Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club

February 26, 2019

President’s Message

If you were at our February meeting, you likely heard that we’re planning some new things for 2019. Well, maybe not new, but we’re bringing back some things that CVARC hasn’t done in a while.

It’s been a few years since we’ve had a real club picnic, one that wasn’t also a Mini-Field Day. So we’re planning to have a club picnic in August – a picnic where spouses and children are encouraged to attend – a picnic that’s less about radio and more about good food and socializing… although there will be a little radio fun.

February 22, 2019February 22, 2019

March Club Meeting Information

The next regular club meeting is Thursday, March 21, 2019 (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 Speaker: Repeater Systems: Brad Ormsby-W6VO discusses the numerous repeater systems available to Conejo Valley hams. Which are open or closed? Brad will also describe a linked repeater system and discuss some of the special attributes of each. He’ll also talk about the cost of membership and how to choose what system would best meet your needs and interests.

Raffle Prizes: ARRL Antenna Book; ARRL’s Magnetic Loop Antenna Book; Weller WLC1000 Soldering Station.

Pre-Meeting Dinner: Join fellow club members for a pre-meeting dinner at 5:00 at Brent’s Deli, 2799 Townsgate, Westlake Village, 805-557-1882.

Upcoming CVARC Programs

February 12, 2019

MORSE Group

The MORSE Group meets in the Community Room at the East County Sheriff’s Station at 7:00 pm on the first Friday of every month. Join fellow Morse code enthusiasts for code practice, guest speakers, and projects relating to Morse code.

Questions? Contact Steve-KZ6H

February 3, 2019February 3, 2019

The Adventures of Pete and Woodie at the January 2019 VHF Contest

During the third weekend of January, Pete Heins-N6ZE and Woodie Woodward-WA6WDY spent 16 hours roving around SoCal to have fun…and that’s what they did!

Pete Heins-N6ZE/R holds a 23cm (1294.5 MHz VJB Cheapie Yagi) and an ALINCO DJ-G7 triband FM handheld atop a ridge in the Santa Monica mountains (DM04qb) on Saturday of the January 2019 VHF Contest. VHF/UHF propagation conditions to the San Diego area (Grid DM12) were what one would normally expect during summer months: 10 watt VHF/UHF stations with only whip antennae were easily worked. Best distance worked was with K6PFG (DM12mt) at 130 miles. The temperature inversion which produced the enhanced summer-like conditions is clearly in view behind N6ZE and just above the water surface of the Santa Monica Bay. (Woodie Woodward-WA6WDY is wearing the “Radio” T-shirt. He frequently roves with Pete.) Note that two years ago, during January ‘17 VHF Contest, typical winter propagation conditions existed and no San Diego stations were heard.

Pete and Woodie entered the ARRL’s January 2019 VHF Contest in the “Rover” category because they utilized six VHF/UHF bands: 6 meters on 50.125 MHz USB & 52.525 MHz FM; 2 meters on 144.200 MHz USB and various FM Simplex frequencies from 146.52 –> 146.61 MHz; 135 centimeters on 223.5 MHz FM; 70 centimeters on 432.1 MHz USB & 446.0 MHz FM; 33 centimeters on 927.5 MHz FM; and 23 centimeters on 1294.5 MHz FM.

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019

New Event – Need Volunteers

Are you flexible? I need operators who are willing to be flexible as to positions assigned and changes due to conditions and coordination of the event (about 20 operators).

The event is the Malibu GRANFONDO cycling event. It will be on Saturday March 16^th 2019 (fast turnaround) from about 8:00 AM to about 4:00 PM. It will Start/Finish at the Four Seasons hotel in Westlake Village. It will go through Thousand Oaks to Camarillo and the long race goes up to Saticoy and back – then down to Pacific Coast Highway and through Malibu and up to Agoura and finish at Thousand Oaks. There will be about 400 participants including several World Class cyclists.

January 26, 2019January 26, 2019

Mini-Field Day & Picnic – 1/26/19

January 23, 2019February 11, 2019

February Club Meeting Information

The next regular club meeting is Thursday, February 21, 2019 (always the third Thursday) at the East County Sheriff’s Station’s Community Room 2101 E. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks at 7:30 pm.

Talk-in coordination is on the Bozo repeater, 147.885 ( – 127.3).

Topic/Guest Speaker: Antennas: Ben Kuo-AI6YR has found a way to make almost anything into a serviceable ham radio antenna, even an old bicycle wheel! Ben will talk about his experimentation with antennas and show us some examples of low cost antennas any ham can make with just a little understanding of the basics.

Raffle Prizes: ICOM IC-H16 VHF Transceiver, Samlex 250W AC Inverter, Heil Handie-Talkie Headset

Pre-Meeting Dinner: Join fellow club members for a pre-meeting dinner at 5:00 pm, at The Dugout Sports Grill, 109 W Cochran St, Simi Valley. 805-955-9200

Upcoming CVARC Programs

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

CVARC Winter Field Day

CVARC hosts several portable operating events each year.

The first event this year is Winter Field Day, January 26, 2019, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Dos Vientos Park Picnic Pavilion, 4801 Borchard Road, Newbury Park.

CVARC has reserved the pavilion from 8 AM to 5 PM, so please plan on setting up no earlier than 8 AM. (We may want to use this venue again, so we don’t want to anger the Recreation and Parks Gods.) We’ll have pizza and drinks available around lunchtime.

January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

President’s Message

Happy New Year! I’d like to again thank outgoing Board members Tim Wheeler-K6POI, Steve Gillis-KZ6H, Joe Sprissler-AI6MW and Ben Herrera-W6JWZ for their service to the club, and again welcome new Board members Brett Price-KM6VFW, Paul Van Zuyle-K6PVZ, Kat Hunley-K6VQN and Diane Wainwood-KJ6JEJ. The Board has already had it first meeting of the new year, and we’ve started planning for 2019. I think you’ll enjoy what’s to come.

January 3, 2019January 3, 2019

Magnetic Loop Antenna Project Finished

With remarkable teamwork and precision, a dozen mag loop antennas were finished December 29, 2018 after two full days of work. The project was led by Adrian Jarrett-K6KY. All the antennas were tuned and tested and Adrian says they should work particularly well on 20 meters as well as 30 meters and 17 meters. We haven’t had any reports of the antennas on the air yet, but you are sure to see some at CVARC’s Winter Field Day event on January 26th. Continue reading for pictures from Day 2 of the build.