2016 News
November 2, 2016
Robert K7JBU
Rogue Valley VHF Lunch, 11/2
We had our monthly luncheon the first Wednesday of the month at Centennial Golf Course,
there were only eight in attendance. We did have a couple of show and tell projects.
We had one new member, Paul AG7AA, and he and his wife are new to the area, they
are buying in Grants Pass and though he has nothing up at the moment, he is in the
process of getting his station on the air.
There are now twenty-three members on our local mailing list now. And though we do
not have a formal net control, the word is sent out by Bill N7EU every week. He also
sends reminders that we are meeting after Wednesday net for luncheons.
The next luncheon will be December 7, 2016.
73 Bob K7JBU
October 18, 2016
Barry K7BWH
August UHF Contest
PNWVHFS wins most logs submitted 
in August UHF Contest
October 8, 2016
Barry K7BWH
2016 PNWVHFS Conference
The 22nd Annual VHF Conference was a terrific success.
See our Conference Proceedings
and the 2016 Photo Gallery for complete information
and to download the presentations.
September 28, 2016
Bob K7JBU
Rogue Valley VHF Lunch, 9/28
The Rogue Valley SSB VHF group met for our monthly luncheon at "The Point"
in Medford. There were 11 members present. Bob Ross brought a
SDRPlay receiver to show the group. The SDRplay website includes:
- The RSP (Radio Spectrum Processor) from SDRplay is a Software Defined Radio
which can turn a PC into a general coverage receiver spanning VLF (10kHz)
through to Microwaves (2GHz)
- With 12 bit A/D conversion and very sharp 5th order Chebyshev filters, the
RSP allows you to process a massive chunk of 10MHz of radio spectrum all in one go.
Great noise factor, great sensitivity and perfect for all the popular SDR software
packages.
- Sample frequency ranges from 2 MSPS to 10.66MSPS, with 10.4 ENOB,
60dB SNR, and 67dB SFDR.
After lunch several members joined up (read: snuck out) at the local Harbor Freight
candy store to browse. Honest, just only to browse a little! Next month, we decided to go to
The Sandwich Factory 
on Riverside Avenue in Medford.
73, Bob K7JBU
August 20, 2016
Barry K7BWH
North Meets South in Castle Rock, 8/20
Thank you everyone who converged in Castle Rock at
Parker's Restaurant for receiving another fine meal and for transmitting all these elaborate lies
about VHF activity. People came from Washington, Oregon and British
Columbia. Personally, I was very happy to attend after spending the last
six months taking care fulltime of my ailing father. It was very nice
to meet our newcomer Todd KI7BNA.
Attending:
CN85: Jerry K0JJ, Mark KE7MSU, Ron N7EA, Lou WA7GCS, Todd KI7BNA
CN86: Bob KB7ADO, Mike N7KSI, John N7MWV
CN87: Jim K7ND, Tom KE7SW, John W7FU, Barry K7BWH, Bob N7QOZ, Bob W7BA
CN89: Mark VE7AFZ
Barry K7BWH
May 21, 2016
James K7KQA
East Meets West in Ellensburg Lunch, 5/21
Thank you to all who came out for lunch Saturday, We had a good turnout of 10 folks.
It's good to see ham friends more than once a year at the annual conference.
We all met at a central point in Washington State to have our VHF lunch together.
(It was equally far for everyone to attend.)
In this photo on the left: Al W7HDD, Eric N7EPD, Barry K7BWH, Rod WE7X, Bob W7AVK
On the right are: James K7KQA, Jim WA7DUY, Jim K7ND, Tom KE7SW, Ed KD7PY
Next Dry Side lunch in a couple of months, location TBA. If you have a suggested
location please email me. Stay tuned to the e-mail reflector.
James K7KQA
May 6, 2016
Bob Householder K7JBU
Rogue Valley 2-meter SSB Lunch, 5/6
We got four of the group together (most of which are named 'Bob')
for lunch at Miguel's and two more joined us later.
