Welcome to the ARRL Oregon Section website My goal is to make sure this website is always current during my term(s) as section manager. I want to have as many communication methods available as possible to hear what you in the Oregon section have to say. This is one of many ways for me to hear you. I welcome any suggestions for content. With the help of the section leadership, it will be added to continually. I look forward to working with you and am making plans to visit all the affiliated clubs in the state during my first year in office and hope to be able to participate in some of your activities. I have visited some ARES groups as well.
Also please keep in mind that this website is a work in progress and we will do our best to keep it updated with the information provided by our amateur radio community. Currently login access is limited to the Oregon cabinet. As we make more features available you will be notified via the arrloregon Yahoo Group. Join the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arrloregon/.
I also send regular informational emails to the yahoo group. Most of what I send will appear in the next SM report, but by being in the yahoo group, you get advance notice of the news.
W7GRA Grande Ronde Radio Amateur Association Location is at Morgan Lake above La Grande, Oregon. We will have someone on 52 simplex for directions. Lat/Long 45.304175, -118.138122 We will not have a GOTA station however as reported on the locator.
Ben Johnson, N7OGM served as EC for Washington County ARES for 18 years (not 8) and will now chair the Washington County Amateur Radio Corporation, which is not the same as the Washington County ARES/RACES group. Also, Robert Crocker, WN7O served 2 years on the the board of the same corporation, not 10.
Have a great Field Day!
Pat Roberson, W7PAT Assistant Oregon Section Manager, Administrative
Posted by Pat Roberson on Monday 22 June 2009 - 17:00:00
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Wednesday 17 June 2009
ARRL Oregon Section Club Newsletter
ARRL Oregon Section Club News June 2009
It was another great Sea-Pac Hamvention this year. Thanks to the Sea-Pac committee and the clubs that sponsored the event; Oregon Tualatin Valley Amateur Radio Club; Clark County Amateur Radio Club; Hoodview Amateur Radio Club; Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club. The Seaside Tsunami Amateur Radio Society's spaghetti feed was excellent. I am looking forward to next year.
Now that Sea-Pac is over it's time to turn our attention to Field Day on the weekend of June 27 and 28. I have a few listings for Field Day sites and I hope you plan to attend one of these, or you local club or ARES Field Day event. Lincoln County Amateur Radio Club will be at the Staples parking lot on Hwy 101 in Newport.
Harney County Radio Association will be located at the Harney County Courthouse EOC. Open House times for public visitation is on Saturday from noon until 4 PM.
Hoodview Amateur Radio Club will hold their Field Day event on Larch Mountain in East Multnomah County.
McMinnville Amateur Radio Club will be located at the Evergreen Museum for their Field Day event.
The Valley Amateur Radio Club's Field Day will be held on the EWEB parking lot at the corner of 4th and Mill Streets in Eugene on Saturday May 27.
The Oregon Tualatin Valley Amateur Radio Club and Washington County ARES Field Day will be held at L.L. "Stub" Stewart State Park on Hwy 47 (between US 26 and Vernonia). Navy-Marine Corps MARS will also be set up at this site. If you're interested in MARS, this is a good one to attend.
Tillamook County will have two sites for Field Day visits. One will be at the Library parking lot in downtown Tillamook, and the other will be on Gobblers Knob, 3,000+ elevation.
These are just a few of the clubs that have reported their Field Day events.
The McMinnville Amateur Radio Club's (MARC) Wireless reports that one of their members, Fred Rodley, N0NNO recently celebrated 50 years in Amateur Radio. Congratulations Fred!!
The Tillamook Emergency Amateur Radio Service (TEARS) Newsletter reports, "On Tuesday, June 9th, Tillamook Co's Director of Emergency Mgmt briefed the County Commissioners on a request for a Proclamation to make the week beginning Monday June 22nd through Sunday, June 28th as Amateur Radio Week." The article goes on to say, "Gordon (WX7EM) will present the Proclamation for approval and signature on Wednesday, June 10th."
Ben Johnson, N7OGM has stepped down as Emergency Coordinator for Washington County ARES after 8 years in that position. In an election, Ben will continue to serve by holding the position of Board Chair. John Core, KX7YT was appointed as the new EC. Also retiring after 10 years of service on the board is Robert Crocker, WN7O. Thank you Bob and Ben for your dedicated years of service.
Silent Keys: Bob Burdick, N7SCR of Pacific City. Charlie Lowell Smith, KG7I of Newport.
I hope everyone has a safe and fun time at Field Day.
