CVARC monthly club general meetings start at 7:30 P.M. the third Thursday of each month and are held at:

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 17th -- Zak Cohen will speak on Location, Location, Location

 

Zak Cohen, N6PK

Zak Cohen, N6PK, will speak on: "Location, Location, Location." His discussion will focus on the history, importance and use of the knowledge of location technology in communications. The discussion will also include the areas of DF "treasure hunts", DX locations, APRS and antenna orientation.

 

Zak has been a licensed ham and life member of ARRL for over 50 years and is currently Vice President of CVARC. He is also the regional representative for admission & advancement to the international board of the IEEE. Zak is Principal/President of Briarwood Associates and Equity Partner/CTO of Telecom + UC Training.

 

Dinner with the Speaker

Diane Wainwood, KJ6JEJ 

Come join our speaker, Zac Cohen, and your CVARC friends for pre-meeting dinner and conversation at the Junkyard Café, 2585 Cochran St., Simi Valley. The Junkyard has been a popular location with a fun atmosphere and a varied menu, especially their great salads (really big!).

 

The reservation is, as usual, under CVARC and/or Diane, for 5:30 p.m. Restaurant phone #: 805-520-5865. My cell phone: 805-630-7994.

 

Directions: Take the Sycamore Drive exit from Hwy. 118, go south to Cochran, turn right (east) and go about ˝ block to the restaurant driveway. Parking and restaurant entry is in the lot at the end of the driveway. See you all there!

 

 

 

Newbie Net

Diane Wainwood, KJ6JEJ

Sunday evenings, 7:00 PM, Bozo repeater 147.885, neg. offset, PL127.3

 

Many thanks to Dave KI6YVI for running the newbie net during April! Since our newbie net now seems to have a thriving mix of newbies and elmers, we thought we'd try a menu of topics for the next few weeks, in addition to general questions and updates of your on-air ventures.

 

Here's a preliminary agenda, open to modification, as the group wants:

 

5/13 – Kinds of antennas for Handi-talkies and how to use them: bigger than a rubber duck, loops, Arrow space antennas, mag mounts. This could probably go for several sessions! Tell us what you have, how you use it, or questions you may have about using it.

 

5/20 – repeater networks: do you belong to any? How did you find it? How to join it? Your experiences with nets.

 

5/27 – Transmitter hunts: Have you done any? Where? When? What do you need to participate? How do you find where they are?

 

Any volunteer moderators? Can we rotate the job? If you have additional ideas for topics, bring it up on the net, or e-mail me or see me at the meeting. 88 de KJ6JEJ

 

 

FIELD DAY PLANNING

Todd Kleopfer, KD6RCM

In a few short weeks June 23rd and 24th, which is the date of this year's Field Day, will be here. FD is always the fourth full weekend in June and actual operation is from 11:00 am PDT Saturday until 11:00 am PDT Sunday. This is the most popular amateur radio event of the year and we'd like to see as many of you as possible. It is used to test the field preparedness and emergency communications abilities of the amateur radio community. Last year ARRL logs indicated 39,287 individuals participated and 1.43 million QSOs were made!

 

The objective is to work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to submit entries.

 

Once again we will be at the Hillcrest Center above the Oaks Mall at 403 West Hillcrest Drive but the entrance is off of McCloud Ave . This year we will also be using the top of "Fireworks Hill" which will be a huge advantage and expand our usable operating area but keep us within the allowable 1000 feet.

 

Band captains and helpers start setting up their radios, antennas, and camping gear Friday afternoon. Many helpers are needed to put up the big MASH style tent that will be used. Around 6PM things are pretty much in place and it's time to for dinner. All are welcome to stop by (or join the afternoon work party) and help us put away the burgers at the Friday night potluck. CVARC provides burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks and members provide the side dishes. Please bring a dish to share with others. Everything goes with burgers - salad, fruit, desert or whatever. Please bring everything needed to serve your item.

 

On Saturday evening we'll take a break and enjoy a meal catered by Bandits BBQ.

 

This is subject to change but as of right now here is a list of the bands and captains that will be using the call AA6CV:

 

  • 6m/2m/70cm All Modes-Eddie KQ6K
  • 20/80 CW-Ray WB6L
  • 20m Phone-Rob W6RH
  • 15/40m CW-Fred KI6YN
  • 40/10m Phone-Bill K6HB
  • 75/80/15m CW/Phone/GOTA Station-Tom W0UFC
  • PSK31 Station-Eric WB6PYK

 

All of these stations need help with operators and loggers. Contact me or one of the band captains to sign-up for a station.

 

If you know of anyone interested in amateur radio invite them out. Friends and family are welcome to participate in all of the activities. Even those without a license can operate (with supervision) during this event. We will need a lot of operators so even if you only have an hour or would like to camp out for the whole weekend come on out! Sign-up sheets will be passed around at the May and June meetings but if you cannot attend either one send me an email at KD6RCM@arrl.net and let me know what band you would like to operate on and the times and I'll add you to the list. Even if you don't want to get on the air we will need plenty of loggers to enter the contact information into the laptop software program that will be used.

 

To learn more about Field Day: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

 

Go here to locate other Field Day Sites: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

 

To see story's on past Field Day's throughout the nation: http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox

 

 

FIELD DAY FOOD!!

