Category Archives: Non-Profit

CARC Amateur Radio license exam January 21

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The Coconino Amateur Radio Club will hold a regular amateur radio license examination session on Saturday, January 21 at 9 a.m. The examination will be held at North Country Healthcare, 2920 N 4th Street in Flagstaff.

You need to bring the following:

  1. Photo ID (Driver’s license, passport, or school ID)
  2. A copy of your amateur radio license (if you have a license)
  3. Federal registration number or your Social Security Number.
  4. Fee: $15
  5. Black ink pen
  6. Pencils

Optional: A simple calculator
A valid email address for your application

A Federal Registration Number is recommended over a SSN. If you use your SSN, you will have to wait until the FCC assigns you an FRN prior to getting your license. If you plan to take the examination and have not filed for a FRN, you should apply on the FCC Universal Licensing System as soon as possible.

Find out more about the license session at the ARRL web site.

The next scheduled license exam will be 22 April 2017.

FCC Requesting Public Comments on amateur vanity call signs

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ARLB039 Rule Making Petition to FCC Calls for Vanity Call Sign Rule Changes

The FCC is inviting comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11775) from a Nevada radio amateur that seeks changes to the rules governing the Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Program. Christopher LaRue, W4ADL, of North Las Vegas, is proposing that any licensee obtaining a vanity call sign be required to keep it for the full license term. LaRue contends in his petition that excessive and frequent vanity call sign filings are hampering the ability of other qualified licensees to obtain vanity call signs in one of the more desirable 1 x 2 or 2 x 1 formats. LaRue said that since the FCC dropped the fee to file for a vanity call sign, some applicants are taking advantage by regularly obtaining new call signs, thereby keeping them out of circulation.

The petition can be found on the web in PDF format at, https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1004220986407/Petition%20.pdf.

“Some are changing call signs almost monthly, just to keep the newer code-free Extra class operators from obtaining a shorter call sign,” he said in his petition. “I even saw an older operator that said he does it all the time and has not even owned a radio in over 6 years. When I looked him up, he has had 16 different [call signs] in 18 months.”

LaRue said his proposed minor rule change would require any licensee applying for and obtaining an Amateur Radio vanity call sign “be required to keep it for the duration of the license, which is currently 10 years.”

He said this would “alleviate a lot of the stress on the ULS system and manpower requirements” at the FCC. “It will also keep inactive amateurs from changing call signs regularly, thereby tying up call signs for 2 years after dismissal of said call.”

Interested parties may comment using the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at, https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Comments are due within 30 days of the October 26 posting date.

Parents invited to a DVD seminar on parenting

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WILLIAMS — Calvary Chapel and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church will host a parenting seminar on DVD on October 8 and 15. The seminar will be held at the Williams Recreation Center at 300 W. Railroad Avenue.

The seminar, Essentials of Discipline with Dr. James Dobson, is a two-part seminar covering a variety of topics. Part 1 of the seminar will be held on October 8 and Part 2 will be held on October 15. Each session will begin at 9 a.m. and end at noon.

The topics are:
Part 1: Sessions 1-8 and Session 12
Session 1- Why Your Child Needs Disciple
Session 2- Irresponsibility vs. Defiance
Session 3- Anger vs. Action
Session 4- Finding Balance in Discipline
Session 5- To Spank or Not to Spank
Session 6- Compliant vs Defiant
Session 7- Changing Discipline as Your Child Grows, Part 1
Session 8- Changing Discipline as Your Child Grows, Part 2
Session 12- The Ultimate Priority

Part 2: Sessions 9-12
Session 9- Protecting the Spirit
Session 10- The Strong Willed Adolescent, Part 1
Session 11- The Strong Willed Adolescent, Part 2
Session 12- The Ultimate Priority

Get Set for the SET

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During the Cascadia Rising earthquake exercise in the Pacific Northwest, Island County Amateur Radio Club members John Acton, K7ACT (seated, in yellow vest), types a Red Cross emergency message via a 2 meter packet link, while Bill Frederick, KF7BMK (standing, with handheld), monitors a VHF simplex voice net at a field triage and treatment facility on Whidbey Island. Red Cross volunteers Kendra O'Bryan (left) and Patty Cheek (right) help coordinate the message traffic flow. [Vince Bond, K7NA, photo]

During the Cascadia Rising earthquake exercise in the Pacific Northwest, Island County Amateur Radio Club members John Acton, K7ACT (seated, in yellow vest), types a Red Cross emergency message via a 2 meter packet link, while Bill Frederick, KF7BMK (standing, with handheld), monitors a VHF simplex voice net at a field triage and treatment facility on Whidbey Island. Red Cross volunteers Kendra O’Bryan (left) and Patty Cheek (right) help coordinate the message traffic flow. [Vince Bond, K7NA, photo]

The primary focal point of the 2016 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is just ahead — Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2. The national emergency exercise is aimed at testing the skills and preparedness of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other organizations that are called into action in actual emergency situations.

