Welcome to the Prescott Computer Society

FREE Online Meetings Using Zoom

PCS meetings are available to anyone, including non-members, who wish to join us online. We are using Zoom as a means of holding our meetings in the convenience of your own home.

Even if you're not a member of PCS we urge you to attend our online meetings. Both members and non-members may do so in advance of the meeting by registering below. You will receive a password and link to the meeting by email. This step is necessary to keep out spammers and hackers. You may join the meeting no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Zoom Information

For information on how to install and use a Zoom account please click the button below.

Zoom Help

Interested in Membership?

If you like what you see at PCS, please consider joining us as a member. By doing so you will obtain access to the presenters' notes and videos of the presentations as well as other benefits of membership. Dues are only $24 a year. Information about joining PCS is available at our Membership Info page.

March 7, 2026 - Saturday - 1:00-3:00 PM
Windows 11 Hints & Tips - Leader: JB Burke
Zoom meeting will open at 12:30 PM - Program starts at 1:00 PM

Unlock the hidden potential of Windows 11! Join us for a hands-on guide to making your PC easier to see and use. We’ll reveal "Power User" shortcuts, how to customize your mouse and text for better visibility, and "magic" keyboard tricks like voice typing. Plus, discover essential free tools like PowerToys and PC Manager to keep your computer fast and clean. Whether you want to reduce eye strain or simplify daily tasks, come learn how to make Windows 11 work for you!

Register in advance for this meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

March 14, 2026 - Saturday - 1:00-3:00 PM
General Meeting - Leader: JB Burke
Zoom meeting will open at 12:30 PM - Program starts at 1:00 PM

Bill James - Modems, Routers & Wi-Fi
In the early days of networking, the term "modem" was used to describe a device that transformed speech into analog signals (and vice versa) for transmission over telephone lines. This presentation will discuss Modems, Routers, and Wi-Fi, and how to set up your devices for optimal performance, as we all want fast, reliable, and secure Internet. First, Bill will give us information on the latest modems, router hardware developments, and best practices for setup and deployment. Next, he will discuss Wi-Fi as the best option and how it fits into Home Automation, demystifying terms such as WPA, Wi-Fi 6, 802.11, Ethernet, and DOCSIS 3.1. Finally, he will also cover the pros and cons of using a professional tech service to solve technical difficulties.

The second hour of today's program will be Windows Adventurer Phil Ball with another helping of his famous Windows Tips & Tricks. No matter how well you know Windows, you will be sure to come away from Phil's session with at least one new insight - and probably many more as well.

Register in advance for this meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

April 11, 2026 - Saturday - 1:00-3:00 PM
General Meeting - Leader: JB Burke
Mark Schulman - VeraCrypt
Zoom meeting will open at 12:30 PM - Program starts at 1:00 PM

Keeping Your Data Private with VeraCrypt. VeraCrypt is one of the most popular "on-the-fly" encryption programs. It enables you to store sensitive data on your PC in an encrypted format, so you can access it without constantly worrying about encryption and decryption. VeraCrypt is based on the older TrueCrypt application and is both free and open source.
Topics in this presentation include:

Creating and using encrypted containers - Encrypting Flash Drives - Encrypting laptop hard drives
Backing up your encrypted data - Caching passwords - Using hidden containers

The second hour of today's program will be Windows Adventurer Phil Ball with another helping of his famous Windows Tips & Tricks. No matter how well you know Windows, you will be sure to come away from Phil's session with at least one new insight - and probably many more as well.

Register in advance for this meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Other Computer Groups Sharing Meetings

Through PCS' affiliation with APCUG (see below) you may also virtually attend other computer club meetings throughout the country. Check out the wide selection of programs available to you.

Other Virtual Meetings

A typical PCS meeting scene.

General Information About PCS

The Prescott Computer Society (PCS) is a PC-based users group located in Prescott, Arizona. Our primary attention is focused on IBM-compatible computers, associated software and smart phones. We strive to provide personal, home office and small business computing solutions and presentation topics. You may obtain both basic and advanced information about computers by attending our club's meetings.

We hold several meetings each month to show you how to get the most out of your computer. These are our General meeting and several Special Interest Group meetings. Anyone with an interest in computers is welcome to attend our meetings and join PCS.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

PCS is affiliated with OLLI as a Special Interest Group which is based at Prescott's Yavapai Community College. From the OLLI website: "Yavapai College is one of only five community colleges in the nation to boast an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, our locations in Prescott and Sedona-Verde offer a variety of learning and teaching opportunities for mature adults, 50 years of age and over." (Source)

OLLI Information

Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG)

PCS is a member of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups APCUG's website. PCS uses materials from APCUG in many of its presentations. APCUG's stated mission is "to facilitate communication among computer user groups, the community, and the technology industry." APCUG members throughout the country contribute many worthwhile articles for the benefit of all computer users. These articles are available for reading on their website. From the APCUG website: "Membership in APCUG is open to any non-commercial organization whose primary purpose is to help its members learn about technology. It is a cross-platform organization supporting operating systems such as Windows, OS X, iOS, Android, Chrome, and Linux."