Events

Hybrid In-Person/Virtual Meetings

KARO ECHO meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 1900 (7:00 PM) at the Kensington Community Center (KCC), 59 Arlington Ave., Kensington, CA 94707. The KCC is directly East of the Arlington Community Church and North and uphill of the Kensington Library. See Map. Ample parking is available by turning (East) up Kensington Park Road (at the only traffic light in Kensington). The June 12, 2023 meeting will be a hybrid (Zoom and in-person) meeting. Email info at karoecho dot net for the zoom link.

KARO ECHO provides internet Zoom access to all meetings, thus, KARO ECHO member meetings will also simultaneously take place online using Zoom. Everyone on the KAROECHO mailing list will receive an invitation link to the meeting by email. To get on our mailing list and receive our Newsletter, please JOIN HERE or send an email to info at karoecho.net

Tentative Agenda

June 12, 2023 Agenda: (tentative, subject to update and approval at beginning of meeting)

This meeting will focus on our yearly Field Day on June 24

The agenda before the Field Day discussion will be covered fairly quickly, and the long list is mostly there if anyone wants to suggest a follow-up discussion related to any of the items after the presentation (if time allows) or at a future meeting.

Call to order/logistics

Introductions

Approval of Minutes

Approval of Agenda

Treasurer's report

New business

- Vote on opt-in option for sharing contact info with other members
- Update on website "join" form changes
- Complying with FCC rule on RF exposure evaluation
- Update on Fire Dept. and CERT discussion
  - - potential exercise
    - drafting Standard Operating Guide (SOG)

Old business

Outreach/PR/web

Tech./Infrastructure

Elmering

Neighborhood nets and Comm. hubs

Training and Operations: Field Day June 24

Adjourn

Future Meeting schedule

July: Post Field Day discussion
August: Mike Patterson N6JGA, ARRL section manager
September +: possible presentation regarding KPH/MRHS and KPH field trip opportunity to follow

Please send dues made out to KARO ECHO

Yearly dues are $30/year and $40 for a family membership. We are a tax deductible 501(c)3 charitable organization . Use tax ID # 83-3114142.Your donation will help us serve our community. Mail and correspondence to: KARO ECHO -- P.O. Box 2025, El Cerrito, CA. 94530-3651Use the donate button to donate or pay dues online (Paypal). and fill out the registration form under Get Involved/Join. You can get on the mailing list by filling out the registration form without paying membership dues.

Weekly Radio Training and Preparedness Net

The Weekly Contra Costa County HF EmComm Disaster Preparedness Net meets every Thursday at 1830 local time on 3893 KHz LSB.

The KE Net meets every Thursday (except Thanksgiving and major holidays) at 1900 on 146.415 MHz Simplex, but not before the West Co Co County EmComm ARES/ACS Net finishes on their 145.110 MHz repeater (Tx -600 with a PL 82.5).

All hams are welcome.

As always, be ready with pencil and paper. Please come with new relevant announcements. The NCS has a surprise test for us each net. Be ready to change frequency. Please have handy the KaroEcho Hybrid 213 message form. Always be familiar on how to use your radio, keep your batteries charged, and how to change frequency. See related documents in our Training page and in the Operations page on the WORKSTREAMS drop-down menu. Specifically see:

A list of Relevant VHF and UHF SIMPLEX Frequencies in our area

The KARO-ECHO HYBRID ARES/RACES MESSAGE FORM in MS Word format

The same KARO-ECHO Hybrid ARES/ICS 213 message form as a PDF

Definitions of ARES Message Precedence Designators (Emergency, Priority, Welfare, and Routine).

Comparing ICS-213 Message Form with the ARRL Message Form (a very short critique)

A Breakdown of the Elements of the ARRL/ARES Standard Message Form Made Simple (for Dummies)!

A Short Example Why We Use the ARES/ICS Modified Message Form

Formal Written Traffic versus Point to Point Verbal Tactical Comms: When to write it down and when not to (write it down).

For past net events see our PAST EVENTS PAGE

NCS schedule of operators

NCS Spreadsheet (public)

The KaroEcho Technical Work Group was at the Kensington Fire Station (FS-65) on Saturday, October 15, 2022 repurposing radios, batteries, and equipment due to upcoming seismic retrofitting.

Left to right: KN6BUY, KK6NDF, KJ6IUV, and KE6BEE

Recent Webpage Updates to KaroEcho.Net: New content, links, and files

Special Guest Speaker, Mike Patterson, N6JGA, ARRL East Bay Section Manager, scheduled August 14, 2023

Website File Updates in General

This file will be updated monthly or when new occasions arise.

