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
POTA Activity parks on the Air
POTA: Parks on the Air
its amazing fun being out in nature with your ham radio buddies making contacts all over the world.
Parks on the air is growing superfast, Enjoy Nature, history, food and camaraderie .. Oh, and Ham radio!!
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
Frederick Kimmey – WB5RAI
Wade Mcknight – W4TWM
Kenny Summer – N5RPQ
Daniel Godbout – KD2DVG
Frank Ruggiero – KJ5DXB
Bill Lyons – KB1IFR
Kevin Beddow – KJ5FZA
David Johnson – W5FZ
James Johnson – KJ5EVE
Blake Alley – KJ5EYU
James Brown – K4USN
Richard Ledford – KI5LFX
Mitchel Coffman – KJ5EVP
Pete Swenson – N5APS
John E Cooley
Jason Althaus – KJ5EJC
Joshua Trione – KI5FPW
Newest Life Members
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
David Stevens – KI5LDZ
Robert Schaer – N5DIB
Arthur Lim – KF5JHJ
Recent Silent Keys
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
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
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