Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club Bulletin
March 2025
We Will Be Doing A Live Meeting March 1
And Zoom If Everything Works.
Members To Get Email Invite Visitors Will Need To Contact Webmaster For Zoom Login Information.
[email protected]
The Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club normally meet at 3:00 PM on the first Saturday of the month.
Normal Meeting Location, The Scout Hut, 231 E. Hawthorne St. Map
This Months Meeting Agenda
- Intro To Team Awareness Kit.
Fallbrook Amateur Radio Renewals
| Name | Call | Date Expires | |
| Dropped | |||
| Gibbs, Gregory | KI6RXX | 11/30/2024 | |
| Third Notice | |||
| Lara, Conrad | KG6JEI | 12/31/2024 |
Upcoming Local & Community Events
- April 13, 2025 Avocado Festival.
- May 31, 2025 ARES Activity Day.
Upcoming ARES & Community Events
Join ARES or, more information. https://www.sdgares.net/
- March 1, 2025 Technician Cram Class in Escondido (Contact [email protected] for info.)
- March 8, 2025 ARES In-Person Meeting at Sharp Spectrum
- March 15, 2025 Hams support Old West Trails 50K in Shelter Valley area of Anza Borrego Desert State Park
- March 29. 2025 ARES Activity Day at Kearny Mesa (including VE Test Session and Communicator Gateway GOTA Workshop)
- April 5, 2025 Hams support Baker-to-Vegas 120-Mile Law Enforcement Relay https://bakervegas.net/ (Contact Blair KD6IFG <[email protected]> for info.)
- April 11-13, 2025 Visalia International DX Convention https://dxconvention.com/
- April 12, 2025 ARES In-Person Meeting at Sharp Spectrum (including HIPAA Refresher as applies to ARES Communicators)
- April 12, 2025 Hams support Oriflamme Canyon 50K near Mt Laguna and Box Canyon area of Anza Borrego Desert State Park
- April 17, 2025 County-wide Hospital Full Scale Exercise (FSE)
- April 25-27, 2025 Big Bear HamEscape at Big Bear Lake https://bigbearhamescape.com/
- May 2025 Expected Spring Hospital Exercise (date TBD)
- May 3, 2025 General Upgrade Cram Class in Kearny Mesa (Contact [email protected] for info.)
- May 10, 2025 ARES In-Person Meeting at Sharp Spectrum
- May 10, 2025 Hams support PCT50 Mile in Mt Laguna area
- May 31, 2025 ARES Activity Day at dispersed locations including Kearny Mesa
Cram Classes: the 2025 schedule of Technician Class License and General Class License Workshops will be published after details such as room reservations and VE teams are locked in. To inquire about the 2025 cram class schedule, contact [email protected] for info or to be placed on the “notify” list. If you are ready to test and do not need a cram class, browse https://hamstudy.org/sessions to find a remote exam or in-person exam near you.
News & Views
de KC6MIE
FALLBROOK 10 METER NET Every Wednesday evening 7:30pm 28.340 USB Ruben KD6CWI Net control Join the group for a good rag chew.
de KG6HSQ
Choosing the Right Tools and Techniques for Installing Powerpoles
13yo calls International Space Station with Award-Winning Science Fair Project
de K6GO
Scholarships for YLs
February 13, 2025 — The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) has announced the Memorial Scholarship pro-
gram for 2025. The scholarship program is aimed at women Amateur Radio Operators studying radio, com-
munications, electronics or Amateur Radio related arts and sciences.
The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) is an international non-profit organization of women Amateur Radio
enthusiasts. It was founded in 1939 and is the longest running YL club in the world. The YLRL is sponsoring
three memorial scholarships for 2025:
The Ethel Smith K4LMB Memorial Scholarship—$2,500 award
The Mary Lou Brown NM7N Memorial Scholarship—$2,500 award
The Martha “Marte” Wessel K0EPE Memorial Scholarship—$1,500 award
The YLRL believes that education in the fields or radio, communications, electronics and Amateur Related
arts and sciences will play an important role in shaping the world’s future. Through these Memorial Scholar-
ship, YLRL hopes to encourage female students to learn more about Amateur Radio.
Announcing the 2025
Young Ladies Radio League
Scholarships
“YLRL is committed to investing in women in Amateur Radio, and we believe
that every act of volunteerism through Amateur Radio — even a small one —
helps turn the world into a better place,” said Vicki Zumwalt, President of
YLRL. “We hope that our scholarships will not only encourage students to
learn more about science, technology, engineering and also inspire them to
take pride in being an Amateur Radio operator and to encourage others to do
so as well.”
