Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

Houston's Largest Ham Radio Club

Welcome to BVARC!

The Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club (BVARC) (organized in 1978) is One of the largest, most active amateur radio club in Texas. The club is growing and expanded its activities over the greater Houston area.

BVARC is a general interest club with an impressive record of public service. From contests to educational classes to supporting area fund raising events, BVARC has always been active in displaying the “art” of amateur radio. By being active and committed, it has brought the recognition and status as a “Special Service Club” from American Radio Relay League (ARRL) which is a national organization for amateur radio.

When you become a member of BVARC you join a family of ham radio enthusiasts that have decades of knowledge and experience to share. Our membership is not just for amateur radio operators but is open to anyone with an interest in amateur radio and we welcome anyone licensed or not.

BVARC Roster Lookup

If you would like to get into amateur radio, BVARC is a great place to start. With over 340 members, you will have plenty of assistance to help you along your path into the hobby. Even if you are a newly licensed amateur radio operator or “ham” we are here to answer questions as you learn more about the hobby.

Our in-person meetings are held normally on the second Thursday of each month at the Community Volunteer Fire Department Community Center, 16005 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, 77083. The Fire station is approximately 1.5 miles west of the intersection of Bellaire Blvd and Highway 6. If you need directions, you can always give a call out on the 146.94 repeater (minus offset/167.9 tone)

So come out to a meeting and talk to some of the members to learn about the hobby. If you cannot make the meeting, most of them will also be held on ZOOM. Information on this website.

73, Mike Hardwick, N5VCX – President

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
713-826-6917

What is Amateur Radio?

Amateur radio, often called Ham Radio, is both a hobby and a service we use various types of radio communication equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation, and self-training.

Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communication if necessary.

How Do I Become a Ham?

Before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. US licenses are good for 10 years before renewal. There are three license classes: Technician, General and Extra.

BVARC holds VE exam sessions every month for anyone who wants to get their amateur license or upgrade an existing license.

Houston Area Repeaters

There are huge repeater lists on the internet everywhere!, We have thrown together some good starter frequencies for a new ham.

VHF
146.94 – One of the most popular repeaters in the Area.
147.200 – Katy KARS club repeater
147.080 – Echo Society
147.320 – Echo Society
147.240 – Cross Roads Club
146.860 – Clear lake Club

UHF
442.350 – Katy KARS club repeater
444.300 – Very Active Repeater
443.075 – NARS club
444.400 – Echo Society
442.750 – Clear Lake Club

GMRS
462.725 – Memorial Park

Houston Fire Dispatch
460.575 –

BVARC Sponsored On Air Nets

Monday:
12noon Stir Crazy Net – 146.94
8pm Public service net – 146.94
Tuesday:
12noon Stir Crazy Net – 146.94

Wednesday:
12noon Stir Crazy Net – 146.94
7pm Rag Chew Net – 3.910 Mhz
Thursday:
12noon Stir Crazy Net – 146.94
Friday:
12noon Stir Crazy Net – 146.94

General Club News & Events

Upcoming Monthly Events

2026 Greater Houston Hamfest Feb 20,21

2026 Hamfest dates set.
Houston hamfest will be held at eh Fort Bend County Fairgrounds next year in February.. Planning meetings and any developments will be posted here.

Club Photojournalist wanted

The goal is to have a group of us available at our club events to capture still-life and video of the many great people and the things they are doing. So, we have a historical archive for future generations. The process would be we pan out and enjoy the event taking photos or video along the way. I will gather the media from the group at the end of the event and disseminate our collection for proper archiving. If we are able to capture enough usable video clips I plan to compile those into a produced video and place it on our YouTube Channel. A cell phone camera is capable of these captures and no special equipment is required, or if you happen to have dedicated camera equipment feel free to put it to work. Thanks in advance for your interest in this much needed club support.

BVARC Elmers

Hams Helping Hams
Working on a system to make it easy for BVARC members to find expert help from other BVARC members. Ideas on this can be emailed to n5vcx@att.net

Persons to Call
Mike Hardwick – N5VCX -Club President – n5vcx@att.net – 713-826-6917

Eddie Runner – NU5K – Web Guy – web@bvarc.org – 713-569-8799

Would anyone else like to be on this list? Or help develop a list of subjects and experts to help new hams.

HAMIAM

A few folks have asked about HAMIAM.. it is kind of a joke between some BVARC members.. it is a secret word implanted in an email, text article or website to determine who reads it.. normally a sentence that says “if you read this reply with hamiam.” Stemming from conversations about who reads or cares about some folks efforts..

