedics rendering aid to 67 year old Michael Schuett, of Bloomfield. Schuett had lost his footing while crossing a stream near the Fourth of July campground, west of the town of Nedeland. Schuett had struck his head on a boulder and was found unconscious and face down in the water by a Good Samaritan, who pulled him to safety. The paramedics had been heading to a youth camp and also had stumbled onto the scene. As is often the case, the remote location did not have cell phone coverage. Eberle, an Extra Class operator with 14 years experience, lost no time in putting out a distress call on the statewide Colorado Connection Repeater system. That call was quickly answered by Ryan Frederick KDØTSZ in Colorado Springs. Frederick contacted the Boulder County Sheriff's office. The police quickly turned to Scott Whitehead KAØQPT of Longmont. Whitehead, who holds a General Class license, is a Radio Specialist with the Sheriff's Department and also is a 30 year member of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Team. Whitehead was able to make contact via the repeater network with Eberle. They were then able to coordinate equipment and rescue personnel. Crews from Nederland Fire and Rescue and the Rocky Mountain Rescue Team arrived on the scene. Schuett was treated and released from an area hospital. He credited ham radio for bringing the rescuers to him. Ham Radio Comes To the Aid of JeepsterSaturday afternoon John Abrott KD7NHC Northwest District Emergency Coordinator, received a phone call from Doug Abramsom- KA7FOO. Doug in Reno heard traffic on the Linked repeater system coming from the Smith Valley area off of the Lobdell Peak machine. There was a jeep broken down, and Bill Nichols NN7K was with them.
Abrott contacted Bill on the Lobdell repeater to find out what type of assistance was needed, and their location. A 1966 vintage jeep had a broken rear drivers side spring. They were located about 2 miles up Taylor Canyon off of the Desert Creek Road. The road is a typical jeep jeep trail, and taking a trailer to the jeep was not possible. Nichols advised that they had plenty of water. The jeep owner asked for a block of wood (a short piece of railroad tie) a chain and a chain binder. Abrott contacted Paul Strople KG7DQG and filled him in on the situation.. Abrott then went to his house and gathered chains and chain binders, while Strople gathered some short railroad ties and other sizes of wood, along with a small chain saw. They met at Strople's house on Desert Creek Road, and loaded up the requested items. Abrott and Strople continued to have radio contact with Bill Nichols using the 444.875 repeater. Strople, his wife Susan KG7MIL, and Abrott entered Desert Creek heading south in Paul's Toyota FJ. They met Bill NN7K and the owner of the jeep part way up the canyon. Nichols, in his Polaris side-by side, led them up to the Taylor Canyon turn off. They then went about 2 miles to the west and found the disabled jeep. The owners wife was glad to see the hams. From this location there is no Cell phone coverage. At the location of the disabled jeep, they had access to 4 Ham repeaters, 2 VHF and 2 UHF machines. Three of the repeaters, 1 VHF and 2 UHF located on Lobdell Peak, and the SIERA repeater located on They went to work using the chain saw to shorten up the railroad tie. The tie was placed between the axle and the frame. A ratchet strap secured the block of wood to the axle. A chain was then hooked from the springs front shackle to the rear shackle, with tension applied by a chain binder. The rear drive shaft was removed so as not to apply any torque to the rear axle. It was a slow trip down to Desert Creek road. Once on the main road, the group continued south, to where they were camped, making sure they made it there with no other problems. (The radiator had sprung a leak as well) The jeep owner was planned to bring in a car trailer from the top of Desert Creek off of HW 338 the next day, to haul the jeep home. The road is much better, and the only way to get a trailer into the south end of Desert Creek. The first water crossing heading north from where they were camped can not be crossed with most highway trailers. If not for Bill NN7K being able to call for assistance using Ham radio, It would have taken much longer to make field repairs to the disabled jeep to get it to move. Again Ham radio came through. Thank you to John, Paul and his wife Susan for helping retrieve the couple and their jeep. All three made it safely out of the canyon and headed to the Smith Valley Firemen's BBQ for dinner, a little late, but in time for a great steak. Date Set For Ham Auction
The Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club has announced that it will sponsor an auction of amateur radio gear and equipment.
Scheduled for Saturday September 13th at the Elks Lodge, 4100 West Charleston Blvd, in Las Vegas, the auction is open for buying or selling to anyone interested in ham radio. Professional auctioneer services are being donated by Gino Munari-K7MGM owner of Munari Auctions.
A 15% fee will be assessed on each transaction to benefit the LVRAC. Derrick Appointed Northeast District Emergency Coordinator
Nevada Section Emergency Coordinator has announced the appointment of James Derrick K6FIR of Ely as the new District Emergency Coordinator for the Northeast District.
Derrick, a General Class licensee is active as a firefighter in White Pine County. He is taking over the reigns from outgoing DEC Don Tanner KF7GGR of Elko. Read The Recent News |
