It’s not to late to add your name to the list of folks getting the new WVARA mug to be produced locally by WVARA club member Brian Goldberg, KG6BKI. We’ll be charging $12 per mug and will be giving Brian the final order list immediately after next month’s Holiday Party. So be sure to let me know if you would like a mug. (You can pay Peri, our club treasurer, when you pick up your mug at January’s meeting.) 
All posts by wvara
Field Day results are here!
ARRL released the latest QST at their web site today. Among other things, it contains the results for Field Day 2017.
To say the least, “we did good”. Our score of 19350 in 13AB was the 4th highest score, just 410 points behind 3rd-place W4EZ (9AB).
W4IY (12A) scored 20930, still pretty close. First place was once again held by W3AO down to just 16A, at 39430, about twice our score!
(How do they do that every year???).
Interesting that W4EZ and ourselves were the only AB stations in the top 10. I guess the other guys need power to do the job.
Congrats to all, it not only was a fine effort under trying propagation conditions, but a very fun one as well. Especially thanks to Bobbie and Bill for their organization efforts! May this years Field Day be even more fun, and please someone arrange for some sunspots for that weekend.
73,
Jack, W6FB
To CQ or not to CQ…that is the question.
This particular question will be answered by our very own Bill Fehring, who will take us through space weather and how it affects terrestrial propagation. In the end, the question we all consider when turning on a rig is “How will the bands be today?” Bill will take us through some online resources that work to predict band performance based not on beacon networks, but on the solar activity of our little corner of the universe. He will help us understand how to interpret the data they present in order to answer that question, what metrics are used, and hopefully allow us some better experiences during this low period of sunspot activity.
As well, this Wednesday evening will be your chance to participate in some home grown democracy while you vote for next year’s WVARA officers.
73,
K0XI
Mission 29, October 21, 2017
QST QST QST
Mission 29 is scheduled to take place October 21, 2017 in Conjunction with PACIFICON, ARRL’s Pacific Division Convention. Make a contact with a skydiver and receive a one of a kind QSL card.
The mission will take place at Bay Area Skydiving in Byron, CA. http://bayareaskydiving.com/. Come on by and visit us.
If you are attending PACIFICON come by our table and say hi.
We hope to have our first jump soon after 10:00 A.M.
FM QSO: 146.430 MHz
HF QSO: 14.250 MHz
D-Star: TBD
APRS: Track the individual skydivers by call sign; AF6IM, KC6TYD, W7BIG
Streaming video: Several point of views will be available including air-to-ground. Log into: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mfwright
Parachute Mobile will be acting as Net Control atop Mt Diablo. ETJs (estimated time of jump) will be announced periodically as will as other mission specific information. Updates will also be made on the W6CX repeater at 147.060 +100. Not in repeater range? No problem. Updates will be made here on the website and on our Facebook page.
We make every effort to record your QSO. To ensure that you receive your QSL card please email KC6TYD@gmail.com indicating which jumper, the jump number, and the time you made your contact.
For updates go to parachutemobile.org.
As always, we do not have control over Drop Zone, aircraft, and the weather, so this event is subject to delay or cancellation.
Bill Frantz
Club Elections at November 8th Meeting
Elections for West Valley Amateur Radio Association officers and directors are coming up at the November meeting. We are soliciting nominations for:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Board members (3 to be elected)
Please let any officer of board member know if you are interested in running for a position, or have a nomination for someone else. Please make sure that anyone you nominate is willing to serve.
Great to see our art on CNN’s front page!
Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico one transmission at a time: http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-maria-ham-radio-operators-trnd/index.html
Electronics Flea Market @ De Anza College
Our next Electronics Flea Market is scheduled for September 9, 2017. This event is on rain or shine.
Note to buyers that the daily parking permit fee is $3. The seller/vendor fee is $30. Please bring correct change to speed your entry into the market.
ASVARO and the Electronics Flea Market are now on Facebook. Check it out our FB Page and give us a “like”.
California QSO Party 2017: New Club Competition Rules
From: John Miller
Date: Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 1:27 PM
Subject: California QSO Party 2017: New Club Competition Rules
To: support@cqp.org
Dear Contest Club Official:
Club Competition in the California QSO Party has been supported for many years, but traditionally only a handful of larger clubs in California tend to compete each year. To encourage more small-medium club participation for 2017, we’ve created three new competition categories:
- “Small” = the 10 highest scores from a club whose members who submitted their log in the Small category will count for this competition category.
- “Medium” = the 35 highest scores from a club whose members who submitted their log in the Medium category will count for this competition category.
- “Large” = clubs may combine the scores of any number of their members
All CA clubs are eligible to compete in CQP, except for NCCC, which sponsors the contest.
Plaques will be awarded for each of the 3 categories for both California and Non-California clubs: a total of 6 awards.
Further details can be found on the CQP website:
http://www.cqp.org/Clubcomp.html
Date-Time Reminder: 1600 UTC October 7, 2017 to 2200 UTC October 8, 2017
We hope to see many members of your club on the air this October in the 52nd running of the California QSO Party!
73, John, K6MM CQP Chair
A message from ARRL President Rick Roderick K5UR
August 8, 2017
Dear ARRL Member:
Based on feedback Ive received, it seems to me that some members still dont fully understand certain features of the Amateur Radio Parity Act (ARPA) and what it is meant to do. To make things clearer, we have developed an FAQ in the format of questions and answers. Please take a few minutes and read the FAQ to learn more about the ARPA.
Here is the direct link:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/The%20Amateur%20Radio%20Parity%20Act%20FAQ.pdfHere is another link with additional information:
http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-actThanks to those of you who have written your Senators in support of the ARPA. If you have not done so, please do so by clicking on the link below. It only takes a minute.
https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-us-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act
Thanks. Lets keep the effort moving!
73, Rick – K5UR
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rick Roderick, K5UR
President
ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio®
August 19th is our Summer BBQ
You can see all the information on our Activities Page.
When: 11am – 2pm, Saturday, Aug 19
Where: Sunnyvale’s Baylands Park, Pickleweed Place