Ham Basics
Ham Basics are held once a year and are intended to cover a variety of technical or procedural subjects of interest to the amateur radio community in general. Some years will have specific themes and some will just be a potpourri of subjects.
Events scheduled or that have been held are shown below. Hyperlinked class titles below will open a pdf of presentations given and any handouts for the classes.
Emergency Communications Workshop 2023
11 February, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m. – POC is Delvin/N7QMT
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 21720 NE 29th Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642
For the schedule of classes click here.
Welcome and Introduction is at 0900
Subjects covered (alphabetically) and presenters:
Seminar Schedule
East Cult Hall
West Cult Hall
SW Corner
NW Corner
0915
First Station
Delvin Bunton/NS7U
Public Service
Communications
Toby Clairmont/KH7FR
WinLink
Scott Ririe/WA7L
Intro to Ham Radio
Delvin Bunton/NS7U
1015
Antennas
Delvin Bunton/NS7U
Repeaters
Dave Cherba/WZ8T
Comm Options
Dave Carleton/K7DS
Go-Kits
Barbara Yasson/AC7UH
Linda Ford/AA6MR
1115
General Q&A
EYEWARN
Emergency Reporting
James Newsome/KE7ZAC
Operating Portable
Jeff Langford/KJ7VDP
Get On The Air
Rick Aragon/NE7O
Seminar Description
First Station
0915
East Cult Hall
Options to consider when you are building your first station. Included are handheld, mobile, and HF (fixed and portable).
Delvin Bunton/NS7U
Public Service Communications
0915
West Cult Hall
There are numerous ways to support your community, neighborhood, church, or other organizations during an emergency.
Toby Clairmont/KH7FR
WinLink
0915
SW Corner
WinLink software connected to an appropriate radio supports sending emails to distant points that connects to the internet.
See a live demo and discussion.
Scott Ririe/WA7L
Antennas
1015
East Cult Hall
Antennas are the key ingredient for success with radio and can dramatically increase your success and fun.
Delvin Bunton/NS7U
Repeaters
1015
West Cult Hall
Some consider repeaters magic, and dramatically increase your radio footprint. Learn how to use them effectively.
Dave Cherba/WZ8T
Comm Options
1015
SW Corner
Discuss communication options for emergencies including CB, Family Radio, GMRS, and amateur radio. Also discuss organizing your neighborhood.
Dave Carleton/K7DS
Go-Kits
1015
NW Corner
Go-kits can simplify portable operations, especially or emergencies. Learn basic principles for building your own.
Barbara Yasson/AC7UH
Linda Ford/AA6MR
EYEWARN
Emergency Reporting
1115
West Cult Hall
The EYEWARN program is alive in Clark County to support county emergency managers. Learn how to participate locally, or how to start a similar program elsewhere.
James Newsome/KE7ZAC
Operating Portable
1115
SW Corner
Learn some key principles to operator portable (meaning away from your home station). Jeff likes to climb hills and mountains to operate.
Link to presentation is here.
Jeff Langford/KJ7VDP
Get On The Air
1115
NW Corner
Have your license but no on-air experience? This is the class for you to learn basic principles for success.
Rick Aragon/NE7O
Ham Basics 2012
17 November 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – POC is Delvin/N7QMT
Ridgefield LDS chapel, 21720 NE 29th St, Ridgefield WA 98642
For the schedule of classes click here.
Subjects covered (alphabetically) and presenters:
ARES and ICS
Steve/WA7PTM:
The FEMA IS-100 course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System (ICS) which is used by the agencies served by the Clark County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group.
ARES and NIMS
Steve/WA7PTM:
The FEMA IS-700 course introduces and overviews the National Incident Management System (NIMS) which provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations (like the ARES) to work together during domestic incidents.
Basic antennas
Dave/WB7ESV:
Learn about basic antennas to improve your radio signal and improve your station performance.
Beginner’s guide to making antennas (761Kb)
Lonny/ KE7JJK:
Experiment with making your own antennas that improve your station performance.
Logging, Contesting and Computers (6.9Mb) – Rick/KT7G:
Improve your contest fun using computers to log your contacts.
Mobile installation
Dave/WB7ESV:
Learn ways to successfully install a station into your vehicle.
NVIS antenna
Delvin/N7QMT:
How to build a low 40/80 dipole.
Operating simplex
Chuck Jones/KE7ZWP:
Simplex FM can be fun and useful during emergencies. Learn how to succeed.
Portable Station Considerations (3.5Mb)
Gary/K7GJT:
Portable station considerations will be presented to include equipment capabilities, power alternatives, VHF/UHF and HF antenna options, shelters, equipment and personal support kits, and more will be covered.
Power your station, portable and fixed
Phil/AC7NB:
Determine how much power your station needs, and discuss different ways to provide the power.
Single point station grounding
Dave/WB7ESV:
Learn about basic antennas to improve your radio signal and improve your station performance.
Survival kit for deployments
Karen/KE7NYH:
Gain some ideas on what to take when you are deployed for an emergency assignment.
