We are delighted to have Gordon West (WB6NOA) attend the Yuma Hamfest. "Gordo" has been offering classes in Amateur & commercial radio for over 40 years and his study manuals for amateur radio testing are well known. He will have his famous communications van on display during the event. You should go by and take a look at the van and take the opportunity to introduce yourself to Gordon. Check out his seminar on the upcoming Technician Class question pool.

Friday Feb. 18

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kit Building Techniques For Success

Joe Eisenberg (K0NEB)

A look at hints and tips for kit builders from beginners to advanced. We look at the proper tools, test equipment and work surface needed to have the best chance at success enjoying this very rewarding part of amateur radio.

Friday Feb. 18

2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Again, Again! Why Do Some Modes Work Better?

Kristen McIntyre (K6WX)

Ever wonder why CW works better than SSB, and SSB better than FM? For that matter, why is PSK-31 pretty good, but modes like JT-65 and OLIVIA even better? It turns out that there are reasons for this founded in Information Theory, which began with a study of Morse Code. We’ll look at spectral power densities, information theory, the Shannon-Harley theorem, coding theory, maximum likelihood decoding, and more. We’ll even take a look at Fisher information and its relation to physics. Join me and let’s explore another ‘why’ of Amateur Radio.

Friday Feb. 18

3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

End Fed Antenna Secrets for Portable, Emergency and Stealth Installations

Bob Brehm (AK6R)

Learn how to select, choose and setup an end fed antenna system that works on multiple bands, is stealthy and radiates well at low heights. Find out the secrets of antenna matching, reducing RFI and minimizing noise present on many end fed antennas. Example installations and antenna dimensions will be shown for 160-6 meter operations.

Saturday Feb. 19

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

FlexRadio - Advances in Software Defined Radio

Steve Hicks (N5AC)

CTO & VP, Engineering

In this session FlexRadio will discuss the benefits of SDRs with an emphasis on the technology differences, the unique operating benefits afforded by those differences and cost advantages. We will also touch on the benefits a software defined radio affords contesters, rag chewers, DXers and remote operators.

Saturday Feb. 19

10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

ARES/EMCOMM Roundtable

Roozy (W1EH/KXX387)

District Emergency Coordinator ARESLAX

Saturday Feb. 19

11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

FCC Rules Update - RF Hazard Assessment

Steve Moreen (KA6UGS)

The FCC has revised the rules and regulation concerning the assessment of human exposure to radio transmitting stations.  The new rules went into effect June 1, 2020.  However, changes to the existing rules were delayed until May 3, 2021 and existing stations have until May 3, 2023 to comply.  New stations must comply after May 3, 2021.
 
Before the new rules went into effect, most amateurs were able to use a Categorical Exclusion to the FCC requirement, to revaluate if a station fell under the Maximum Permissible Exposure limit.  The revised rules revision replaced Categorical Exclusions with a new mechanism called Exemptions to Routine Evaluation.  The Exemptions are based upon frequency, power and distance.

The presenter was first licensed as an Amateur in 1966.  He holds an Extra Class Amateur license, a General Class Radiotelephone license and recently retired, from a 53 year career in radio/television/satellite communications technology.

Saturday Feb. 19

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

3D Printing For Ham Radio

Joe Eisenberg (K0NEB)

Joe presents a look at what a 3D printer is, and give hints and tips for making the best of this great tool for amateur radio. I’ll cover the printers themselves, CAD programs, Slicer programs and suggestions to get the best possible print quality from your 3D printer.

Saturday Feb. 19

2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

The Mystery of Circulators and Directional Couplers

Kristen McIntyre (K6WX)

Have you ever wondered how these devices work? I certainly have. RF only going in one direction; wait, what? Duplexers are kind of like this too, but are they different or similar? We have directional couplers in most of our transceivers, but are they the same as circulators or different? There is some interesting engineering and physics at work here, some of which relates to the wave mechanics we’ve looked at before. Let’s learn about these mysterious devices and dispel the fog around them.

Saturday Feb. 19

3:40 PM - 5:00 PM

ARRL Updates and Forum

Dick Norton (N6AA)

Rick Paquette (W7RAP)

The Arizona Section Manager and other ARRL officers will provide updates and lead the ARRL Forum. The forum is an opportunity for hams to find out about new developments within the ARRL, and to get their questions answered by their ARRL leadership. It is open to all hams and discussion and feedback are welcome.

Friday Feb. 18

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

How to Pass the Ham Exams

Rick Paquette (W7RAP)

A presentation for first - timers planning on taking an amateur radio exam. It answers questions newcomers have about exams and provides a study method that optimizes your success. It helps non - technical or younger people identify common mistakes made in test sessions and ways to avoid them.

Friday Feb. 18

2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Red Cross Ready

Red Cross

 

 

Everyone knows the Red Cross helps people during emergencies. But you may not know that it’s also part of our mission to help you help yourself! Becoming “Red Cross Ready” for an emergency means following our simple steps in advance to ensure you can weather a crisis safely and comfortably. This session will offer tips on building a kit to prepare for various emergencies like wildfires, flash floods or earthquakes. Being prepared may not prevent a disaster, but it will give you confidence to meet the challenge. Hamfest guests will be eligible to to have a free smoke alarm installed in their RV or travel trailer to replace an older, defective, or missing smoke alarm.

