Event Details

Winter field day for 2025 will be held January 25th and 26th.

This is a great time to use the club call sign and operate on HF. 

Check with your local club for details about how to participate.

 UVARC will usually be at Lindon Marina.

Ogden Amateur Radio Club

The club will be setting up a portable station for Winter Field Day. Field Day is a portable HF station operating activity that tests our ability to setup and operate radios and antenna's in the outdoors. The normal Field Day is in June, but there's also a Winter Field day. It is an operating activity, not necessarily a contest. We will be setting up an antenna and a radio at the family property of Dave Mamanakis, across the street from 3867 W 400 S, in West Weber. Just turn into the yard across the street and look for the cars. The radio will not be in a tent but in a shed (more like a barn or garage). The shed is heated and stays quite warm. GPS Location = 41.25952970571954, -112.0739221317484 We will be operating from noon to 5pm on Saturday, Jan 25. We will be setting up the antenna and radio at 10am. We need lots of people to learn how to setup the antenna (vertical) and the radio and logging computer. Come at 10am and learn how to do it. Official radio operation starts at noon. All are welcome to participate and operate the radio or just visit in the shed. There will be a dinner for those that are around at dinner hour (5pm). The club will provide a simple dinner. Details to be worked out still. There is no bathroom on site. The closest facilities is at the a gas station/fast food place, half mile down the road at the corner of 1150 S 4700 W, Bring your own water or whatever you want to drink.

Utah digital conference held Saturday February 22, 7 am at Salt Lake Community College conference center, address 9750  South 300 West, Sandy UT 84070.  

Tickets are 15$ per person. 

Please register at:https://utah-dcc.square.site/

There are 18 presentations covering a wide range of topics from Emergency Communications to digital radio systems,  technology and theory.  This will be the 9th year for the conference.

The Utah VHF Society will have its annual business meeting at the end of this conference.

Please help us spread the word by sending the flyer and info out via

Email in your newsletter social media and please announce on your nets. 

Presentations for this event include:

Using AREDN mesh networks for emergency communications
Building a Portable Winlink Gateway

Introduction to Winlink

The Art and Science of Tuning Duplexers for Repeaters

Portable Repeaters for EMCOM Use

Portable Antenna Options for EMCOM

Using Meshtastic

System Fusion and Wires-X

Utah Multimode Reflector

DVM Project: An Open Source P25 Phase 1 Trunking System

The nanoVNA – Getting Started

FT8  and Other Digital Modes

Amateur Radio Direction Finding for EMCOM

Cache and Weber LDS Regional Emergency Communications

The Amateur Radio Citizen Scientist and SDR
Amateur Radio Survival and Recent Disasters

Transmitter Hunting for EMCOM

Utah VHF Society Annual Business Meeting

Register and learn more about the conference at UtahDCC.com

2025 Salty Lizard Gravel Race

April 5th, 2025

The course uses the Silver Island Mountain Loop Road, LeppyPass Road and the Silver Island Bypass Road to make for a ripper of a course.The road conditions are a variety of smooth 20+mph dirt roads, a bit of chunkyand some sandy sections. We’ll keep you updated on conditions as we countdownto race day. 

You’ll hover on the edge of the Bonneville Salt Flats andmaybe even see some speedy vehicles burning up the Bonneville Salt Flats RaceCourse. There are 3 feed zones that will provide refreshment and plenty of coldliquid. 

Since we are limited to the roads in Utah, the race coursesuse a variety of loops around the Silver Island Mountain Range. You will wantto download the GPX files for the maps to load on your device and keepyou on track. We are working to produce color coded direction/instruction signsto be placed at pivotal junctions, assisting you to maintain the correct lap ofyour course. 

Salty Lizard is the inaugural Utah State Championship GravelRace. Plan for the state championship to be Dirty Dino in 2025.