Survival kit for your car
Karen/KE7NYH:
Learn ideas on how to create a mobile survival kit for your vehicle.
Working HF station
Clay/KF6SNF & Linda/AA6MR:
Operate at a working HF station just before and during the premier HF contest, Sweepstakes.
Ham Basics 2011
19 November 2011 – POC is Delvin/N7QMT
Event Flyer | Class Schedule & Outline | Opening session Presentation | Event Pictures
Subjects covered and presenter:
Antennas for the HF Ham; How, What and Why?
Mike/W7VO:
In this class we will be discussing the theory and comparative characteristics of several common varieties of HF Amateur Radio antennas, including; wire antennas, horizontal arrays, and verticals. Also, we will be discussing and demonstrating antenna modeling software, and antenna analyzer hardware.
Basic Test Equipment
Bob/WA6NFJ:
The basic test Equipment that all hams should have plus some more advanced test equipment for those who want to build gear.
Contesting
Rick/KT7G:
The Benefits, Reasons and tools to succeed at Radiosport.
DC Electricity
Dick/N6ZQ:
Learn the basic principles for working with DC electricity.
Emergency Communication/ARES
Jerry/K7KWO & Gary/K7GJT:
Orientation session for Amateur Radio Emergency Communications and particularly ARES/RACES. Trained and certified operators in our area will provide communications support for government and some non-governmental organizations.
First Station
Ken/ K7ICY:
Now that you have your license, what kind of station should I build?
GPS and Ham Radio
Mike/W7VO:
In this class we will peek behind the curtain and learn how the US Global Positioning System (GPS) works, then discuss various practical ham radio applications for GPS. This will include details and a demonstration of the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS).
Ham Radio Geography
Delvin/N7QMT:
How to set up your handheld, ideas about equipment, and fun activities you can do with your handheld.
HF Radio Demo
Linda/AA6MR & Clay/KF6SNF:
Learn how to get started with HF communications and talking with distant stations.
HSMM-Mesh Radio
Gary/K7GJT & Don/ND7P:
Learn about High Speed Multi-Media Mesh (HSMM-Mesh) technology; the hardware needed and what to do with the mesh system once it’s up.
Logging Your Contacts
Bob/WA6NFJ:
Why you should keep a log and how to use LOTW and eQSL. Also other logging programs.
Mobile Installations
CANCELLED
Portable operation
Rick/KT7G:
How go to somewhere rare, and be successful at talking to folks that need it.
Portable Power
Geoff/K7GCW:
Power away from the grid provides numerous challenges. Discuss options including solar, generators, and batteries.
Public Service
Barbara/AC7UH & Lisa/KE7HPW:
What you need to know to prepare for being part of a ham radio communications team: a discussion of basic radio preparation and the information necessary to participate effectively in a public service event.
RF Propagation
Tim/KD7RUS:
Learn the basics of RF propagation. Knowing how radio signals travel and when to operate on a band can add to your enjoyment in amateur radio. It will also help your contesting experience and may make difference if you have to communicate in an emergency.
Simple Antennas
CANCELLED
Station Grounding
Al/K7ABL:
Lousy ground, lousy signal. Learn ways to improve your signal with a workable ground.
What is Ham Radio?
Delvin/N7QMT:
Overview of this hobby we call ham radio. Includes lots of time for Q&A.
YL and Radio
Barbara/AC7UH & Lisa/KE7HPW:
Discussion of the many aspects of ham radio and YL participation: Having fun as you put your license to good use. Other resources.
Ham Basics 2010
18 September 2010 – POC is Delvin/N7QMT
Event Flyer | Class Schedule & Outline | Opening session Presentation | Event Pictures
Subjects covered and presenter:
Alternative Power Basics
Dean Wagstaff/KC7IOW:
Learn how to get started with alternative power sources that can keep your batteries charged.
Antennas for HF
Bob Hardwick/WA6NFJ:
Learn about basic and advanced antennas for HF. Wire antennas work well at modest cost, while towers can cost much more while offering more selectivity.
Antennas for VHF/UHF
Dave Phemister/WB7ESV:
The stock rubber duckie antenna for your handheld illustrates compromise between portability and usability. Learn some simple ways to improve your signal when you need it.
APRS
Howard Foreman/KC7IZH:
Amateur PACKET Reporting System (APRS) offers many ways to communicate, including position reports, weather data, and text messages. Learn how to get started with this useful mode.
Beginning ARES
Gary Takis/K7GJT & Jerry Schue/KD7KWO:
Basic training session for Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and for those just interested in the program.
Beginning Contesting
Kevin Bier/K7VI:
Learn how to get started with contesting, how to participate, what you need to know.
Beginning HF
Larry Bloomquist/W7HGC:
Beginning HF is for those who are new generals that aren't sure what they need to get/do to get on the air and start enjoying this facet of the hobby.
