Orchard City Amateur Radio Club

10/02/2026

Latest adjustments to NFARC Balloon Launch:

***FRIDAY UPDATE***
High Altitude Balloon Launch
North Fraser ARC in conjunction with Coquitlam ARC is planning a launch Sunday October 4 approximately 10am. Things continue to firm up, slightly longer flight now. ALL PARAMETERS SUBJECT TO, AND VERY LIKELY TO CHANGE.
watch this space for DAILY updates.
Featuring live video: https://www.youtube.com//streams
Crossband Repeater with Net Controller
Transmit Uplink: 147.600 tone 114.8
Receive Downlink: 446.600
Live tracking on APRS: VE7NFR-11
Planned altitude 32,880 M
Launch to Burst: 02:28:00
Burst to Landing: 00:49:00
Total Flight Time: 03:17:00
Landing in Eastern Chilliwack

The Coquitlam Amateur Radio Club, more formally regarded as the Coquitlam Amateur Radio Emergency Services Society (C.A.R.E.S.S) is a non-profit organization that was created to promote the exciting hobby of Amateur / Ham radio and emergency communications. For over three decades, our society has be...

09/29/2026

High Altitude Balloon Launch Alert!
North Fraser ARC in conjunction with Coquitlam ARC is tentatively planning a launch Sunday October 4 approximately 10am.
Weather is a chaotic system and therefore ALL PARAMETERS SUBJECT TO, AND VERY LIKELY TO CHANGE.

Check BC Ham Radio page for updates.

Featuring live video: https://www.youtube.com//streams
Crossband Repeater with Net Controller
Transmit Uplink: 147.600 tone 114.8
Downlink: 446.700
Live tracking on APRS: VE7NFR-11
Planned altitude 32,701 M (107,286 ft)
Launch to Burst: 01:44:00
Burst to Landing: 00:57:00
Total Flight Time: 02:41:00

08/17/2026

A few club members got together in an old cabin to partake in the « North American QSO party » SSB contest. Conditions were not the best but managed to get as far as Hawaii and was a good experience for all.

The exchange was the club call, a name and province. Six year old Linus was the chosen name who was on site with his father Tobias (VE7ixy). Mike(ve7fi), Steve (ve7lba), and Steve (ve7vf) were also on site.

Even though not part of the contest, Steve (ve7lba) was experimenting with Amateur Satellite.

07/01/2026

More Field day Action from the Orchard City Amateur Radio Club in Kelowna BC.

06/28/2026

Linus, at only 6 years old was a productive member of our team, pulling in his fair share of contacts.

06/28/2026

This is the only way to raise an HF Beam during this year’s Field Day put on by the Orchard City Amateur Radio Club.

06/28/2026

OCARC members in action at this years Field day.

06/28/2026

The Orchard City Amateur Radio Club is participating in this year’s Field Day. From setup to operations, it takes club members to pull it off.

06/24/2026

The boys were at it again. This time out at Gallantly park. HF, 2m and FT8 were tested for this weekend ‘s Field day.

04/07/2026

Steve (Va7lba) is trying to encourage members to partake in portable hamming. Parks on the air (POTA) is one example on how members can set up in the field very quickly using Portable radios and antennas to make contacts. Our set up included mostly QRP Rigs and simple antenna arrays.