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Desert RATS in The Desert Event!


I 'm organizing another Desert RATS Picnic and Camping Weekend this time very close to home.  Last 3 outings were in the open desert near the Salton Sea this time it's at shaded Lake Cahuilla County Park in La Quinta.


Bill Prats K6ACJ and I have booked 2 campsites #44 & #46  and will be setting up an HF Radio for the weekend.  Here's the plan if you want to come and camp there are various camping opportunities both RV and Tenting.  Reservations are needed if you want hookups and they can be done on the County Park Web Site for Lake Cahuilla here is the link for that http://www.riversidecountyparks.org  . Book early to get a nice spot.  Dry camping reservations are not required for Tenting or RV's so just show up.  For those that just want come out for the day or afternoon there is a large grassy area for that with BBQ's.  Bring your fishing gear too as there is fishing at the Lake. This is the same weekend we are helping the Boy Scouts on the Saturday May 5th morning for 3 hours with their Radio Merit Badges.  We will be having a station setup at the Park to communicate with the Scout Group.  If you are a helper at the event come by for the afternoon Picnic it's only a short drive and make it an all day radio day.  On Sunday we are also inviting the Boy Scouts to come out to the Park and see our HF Radio set up and antenna in the wild. 


That weekend there is also a 10 Meter Contest that we will be participating in as well as 2 other HF contests. If you want to join up and be a part of the Desert RATS DX and Contest Team for the weekend or for a few hours call me at 760-318-0186 and we'll include you in the Team.  If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them at the next meeting. Hope you can come out for the Saturday / or Sunday or whatever..... Bill K6ACJ and I will be RV camping from Friday till Monday hope you will too.


As an extra activity for Saturday May 5th for those that just can't make it to the County Park and still want something to do in the morning we have been asked by the Coachella Valley Scouts to help out with getting the Scouts on the air to show them what Ham radio is all about so from 9:30 AM till 1 PM we will be holding various on air activities for them.  At 10 AM we have asked the ARES California Rescue Communications Net Members run by Gordon West  to check into a Net I will be conducting on 28.400 on 10 Meters SSB and perhaps FM as a directed experiment.(  Anyone can be on that Band even with a Tech licence so if you have 10 meter capability join in. )   The ARES Members of this Net come from various places all around the State and as far as Oregon, Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada, Utah.  I have asked them to check in to my Directed Net to show the Scouts what a Net is all about and this will be a good opportunity for us all to see what kind of propagation  there is on 10 Meters that time of day.  The Scouts will be on for a few minutes each to talk to those that check into that Net.  You are welcome to join in afterwards as directed by Net Control which  will be shared with  Tom KJ6DZT who will be at the Boy Scout gathering in Palm Springs.  I will be at the Cahuilla Lake camp site.


  After that event they have been invited to the Park to join our Picnic.  SO you can still come and join us as well.  It should be a fun filled action packed day at the Park.  If you can't make it Saturday May 5 we will be there all day Sunday too so bring along the kids and grandkids for day 2.  There is swimming at the Lake and Fishing too.  It might  be warm so bring all you need for yourself including food and sunscreen and water. There are BBQ pits in the grassy areas but bring your own coals.  There is some shade there but not enough for all if all our members come so bring your own chairs and shade if you have it...  Park in the Dry Camp Area near our RV camp sites 44 and 46.  No reservations required for Tenting or RV Dry Camping so come for the Saturday night too!

There are some contests on during the weekend so bring your HF rig if you want and set up a mobile contest station and show others what you've got for a set up!


It should turn out to be a lot of fun  ....Hope to see you sometime during the weekend!


73 ....Peter Reinzuch VE7REZ /w6

ARES Riverside County Assistant Emergency Coordinator


call me at 760-318-0186 for more info

PALM SPRINGS HAMFEST 2013 JANUARY 26

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OPTICAL COMMUNICATION FOR THE AMATEUR

The Radio Amateur Is:

* CONSIDERATE...never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen
the pleasure of others.

* LOYAL...offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs,
local clubs, and the American Radio Relay League, through which
Amateur Radio in the United States is represented nationally and
internationally.

* PROGRESSIVE...with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and
efficient station and knowledge above reproach.

* FRIENDLY...slow and patient operating when requested; friendly
advise and counsel to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and
consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of
the amateur spirit.

* BALANCED...radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed
to family, job, school or community.

* PATRIOTIC...station and skill always ready for service to country
and community.

Check into our net on Monday night!

We have a voice net at 19:00 on the Ratpeater 146.940  and a Digital mode net at 19:30 on 144.435 Check the calendar on the news page for schedule. The Freq. and pl are on the WD6RAT page.