Digital Communications
Gary Takis/K7GJT:
Digital Communications will cover Amateur Radio Digital Mode History; the two basic digital technologies; TNC technology, modes & software; soundcard technology; modes & software; accuracy; making the connection without wires; making the connection with wires; digital messaging systems; and making the “over-the-air” connection with radio. Here is a chance to learn and share your experiences with this fascinating aspect of Amateur Radio.
Family Communications during an emergency
Al Lewey/K7ABL:
Learn how you can communicate with your family during an emergency or disaster. Learn how to set up a communications plan.
Handheld Radio Operations
Delvin Bunton/N7QMT:
How to set up your handheld, ideas about equipment, and fun activities you can do with your handheld.
Keeping a Log, Paper-Chasing
Rick Smith/KT7G:
Logging, or computerizing your station for general dx/paper chasing, operating and contesting.
Mobile installations
Dave Phemister/WB7ESV:
Mobile radio installation procedure, RFI issues, VHF/UHF Dual Band antennas and Mobile antenna installation.
Events for Beginners
Larry Bloomquist/W7HGC:
Events for beginners is a fish eye view for those that are considering volunteering at a public service event but don't know what to expect and hopefully this class will answer their questions.
Operating Portable
Kevin Bier/K7VI:
Field Day, Salmon Run, mountain-topping, and general fun can come from operating portable, perhaps on a picnic table in the mountains or at the beach. Learn what you need to succeed at this kind of fun. This method also prepares you for emergencies.
PACKET Radio, IRLP, EchoLink
Rob Haller/K7JAO & Tom Barton/WB7TZD:
Learn what you need for packet using a TNC. Also learn how to use the VOIP modes, IRLP and EchoLink.
Powering your Station
Dean Wagstaff/KC7IOW:
The magic does not happen without power. Batteries power your handheld, portable, and mobile stations. You can use that method at home, too.
Station Safety/Grounding
Al Lewey/K7ABL:
Learn what grounding is and what it is not and what you can do to protect your station from lightning and other hazards.
Ham Basics Workshop 2009
12 September 2009 – POC is Delvin/N7QMT
Event Flyer | Class Schedule & Outline | Opening session Presentation | Event Pictures
Subjects covered and presenter:
Care and feeding of Batteries
Dean/KC7IOW:
When the grid power goes off, or you want to operate portable, batteries become your primary power source. Solar can fill in the gaps when used properly.
Communications during an Emergency
Rick/KE7FHK:
During the onset of widespread communication outages, chaos will reign. Learn how to communicate during these emergencies.
Connectors and Grounding
Dave/WB7ESV:
Connectors allow the electrons to flow smoothly, and grounding keeps the radio safe and happy.
PL-259 installation Single Point Grounding
Digital Communications
Rob/K7JAO:
This session will show how you can get started with digital (meaning text) communications, including equipment and communication methods.
Getting started with HF communication
Jerry Schue/KD7KWO:
Many hams like talking to distant hams. HF can provide reliable regional communications with the right equipment; discussion includes how to contact other stations and operating etiquette.
How to get the most from your Handheld
Delvin/N7QMT:
Properly programming your handheld will improve your chances of pleasant contacts. Set the offset, frequency, simplex/duplex, and tone. Learn about programming software, basic signal enhancement techniques, and radio etiquette.
Operating in a Contest
Kevin/K7VL:
Contests can be a fun way to improve your operating skills. Just how do I get started talking with others during a contest? What do I need to know?
Sound file
Operating Mobile and Portable
Kevin/K7VL:
Operating from your car can be fun and useful. So can operating from a picnic table or an emergency shelter. The session will discuss how to assemble usable mobile and portable stations, how to contact other stations, and radio etiquette.
Simple HF antennas
Steve/KE6NUE:
Review of various simple HF antennas for your home and portable station.
Simple VHF/UHF antennas
Dave/WB7ESV:
Simple VHF antennas usually cost little to build and improve your signal.
Station types from Handheld to HF
Delvin/N7QMT:
Review of various kinds of stations you might consider assembling and what you can do with the various types.
Parades, community walks, emergencies, and other opportunities can be fun and help you gain radio experience. Nets provide a way to manage the activity.
Antenna Seminar 2008
October 11, 2008 – POC is Delvin/N7QMT
Specializing in Emergency Communications
Subjects covered and presenter:
Antennas 101
Ward Silver/N0AX:
Ward is a nationally published author who has written extensively on ham radio subjects and presents a fast-paced program. One of Ward's books is entitled, "Ham Radio for Dummies".
Portable antennas for EmComm
Ralph Javins/N7KGA:
Ralph has extensive experience with many antenna types over many years. He will show several antennas that work in a variety of circumstances, and you can even carry them easily.
Panel for Questions and Answers
There was several experienced antenna folks that fielded questions from the floor.
Club Training Events
Club training events scheduled or held are shown below.
Hyperlinked class titles below will open a pdf of presentations given and any handouts for the classes.
Upcoming CCARC Training Events
There are no scheduled training events at this time.
