1225 W Grand Pkwy South NOTE: Please check under the Licensing Information tab for detailed information. Until further notice Pre-Registration is required
2m Simplex Net
Every 2nd Tuesday 7pm
146.600
Come and join us on the simplex net and get used to operating without the use of the repeater. Good practice in case of emergencies.
We are in need of some more radio volunteers for this weekend’s CERT Rodeo. The only requirement is that you hold an Amateur Radio License and have access to a HT (handy talkie) although there may be some available to borrow. Please see the information below from George. You do not need to be an ARES member to participate.
Please join us for Winter Field Day 2023. The event starts at 1 pm. We will start setting up around 11 am. Mid afternoon we will cook up some burgers and hot dogs.
We will be located in Pavilion C (same spot as previous years)
Feel free to bring HF radios and antennas you’d like to try in a portable setting
A FREE, weekly, live, Amateur Radio Extra Class Licensing course on Zoom will begin on Thursday, January 12, 2023, and will run through Thursday, March 23. There will be 11 sessions. The three-hour sessions will start at 6:30 PM Eastern Time. Sessions will be recorded. Those attending should hold (or be studying for) the General Class Amateur Radio License. These are the classes that we have been holding for years sponsored by the National Electronics Museum. Please publicize this with anyone that you think would be interested. Those wishing to sign up should email roland.anders@comcast.net This class is recommend for folks either beginning to study for or already studying for their Extra Class license exam.
Where:Duhacsek Park 17034 Old Richmond Rd Sugar Land, TX 77498 When:June 25th – 26th 2022(From Saturday at 7am until we wrap up Sunday afternoon)
As you are all likely aware, Field Day is just around the corner! Taking place at Duhacsek Park on June 25th-26th, BVARC, KARS, and TDXS will be joining forces for ARRL Field Day 2022. We will be operating as many as 10 stations simultaneously, calling CQ, and racking up contacts. Our goal is to provide a fun and engaging environment for hams of all classes and those without a license to experience various aspects of the exciting hobby of ham radio! There will be food and refreshments as well.
We are looking for operators (THAT’S YOU) to run our stations and help out with various Bonus Point activities this year. We need many more voice (SSB) operators, but also CW and FT8 operators. Technician class operators CAN run our HF stations using the club call sign, and we will have help there to get you going calling CQ. We are trying to get as many points as possible, and WE NEED YOUR HELP! We would like to get as much coverage of our event as possible and are seeking anyone with connections to news media to contact us.
A Few of the Roles Needed:
Voice mode operators (i.e., Single Sideband) to call CQ and log contacts
Educators (folks willing to teach one or more short structured lessons on ham radio skills)
An operator(s) to run the GOTA (Get On The Air) station to advise the new or unlicensed operators with the equipment there
Social Media promoters (utilize social media to promote the event and post about the activities during the event)
Experienced hams to assist new hams or unlicensed operators using the equipment at the main stations
Help setting up equipment (radios, antennas, cabling, etc.) on Friday June 24th starting at noon
and many more!
We will be announcing an online sign-up sheet for these roles and operating positions soon; keep an eye out for the email or check on BVARC.org for the link. If you have any questions or concerns send them directly to Anthony Morones (W5LIC) at W5LICTX@gmail.com, or Mike Hardwick (N5VCX) at N5VCX@att.net.
Let’s get out there and GET ON THE AIR to represent Houston area hams this Field Day 2022. We can’t wait to see you all out there, 73! – Kori, WX5KR
BVARC are running this event, any queries please contact them directly
The time is finally here for the GHTG. Due to COVID issues, the Greater Houston HamFest committee decided this year we will have a small tailgate affair instead of the normal hamfest format which will return next year.
Mark your calendars for next year March 3rd and 4th, 2023 for the return of the Greater Houston HamFest.
So, for this year we will have the tailgate will be very basic event. Entry is $5 dollars whether you are selling or buying. There are 45 spaces for tailgaters and 6 spaces for vendors. We will have foodand drinks available at the community center and there will be a raffle at the pavilion. A map of the event area is below as well as the coordinates to find the entrance.
The times for the TailGate is 7 am to 2 pm on Saturday, April 16. Friday afternoon set-up is available but there is NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING ALLOWED. If you would like to set-up on Friday,please contact the BVARC Board of Directors to arrange access.
The raffle will be held on site and tickets will be $2 each. The grand prize will be a ICOM IC-2730A so make sure you get your tickets. You will need to be present to win.
Some of the other things happening at the TailGate are:
Balloon launch by the Houston Balloon Launch Team Fort Bend County Communications trailer Harris County Communications trailer License Testing
If you have any questions about the tailgate, contact anyone on the BVARC Board of Directors.
Our KARS board of directors meeting was conducted via Zoom.
The meeting started at 7:33 PM with all board members present.
The treasurer reported that there is $xxxxx in the bank account. This reflects membership renewals of which we already received 42. This is the first year HamClubOnline automated messages are going out for members to renew their membership and there are some teething problems that are currently being worked out. In a few cases members had inadvertently received an email stating that their membership had expired. All these cases have been addressed.
The idea was raised to have another raffle with a dearer raffle item, for instance a high-end antenna analyzer. Care needs to be taken to obey Texas state law that limits the number of drawings to a maximum of two per year. At this point it is unclear if a raffle with multiple prizes counts as a single drawing or multiple drawings.
KARS received a new member application from Douglas Johse who will be put up for a vote at the March General meeting. Another person who emailed and expressed an interest (but who has not applied for membership) is David Bucklew. Reading between the lines he is keen to join, too.
The Katy Safety Fest will be held on April 23 this year at Katy Mills Mall but at this stage it is not yet clear how many HAM operators the organisers need to shadow communications. When more details become available it will be shared with the members.
Our Vice-President, Sergio, has a new call sign: KX5F.
Potential topics for presentations were mentioned to be a presentation on FT4 for satellite, on different antenna options for mobile solutions, and on coax.
Dave Scott is willing, when the weather gets warmer, to organize a fox hunt for the club and/or other interested parties.
The club is still in the market for a laptop and the right machine at the right time is expected to come along in short order.
