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DYFI on Winlink

This month marked the one-year anniversary of the M7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake. Amateur radio operators can now report the effects of an earthquake, their experiences and the extent of the damage via radio using the “Did You Feel It” (DYFI) form on Winlink Express. This information is transmitted directly to the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) “Did You Feel It?” system which creates community earthquake intensity maps. The form allows amateur radio operators to become citizen scientists who contribute to earthquake research and support earthquake education and preparedness in their area. 

Here’s a presentation on DYFI Winlink from Oliver Dully-K6OLI at k6oli@arrl.net.

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July Club Meeting Information

The next regular club meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing software as we continue social distancing efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. Details on how to access the meeting are below.

Stephen Townes-WB4ILW

Topic/Guest Speaker – Deep Space Communications and the Deep Space Network: Stephen Townes-WB4ILW will the Deep Space Network, an international array of giant radio antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions.  He will also give us an overview of the fundamentals of deep space communications and aspects of flight hardware. Dr. Townes is the Chief Technologist of the Interplanetary Network Directorate and Manager of the Technology, Standards and Spectrum Program Office at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is the current President of the JPL Amateur Radio Club.

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“Bored Meetings” and Zoom Gatherings to Continue On a New Schedule

Bozo Repeater 147.885 -offset PL 127.3

The wildly successful “Auxiliary Bored Meetings” will continue on a new schedule beginning Monday, June 29, 2020. The informal nets have been running four times daily on the Bozo repeater. Over 7,500 calls from 275 unique hams have been logged on the nets. Under the new schedule, the net will be called to order at 9 A.M. Monday through Saturday. The Saturday morning net will run 9 A.M. to noon and the repeater will linked with Paul Strauss’ (WD6EBY) repeater network for full Ventura County coverage. Starting July 11, 2020, there will be a second Saturday net at 9 P.M.

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Now That Field Day Is Over

1. If you would like to report your Field Day score to the ARRL, submit your official entry at:  https://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php

2. In addition, if you would like to have your Field Day results published on the CVARC website, click this link and submit the form:  https://forms.gle/PEowD3MtuxEQEJpz7 

3. If you have questions about what category or class to use, send me a brief description of how you operated and we’ll figure it out! My e-mail: aj6cl@cvarc.org

73, Martin -AJ6CL

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Raising a Hex Beam Antenna

Levitating the hex beam

By Joe Tischler- KN6JGX

No man is an island unto himself even during a pandemic.  Thanks to seven men, including my three sons, and four weeks, my new hex beam antenna is in place and well established.  I was originally going to fasten the mast to the chimney but that changed when my youngest son Adam suggested otherwise.  When you consent to a little help you open the door to additional ideas, some good some not. 

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VHF Initiative: What You Can Do With an HT on Field Day

N6ZE holding 33cm and 23cm Alinco HTs, both with factory whip antennas.

New hams – particularly those with Technician licenses and hand-held radios – may wonder if they can get much out of Field Day (June 27-28) with their operation limited mostly to the VHF band.  CVARC and the other Ventura County amateur radio clubs have been encouraging these new hams to get involved on Field Day through the VHF Initiative where experienced operators will be monitoring VHF simplex frequencies to make Field Day QSO’s with the new hams.

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Six Ways to Get the Most Out of Field Day Even If We Can’t Be Together

There are several special amateur radio initiatives planned in Ventura County during Field Day 2020, June 27-28th.  The COVID-19 crisis makes us unable to gather in large groups as we have in the past. We are attempting to recapture some of the camaraderie and fellowship among hams in other ways by making the following options available for those who choose to participate in them.  Nothing here is compulsory.  The idea is to have some fun.  Feel free to participate in whatever interests you.

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Zoom Meeting on County-Wide Field Day Events

A Zoom meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the Ventura County events set for ARRL Field Day, June 27-28, 2020. These events have been planned by the Ventura County amateur radio clubs and all hams are encouraged to attend. For more information, see Six Ways to Get the Most Out of Field Day Even If We Can’t Be Together on the http://www.cvarc.org website.

Topic: County Wide Field Day Events

Time: Jun 17, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85937919877?pwd=UDhOVGRRS3ozcDEyaktmc2F6RTdPZz09

Meeting ID: 859 3791 9877

Password: 394854