Watt's New


The Watt's New articles serve to keep you abreast of what has been going on around the C.A.R.L.A. Network. Feel free to browse our archive of past Watt's New articles as well.

On this page:

  • Systems 4 is back online
  • CARLA 18 TX back on the air
  • CARLA 6 & 36 back on the air after repairs
  • Carla 9 back on the air after cyclone storm
  • SCARA links up with CARLA
  • CARLA & KD6VEN save the day
  • Carla 11 Reduced Coverage
  • Lake Shasta Before/After
  • Interactive Map is impaired
    Systems 4 is back online
    Last updated on April 18, 2023 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    System 4 has been brought back online by the installation of a temporary generator while PG&E continues
    to investigate the power outage at the site which appears to be somewhere underground.

    This also means that systems 29, 30, and 31, which depend on system 4 are once again connected to the network.



































































































































































































    CARLA 18 TX back on the air
    Last updated on March 17, 2023 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    CARLA 18 (Topaz Lake, NV.) is back on the air after a subsequent power outage and restore caused the system to reset and start behaving correctly. One of the few times where a power outage turned out to be a 'good thing'.


    Original posting 3/5/23:

    CARLA 18 (Topaz Lake, NV.) has a stuck transmitter that is on the air. It likely happened during a
    recent power glitch. It is currently OOS (Out Of Service) and there is no ETR yet due to extensive
    snow at the site.



    CARLA 6 & 36 back on the air after repairs
    Last updated on February 5, 2023 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    CARLA 6 & 36 are back on the air after the site crew was able to fight its way through mounds of snow and make repairs.
    Now that we’ve has a few sunny days after the January storms, the solar panels have had time put a good charge on the
    site batteries.


    Here is the original post before repairs:

    CARLA 6 & 36 have been down for a while and its been determined that the batteries were so depleted from lack of sun
    that they blew the fuse when trying to do a bulk charge and power the repeaters concurrently. Attempts are being made
    to access the site which has several feet of snow on it. No easy feat and it will require hiking the last mile or so. We'll let
    you know as we get more info.


    Carla 9 back on the air after cyclone storm
    Last updated on January 13, 2023 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    UPDATE-

    CARLA 9 is back on the air after its tower and several others were twisted and dropped from some freak,
    tornado like winds. It may not be exactly the same as it was but seems to be doing a good job so far.


    The original posting:

    The weather has taken its toll on Carla. System 9 is off the air due to the recent rains and cyclone storm.
    The tower that the main antenna was mounted on has fallen, destroying not only the tower but several
    antennas and coax. Full damage assessment is underway thus a repair time is unknown and still TBD.
    On the positive side, the site power is also out which probably saved the PA from transmitting into the dirt.
















































    ^^^ Carla 9 Tower ^^^


    SCARA links up with CARLA
    Last updated on August 13, 2022 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    We’re pleased to announce that CARLA has entered into a reciprocal link agreement with SCARA (Siskiyou
    County Amateur Radio Association). SCARA has a handful of repeaters that cover most of Siskiyou County
    as well as parts of Lassen, Shasta, Trinity, Modoc and South West Oregon. SCARA compliments CARLA’s
    coverage very nicely to include a majority of the very northern part of California. We will stay
    linked full time except for any nets during which time we will disconnect from each other’s system.
    Please keep in mind now that we’ve now added another network to ours along with LVRA, it is imperative
    that everyone uses good operating practices including (but not limited to) not quick keying, pausing
    after keying up, waiting for courtesy tones and keeping conversations short and limited to 10-15
    minutes whenever possible. Please be respectful of the combined network resources and increased
    coverage.

    SCARA: https://www.K6SIS.com
    LVRA: https://www.hxo.radio
    CARLA: https://www.carlaradio.net



    CARLA & KD6VEN save the day
    Last updated on April 14, 2022 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    Greg, KD6VEN answered a call for help over the air on CARLA and coordinated an airlift for an injured
    biker in Shasta County. Dave, KL7DJ used CARLA from the scene while Greg relayed and coordinated the
    REACH air transport via a phone call from the Bay Area. Find the ARRL article at the following link:

    http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2022-04-14



    Carla 11 Reduced Coverage
    Last updated on December 15, 2021 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    Carla 11 in Lafayette is currently on a lower level antenna as its main antenna has an SWR issue.
    This means Carla 11 will have a reduced coverage area for the near future. No ETA on repairs yet.



    Lake Shasta Before/After
    Last updated on August 28, 2021 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    The Watts New articles usually cover whats working and whats not working on the Carla network and some
    related technical info. But we thought you might be interested in this article showing a Before and After of
    the water level at Lake Shasta in the North.

    These pictures were taken several years apart from the same general location. The first picture was taken
    several years ago. The second picture was taken in August 2021. The haze in the second picture is from
    several on-going fires in the State.



    ^^^ Photo taken November 2006 ^^^




    ^^^ Photo taken August 2021 ^^^


    Interactive Map is impaired
    Last updated on January 6, 2021 by The C.A.R.L.A. Team | Permalink

    Due to some changes by Google and their Map site, the CARLA Interactive Map is not functioning as it should. We are
    working to resolve the problem but it has been a very slow process. Sorry for any inconvenience.