Newest Members

Mike Williams – KK5SC
Jamie Hawkins – KJ5LWE
Forrest Carpenter – W5FLC
Robert Butler – KJ5DHF
Norma Bonica
James Harrison
Nathan Dodd – KO4YFB
Jim Pappenfus – W2PAP
Ricki Thorpe – KJ5KUX
Albert Chambers – W5CBA
Cody Williamson – KG5CEW
Mark Benson – KF5JSA
David Lee – W5OC
Hae Won Jung – KD9POT
Arthur Ross
Christopher Seeloff – KJ5FLD
Daniel Poirot – KJ5IZK
Sharon Pendley
Greg Pendley – KJ5KGB
Alredo Alba – KJ5JMI
Mark Carouso – KI5WHH
Nathan Barnett – KJ5JJP
Jason Barnett – KC5KAW
Spencer Hunter – KC7JCV
Idfaz Akmed – KJ5JNT
Maurice Starbird – AI5XJ
Jay Davidson – KJ5HMX
Steve Boozalis
Majid Latif – KJ5IUX
Hal Ankrum – K5KKI
Steve Miller – K5KSM
Mehmet Ucar – KJ5IVW
Brian Paulk – W5DBP
William Kinslow
Charles Brindell – KJ5ICO
Alden Montoya – N1CLA
Jonathon Harrelson – KJ5IGP
Joseph Henry – KI5ZYK
Chris Little – KJ5HYC
Gary Gruber – KJ5HYX
Bob RIng – KI5CDC
Arthur Murphy – AI5TG
Gregory Stafford – KE5BKP
Anthony Scopel – K5AJS
Terrence McHugh
Joseph Hall
Lance Taylor – KF5FPD
Kelly Reimann – KJ5JYU
Luke Burciu – KJ5HDQ
Nate Woodsmith – WSDL747
Jodi Woodsmith – WSDL747

Life Members

Kjell Anderson – KJ5EMP
Michael Palmer – K5MJP
Blake Alley – N5BAA
Arthur Murphy – AI5TG
Robert Beauchamp – AI5QE
Ronald Mahle – N6RAM
Thomas Larsh – K5TNL
Lee Usry – K5BLU
Johnathan Taylor – KI5OZK
Sean Linkenheimer -N5LNK
Jorge Guterrez – WK5J
Mark McGrath – N5VCM
Patrick Sloan – N5JRY
Kirc Bredin – N5XJB
Ivan Shabelev – KI5SSL
Reid WIlliams – KR3IDO

Jeffery Carson – KF5ONT
David Stevens – KI5LDZ
Robert Schaer – N5DIB
Arthur Lim – KF5JHJ

Recent Silent Keys

Robert Cullen – K5TPC
Willis Cook – K5EWJ
Mark Braun – W5THC
Gus Bernard – K5GMB
Charlie Prochaska – KG5KV
Cameron Mitchel – K5CAM
Michael Mustachia – KF5PHA
Steve Chancellor – KF5M
Michael Scarcella WA5TWT
Chris Heustis – W5GX
Howard Hargrove – KF5EYX
Ross Lawler – W5HFF
Tom Morton – W5TOM
Dan Gannon – WA5ANF

Recent Donations

Ryan Medina – $100
Glen Jenkins – WB4KTF – BVARC $20
Richard Cary – K5RBC – POTA $10
Terry Leatherland – K5PGF – BVARC $50
Matthew Miller – K5LKV – BVARC $10
Robert Cullen – K5TPC – BVARC $20
Matthew Miller – K5LKV – FD $10
Richard Cary – K5RBC – FD $20
Richard Bonica – KG5YCU -FD $50
Matthew Miller – K5LKV – FD $10
Richard Cary – K5RBC- 146.94 $10
Richard Cary – K5RBC – FD $10
Matthew Miller – K5LKV – BVARC $10
Matthew Miller – K5LKV – POTA $10
Richard Bonica – KG5YCU – POTA $50
Rudolph Pickut – KI5LQS – POTA $10

Area Weekly Social Gatherings

Saturday Breakfast

IHOP Stafford
6:30am

12725 Southwest Fwy, Stafford, TX 77477

Wednesday Lunch

LUNCH BUNCH: LUBY’S CAFETERIA
11:00am to Noon

10575 W Airport Blvd, Stafford, TX 77477

Dealers that support BVARC

Advertising on this website!
$30 for six months
$50 for one year

Donate to BVARC

Donate to BVARC!
Support your local Ham Club
Donation

Donate to Field Day!
Donation

Donate to 146.94 Repeater Fund!
We all use the repeater everyday.
Donation

Donate to Museum Ship Weekend!
Help with Expenses
Donation

We do get a lot of Donations, as well as questions about donations.
BVARC is a 501c Organization, your donations to BVARC are Tax Deductible as well as a benefit to the Ham Radio community.

You can donate below with your credit card, or you can donate in person at one of our meetings. You can not only donate cash, but you can also donate equipment or supplies.

Ask our Treasurer for a receipt.

To Everyone : I want to thank you for volunteering to help me proof read this website. I am not very good at spelling sometimes, and I often hurry to get new information up on the site and do not notice simple errors.. They keep trying to fire me.. But I keep on keepin on.. Doing BVARC web pages since 2009.. I welcome any permanent help with the website as well.. if your interested email web@bvarc.org and or n5vcx@att.net
REPORT errors to: Eddie Runner(NU5K) web@bvarc.org