Race Courses 

• El Lagarto – 96.5 miles, 3460 feet ascent. Map - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47533948 Description– depart Wendover Airport Terminal to the eastbound I-80 frontage road rollingneutral for 5 miles. Racing starts as you approach the Bonneville SpeedwayAccess Road and look ahead to the Leppy Pass climb (get familiar with this oneas you’ll climb it again at 28 miles to go. You’ll continue north on the SilverIsland Loop Road after the Leppy Pass Feed Zone until you reach the SilverIsland Bypass Road. This is the start of the El Lagarto/Lickity Split figure-8deathmatch/march as you head southeast to begin your north loop passing theSilver Island Bypass Feed Zone. Make sure to reload here. You’ve got 22 milesto the next stop, Crater Island Road Feed Zone (mile 43.5). While you workyourself into delirium with the lonely salt flats to keep you on track youreturn to your 2nd of 3 navigations of the Silver Island Bypass Road. You’ll behappy to see the Feed Zone crew at mile 58.5. Don’t worry, you’ll see themagain at mile 83.5 since you head back to rally the Leppy Pass climb. Thingswill likely break up if there are still groups together and you’ll have achance to refill with just over 25 miles to go at the Leppy Pass Feed Zoneagain. Don’t worry, you can reload a 3rd and final time at the Silver IslandPass Feed Zone with 13 miles of mostly flat and fast roads left, with theexception of the last half-mile climb averaging 7.5% to the finish line aboveDanger Cave. You’ll find some tents for shade and cold water & soda torefresh yourself for the quick downhill pedal back, following the rules-of-the road,to the start/festival area at the Wendover Airport Terminal. 

• Lickity Split – 71.6 miles, 2444 feet ascent. Map - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47533920  Description – depart Wendover Airport Terminalto the eastbound I-80 frontage road rolling neutral for 5 miles. Racing startsas you approach the Bonneville Speedway Access Road and look ahead to the LeppyPass climb. You’ll continue north on the Silver Island Loop Road after theLeppy Pass Feed Zone until you reach the Silver Island Bypass Road. This is thestart of the El Lagarto/Lickity Split figure-8 deathmatch/march as you headsoutheast to begin your north loop passing the Silver Island Bypass Feed Zone.Make sure to reload here. You’ve got 22 miles to the next stop, Crater IslandRoad Feed Zone (mile 43.5). While you work yourself into delirium with thelonely salt flats to keep you on track you return to your 2nd navigation of theSilver Island Bypass Road. You’ll be happy to see the Feed Zone crew at mile58.5. As you roll out of the Silver Island Pass Feed Zone for the 2nd time youonly have 13 miles of mostly flat and fast roads left, with the exception ofthe last half-mile climb averaging 7.5% to the finish line above Danger Cave.You’ll find some tents for shade and cold water & soda to refresh yourselffor the quick downhill pedal back, following the rules-of-the-road, to thestart/festival area at the Wendover Airport Terminal.

 • Little Lizzie –35.7 miles, 1535 feet ascent. Map - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47527970 Description– depart Wendover Airport Terminal to the eastbound I-80 frontage road rollingneutral for 5 miles. Racing starts as you approach the Bonneville SpeedwayAccess Road and look ahead to the Leppy Pass climb. You’ll continue north onthe Silver Island Loop Road after the Leppy Pass Feed Zone (mile 9) until youreach the Silver Island Bypass Road. Head over the summit and right to theSilver Island Bypass Feed Zone (mile 22). Make sure to reload here. As you rollout of the Silver Island Pass Feed Zone you only have 13 miles of mostly flatand fast roads left, with the exception of the last half-mile climb averaging7.5% to the finish line above Danger Cave. You’ll find some tents for shade,cold water & soda to refresh yourself for the quick downhill pedal back,following the rules-of-the-road, to the start/festival area at the WendoverAirport Terminal.

 Feed Zones 

1.      Leppy Pass – Little Lizzie (short) course passesthrough 1x, Lickity Split (medium) course passes through 1x, El Lagarto (long)course passes through 2x 2. 

2.      Silver Island Bypass – Little Lizzie passesthrough 1x, Lickity Split passes through 2x, El Lagarto passes through 3x 3. 

3.      Crater Island Road – Lickity Split passesthrough 1x, El Lagarto passes through 1x 

Feed Zone Mileage & Timing 

1.      Leppy Pass – 9 miles (all courses), 71 miles(long course) 

• Google Maps Link - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SRVpTsF39HYphbY37

•  Open 7am 

• Closed 1pm – staff must be notified by Dave to close. 

• Staff will use Leppy Pass paved road and head toward I-80. 

• Driving directions to return - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Pkda2NqxUEM1KbDx7

2.      Silver Island Bypass – 21 miles (all), 58.5(medium & long), 83.5 (long) 

• Google Maps Link - https://maps.app.goo.gl/sYnhfvkNSx6wQHwi8

• Open 7am

 • Closed 3pm – staff must benotified by Dave to close.