Our new member Don WA7DCG is running an IC-7100.
Bill N7EU had jury duty and was unable to attend.
The weather was too good: the rest stayed home.
Due to the small turnout for lunch, we did not
have any show and tell this time.
- Bob K7JBU has been working WSJTX
- Bob N7RBP and Bob KD6UIH have been working DSTAR
- Bob Moore KG7YCB and Bill K7WGD both bought Yaesu FT-991 all-band transceivers.
The June luncheon will be held at Bobbio's in Medford June 1, 2016 at 12:30.
Bob Householder K7JBU, CN82ol
April 6, 2016
Bob Householder K7JBU
Rogue Valley 2-meter SSB Lunch
There were 7 of us who got together for a luncheon (12:30) after the
regular rag chew on Wednesday Morning. We met at "Wild River Beer
and Pizzeria" for our monthly luncheon. Due to an early Spring day,
some of the group decided not to show up.
We didn't have any new antennas to pass around, so we took the opportunity
to exchange eyeball QSO cards and the seasoned people were able to answer
questions of new people coming on.
A new FM repeater is in the valley (145.410, no tone and unlinked) and has
excellent coverage. It's a good machine to use as an intercom.
Our next luncheon will be at Miguel's in Eagle Point on May 4, 2016 at 12:30.
Bob Householder K7JBU, CN82ol
March 26, 2016
Etienne K7ATN and Jim K7YO
VHF Lunch at Buster's BBQ
Ten of us enjoyed lunch at Buster's BBQ in Tigard,
Oregon, on Saturday 3/26/2016 from 11 am - 1 pm.
Attendees included these fine folks and a few others that I didn't get names:
CN85: Jerry K0JJ, Louie WA7GCS, Guy N7UN,
Mark KE7MSU, Todd KI7BNA and his charming wife Tiff who took the picture
CN86: Jim K7YO
We talked about cancellation of the ARRL August UHF Contest and encouraged
people to submit a log - on paper if that was all they can do for that contest.
I think it's something we need to focus on for August 2016; everyone should log and submit.
We talked about scheduling a south side gathering every couple of months
at Parker's Restaurant midway between Portland and Seattle. People seemed
to like it better and also some CN87 folks show up at that venue.
Etienne K7ATN and Jim K7YO
March 18, 2016
Wayne N6NB
August UHF Contest WILL Happen
Read all about it:
www.AugustUHF.org
Volunteers have stepped forward from all over the country to help sponsor the
2016 August UHF Contest, which will be held as scheduled, but without ARRL
sponsorship. Many, many people love that contest and are willing to help
make it happen. Since PNWVHFS had the most logs of any club last year,
you surely want to make certain the contest happens in 2016.
So please mark your calendars to get on 222 and up on August 6-7, 2016.
When I send out a mailing listing the volunteers, may I add your names
and the name of PNWVHFS as a sponsor? I promise you won't be alone:
leaders of the Mt. Airy Packrats, the Northern Lights group (in MN) and
many others are helping to put on the contest. What we all hope is to
maintain continuity by having the contest this year while ARRL's revitalization
subcommittee decides whether ARRL will sponsor the UHF contest in the
future and under what rules. I hope we do have ARRL sponsorship so
our volunteer effort is only a one-year venture.
Being a sponsor doesn't entail a lot of work. One of the log-checkers
who does large ARRL contests is volunteering to handle the logs this year.
The regular author of the result article for the August UHF Contest is
willing to do the article about the 2016 contest, even if it appears only
online and not in QST. Someone else is paying for the club gavels
and other awards. NLRS gives an award to the top 3-band rover. It's
open to non-members as well as members. That award will also be
given this year.
Please join us and in the publicity for the 2016
August UHF Contest.
73, Wayne Overbeck, N6NB
March 11, 2016
ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee
ARRL 2016 August UHF Contest Cancelled
From the ARRL website:
The ARRL August UHF Contest for 2016 has been cancelled,
while the ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee considers
alternatives.
