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October 2024 Meeting: AREDN and Meshtastic

Slide explaining the components of an AREDN mesh node

At our October 2 member meeting, we discussed two popular forms of mesh networking. For those unfamiliar with it, mesh networking is essentially Wi-Fi over amateur radio or unlicensed frequencies.

First, Orv Beach, W6BI discussed the current state of AREDN, the Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network. Orv lives in Simi Valley and volunteers as an AREDN Ambassador. He helps coordinate the deployment and maintenance of AREDN in Southern California, from Paso Robles to the Mexican border and east to Las Vegas. He explained the basic requirements of setting up an AREDN node and provided examples of the many services one can run on the network. For example, live video feeds on AREDN have helped state officials track wildfire activity. The AREDN software was just updated, and Orv detailed some of its improvements.

Example of an outdoor Meshtastic node

Next, SPARC member Adrian Pinedo, KN6MHG discussed his experiments with Meshtastic, a low-power form of mesh networking that doesn’t require a ham license to use. Meshtastic runs on relatively inexpensive nodes — often sold as kits — and is accessed with a phone app. During an emergency, Meshtastic can allow a neighborhood, or even a whole city, to maintain simple text communications.

Map of Meshtastic nodes near South Pasadena

In addition to the main Meshtastic website, Adrian recommended other resources including SoCalMesh.org, Liam Cottle’s mesh map, and the Rokland store.

Based on member interest, SPARC may have a Meshtastic group build and hopefully deploy a local network. If you’re interested in participating, join our mailing list for updates.

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Sparky’s Links for September 2024

Here’s what Li’l Sparky stashed in his nest of bookmarks this month.

Carol, KE6SRN filed new reports from Alaska and, closer to home, from Hoyt Mountain.

Savi, W1SAV worked some POTA at Crystal Cove and Rio de Los Angeles.

NASA’s Next-Generation Solar Sail Mission

Tony, K6TTP writes: It seems that hams could bounce radio signals off this reflective sail to communicate with other hams.  It would be a much larger target than a satellite, the ISS, or the moon.  But I think the location is problematic.
Hackaday also posted an article on the sail.

iFixit Empowers Makers with FixHub Portable Soldering Station
iFixit’s new FixHub Power Series empowers makers to solder on-the-go.

Positive reviews of this convenient tool make it sound like a great addition to the shack.

NRAO Offers Free Ham Radio Technician and General Courses
Self-paced courses also focuses on electromagnetic spectrum.

Another solid option for license test prep.

SOTAmāt – Summits-On-The-Air, Automāted
See Changelog / release-notes page for details.

This is an impressive iOS app that can help you self-spot SOTA and POTA activations without Internet access. Its developer Brian, AB6D had done some incredible work. Thanks to Ammed Ismail, KN6STX for posting about it on the SoCal SOTA Groups.io.

2024 Shakeout Amateur Radio Community Intensity Map Announcement
2024 Shakeout Amateur Radio Community Intensity Map Announcement

ARES LAXNORTHEAST and Oliver, K6OLI debuted a collaborative mapping project. The press release above explains how you can participate in Shakeout this year and contribute data to the map.

2024 California QSO Party

Savi, W1SAV encourages everyone to participate October 5 and 6. This year, there are some POTA challenges!

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September 2024 Meeting: FEMA Community Preparedness Officer Christian Erickson

At our September meeting, SPARC welcomed Christian Erickson, Community Preparedness Officer for FEMA Region IX. Christian explained that his territory covers California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii, as well as the U.S. territories of the Pacific, including Samoa and Guam. In conjunction with National Preparedness Month, Christian spoke about the state of readiness in Southern California. He said that, thankfully, people in the Los Angeles area are highly motivated to anticipate and train for emergencies. Southern California was “the birthplace of CERT.” He also explained how FEMA thinks about the three stages of emergency preparedness: mitigation, near-term recovery, and long-term support.

FEMA Community Preparedness Officer Christian Erickson speaking to SPARC on September 4, 2024

When asked how to encourage a community to engage in preparedness, Christian replied that one effective method is to inspire youth to participate. When young people are motivated to address preparedness, they frequently convince their parents to take the issue more seriously. Finding methods that are fun and welcoming are also key — fear mongering leads to worry but not action. One tool he is excited about is a tabletop game called Disasterville. Christian also recommended Quake Heroes, a documentary released to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake.

After Christian’s remarks, John, KK6ZVQ shared “How to Build an Emergency Plan,” a step-by-step guide to personal preparedness. The presentation is embedded below. Most of the resources mentioned in the slides are available at SPARC’s dedicated preparedness page.