 • Staff will return opposite ofrace course to the Leppy Pass paved road, then head toward 80.

 • Driving directions to return - https://maps.app.goo.gl/tip8fB7HsM6qrX2M7

3.      Crater Island Road – 43.5 miles (medium &long) 

• Google Maps Link - https://maps.app.goo.gl/yQqTiiVRBBBGa9X36 

• Open 8am 

• Close 12pm – staff must be notified by Dave to close. Staff will returnfollowing race traffic to the Silver Island Bypass Road following to Leppy Passpaved road, then head toward I-80

 • Driving directions to return - https://maps.app.goo.gl/HM4z3yKRH1dvxwPj8

Here is the sign-up site....

====>>>> https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/UT/SaltLakeCity/saltlakecitymarathon    <<<<===== 

The event will commence at 7 AM (but (but some operators will need to be on site at 6 AM) and will continue until about 1:00 PM. The majority of the ham operators are needed at the aid stations, however some will also be needed at Medical Tents, with the roving Sag vehicles, in the Public Safety area, Net Control, and possibly a few other specialty areas.

Some of the assignments will be relatively short in duration (for instance, some of the early aid stations) and the participants can go home before 10 AM, others will require that you be present from 6 AM though the end.

If you are interested in volunteering,

1. please go the volunteer website below, scroll down to the "ham radio" section, and fill in the required information:

https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/UT/SaltLakeCity/saltlakecitymarathon

2. Then, send me an email with any preferences that you may have regarding location, time constraints, etc.

Note that, unless you specify otherwise, you will probably be assigned to an aid station. However, some operators may also be colocated with EMT's and Law Enforcement, so let me know if you prefer one of those assignments.

Finally, this is sure to be a fun day, and we are looking forward to seeing you there.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me directly via email.

https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/UT/SaltLakeCity/saltlakecitymarathon

It will be fun!!!!

Thank you,

Thor Femenias (KF7RKO) 

 2025 Salt Flats Endurance Run

REGISTRATION FOR HAM RADIO SUPPORT IS NOW OPEN

HAM RADIO SIGNUP LINK  https://forms.gle/26EwhnrUojQcqzjb8

When:

Fri, May 2nd ,2025, 6:30am – Sat, May 3rd ,2025, 7:30pm

Where:

Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway, Bonneville Speedway Road, Wendover, UT 84083, USA (map)

Description:

Welcome to the Salt Flats Endurance Runs or as we like to call it SFER

This event is actually 3 separate courses operating during the event

The courses all start at the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway on Friday May 2rd at 0700hrs, and run the same section of Salt Flats that the land-speed records are set each year at "Speed week".  After 13 miles of salt and three miles of mud-flats, the runners connect up with the "Islands", mountain peaks that rise out of the salt and seem to float like islands on a white sea. 

50k runners will run out to Aid Station #2 at 15.5 miles, and then reverse the course back to the finish line for an exact 50k.

100 Mile and 50 Mile runners will run along rolling hills and four significant climbs respectively along the remainder of the course, the 100 milers will even cross into Nevada where the Donner-Reed Party left Utah on their way to their fateful encounter with the harsh Sierra Nevada Mountains.  All three courses finish back at the starting line.

This event presents the unique opportunity for Ham Radio Operators to “Stress Test” their equipment in one of the harshest environments known to man.

This event will stress you as an operator and your equipment to its fullest potential.

The weather at this time of year can be everything from sunny and High 90's to blowing snow and low 20's.

The salt desert is a unique environment, and wind is generally a constant. As a result, if the winds are high, the aid stations may not have shade canopies as you’ll find in many of the other 100’s.  Plan accordingly.

With all of this excitement it makes you feel like you’re on a distant planet or in a Star Wars Movie.

This is a 36-hour event, we Recommend the use of high power (minimum 40 watts) VHF/UHF Amateur Radio voice operations.

This event uses the program “TRacer” Previously known as (Runner Tracker) for tracking the runner IN/OUT Times from each aid station. You MUST HAVE a device capable of running this software/App to participate.

Devices: Android Phone / Tablet or Apple Phone / Tablet

It also allows you as an operator to experiment with some of your own “Home Brew” inventions as communications back to Net Control can sometimes become a challenge all on its own.