The Contest Revitalization Committee fielded dozens of
comments from members concerning possible changes to this
annual UHF operating event, traditionally held on the first
weekend of August each year. Many commenters expressed
dissatisfaction with the timing of the contest, occurring
as it does at the hottest time of the year, and that it was
too close on the calendar to other VHF/UHF events.
In response to this member input, the Contest Revitalization
Committee recommended to the Programs and Services Committee (PSC)
that the 2016 August UHF Contest be cancelled, and the PSC agreed.
The ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee continues to study
the possibility of redesigning or replacing the August UHF Contest
with a similar event at another point in the calendar - possibly
in the spring - for 2017.
The Committee will solicit member comments in the near future,
as it weighs several alternatives.
February 29, 2016
Barry K7BWH
Welcome to New February Members
Welcome to new members in Feb:
Steve K7DNA in Talent, OR,
Grant KB7WSD in Everrett, WA,
Rusty K7RMO in Sherwood, OR,
Ken VE7KPB in Cranbrook, BC, and
Ron KF7UVH in Woodland, WA.
Barry K7BWH
February 6, 2016
Bob K7JBU
Medford Monthly VHF Lunch, Feb 6
We met at Miguel’s in Eagle Point, OR for our monthly two meter
get together. There were eleven guys present, and though there was
no specific topic, we were all in agreement: we will continue
with the two meter net on Tuesday nights (144.200) but that we
should also use six meters (50.125) on Wednesday mornings, thus
putting both bands to use, as well as making our presence known to
the local community. We feel that by using both bands, the local
hams will know and use them. Also, it will give the active members
a better idea of where to go in the case of an emergency.
We meet alternately at three restaurants:
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month. Our next lunch date
is 12:30 pm at "Debbie's diner" near Phoenix, OR, and the talk-in
frequency is 147.00 with a tone of 123.
Bob K7JBU
January 30, 2016
Bill N7EU
VHF Nets in Rogue Valley - Medford Oregon
We are a "round table" net and
include ragchewing and sharing VHF tips.
The nets are very informal. No net control.
Everyone welcome to join us
Tuesday night 7PM and
Wednesday morning 10AM on 144.200 SSB.
Most of us have modest antennas and power.
Some use verticals, halos and small yagi beams. Activity is mostly local in
the Rogue Valley but we do hear and work hams in Klamath Falls and Grants Pass.
We are trying to encourage local activity and participation on a weekly basis.
I am finding the guys are building antennas and look forward to giving each
other signal reports or just helping each other out.
73 Bill N7EU, CN82nj
January 16, 2016
Barry K7BWH
VHF Lunch at Parker's Steakhouse, Castle Rock, WA
A big group of VHFers enjoyed lunch at Parker's Steakhouse on Saturday.
CN85: Jerry K0JJ, Mark KE7MSU, Wayne AI9Q, Ron N7EA
CN86: Bob KB7ADO, Mike N7KSI, Veda KG7OOL, Loren WA7SKT, John N7MWV and XYL Christina
CN87: Gary K7PG, Jim K7ND, Tom KE7SW, Jerry W7IEW, Eric N7EPD, John W7FU, Barry K7BWH, Mike KD7TS, Ray W7GLF
CN88: Dave KA7RRA
CN89: Mark VE7AFZ
Barry K7BWH
Jan 31, 2016
Barry K7BWH
Welcome New Members
Welcome to new members John W7FU, Michael KA7HBB, Tree N6TR,
Richard WD6HDY, Steve W7SJT (was K7PZN), Stacey KG7YES, William KD6LTD, Phil AF7GY,
Ken W7DYX and Kelly K7MHI.
Whew! That's a bunch. This calendar year we started with Veda KG7OOL #524
joining us in January, and finished with Kelly K7MHI #570 on New Year's Eve.
All told, 47 hams joined us in 2015! I look forward to meeting them and seeing
many of you in 2016. Happy New Year!
Barry K7BWH
