Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club

March 13, 2020March 20, 2020

President’s Message

Your Board Members have met and determined to cancel the March 19, 2020 meeting for the protection of our membership.

Given the recommendation of federal, state and local health authorities regarding efforts to avoid contracting coronavirus (COVID-19), including social distancing, among others, the demographics of our membership, the virulent and aggressive nature of this disease, and your Board’s desire to help our members to avoid contamination, we believe this is the best decision for CVARC and its membership. This decision was difficult but necessary. We hope to resume meetings in April or May, depending upon facts and circumstances relating to coronavirus.

March 12, 2020March 19, 2020

March 19th CVARC Meeting Cancelled

In an abundance of caution over being able to provide a safe meeting environment for our members, we have decided to cancel the March 19, 2020 CVARC meeting. We hope to reschedule the program for later in the year. The CVARC Board of Directors will consider the advice and direction of county, state and federal health experts on COVID-19 and make decisions about the rest of the club meetings going forward. Please look for updated information on this website, on our newsgroup at groups.io and on the CVARC Facebook page. Please direct any questions or comments to info@cvarc.org.

February 29, 2020February 29, 2020

Call for Field Day Volunteers

CVARC is now recruiting those interested in participating in Field Day during the weekend of June 27th and 28th this year.

Band captains, operators and support personnel are all needed. Field Day is a great way to learn from mentors and experienced hams. If you have never attended Field Day, we encourage you to participate for the fun, fellowship with fellow hams and an opportunity to learn about the many different aspects of our hobby.

If you have experience with Field Day, we need you again this year! Historically, CVARC has been proud to run the largest Field Day operation in the country. Learn about emergency preparedness and how to make contacts all over the U.S. and the world!

If you are interested in getting involved and having a great time, please contact Martin at AJ6CL@CVARC.org.

February 24, 2020February 24, 2020

Big Turnout for CVARC Mesh Flashmob

Phil Bartlett-K6UJO and Greg Lane-K7SDW set up in the parking lot.

By Andy Moorwood-K3CAQ

Approximately 30 amateurs attended CVARC’s first Mesh Network Flashmob on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the East County Sheriff’s Station. Ten operators brought their equipment and an additional three were configured “flashed” and / or debugged to get them functional.

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020

The Solar Cycle and HF Radio Communications

Remember this? We might see a similar solar maximum by 2025!

Members have been asking to take a closer look at the presentation made at the last meeting by Ken Larson-KJ6RZ on the solar cycle and its impact on HF radio communications. You can view his presentation by clicking here or you can find it anytime by clicking “Links” and then selecting the “Technical Articles” drop-down.

February 21, 2020

CVARC VE Session Report – February 9, 2020

The February CVARC VE session served 20 candidates. Among those who earned new licenses or upgrades at the session were:

January 26, 2020January 28, 2020

Photos and Video From Winter Field Day

Photo by Eagle Eye UAS Consulting, Chief Pilot David Ibarra.

Everyone had a good time at CVARC’s Winter Field Day event at Dos Vientos Community Park in Newbury Park on January 25th. Read more to see pictures and video of the event.

January 24, 2020January 25, 2020

N6ZE/Rover in the January VHF Contest

Woodie-WA6WDY listens for stations on 135 cm (222.1 MHz SSB). Pete-N6ZE uses a 33 cm (927.5 MHz) yagi and ALINCO 33 cm FM handi-talkie to make a contact on that band. Using the ALINCO handheld provided 4 contacts on that frequency band from the Mountains and from Palos Verdes.

By Pete Heins-N6ZE

The ARRL January 2020 VHF Contest was held on January 18 – 19, 2020. N6ZE/R, operated by Pete Heins-N6ZE and Woodie Woodward-WA6WDY, made just over 250 QSOs on 6 bands from activating four Ventura and Los Angeles county grids. Our 7-hour stint at our Saturday location in the Santa Monica mountains (DM04qb) yielded 150 QSOs.

January 17, 2020February 2, 2020

February Club Meeting Information

The next regular club meeting is Thursday, February 20, 2020 (always the third Thursday) at the East County Sheriff’s Station’s Community Room, 2101 E. Olsen Rd, Thousand Oaks at 7:30 pm. Talk-in coordination is on the Bozo repeater, 147.885 (- 127.3)

Topic/Guest Speakers – Solar Cycle: Ken Larsen – KJ6RZ discusses sunspots which have a profound effect on HF radio communications. HF communications are excellent during solar maximum (lots of sunspots), but not so great during solar minimum when few if any sunspots are visible. Why is this? Why do the number of sunspots follow an 11-year cycle? What are the predictions for the upcoming solar cycle?

Raffle Prizes: Viaboot Rasberry PI 3 Complete Kit – 16Gb, Samlex 250W AC Inverter, Heil Handie-Talkie Headset

Pre-Meeting Dinner: Join fellow club members for dinner at 5:00 p.m. at Junkyard Cafe, 2585 Cochran Street, Simi Valley.

Upcoming CVARC Programs

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020

Mesh Network Live Demo “Flashmob”

Tran’s mesh go-box, photo taken at the CVARC meeting November 2019

Join us for CVARC’s first mesh network “flashmob” on Sunday, February 23, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East County Sheriff’s Station’s Community Room, 2101 E. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks and outside areas as appropriate.

This event is intended to give CVARC members hands-on experience setting up a wireless mesh network for a public service event or as an emergency communications activity.