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March 2024 In Person Ham Testing

QST QST: In person, no computers, ARRL Volunteer Examiners/Ham Radio license testing (all license classes) will be held on March 17, 2024, 1 PM at the Scout office in Kennewick WA. The Scout Office is North across Gage Blvd from COSTCO. Doors open at 12 Noon and are locked when the test session starts. If this is your first time testing you must go to the FCC web site and apply for and receive a FRN number which must be used on all forms. If you are upgrading, you must bring a copy of your current license which will have your FRN number on it and we must send in a copy with the rest of your paperwork. All those testing must have a photo ID of some kind or 2 IDs with your birthday on it. Test fee is $15.00 cash or check made out to the ARRL. Remember the Extra Class question Pool will change July 1st. Pre-registration is required before March 14th. To register or any questions call Mike Tesky KC7CCK at 509-783-6236.

2024 Sea-Pac Info

Richard Bogert's picture

Tri-Cities Amateur Radio Club Elections For 2024

December 4, 2023 - Club Elections - Tri-Cities Amateur Radio Club W7AZ
We have a full roster of new club officers. First, I want to thank Pam and Jim Follansbee for their decades of service to the TRi-Cities Amateur Radio Club.
I would also like to thank the other outgoing offices and the remaining trustees.

The elected officers are:
President, Scott (Scooter) Castonquay KC7UOC
Vice Pres., Mike Conatore K7NT
Secretary , Tony Gasperino WS7V
Tresurer - Corey Williams KJ7GXG
Trustee -Trevor Marvin NZ4RN

Richard Bogert's picture

October Coffee and Donuts at Popular Donuts in Kennewick

New to the Area? Come to Coffee and Donuts with a bunch of other hams Saturday morning at Popular Donuts, in Kennewick( 101N Union St) . We get together the first Saturday of the month. It starts around 7:30 and the RAG CHEW could go on for a hour or two. If you can't make it, tune into the morning social net on 146.64 (Neg offset and toneof 100hz) at 7:30. Ed W6OLA will be net control. Hope to see you there.

Richard Bogert's picture

Starlink Sats may be causing interference.

I was sent this from a ham in Arizona. I am sharing it with you now.
Dear Fellow Hams,

A recent study discovered that 47 out of 68 tested Starlink Satellites were leaking RF radiation, far outside their GHz authorized frequencies. The researchers discovered that RF was leaking into the frequencies from 110 to 188 MHz and of course our 2-meter band falls right in the middle. Also of even more importance is the aeronautical frequencies from 108 to 136 MHz that pilots and air traffic controllers use to conduct safe traffic separation (voice starts at 118.0 MHz, navigation aids are below 118.0 down to 108.0 MHz).

At this time, I could not find any discussion as to whether the StarLink RF leakage is actually interfering with any comms between 110 and 188 MHz since this is just a very recent study. However the fact that some of the Starlink satellites were quiet but others were transmitting (leaking) in the 110 to 188 MHz frequencies should indicate that there is a RF quality problem with some of the Starlink birds. Since some of the signals used in this frequency band are considered to be weak signal (aircraft navigational stations and ACARS text messaging to airline cockpits for example), if any reports do develop about interference to aviation comms, you can bet that the FCC will be all over the problem. This will be a difficult problem to observe as the Starlink satellites are traveling at 17,000 MPH and so you might have one satellite exhibiting no leakage and the next one behind it will be a "leaker". It may turn out that there is no interference detected that is harmful to earth comms from Starlink but there are many other constellations of satellites that still need to be tested for RF leakage.

You can read more at: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/unintended-satellite-emission...

KK9HAM's picture

Updated files in "New Ham Kit"

We have updated and expanded the files in our NEW HAM KIT area. We now have more relevant information for new and aspiring HAMs TCARC-HAM-INTRO-101.pdf to help them get started.

If you have one of those popular Baofeng radios, we have a nice, english and detailed operations manual UV-5RV2+ User Manual.pdf and a quick and dirty instructions sheet to manually program that radio Baofeng-Programming-ae2.pdf.

You will also find a Band Plan for Western Washington WWARA-BAND-PLAN-20211218.pdf.
Plus a file with humorous clips on being a HAM radio operator.