Ham Radio First Class
This class took place on Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Now that you have your license, you probably want to figure out which radio makes the most sense for your desires and plans for ham radio. Phil and Delvin will teach a short class to help you choose your radio and get on the air. We want to help get you on the air. The class will discuss issues facing new hams. We hope to teach a similar class about April with a focus on HF (General and Extra).
The class met at the Orchards LDS Primary room (where we held classes), 7101 NE 166th Ave north from Fourth Plain Blvd in east Vancouver.
Topics we covered included:
- How do you plan to use your radio?
- What features support what you want to do?
- Radio type: handheld vs. mobile/base station.
- What features do you want?
- What accessories will help me accomplish what I want to do?
- What can I do with various kinds of radios?
- Budget considerations…
- Brief set-up suggestions
- Opportunities to gain experience?
- Local frequencies and nets
- Q&A
Amateur Radio License Classes
“Open” Classes
Contact Delvin/NS7U at (360) 256-9122 or via email at NS7U@arrl.net for enrollment or questions about licensing.
Class sessions listed (unless noted otherwise) will be conducted Fridays from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and
Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m
License Testing starts at 10:30 on Day 4
“YL Only” (Women) Classes
Contact Barbara/AC7UH via e-mail at AC7UH@arrl.net for enrollment or questions about the class.
Class session listed for YLs (women) listed unless noted otherwise) will be conducted on
Thursday from 7:00 pm - 9:00 p.m.
Friday from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
License License testing starts at 10:00 on Day 8
The license test by ARRL Certified Volunteer Examiners (VE) will normally be administered on the second Saturday at time shown. Although the classes are at no charge, there is a $15.00 testing fee that will be collected at the time of the test. Hams wanting to test for upgrade and are not part of the class, please RSVP your request.
If you are interested in classes available in the Beaverton/Hillsboro area, click here for information about what is available from the Oregon Tualatin Valley Amateur Radio Club (OTVARC).
Recommended (but not required) text for all classes are:
The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual for technicians
The ARRL General Class License Manual for general upgrades
The Extra Class License Manual for the highest class license.
2024 "YL Only" (Women) General Ham License Classes
| License Type | Dates | Remarks | Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technician | February 29, March 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 & 14 via Zoom |
ZOOM Class Flyer click here. | VE provided by CCARC Saturday March 16th 10:00 AM |
For Prior Ham Licensing Classes success information, click here.
Scheduled Nets Information
The following underlined year links below will take you to our newsletter archive.
Dues current members received the newsletter monthly. Newsletters 2 years and older are presented here. To request copies within the last 2 years, contact us at newsletter@w7aia.org.
Just click on the decade you are interested in and it will take you to the list of years from which you can access the past newsletters. If you have copies of CCARC newsletters that are not captured here and you would like to see presented herein, please let us know at newsletter@w7aia.org and we'll arrange to get them added!
Click on the day icon to download an ICS calendar reminder for a net.
2 Meter | 144MHz
147.24 + (PL 94.8)
Livingston
Wednesday 8:30 pm
2 Rivers YL Net
Contact: Margaret Hardwick/AE7MB
Thursday 7:00pm
EYEWARN Net
Contact: James Newsome/KE7ZAC
Friday 7:00 pm
1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Friday
Roundtable Net
Contact: Brad Jackson/KJ7YNZ
NCS SCRIPT
Alternate Net Control
Brad/KJ7YNZ
Stan/KF7OJA
| Date | Net Control |
|---|---|
| DEC 15 | Don/N7ETR |
| DEC 22 | Phil/K6HSV |
| DEC 29 | Stan/KF7OJA |
| JAN 5 | David/KJ7WUZ |
| DEC 15 | Don/N7ETR |
| DEC 22 | Phil/K6HSV |
| DEC 29 | Stan/KF7OJA |
| JAN 5 | David/KJ7WUZ |
| JAN 12 | Club Meeting - No Net |
| JAN 19 | Don/N7ETR |
| JAN 26 | Phil/K6HSV |
| FEB 5 | David/KJ7WUZ |
| FEB 12 | Club Meeting - No Net |
| FEB 19 | Don/N7ETR |
| FEB 26 | Phil/K6HSV |
6 Meter | 50MHz
52.95 - (PL 94.8)
Yacolt
-None-
125 cm | 220MHz Repeater
224.36 - (PL 94.8)
Livingston
-None-
70 cm | 440MHz Repeater
