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Greetings Field Day Enthusiast (flier) (Map) 
ARRL Field day 2018 is just a couple of weeks away. MARCA has a new Operating Location and hopefully the
Members, if you are planning on attending, Please contact Don Aldridge, wa2rll, Field Day Committee Chair.
Guests interested in amateur radio, curious about Field Day, or looking for an adventure are welcome to attend, we'll bring you right into the activity with no worries.
Cell Tower Flats
Latitude: 34°19'26.92"N
Longitude: 110°44'48.80"W
Take careful note, the GPS coordinates are a few "seconds" off from our normal Gentry Group Camp site; that's because we moved.
This year our Field Day activities are planned for what I'm calling Cell Tower Flats. This is located in the Apache-Sitgraves National Forest. General directions from Mesa/Tempe areas, take AZ-87 to Payson to AZ-260. Turn east on 260 from Payson towards Forest Lakes, continue thru Forest Lakes about 3 miles to the "Black Canyon Lake" turn-off on right; now going south [right] on Mogollon Rim Road [FR-300 or The 300 Road], continue about 1/2 mile, looking for the first 'maintained' road to the 'Left', turn Left [east], continue going straight, past the 'Cell Tower Road' on the left about 1/8 mile. Look for tail signs to the MARCA Field Day Site on the LEFT. There is a 'good' dirt trail [OK for motor homes] that winds to our 'site'.
The Site is perhaps more suitable for us to "'circle wagons' & tents & vehicles". There are many tall trees suitable for all our antennas. Since this will be our first time at this site, setup will be a bit more challenging. Several things may be go slower than past years such as Station Location which relates to antenna setup [which goes where and between which trees]. And our camping arrangement, parking, and food preparation.
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- Written by Norm Johnson (Webmaster) Norm Johnson (Webmaster)
- Last Updated: 16 May 2018 16 May 2018
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MARCA Operating Information for 2018 ARRL Field Day
Location: see Field Day Map or click here.
http://www.w7mot.org/index.php/field-day-map
Latitude: 34°19'26.92"N
Longitude: 110°44'48.80"W
Take careful note, Pay Attention to Changes, We've Moved!on, the GPS coordinates are a few "seconds" off from our past Gentry Group Camp site; that's because we moved on to someplace new.
This year 2018 our Field Day activities are planned for what I'm calling, Cell Tower Flats. This is located in the Apache-Sitgraves National Forest. General directions from Mesa/Tempe areas, take AZ-87 to Payson to AZ-260. Turn east on 260 from Payson towards Forest Lakes, continue thru Forest Lakes about 3 miles to the "Black Canyon Lake" turn-off on right; now going south [right] on Mogollon Rim Road [FR-300 or The 300 Road], continue about 1/2 mile, looking for the first 'maintained' road to the 'Left', turn Left [east], continue going straight, past the 'Cell Tower Road' on the left about 1/8 mile. Look for tail signs to the MARCA Field Day Site on the LEFT. There is a 'good' dirt trail [OK for motor homes] that winds to our 'site'.
The Site is perhaps more suitable for us to "'circle wagons' & tents & vehicles". There are many tall trees suitable for all our antennas. Since this will be our first time at this site, setup will be a bit more challenging. Several things may be go slower than past years such as Station Location which relates to antenna setup [which goes where and between which trees]. And our camping arrangement, parking, and food preparation.
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- Last Updated: 16 May 2018 16 May 2018
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June 2018 General Membership Meeting & Agenda
Tuesday, June 19th 2018 @ 6:30 PM (3rd Tuesday of the month)
Presentation: TBD
Meeting location:
Denny's Tempe
825 S 48th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281
Located on the South East section of University Dr and 48th Street.
Access is only from 48th Street, NOT the Hohokam Freeway (AZ 143). South bound 48th Street is just EAST of the Hohokam Fwy (exit and entrance intersections) on South side of University. Driving south bound on 48th Street, the parking entrance is the first LEFT; or if North bound on 48th St from Broadway Rd, the last RIGHT before University Dr.
