Ventura County ACS/ARES Communications

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Ventura County ACS/ARES

Welcome to the website for the Ventura County Auxiliary Communications Service/Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ACS/ARES).

The Ventura County ACS mission is to serve the County in support of any possible communications need in an emergency. ACS members act as emergency communications reserves to support the County in providing reliable, point-to-point voice and data communications anytime, anywhere. In addition to emergency activations, ACS is involved in promoting emergency preparedness.

Click here to view the basic requirements for ACS/ARES membership.

If you would like to know more, please contact ACS Radio Officer/ARES District Emergency Coordinator, Rob Hanson – W6RH at ec@vccomm.org.

Zak Cohen-N6PK–A Life of Service, Guidance, and Community

Our community has lost a pillar of strength and a source of steady guidance.

ZACHARY “Zak” COHEN, known on the air as N6PK, passed away on January 27, 2026, surrounded by family. His departure leaves a profound emptiness in the Amateur Radio world and in the hearts of all who knew him.

Zak, licensed since 1961 while in the Navy, was more than just a skilled operator; he was a builder of communities. Over the years, he dedicated countless hours to supporting local emergency communications efforts, mentoring new operators, strengthening nets, and helping maintain the continuity and resilience of our region’s volunteer services.

N6PK-SK End of Watch

An “End of Watch Call” was transmitted in Zak’s honor on the Tuesday, January 3rd ACS/ARES County Net. This is a solemn, time-honored tradition in which a senior officer transmits a final, symbolic radio call to honor a member of the emergency communications community who has passed away.

Emergency Communications Center Named in Honor of Zak Cohen-N6PK

Zak Cohen-N6PK flanked by Thousand Oaks Police Chief Jeremy Paris and Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff.

Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff and Thousand Oaks Police Chief Jeremy Paris honored Zak Cohen-N6PK, on Thursday, January 15, for his years of dedicated service supporting emergency communications in Ventura County.

Sheriff Fryhoff announced that the radio room at the East County Sheriff’s Station will be renamed the “Zak Cohen Emergency Communications Center.” As he presented Zak with a large plaque to be placed in the newly named center, Chief Paris said the honor was “really fitting” for all Zak has done for “the communications team and especially for all of us” at the sheriff’s station.

The presentation took place before a packed room just prior to the CVARC meeting. Several ranking Sheriff’s officers attended, along with members of the office team Zak worked with during his years with ACS, including his service as Area 2 Emergency Coordinator. Zak’s sons, Aaron and Sam, were also present.

In response to the honor, Zak said, “One thing that’s very important is that we help each other, that’s why I love doing emergency communications…if we help each other everyone wins. If we’re nice to each other, everyone wins double.”

Hams Volunteer: Santa to the Sea

Hams provided radio support for the Santa to the Sea half marathon on December 14, 2025, a popular race that takes place in Ventura County every year.

Hams Volunteer: Rasnow Peak

Daring work was done at the Rasnow Peak repeater site on November 29, 2025.

ACS-ARES Meeting in Camarillo Monday January 5th

The next ACS-ARES meeting will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, starting at 7:30 P.M. at the Camarillo Police Department Community Room. 3701 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA 93010

34.24183413289285, -119.0204723250941

https://w3w.co/sanded.manuals.division

• From the 101 Freeway
• Head northeast on N. Lewis Rd and travel 2.2 mi.
• Turn left onto E. Las Posas Rd and travel 0.6 mi.
• Destination will be on the right.

The meeting will start promptly at 1930 (7:30 P.M.) You are encouraged to arrive at 1900 for a bit of social time before the meeting.

Hams Volunteer: On Rasnow Peak

Hams worked to install a 10 GHz dish at the repeater site on Rasnow Peak, October 23, 2025.

Hams Volunteer: Emergency Preparedness Expo

Local hams demonstrated how amateur radio can serve the community during an emergency at the September 27, 2025 Emergency Preparedness Exp0 in Ventura.

ACS-ARES Meeting in Camarillo Monday, November 3

The next ACS-ARES meeting will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, starting at 7:30 P.M. at the Camarillo Police Department Community Room. 3701 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA 93010

34.24183413289285, -119.0204723250941

https://w3w.co/sanded.manuals .division

• From the 101 Freeway
• Head northeast on N. Lewis Rd and travel 2.2 mi.
• Turn left onto E. Las Posas Rd and travel 0.6 mi.
• Destination will be on the right.

The meeting will start promptly at 1930 (7:30 P.M.) You are encouraged to arrive at 1900 for a bit of social time before the meeting.

ACS-ARES Meeting September 8th

You are invited to the ACS-ARES meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025.

The meeting will be held in the East County Sheriff’s Station’s Community Room:

2101 E Olsen Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

What3Words – secret.oath.daytime

GPS – 34.24671293202548, -118.83511705779767

**Please look for directions when driving in so you can park in the employee lot.

Please arrive at 7:00 PM for social time. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:30 PM.

New HF Net for the Santa Barbara Section

The ARRL Santa Barbara Section is composed of three counties, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County.

The purpose of this net is to allow clubs and emergency communication volunteer groups throughout our section to promote their activities, achieve better understanding of HF propagation as it affects our three counties and beyond, and promote fellowship within the larger amateur radio community.

The net will operate weekly at 8:00 PM (local) on Tuesdays beginning on August 12. The target frequency will be 3.987 MHz (LSB) plus or minus and may be relocated on the band (or bands) as experience dictates.