Welcome
Welcome to the home of the Clairemont Repeater Association.
CLARA is a non-profit service organization serving most of the Southern California Amateur Radio area. Visitors are welcome to use our repeater systems for short QSOs as long as they practice courteous and considerate operating procedures. Join us if you are looking for a great repeater group, want to expand your Amateur Radio experiences, and would like to make friends along the way. Learn more.
Upcoming Events: The next CLARA tailgate party will be on Saturday, April 20th, and the next CLARA breakfast will be on Saturday, May 18th. See the sidebar for details.
News
New Associates, and Ham in the Hotseat update
March 20, 2024
We extend a warm welcome to the following new Associates!
- Jeff, KN6SRY
- Tom, N6YKO
Also, join this week's Ham in the Hotseat immediately following the CLARA Information Net on Tuesday evening at 7pm to learn more about new Associate John, KN6YMI.
New Associates
March 20, 2024
We extend a warm welcome to the following new Associates!
- Jeff, KO6BUV
- Joe, KM6RPA
- John, KN6YMI
March Breakfast Meeting
March 16, 2024
Here are some highlights from the bi-monthly breakfast meeting on March 16th:
- Dave, W6DLR, covered plans for Field Day 2024 (June 22). CLARA is planning a weekend camping trip at Rolling M Ranch Campground in Chino Hills State Park. Several people will be camping both Friday and Saturday nights. Be sure to reserve a camp site if you plan to stay overnight; the sites we've reserved are near the end of the loop.
For awareness: Campfires, ground fires, and the use of charcoal grills are not permitted in the park. A permit is required to use portable gas stoves, lanterns, or heaters. You can get a California campfire permit free of charge here. - Congratulations to Alex, KJ6RUB, for being voted in as a Member.
- Congratulations to Paula for winning the $150 HRO gift certificate.
- Thank you to Carl, K06BUB for donating fishing nets for the raffle, and congratulations to Alex, KJ6RUB; Frank, KC6ABS; Jade, K6JDJ; Kate, K6KTY; Todd, KI6RBW; and Vaughn, KE6V, for winning fishing nets.
- Thank you to Dave, K6DDM, for donating a K6DDM hat for the raffle, and congratulations to Mike, N6QG, for winning the hat.
- Join this week's Ham in the Hotseat on Tuesday evening immediately following the weekly information net at 7pm to learn more about Joe, KM6RPA. If you are interested in volunteering for Ham in the Hotseat, please reach out to Eric, K6EDK, or Steve, K6ITR.
Net News
March 10, 2024
The popular Ham in the Hotseat net resumed in February. It immediately follows the CLARA Information net on Tuesdays at 7pm. Ham in the Hotseat is an opportunity to learn more about the people you hear on the radio, and ask them some questions if you'd like. Join us to learn more about:
- Joe, KM6RPA on Tuesday March 19th
- No Ham in the Hotseat on Tuesday March 26th
If you would like to volunteer for Ham in the Hotseat, please speak up at on one of the weekly nets, or reach out using the Contact link at the bottom of the page.
February Tailgate Party
February 17, 2024
CLARA held a tailgate party on February 17th in Tustin, with a strong turnout of 33 members, associates, and friends, plus a few dogs. It was a fun evening with multiple repeater groups represented.
Photo credit goes to Dale, WE6ER, Steve, K6ITR, and Darcy, WI6ORG.
New Members and Associates
February 15, 2024
We extend a warm welcome to the following new Members and Associates!
- Adam, KO6CEE
- Alex, KJ6RUB
- Craig, KI6WLP
- Brad, KO6DIQ
- Dana, KE6ESH
- Dave, KD6DDM
- George, AK6ET
- Mike, K6OLY
- Neil, KN6NNJ
- Peter, WD6DVT
- Rich, N6WPX
January Breakfast Meeting
January 20, 2024
The bi-monthly breakfast meeting was held on January 20th. Congratulations to Alex, KJ6RUB, for winning the $150 HRO gift certificate and a KD6DDM hat.
Photo credit goes to Steve, K6ITR, and Jade, K6JDJ.
