OARS - 2022 ARRL Field Day is June 25-26. We are getting ready!

Duane WB7ROZ is leading the preparations If you want to be included his email is WB7ROZ@arrl.net

On Saturday, May 21, 2022 he sent out the following:

I know that people where busy Saturday with the Fun Fare, but I also had the first Field Day work party.
Bruce, and Bob where out here Saturday afternoon, and we went through the 40' mast kit bags.

The next task will be sorting out guy lines, relabeling them, and looking what needs to be replaced.
I also have a package of 10 deck cleats that need to be mounted on mast section. Having these on the bottom mast section gives us a tie off point for the halyard.
After that we can we can start working on antennas.
I realized today that we could, look at using one of the spare 6M loop dipoles, for the 6M repeater as a short 6M beam.
This may take a little work, it is meant to be used, vertical mounted on the side of a tower, using the tower as the reflector, and it has one director in front of it.
Using a 10 foot piece of EMT conduit, for the reflector, would give us a 3 element 6M beam, with a boom length a little over 2" long, it would be short 6M beam.
We could put it on a tripod, and I have a rotator to to turn it.
Bob has offered his Flex Radio, This gives us three for use in the tent, give us a 6M station, along with two HF stations.
We should set up the R-8 vertical and sweep it, see if it needs to be adjusted.
The SteppIR DB-18 has not been used sense 2019, it need to setup and checked out, if we are going to use it this year.
The four element SteppIR needs to be set up and checked out sometime, if we want to try so sell it someday.
I would also like to start characterizing the coax cable we have for Field Day. We can do this with a NanoVNA.
Then there is just general training on guy lines and coax handling, and practice on putting up and taking down 40' masts.
We have lots to do between now and Field Day.
As long as it is not raining, I will plan to be here starting at 10AM Saturdays, with a lunch break at noon, from now and through Field Day.

If people are interested, we could also plan for some mid week evening work parties.

If you are interested in updates, let me know. and I will add you to the Field Day email list. My email is WB7ROZ@arrl.net

June 18th is Kid’s Day!

The third Saturday in June is the time to encourage youngsters to get on the air and share in the excitement and fun that amateur radio can provide. At my house, and I hope in yours too, we will provide an opportunity for kids in the neighborhood to come in and “get on the air”. I will be setting aside an convenient block of time during the day to use the OARS Repeater to contact Club Members on the radio. The event runs from 11:00am – 4:59pm on Saturday.

I am expanding my quest for youngsters this year by posting a call for parents on the Community website to send or bring their interested children to my radio shack during the hours that I will be in operation during Kids Day.

I am planning to start the days activities by showing them how HAMS communicate and demonstrating Morse Code by sending their names on my MFJ Key & Oscillator, Then I will write out their name in code and give them a takeaway on the coded note paper.

After the introduction it will be off to the radio shack and after a brief review, I hope to give each kid an opportunity to handle the mike and make a contact on 147.36Mhz, the OARS Repeater. Your help would be much appreciated by all if you would be around during the time that we will be looking for a contact. Before Kid’s Day happens, I will give all Club Members our brief hours of operation so that you may be able to adjust your schedules to talk briefly with the Kids.

Each kid will get an official ARRL Certificate, which I can easily download and print…oh yes, don’t forget the cookies and milk for everyone after we’re done. I have had a lot of fun the past two ears on Kid’s day. I think that you could too. A bonus to those who live in controlled communities with HOA’s. The HOA Committee here smiles on our activities that include the neighborhood. This is good PR!

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the upcoming Kid’s day, please do not hesitate to contact me on the air, by Email, dtgrover4975@gmail.com or OlympiaARS.

6 Meter repeaters

Tuesday night there was a discussion about 6 meter repeaters. Here is a link to the repeater directory for 6 meter repeaters - 6 Meter Directory.

Also mentioned was 10 meter repeaters. So here is the link to the 10 meter directory.

2022 MS Walk

Take a Step Toward a World Free of MS Saturday, April 30, 2022 Horizons Elementary School 4601 67th Ave SE Olympia, WA 98513 Site Opens: 8:30 am  Walk Starts: 10:00 am

I've signed up for Walk MS—a charity walk that is changing the lives of people with MS and helping fuel progress toward a world free of MS. I'd love your generous support as I prepare for my walk.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. MS is different for everyone, and that makes it all the more challenging to solve. The first Walk MS event was in 1988, and since then more than $920 million has been raised for research and programs to improve the lives of people living with MS. Today, there are treatments where there weren't any before, and the dream of ending MS is becoming a reality. But there is still so much to do.

That's why I'm walking. I've set an ambitious goal because I know with support from people like you, I will have a great chance at reaching it. The money raised will drive groundbreaking research, provide life-changing programs and guarantee a supportive community for those who need it most. This cause is really important to me, so I hope you will do your part to help end MS forever.

Follow this link to make your donation - Make a donation
Thank you 73 Phil Cornell W7PLC

OARS at Spring Fun Fair

This year OARS will team up with TCARES to sponsor a large booth at the upcoming Lacey Spring Fun Fair. One of the largest two-day festivals in Southwest Washington, with over 16,000 people in attendance.
This opportunity to present Amateur radio and ARES will be held on the beautiful Saint Martin’s University campus in Lacey, Washington on: Saturday, May 21, 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday, May 22, 11 am – 5:00pm.
OARS has stepped up early and has secured the best possible display area within the Pavilion at St. Martins and has plans to provide attendees with outstanding presentations of Amateur Radio at work and at play. Included in the presentation will be TCARES and disaster preparedness and “hands on” demonstrations, by OARS, of morse code in use for communications.
The OARS (Olympia Amateur Radio Society) and TCARES (THURSTON County Amateur Radio Emergency Services) goal for this event is to provide its members with time to interact with those attending the Fun Fair and to demonstrate to the community its unique ability to serve in the event of a disaster. Additionally, this interaction will help to grow the organization’s memberships through their sharing of knowledge and passion for HAM Radio with attendees.
Doug Grover, N7POV, is working to organize this event and asks for the club to recognize that there will be staffing needs and accessory needs for the booth. Although there will be electricity supplied, a for need tables, chairs, extension cords and radio equipment exists. Doug hopes to hear from members regarding their thoughts towards making this event demonstrate the outstanding efforts made by OARS and TCARES on behalf of the community.
You may contact Doug, N7POV at dtgrover4975@gmail.com or text to 360-402-2968