News - THE KERN COUNTY-CENTRAL VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

03-05-2025
Perfect Storm-

On Saturday March 8th, 2025, the San Joaquin Valley Section of the ARRL will be conducting an Emergency Communications drill Called “Perfect Storm”. The drill will simulate a disruption of Telecommunications and the Power Grid due to the actions of an unknown “bad actor”. The drill will consist of 2 phases. The Telecommunications blackout will occur first, then the Power grid will go down.

Western Kern County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (WKCARES) will be participating in this drill by running a Net on Saturday morning which will look very similar to our Monday night ARES Net. Participants will be asked to report on the conditions in their area during both phases of the drill. Example, “I have no land line or cell service, or the power is out in my area, and I am on generator or battery power.

Both WKCARES and KCCVARC Members are encouraged to participate in the drill either in person or during the Net. We are looking for individuals to work as Net Controllers or Area Controllers for the drill.

WKCARES will be conducting its operations from the Civil Air Patrol building located at 1975 Airport Dr. Bakersfield, CA 93306.

Timeline.
0900-1000 hrs.    Equipment set-up and testing
1000-1100 hrs.    Conduct the first and second phase of the drill and generate a Situation Report for each phase
1100-1200 hrs.    Lunch Break.
1200-1300 hrs.    Check-in with Section Net Control via Winlink. Send Situation reports to Section Net Control via Winlink, Check-out with Section Net Control. (If you’re interested in Winlink please show up for this portion)
1300-1400 hrs.    Debrief and equipment tear down.

If you have any questions, please email contact@wkcares.org

02-24-2025
2025 Winter Field Day Report-

Our Club participated in class 6 for the San Joaquin Valley, completing a total of 118 QSOs in poor band conditions. We fulfilled 55% of the Winter Field Day 2025 objectives. We had 18 people participate through the six hours.

Of the five registered participants in the San Joaquin Valley (so far) we finished on top with 118 QSOs, the next two highest were 99 and 67 QSOs.

Everyone was on battery power, with a couple of solar panels in place (despite the weather). We were running various radios. We had an Icom 7300, a couple of Yaesu FT-891s, an FT-710, a Xiegu G-90 plus various dual band handheld radios.

Our antennas included two POTA performers, (a multi-band antenna using an adjustable 17’ whip and tuned elevated radials), a 40m EFHW on a Spyderbeam 10M mast, a Hustler mobile whip mounted on a tripod with elevated tuned radials, and a homemade 20 meter ladder line (basically a 20 meter J-pole) antenna.

Overall, the club did well. We appreciate everyone's participation and support.

-W6LIE

01-25-2025
Winter Field Day 2025

2025 Winter Field Day is a wrap!

It was a true "winter" day Saturday as the club gathered at the Bakersfield Sports Village in SW Bakersfield to practice what it might look like in case of an emergency situation. As amateur radio operators we might get called upon to help with local, regional and possibly national communications.

We toughed it out as the clouds rolled in along with the wind. Hands were freezing and those in attendance kept longing for some reprieve from the cold air that just kept blowing over the station operators. Occasionally we would get some sprinkles long enough to make one station have to cover the equipment and wait it out. We realized how nice we had it the last few years of WFD.

We set up field stations and antennas in order to contact others around the globe. We were hoping to test all modes... voice, digital and Morse. We even had a team trying to make a satellite contact but unfortunately we were unable to make a QSO. Even though we didn't accomplish all that we had hoped, we accomplished much! We were 6 Oscar which meant we had 6 stations set up for 6 different bands, outside using ONLY battery power. We had several new techs join us in the blistering wind and make several contacts on their own. WAY TO GO TECHS!!! There were a few members at home who also made QSOs with us. THANK YOU!!!

I think we were all ready for lunch at noon when Rick prepared some nice hot chili and cooked us some amazing hot dogs. We all needed something nice and hot at that moment. It wasn't soon after that that a few folks had had enough. Bands were not great, weather was challenging and the toll of the cold air mixed with wind was more than enough to make a few folks call it a day.

I am proud of this club; its organizers and most importantly its members. This community of radio operators came together despite the cold, the wind, and the threat of rain, to accomplish our Winter Field Day goal.

If you missed out on WFD we can't blame you and if you made it out to WFD we applaud you!

Until the next time...
-73 de KN6ZAT

Note: We have posted pictures from the event HERE

01-04-2025
New Years POTA Event

WOW…WOW…WOW! What a fantastic turnout. Tule Elk Reserve (US-3583) had a takeover by the KCCVARC. Despite the wind, cloud cover, and cool temperatures five techs that are new to the club came out to experience POTA for the first time. They all did so well and we are so glad they came out.

Todd drove down from Lemoore to join us! He’s a POTA beast. He alone had 100 contacts today on numerous bands. Glad to have you Todd!

And don’t forget Joe! He’s an Extra that has shown up to almost all of the POTA events we’ve had but never got on the air. Today was different! He showed up and sat with Rob and John (ZBN). The three worked together and activated the park together on 20m. Rob logging for John and Joe while they called CQ! What a job that was for Rob!
Congratulation Joe on your first activation!

Make sure and look at the pictures from the event. These pictures can be found HERE.

Members Who Activated the Park
John S, KG6ZBN, E
Terry, N6AJ E
Scott, KN6ZAT G
John, KN6FVK G
Todd, W7TMP G
Rob, KB6JFL G
Pat, KD6PAP G
Michael, KN6VBW E

First Time Activation
Joe, WD6FPE E
Malise, KO6GXD T
Laramie, N6CUL T
Kylee, KO6GAD T
Tina, KN6ZJZ T
Becky, KN6WRI T
Steve, KM6POI T - Checking out what all the hype is!