443.125 + (PL 94.8)
Yacolt
70 cm | 440MHz Repeater
443.825 + (PL 94.8)
Memorial
-None-
70 cm | 440MHz Repeater
443.925 + (PL 94.8)
Livingston
Tuesday 7:00 pm
Clark County ARES/RACES Information Net
Contact: Don/ND7P
Daily 6:00 pm
Clark County Message Traffic Net
Contact: Brad Jackson/KJ7YNZ
23 cm | 1.2GHz Repeater
1292.50 - (PL 94.8)
Livingston
-None-
Other Local Area Nets
| Day | Time | Frequency | Net Info / Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1805 | 145.27, 145.43, 146.80, 145.47, 441.825, 442.525, 443.150, 443.425, 1291.00 (all above repeaters PL 107.2) |
NW Oregon Traffic and Training Net |
|
1900 | 3540 kHz CW | West Coast Slow Speed Net |
 |
2200 | 145.27, 145.43, 146.80, 145.47, 441.825, 442.525, 443.150, 443.425, 1291.00 (all above repeaters PL 107.2) |
New Hams Discussion Net |
 |
0900 | 1296.100 SSB, CW | PNWVHFS.org 1296 Net |
|
1900 | 144.240 SSB | PNWVHFS.org 2m Net |
|
1945 | 50.140 SSB | PNWVHFS.org 6m Net |
|
2010 | 147.04, 147.32, 442.325, 444.125, 444.400 (all above repeaters PL 100) 146.720 (PL 114.8) |
Linux Users Net |
|
2015 | 432.110 SSB, CW | PNWVHFS.org 70 cm Net |
|
1900 | 146.84 (no PL tone) | Portland Amateur Radio Club Net |
|
2000 | 144.240 SSB | PNWVHFS.org 2m Net |
|
1930 | 222.100 SSB | PNWVHFS.org 1.25m Net |
|
2000 | 146.96 (PL 127.3) | Wednesday Night Casual Net |
|
2000 | 144.140 CW | PNWVHFS.org 2m QLF Net |
|
2000 | 144.174 FT-8 | PNWVHFS.org 2m Digital |
|
2000 | 145.27, 145.43, 146.80, 145.47, 441.825, 442.525, 443.150, 443.425, 1291.00 (all above repeaters PL 107.2) |
The Fishing Net. This weekly net is a discussion group focusing on fishing opportunities in the PNW. |
|
2005 | 145.27, 145.43, 146.80, 442.525, 443.150 (all above repeaters PL 107.2) |
The Outdoors Net. The primary purpose of this Net is to share information about the great outdoors in the PNW. |
Other Local Area SSB Nets
| Day | Time | Frequency | NCS |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1930L | 144.25 USB | KK7N - Troutdale, OR |
|
2015L | 50.140 USB | KK7N - Troutdale, OR |
|
2030L | 432.110 USB | KK7N - Troutdale, OR |
Friday Night Roundtable Net Subjects
If you have a topic or subject of interest for discussion on the Friday Night Roundtable Net, send your thoughts to the net managers for consideration. The net is most interesting when the subjects are the subjects of interest that the members want discussed.
Also, if you are interested in becoming a Net Control Station for the Friday Round Table Net, please let us know.
The email address is roundtable@w7aia.org .
Repeater Information
At the bottom of every page of our website is a table of our repeaters. You can click on any listed repeater row and it will open up the RepeaterBook entry for that installation. More details about our repeaters can be found below in the Repeater Updates section.
Repeater Operating Practices
The ten commandments of repeater operating techniques is listed below.
- FIND a repeater using a repeater directory. Avoid “Kerchunking”
- LISTEN. Familiarize yourself with its operating procedures
- TRANSMIT “(your call-sign) Monitoring” is all that needed to attract someone’s attention. Don’t call CQ on repeaters.
- To JOIN a conversation in progress, transmit your call-sign between transmissions. Don’t use “break” unless it’s an emergency.
- BE COURTEOUS. Acknowledge all stations wishing to use the repeater. Invite him or her to join in or make a short call to another station that may be monitoring the frequency.
- PAUSE between transmissions to allow others to join in. Wait for the courtesy “Beep”.
- BREVITY. Keep transmissions short. This permits more people to use the repeater.
- Always IDENTIFY at end of each series of transmissions or every 10 minutes. You do not need to transmit any other stations call-sign. Just yours.
- Use SIMPLEX whenever possible. Adhere to the band plan.
- SUPPORT your local repeater groups.
Reporting Repeater Issues
If you notice something you don't believe is right with the repeater hardware operation,
please report it to repeaters@w7aia.org and it will be followed up.
Repeater Donations
Donations in any amount may be made to CCARC either at the meetings, by mail or by using PayPal. Your donations will help to keep our equipment maintained and up-to-date as well as pay for ongoing rent and utility expenses at the repeater sites.
You may either donate online here or by mail using the membership form. Please include a SASE if you wish to have a receipt mailed to you.
CCARC is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by IRS law.
