MTARA

The Mountain Top Amateur Radio Association, MTARA, is located in the  communities within the San Bernardino National Forest including  Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs and Green Valley Lake. We  welcome members and visitors from any area.

We are a  group of licensed amateur radio operators and friends, young and old,  who wish to promote the amateur radio hobby through mentoring, license  testing, communications training and community service in a fun,  friendly and active environment.

MTARA is now offering weekly VHF/UHF and HF nets as well as our new Virtual Field Trips and Elmer sessions. 

The Virtual Field Trips are offered twice a week on our Zoom Conferences. They are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 pm. A list of the planned sessions are below:

VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS

ZOOM Meetings

As of 6/1/2020

• June 2 -    Bill, K8TE,  More about Contesting 
• June 4 - Tracy, WM6T, Making COAX Connectors
• June 9 - Gary, AA6GJ, Learning to  Solder - Part 1
• June 11 - Tracy, WM6T, Anderson PowerPole Connectors
• June 16-  Dave, K6WDE, Antennas and Power Sources for Portable NPOTA, WWFF-KFF and POTA activations 
• June 18 - Tracy, WM6T, Portable Antennas Part 1 - Push up Masts
• June 23 -  John, KT7P, Yavapai County ARES/RACES  
• June 25   2:00 session CANCELLED. There will be a special 6:00 pm session.
• June 30 - Installing the Mapping Tools for "I Am Lost". Mapping and APRS tools. 
• July 2 - Mapping Tools for "I AM Lost" event - Part 1, SARTrack
• July 7 -  Mapping Tools for "I AM Lost" event - Part 2, Google Earth and APRS.FI. 
• July 9 - Bill, K8TE, Introduction to HF - Antennas and Propagation. 
• July 14 - Dede, K6DDZ, Visit My Shack
• July 16 - Gary, W6ERO, Learning to Solder - Part 2
• July 21 - Gary, AA6GJ, Using WSJT-X for Propagation Using Beacons
• July 23 - Gary, AA6GJ,  NCDXF/IARU International Beacon Project and WebSDR Receivers
• July 28 - Dave. K6WDE, Constructing a 6-Meter Jungle Job Antenna.  
• July 30 - Tracy, WM6T, Will be Showing the Use of a GPS Mapping Tool for the "I Am Lost" Event. All Attendees Will Benefit. 
• August 4 - NO MORE TUESDAY ZOOM SESSIONS
• August 6 - Tracy, WM6T, Understanding Grid Squares. 
• August 13 - TBD
• August 20 - Understanding Headsets and Microphones
• August 27 - Eliminating Ground Loops without Toroids
• September 3 - SDRPlay - Receiver and software to listen to all bands and learn about waterfalls and waveforms.
• September 10 -Fire Season - Where to Find Information.
• September 17 - - Introduction to APRS and Understanding its Uses.
• September 24 - TBD
• October 1 - TBD
• October 8 - TBD
• October 15 - TBD
• October 22 - TBD
• October 29 - TBD
• 
  

HAM RADIO CLASSES AND TESTING

On June 6th, MTARA held a special testing session for all levels. We had 10 people testing and all 10 passed: 7 Extra and 3 Technician.

Our next Tech classes will be held via Zoom. The testing session is scheduled for October 24, 2020 in Big Bear.

 Click on the links below for all the 

  information for the next classes. 

Ham Radio  is the ability to communicate -- across the street, around the world, or  even with people and satellites in space!  Even when the power's out,  and the land lines and cell phones don't work, with a battery, a radio,  and a wire, ham radio is there.

Ham  Radio lets us enjoy life-long friends, and a hands-on technical  education.  It provides the resources and encouragement to experiment  with new things and to design and build on the latest communications  technologies.

You  can't say that the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the  moon!  You can go anywhere you want, without boundaries, and amateur  radio can help you get there! - by Doug Lamb, K4EK

Field Day 2020

 Field Day is Saturday, June 27th. This year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic we are encouraging all members to do Field Day from Home or out in the field/forest.    

Kodiak 100

MTARA members will be supporting the Kodiak 100 two day event in Big Bear. Dates are August 14-15, 2020. There is a chance it might be postponed for a month or two. Check in later. 

Kids on Public Lands

KOPL has been cancelled for 2020 and the organizing committee has decided after 21+ year to end the program. 

Gran Fondo

The Gran Fondo mountain bike ride will be held once again in Big Bear. This year it is on September 26th, 2020. MTARA members will be located along the mountain area trails, aid stations and in SAG vehicles providing communications to support the event.