2021 Meeting Schedule
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| January 13 | Dr. Seth Shostak, N6UDK | The Quest for the Ultimate DX — Are We Alone in the Universe? |
| February 10 | Gary Johnson, NA6O | “How to Reduce RF noise Before It Gets into Your Transceiver” Download PDF Presentation |
| March 10 | Jim Aspinwall, NO1PC | “Elmering in the Age of Devices” |
| April 14 | Brian Tanner, AG6GX | “Art of Voice Communications: Techniques for Technician & HF-class licensees” Download PDF Presentation |
| May 12 | Kristen McIntyre, K6WX | “SWR? Who Cares!” (SWR myths and misconceptions) |
| June 9 | Clint Bradford, K6LCS | How to Work Amateur Satellites with your HT |
| July 14 | No Meeting | |
| August 21 | It’s official. Sunnyvale has opened their picnic facilities for summer reservations, and we’ve been approved for Baylands Park Pickleweed Picnic Area. So mark your calendar for WVARA’s Annual BBQ on August 21 starting at 11am. This coincides with the North America QSO Party / SSB, so we’ll be making contacts during our BBQ via a portable station. | |
| September 8 | Dean Wood, N6DE | California QSO Party. Our speaker will be Dean Wood, N6DE, who will update us on the latest changes to the California QSO Party. This very fun event occurs the first weekend in October. Dean will likewise cover the various ways that WVARA members can have fun participating in this great contest. |
| October 13 | Rex Vokey, KE6MT | Our Oct 13 presentation will be Summits On The Air with Rex Vokey, KE6MT. Rex is will cover the basics of SOTA as well as some tips and tricks for those operating either at home or in the field. He’ll also give a short report on his recent first-activation of a backcountry summit called Parker Peak.
Rex is the California (W6) Association Manager for Summits on the Air and has been a ham since 2015. He gets out to do summits big and small whenever he can, operating both QRP and portable QRO (100 watts) from mountaintops. |
| November 10 | Steve Sergeamt, KC6ZKT | Winter Field Day Plans, Elections. Here is a link to Steve’s Presentation PDF |
| December 18 | Holiday Party 11:00am – 1:00pm Sunnyvale’s Baylands Park, near Pickleweed Place. You can see all the information Here. |
2020 Meeting Schedule
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| January 8 | Steve Sergeant, KC6ZKT | Winter Field Day Plans |
| February 12 | Ron Quan, KI6AZB | Troubleshooting Electronic Circuits |
| March 11 | Bill Fehring, W9KKN | Bill’s Excellent Adventure at Contest Station ZF1A |
| April 8 | Ed Fong, WB6IQN | DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) Due to the coronavirus, the April WVARA meeting will NOT be held at the Red Cross Building. Instead, we will hold a virtual meeting via Zoom at 7pm on Wednesday, April 8. At this month’s meeting Edison Fong, WB6IQN, will bring us up to speed on DMR (Digital Mobile Radio). This mode is getting really popular. The radios cost about $100-$150 depending on the quality you want. All of them also have conventional FM. DMR is a full digital format that is interfaced via the internet where one can 24/7 talk all over the world. The dream of working DX sitting on your couch is here. Since it is an open system originally set up by Motorola there are over 15 manufacturers of DMR radios – both hand held and mobiles. Learn how to get register as a DMR user, where to purchase a radio, how to program the radio and talk to the world without depending on propagation conditions. Ed is a design consultant and has worked at Loral Space System, Microsoft and National Semiconductor. He has 25 years of experience in analog design for communications, data conversion and RF systems. Fong has 12 issued patents and has published more than 40 papers. He is a senior member of the IEEE. He also is on the faculty of UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley, where he teaches RF Wireless Communications and I/O Design Fundamentals. |
| May 13 | George Zafiropoulos (KJ6VU) | Virtual presentation on PackTennas — lightweight, compact, portable HF antenna systems ideal for a simple, solo Field Day. George will tell us the story of these antennas, explain their design, and give tips on how to get the most from them. |
| June 10 | Jim DeLoach, WU0I | Tales of an Alaskan Field Day Adventure. |
| July | No Meeting | |
| August 15 | Annual WVARA BBQ | Cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| September 9 | Dean Wood, N6DE | California QSO Party. See all the information in this Post |
| October 14 | David Brown, WR6Z | Fun on 900 MHz, Here is a link to the presentation PDF. |
