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Next SARA Club Meeting on Wednesday September 4th, 2024 at 7:30 PM

“What My Foxes Have Taught Me”

NOTE: New Zoom Link for Monthly SARA meetings — see details below.

This is NOT another program about Fox Hunting (a.k.a. Radio Direction Finding), but rather what the Foxes have taught me about all aspects of ham radio.  Getting 5 foxes to “play nicely” together, to follow FCC rules, to talk with “outside voices” and not to hide too well all involve aspects of ham radio.  There are implications to day to day ham radio operation, but also major implications to emergency operations.
Come find out what a skulk of foxes can teach us.

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We had a recent success at Fox Hunting on July 27th.  NOTE: the County ARES/RACES Fox Hunt, originally anticipated to be on August 10th in Mountain View — has been canceled.

HOWEVER, SARA will run another Fox Hunt at West Valley College again on August 31st starting at 9:30AM near the Theatre building. Park in lot #7

• The path next to the library has now been opened.  This means the foxes can hide further into campus! FREE parking!
• Everyone is invited.  If you have Fox hunting equipment (Yagi, TDOA, loop antenna, Pringles containers, 2M HT, etc.) bring it.  If not, come anyway and join a group.  Note: NO FCC license is required.  No transmitting is required for a Fox Hunt and so there are no license requirements.  No Fox Hunting skills required.  Just join a group that SEEMS to know what they are doing!  Anyone can join!  The goal is to have fun!
• If you have a yellow safety vest, please wear it.  It will help us find each other and will help the public to recognize that we are an organized event. 
• There are no “rules” to the hunt.  You can hunt by yourself or in groups.  You can use whatever equipment you have available.  Hint: Diana has found more Foxes using her eyes that we have found using equipment!  Look when close!  The most valuable “equipment” is good observational skills!
• Meet at 9:30 AM in front of the Theater.

Other summer activities.  There are several other potential summer activities.  These include: summer picnic (early October?), more Fox hunts, antenna build/testing, safety training, others?
Please join us in helping plan SARA’s summer!

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Recent and recurring events:

Everyone had a chance at the July 13th KMP 9AM antenna build followed by some simple Fox Hunting. This was followed 2 weeks later on Saturday July 27th at West Valley College by a more complex Fox hunt. Several of us had a marvelous time seeking those hidden little devils. Ha!

We had a joint SARA and Saratoga CERT meeting on July 18th to discuss the drill we had a month ago. One of the major complaints was the fact that too many folks reported extended simulated events, talked way too fast, and required many repeats. Out of this, we have decided to create a much simpler, as compared to the ICS 213 form, CERT event report form. This will require every report to be written down prior to transmission and will have a word limit. Just trying to “keep it simple” to minimize repetition. Subsequent training of all CERTs will be required.

Thursday evening “Ragchew” question & answer session on our same two repeaters weekly at 9:00 PM. Fun and informative. Typically, a “round robin chat.” Come on…don’t be afraid to hit your PTT button to speak up and ask.

The Ham Swap Meet has restarted as of Sunday March 10th 2024 at West Valley College, Lot 3, 14000 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070. It should be the Second Sunday of each month and it opens at 6:00AM running until Noon 12PM. Lots of great deals for ham gear. There will be a three (3) dollar parking fee which you have to pay for yourself at specific machines.

Future events:

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More SARA sessions at Kevin Moran Park such as RF Safety characterization.
Looking to help volunteer as a Ham radio operator? Help make a difference during a emergency by becoming a trained and credentialed County ARES member. Classes are available through the county ARES/RACES website.

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Monthly in-person meeting venue: The Saratoga Firehouse may be available soon. If not, another venue must be found. However, the still impending threats of new Covid19 outbreaks have many folks worried. In the meantime, we will continue our meetings only via Zoom. Stay tuned!

Note: Our 2-meter repeater S-meter signal strength report is now UP once again since March 24th, responding with a maximum of “S9 plus 30.” To utilize it, key up the 2- meter site, continue holding your PTT, and hit the “8” key for a second, then release the PTT. You should then receive a signal strength report response. The maximum strength report will be S9 plus 30. Try different power levels. Be curious. Voila!

Documents

Access to Saved Documents Procedure: NOTE: New methodology: Go to the RESOURCES Tab on the Home Page and click on it. Then drop down to PRESENTATIONS and click on it. Scroll down to see the long list of saved documents and presentations from years gone by. You can read and download any of them. There is a wealth of ham radio knowledge covered. Enjoy!

*** Annual Club Dues: ***

With inflation compounded with equipment replacement costs, Zoom, GoDaddy, and governmental fees rising substantially, we have found it necessary to collect annual dues once again. This will be twenty ($20) dollars for an individual or thirty ($30) dollars for a family membership. NOTE: If you paid in November or December of the prior year, you will be credited for the next year. Please help keep our club strong. As of August 14th, 34 members have paid. Thanks!

Current Member Payment

For current members, there is no need to reregister. All one must do is make a dues payment. You have two payment options:

Option#1; pay by submitting a check written out to SARA and mail it to our Saratoga mailbox; SARA, P.O. Box 2034, Saratoga, CA 95070. Be sure to write your callsign(s) on the check!

