Category: Technical

Wind Farms Communications Impact

Planning is currently underway for construction of large wind turbine farms in Apache county. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact to communications, emergency services, aviation, weather radar, as well as amateur and GMRS users of communications facilities at Greens Peak. The following documents provide more information on the subject and encourage communications users to express their concerns and support for further studies before construction is approved.

White Mountains Radio Users’ Statement of Concerns

Town of Eagar request for further studies

Petition form from White Mountains Radio Users

Free On-line Ham Operating Classes

 A free, weekly, 3-hour Amateur Radio Operating Class on Zoom will begin on Thursday April 2 and run through June 18.  Sessions will be 2 to 3 hours long beginning at 6:30 PM, EASTERN time.  Typically, two topics are covered per evening.  The presenters will be folks very experienced in the various subjects. 

Click here for a detailed syllabus with dates for each session.  Attend them all, or any that you like, but you must register for the classes.  To receive registration information, contact Rol Anders, K3RA, at roland.anders@comcast.net.  

Subjects will include:

  •  All About Operating–A general Introduction
  • Amateur Radio Organizations—Local to International
  • Ham Radio Operating Awards
  • DXing-History and Tips from the Experts
  • QSLing-How to get that needed confirmation for DXCC or WAS
  • VHF/UHF Weak Signal Work and “Roving”
  • Image Operating—Slow Scan and Fast Scan TV
  • Remote Station control over internet
  • Learning CW in the no-code era
  • Digital Modes—From RTTY to FT8 and beyond
  • Contesting—How to get started, tips for the beginner and intermediate contester
  • Logging Software—What’s available, how to use
  • Propagation—A general intro to HF Propagation with emphasis on the declining phase of the current solar cycle
  • Amateur Satellites—How to get started
  • Portable (backpacking) operation and POTA—Tips from an expert
  • Setting Up a Modern (or not so modern) HF Station
  • Lightning Protection and Grounding
  • Traffic Handling
  • Public Service, Emergency Communications 

 

Meshtastic

Meshtastic is an open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network built to run on affordable, low-power devices using LoRa technology. At the July 2024 KARC meeting, we had a presentation by David Waller, KG7NCV. David is deploying the Meshtastic network in the Mesa, AZ area. Information on this project is described here:

Meshtastic.org

Catalog of Meshtastic equipment

At the August 2024 KARC meeting, Matt Lunati, N7OEI, described his recent activity with the Meshtastic network and demonstrated a small (2.0″ width) Heltec network transceiver. It connects via bluetooth to a phone or tablet, and provides access to the mesh network.

Horse Fence Dipole Project

On 2/24/21 Bill Turley KJ7GYH and and Mike Lackey KB7VMG came over and helped Jim Mortensen W7AZY put up a 35’ pole  for a horse fence inverted V dipole antenna.  Jim used the quad to pull the pole up and the other three of us walked the pole up and helped secure the lines.  This took place during 20 mph winds!  Thank you Bill & Mike! Here are a few pictures:

Soldering Class Pictures

Here are a few pictures from the soldering class held on March 14, 2020. The class took place at Randy Beecroft’s “Hangout” in Linden.   Dennis Wilkes was the instructor and gave a presentation on basic soldering practices and then the participants took home a digital clock they assembled.