Posted on

Saturday Morning Radio School to Begin

By Keith Elliott-W6KME

During the pandemic, CVARC members and the Ventura County amateur radio community have found a lot of ways to keep ourselves busy, with Zoom meetings, nets and contests, but it seemed like there was still more we could do. We have been able to schedule all three license courses on Zoom for 2021, but why not more? In fact, why not have school EVERY WEEK?

Starting in March, every Saturday morning (when there is not a License class in session) we will be holding the Saturday Morning Radio School. This will start at 10:00 A.M. on Zoom. Each week will feature a different topic for an hour or so, usually led by one of our own members.

Continue reading “Saturday Morning Radio School to Begin”
Posted on

Technician License Course Begins March 27

Zak Cohen-N6PK, is teaching our annual Amateur Radio License Course, Technician’s Level for 2021. This is the license that is the gateway to the entire amateur radio universe! You’ll also have a chance to meet various members of CVARC and be invited to our other activites. The dates will be:

Orientation: Saturday, March 27th, 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
Course: Saturdays, April 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th, 8:00 A.M. to Noon

Register for the class by emailing CVARC’s Education Director Keith Elliott-W6KME at W6KME@CVARC.org.

Continue reading “Technician License Course Begins March 27”
Posted on

CVARC 2021 Ham Radio License Course Dates Announced

In 2021 we are holding three courses of classes, one for each license level. All of the classes run from 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon on Saturdays and are held in a Zoom meeting. There is a shorter orientation class one week before the start of the main course. Due to COVID-19, CVARC is not holding in-person license exams at this time, but information will be given during the classes about taking the exam online. As soon as we are able to use our normal location at the East County Sheriff’s Station, we will shift from Zoom to the classroom and resume in-person testing.

Continue reading “CVARC 2021 Ham Radio License Course Dates Announced”
Posted on

February Club Meeting

The next regular club meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing software as we continue meeting remotely to combat the spread of COVID-19. Details on how to access the meeting are below.

Nathan Eng-KN6ISM

Topic – 3-D Printing for Ham Radio: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your very own sci-fi matter replicator? Nathan Eng-KN6ISM, will introduce us to the wonderful world of at-home 3D printing. He will cover getting started with filament-based printers and explore what they can (and can’t) do for you through an assortment of ham radio-related examples. 

CVARC Zoom Club Meeting:

Time: February 18, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Continue reading “February Club Meeting”
Posted on

CVARC Winter Field Day

CVARC has several special amateur radio initiatives planned for Winter Field Day 2021, to be held January 30 and 31.  The COVID-19 crisis makes it impossible for us to gather in large groups as we have in the past, but 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.  Nothing here is compulsory.  The idea is to have some fun.  Feel free to participate in whatever interests you.

Continue reading “CVARC Winter Field Day”
Posted on

2021 Dayton Hamvention Cancelled

Citing “several setbacks in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Dayton Hamvention Executive Committee has announced the cancellation of the 2021 event, scheduled for mid-May. The announcement cited the slower-than-expected rollout of the COVID vaccine as well as the even-more contagious variant that has emerged in recent weeks.

This is the second consecutive year in which the pandemic has forced cancellation of the world’s largest hamfest. The committee says tickets that were deferred from last year will be deferred again, and that plans are in the works for another on-air Hamvention QSO Party on what would have been the Hamvention weekend.

Posted on

One Great Hour of Fun

Pete Heins-N6ZE’s station on top of Tarantula Hill for the January 2021 VHF Sprint. N6ZE used a day pack to carry his station to the top of the hill.

On Saturday morning, January 2, the Winter VHF Sprint provided one great hour of fun to communicate with many (DM04) Ventura County locals who are members of the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club and/or Ventura County Amateur Radio Society. Unlike many other VHF/UHF operating events, only 6 meters, 2 meters, and 135 cm were permitted.

Pete Heins-N6ZE provided these interesting bits of trivia about the Winter VHF Sprint event:

Continue reading “One Great Hour of Fun”
Posted on

Earthlings and astronauts chat away, via ham radio (via Los Angeles Times)

NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, Expedition 24 flight engineer, used a ham radio system in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station in 2010. (NASA)

This article features astronaut Doug Wheelock who was CVARC’s September 2020 speaker.

From their living rooms and pickup trucks, amateur radio operators reach out to the International Space Station, circling 240 miles above Earth.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Posted on

January Club Meeting

The next regular club meeting on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing software as we continue meeting remotely to combat the spread of COVID-19. Details on how to access the meeting are below.

Adrian Jarrett-K6KY

Topic – Making Sense of DMR:  Some hams find DMR intimidating. Adrian Jarrett-K6KY will give us an introduction to DMR, explain what we need to get started, cut through the jargon and help us understand code plugs and other programming considerations.

CVARC Zoom Club Meeting

Time: January 21, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Continue reading “January Club Meeting”