Repeater Locations and Information
Yacolt Repeaters
Livingston Repeaters
Memorial Repeater
6 Meter Repeater
| Downlink Freq: | 52.95000 |
| Uplink Freq: | 51.25000 |
| Offset: | -1.700 MHz |
| Uplink Tone: | 94.8 |
70 Centimeter Repeater
| Downlink Freq: | 443.12500 |
| Uplink Freq: | 448.12500 |
| Offset: | +5.000 MHz |
| Uplink Tone: | 94.8 |
2 Meter Repeater
| Downlink Freq: | 147.24000 |
| Uplink Freq: | 147.84000 |
| Offset: | +0.600 MHz |
| Uplink Tone: | 94.8 |
125 Centimeter Repeater
| Downlink Freq: | 224.36000 |
| Uplink Freq: | 222.76000 |
| Offset: | -1.600 MHz |
| Uplink Tone: | 94.8 |
70 Centimeter Repeater
| Downlink Freq: | 443.92500 |
| Uplink Freq: | 448.92500 |
| Offset: | +5.000 MHz |
| Uplink Tone: | 94.8 |
23 Centimeter Repeater
| Downlink Freq: | 1292.50000 |
| Uplink Freq: | 1272.50000 |
| Offset: | -20.000 MHz |
| Uplink Tone: | 94.8 |
70 Centimeter Repeater
| Downlink Freq: | 443.82500 |
| Uplink Freq: | 448.82500 |
| Offset: | +5.000 MHz |
| Uplink Tone: | 94.8 |
Repeater Updates
Repeater Update - November 2010
The 50MHz (6M), 144MHz (2M), 220MHz, 440MHZ, and 1.2GHz voice repeaters and associated equipment located on Livingston Mountain and Yacolt Mountain are owned and operated by the Clark County Amateur Radio Club (CCARC). These repeaters are maintained and upgraded by CCARC through the generous donations by friends and members.
The PACKET system radios and TNC located on Livingston Mountain are owned and operated by the Clark County ARES/RACES group (CCARES/RACES). This equipment is maintained by the CCARES/RACES group and is open for general amateur use when not being used for Emcomm operations.
At the 4 August CCARC Board of Directors meeting, the board approved the replacement of our Motorola Micor 443.925 MHz UHF repeater and duplexer. The older Motorola equipment has served us well, but the newer equipment will only occupy a small fraction of the space we occupy in the CRESA facility on Mt Livingston. Space is quite limited in the facility and to ensure the continued hosting of our repeaters at the CRESA site, we took the initiative to be a conscientious resident in the facility and conserve space as much as possible. Compared to the 8 inch combined relay rack height of the new repeater and duplexer, the Micor free-standing cabinet was about 3 ft. high and consumed significantly more electrical power.
The new UHF repeater is a Kenwood TK-850 and is similar to our TK-750 VHF repeater on 147.24 MHz. Both Kenwood repeaters each only occupy 3.5 inches of rack space each (plus the duplexers) and are much more efficient. The new UHF repeater will use the same antenna as the old Micor repeater. This addition to our repeater family brings us to more efficient state of the art equipment.
The 147.24 and 224.36 repeaters have been working flawlessly since their installation in 2009 and I expect no less from our new UHF repeater.
As always, your support and donations to our CCARC repeater fund are truly appreciated. Thank You!
Wayne Schuler, AI9Q, CCARC Repeater Manager. ai9q@arrl.net
Repeater Update - 2009
Through your generous donations, we've been able to purchase two new repeaters and make substantial upgrades to our system recently. Our most recent purchase was a new Kenwood 750 VHF repeater for our flagship station on 147.24 MHz. The old Motorola Micor units we purchased used 15 years ago were 30 years old and have provided good service until lately when they started acting up. It was going to cost more in time and money than it was worth to repair and we would still have old equipment. Thus, the club Board of Directors approved the purchase of the new Kenwood which was put on the air within 2-3 weeks before the winter weather set in on the mountain. In early 2008 a new High-Pro R1 1.25 meter repeater was purchased to replace the temporary one made from used mobile transceivers. The mobile units are no longer available and they were hard to maintain. The new 224.36 repeater is now on the air and is doing a great job.
We also purchased a new Arcom RC-210 repeater controller which will manage the 147.24, 224.360 and 443.925 repeaters on Mt. Livingston. The repeaters are controlled via a reverse patch on a phone line for maximum security. Since installing the new system, we have had very few problems and we are able to control all three repeaters remotely. A new Triband antenna has been installed at the Mt. Livingston site. This antenna is triplexed for the 224.36 repeater, the 144.99 packet node and for future 70 cm band linking. The 147.24 and 443.925 repeaters have their own dedicated antennas on the tower at approximately 1920 ft above sea level.
The 23-cm repeater frequency has been changed to 1292.50 and will return to the air as soon as we can reinstall the antenna. A note to remember when accessing the 6 meter repeater. The offset is -1.700 MHz. Most radios default at 1.000 offset and must be changed to the standard used in the northwest. See your technical manual for directions on how to do this. Also, most HT radios don't work well on 6 meters due to the antenna and power. Best results are obtained with a base or mobile radio.
Our clubs repeater coverage includes all VHF and UHF bands from 6-meters through 23-cm. We’ve been able to add these repeaters and upgrade our coverage with the help our technicians and our members.
Fixed expenses for these repeaters include rent and a telephone control circuits which amounts to approximately $50/month. Ongoing maintenance for all the repeaters comes from the repeater fund as well. Fortunately, we have good commercial grade repeaters which don’t require much maintenance. I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank all those who have provided donations and their technical assistance for our repeater projects. I’d especially like to thank the following for providing their technical expertise and assistance: John Stein, AB7F; Loren Flindt, KB7APU; Jim Coville, W7RY; Wes Allen, K7WWG; Larry Johnson, K7LJ. Thank you all so much for being on call when we need you.
