VECTOR March 2025 News

Posted in newsletter

Did you feel the recent earthquake? Thanks to Lis VA7EVJ for getting on air to run an impromptu check-in net, and thanks to everyone who checked in.

If you’re wondering what VECTOR members should do following an earthquake or other emergency/disaster, check the VECTOR Activation Guide (updated 2024).

Previous newsletters can be found in the archive.

VECTOR News

  • March Members' Meeting - March 5th at 18:30

    The March members' meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 5th, at 18:30 in the E-Comm Media Room. We encourage in-person participation, but you can also join remotely on Zoom.

    This month’s meeting will feature planning for the Vaisakhi parade, a technical presentation, and updates on other ongoing projects.

  • Vaisakhi Parade - April 12th at 9:00

    On April 12th VECTOR needs 16 to 20 volunteers to support the Vaisakhi parade through the Punjabi Market area of South Vancouver. This event is one of VECTOR’s most valuable contributions to the city in terms of field communications and situational awareness.

    We’ll try to offer morning and afternoon shifts for this all-day event. You can sign up to help in Better Impact.

    Before April 12th, we will have shifts to help with preparing handheld radios and equipment at Sunset Community Centre. To get involved with advance logistics for the parade, contact Jessé VE7DET.

  • 2025 Civic Events

    Above and beyond our usual events, we have picked a few potential events that will give us more time to practise skills, and test our equipment and processes. To do that, we need to know which events we can get 15 to 25 people out for. We need your insights, please fill out a short 2-question survey.

Community News

  • Burnaby Swap Meet - March 22nd at 9:00

    Burnaby Amateur Radio Club is hosting a swap meet on March 22nd at the Salvation Army Cariboo Temple, 7195 Cariboo Rd. There will be a test bench sponsored by Burnaby Radio Communications and a radio programming table if you need help setting up a handheld. More information can be found on the VE7BAR website.

  • Vancouver Sun Run - April 27th at 7:30

    The annual Sun Run relies on amateur radio volunteers from across the local area to provide communications support. VECTOR encourages its members to participate. You can sign up by filling out the 2025 Sun Run Radio Comms Volunteer Registration form.

Hands-On Opportunities

  • Monthly Emergency Communications Test - March 5th & April 2nd at 9:30

    City of Vancouver will be conducting their monthly emergency communications test including DSA 3 on Wednesday, March 5th, at 10:00. You can find more information and signup in Better Impact.

    The April test will take place on April 2nd and include DSA 4.

  • HF Inventory & Equipment Checks - March 9th & 16th at 10:30

    To help us get ready for Field Day, VECTOR members are setting up and testing all of our HF radios this month at the Radio Room. You are welcome to drop in to help, learn, or coach between 10:30 and 14:30.

    More details and signup can be found in Better Impact.

Trainings & Practice Opportunities

  • Net Control Operator Training

    Want to level-up your comfort on-air and support your fellow operators? Join the VECTOR Net Control programme and learn how to run a net. You’ll help run the weekly check-in nets, and also qualify to be a Net Control Operator for events like Vaisakhi, Celebration of Light, and the BC Shake-Out. To sign up, contact Andrew VA7YAA.

On-Air Nets

The weekly net takes place at 20:00 every Wednesday on the VE7RVF repeater (VECTOR channel 1, 145.450 MHz, -0.6 MHz offset, tone of 100.0 Hz). 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 5 430 446.100 MHz simplex
March 12 401 443.725 MHz, +5 MHz offset, tone 88.5 Hz
March 19 44 146.430 MHz simplex
March 26 20 147.200 MHz, +0.6 MHz offset, tone 100.0 Hz
April 2 7 147.450 Mhz simplex, tone 100.0 Hz

We encourage WinLink check-ins to the VECTOR net every week, just address your message to VA7EOC. Connect to VA7EOC-10 using simplex UHF on 441.025 MHz (VECTOR channel 420), or send your message through one of the other local WinLink gateways.

VECTOR also maintains a list of other local radio nets on our website.

Upcoming Meetings

The monthly VECTOR members' meeting is the first Wednesday of every month. The next 3 meeting dates are as follows:

  • March 5th in the E-Comm Media Room at 18:30
  • April 2nd in the E-Comm Media Room at 18:30
  • May 7th in the E-Comm Media Room at 18:30

We highly encourage attending in-person, but recognize that online participation is more accessible for some members. Look for a link to the Zoom online conference room in your email ahead of the meeting to join remotely. You can find more details about members' meetings and RSVP in Better Impact.