Enjoy . . . 73

W6OLA's picture

WINTER FIELD DAY

Ed on Microphone web.jpg

WINTER FIELD DAY IS IN THE BOOKS

8 MEMBERS OF THE TRI-CITIES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, AND 4 VISITORS TOOK PART IN OUR WINTER FIELD DAY OPERATION.
THE CLUB STATION IN THE RED CROSS BUILDING WAS A VERY BUSY PLACE ON SATURDAY THE 28TH..
MARK HUNN BROUGHT AND OPERATED HIS "GO BOX" I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN A BETTER THOUGHT OUT PORTABLE UNIT. THANKS MUCH MARK!
WS7V TONY, KG7TYU SCOTT, AND W6OLA ED, SPENT TIME ON THE AIR CHASING POINTS.
THIS EVENT WAS OPERATIONAL FOR 24 HOURS, BUT WE ONLY SPENT 6 HOURS, 4 ON THE AIR AND 2 HOURS STATION PREP TIME DUE TO BUILDING RESTRICTIONS.
OTHER CLUB MEMBERS ACTED AS LOG KEEPERS AND "ELMERS". WE WERE GLAD TO HAVE CLUB MEMBERS THAT ACTED AS "ELMERS" SINCE OUR 4 VISITORS WERE FULL OF QUESTIONS. RON KK7JNU, JIM W7ZND AND MARTY N7UMW. THANKS GUYS.
ONE OF OUR OPERATORS HAD NOT BEEN OF HF FOR A LONG TIME, SO OUR FIELD DAY OPERATION ACCOMPLISHED ONE OF THE GOALS WE HAD IN MIND FOR "FIELD DAY". HAVING MEMBERS ACT AS "ELMERS" AND HAVING NON-HAM VISITORS MET TWO OF OUR OTHER GOALS.
WE MAY NOT HAVE WRECKED UP A LOT OF POINTS IN THE CONTEST; BUT AS A CLUB WE SPARKED INTEREST IN MEMBERS. OLD AND NEW, TO GET ON THE AIR.
WE EVEN PUT MIKE KC7CCK TO WORK. MIKE SPENT THE WHOLE TIME TROUBLE SHOOTING OUR KENWOOD RIG THAT MAY BE A LOST CAUSE.
COFFEE, COOKIES AND FRIENDSHIP KEPT US GOING.

TAKING A LOOK AT "LESSONS LEARNED" WE SEE SOME ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:
1. WE NEED A RIG TO REPLACE THE KENWOOD TRANSCEIVER. ANY DONATIONS WILL BE WELCOME.
2. WE HAVE 3 HEAD SETS THAT ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF USELESSNESS.
AGAIN I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL "FIELD DAY"
ED W6OLA

Richard Bogert's picture

New Morning Net on W7AZ 146.64 7:30AM

Everyone is feeling a little isolated these days and for good reason but you don’t have to be isolated. You can be social, make friends and still be safe at the same time. There is a new 2 meter social net in town.
If you’re a NEW HAM or an Old HAM you are invited to participate in a new morning social net on the 146.64 repeater W7AZ. The purpose of this net is to help new hams get involved and give old hams a way to stay involved in the exciting world of amateur radio. The net is every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings at 7:30 AM. This is a social net open to anyone with a valid FCC amateur radio license. The conversation will be light and casual. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about ham radio operations. The 146.64 repeater uses a standard NEGATIVE offset and a TONE of 100 Htz. Come join the fun!

You do not need to be a member of the Tri-City Amateur Radio Club to participate. New Hams are encouraged to participate. - Richard Bogert https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2999824720083254&set=gm.29080593...

2024 Tri-Cities ARRL Amateur Radio License Testing

ARRL-based in-person (not online computer) Amateur Radio Testing (VE Testing) for the Tri-Cities area is held every other month. Pre-registration is required. Call Mike Tesky (509 783-6236) to pre-register. The test location will be the Boy Scout office, 8478 W Gage Blvd, Kennewick, WA on Sundays at 1 pm. Any updates to particular testing dates and locations will be listed on this website, Tri-Cities Amateur Radio Operators Facebook page, and when you call to pre-register. The ARRL charges a test fee of $15. Please be prepared with EXACT cash, as no change will be provided. A check payable to the ARRL will also serve as payment, for a cash-less transaction.

Dates

  • Jan 21
  • March 17
  • May 19
  • July 21
  • Sept 15
  • Nov 17

More Info Contact Testing Coordinator Mike Tesky:
Phone(509) 783-6236 or Email kc7cck@arrl.net

Pacific Northwest Hamfairs and Swapmeets

The below link is by far the most comprehensive list of amateur radio related events in the pacific northwest. Much thanks to N7CFO .....

Pacific Northwest Hamfair webpage at http://www.n7cfo.com/amradio/hf/hf.htm

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