VHF/UHF Simplex Operations in Our Area

For FM operators, you will find activity on the national 2 meter FM calling frequency (146.520 MHz) and 70cm FM calling frequency (446.000 MHz). Typically, operators will either limit their time on these calling frequencies or ask people to follow them to a different frequency to keep the calling frequencies as open as possible for all users. These calling frequencies will likely be very busy, so they will be difficult to use.

The following FM simplex frequencies may be active in our area, and are alternative places to listen or call, in addition to the calling frequencies. 146.520 and 446.000 MHz.

70cm
441.00, 446.00 calling freq., 446.50

1.25cm
223.400, 223.420, 223.440, 223.460, 223.480, 223.500, 223.520

2m
146.400
146.415 Karo-Echo Primary
146.430 Karo-Echo Old Secondary (Do not use because it is too close to primary
146.445
146.460
146.475 KaroEcho New Secondary CERT assigned by OES
146.490 Crockett
146.505 CoCo Cty OES Martinez Simplex & Alameda City ARES (ARCA) Primary
146.520 National Calling Freq.
146.535 Alameda City ARES (ARCA) Secondary
146.550
146.565 Oakland ARES/RACES Secondary
147.405
147.420
147.435
147.450 Richmond CERT
147.465
147.480 Berkeley (NALCO ARES/RACES)
147.495 San Pablo CERT
147.510 Central Marin RACES
147.525
147.540 Hercules CERT
147.555 Southern Marin RACES
147.570 Pinole CERT
147.585 Oakland ARES/RACES Primary & North MARIN RACES

Elmer Program

Take advantage of this service as it benefits the entire community to have more skilled radio operators in the field. The more questions, the more answers. Please feel free to ask for additional classes and/or help by sending an email to elmer@karoecho.net or info@karoecho.net

Also see: https://www.karoecho.net/workstreams/training for study materials

Quality Ham Radio Ongoing Yearly Presentations and Events

Dan Goldstein, KJ6KEU, the East Bay Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) speaks at the ORCA Club Meeting on "EmComm Mutual Aid in a Digital World", 2022-09-10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwNMwDUu0A8&ab_channel=ORCASecretary

The 2021 Pacific Division Zoom Meeting, was held on December 4, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPfZ1bRL4v4&ab_channel=k6wx run by Pacific Division Director, Kristen, K6WX, video recording can be found here and on our Resources page. Kristen emphasized that she and the ARRL works for us, we do not work for them. They are listening, so send in your suggestions.

The most recent Pacific Division Wide Zoom Meeting was held on December 10, 2022 . It was also recorded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVYQ1kK-ajA&ab_channel=k6wx These ARRL division-wide meetings displays the challenges and successes that ham radio is currently addressing.

The ARRL has started a new website for its Learning Center. You can find it at https://learn.arrl.org/ . It has several learning paths (Electronics & Technology, EmComm, etc.), a bunch of courses to take and a pot load of webinars. It also has links to help you find radio clubs; hamfests & conventions; license classes, and exam sessions. You can access the site from your computer, tablet or phone. See Dave Casler’s “Intro to the ARRL's new ‘learn.ARRL.org’ Site” video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvgZvH7rIoE (YouTube; 11:58).

QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo

QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo are held twice yearly. They are quite good. They’ve put out a call for speakers and are looking for them worldwide. Information on becoming a presenter, or attending the expo, is at https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/

The next QSO Today Expo is scheduled for March 24 and 25, 2023 Call for speakers here https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/speakercall.html

Past presentation are available on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/showcase/qsotodayhamexpomar2021

The September 17-18, 2022 QSO Today Videos will be available on-line (see their webpage)

Ham Radio University (HRU) Past Presentations

A plethora of excellent presentations on all topics of ham radio are available to view here https://hamradiouniversity.org/past-presentations/

Among the presentation topics every year will be Amateur Radio Emergency Communications; Basics of HF Operating; Ham Radio Contesting and DXing, Communicating Through Amateur Radio Earth Satellites; Software Defined Radios; HF and VHF Digital Communications; Parks on the Air, Skywarn, Cables & Connectors, and Using Raspberry Pi Computers in Amateur Radio. For a plethora of their excellent past videos on Youtube please see: https://www.youtube.com/c/HamRadioUniversityNLI/videos or go to (https://hamradiouniversity.org/past-presentations/

Attendance is free, but registration is required. The topic are detailed, accurate, friendly, and varied over a wide range of topics, including EmComm; HF Operating; Contesting & DXing; Satellites; Software Defined Radios; Digital Communications and more. For more information, go to https://hamradiouniversity.org/

WaveTalkers

A group in Southern California called the WaveTalkers has a mission “to help you learn to become a more effective communicator in any medium.” On their website at http://wavetalkers.com/index.php they have a number of resources, including video courses for all three license classes and courses to help you get started in APRS and Winlink. They also have reference materials for some ham basics, such as Phonetics and Q-Codes. Their home page announces that their next presentation will be on January 20 with a topic of “Solar and Emergency Power”. Definitely worth a look as part of your efforts to improve your skills.”

