Dixie Amateur Radio Club
E‑Newsletter

In This Edition:

Amateur Radio Newsline

Please help support the club!

Dues for 2006 are being solicited. Dues are $15.00 per member ($20.00 per family for multiple ham families). Check the Club's membership ROSTER to see that you are shown as current. We will even accept your tardy dues for 2005 if you feel the slightest bit of guilt.  If you know you were negligent in 2005, you are on the honor system.  To pay your membership dues, please make a check or money order payable to "DARC" and bring it to the meeting or mail it to the club address:

Dixie Amateur Radio Club
P.O. Box 422
Santa Clara, UT 84765

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More Interesting Links


Southern Utah Weather Radar

Click on this link to see what's happening weather wise in southwestern Utah.

Sidewinders on Two Radio Club

There are quite a number of hams in the Dixie area who are gearing up to be quite active on the other modes available on the VHF and UHF bands. The SWOT organization has been around for a long time. It is hoped that a local SSB net will be established weekly for southern Utah/Southern Nevada. If you have a multi-mode two meter rig (i.e. on of the new DC to Daylight rigs) take a listen on the 2 meter SSB calling frequency: 144.200 on USB. Here is a link to the SWOT web site.
 (Gary N7ARE, SWOT #2625)

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HAM CARTOON
OF THE MONTH

The Callsign of the Dixie Amateur Radio Club is: Our Club has members who are primarily located in southwestern Utah in the greater St. George City area: Aerial View of St. George: HAM ITEMS FOR SALE BY CLUB MEMBERS ARE ON THE DARC WEB SITE LIBRARY PAGE: http://www.dixieham.org/DARC4sale.html ROBOT PLANTS? This item could/should be filed unter the "weird" catagory.   As you may be aware, there have been efforts at creating  "better" plant species through modern science. Well now some enterprising scientists are trying to actually merge plants and robots, for the creation of what could be called "robotic plants".   Yes, this refers to the green plants that grow when you water, fertilize and give them some sunshine. Sounds like the beginning for a new horror movie genre doesn't it?  Here's the link to read more about this interesting subject. http://www.primidi.com/2006/02/09.html#a1437 And another thing to worry about if something goes "bump" in the night. Could it be that ficus tree coming to get you?: IF YOU ARE NEW TO AMATEUR RADIO AND JUST CHECKING IT OUT .... CLICK ON THE LOGO BELOW TO VISIT THE ARRL WEB SITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO: Please help make this Club RADIO-ACTIVE!!

Ham Radio Study Information

Board Member Dan Farwell, W8EQA, passed along the following excellent Ham license and Morse Code study aids all from this Great ham radio website:
www.ac6v.com/

You can find any information you want on Ham Radio right there!

Here are some particularly interesting links:

http://ac6v.com/morseaids.htm  Many links to good Morse study aids

http://www.aa9pw.com/radio/morse.html  Great license and Morse study aid

http://rivat.chez-alice.fr/software.htm   CW Player program - used for our DARC 2 meter code sessions

http://www.ac6v.com/morseprograms.htm Wealth of Morse resources

http://ac6v.com/help.htm#STUDY Multitudes of Ham license study aids

The advent of April has brought about changes. It is now daylight longer which makes for easier setting up of antennas after work.  The rains have made the ground softer to make easier digging for antenna footings and also for pounding that station ground rod you have been meaning to install.  The kids are able to play outside more so there is less complaining about TVI in the house. The Cactus Hugger and Cholla Challenge were able run and not be competing with the blizzard of snow coming down.  The new AES catalog is out (equivalent to the Sears Christmas catalog as a kid).  Tax returns are back providing scratch for a new or slightly used radio.  The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 course opens until April 23rd. The new ARRL 2006-2007 Repeater Directory comes out this month.

So here we are 1/3 of the way through the year.  How is your personal preparedness for disaster or emergency? Have you strapped or braced your water heater to keep it from falling during an earthquake?  Did you get a new set of batteries for your HT?  Are you planning to come to the special Emergency Communications presentation at the April 19th  DARC meeting at the St. George Police Department?  Are you checking in regularly to the Sunday night DARC net?

At the present time, there are at least local VHF nets running:

DARC    Sun     8:00 pm   146.91 (Seegmiller)      100.0 PL Tone

BVERC  Thurs   8:00 pm   146.64 (Rocky Point)   100.0 PL Tone  - lots of message traffic practice

VVARC  Tue     8:30 pm    146.82 (Utah Hill)         100.0 PL Tone

If you have any information on any others please forward it to:  w7drc@arrl.net

There is also a code practice following the DARC Sunday net on the 146.64 repeater thanks to Thom, KC1EMS.