Posted by Pat Roberson on Wednesday 17 June 2009 - 17:00:00
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Thursday 21 May 2009
Oregon Section Club News for May 2009
Oregon Section ARRL Club Newsletter May 2009
The Harney County Radio Association (HCRA) reports that they are "extremely pleased to recognize and congratulate the following newly licensed Technician Class amateur radio operators who took their exams and successfully passed their tests this past Saturday (April 25) at the Harney County Court House in Burns, Oregon": Chris Howes (Hines, OR) David Watts (Princeton, OR) Linda Watts (Burns, OR) Clare Poulsen (Burns, OR) Jeff Howes (Hines, OR) Rob Sharp (Hines, OR) Eric Haakenson (Hines, OR) John Thelen (Burns, OR) Tammy Valentine (Burns, OR) Congratulations!!!
The McMinnville Amateur Radio Club (MARC) reports that their web site is ready for an over-haul. One plan is to have an area that "everyone will be able to download the club presentations from the club meetings." "This will also allow those who missed the meeting to at least get a taste of what they missed." The MARC web page is at: www.marcwireless.org
The Washington County ARES/RACES has recently be upgraded at well. You can check it out at: www.washcoares.org
The W7OTV, 146.96 (Goat Mountain) repeater can be heard on the Internet at: http://tinyurl.com/radiow7pat then click on "tune in".
Sadly, I have received two reports of Silent Keys. Clay Naylor, W7CBN passed away on April 28 following a brief battle with cancer. Also, Ray Perkins, K7IU passed away from lung and liver cancer.
I hope to see as many of you as I can at Sea-Pac, and hopefully we can chat. Just remember, as I am getting older, I don't remember everyone's name anymore. (hi hi)
73,
Pat Roberson, W7PAT Assistant Oregon Section Manager, Administrative
Posted by Pat Roberson on Thursday 21 May 2009 - 17:00:00
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Tuesday 28 April 2009
HB2377 Update
Today, April 28th, the Oregon House of Representatives passed House Bill 2377A dealing with the use of communication devices in vehicles. This bill, sponsored by Representative Tomei, is intended to deal with hands-free devices for cell phones, but directly impacts the use of amateur radio equipment. The House passed the bill by a vote of 38 to 22. It will now move to the Senate.
In the Senate, amateur radio has friends who have shown interest in fixing the deficiencies of this bill. At a minimum, we have proposed a sentence be Added that exempts persons holding a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. With this inclusion, amateur radio operators would not be opposed to the intent and purpose of the bill.
Contact your senator and let them know you support legislation that exempts amateur radio from this bill intended to regulate use of cell phones, but that you oppose the bill as passed by the Oregon House.
Please request that following sentence be added to the bill:
A mobile device does not include two-way mobile radio transmitters or receivers used by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service.
Posted by Bonnie Altus on Tuesday 28 April 2009 - 18:00:31
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HB2377 Voting Record - April 28, 2009
No votes in the house for HB2377 follow:
Brent Barton (D-51) Cliff Bentz (R-60) Vicki Berger (R-20) Scott Bruun (R-37) Kevin Cameron (R-19) David Edwards (D-30) Tim Freeman (R-2) George Gilman (R-55) Bruce Hanna (R-7) John Huffman (R-59) Bill Kennemer (R-39) Wayne Krieger (R-1) Ron Maurer (R-3) Andy Olson (R-15) Dennis Richardson (R-4) Greg Smith (R-57) Sherrie Sprenger (R-17) Kim Thatcher (R-25) Jim Thompson (R-23) Jiim Weidner (R-24) Gene Whisnant (R-53) Matt Wingard (R-26)
Posted by Bonnie Altus on Tuesday 28 April 2009 - 17:38:31
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Sunday 26 April 2009
Oregon Section Club News for April 2009
ARRL Oregon Section Club News for April 2009
The Valley Radio Club (VRC) reports that their web page is back up and running at: www.valleyradioclub.org. VRC's monthly meeting will be on May 1. They will be celebrating the 101st birthday of Will K0ECA. Mike Shelby, KE7QET will be giving an update on the cell phone legislation. There will be a live Internet stream of the meeting, which you can view at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/valley-radio-club-meetings
If you plan on being in Lincoln City next weekend, the hams in Lincoln City invite you to attend their breakfast on Saturday, May 2, at Sambo's Restaurant located on Hwy 101 on the north end of town. There will also be VE testing in Lincoln City on May 2, at 8:30 AM at Lincoln City Community Center, 2153 NE Oar Place. VE contact is Carl Somdahl, W7LI, at: carl@oregoncoast.com.