Volunteers Needed for KPARN
January 11, 2024
The Kaiser Permanente Amateur Radio Network (KPARN) is requesting additional FCC licensed amateur radio operators to volunteer for public service communication activity at the two Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Irvine and Anaheim.
The KPARN net is the fourth Wednesday of every month from the radio room in the hospital. The radio equipment is installed at the hospital, with temperature control and built-in emergency power; no “go kits” or other field-type resources are required. Volunteers will need to attend orientation, including three FEMA online classes (ICS 100, 200 & 700), a California SEMS online class, and a hospital orientation presentation with a brief tour of the hospital. Each of these training activities requires about an hour to complete. Photo ID badges are issued to applicants who complete the orientation.
If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering at Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, please visit the web site (www.KPARN.org) for further information and a volunteer application form, or email KPARN dot org at gmail dot com.
December Tailgate Party
December 16, 2023
CLARA held a tailgate-style holiday party on December 16th in Tustin, with a strong turnout of 30 members, associates, and friends. People brought food to share, including several varieties of chili and cornbread, rolls, pickled jalapenos, Mexican-style hot chocolate, and tasty desserts. It was a fun evening with something for everyone; there were candy-making and metal detector demonstrations, a drone, some wheeled toys for adult boys, radio reprogramming, and a collection for Toys for Tots.
New Club Call Sign
December 13, 2023
CLARA has a new club call sign, N6CRA, short for Clairemont Repeater Association. The new club call sign will be used for CLARA events such as Field Day.
Trip to Santiago Peak
December 4, 2023
Part of the CLARA tech team visited Santiago Peak over the weekend for routine repeater maintenance. Pictured near the peak are Bob, KD6IOW; Dale, WE6ER; Jeff, N6JSV; and Steve, K6ITR. A couple of goats also made a surprise appearance.
CLARA Field Day featured in QST Magazine
December 1, 2023
The December 2023 issue of the QST Magazine, page 66, features CLARA at Field Day 2023 with a nice group photo taken by Dave, W6DLR. ARRL members can view the full QST magazine online at ARRL.org.
Reprinted with permission, December 2023 QST; copyright ARRL.
Amateur Radio Test Sessions at Irvine Valley College
November 20, 2023
Looking for an amateur radio test session near you? The Irvine Valley College Amateur Radio Club is now offering test sessions in Irvine. To find upcoming test sessions near you, check hamstudy.org.
November Breakfast Meeting
November 18, 2023
The bi-monthly breakfast meeting on November 18th was well-attended. Highlights include:
- Steve, K6ITR, gave an update on the tech team's trip to Santiago Peak to do a maintenance and wellness check on the repeater. Steve said the repeater now has a 3-minute timeout.
- The proposed update to the CLARA Bylaws was approved. The bylaws can now be accessed from the bottom of the Membership page.
- Dave, W6DLR, showed the December issue of QST magazine featuring CLARA Field Day 2023, and said CLARA is planning a weekend camping trip for Field Day 2024 (June 22). The proposed location is Rolling M Ranch in Chino Hills State Park. Stay tuned for more information.
- Every Christmas season, CLARA supports Toys for Tots, a US Marine Corps Foundation that provides gifts to children in need. If you'd like to donate, bring a new, unwrapped toy to the December tailgate party.
- Congratulations to Jade, K6JDJ, for winning the raffle.
- Congratulations to Garrett, KN6NYR, for being voted in as a Member.
- Welcome to new Associates, Hank, KO6H, and Carl, KO6BUB!
Photo credit goes to Darcy, WI6ORG.
Full Moon Hike
October 29, 2023
Several CLARA members and friends enjoyed a hike Friday evening on Santiago Truck Trail in Modjeska Canyon. It was a fun evening, complete with costumes, giant spiders, and a lovely sunset followed by a bright full moon.
If you are interested in participating in events like this in the future, join the CLARA weekly nets, and follow The Unofficial 145.220 Repeater Group on Facebook.
Photo credit goes to Jade, K6JDJ; Eric, K6EDK; and Darcy, WI6ORG.
New Associates
October 27, 2023
We extend a warm welcome to new Associates Tom, WA6TZ, and Greg, KC6PCB!