VECTOR March 2020 News
Posted in newsletter
Previous newsletters can be found in the archive.
Our next members' meeting is March 4th. Please register in BetterImpact if you will be attending (in person or online).
Community Service Opportunities
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Vancouver Sun Run 2020
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Vancouver Sun Run 2020 has been cancelled.
Every year, amateur radio operators from the greater Vancouver area volunteer for field radio operations in the Sun Run. Volunteers are placed throughout the course, acting as the eyes and ears of the event. These independent volunteers play a critical role in helping respond to emergencies and help reunite lost children with their families. It’s also fun!
Participating as a volunteer in the Vancouver Sun Run allows you to gain valuable experience participating in a directed net, with procedures similar to responding to an emergency. If you’re new to amateur radio, organizers have your back, you’ll be paired with an experienced operator who will support you while you serve our broader civic community directly without VEMA.
This year’s Vancouver Sun Run will be on Sunday, April 19th. Volunteers can register online.
Upcoming Training & Practice Opportunities
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March Community Centre Radio Activation Exercise
We’re still looking for a few more participants for our upcoming community centre exercise on Saturday, March 7th. Codenamed “SQUIRREL”, this exercise will set up amateur radio stations at multiple Vancouver community centres and offers the chance to practice radio protocol and message handling.
Sign up in BetterImpact. -
Incident Command System refresher quiz
In activations, VECTOR will be working with other partner agencies and the Emergency Operations Centre using the Incident Command System (ICS). We recommend all VECTOR members take some time to refresh their ICS knowledge by reviewing some videos and doing a 5-minute quiz. Find both under the ICS100 Quiz available in BetterImpact.
Weekly Net
The weekly net takes place at 20:00 every Wednesday on the VE7TEL repeater (VECTOR channel 2, 145.170 MHz, -0.6 MHz offset). Each week, a secondary net follows on a different frequency, providing an opportunity for amateur radio operators to test their radio with other bands and modes of operation.
The schedule for upcoming secondary net frequencies is as follows:
| Date | Channel | Frequency Information |
|---|---|---|
| March 4 | 7 | 147.450 MHz simplex, 100.0 Hz tone |
| March 11 | 4 | 146.580 MHz simplex |
| March 18 | 1 (VE7RVF) | 145.450 MHz, -0.6 MHz offset, 100.0 Hz tone |
| March 25 | 4 | 146.580 MHz simplex |
| April 1 | 401 (VE7RVU) | 443.725 MHz, +5 MHz offset, 88.5 Hz tone |
Monthly Members' Meeting
The monthly VECTOR members' meeting is the first Wednesday of every month. The next 3 meeting dates are as follows:
- March 4th in the E-Comm Media Room at 18:30
- April 1st in the E-Comm Media Room at 18:30
- May 6th in the E-Comm Media Room at 18:30
Look for a link to the Zoom online conference room in your email ahead of the meeting to join remotely. You can sign up for upcoming members' meetings in BetterImpact.