SPARC thanks Christian Erickson for his time and insight. And we’d like to thank all of the community members who joined us to discuss this vital topic.

SPARC How to Build an Emergency PlanDownload
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Sparky’s Links for August 2024

Our adventurous avian presents a roundup of radio-related news and information from around the web.

Submitted by Savi, W1SAV

Big Bear HamEscape™
Join me at the Big Bear HamEscape™

A few hours away, the Big Bear Ham Escape is taking place for the second year in a row. There are seminars, networking, and some POTA. I plan to be there starting Thursday, April 24 and leaving on Sunday. I had fun last year, and made two activations. Will I see you there?

Submitted by Tony, K6TTP

WBCQ: A One-of-a-Kind Shortwave Radio Station – Radio World
There are all kinds of shortwave radio stations in the world, but WBCQ seems unique.
Ask Hackaday: Is Shortwave On Life Support?
Between World War II and Y2K, shortwave listening was quite an education. With a simple receiver, you could listen to the world. Some of it, of course, was entertainment, and much of it was propaga…

Another posting for OLD hams and SWL-ers, like me, who remember the good old days.  Listening to SW in the late Postwar ’40s is what led me to become a ham at age 10 in 1952.  Those days are over but I recall them nostalgically.  They will never be back, nor is there probably any reason why they should be back.  But it was fun once upon a time.

QRPblog: VHF/UHF Handheld Comparison


To the dismay of some and the exhilaration of others, here’s some good dope on some HT units.  May be useful to potential buyers of new/used HTs.

Is Inflation Making Off Grid Power Too Expensive? – Off Grid Ham
Let’s pick apart the phenomenon of off grid energy equipment inflation and see if there is anything to this reader’s theory.

Submitted by John, KK6ZVQ

A Reason To Get On The Air – The KØNR Radio Site
I don’t need much but I do need a reason to get on the air. This can take many forms as I wrote in this blog post some time ago. I see quite a few new hams struggling with the problem of “I got this license but now what?” Operating goals or awards are a fun way to keep focused Continue reading A Reason To Get On The Air→
An archive of RadioShack Catalogs (1939-2011)
Flip-through every RadioShack electronics & computer catalog. These catalogs include vintage electronics, stereos, speakers, CB radios, tube radios, computers, communication equipment, electronic test equipment, gadgets, technology & more!

Adrian, KN6MHG added that there is also a Facebook group that discusses vintage RadioShack catalogs.

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Pictures from Our SOTA-POTA Fest 2024

SPARC’s first SOTA-POTA Fest was a chance for club members to gain experience operating in the great outdoors. Jeff W2JCL activated Flint Peak for SOTA. Five miles to the southwest, the POTA team of Savi W1SAV, Steve KN6ZOO, Colleen KN6DOQ, and John KK6ZVQ activated Rio de Los Angeles State Park. After a little bit of effort, we successfully made a summit-to-park contact.

Savi, W1SAV with his operating set up
Colleen, KN6DOQ making contacts.
MFJ-1898 HF antenna
The sBITX transceiver being field tested
Steve, KN6ZOO demonstrates how he learned to wrap cables during his days as an audio engineer.

Savi enjoyed communicating with fellow members of the Long Island CW Club. On VHF, we heard from John AC6VV, Jason KM6WJQ, and Vince KF6FLJ.

W1SAV’s video and after-action report is available on his blog.

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August 2024 Meeting: SOTA and POTA


At our August 2024 meeting, SPARC members enjoyed presentations on SOTA (Summits on the Air) and POTA (Parks on the Air). Walter “Savi” Savinovich, W1SAV led with his talk on the joys and challenges of operating from parks. A video of Savi’s presentation is embedded below and is available on his YouTube Channel. Next, David Hodge, N6AN explained how he tackles SOTA activations and showed off photos from local peaks. David is a past president of the Pasadena Radio Club and a well-known competitive DXer. 

Walter Savinovich, W1SAV
David Hodge, N6AN

We concluded the evening with a door prize drawing. Two attendees went home with multi-purpose Teraoka tape donated by Carol KE6SRN. And in honor of David N6AN, our third prize was  Contact Sport, a book about the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship, in which David participated. (There’s a picture of him on page 45.)    

On August 17, SPARC will hold its very own SOTA POTA Fest. We’ll be activating Flint Peak for SOTA and Rio de Los Angeles Park for POTA. If you’d like to participate, join our Groups.io mailing list.  

