Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

Houston's Largest Ham Radio Club

Welcome to BVARC!

The Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club (BVARC) is the largest, most active amateur radio club in southeast Texas. The club was organized in 1978, and was formed to assist the cities of Stafford and Missouri City during emergencies and weather events as an emergency communications group. Since then, the club has grown 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.

If you are interested and 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 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

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 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. 

Dealers that support BVARC

Advertising on this website!
$30 for six months

$50 for one year

BVARC Sponsored NETS

Monday:
12noon Stir Crazy Net – 146.94
8pm Public service net – 146.94
Tuesday:
12noon Stir Crazy Net – 146.94
7:30 pm QuestionAir 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

BVARC Training or Classroom Available
At Bayland Community Center

BVARC reserves a four hour block for training or programs. If you would like to do a program or have a training class, please contact Mike Hardwick, N5VCX at n5vcx@att.net to reserve your date. The times that are available are 9 am and 1 pm. The reservation is free to the club and any member can use it.  

Where:  Bayland Community Center
6400 Bissonnet St
Houston, TX 77074
 Dates:
 March 23rd    April 20th   May 18th   July 20th    August 17th  September 21st
 October 19th    November 23rd    December 28th 

Newest Members

Blake Alley – KJ5EYU
James Brown – K4USN
Richard Ledford – KI5LFX
Mitchel Coffman – KJ5EVP
Pete Swenson – N5APS
John E Cooley
Jason Althaus – KJ5EJC
Joshua Trione – KI5FPW
Andre Pollard – KJ5EJC
Andrew Gafford – KC5DJY
Joe Vaught – KJ5EPN
Cathy Steinberg – N0JAB
Frank Padilla – KD6MGC
Tarek Amine – KJ5DMN
Ron McDonald – 
Brett Fuller – W5BLF
Sergio Derobles – KF5TBX
Julio Lopez – 
Parth Bratt – 
Mark Ahlen – KJ5DOB
Henry Kobutra – AI5OE
Daniel Landry – KJ5DCD
Richard Lewis – KJ5DOW
Gordon Muster – KE5YKR
Thomas Lenert – KJ5DKJ
Niover Filipe Avila Peno
Robert WIlliams – KJ5CAP
Jerry Dotson – KJ5CPT
Dan Donaldson – KI5YXK
Jose Peruego

 

Newest Life Members

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

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

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

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
7:30 pm QuestionAir 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

Donate any Amount

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