Ham Radio Classes and License Tests in the Bay Area

ALL FCC EXAM QUESTIONS and ANSWERS ARE PUBLISHED ON-LINE

Question Pools

The following is copied from the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) website:

The Question Pools are developed and maintained by the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the NCVEC by FCC instruction and Part 97 Rules & Regulation : Subpart F: §97.523 Question pools All VECs must cooperate in maintaining one question pool for each written examination element. Each question pool must contain at least 10 times the number of questions required for a single examination. Each question pool must be published and made available to the public prior to its use for making a question set. Each question on each VEC question pool must be prepared by a VE holding the required FCC-issued operator license.

The question pools are normally valid for 4 years and the current Question Pools are as follows:

Element 2 – Technician – Effective July 1, 2022 until June 30, 2026

Element 3 – General – Effective July 1, 2019 until June 30, 2023

Element 3 -- General -- Effective July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2027 ** NEW

Element 4 – Extra – Effective July 1, 2020 until June 30, 2024

Each FCC Element or question pool consists of at least 10 times the number of questions required for a single examination and is released to the public normally 6 months prior to becoming effective for use in examinations to allow pleanty of time for publication and study. Each element or pool has a syllabus that is broken down into main sub-element sections (normally 10) and an unlimited number of sub-topic sections under each sub-element. Each sub-element is numbered with a prefix designating the Element number, example T1, T2 etc, followed by the subtopic letter for the section of each sub-element, example T1A,T1B, etc.

2022-2026 Technician Question Pool Public Release - January 3, 2022 Revised 01/06/2022 - MSDocX Format

http://ncvec.org/downloads/2022-2026%20Technician%20Pool%20Released%20Jan17%20Revised.docx

New Graphics http://ncvec.org/downloads/2022-2026%20Technician%20Pool%20Released%20Jan17%20Revised.pdf

The ARRL Guides for Obtaining your technician class license http://www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license

'The Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club (MDARC) offers courses and exams. See https://www.mdarc.org/education-and-testing Tests are offered at 6 pm before the MDARC regular meeting begins. MDARC is offering ZOOM Classes and exams at public parking parking lots.

Oncoming MDARC classes: https://www.mdarc.org/education-and-testing/class-details

A new Diablo ARC has opened registration for their 8-session Technician licensing course, beginning January 10, 2023 on Zoom only. It will be followed by a VE test session, then two Get-on-the-Air (GOTA) classes. They plan to hold General and Amateur Extra Class courses later in the year. Get the details and register at (https://www.mdarc.org/education-and-testing/class-details).

Additional MDARC on-line education details here at https://www.mdarc.org/education-and-testing/on-line-resources

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Walnut Creek CERT Ham Radio Licensing (Ham Cram) & Training Classes:

The Walnut Creek "CERT Ham Radio Licensing (Ham Cram) & Training Classes" are a series of three classes which will give you the skills and knowledge to become a member of Walnut Creek CERT’s radio communications team.

Part 1 -The part 1 class is a one day exercise that prepares you to pass the ham radio “Technician” license examination required by the FCC to legally operate a ham radio. (A training session for "General" license upgrade is also available). The Walnut Creek CERT communications training team conducts this training session using a simple technique (called "association") that produces a very high percentage of successful test results, virtually eliminating the need for a multiple week training course to pass the FCC license exam that will be given at the end of the session.

Part 2 - “CERT Getting on the Air” class 1 - . Learn how to communicate on a radio and, optionally, order a radio as part of the WC CERT Group Purchase plan.

Part 3 - “CERT Getting on the Air” class 2 - Learn how to use your new radio.

The cost for Part 1 is $35, payable at the door, which includes the required $15 FCC license Examination Fee; all training materials; continental breakfast; and a pizza or sub sandwich lunch. There is no additional charge for Parts 2 and 3.

Note: The Walnut Creek CERT Ham Crams and License tests will resume after the Shelter in Place orders are lifted.

See: https://sites.google.com/site/wccerthams/classes/cert-ham-radio-licensing-training-class

San Francisco Radio Club is offering license exams. See: https://www.sfarc.org/ve-examinations.html

*Postponed- Please check back after the SIP

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Benicia Amateur Radio Club offers their highly successful hamcram. The ham crams are restarting in October 2023. Hurry registration begins in August.