One example of this is one operator that has staffed this event from the beginning has discovered that using a remote cross band repeater, allows the operator to gain access to one of the mountain top repeaters while being at the aid station that is tucked inside of a cove.

Another operator has found that using a remote base unit allows the operator to use a handheld at the aid station and then uses the high-power remote base to transmit to Net Control.

The options are truly endless and this event is always throwing us different situations that get to be solved.

We have 15 Aid stations that need Ham Radio Support.  Not all positions are for the full 36 hours of the event.

So, making this into a day trip or a weekend event is possible.

Aid station signup is on a “First Come/First Filled Basis”

We encourage EARLY SIGNUP as most of the station assignments fill up quite quickly.

PLEASE NOTE: The event packet is NOT released until 30 days prior to the event date.

ALL HAM RADIO REGISTRATIONS FOR THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 28TH 2025 at 1300hrs.

**HAM RADIO SIGNUP LINK COMING SOON**

The 14th Annual Front Runner® Metric Century Bicycle Ride will be held on May 10th 2025. The Front Runner® Metric Century bicycle ride is the perfect way to start your season.

Front Runner Century Bicycle ride - Salt Lake City - Enjoy bicycling 100km (62 miles) along the Wasatch Front, from Salt Lake City to Ogden with less than 700 feet of total climbing, making this the perfect spring tune-up bicycle century ride.

The Front Runner® Metric Century is a one-of-a-kind cycling event in northern Utah and a fully supported charity bicycle ride with aid stations approximately every 15 miles. Add the option for a finish line catered meal (*purchased separately*) and refuel immediately afterward.

The bicycle ride starts in downtown Salt Lake City at the multi-modal hub, 700 W 200 S Salt Lake City, and ends at Ogden’s historic railroad depot. At the end of the bicycle ride, enjoy a unique return to Salt Lake City via UTA’s Front Runner® train. 

So, hop on your saddle and join us on May 10th, 2025 for this amazing Utah bike ride!

**HAM RADIO SIGNUP LINK COMING SOON**

CEDAR MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS, UTAH

May 10, 2025- 9:00 AM - 5:00PM 

Delle, Utah, USA 

Distances: 31, 76miles Difficulty: Difficult terrain with longer, steeper hills

The Wild Horse will travel around andover the Cedar Mountain Wilderness, located 45 minutes west of Salt Lake Cityon I-80. Zero miles of pavement. All dirt and gravel roads. You will cover 76miles and climb 5,000 feet.

The entire route is on county-maintained roads that are usually passable by any 2wd vehicle. The first nine miles are rolling uphill leading to the first real climb, up and over Hasting Cutoff Pass. Descend from the 5,775-foot summit to the west side of the Cedars, and begin a rolling, fast ride south. At mile 38 the second climb, up and over Rydalch Pass, begins. Rydalch summit, at a little over 6,000feet, is the highest point on the route. Descend to the east bench and begin the long, winding return. A rest stop at mile 54 provides a welcome break. You cross past the base of the Hastings climb again at mile 67. From there, it is mostly downhill, fast and smooth, for the 9 miles back to the finish.

It won't be easy.

Little Wild Horse

Not up for the full deal? Try the Little Wild Horse. Route is 31 miles and 1,800 feet of climbing, including many of the same roads as The Wild Horse. Just a touch of pavement. Same start and finish area. 

From the start, the Little Wild Horse heads west, parallel to I-80, before turning southwest. A gradual climb takes you to the aid station at mile 15, and the start of the Hastings Cutoff Pass. Climb from the aid station to reach the Hastings Summit, at 5,775 feet. The Stansbury mountains are directly in front of you to the east. Enjoy the descent from Hastings to the main eastside road. Nine miles from here to the finish, almost all downhill, often a fast false-flat. 

Unpaved & untamed. 

It won't be easy.

Not really a new kind of ride per se, but afterward, your legs will definitely feel like a baby’s legs.

Zero miles of pavement. Wide open. Challenging. Explore a land only 45 minutes west of downtown Salt Lake City where hundreds of wild horses' roam.

It won't be easy.

Volunteers need to be aware that this is a gravel ride in the west desert.  There are no paved roads, so please be aware that your vehicle should be capable of travelling on dirt and gravel to get to the aid stations.  Your aid station location will likely have no services available so bring your big batteries or generator.  Bring adequate fluids to keep you hydrated, you will be in the desert for your entire assignment.

Did we mention that it won't be easy?