Daily Archives: June 25, 2016

Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours is a HAM!

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Corrected 6:43 am; 6/26
ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-01FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Amateur Radio Club participated in the Amateur Radio Relay League annual Field Day Event. The event is designed to demonstrate the abilities of amateur radio. Part of the demonstration includes allowing people to operate gear even without a license.

The event also allowed amateur radio operators, also called “Hams,” to demonstrate the usefulness of communications in an emergency situation. All of the units demonstrated were operated on alternative power, such as battery or generators.

ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-04Ron KG7OH and other CERT members displayed the equipment received after successful training. They were available for questions on the program and what you should carry when you hike in the woods in northern Arizona.

The Coconino Amateur radio club has an Amateur Radio Emergency System (ARES) team which provides emergency communications in times of distress. They operate in conjunction with CERT or separately depending on the situation. ARES is the ARRL version of what the Federal Communication Commission calls RACES or Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. Last year Arizona lost all telephone and Internet service when a fiber optic cable was cut and the FBI is investigating the cutting of fiber optic cables in California at least eleven-times. In these instances, amateur radios still work. Amateur radio operators have assisted in emergency communications in virtually every disaster faced by America. Including 911 and the devastation in Katrina.

ARRL-Field-Day-16-06-25-05COCO President, Sandy Meadowcroft, KF4JHC, demonstrated how amateur radios can be used to track a person in an emergency using GPS and a basic amateur hand held unit. She also demonstrated how Ham radio operators can pass emails even when the Internet is down. Glen, KG7YDJ, displayed a small radio and basic car jump starter can be used as an emergency communication system.

Mayor Nabours (left) discusses amateur radio with CARC vice-president Tom Sheehan.

Mayor Jerry Nabours (left) discusses amateur radio with CARC vice-president Tom Shehan, KY7WV.

Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours even stopped by to get a sample of the many uses of amateur radio.

People also got to see the fun side of amateur radio. Amateur operators constantly work to improve their equipment and communication skills by making contacts as far away as they can. While Morse code is no longer a requirement for a license, many Hams still use it as a viable communication skill today.

While some Ham operators purchase radios and antennas from various outlets, others still build their own. Communications using digital computer programs are popular. There is even amateur radio television.

Joe, W7LUX, sets up solar telescope for interested people to see the sun.

Joe, W7LUX, sets up solar telescope for interested people to see the sun.

Joe, W7LUX, set up telescopes so that people could see activities on the sun. Unfortunately we are currently in a solar minimum, so there was not much to see. Joe still answered questions about how solar activity acts on the atmosphere of the earth to provide long distance communication.

The ARRL Field Day runs until 11 a.m. tomorrow and the Coconino Radio Club will start to break down the demonstration. If you are interested in amateur radio, the Coconino Amateur Radio Club meets every 2nd Thursday of the month (Except December) at 7 p.m. at the Sizzler on Route 66 and Fanning Drive in Flagstaff. You can also visit their web site.

Off-highway vehicle decal renewal notices available through e-mail only

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PHOENIX — In an effort to enhance customer service and to cut costs, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will no longer mail letters informing off-highway vehicle (OHV) owners their yearly OHV decal is expiring.

To ensure owners receive timely notice that their decal is about to expire, they can sign up to receive a reminder through e-mail by visiting www.azgfd.gov/ohv and clicking “OHV Decal Requirements.”

The decal program began in 2009 and requires all OHVs, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and dirt bikes, to have a sticker if the vehicle is designed primarily for travel on unimproved roadways or trails. The sticker, which is placed on the upper left-hand corner of the license plate, is issued by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division and is required to operate an OHV on public and state lands.

There are approximately 112,000 vehicles issued OHV decals within the state. By encouraging OHV owners to receive renewal reminders online, the department hopes to save on the approximately $120,000 spent to print and mail notices each year.

Each sticker costs $25. Thirty percent of the funds collected go into the state’s Highway User Revenue Fund, which is distributed to counties and cities for road and highway maintenance. The remaining funds are split as follows:

  • 60 percent to Arizona State Parks for grants and agreements, trail construction, development and maintenance, signage and maps.
  • 35 percent to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for law enforcement, education and outreach.
  • 5 percent to the Arizona State Land Department for mitigation, signage and enforcement.

For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish OHV program and on safety courses, visit www.azgfd.gov/ohv.

Nominations sought for Game and Fish Commission Awards

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The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for its 2016 Commission Awards. The deadline for submission is Aug. 12, 2016. The purpose of these awards is to recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Nominations are for the categories listed below and may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination.

To submit a Commission Awards nomination, download a nomination form at https://www.azgfd.com/agency/commission/awards. Then submit the completed form and all supplemental materials to:  Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: 2016 Commission Awards – DOHQ, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086  or fax to:  623-236-7299 or email to: lroe@azgfd.gov. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. August 12, 2016.

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