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42 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2020 Just in case: Check with your club contact to confirm meeting place, date, and time. Computer Group Judy Taylor, of the SCV Computer Club, gave a "low tech" presentation covering problems and solutions that just might help when your computer is acting up. She said, "Before you make that $99 tech support call, there are many easy things you can do to troubleshoot problems!" She discussed actions that can be taken when you can't start your computer; how to reduce delay when it seems as though your computer is taking 'forever' to start; and what it means when your hard-drive makes grinding noises. She showed how to use 'Advanced Settings' and when to choose "view advanced system settings" if your computer tends to randomly turn off. She spoke on when to use the 'Startup and Recovery' function; when to uncheck the "Automatic Restart" box; and how to confirm changes. Ms. Taylor's presentation was both thorough and easy to comprehend. She even addressed some of the most common printer problems and solutions. Our meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 am. You will need to Zoom in! If you have questions, you are invited to contact Larry Workman at workman.larry@gmail.com. ~ Larry Workman During these days of isolation when the virus keeps us from participating in many of the activities we used to enjoy, you may want to consider radio as an alternative. There are a number of directions you could go with this idea including shortwave radio listening and Amateur Radio. With the advent of the Internet, shortwave listening, or SWL, is not as popular a hobby as it used to be but it can still be a lot of fun. All it takes is a radio and 20 feet of copper wire strung along the eve of your house to begin listening to radio programs from around the world — most are in English and can provide you with an inside look at foreign cultures, music and politics. Many models are available on the Internet including the Panasonic "retro-look" radio shown below right that costs about $50. If you've ever wondered about getting your Amateur Radio license, now is a great time to pursue the hobby. It's true that most of the face- to-face opportunities for training and testing are simply not available right now and won't be as long as the virus remains a threat but that shouldn't stop you from exploring the hobby on your own. Amazon offers many self-study books including the one pictured above right that will get you started on becoming a Ham. Though Morse Code is no longer a requirement to obtain a license, learning it could be a good way to keep your brain active plus give you the opportunity to listen to the thousands of Hams who still use it. Stay safe and as we Hams say: 73! ~ Jim Peterson, jim.k6jwp@gmail.com. RADIO CLUB

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