Fresno ARES/RACES

June 23, 2010- Significant changes in the Section this month and they are felt here locally.  The EmComm community as a whole is going through the repercussions of served agency reorganization that is universally being dictated by the economy.  This means Volunteers are more important to the scheme of things.  Field Day has been on the minds of most this month and here in Fresno, as is other municipalities, the in-town exhibition is becoming quite the norm.  Even Cal-EMA ACS (OES MAR 5) is operating from the State EOC (W5OES).

This month began with a Cal-EMA ACS (Auxiliary Communications Service) demonstration of their Com 60 as the program for the Clovis Amateur Radio Pioneer’s meeting.  This is a trailer with a large satellite dish that puts a telephone exchange anywhere it is needed.  It comes with all the bells and whistles for data lines as well.  John N7SLX is the “State RACES” Officer for MAR 5 (Mutual Aid Region 5) based here in Fresno.  In his program John remarked that the unit is due to be upgraded by a new and completely automated version, this unit takes about 30 to 45 minutes, manually.  John N7SLX is available at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I had the privilege to give an ARRL presentation at the Stanislaus Amateur Radio Association in Modesto.  This was a real treat from an EmComm point of view.  Ed KF6FIR had just turned over the keys to the new ARES EC (Pat KG6JXZ), after many years of exemplary service.  His work is apparent at their web page.  Training is key here! www.kf6fir.net/ares/index.htm  The level of training and cohesive cooperation with the Served Agencies is seamless. We need more like Ed, and the dedication in Stanislaus.

We have not been standing still either, our main focus has been this year’s Field Day and we are solidifying the EOC operation at the Citadel in the process.  Two new antenna installations, a common feed through point for up to 4 antennas and a solid plan for operations at the Citadel.  No question about the food either!  Procedures will be discussed at the meeting just before Field Day, and putting one of the 3 radios on the air.  The plan is to operate 2F (K6CME) with a GOTA station (AE6SX).  The Scouts have been contacted and a general public invite to support Ham Radio.  Hopefully, as we did last year, we will accomplish our set goals of: 1) Contacting our neighbor counties VHF Simplex, 2) Operate the full 24 hours, 3) Have a chance for the newer members operate HF, 4) Copy the Bulletin, 5) Demonstrate digital and CW operations, 6) Attempt NVIS operation from the GOTA station, 7) Contact other SATERN and EmComm groups, 8) Surely a nice score would be nice, hi.    Hopefully we will see some of you there.

Concerning the Section ARES responsibilities in the San Joaquin Valley; two new positions have been created. Termed as District Emergency Coordinators, one North, the other South were devised after about a years planning.  This Divides the Section along the Merced/Madera County line aligning the districts with their served agency and State operational areas.  The North works with Sacramento, Bay Area and Nevada.  The South is mostly internal and looks across the Grapevine, Tehachapi and toward San Luis Obispo.  Hal KC5LUB has assumed the South-DEC, the North and a new SEC will be named shortly.

73 de Dan AE6SX

NET:  Monday 1930 hrs local on 147.150+, PL 141.3
Monthly: meetings, the 4th Thursday of each Month
Salvation Army Citadel, 1854 N. Fulton 1900 hrs
EmComm and Coffee:  0830 hrs, 3rd Friday Yosemite Falls Cafe on Blackstone and Shaw
Web: www.fresnoares.com or www.fresno-races.net. You can contact us directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it