Hello CVARC members, families, and guests!
July went by quickly and boy was it a warm month! August promises to be the same. The sunspot cycle is still on the upswing. Get on the air and make some contacts. In late July I had several amazing contacts, not on FT8 but on phone. That’s right, single side band to Australia and South Africa! The conversations lasted only a few minutes, but they were clear and booming. Both stations were S9 and they were receiving me at S5. Not bad for 100 watts and a wire. So, turn that radio on and tune around the bands. Propagation always sucks when the radio is turned off.
The CVARC General Class wrapped up and our VE testing session is this Sunday, August 13th. I am excited for this new group of hams. I know they will do well and can’t wait to hear them on the HF bands!
We have an antenna project group build this Saturday, Aug 12th, at the East County Sheriff Station, where the participants will build an end-fed wire antenna designed by K6ARK. This goes along with our August 19th SOTA event where you can put that antenna on the air. It’s going to be fun.
The Camarillo Air Show is August 19th and 20th – Thank you to all the CVARC members who will be volunteering for this event.
The CVARC General meeting is Thursday August 17th at 7:30 P.M. Topic – Chasing SOTAs:
Most of us have heard about SOTA (Summits on the Air) activations where amateurs originate portable operations from mountain tops. Ron Topolinsk-K6CPR introduces us to radio fun you can have without all the hiking, chasing SOTAs!
The CVARC Newbie Net meets every Sunday night at 7:00 P.M. The Newbie Net is an opportunity for newer hams to get on the air and gain experience and confidence. More experienced hams or “Elmers” regularly check in and are available to answer questions and offer advice. All are welcome. We are always looking for net controllers. It is great practice and fun to be net control, so please sign up with Todd Kleopfer-KD6RCM at kd6rcm@arrl.net. #hamharder. Todd and I would love to see every club member try being net control at least once. It’s fun, it’s easy and best of all you have a great time!
Hope to hear you on the air!
73,
Ed-N6XEW