The Mesquite (VVARC) group would like those who are interested to participate with them on the 146.82 repeater on April 27, 28, 29 2006.  They will be operating a special events station with call sign W7M (Mesquite Days).  Listen in and give them a call.  They will be doing some public demonstrations of Amateur Radio.

For those who did not participate in the Cactus Hugger, it was a beautiful day for the event.  I was stationed at the Sand Hollow Park entrance.  The sun was warm, a cool breeze blowing and a lot of very friendly bike riders.  The park personnel were very accommodating and friendly.  I had a non-ham come with me.  He remarked that is was great to see so many people volunteering to help provide the communications for an event....that is the image we do want to show.  We are about volunteering.  Please keep up the desire to help and provide the needed community service.  Call Dan, W8EQA and get involved!!!!  There are lots of upcoming events and opportunities to show our talents.   
 
73,

Hal K. Whiting, KI2U
2006 President  Dixie Amateur Radio Club

Daytime Phone 702-346-5100
E-mail: hal@bullochbrothers.com

Recent Activities:


Cactus Hugger Century
(Report by Dan Farwell, W8EQA)

The Cactus Hugger Century (100 mile bicycle tour) was held on April 1, 2006. This event was held in conjunction with the Cholla Challenge Off Road bicycle race on the same day.

The riders started at 100 South and Main Street in St. George at 8:00 AM. The course went first to Kayenta and then to Gunlock, Veyo and back to the start-finish line by way of Snow Canyon Park. There was a lunch intermission after the first leg at the start-finish line. The afternoon course left St. George and went through Washington fields and then to Hurricane with a rest stop at Sand Hollow Reservoir and returned via Coral Canyon. The last riders returned to the start finish line about 5:00 pm for the awards ceremony and catered banquet. There were approximately 350 riders for the century and the event was conducted safely. Ironically the only injury occurred at the start-finish line during the lunch recess. A trained rider was doing bicycle stunts to entertain the crowd and fell, breaking his leg. The emergency Medical Services were called and he was transported to the Dixie Regional Medical Center.

Many thanks to the following DARC members for their assistance: Steve and Leila Horne KF7HW & KF7HY, KE7DZJ Lee Case, KE7DZI Ken Forshee, KB6UJR Bindy Boylin, N6MKR Chuck Hunt, Harold Monson KC7NIT and Dan Farwell W8EQA. 

On the morning of April Fools day a group of hardy fools and a whole lot of mountain bikers got together in the desert south of Hurricane.

FEMA Weather Spotting Class Reports:

REPORT FROM LEILA, KF7HW:
I did not take an accurate count - - but trying to "see" in my memory, I believe there were about 20 or 20+ in attendance. We were given a lecture accompanied by vivid videos showing different types of clouds and weather conditions that should be reported, and clips of storm - fire - flood - wind damage, including our January 2005 flood. Inasmuch as I could not hear all he had to say I asked where I could obtain all the information he had given, and he said to go to: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc     
and click on "Weather Spotter"     - here is the direct link:  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/spotter/spotter_home.php 

and you will find all that is necessary to cover what is needed to become a weather spotter. All who desired to do so filled out a questionaire that wanted your name, address, phone, cellular, and what weather station equipment you might have, and when you could be contacted via these means. It also asked for your ham call if you are a ham. Hope that gives you some info.

REPORT FROM NICK, KE7HEP:
I attended the weather spotter training session last night and found it quite informative.  There were about 25 to 30 attending (I didn't take a count).  The info was well presented and focused on wx observation with emphasis on severe weather - thunderstorms, hail, high winds, tornados, flooding and sever winter storms. Those present could complete a weather spotter form with name, phone numbers, call signs, etc.  The presentation material used is available online. The web site is the best place to start for info on wx spotters.

REPORT FROM KEN, KE7DZI:
There was nine that I know of who were Club members.  The Lecture was a 50/50   The visual was great but he had no mike for his narration and I thought is was just because of my hearing but my wife who had a hearing test last month and was fine couldn't hear him either. Would be great if we could set him up with a mike and have him down for a club meeting. He is very knowlegeable and his pass out are great and looking at the pictures helps me a great deal in understanding what he was talking about. It was a worth while meeting but need to go forward with a class. two hours is barely enough to skim the surface.  Perhaps some of the others will also reply.

Click Here for the Minutes from March 2006 Club Meeting