The McMinnville Amateur Radio Club (MARC) has a new editor for the Marcwireless, their club news letter. Steve Boggs, KD7WII, has taken the reigns from Bob Kuhn, KU7N. Bob had been editor for 25 years for the newsletter. Bob deserves a rest, and I wish Steve the best in his new position.
If you ever drive through the valley near Sherwood, Newberg, Dundee area, tune into 102.9 on you FM car radio and have a listen to KQSO. KQSO is a low power (LP) non-commercial broadcast station licensed to the Western Oregon Radio Club (WORC). KQSO offers a variety of programs from Newsline to the audio from the first Twilight Zone. Give KQSO a listen. Speaking of WORC, they have put a new repeater on line on Cooper Mountain near Aloha on 442.525 (PL 107.2) which is linked to the WORC system.
The Oregon Tualatin Valley Amateur Radio Club (OTVARC) will be celebrating the club's 31st anniversary on Friday May 8 at 6 PM, at the Cedar Hills Baptist Church. For reservations or for more information contact Don Baldwin AA2V at : db@donbaldwin.org. or at 503-516-2706. The theme of the event is "Don't trust anyone over 30". Cost of the catered dinner will be $12.00 with a choice of Lasagna or Parmesan Chicken. Reservations need to be made by May 1. OTVARC would like to extend a special invitation to former club officers and members to attend.
If you would like to share your club news with the rest of the ARRL Oregon Section members, please send your articles to me, Pat Roberson, W7PAT, at w7pat@arrl.net
Pat Roberson, W7PAT Assistant ARRL Oregon Section Manager, Administrative
Posted by Pat Roberson on Sunday 26 April 2009 - 17:00:00
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Thursday 23 April 2009
URGENT - Oregon Mobile Communications Bill
HB2377 is one of the mobile communication bills in the house that impacts Ham radio, and it is heading to the House Floor for a vote in the next 7-10 days.
We need your help TODAY to try and defeat this bill. The only exemption for Ham radio in the bill is during emergency or public service activities.
Please write your representative and ask them to vote against the bill for the following reasons:
1. It is poorly written. The bill seeks to keep people focused on the road but still allows people to takes their eyes off the road to dial and program their phones.
2. Even Representatives on the committee were unsure during the Work Session if the bill does what it is supposed to. Some believe could be interpreted to exempt texting while others read the language differently.
3. One clause in the bill, allowing "activating or deactivating a mobile device", is so vague it could allow nearly any activity depending on how the phrase is interpreted.
Because the bill is so poorly written, at this point it is not necessary to be concerned about the effect on amateur radio in your arguments to your State Representative.
You can find your legislator by visiting this site: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
You can email your legislator directly from this form: http://www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/
NOTE: Please keep your arguments against the bill confined to the points above. It is important to send a unified message, and to send a message that has the best arguments against the bill. Remember, the goal is to get a NO vote from members. At this point, the best argument for a NO vote is that the bill is poorly written and vague. An argument solely based on Ham radio's concerns is not going to convince legislators to vote NO.
BACKGROUND:
Last weekend, after I sent out the section news for April, I learned that a work session with the House Transportation Committee had been scheduled for HB2377.
Normally the public is not allowed to testify at the work sessions but I attended to listen. Rep. Boone from Clatsop County, was concerned about how this would affect the ham radio operators so the chair of the committee allowed me to come up and answer her questions. So the fact that some of the Representatives recognize me and know I represent amateur radio has some benefit.
I expressed my concerns about the issues with the bill. It passed the Transportation Committee with the amendments anyway. Rep. Tomei claimed that all my concerns were addressed. Rep. Boone came back to talk to me after the work session and said she would make sure my concerns were addressed in the final wording. I again expressed my concerns to her.
We will continue working on the floor of the House, and on the Senate side if it passes the House. Since there is a tight timeframe, there is likely to be a lot of opposition on the Senate side, and there were so many 'no' votes from the House Transportation Committee, there is a very good chance that a mobile communication bill will not pass this session.
Kevin Curry, KA7KYQ, recommended to me that I work with a specific representative who is sympathetic to our cause and have a "floor letter" distributed to all House members when it comes to the floor of the House. I will begin working on that.
If it passes there, we will immediately begin working with the appropriate committee on the Senate side. The Senate President is most likely going to assign it to the Senate Business and Transportation Committee.