As you know, we have a repeater fund which pays for ongoing expenses related to the repeaters. This fund pays for the site rent and utilities. Money left over pays for maintenance and upgrades. The repeaters have been pretty much self-supporting without asking the club to dip into the general fund reserves. All this is made possible by your generous donations to the repeater fund. For that we thank you again. If you haven’t joined ‘friends of the repeater’, I’d like to invite you to do so today. Any amount is sincerely appreciated and we’ll add your name to our donor’s list in the annual awards banquet program booklet in February. All donations will be spent strictly on our repeater projects. Of course all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by IRS law. CCARC is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Thank you very much for your support.
Wayne Schuler, AI9Q, CCARC Repeater Manager. ai9q@arrl.net
Technical Information
The information below is from technical information used in club training sessions and articles written for the ‘Rocking Chair Copy’ club newsletter.
Connectors:
Equipment Operation:
Operating Tips and Other Information:
Ham Demographics (2009) – Delvin/N7QMT
Winlink 2000 – Digital Messaging in the 21st Century (2009) – Gary/K7GJT
CCARC has new 2 and 220 Meter Repeaters (2008) – Wayne/AI9Q
Logbook of The World (LoTW) and me (2008) - Delvin/N7QMT
How Low Can You Go? (2008) – Don/NX7J
HF Mobile Frustrations (2008)– Don/NX7J
The Idiot Light on Your Radio (2008)– Don/NX7J
Life on 440 (2007) – Don/NX7J
CTCSS and other tone-related Acronyms (2007) – Don/NX7J
How Low Can You Go? (2007) – Don/NX7J
How does your HMI work? (2007) – Don/NX7J
Working VU7 in Dec 2006 – Carl/K9LA
PACKET Eulogy (2006) – Don/NX7J
What Part of the FCC Rules does ham Radio come under? (2006) – Dick/N6ZQ
How is your Audio (2006) – Don/NX7J
Two Meter Simplicity (2005) – Don/NX7J
Expose Yourself – Don/NX7J
Emergency Preparedness Information
Clark County Amateur Radio Operators
There are over 700,000 FCC licensed hams in the US. Of the total, over 2000 are licensed here in Clark County. All of these ‘hams’ are a valuable resource during time of disasters. As former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has stated, “you don’t need amateur radio operators very often but when you need them you REALLY need them!”
There are about 10 designated amateur radio net control stations to operate the CCARC EYEWARN Net. The purpose of this net is to gather 'ground truth' visual situation reports from amateurs that "report what they see" during emergencies or disasters. There is not a membership requirement to participate in the nets and it is open to all amateurs in Clark County
About 300 amateurs belong to the Clark County Amateur Radio Club (CCARC). In addition to monthly meetings with presentations on many aspects of the hobby, the club members focus on public service events such as walks, runs, parades and such. In times of disaster, they can be a valuable resource to collect information on what is happening around the county that the first responders are not aware of. Many of these hams are equipped to operate under emergency conditions such as without commercial power and so forth.
There are about 100 members in the Clark County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group. These folks are dedicated to providing volunteer back up Emergency Communications services to several Clark County agencies and several Non-governmental agencies. In addition to being appropriately trained and credentialed to serve these organizations, these folks are committed to serving when needed.
Many other amateur radio operators are members of the several volunteer organizations in Clark County that offer to help out in times of disaster. The Clark County list is further down this webpage.
If you See something… Say something
Remember, if you see something suspicious, please say something. If the suspicious activity is in-progress, or has evidence of a crime please report it to 9-1-1 immediately.
Ham Radio Operators wanting to report “Emergency” Situation information
To report emergencies that you observe that need immediate fire, police/sheriff or medical responder response, call 9-1-1.
Ham Radio Operators wanting to submit Visual Situation Reports (VSRs) through the CCARC EYEWARN, click here.
Is it an Emergency or a Disaster?
An emergency is an urgent need for help that can be handled by the normal emergency response services. A call to 9-1-1 can get these services rolling.
A disaster is when normal emergency response services are overwhelmed. When that happens, County Emergency Managers can use our help in providing situation information observed by amateur radio operators in, and around, the effected area.
CRESA Recommended Information Feeds
Connect to receive online information:
CRESA Blog: One of the best ways to stay informed day-to-day is to receive emails from the CRESA Blog. Receive the CRESA Blog via email. Follow links at CRESA Main Page-Connect at www.cresa911.org.
FACEBOOK: Become a CRESA “Fan” on Facebook at www.facebook.com
TWITTER: Follow CRESA on Twitter. If you don’t have a “Twitter” account, go to www.twitter.com and establish one. Then ‘follow’ the following accounts on your favorite PC software or smartphone/tablet app:
@CRESA will connect you with emergency and disaster related information.
@CRESATALK will connect you with preparedness information.
