Hello everybody, just a quick note about last nights Yolo ARES Meeting and what we did, for those unable to attend.
Bill, K6KN, discussed the web-site QRZ.com, and the benefits they offer for being a member. There are several levels of subscription membership, including free, but each level gives you more benefits. So if you haven’t checked out QRZ.com, or it’s been awhile since you last checked it, give it a look and see if a subscription might benefit you.
We then discussed knowing how to program a new frequency into our HT’s on the fly. If it’s been awhile since you last programmed in a new frequency then it might be a good time to review your owners manual on how to program in a new frequency.
And speaking of new frequencies, we then programmed in a new 440 frequency that will be used for this years Holiday Parade, and possibly for other exercises. This frequency is 442.450, with a positive (+) offset, and a tone of 123.0. So if you are helping with the Holiday Parade, or just want to listen to what is going on, please program in this new frequency.
Bill K6KN then showed us the 440 repeater system he will be utilizing at the Yolo OES building for the parade, and Gary, WA6TQJ, showed us his portable radio system.
Rick, N6KLB, has modified our Net Control script roster to only call on members who regularly check in. If you do not regularly check in then your name will be removed from the script only, so if your name is not called just check in under “Missed Member Stations” and once you start checking in regularly you will be added back into the net script. If you want to use the old script that is fine too as we are just in the process of modifying the current script. Hopefully the new script will shorten the time of the net as we won’t be calling on so many members who never check in.
Talking about Net Control, don’t forget to sign up for net control. Remember, all you have to do is go to the YoloARES.org web-page, sign in, click on “Sign up for net control or message”, find a date that works for you, and enter your call sign. I have signed up for a few dates, so if you have decided on a date that is good for you and you see my call, KF6HHH, is in the date you can just remove my call and enter yours. Just let me know so I can sign up for another date. Don’t forget we also need to practice message handling too, and the member who signed up for net control isn’t signing up for the message, unless you want to.
There will be no Yolo ARES meeting in December (Happy Holidays everyone) so our next meeting will be the third Wednesday in January, which will be January 21, 2026, at Yolo Co OES, unless something happens where the facility is unavailable.
