Those of us who got our Amateur Radio license many years ago had to pass a Morse Code test. The Novice class license required potential hams to pass an exam of 5 WPM both copying and sending Morse Code.
I have included 6 Morse Code tests that were used for the Novice Class test. In each case the character speed is 15 WPM and the overall speed is 5 WPM.
Ron Topolinski-K6CPR passed along a nice video of the Thunderbird flyover on Friday, May 15 taken by Mayor Keith Smith of Camarillo:
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds conducted flyovers in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties to honor local front line workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
The next regular club meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing software as we continue social distancing efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Topic/Guest Speaker – Field Day: CVARC Operations Chair Martin Hickey-AJ6CL will discuss plans for what will certainly be the most unique Field Day in club history. Due to the anticipated restrictions on large gatherings, Field Day (June 27-28) will transition from a group activity into individual station events. Martin will discuss the Field Day rules and operating options for individual stations. He’ll also share some of the ideas planned for, albeit distant, social interaction to keep us connected as a club on Field Day weekend.
Topic: CVARC Zoom Club Meeting
Time: May 21, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Brad Ormsby-W6VO’s Zoom meetings are moving to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule starting Monday April 20th. Brad’s meeting of “The Bored” is a fun, informal way to stay in touch with fellow hams. The credentials below should work for all future meetings.
Topic: Brad Ormsby-W6VO’s Zoom Meeting
Time: 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Monday, Wednesday & Friday
The Spring 2020 Microwave SPRINT was held on Saturday, May 2nd. Five seasonal SPRINT events, sponsored by the Central States VHF Society, are held in the Spring and Fall to encourage use of and foster simplex activity on the VHF/UHF bands.
During four hours of operation from three locations, Pete Heins-N6ZE made 14 contacts on 23cm and 33cm with 10 different stations. He made two additional contacts with N6VI from another location, but only the furthest distance counted for points.
On Wednesday evening, April 22, 2020, the 70 cm Spring SPRINT served as a “highlight of the day” to escape today’s issues. The weather was great: T-shirt weather, with calm winds and great visibility. The activity level was a pleasant surprise with many stations worked throughout Ventura County.
As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, there have been 2,075 total check ins to the informal nets, called the “Auxiliary Bored Meetings,” running four times daily on the Bozo repeater. In addition to the nets, local hams have been gathering a couple of times a week on Zoom for internet chats. Details are announced on the daily nets and on this website.
The gatherings take place seven days a week at 09:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 21:00 local time except Sundays and Tuesdays at 18:00 to avoid conflicts with other networks on Bozo. The Bozo repeater is linked with Paul Strauss’ (WD6EBY) repeater network for the 09:00 and the 21:00 meetups giving full Ventura County coverage.
The next club meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing software due to Ventura County’s “Stay Well at Home” emergency order to combat the spread of COVID-19. Please read on for information on how to access this meeting.
Topic/Guest Speakers – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station: Norm Thorn -K6UU discusses ARISS, a competitive program for schools to propose special science and space education programs in conjunction with contacting an astronaut aboard the International Space Station via amateur radio. Most ARISS events worldwide lately have been postponed indefinitely, due to social distancing requirements and stay at home orders. Norm will discuss efforts to develop working online approaches to doing events even if the students are at home in quarantine. He will touch on some of the things they are looking at to deal with the situation.
I operated from a local Thousand Oaks hilltop (DM04ne) during the first two hours of the Spring 2 Meter SPRINT, which was held on Monday evening, April 6th. Hint: To increase one’s VHF/UHF score go to the highest hilltop you can access!
I made 23 QSOs in 3 Grids. Score is 69. I contacted DM04 (19 QSO), DM03 (1 QSO), & DM13 (3 QSO).
I also heard K6MYC in DM07 (205 miles), north of Fresno and N6RMJ in DM25 (257 miles), in the Northwest corner of Arizona. Not one peep was heard from DM12, DM14, CM94, or CM95.