FLASHALERT: Register to receive emergency information press releases and short emergency information from public safety agencies via email or pager at http://flashalert.net . This system is used by emergency services providers, schools, transportation, governments and healthcare facilities to easily ensure that their information gets to all of the news media providers at once. You can choose which agencies to follow and receive those same press alerts directly. You choose the specific agency and then, you input your email address. You can also choose whether to follow all news or just the emergency alerts from that agency.
Emergency Community Notification System (ECNS)
ECNS is a Clark County targeted out-dial phone-based system which will send a very targeted message to a small radius in the event of 3 key messages (Evacuate, Shelter-in-Place, and Help Find a Missing Person).
PublicAlerts
Sign up for PublicAlerts so that you know when an emergency is happening in the Portland-Vancouver Region. Getting infor quickly gives you power to take action. It could save your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Volunteer Programs in Clark County
CCARES/RACES: Clark County Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (ARES/RACES) group is called upon to be used during a disaster when normal communications may be interrupted or overloaded. The ARES/RACES amateur radio volunteers step up to bridge the communication gap whenever their services are requested. They may be stationed at critical locations, such as a hospital, fire station, or mass care shelter. They relay important information between disaster response agencies or the Emergency Operations Center. Volunteers are required to pass an FCC test in order to obtain an amateur radio license. Active members meet monthly to share technical tips and discuss drills and exercises. Our local amateur radio group can be found on the web at http://www.ccareswa.org/. For more information, email ec@ccareswa.org
EYEWARN: The Clark County EYEWARN radio system is called upon to gather and provide to local emergency managers 'ground truth' reports for the county to have an accurate picture of what the situation actually is in an emergency or disaster. There is a weekly net for practice and training and simulated events are used to exercise the net. The EYEWARN net can self-activate when the situation warrants. The net is open to all amateur radio operators in the county. For more information, email info@eyewarn.net
CRESA: The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) is the main emergency response agency for Clark County. The Emergency Operations Center, or "EOC", is a central location where local officials meet to coordinate their disaster response and recovery efforts. Police, fire, public works, and other emergency workers continue their work just the same, but the EOC provides them with the additional resources and information they need to protect the community. The EOC organizational structure is modeled after the Incident Command System, a predetermined organizational structure that is used by almost all public safety agencies, and that is now federally mandated to be used in disaster management.
CERT: In Clark County, Washington, "CERT" stands for Citizen Emergency Response Team. A Citizen Emergency Response Team is a volunteer team of ordinary citizens committed to disaster preparedness and response. They have gone beyond the level of personal preparedness recommended for all citizens. There are three agencies offering CERT classes; East County Fire and Rescue, Vancouver Fire Dept. and Clark County Fire District 6.
VIPS: The Vancouver Police Department Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program encourages motivated citizens to help VPD maximize existing resources, enhance public safety and service delivery, and provide new program opportunities. Volunteers bring skills, abilities, and resources to help VPD get its important work done effectively. The partnership between citizens and police supports our multi-faceted crime prevention and community policing efforts. For more information, email Kelly at Kelly.Cheney@cityofvancouver.us.
NOW: Citizens in the City of Vancouver that are interested in making their neighborhoods safer are encouraged to apply for the Vancouver Police Department's volunteer program called "Neighbors On Watch (NOW)." NOW accepts applications year round and holds training academies several times per year. All volunteer applicants must successfully pass a screening process which includes: criminal background investigation, fingerprints, interviews, and reference check.
MRC: Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units are community-based and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources.
VMC: The Clark County Volunteer Mobilization Center (VMC) is a reception and referral center for community members who respond to an emergency or disaster. After a disaster or national emergency citizens are moved to action. Disaster response and recover organization may require additional volunteers. The VMC can facilitate the coordination of volunteers to meet the needs of response and recovery organizations through the registration and referral of spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers. Unassigned Amateur Radio operators that want to augment the CCARES group or perform other related communication services should report to the VMC for service.
ARC: The American Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need. Our network of generous donors, volunteers and employees share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering, here at home and around the world, through five key service areas: 1) Disaster Relief, 2) Supporting America’s Military Families, 3) Lifesaving Blood, 4) Health and Safety Services and 5) International Services. There are many ways you can volunteer with us in your local community. Search now for opportunities to volunteer - we are always looking for people with various backgrounds, talents, and skill levels.
TIP: The Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) a national voluntary nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that those who are emotionally traumatized in emergency situations receive the assistance they need. To accomplish that goal, well-trained citizen volunteers are called to emergency scenes to assist family members, witnesses, and other bystanders who the emergency system often must leave behind.
Search and Rescue: When a search and rescue call comes into the 9-1-1 center, the Sheriff's Office may request activation of search and rescue (SAR) resources. The CRESA Duty Officer notifies the appropriate teams depending on the type of call. There are ground searchers, air-scenting and tracking/trailing dog teams, dive teams and Civil Air Patrol. SAR team members are trained to locate missing persons and to search for evidence in criminal investigations. Dive teams are also called out on possible drowning or other underwater emergency calls.