| November 11 | Keith Snyder, KI6BDR | At this month’s meeting, Keith Snyder (KI6BDR) will give a virtual presentation on the Russian Woodpecker Over the Horizon Radar – A Real Blast from the Past. I’m really looking forward to this one since many of us older hams remember encountering this signal on-the-air. In addition, Steve KC6ZKT will give us an update on plans for Winter Field Day and how you can get involved. (Winter Field Day will be January 30/31). Keith’s Presentation Part 1 PDF. Part 2 PDF |
| December 9 | Steve Sergeant, KC6ZKT | WVARA will not be holding a holiday party this year. Instead, we will hold a standard monthly Zoom meeting on Wednesday, December 9. Steve Sergeant, KC6ZKT, will tell us about: “Repeaters To Go… Wild”. Zoom details will be released via the WVARA email reflector. If you aren’t yet a WVARA member and would like to attend this meeting, feel free to contact Jim Peterson, K6EI, via k6ei@wvara.org. You can get all the information on our main page |
2019 Meeting Schedule
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| January 9 | ||
| February 13 | Dave Casler, via Zoom | Digital HF Modes! |
| March 13 | Erik Swartz | From Elecraft Will Be updating us on “Everything Elecraft” |
| April 10 | Kristen, our Vice-Director | From the ARRL will be telling us about what’s happening with the League in 2019 |
| May 8 | Jim Peterson | Getting us ready for our upcoming Field Day! |
| June 12 | Jack | Jack is going to be giving us some “Tips” on “Contesting” just in time for Field Day! |
| July 10 | No Meeting | |
| August 17 | Annual WVARA BBQ | When: 11am – 2pm, Saturday, Aug 17. Sunnyvale’s Baylands Park, Pickleweed Place #1 (When you get to Baylands Park, turn right after going through the main gate.) All information on our Activities Page. |
| September 11 | Mark Kemp | Piezoelectric Antennas |
| October 9 | Clay Couger, N5YJZ | Join us to hear about Clay’s suitcase DX expedition and communications support for International Health Services (IHS) work in Honduras. |
| November 13 | Eric Guthrie | Presentation by Eric Guthrie on some of the DXPeditions & people he has interviewed over the past Several Years! Officer Elections |
| December 11 | WVARA Holiday Party | Holiday Christmas Party (set-up at 6pm, dining at 7pm) |
2018 Meeting schedule
|
Date
|
Speaker
|
Topic
|
|---|---|---|
| January 10 |
John Miller, K6MM
|
Wake Atoll DXpedition |
| February 14 |
Bill Fehring, W9KKN
|
HF Digital Modes |
| March 14 |
Hiroki Kato, AH6CY
|
PARASET: A CLANDESTINE SPY RADIO FROM WWII |
| April 11 | ||
| May 9 |
Jim Peterson, K6EI
|
Everything Field Day |
| June 13 | TBD | TBD |
| July |
No Meeting
|
|
| August 18 |
WVARA Annual BBQ |
When: 11am – 2pm, Saturday, Aug 18
Where: Sunnyvale’s Baylands Park, Pickleweed Place #1
|
| September 12 | TBD | TBD |
| October 10 | John Miller K6MM – | Hot DX from Baker Island |
| November 14 | TBD | TBD |
| December 12 |
HOLIDAY PARTY!
|
Annual Holiday Party.
We will be meeting at the American Red Cross, on the corner of 1st Street And Plumeria At 7:00pm in our usual meeting room.
The affair is, as usual, a “Pot Luck” where we are treated to some Great “Special” dishes that our members bring to delight our tastebuds each year!
People with Last Names beginning A-M please bring a “Main Dish” And People whose Last Names beginning M-Z Please bring a dessert!
We have some Great “Door Prizes” this year, with some “One-Of-A-Kind” Items That Have Never Been Available At Any Of our Holiday Parties in years past!
Please arrive early, to help set-up the tables if you can.
All members And their guests are Welcome to attend our Holiday Party, So Come One And Come All, To our Best Party Of the Year!
Hope to see You There!
-73-
Bill
N6FFC
2019 Vice President elect
West Valley Amateur Radio Association
|
2017 Meeting schedule
|
Date
|
Speaker
|
Topic
|
|---|---|---|
| January 10 |
John Miller, K6MM
|
Wake Atoll DXpedition |
| January 19 | Annual Winter Banquet hosted by the Foothill Amateur Radio Society (FARS) at Michael’s restaurant in Shoreline Park. Additional information is at www.fars.k6ya.org/events/banquet | |
| February 14 |
TBD
|
TBD |
| March 14 |
TBD
|
TBD |
| April 11 | Hiroki Kato | The Paraset story, and how it was a part of WW2 |
| May 10 |
Jim Peterson, K6EI
|
Everything Field Day |
| June 14 | TBD | TBD |
| July |
No Meeting
|
|
| August |
WVARA Annual BBQ |
See all the information on our activities page. |
| September 12 | TBD | TBD |
| October 10 | TBD | TBD |
| November 14 | TBD | TBD |
| December 12 |
HOLIDAY PARTY!