They encourage CERT members to expand their value to their teams by becoming licensed Amateur Radio Operators. They also offer a simultaneous One-Day General Class upgrade study course for those who currently possess a Technician License. The cost is $35, which includes all study material and the FCC exam fee. We also provide free coffee and other refreshments throughout the day to make things easier. Lunch is NOT included but there are several restaurants across the street and a list will be provided. You can obtain additional information by going to the BARC website at BeniciaARC.com. See: http://beniciaarc.com/wp/hamclass/

The Benicia Amateur Radio Club (BARC), partnering with the Benicia Emergency Response Team (BERT) members was asked several years ago to create a Ham Radio licensing class for members of its CERT program. Response to this One-Day licensing class has been very favorable and recently the class was opened to CERT teams throughout Northern California. Attendees have come from Shasta to Santa Clara, and from Alameda to Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley.

Following emergencies, communications are often lost or severely impacted and FEMA has recommended that CERT teams throughout the country encourage the use of Amateur Radio as an alternative. Also known as Ham Radio, this proven means of communications does not rely on existing infrastructure thereby providing an alternate method of communicating during and following a disaster.

We would like to invite your CERT team members to join other fellow CERT members from throughout Northern California at our accelerated one-day licensing class in Benicia. Historically over 90% of attendees pass the on-site FCC licensing exam administered by federally accredited examiners immediately at the conclusion of class.

Access: Our facility has full handicap access.

Info/Signup: Online at www.beniciaarc.com/. Class size is limited to 90 and it always fills up, so register promptly. Questions: hamradioclass@beniciaarc.com or Ham Class Instructor, Art Mayoff, (925) 212-9953. Please share this invitation with your CERT team leaders and your individual team members.

Increase your value as a CERT team member. Become a licensed Ham Radio Operator in one day.

One-Day Ham Radio Class, October 7, 2023in Benicia

Registration will open mid-August.

https://beniciaarc.com/hamclass/

License Pool link: https://beniciaarc.com/resources/fcc-license-question-pool/

Applying for your FRN number https://beniciaarc.com/frn-info/

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BAEARS sponsors periodic ham tests throughout the year in the Bay Area. See: https://www.baears.com/

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Oakland Radio Communication Association, (ORCA) and Amateur Radio Club of Alameda (ARCA) co-sponsor quarterly American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Amateur Radio Test Sessions. Note: Classes and exams are postponed until after the Shelter in Place orders are rescinded.

Where: MEDIA ROOM -- OAKLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT -- 1605 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAY (AT 16TH ST) -- OAKLAND, CA 94612

What?: Testing for FCC Technician, General and Amateur Extra operator class licenses will take place.

Classes and tests are currently postponed because of the lockdown orders.

What to Bring:

a government issued photo ID, either your Social Security Number or FCC Registration Number (FRN), a pen and a pencil. For upgrades bring your original license and a photocopy of it, or a valid Certificate of Successful completion of Examination (CSCE) from a prior exam and a photocopy of it.

What NOT to Bring:

Calculators at a VE session are provided by the team (i.e., no personal electronics or calculators are allowed).

Fee

A $15 license fee per exam date is required. No extra fees beyond the $15 are required should a candidate choose to take all three exams—for each of the operator classes— in one session (as time permits).

More Info

Call 510-918-4627 or 510-741-8227

*Postponed- Please check back after the SIP

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Local In Person License Preparation Classes

No in person exam preparation classes are currently offered in our area. This situation is constantly changing. Please see: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class

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More Classes:

This is an excellent free technician license preparation series https://radiosignals.org/main/tech

Finding a License Class http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class

Finding ON-LINE Ham Study Classes to prepare for exams: https://hamstudy.org/

Excellent Study Tools and Resources for License Preparation https://hamexam.org/

The following links list online classes by https://hamstudy.org/sessions look promising

Youtube.com has a plethora of license guide videos that vary from excellent to poor