Please be assured that we are watching the bill. Many times when there is movement, we have very little notice. This is particularly true late in the legislative session. But either I will be at any hearings and work sessions or I will make sure someone is there in my place. In addition I am building a list of primary contacts around the state for each represenative and senator so I can make sure we can quickly make a quality contact from every district. If you want to be my primary contact, please let me know who your representative and senator is.
I will be working on getting a "floor letter" distributed and beginning to make contacts with appropriate senate committee members.
I will keep you updated.
Posted by Bonnie Altus on Thursday 23 April 2009 - 10:56:31
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Tuesday 21 April 2009
Skywarn HF Net
Weekly On-Air Training Sessions for the Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net
You are invited to take part in weekly on-air training sessions for the Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net. The scheduled Training Net for the Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net meets on Tuesdays at 1900 hours (7:00 PM PDT) at 3840.0 kHz on the 80-meter band. If that frequency is not available, we will move up or down the band by 5-15 kHz for a free operating frequency.
Some of the topics to be covered by the Training Net include, but are not be limited to, the following:
1. the SKYWARN Program managed by the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Pendleton, Oregon,
2. net control operations procedures and protocols used for Training, Standby, Emergency, and Drill activations of the Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net,
3. interpretation of NWS weather radar images,
4. standard operating procedures for stations checking in to the Net, and
5. standard procedures for reporting severe weather to the Net.
The Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net emphasizes the use of Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) antennas for HF radio operations over distances less than 200 miles.
The Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net is activated for severe weather in a nineteen county area, which covers Central, North Central, and Northeast Oregon, and South Central and Southeast Washington.
The following counties are in the County Warning Area (CWA) of the Pendleton NWS WFO:
Oregon Counties:
Crook Deschutes Gilliam Grant Jefferson Morrow Sherman Umatilla Union Wallowa Wasco Wheeler
Washington counties:
Benton Columbia Franklin Kittitas Klickitat Walla Walla Yakima
The Pendleton SKYWWAN HF Net interacts with local 2-Meter SKYWARN Nets in NWS Pendleton's CWA. The 2-Meter SKYWARN Nets will continue to be a viable and necessary part of the NWS Pendleton SKYWARN Program. The 2-Meter SKYWARN Nets cover the following areas:
1. Deschutes County - this net also covers Jefferson, Crook, and northern Klamath Counties in Central Oregon 2. Wasco County, Oregon and Kittitas County, Washington 3. Northeast Oregon (Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa Counties) - this net also covers Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla Counties in Southeast Washington 4. Benton & Franklin Counties, Washington 5. Walla Walla County, Washington 6. Yakima County, Washington - this net also covers Kittitas and Klickitat Counties via the Yakima County Search And Rescue linked repeater system
If you are interested in supporting and particpating in the Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net, I urge you to check in to the aforementioned Training Net.
We are also seeking volunteer operators for Net Control Station (NCS), Alternate NCS, and (Weather) Report Logging Station duties for the net.
If you know a ham with a General or higher class Amateur Radio License who lives or works in the County Warning Area of the Pendleton NWS WFO who may be interesting in participating in the Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net, please encourage them to get in touch with me.
Thanks.
73,
Alan Polan, KE4TRR Pendleton SKYWARN HF Net SKYWARN Program Coodinator National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Pendleton, Oregon Phone: 541-276-4493 (select option # 2 to speek to a live person) Email: Alan.Polan@noaa.gov
Posted by Pat Roberson on Tuesday 21 April 2009 - 17:00:00
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Monday 23 March 2009
xOregon Section Club News for March 2009
x The Valley Radio Club in Eugene is updating their website. Normally the site is: www.valleyradioclub.org but for now use: www.qsl.net/w7lk.
If you have any club information you would like to share, please send it to me at: w7pat@arrl.net
Please note the new email address and call sign.
73,
Pat Roberson, W7PAT Assistant Section Manager / Administrative
Posted by Pat Roberson on Monday 23 March 2009 - 17:00:00
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Wednesday 18 March 2009
Central Oregon Report
From Crook County:
Crook County added 15 new HAMs in February 2009. What began as a low key Technician License Class for a few Crook County Search and Rescue members quickly grew to a class of 18 students. (A 16th student passed his exam March 10th, and two others plan to retake the exam on March 14th). Many of the new HAMs purchased radios and are already "radioactive", including our youngest new HAM, TJ: TJ is 13 years old. Dave Freitag, W7KFO, Crook County EC, taught the class. VEs W7GLG, AB7Q, and K7SQ traveled to Crook County to help administer the exam. But wait, there's more! Ten folks have already signed up for the next class, scheduled for April 2009.