Option#2; Make a direct payment using our PayPal account at https://PayPal.me/saratogaamateurradio. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the PayPal form where you can enter your name and callsign(s).

New Member Payment and Registration

For new members, please scroll down to the “Read All About Us” section below and use the link to the Membership form. Please print, fill it out, then mail it in. Sorry, but online registration is not available at this time. Payment can be done by either by mailing a check written out to SARA, P.O. Box 2034, Saratoga, CA 95070 or via our PayPal link: https://PayPal.me/saratogaamateurradio. Your new membership will keep you as active on our email distribution list. Help keep our club strong. Thanks.

Nets

• Sundays – 2M Net at 9:00 pm on both K6SA repeaters. Stick around for Morris’s after net lectures. VERY informative.
• Tuesdays – SVECS 2M Net at 8:00 pm on AA6BT at 146.115 MHz + 100 Hz or on linked N6NAC 70cm at 444.625 MHz + 110.9 Hz
• Thursdays – Rag Chew/Question and Answer session at 9:00 pm on both K6SA repeaters

Read All About Us

• Our brochure contains an overview of our club’s history, member interests, net, meetings, activities, and how you might become a member. If you would like to become a member, please complete our membership form and mail it to: Saratoga Amateur Radio Association, P.O. Box 2034, Saratoga, CA 95070.

Mission

• Facilitate scientific education and knowledge of radio engineering and communication skills by providing training, reference materials for self-education and operating practice.
• Provide voluntary noncommercial communication, particularly providing emergency communication as a public service and without any remuneration.
• Promote amateur radio by facilitating the exchange of information, improve individual operating efficiency and strengthen the welfare of amateur radio in the community.
• Our current officers are Jack Griswold KM6ZWR; President, Steve Steps AJ6HM; Vice President, Michael Turner N6DXQ; Secretary, and Allison Cassidy N6ALI; Treasurer and our board members Peter Melhus AA6PM, Morris Jones AD6ZH, Don Steinbach AE6PM, Jeff Walker N6ADE, and Walter Spector W6WS.

Meeting Guidelines:

• Meetings are normally on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM. As of late 2023, they may be In-Person (depending on member requests) as well as available via Zoom. However, with Covid19 still lingering amongst us we will default to Zoom only.
• The In-Person location has often been at the Saratoga Fire Station, located on 14380 Saratoga Avenue at the corner of Saratoga-Sunnyvale and Los Gatos-Saratoga Roads, in Saratoga. Map A new venue may be necessary. Stay tuned!
• Prior to the meeting, we often have dinner at Jake’s; a Saratoga Restaurant located at 12175 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road (and Prospect Road). Map. We usually meet around 6:00 PM. Someone will be monitoring the K6SA repeaters while we are at dinner so check-in and say “Hi” if you are on your way.
• We strongly suggest you bring your 2M HT in case you have difficulty finding the meeting. If you have difficulty finding the meeting, please contact someone on the club repeater.

Nets

• Sundays – 2M Net at 9:00 pm on both K6SA repeaters. Stick around for Morris’s after net lectures. VERY informative.
• Tuesdays – SVECS 2M Net at 8:00 pm on AA6BT at 146.115 MHz + 100 Hz or on linked N6NAC 70cm at 444.625 MHz + 110.9 Hz
• Thursdays – Rag Chew/Question and Answer session at 9:00 pm on both K6SA repeaters

Saratoga Frequencies

SARA Members should have the following frequencies programmed into their VHF/UHF radios. A complete list of all county frequencies and local jurisdictions can be found at the ARES-RACES website at this link.

Channel Name	Resource Name	R/S	Frequency	Offset	PL
Command	K6SA	Repeater	146.655	– (minus)	114.8
Command	K6SA	Repeater	443.150	+ (plus)	100
Tactical Alt		Simplex	146.505
Tactical Alt 2		Simplex	146.595

Read All About Us

• Our brochure contains an overview of our club’s history, member interests, net, meetings, activities, and how you might become a member. If you would like to become a member, please complete our membership form and mail it to: Saratoga Amateur Radio Association, P.O. Box 2034, Saratoga, CA 95070.

Mission

• Facilitate scientific education and knowledge of radio engineering and communication skills by providing training, reference materials for self-education and operating practice.
• Provide voluntary noncommercial communication, particularly providing emergency communication as a public service and without any remuneration.
• Promote amateur radio by facilitating the exchange of information, improve individual operating efficiency and strengthen the welfare of amateur radio in the community.
• Our current officers are Jack Griswold KM6ZWR; President, Steve Steps AJ6HM; Vice President, Michael Turner N6DXQ; Secretary, and Allison Cassidy N6ALI; Treasurer and our board members Peter Melhus AA6PM, Morris Jones AD6ZH, Don Steinbach AE6PM, Jeff Walker N6ADE, and Walter Spector W6WS.

Meeting Guidelines:

Club meetings are normally on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM Pacific. A Zoom link will be posted.