The following are some select ARRL on-line ham license study classes

W9TWJ VETEAM Contact: Tanner Jones Email: W9TWJ@arrl.net

Website: https://w9twj.com/exams/

Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/W9TWJ

KA4KBX VETEAM Contact: Gary Pike, Email: vetesting@yahoo.com

Sponsor: KJ4PJE PARC

Website: https://parcradio.org/pages/online.html

Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/KJ4PJE

N0ZRD VETEAM

Contact: Gordon Hanson Email: N0ZRD@mnyarc.org

Sponsor: MNYARC/KOLTC.org

Website: https://exam.mnyarc.org

Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/N0ZRD

KB7UTV KC7QJO VETEAM

Contact: Lawrence Simon Email: larry@simonlj.net

Sponsor: Las Vegas VE Team

Website: https://www.lvhamtest.us/video-supervised-license-exam-sessions/

Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/KC7QJO

W4WRE VETEAM

Contact: Rodney Webb Email: W4WREares@gmail.com

Sponsor: Lakeway ARC - W2IQ

Website: http://www.hamonlinetests.com/

Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/W4WRE

KM6ZQB VETEAM

Contact: Heather Parker Email: parker_prince@yahoo.com

Sponsor: San Diego ARRL VE Team

Website: http://hamstudy.org/sessions/arrl/km6zqb

WB9ZPH VETEAM

Contact: Janet Crenshaw Email: wb9zph@gmail.com

Sponsor: WB9ZPH

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/wb9zph

Exam Website: http://hamstudy.org/sessions/wb9zph

AD6ZH VETEAM

Contact: Morris Jones Email: ad6zh.mj@gmail.com

Sponsor: Silicon Valley VE Group - register on website or email team for an appt.

Website: http://www.svve.org

N9LHS VETEAM

Contact: Linda Straubel Email: straue75@gmail.com

Sponsor: Daytona Beach ARA - contact team (7:30pm testing Mon-Thurs)

Website: https://www.dbara.org/about/testing-sessions/

Exam Website: https://www.dbara.org/about/testing-sessions/

WL1B VETEAM

Contact: Brandin Hess Email: president@aarg.club

Sponsor: Aurora Amateur Radio Group

Website: https://auroraveprogram.org/remote-testing.htm

Exam Website: https://hamexamgen.com/schedule.php

N2YGK VETEAM

Contact: Alan Crosswell Email: alan+exams@columbia.edu

Sponsor: Columbia University VE Team ARC

Website: https://www.w2aee.columbia.edu/content/remote-license-exams

Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/W2AEE

AH0A VETEAM

Contact: Joseph Speroni Email: ah0a@arrl.net

Sponsor: Emergency Amateur Radio Club - ZOOM video session

Website: http://earchi.org/

Exam Website: http://hameducation.org/register/

K4WVZ VETEAM

Contact: David Robinson Email: davidmrobinson15@gmail.com

Sponsor: Sun City W4SPC - email team for an appointment

KT4V VETEAM

Contact: Ken Zieleck Email: zieleck@gmail.com

Sponsor: Carteret Cnty ARS - email team for an appointment

Website: https://www.w4ymi.com/

WW1RF VETEAM

Contact: Allan Ryan Email: testing@barnstableARC.org

Sponsor: Barnstable ARC - on demand testing, EMAIL team for an appointment

Website: https://www.barnstablearc.org/?q=node/12

KD8JBS VETEAM

Contact: Benjamin Murray Email: kd8jbs@arrl.net

Sponsor: Williams County ARC

Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/kd8jbs

K3BV VETEAM

Contact: Peter Dernikos Email: info@vea.org.au

Sponsor: Book a time slot BEFORE registering on exam website.

Website: http://www.vea.org.au/book-us-online-exam

Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/K3BV/

Additional ARRL VE Teams

Exams:

Find an IN-PERSON EXAM SESSION in your area here: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

For many applicants, on-line exams are the most convenient.

They are given often and can be done in the comfort of your own home. Please consider any of the following:

For additional ARRL teams offering remote online exams visit: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/arrl/remote

Silicon Valley VE Group Online Exams - *FIRST & THIRD SATURDAY MONTHLY*

Contact: Morris Jones AD6ZH Email: ad6zh.mj@gmail.com

The Silicon Valley VE group offers online exams the first and third Saturday of each month from 9AM until 11AM PDT. All elements are available. The number of applicants per session is limited due to 4 VEs proctoring each applicant during the exam process. Pre-registration is required. Please sign up by contacting AD6ZH at ad6zh.mj@gmail.com. Include your Name, FRN number, callsign if any, and which element(s) you wish to take. More information and technical requirements can be found on the SVVE website: www.svve.org

Finding an ON-LINE license EXAMs http://www.arrl.org/findonlineexam

A daily list of License Exams given ON-LINE by ARRL go direct to: http://www.arrl.org/online-exam-session

A daily list of License Exams given ON-LINE by ALL VECs https://ham.study/sessions/remote

Resources for on-line study and exams https://hamexam.org/

An extensive list of current Online Ham Exams and Study Aids HERE: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/online or https://ham.study/sessions/arrl

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