Friday Feb. 18

3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Hands-only CPR

Red Cross

Recent studies report about 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. People who survive a cardiac emergency are often helped by a bystander. In this short, free session, you can learn how to perform Hands-Only CPR – so that you can help deliver life-saving care until professional responders arrive.

Saturday Feb. 19

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Technician Pool Changes

Gordon West (WB6NOA)

NEW TECHNICIAN POOL - Easier to teach!
Gordon West, WB6NOA, examines the new pool effective July 1, looks at the 20 new Q & As, reveals what got dropped, and prepares both instructors and elmers how much easier it is to now teach!

Saturday Feb. 19

10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

RADIO MAKERS CLUB – “IMAGINEERING”

Youth Amateurs from X-Beacon

It is now easier than ever to build anything from simple foxhunt transmitters to our own personal and professional handheld transceivers… and so much more! Join the youth from X-Beacon for a special seminar with hands-on demos of the latest new tools and technologies that make it easy to become creators, not just consumers of new solutions. Participants will receive all the information they need to begin “Imagineering” their own new amateur radio creations.

Saturday Feb. 19

11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

ABC's of RFI for Hams

Bob Brehm (AK6R)

Is your transmitter the SOURCE of RFI affecting electronic devices in your own house or your neighbor’s house? Are you the VICTIM of RFI from your own electronic devices or from devices in your neighborhood? Do you want to reduce your receiver noise floor so you can hear local contacts and more DX?
If you answered YES to any of these questions and would you like to find a quick and easy solution, then you should attend this presentation where you will learn how to troubleshoot and minimize RFI issues so you can have more time to operate and enjoy ham radio.

Saturday Feb. 19

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Dept. of the Interior Site/Repeater Fee

Dick Norton (N6AA)

Rick Paquette (W7RAP)

*reserved for mountain site and repeater stakeholders.
This discussion will be centered on the significant site fees being proposed by the Dept. of the Interior.  Also discussed will be efforts being undertaken to educate policy makers regarding the "not-for-profit" operation of amateur radio and the unintended consequences of these fees.

Saturday Feb. 19

2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Slow Scan Television (SSTV)

Carl Foster (KB7AZ)

SSTV is another mode of amateur radio communication. The first SSTV images were displayed on a long-persistence phosphor CRT. Today amateurs can send and receive color images across the country, and around the world. As Cycle 25 improves propagation, working DX on SSTV will be possible on the HF bands. This seminar will show how easy it is to get on the air with SSTV using the same setup that is used for FT8 and AFSK RTTY. All that is required is a computer with a sound card interface to a transceiver. The software is free and easy to set up. Sending and receiving color pictures on the HF bands is a great addition to CW, SSB, RTTY, and digital modes.

Saturday Feb. 19

3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Introduction to Digital Amateur Television

Mike Collis (WA6SVT)

Mike is an engineer for KCBS & KCAL Television in Los Angeles, Mike is married to Laura KJ6GFI.

This seminar will cover both digital and analog ATV basics including operation, equipment needed and public service using ATV.

Saturday Feb. 19

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Line Dancing

Barbara Pedlow (KG6WZK)

Do you love music, like to dance and want to get a little low impact exercise in too? Learn to line dance! Each dance is a pattern of steps that repeats throughout the song. I will teach easy dances to go with fun music. All levels are welcome. Wear comfortable shoes, bring some water and your enthusiasm!

Saturday Feb. 19

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Healy

Karla Billdt

Healy is a microcurrent medical device that has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only for local relief of acute, chronic, and arthritis pain and muscle soreness due to overexertion. Healy also has non-medical applications that use Individualized Microcurrent Frequencies (IMF) to harmonize your Bioenergetic Field. Karla will demonstrate the use of the Healy on a few volunteers.
Albert Einstien stated, "The future of medicine will be the medicine of frequency."
The use of Healy provides the Frequencies to allow your body to be in a state to heal itself.

Saturday Feb. 19

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Guide Dog Puppy Training

Tim Gilliland

Laura McDaniel

Tim Gilliland was an elementary classroom and science teacher in the Yuma area for over 40 years. His interest in raising guide dogs started when his then high school-aged daughter fought for, and won, the right for her 4H guide dog puppy “Glenna” to attend classes with her. Twenty dogs later, his family continues raising pups for Guide Dogs for the Blind and recently welcomed a female yellow Labrador retriever named ‘Toast’ into their home. Tim is a co-leader of the Yuma Guide Dog Puppy Raisers which is celebrating it’s 42nd year of service.

After teaching elementary school in Ohio for 35 years, Laura McDaniel moved to Yuma in 2012 at the urging of her son who said he was never moving back to the snow and cold of Ohio winters. In 2013 at a benefit event, a chance meeting with Tim Gilliland and his puppy in training, Winston, got her interested in puppy raising for Guide Dogs for the Blind. With her love of dogs and time on her hands being retired it was the perfect fit. Plus it was a way to get out into the community, meet new people, and give back. She is now raising her eighth puppy and only wishes she could have started puppy raising sooner in her life.