Plenty of lighted parking.
Meetings start at 6:30 pm ; typically 2 hours in duration.
Meetings are open to anyone interested in Amateur Radio, any particular presentation of interest, MARCA Members of course, any any friends and family. There's alway opprotunity to open a discussion topic on just about any thing related to amateur radio or just plain ol chit chat about the weather.
Come early, socialize, and have a bite to eat.
Meeting Agenda (Always a work in progress): continually updated as the meeting approaches. To include a topic for the agenda, or input to a topic, contact Norm Johnson, aa7oo, President, or Dave Hall, n7zpy, Vice President.
Click the "Read More .... " to see Meeting Agenda
Click Here to Continue Reading: June 2018 General Membership Meeting
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- Last Updated: 18 January 2018 18 January 2018
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W7MOT DStar Upgraded to G3 !!
Everyone has been waiting and waiting and waiting for this. On Friday, 5 January 2018 the W7MOT DStar Gateway was upgraded to G3. There was little down time since the process was basically to swap out the entire G2 Gateway Server hardware with a new G3 Gateway Server. Most of the work was "plug n play" requiring some cable management and almost no software tweeking on site.
Thanks to Paul Bennett, kd7kdo; Ray Vasquez, k4rmv; TD Kennard, n7ism, for spending a day on White Tank installing the new gateway and tuning the UHF antenna.
A special recognition & thanks to Paul, kd7kdo and Ron Peters, wb9exl for many hours of building and testing the new gateway for several months to the install on site.
To the Registered Users on the W7MOT Gateway; moving and updating the registered users database was done in such a way there should be no issues with your dstar account. However, its always a good thing to check, by logging into the gateway and looking to see if your Name, Call, Email, and other info is correct and or Current. Please contact the administrator if you have issues by using the "Report a Problem" on w7mot.org .
To all users of the W7MOT DStar Repeaters; All of the DStar features you've been using should still be working, plus the new G3 features. If you experience any issues, contact the administrator using the "Report a Problem" on w7mot.org .
"Report a Problem" is found on w7mot.org on the main menu as a drop down "Repeater".
http://www.w7mot.org/index.php/repeaters/report-a-problem
Historically, the UHF or B repeater has intermittantly been reported to have low output ... low volume. During the G3 Gateway install, more antenna testings was done. As a result, the duplexer caveties were re-configured. We are interested to know if you have detected any change, what kind of change, or no change. Use the Report a Problem page on w7mot.org website.
The Report a Problem process on the website notifies all our repeater site admins, not just a specific repeater admin (like DStar or Mt Ord).
Norm, aa7oo
W7MOT DStar Admin
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- Last Updated: 17 January 2018 17 January 2018
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GD Tower MESH Project
For the past couple of years, many MARCA members have expressed interest in exploring and getting into the MESH activity.
As of January 16th, 2017, we now have an approved & funded project to establish a Mesh node, at the GD Site, that will fit into the existing East Valley Mesh network.
The basic design and equipment has been done. A simple PDF is available to review HERE.
The next step is building the implementation team to actually aquire, assemble, install, and make operational the Mesh node system.
If you are interested in participating, contact Jim Gerwitz, ac7fn, or Gary Hintin, ac7r (who is assisting).
Progress & status of the project will be appended to this announcement.
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- Last Updated: 17 January 2018 17 January 2018
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Motorola Amateur Radio Club of Arizona Monthly VE License Test Sessions
The Motorola Amateur Radio Club of Arizona is excited to announce that we host a license testing session before each general meeting. Anyone interested in testing to become a ham, or upgrading their current license, is welcome to attend. The fee is $15.00 and exact cash is required. Please bring a copy of your valid photo ID. If you are upgrading your license you must also bring a copy of your existing license. Please contact K5OLA if you would like to test, to insure enough examiners are available for your test session.
If you would like to become a VE or help VE a session contact K5OLA
Location: 258 South 48th St. Tempe, AZ 85281
Time: 5:00 pm
Date: 3rd Tuesday of Each Month
Contact: Ed Olague at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for scheduling.