- Request for Cedro Peak Trail Run Amateur Radio Operators -

April 18, 2026 – Cedro Peak Trail Run (CPTR).  25K and 50K runs on trails in the Cibola National Forest, Bernalillo County East Mountains, Cedro Peak area.  Hams are needed at the aid stations along the course to keep track of runners and handle logistical and potential priority or emergency communications.  This event is being coordinated by Jim Frazier KC5RUO.  The greatest need is for radio operators with high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles to access the remote CPTR aid stations. All communications are directed through a net control station and can be handled with HTs.  The event starts at 0700 and goes to 1700. Morning and afternoon shifts are assigned at several aid stations. Volunteers can respond directly to Jim at jimfraziernm@comcast.net.

 Specific needs:

1. Seeking amateur radio operators at 2 remote aid stations requiring 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles. The aid stations are Four Corners and the trail intersection of Juan Tomas and Poker Chip off of the Juan Tomas Road.

2. A third aid station is accessed via a ½ mile hike on a well-established marked trail off Oak Flat Road at the trail intersection of Ponderosa and Mahagony.

3. A fourth aid station at Cedro Camp Ground can be easily accessed by any vehicle.

4. I’ll accept all volunteers. If positions are filled, I’ll put volunteers on a reserve list.

- March 2026 Meeting -

New!!! Aceto Explains Digital Voice on HF – The Amateur Radio Caravan Club was honored to have Jerry Aceto K6LIE introduce FreeDV, a digital voice software that just released its latest iteration. Jerry demonstrated that it can pull voices out of severe static and digitally translate it into very clear voice.  Not only that but a person can transmit in Spanish (or other languages) and the software will translate it into a very clear English or vice versa. It is amazing software! Not only that, its FreeDV Reporter shows who is also on the air. Jerry also mentioned that 20 and 40 meters were the most active.

[Correction: FreeDV does not actually translate languages,but it can digitally pull those languages out of the static. Evidently, the user must also have a translation app for that].

[Clarification: Jerry K6LIE clarified my misunderstanding of FreeDV by explaining that he was talking to a gentleman in Argentina via FreeDV where Jerry spoke English and the other person spoke Spanish.  However, the other gentleman was also using a translation app for the entire conversation, so each party heard it in their native language].

For the business part of the meeting:

• Instead of the club furnishing its traditional boxes of donuts, it provided two warm large pizzas which was a nice change.

• As mentioned before, the club will participate in the New Mexico QSO Party on April 11th by motoring to Arthur Park in Estancia, NM.  It’s about an hour’s drive.  Caravan president John Mocho, however, cautioned that we will NOT caravan as from his experience in caravaning it is dangerous. The drivers are so focused on staying close together that if one car collides, those following likely will become involved in a chain reaction. Instead, we are to depart from our respective homes driving directly to Estancia. We should all shoot for a 10 AM arrival.

• The Frank Warren Instructor Group is planning to teach an Amateur Extra class, its first ever, sometime in mid-October (+/-). However, due to the complexity of Amateur Extra requirements, all students are expected to put in six months of study, including practice exams, prior to the class. If you are still considering enrolling, call lead instructor Larry Goga AE5CZ at his home phone number 1-505-293-5866, and please leave a message. Also, given the preparation time for this new class, the Group will not be teaching Technician nor General classes this year.

•  Finally, Mathias Gibbens graciously agreed to be our Program Director (he schedules programs for each meeting). Thank you, Mathias

- March Tailgate -

Ken KO5Y (“Mr. Trivia”) has announced his latest tailgate.  It will be on Saturday, March 21 (6 AM to ~ 11 AM) again at the American Legion Post 13 parking lot. The site is located just north of Lomas Blvd NE between University Blvd and I-25. If you drive west on Lomas from University, turn right at the first available street (Legion Rd.), drive north and then west behind some large self-storage units to the end of the road, you are there. (see attached flyer). However, the American Legion requests that we NOT park against their building. All other spaces are available.

There is no cost for hams to buy or sell radio equipment. Ken says that he will have coffee and “the facility” onsite. He is also working on having breakfast burritos available for sale as well as free coffee and a donation jar to help offset his rental cost of the parking lot and “the facility”.

Please sign our log, explore our site, and consider joining our growing club. 73

Website Committee:  Pete KE5WTM; Larry K5LRY, Mark W5MHG Site Last Updated: March 21, 2026. Copyright © 2026, Caravan Radio Club.  All rights reserved.