To qualify, students must be female, have an Amateur Radio License, meet
the requirements listed on the YLRL.net website and apply using the online
application. Applications are due by April 30, 2025. Winners will be an-
nounced in July 2025.
https://YLRL.net/Scholarships
de AA4CD
Why potatoes are used to test Wi-Fi
Potatoes can absorb and reflect Wi-Fi signals.
Mashed, boiled, fried: Most of the interactions we have with potatoes revolve entirely around preparing them for our plates. However, there are occasions when the starchy spuds have more scientific uses — such as helping researchers test and tweak Wi-Fi signals. On these occasions, potatoes act as stand-ins for human bodies, mimicking our forms thanks to their similarly high water content. While our bodies are made up of about 60% water, potatoes are loaded with about 80%. All of that water impacts just how well we can connect to the internet — Wi-Fi signals are transmitted through radio waves, which are easily absorbed by water. Even the water inside a potato (or the human body) can reflect the signal back and weaken its strength.
While any container of water can actually do this trick, scientists have turned to sacks of potatoes for more accurate testing of Wi-Fi signals in tricky places such as airplanes. In 2012, Boeing heaped about 20,000 pounds of tubers into humanlike shapes in a grounded airplane to observe how well Wi-Fi flowed through a packed cabin. Gathering the data took several days, and using nonmoving potato test subjects in place of human participants made it possible for researchers to do their work. With this system, Boeing engineers were able to fine-tune Wi-Fi signals to transmit uniformly through a plane cabin and account for wiggling passengers and passing drink carts — ensuring the best possible internet connection at 35,000 feet.
de KJ6UMY
UK demands Apple break encryption to allow gov’t spying worldwide
arstechnica.com
What could go wrong?
Jeep Pushing Warranties Through Pop-Up Ads In Their Vehicles
Russia Is Hijacking US Military Satellites
The $132 “Dumfume” LiFePO4 Battery Tested!
Meeting Minutes
Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club
Roy Noon Meeting Hall, Fallbrook, California
February 1, 2025
President Ron Patten, KG6HSQ, called the meeting to order at 1500 hrs.
The pledge of allegiance was conducted by Ron, KG6HSQ.
Brent, KJ6UMY, gave the following financial report:
| Checking Balance December 31, 2024 | $8,625.83 |
| Petty Cash Balance December 31, 2024 | $101.81 |
| Total | $8,727.64 |
JANUARY INCOME |
|
| Membership Dues | $120.00 |
| Total | $120.00 |
JANUARY EXPENSES |
|
| None | $0.00
|
| Total | $0.00 |
PETTY CASH |
|
| Petty Cash Balance December 31, 2024 | $101.81 |
| Membership Dues | $20.00 |
| Total | $121.81 |
| Checking Balance January 31, 2024 | $8,725.83 |
| Petty Cash Balance January 31, 2024 | $121.81 |
| Total | $8,847.64 |
Ron, KG6HSQ, reported on the future of the Scout Hut, which will be undergoing renovations to the outside walls, roof replacement, removal of the chimney and concrete repair in the next few months.
Ron, KG6HSQ, suggested a change to membership fees which would expand complimentary membership to local first responders in addition to that extended to active duty military. This topic was sparked up by the discovery that there are 3 hams in North County Fire.
Ron, KG6HSQ, reminded us of the upcoming Avocado Festival on April 13, 2025. The first Chamber planning meeting will be next week
Ron, KG6HSQ, advised the membership that checking in to the Tuesday ARES net does not make you a member of ARES. You must go to sdgares.net and sign up. Hams who have already signed up need to go the website early in the year a login and update any information to remain current.
Ron, KG6HSQ, had attendees go around the room and introduce themselves.
Ron, KG6HSQ, offered a CB Radio and antenna from the Scout Hut radio room to anyone who wanted it.
Ron, KG6HSQ, gave a presentation on the three fires on January 21, 2025. The Pala Fire, Lilac 2 Fire and the Riverview/Mission Fire all started in the early morning hours. Ron showed still pictures from the HPWREN and Alert California cameras along with video from news sources.
Bob, W6VR, showed still pictures from the fire on Mount Wilson including the destruction of a land mobile radio building.
President Ron Patten, KG6HSQ, adjourned that meeting at 1610 hrs
Brent Dussia, KJ6UMY
Secretary/Treasurer
Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club