News
Please check the Calendar page for club meetings or other events, locations and times.
Congratulation New Hams!
Congratulations to those who passed their Technician License exam on Nov 1st. We had 5 test for Technician and 4 passed! Watch for announcements of future classes and exam sessions.
MS-150 Bike Ride 2011
One of our members, Elissa KF7FQR, volunteered for the event for the second year in a row. Elissa reported she was stationed in Osburn ID again this year. She also reports it was a great experience and a pleasure working with the Kootenai Amateur Radio Society (KARS) group.
2011 Kootenai Rotary River Marathon
Three of our club members, Kraig KE7SKJ, Jeremy KF7OLB and Kimmy KF7OLD assisted the Boundary County ARES group with doing communications support for the 2011 Kootenai Rotary River Marathon. The race took place in and around Bonners Ferry, Idaho on Saturday 09/10/2011. Kraig reports it was a great experience and a pleasure working with the Boundary County ARES group.
Bonner County Fair 2011 A Success
We had a great turnout of both volunteers and visitors to our booth at the fair. We wish to thank all who were there. Also a big thanks goes to the volunteers from Boundary County that came down to help. A summary of the event will be posted later.
Sandpoint 2011 4th of July Parade
We wish to thank all who helped at the 4th of July parade. A summary of the event will be posted later.
Technician License Classes March 2011
BCARC sponsored and held Technician license classes at the Sandpoint library. We had 9 students show over the 6 week classes. We also held a test session at our regular March 2011 club meeting on March 8th. VE's from both neighboring Boundary and Kootenai counties were there to give the exams. We had a total of 5 new licenses and 2 upgrades. Everyone who was there to test had passed! Great job everyone.
We wish to thank all who were in the class and look forward to hearing them all on the air real soon. We also wish to thank all to helped put together the class and test session. It was a big success and look forward to the next one.
For information about future classes, please contact k7jep@arrl.net.
MS-150 Bike Ride 2010
One of our members, Elissa KF7FQR, volunteered for the event and here is what she reported.
The MS150 was held on the weekend of September 18-19, 2010. This was a 150 mile, fundraising bike race for multiple sclerosis across the whole length of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. The riders go 75 miles in one direction on Saturday, and do a return 75 mile ride on Sunday.
Here is a link to the event: http://bikewai.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_WAI_h....
I volunteered through KARS & Jim (N7JIL) let me borrow a 2m mobile radio set for my car. I worked at the Osburn trailhead from 10:30am on Sunday through approximately 3:30pm. When I arrived and setup, I quickly realized the radio wasn't working and eventually diagnosed an antenna problem after troubleshooting via cell phone with Jim. A replacement antenna was delivered by Darryl a couple of hours after my arrival on site. I had my handheld radio to monitor communications but it was not powerful enough to transmit at the Osburn location. There were a few volunteers present under a tent, passing out water and snacks to the passing riders. I kept an informal list of the rider's jersey numbers since no one else seemed to be doing this task.
The weather was very wet, cold & windy. The first riders passed the trailhead at 11:25am and I counted 147 riders in total throughout the day. It was fun working the event & I loved the experience.
Elissa KF7FQR
Thank you Elissa for volunteering for this annual event.
Dave N7UTG
Bonner County Fair 2010 A Big Success
The 2010 Bonner County Fair has come and gone. Bonner County Amateur Radio Club was again asked by fair organizers to participate and provide communications for the fair. The fair was held from August 24th to 28th at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint, ID. Several club members staffed our club booth in the main exhibit building. Other club members also walked the fair grounds watching for potential safety issues and assisted fair goer's with directions and general questions. Members patrolling the grounds kept in contact with the club boot using 2 meters simplex.
This year club members purchases bright neon yellow safety vests to wear at the fair. We had the words "Emergency Communications" printed on the back. We had many comments from fair exhibitors and fair goer's about them. They really stood out, especially after sunset. We did have one incident where a fair patron needed medical attention. The group acted quickly and contacted 911. After being checked out by paramedics the person was released on his own. Only dehydration and too much fair.
Looking to be back again in 2011.
Long Distance Assistance:
On November 23, 2002, K7PGC was involved in a conversation on 17 meters when an emergency call came in from an amateur radio operator requesting that Nevada Highway Patrol and EMS be notified of a single vehicle roll-over accident at mile marker 27 on Hwy 6 between Tonapah and Warm Springs. The driver was conscious but trapped in the vehicle. The following is an e-mail message exchanged between the two following the incident:
K7PGC: I lost contact with you after I told you that I had contacted NV Highway Patrol. I hope everything turned out alright for the fellow in the roll-over accident. I'm sorry that it took longer than it should have. Information gave me a non-working phone number. I had to call Idaho State Police who gave me the correct number for NV.
NV HAM: Thank you for your help in handling the call. The accident took place in rural Nevada where there was no cell phone coverage and the EMS/NHP first responders required nearly an hour to arrive after being notified. Sadly, the gentleman died shortly after I arrived. He came around a corner and lost control trying to avoid some wild horses on the roadway. I think his neck was broken and little could be done, but we all did what we could. Your part in contacting NHP is appreciated.