“Every local ARES team and/or ARRL Section will come up with their own scenarios and work with served agencies and partner organizations during the SET,” ARRL Field Organization Team Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, said, noting that not all SETs will take place on October 1 and 2.

“SETs can be scheduled at the local and Section levels and conducted throughout the fall to help maximize participation,” he said. “But ARRL Field Organization leaders have the option of conducting their SETs on another weekend, if October 1 and 2 is not convenient.”

ARRL Field Organization leaders are among those tasked with developing plans and scenarios for this year’s SET, Ewald explained.

“The SET invites all radio amateurs to become aware of emergency preparedness and available training,” Ewald said. “ARES, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), National Traffic System™, SKYWARN, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN), and other allied groups and public service-oriented radio amateurs are encouraged to participate.”

The object of the annual nationwide exercise is to test training and skills and to try out new methods.

“It’s a time to work with partner organizations and served agencies to get to know them better and to determine their needs before an emergency or disaster strikes,” Ewald said. “Knowing who to contact within partner groups and knowing the planned procedures will help everyone to accomplish their goals and succeed in their missions.

Love’s Children’s Miracle Network benefit Saturday

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You are invited to the Children’s Miracle barbeque event at Love’s on Saturday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Love’s around the country are collecting money for the Children’s Miracle Network. This event benefits the Children’s Miracle Network of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The Love’s in Williams is in competition with the Love’s in Kingman for this event. Every dollar helps.

Anyone can donate from now until the event on Saturday by purchasing a balloon at Love’s. Businesses are asked to donate $100 while individuals can donate any amount.
sunday-2016-09-11-023

sunday-2016-09-11-024The event Saturday will have hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and cold drink available for a requested minimum donation of $5. KZBX radio will be on hand with music and are working to get some live music. There are games and a special pie-in-the-face event with the Love’s manager.

Perico passed away overnight

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Corrected 8/15; 5:28 a.m.

800-perico-16-05-30-06WILLIAMS — We have learned of the passing of Fedrico “Perico” Avila who passed away at the Peaks in Flagstaff. Mr. Avila had been at the Flagstaff Medical Center for knee surgery and was transferred to the Peaks for rehabilitation. We believe he was 83-years old.

Mr. Avila was a well-known Korean veteran and Chaplain for the American Legion Cordova Post #13. He worked hard to conduct the service for Memorial Day each year in Williams.

He was born in Williams and returned after his service to paint signs around town. During each holiday he was busy painting holiday images on windows adding his unique signature. He was a well-loved person who remained active in the community until his untimely passing.

Our prayers go out to his family, friends and fellow veterans.
800-16-05-30-03

The 13 Colonies Special Event Gets Under Way tomorrow

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militia-01The Amateur Radio Relay League announces a special Independence week event. The event consists of contacting stations in all of the original thirteen colonies. This is a great way to spend Independence Day and a great way to introduce your friends to amateur radio.

The eighth annual 13 Colonies Special Event takes place from 1300 UTC on July 1 until 0400 UTC on July 7. Stations working the special event station in at least one of the original 13 states — or all 15 participating stations — will be eligible for a certificate. A Liberty Bell endorsement will be attached for stations contacting sister special event station WM3PEN, in Philadelphia, where independence was declared. Back this year, is a second sister station GB13COL in Durham, England.

Stations will be on the air from each of the original 13 colonies — Connecticut (K2D), Delaware (K2E), Georgia (K2G), Massachusetts (K2H), Maryland (K2F), North Carolina (K2J), New Hampshire (K2K), New Jersey (K2I), New York (K2A), Pennsylvania (K2M), Rhode Island (K2C), South Carolina (K2L), and Virginia (K2B). All HF bands and all modes will be in play, with the exception of 60 meters. Operation on 2 and 6 meter simplex is encouraged.