Click here to download Savi’s slides.

Links from Savi’s presentation:

Mapping Contacts | Global DX Map w/ Propagation

POTA main page | POTA spotting page | POTA scheduling page

Field equipment: Chameleon Antennas | Yaesu Radios | Elecraft Radios

Savi’s home logging program: Amateur Contact Log | Mobile logging software: HAMRS

Savi’s dashboard of Log Analytics (built with Tableau Public)

Savi’s Blog | Savi’s YouTube Channel | Email: w1sav [at] arrl [dot] net

More SOTA/POTA inspiration:

“Radio and Rides” blog by SPARC member Carol K6SRN

Article on POTA by Jenna Canillas, WW0MAN for the Rio Hondo ARC June 2022 newsletter

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June 2024 Meeting: Preparing for Field Day

At our June monthly meeting, we discussed SPARC’s upcoming joint deployment with the Pasadena Radio Club for Field Day. This will be our clubs’ first in-person Field Day since 2019. SPARC has volunteered to set up a VHF/UHF station and organize its operators. The details are:

Start: Saturday, June 22 at 11:00 a.m.
End: Sunday, June 23 at 10:59 a.m.
Location: Art Center College of Design parking lot
Enter at 1700 Lida St., Pasadena, CA 91103
What3Words location: help.rock.vouch

If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like to operate with us, please reach out to us through our contact form.

Click this link or the image below to download a copy ( 1.9 MB PDF) of this year’s Field Day presentation.

If you can’t be with us in person for Field Day, we hope to hear you on the air!

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May 2024 Meeting: Learning CW with Carol, KE6SRN

At our May 2024 meeting, SPARC member Carol Bruegge, KE6SRN gave an overview of proper Morse code usage and shared tips for how to become proficient. (Apologies for the blurry photo above.) Fun fact: What we refer to as “Morse code” is more accurately called “Gerke code” because it was standardized by a German telegraph pioneer named Fredriche Gerke. Carol covered several topics including efficient communication and free learning tools. Below are links to the tools that Carol recommended.

Click here to download all of Carol’s slides (1.7 MB PDF).

After Carol’s presentation, we had a show and tell session with paddles, straight keys, and “bugs” from SPARC members’ collections.

To the left of the paddles were laptops loaded with RufzXP, Morse Runner, and Iambic Master. Attendees could compare the programs and see which ones might be worth trying at home.

At 9:13 p.m. the ham radio satellite SO-50 passed overhead, and Rick Besocke, KI6ZKM led the group in a contact demonstration. This was an opportunity to see a satellite contact in action, inspired by our February meeting on the topic.

Rick, KI6ZKM contacts SO-50

Next month, it’s time to talk Field Day! Join us on June 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Eddie Park House.

73,
John Aboud, KK6ZVQ

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April 2024 Meeting: State of the Hobby with Diana Feinberg, AI6DF

At our April member meeting, SPARC welcomed ARRL LAX Section Manager Diana Feinberg, AI6DF. Diana has served the local ham community as section manager since 2016 and in numerous other capacities before that.  She is currently president of the Palos Verdes Amateur Radio Club, and she was formerly president of the 220 Spectrum Management Association of Southern California. She has chaired the Los Angeles Area Council of Amateur Radio Clubs, served as the chair of the HAMCON hamfest, and has been active in the Los Angeles County Disaster Communication Service.

Diana opened by discussing what is new with the ARRL both nationally and locally. Topics included:

  • How to know when the digital editions of ARRL magazines are available.
  • The fight to protect radio spectrum from high-speed trading systems.
  • ARRL membership numbers in LA County. 
  • A program that helps members locate sources of RFI (hint: check your dimmer switches first). 
  • Patterns of volunteering.

The second part of her presentation was titled “Surprises in Amateur Radio.”  It covered the aspects that make our hobby unique, including the constant improvement of its equipment and development of new modes such as the M17 standard.

As a gesture of our thanks, we presented Diana with a bag of Li’l Sparky’s Blend whole beans (actually the Lost Parrot Blend from Jones Coffee Roasters).

UPCOMING EVENTS

ARRL SSB Rookie Roundup, 4/21

For the purposes of the event, a Rookie is defined has having been first licensed in the current calendar year or the previous three calendar years, regardless of license class. You can also be a Rookie if you haven’t made any contest contacts on the contest mode (in this case, SSB).

May Meeting, 5/1

We’ll be discussing CW and Morse code. Do you have an interesting Morse key, bug, or paddle? Bring it in for a show and tell.