Category: Training & Certification

  • March General Membership Meeting

    Please join us for our general membership meeting on Thursday, March 22 at the Portland Fire and Rescue training center at 4800 NE 122nd Ave in Portland. There will be a Q&A session and informal gathering for new members from 18:15 to 19:00. The main meeting will run from 19:00 to 21:00. You do not need to be a member to attend – everyone is welcome!

    We will meet in the main room at 19:00 for leadership updates and general business, and then break into two groups for introductory and advanced discussions about antennas. You are free to choose either session, based on your level of experience.

    John KI7LYP will lead the intro session in the main room. Material will include the basic types of antennas, directional properties, polarization, and gain/losses. Nate NA7EE will lead the advanced session in the Annex, covering antennas, transmission lines, baluns, matching systems (tuners), and impedance. Material will include function, characteristics, and losses.

    Additional information about our monthly meetings can be found on the meeting page.

  • Hardware Workshop

    On Saturday, February 24 from 12:00 to 16:00, I will be conducting a Hardware Workshop. This will be a show and tell type session with plenty of hardware to touch and talk about! There will be a presentation about many of the different types of hardware used in ham radio stations, what they do, and when you need or don’t need them. Some of the items will include antenna tuners, TNCs, antenna switches, SWR meters, amplifiers, keyers, antenna analyzers, and many more.

    After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session, then some additional time to actually see various pieces of equipment.

    Attendance will be limited to 20 attendees with priority given to active MCARES members although all hams or interested parties are invited if space permits. Contact training [at] multnomahares [dot] org to sign up and get location details.

    This session will be repeated on June 2.

  • February General Membership Meeting

    Please join us for our general membership meeting on Thursday, February 22 at the Portland Fire and Rescue training center at 4800 NE 122nd Ave in Portland. There will be a Q&A session and informal gathering for new members from 18:15 to 19:00. The main meeting will run from 19:00 to 21:00. You do not need to be a member to attend – everyone is welcome!

    We will meet in the main room at 19:00 for leadership updates and general business, and then break into two groups for introductory and advanced discussions of radio operations. You are free to choose either session, based on your level of experience.

    John KI7LYP will lead the intro session in the main room, where he will cover the basics of operating VHF and UHF FM using local repeaters and simplex. Robert WX5TEX will lead the advanced session in the Annex. He will discuss HF operations, focusing on propagation and MUF, SSB operations, and a brief mention of digital modes in use on HF.

    Additional information about our monthly meetings can be found on the meeting page.

  • J-Pole Antenna Workshop

    If you would like to build your very own J-Pole, here is your chance! On Saturday, February 3, I will conduct a workshop where participants will build a copper pipe J-Pole antenna for the 2-meter band. This is the antenna build we demonstrated at the November, 2017 General Membership Meeting.

    There will be a fee of $15.00 per person to cover the cost of materials. Space is limited, and advance registration is required so we can procure materials. Contact training [at] multnomahares [dot] org to sign up.

  • January General Membership Meeting

    Please join us for our general membership meeting on Thursday, January 25 at the Portland Fire and Rescue training center at 4800 NE 122nd Ave in Portland. There will be a Q&A session and informal gathering for new members from 18:15 to 19:00. The main meeting will run from 19:00 to 21:00. You do not need to be a member to attend – everyone is welcome!

    We will meet in the main room at 19:00 for leadership updates and general business, and then break into two groups for introductory and advanced discussions of Winlink operations. You are free to choose either session, based on your level of experience.

    John KI7LYP and Eli W7ELI will provide an introduction to Winlink software for newer users. Bring your laptops and join in while they demonstrate how to configure the software, find forms, and create and send messages. We will be using the WiFi in the training facility to send and receive real messages.

    Adam KF7LJH will lead the advanced session for more experienced users who would like to learn how to operate/interface with a TNC and SignaLink, find gateway stations, and operate using a packet session.

  • PRRO Certification Workshops

    I am leading a set of workshops for members who would like to be certified in Winlink operations. I will provide an overview of the Winlink system and will go into detail on configuring Winlink Express, sending and receiving messages, and using templates. Plenty of time will be provided for hands-on practice, and operators who feel ready will have an opportunity to complete their check sheet and earn their Packet RMS Radio Operator (PRRO) certification.

    There are two workshop dates currently planned, and more will be added if there is interest. Locations will vary, in an effort to make travel easier for folks in different parts of the county. Each workshop is scheduled to run for four hours, but we’ll probably finish earlier.

    Upcoming Dates
    December 2, 13:00 to 17:00, in St. Johns
    January 13, 13:00 to 17:00, in Gresham

    These workshops are open to all Multnomah County ARES members who have completed their ARRO certification, however space is limited. To sign up for either workshop, email me at KE7QPV [at] arrl [dot] net.

  • November General Membership Meeting

    This month’s meeting will be one week early due to the Thanksgiving holiday. We will have a demonstration of making a copper j-pole antenna. This will be followed up in January with a Saturday workshop, where participants will be charged a small fee for parts and will go home with an antenna.

    Please join us for our general membership meeting on Thursday, November 16 at the Portland Fire and Rescue training center at 4800 NE 122nd Ave in Portland. There will be a Q&A session and informal gathering for new members from 18:15 to 19:00. The main meeting will run from 19:00 to 21:00. Everyone is welcome!

    Additional information about our monthly meetings can be found on the meeting page.

  • Training & Certification News

    I am very pleased to announce that John KI7LYP is going to assume the position of Training Manager effective December 1. John brings a good deal of technical know-how and training experience and he’s a really nice guy! I will continue to do the ARRO certification workshops, and have more time to devote to the Echo Team as team leader.

  • Training & Certification News

    A look ahead: The October general meeting will have a panel of the folks who went to Grant County for the Eclipse. The November meeting will have a demonstration of making a copper j-pole antenna. This will be followed up in January with a Saturday workshop. Participants will be charged a small fee for parts and will go home with an antenna.

    Women’s Ham Radio Technician Class taught by women for women – six sessions: October 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21. Contact Barbara Yasson at AC7UH [at] arrl [dot] net to sign up.

    Hoodview ARC Technician Classes will be held November 4 and continue on November 11 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Mt. Hood Community College’s Fisheries building. Testing is on November 18 at 9:00 AM. Classes are free, but the book is $22 and the VE test is $15. The textbook, “Ham Radio School” by Stu Turner, is available online. To register, email Cory at ka7iug [at] frontier [dot] com.

    The October 5 ARRO Basics and October 19 Traffic Handling workshops are for MCARES members only. All active members who want a refresher are welcome to attend. Please let me know at eliza [dot] pride [at] gmail [dot] com if you plan to attend so I can have enough trainers present. New members must have completed the three online FEMA classes, IS-100, IS-700, and IS-200, prior to attending the workshops.

  • September General Membership Meeting

    During our amateur radio activities, we may expose ourselves to certain dangers which can be avoided by following sound safety practices. At this month’s meeting our Emergency Coordinator, Nathan Hersey (N9VCU), will talk about hazards, safety, and situational awareness.

    Please join us for our general membership meeting on Thursday, September 28 at the Portland Fire and Rescue training center at 4800 NE 122nd Ave in Portland. There will be a Q&A session and informal gathering for new members from 18:15 to 19:00. The main meeting will run from 19:00 to 21:00. Everyone is welcome!

    Additional information about our monthly meetings can be found on the meeting page.