Diane Wainwood, KJ6JEJ 

 

Get ready! It's time for potlucks and BBQs to fuel you for "radio-mania"! Since our June meeting is the day before Field Day set-up, sign-ups for both the Friday night potluck and Sat. night BBQ will be passed around at our May meeting.

 

The Friday night potluck

The friday night potluck is at 6:00pm, following set-up, and is free to all members and spouses/guests. CVARC provides hamburgers and dogs with all the trimmings, grilled on-site, as well as cold drinks. In addition to signing up for a potluck to share, we also need the following: grills, charcoal (or gas), extra tables, extra ice chests, and setup and cleanup help. We do need a firm count of attendees, so we buy the appropriate amount of burgers, dogs, and drinks. Deadline to sign up for potluck is June 15.

 

Saturday Night BBQ

Saturday Night BBQ - Once again, we'll have catered BBQ from Bandit's! Cost remains $15.00 per person, for bbq ribs, chicken, tri-tip, cole slaw, beans, rolls, tableware, etc. We generally begin serving about 5:00-5:30 pm. However, our deadline for order submission is JUNE 15!! Payment for the BBQ dinners on Saturday night MUST be received No Later Than June 15. Unless we have your payment by that date, we will be unable to accommodate you at the BBQ.

 

Register for USA's annual championships of on-foot transmitter hunting

Joe Moell, K0OV

Registrations are now being accepted for USA's annual championships of on-foot transmitter hunting, which will take place during the week and weekend after Memorial Day. The site will be the forests near Mt. Laguna Village, about 45 miles east of San Diego.

 

Activities will get under way on Wednesday and Thursday, May 30 - 31, when an optional two-day "training camp" will take place. The official championships opening will take place on Friday, June 1 with practice and equipment testing sessions. The two-meter contest will take place on Saturday, June 2, after which all will gather for a banquet in the evening. Sunday's schedule includes the 80-meter contest and an awards ceremony, timed to end in mid-afternoon to accommodate those who must hurry home.

 

Even if you have never competed in a formal ARDF event before, you are welcome at the USA and IARU Region 2 Championships. The courses will be open to all, beginner and expert alike, with or without a ham radio license. USA's best are expected to attend and they are always helpful to newcomers. The training camp is an outstanding opportunity and highly recommended for first-timers.

 

National ARDF Championships are for individuals only. No teaming or assistance on the course is permitted. Participants are divided into six age categories for males and five age categories for females in accordance with standard IARU rules. Medals for first, second and third places will be awarded in each category on each band.

 

The official event Web page at www.homingin.com has the registration form. It is important for participants to register right away. The organizers need an accurate head count and assurances that there will be sufficient attendees. It's also important to make reservations now if you want to stay at the event headquarters, which is Laguna Mountain Lodge. (Nearby camping is also available.)

 

Transportation and lodging information is on the event Web page, as well as the daily schedule, competition rules, transmitter and map information. For questions and regular updates, you can subscribe to a group mailing list for participants and others interested in these championships.

 

If you have been attending and enjoying your local ARDF sessions, it's time now to take the next step. We look forward to seeing you at the USA Championships!

 

Joe Moell K0OV USA ARDF Coordinator www.homingin.com k0ov@homingin.com

 

 

Parking At East County Sheriff's Station

We have filled up the Visitor's Parking area at the East County Sheriff's Station (ECSS) during our last couple of CVARC General Meetings due to the excellent turnouts that we have had. If the Visitor's Parking area is filled when you arrive for a CVARC meeting, you can park in the Employee's Only parking area which is to the immediate right of the Visitor's Parking area as you drive into the sheriff's station. There may be people coming to the sheriff's station during our club meeting looking for police department assistance. For that reason we should not park in the Visitor's Parking area "15 Minute Only" parking spaces. Ken Larson

 

 


Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club 2012 FCC Exam Schedule

By Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR

The Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club (CVARC) has scheduled examinations for FCC Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) licenses six times during 2011.

Exams are conducted by accredited Volunteer Examiners and sessions are sponsored by CVARC. Exams are conducted for all FCC Amateur Radio license classes under the supervision of the ARRL VEC. No pre-registration is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. The Exams listed below will be conducted at the Ventura County Sheriff's East County Station at 2101 E. Olsen Road between Hwy 23 and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library at 8:30 a.m.

Candidates need to bring:

  1. A form of government-issued photo I.D. (e.g.: Driver's License, Passport or School District ID).
  2. Social Security Number or Taxpayer ID or FRN.
  3. The original and a photocopy of any existing FCC license or CSCE notice of passing an exam element.
  4. $15 Exam fee (exact change preferred).
  5. Pens, pencils, calculator. Calculator memory must be cleared prior to exam

 

If you do not wish to use your Social Security Number to obtain a Ham License, obtain an FCC Reference Number (FRN) by going to this FCC site: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do Your name and address on the application form must match your FRN information exactly, letter-for-letter.

 

2012 Exam Schedule:
  • June 10
  • August 12
  • October 14
  • December 9

 

Should there be questions not addressed above, please contact Jeff Reinhardt AA6JR at aa6jr@sbcglobal.net or

phone 818-706-3853.

 

Membership Application Form

 

Any correspondence to CVARC should be mailed to:

 

  • CVARC
  • P.O. Box 2093
  • Thousand Oaks, CA 91358-2093
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Updated:  May 14, 2012 9:16 AM