|
2016 Meeting schedule
|
Date
|
Speaker
|
Topic
|
|---|---|---|
| January 13 |
Paul Wesling, KM6LH
|
The Origins of Silicon Valley: Roots in Ham Radio |
| February 10 |
Keith Snyder, KI6BDR
|
Maximum Permissible Exposure Limit versus Near Field Radiation from a 2-Meter Mobile Antenna |
| March 9 |
Ralph Simpson
|
The History/Technology of the Enigma Cipher Machine in World War II |
| April 13 |
Kenneth Finnegan, W6KWF
|
Sun-Powered Radios: Harnessing Solar Power in the Name of Amateur Radio |
| May 11 |
Jim Peterson, K6EI
|
All Things Field Day |
| June 8 |
Jim Peterson, K6EI
|
Ham Radio Potpourri: Getting High Schoolers Excited about Ham Radio, WVARA in Social Media, and Field Day & De Anza Flea Market Planning |
| July |
No Meeting
|
|
| August 20 |
BBQ
|
The annual WVARA BBQ will be from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, August 20, in Sunnyvale’s Baylands Park at the Pickleweed picnic site. Visitors are welcome. Complete information on our Activities Page |
| September 14 |
Edison Fong, WB6IQN
|
Tri-Band J-Pole Antenna |
| October 12 |
Don Ferguson, AI6RE
|
Amateur High Altitude Ballooning |
| November 9 | ||
| December 14 | HOLIDAY PARTY! |
2015 Meeting schedule
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| January 14 | Ed Fong, WB6IQN | History of Handie-Talkie Radios |
| February 11 | Ron Quan, KI6AZB | Electronics from the ground up |
| March 11 | Kevin Reid, AG6YO | A Visual Introduction to Digital Signal Processing for SDR |
| April 8 | George Williams, N6NKT | The In’s and Out’s of Our Local Red Cross |
| May 13 | Jim Peterson, K6EI | All Things Field Day |
| June 10 | Bill AE6JV, Jim K6EI, Bobby KA4VBF, George N6NKT | Get Radioactive with WVARA |
| July | No Regular Meeting | |
| August 15 | BBQ 11am-2pm Baylands Park | BBQ & NAQP-SSB Operation |
| September 9 | Steve Stearns, K6OIK | The Joy of (Antenna) Matching |
| October 14 | Bobby Barnett, KA4VBF | Highlights of WVARA’s VHF and CQP Expeditions |
| November 11 | Kristen McIntyre, K6WX | The Mighty Transistor – What’s so great about transistors? |
| December 9 | Potluck Holiday Party at the meeting room | Setup at 6:30pm, Dinner at 7pm |
2014 Meeting schedule
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
| January 8 | Jim Peterson, K6EI | All Things Field Day * |
| February 12 | Bill Ruck, W6VSY | Radio On The High Seas |
| March 12 | Wayne Burdick, N6KR | Elecraft Night at WVARA |
| April 9 | Jim Peterson, K6EI | Low Band DX Antennas: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly |
| May 14 | Jim Peterson, K6EI | All Things Field Day |
| June 11 | Bill Frantz, AE6JV | Hands-On Construction: Battery Status Indicator Kit |
| July | No Regular Meeting | |
| August 13 | No Regular Meeting | |
| August 16 | BBQ 11am-2pm Baylands Park, Pickleweed Site | BBQ & NAQP-SSB Operation |
| September 10 | Jim Peterson, K6EI | Field Day Highlights & California QSO Party: Plans and Ideas |
| October 8 | Jim Peterson, K6EI | Fun on 160M! |
| November 12 | ||
| December 10 | Pot Luck Holiday Party at the meeting location Setup at 6:30pm, Dinner at 7pm |
* See meeting page for pre-meeting location.
2013 Meeting schedule
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
| January 9 | George Williams, N6NKT | 3D2C DXpedition With A Newbie Twist |
| February 13 | Mike Lavelle, K6ML | Introduction to Microwave Amateur Radio http://www.50mhzandup.org/index.html |
| March 13 | Ron Quan, KI6AZB | Build Your Own Transistor Radios |
| April 10 | Jim Deloach, WU0I | Ham Radio in Ethiopia |
| May 8 | Jim Peterson, K6EI | All Things Field Day |
| June 12 | ||
| July | No Meeting | |
| August 17 | Picnic at Baylands | Picnic Flyer |
| September 11 | Kristen McIntyre, K6WX | TBD |
| October 9 | Dave Flack, W6DLF and Dave Crocker, W6VYC | QRPeditions |
| November 13 | Russ Bentson, K6KLY | Meteor Scatter Using FSK441 |
| December 11 | Pot Luck Holiday Party at the meeting location | Setup 6:30, Dinner 7:00` |