ARRL to Sponsor 2016 Atlantic Season Hurricane Webinar

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Arrl_logo The ARRL will sponsor a 2016 Atlantic Season Hurricane Webinar on Thursday, July 21, at 8 PM ET (0000 UTC on Friday, July 22, UTC). The approximately 90-minute session will address the role of Amateur Radio during the 2015 Hurricane Season. Anyone interested in hurricane preparedness and response is invited to attend this online presentation.

Topics will include a meteorological overview of the upcoming season; Amateur Radio station WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center: Who We Are and What We Do; ARRL Media and Public Relations; the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN); the VoIP Hurricane Net, and ARRL coordination and interface.

The program will include presentations by representatives of the National Hurricane Center and WX4NHC, the VoIP Hurricane Net, the HWN, the Canadian Hurricane Centre, and the ARRL. Webinar registration is open to all, but should be of particular interest to radio amateurs in hurricane-prone areas. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.

For additional information, contact ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U.

From ARRL web site.

Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours is a HAM!

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Corrected 6:43 am; 6/26
ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-01FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Amateur Radio Club participated in the Amateur Radio Relay League annual Field Day Event. The event is designed to demonstrate the abilities of amateur radio. Part of the demonstration includes allowing people to operate gear even without a license.

The event also allowed amateur radio operators, also called “Hams,” to demonstrate the usefulness of communications in an emergency situation. All of the units demonstrated were operated on alternative power, such as battery or generators.

ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-04Ron KG7OH and other CERT members displayed the equipment received after successful training. They were available for questions on the program and what you should carry when you hike in the woods in northern Arizona.

The Coconino Amateur radio club has an Amateur Radio Emergency System (ARES) team which provides emergency communications in times of distress. They operate in conjunction with CERT or separately depending on the situation. ARES is the ARRL version of what the Federal Communication Commission calls RACES or Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. Last year Arizona lost all telephone and Internet service when a fiber optic cable was cut and the FBI is investigating the cutting of fiber optic cables in California at least eleven-times. In these instances, amateur radios still work. Amateur radio operators have assisted in emergency communications in virtually every disaster faced by America. Including 911 and the devastation in Katrina.

ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-05COCO President, Sandy Meadowcroft, KF4JHC, demonstrated how amateur radios can be used to track a person in an emergency using GPS and a basic amateur hand held unit. She also demonstrated how Ham radio operators can pass emails even when the Internet is down. Glen, KG7YDJ, displayed a small radio and basic car jump starter can be used as an emergency communication system.

Mayor Nabours (left) discusses amateur radio with CARC vice-president Tom Sheehan.

Mayor Jerry Nabours (left) discusses amateur radio with CARC vice-president Tom Shehan, KY7WV.

Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours even stopped by to get a sample of the many uses of amateur radio.

People also got to see the fun side of amateur radio. Amateur operators constantly work to improve their equipment and communication skills by making contacts as far away as they can. While Morse code is no longer a requirement for a license, many Hams still use it as a viable communication skill today.

While some Ham operators purchase radios and antennas from various outlets, others still build their own. Communications using digital computer programs are popular. There is even amateur radio television.

Joe, W7LUX, sets up solar telescope for interested people to see the sun.

Joe, W7LUX, sets up solar telescope for interested people to see the sun.

Joe, W7LUX, set up telescopes so that people could see activities on the sun. Unfortunately we are currently in a solar minimum, so there was not much to see. Joe still answered questions about how solar activity acts on the atmosphere of the earth to provide long distance communication.

The ARRL Field Day runs until 11 a.m. tomorrow and the Coconino Radio Club will start to break down the demonstration. If you are interested in amateur radio, the Coconino Amateur Radio Club meets every 2nd Thursday of the month (Except December) at 7 p.m. at the Sizzler on Route 66 and Fanning Drive in Flagstaff. You can also visit their web site.

St. Joseph Catholic Church barbecue for St. Vincent de Paul

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St. Joseph Catholic Church is sponsoring a special BBQ meal this Friday (June 3rd), 6-8 pm to benefit St. Vincent de Paul. Come for Rich Gorney’s Legendary BBQ Ribs and Chicken served with Cole Slaw, Cowboy Beans, Bread, Dessert and Beverage, all for just $5.00 per person. St Joseph’s is located behind the Family Dollar store.