Hi, We’re OVARC!

The Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club (OVARC) is a community of radio enthusiasts based in the Ojai Valley. The club brings together individuals passions about amateur radio, fostering connections through knowledge-sharing, technical projects, and community service. Members participate in activities like radio contests, field operations, and emergency preparedness drills, enhancing their skills and promoting the importance of ham radio in communication. OVARC also plays a vital role in supporting local events by providing reliable communications and engaging the public with educational initiatives about the science and art of amateur radio.

Events in Ojai

At the Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club (OVARC), we love volunteering at local events like the 4th of July Parade, Mountains to Beach Marathon, Ventura Marathon, Au2Run, and Ojai Day. During these events, we set up and run a network of ham radios to make sure communication between organizers, safety teams, and volunteers goes off without a hitch.

Whether it’s helping to coordinate runners during a marathon, keeping track of parade floats, or stepping in during an unexpected situation, we’re there to make sure everything runs safely and smoothly!

Our Repeater, N6FL

Our repeater, N6FL, serves as a vital hub for communication across the Ojai Valley and beyond. Located on Black Mountain, this repeater extends the range of our handheld and mobile radios, allowing us to stay connected over long distances, even in areas where direct communication might be tricky.

We use the repeater for casual chats, weekly nets, and coordinating during events like marathons and parades. In emergencies, N6FL becomes an essential resource, helping us relay critical information when other communication systems might fail. Maintaining the repeater is a collaborative effort among our members, and we’re always working to keep it in top shape. It’s a perfect example of how amateur radio brings people together, both technically and socially. You can read about our future plans for this repeater in our LinkedIn group.

Our Other Locations

In addition to our repeater, we also have fully equipped radio stations located at the Ojai Valley Police Department and the local hospital. These stations serve as critical communication hubs during emergencies, ensuring that first responders, medical personnel, and emergency coordinators can maintain reliable contact even when other communication networks fail. They are designed to support emergency operations, facilitate information relay, and provide backup communication for law enforcement, medical teams, and emergency management agencies. By integrating these stations into our network, we enhance our ability to coordinate responses effectively and keep the community informed during crises.