The Crook County Emergency Manager, Commander Brandon Smith, is one of our newly licensed HAMs (KF7APZ). His patrol vehicle has an FT-2800 installed and programmed with Central Oregon frequencies (in addition to the standard Law Enforcement radio).
In addition to the newly licensed HAMs, Jim, KB7SHT, upgraded his license to General class. Jim will soon be heard running HF PACTOR from the new Crook County Sheriff's EmComm Van.
Crook County ARES/RACES will participate with Crook County Emergency Management and Deschutes County ARES/RACES in the April 24th Cascadia Peril exercise. We anticipate that many of our new HAMs will join Crook County ARES/RACES.
From Jefferson County:
EC Kermit Kumble WT7K and Jefferson County Networks closely with Crook and Deschutes County and are currently get the ARES/RACES Communications equipment set uo at the Sheriff's Office.
Their ARES/RACES program continues to grow.
Jefferson County is participating in the Cascadia Peril with their support of Crook and Deschutes County.
From Deschutes County:
Drew Holmes EC: Packet communication is growing at a fast pace with three gateways at this time. Thanks to the efforts of Rich Lovin KQ7R and Jerry Kenyon KB7LNR Pactor use and training is following suit.
Deschutes County ARES is having two OPEN Houses a month (1000 to 1600) at their ODOT/ARES Communication Facilities in Bend. This time is for all ham's and interested people to come together for training on the equipment, discussions of activities and projects in the Tri County Area, upgrades and for the sharing of idea's.
HiDARG (High Desert Amatuer Radio Group work with the Area 7 Hospitals Emergency Radio Project is on track (Dave Stucky AB7Q). The HiDARG Repeater System Upgrade is being worked on. (Mike Smith AD7GC).
HiDARG is always looking for new and existing HAM's and promoting the hobby and the fellowship!
The LaPine Area ARES/RACES group continue to be a asset to Deschutes County with Repearter Access and communication support! They meet every Sunday for breakfast and keep their Radio Group informed and working together.
There will be TECH testing for 4-H youth shortly.
Deschutes County ARES/RACES will participate in the April 24 Cascadia Peril Exercise.
Drew Holmes - W7GER
Posted by Bonnie Altus on Wednesday 18 March 2009 - 11:39:31
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ARRL Membership Development Everett W Curry Jr, W6ABM 1546 NE Greensword Dr Hillsboro, OR 97124-6139 (503) 681-2345 w6abm@arrl.net
Eastern Oregon and North Central Oregon Phil Hawkins, KC7KI 1689 NE 2nd Pl Hermiston, OR 97838-1382 (541) 567-0399 kc7ki@arrl.net
Southwestern Oregon Dan Bissell, W7WVF 53516 Forest Road Bandon, OR 97411 (541)347-4580 dbissell@harborside.com
Southeastern Oregon Vacant
Central Oregon Drew Holmes, W7GER PO Box 2003 Sisters, OR 97759-2003 (541)549-6321 w7ger@arrl.net
Youth and Mentoring Russ Mickiewicz, N7QR Box 25051 Portland, OR 97298 (503)295-5704 n7qr@arrl.net
Administrative Pat Roberson, W7PAT 18230 SW Broad Oak Court Aloha, OR 97007 (503)848-2283 w7pat@arrl.net
Affiliated Club Coordinator Willard A Sheffield, N7THL 19580 SW Longacre Ct Aloha, OR 97006-2482 (503) 642-7314 n7thl@juno.com
Official Observer Coordinator Everett W Curry Jr, W6ABM 1546 NE Greensword Dr Hillsboro, OR 97124-6139 (503) 681-2345 w6abm@arrl.net
Public Information Coordinator J. Steven Sanders, KE7JSS 1602 NE Orenco Station Pkwy Hillsboro, OR 97124. (503) 320-4100 ke7jss@arrl.net
Section Emergency Coordinator and State RACES Officer William P Morris, W7IH 12255 NE Parrett Mountain Rd Newberg, OR 97132-6995 (503) 625-7647 w7ih@arrl.net
State Government Liaison Kevin E Curry, KA7KYQ 8774 SW Bellflower St Tigard, OR 97224-5211 (503) 624-9971 curry.k@gmail.com
Section Traffic Manager D Scott Gray, W7IZ 24230 Deer Hill Rd Clatskanie, OR 97016-2558 (503) 728-4793 w7iz@clatskanie.com
Technical Coordinator Lynn C Hurd, WB7UNU 14145 SW 117th Ave Tigard, OR 97224-2805 (503) 624-1999 lhurd@pacifier.com
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