Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
Houston's Largest Ham Radio Club
Welcome to BVARC!
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 are interested and would like to get into amateur radio, BVARC is a great place to start. With over 330 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.
So come out to a meeting to 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. Either way, you can always connect to the membership to find out more about the hobby and the many facets it has. Remember it is truly a hobby that has only one barrier = C.
73,
Mike Hardwick, N5VCX
President713-826-6917
What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur radio, often called Ham Radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called “hams”, 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.
General Club News & Events
Museum Ships Weekend
From June 2nd to the 4th, the historic ships at Seawolf Park on Pelican Island in Galveston will come to life as part of an annual worldwide event commemorating their service. This year, BVARC will be hosting MSWE on the destroyer escort, the USS Stewart, the submarine USS Cavalla and the concrete hulled WWI era SS Selma.
BVARC members will be operating and communicating with the 90+ other historic vessels in the United States and around the world. Due to the unique situation of Seawolf Park having the USS Stewart and USS Cavalla at the same location, any contact will provide an extra claimed ship QSO contact (2 for 1). During MSWE, the public may come and visit the operators during the weekend observing the contacts being made.
The schedule for the weekend will begin on Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Three operating positions are planned with SSB and CW modes available. The schedule break down is:
The event begins June 3rd 0000z(UTC) to June 5th 2359z(UTC) – Which for local time on Pelican Island is 7pm Friday to 6:59pm Sunday.
Set-up 4pm to 7pm Friday
Operating time 7 pm Friday to 1pm Sunday (tentative)
Tear down 1 pm to 3 pm Sunday
Operators (and only scheduled operators) volunteering for the overnight shift will be able to nap in the Stewart’s enlisted berthing area in the aft of the ship.
The main meal Saturday evening (RSVP required) will be as traditionally catered by Leon’s World Famous BBQ (unless there is a mutiny). Lunch Saturday will be sandwiches (Subway) and breakfast tacos for Saturday and Sunday mornings.
To sign-up for a shift(s), bring equipment, volunteer for set-up or tear down or just obtain more information contact me, Mark Janzer, K5MGJ at k5mgj@yahoo.com .
The Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club is grateful for the enthusiastic support of the Cavalla Historical Foundation, Galveston Naval Museum and the Galveston Park Board of Trustees for their permission to be aboard the vessels and the use of the park facilities. We look forward to continued future activity and expansion of BVARC’s involvement of MSWE. This involvement allows us, in our own way, to honor those who served their country at sea and to support Galveston Parks.
Mark
K5MGJ
Museum Ships Weekend
Coordinator
BVARC Board Of Directors Meeting Sunday June 04th 5PM
BVARC General Meeting Thursday June 08th at 7PM
There will be FOOD… PIZZA!!
non-members welcome!
RSVP to Mike N5VCX (n5vcx@att.net)
BVARC VE Test Session Saturday June 10th at 10:30am
Future dates
July 8th
August 5th
September 9th
October 7th
November 4th
December 9th
BVARC FIELD DAY 2023
Expect lots of promotional material at our meetings, via email and on our social media. WE NEED YOU to come out and operate our radios and promote ham radio! This is one of the biggest events in ham radio nationwide all year! There will be “general public” promotional flyers at the club general meeting this month which we would love for you to grab and post anywhere you can! Help us get the word out, promote the event, promote the hobby, and bring in as many new hams into the fold as possible. Much more to come in the next few weeks. Including our first training session for Field Day (and POTA) volunteers on May 14th and 15th (see details below).
(for both the 10m dipole and EFHW multi-band antenna):
BVARC Extra Time May 20th
May 20th
July 22nd
August 19th
September 23rd
October 21st
November 18th
December 16th.
BVARC POTA to be Announced
Brazos Bend State Park
Sunday May 28th
10am – 5pm
BVARC VE Test Session Saturday July 08 at 10:30am
Future dates
July 8th
August 5th
September 9th
October 7th
November 4th
December 9th
Newest Members
Craig Coussens – K8CPC
Lorn Westfall – KJ5AZI
Mark Roman – KI5WRI
David Kunwrka – KI5TEB
Stephanie Burton – KI5ZYI
Akshay Kapur – K5AKX
Danny Castiblanco – KI5YTY
Sean LinkenHeimer – W5URT
Jacob Mills – W5JHM
John Frost – KC5JRT
Steven Zilis – N8EXU
Michael Leatherwood – KI5ZZC
Peter Hill – KJ5ANT
Sally Russell –
Kristy Fowler – KI5RLZ
Timothy Norwood –
David Morefield – KJ5ACS
Robert White – K0RCW
Newest Life Members
Jeffery Macmillian – KC5TT
Allen Stallings – KI5WJJ
Mark Brantana – N5PRD
Michael Doerge – KI5SKL
David Reed – W5SV
Howard Barnwell – KI5WNN
Richard Weeks – KI5JML
Brad Phillips – KD8YOP
Peter Mendoza – KD6QZH
Terry Leatherland – K5PGF
Recent Silent Keys
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
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
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
7pm Questionaire 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
Donate to BVARC
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.
DONTATE TO BVARC
Donate to BVARC!
Support your local Ham Club
$10 Donation
$50 Donation
Donate to 146.94 Repeater Fund!
$10 Donation
$50 Donation
Donations
Donate to BVARC!
Support your local Ham Club
$10 Donation
$50 Donation
Donate to POTA!
Food, Drinks, shelter all cost money
$10 Donation
$50 Donation
Donate to Field Day!
$10 Donation
$50 Donation
Donate to 146.94 Repeater Fund!
We all use the repeater everyday.
$10 Donation
$50 Donation
Donate to Museum Ship Weekend!
Help with Expenses
$10 Donation
$50 Donation
