Allen B. Hubbard (N6VTX) was born in Pasadena, California in 1949 and still resides there with his Wife, Cristina (N6ZCS) and Son, Patrick (N6BUG). Allen is employed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena as an engineer in the Ground Based Observational Systems Division. Before transferring to J.P.L. in 1996, he worked on the Caltech campus for 20 years.

From his late teens on, Allen has had an interest in 2-way radio and Public Service. Allen's interest in radio faded in and out over the years, until he was talked into getting his Amateur License by friends Bruce Nolte (N1BN) and Greg Hubbard (N6RRW) in May, 1989. Allen upgraded his Amateur License to General class in April, 2000.

After receiving his license, Allen joined the Pasadena Radio Club (W6KA), Los Angeles County D.C.S. (M-172) and the Pasadena Emergency Communications Group. Allen was past Vice President of the Pasadena Radio Club in 1997. In 1999 he served as President of the Pasadena Club.

Starting at age 16, Allen had worked on floats and other activities for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, because of this, he happily joined T.O.R.R.A. (Tournament of Roses Radio Amateurs) in 1989 and has worked every parade since.

In November 1995, Allen proposed to the T.O.R.R.A. Steering Committee, a plan to use A.P.R.S. (Automatic Packet Reporting System) for the 1997 Tournament of Roses Parade to track parade float convoys. The A.P.R.S. system uses G.P.S. receivers, packet radio and special A.P.R.S. software to track objects such as cars, boats, balloons or parade floats. After a year of planning, building "trackers", testing and the help of nine other T.O.R.R.A. members, the A.P.R.S. system worked flawlessly. The role of A.P.R.S. has been expanded every year since. T.O.R.R.A. have used "APRSplus" and "WinAPRS" with "Precision Mapping Streets 3.0" software to keep track of the convoys.

Allen is a member of the Steering Committee of T.O.R.R.A, as the A.P.R.S. Chairman. Allen is now preparing for the expanded use of A.P.R.S. for the 2002 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Allen has developed two slide show talks on Amateur Radio. The first one entitled "Earth Quakes, Your Ham Shack, and Other Lash-Up Hints" has been shown 14 times. This presentation has been given at radio clubs from Venture to Riverside. This talk was presented at the A.R.R.L. Southwest Division Convention on the "R.M.S. Queen Mary" in September 1995. His newer slide show talk, entitled "Float 54 Where Are You?" was presented at the A.R.R.L. Southwest Division Conventions in Riverside, California in 1997 and Long Beach, California in 1999.

"Float 54 Where Are You ?" details the setup and workings of A.P.R.S. receiving and tracking stations with diagrams. Slides of actual program setup screens, maps and tracking maps from the Tournament of Roses Parade. Included are "behind the scenes" photos of float building, preparation and convoys. The updated show has new slides from the 2001 parade.

Since 1998 he has worked with Randy Hammock (KC6HUR) and other Hams, from J.P.L., to bring about the use of A.P.R.S. in the Los Angeles City Marathon.

Since 1989, Allen has been active each year with communications for the Angeles Crest 100 Race at checkpoint "Eagles Roost" and supplied equipment for the race. Starting in 1995, he has operated the packet station at "Eagles Roost" for the race-wide packet logging system. In April 1997, Q.S.T. Magazine published Allen's account of how packet radio supported the A.C. 100 race.

allen.b.hubbard@jpl.nasa.gov (office) cricri@earthlink.net (home)