Fresno ARES/RACES

March 2, 2010-  The Fresno EmComm Calendar dates are set for events.  It has been a month of preparation.  Joe WA6FFJ unveiled his Traffic training at the Citadel. Glen N6HEW has the start of a simplex plan.  SKYWARN was present at the Ag show.  New voices are being heard as NCS.

January and February meetings included heavy emphasis on planning.  Event planning and also regular training were discussed.  The next big event will be the “March-of-Dimes” on 17 April.  This is a regular event that ARES, RACES and SATERN enjoys supporting the CARP Club every year.  Please, if you are interested in EmComm, this is a good way to get your feet wet.  Go to the www.k6arp.org website, and sign up for an easy morning at Woodward Park.  You can sign up online or get in touch with Rob AE6GE at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Joe WA6FFJ at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more info. 

This Month allows for a great meet and greet session over at M Squared on the 20th.  This is always a fun event but it also draws EmComm people from outside the area, and yes a great swap-meet!

The end of April also has the premier EmComm event on the West Coast, EmCommWest in Reno (April 30 through May 2).  This year as always, is shaping up to be loaded with information.  The Air force will be presenting information on Pave Paws and the CEO of ARRL K1ZZ will be speaking at the Saturday dinner.  Classes, forums, demonstrations and yes a Swap!

Traffic handling has been on Joe’s Agenda of late, and rightly so.  Even though we are fairly experienced in communications, few are schooled in message handling.  The techniques of passing traffic are not that difficult, however these assets are learned in practice so as to become second nature.  If you think it is easy, test yourself.  Take a piece of traffic.  The easiest way, join in with Joe WA6FFJ in his training.  He debuted a Power-Point presentation on the History and operation of the National Traffic System at February's Meeting and will be setting up practice sessions.

SKYWARN operated at the World Ag Expo in Tulare.  WX6HNX was operated portable by Ed KA6PNL at Pavilion 1 at the Tulare fairgrounds.  A good field exercise, operating on 146.880 VHF repeater and Echolink.  Great exposure, lots of Fun!

Glen N6HEW, RACES Officer, has been tasked with formulating a simplex plan for Fresno and connecting Counties.  Rather than re-invent the wheel, he has made available the current RACES Simplex plan distributed for use throughout the State for RACES and Cal-EMA.  He will be incorporating cross-band repeater tests as a contingency plan, in the event of total repeater failure to an area.  Joe also has discovered some information on cross-banding and I think it is to be the basis for this months meeting.

I want to thank the new voices we have as Net Control Stations for the Monday Nets.  Gary KI6OYW, our Net Manager has been tireless at drafting operators and they have done great.  We still need more volunteers.  The more we have the less work we have, and the practice is always a good thing.

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 St  1900 hrs
EmComm and Coffee:  Time is 0830 hrs, 3rd Friday Yosemite Falls Cafe on Blackstone and Shaw
You can contact us directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it