Hello BVARC! I hope y'all are enjoying the cool weather (I certainly am). We're just a few short weeks away from a new year, and new activities to do (and stuff to buy?) in amateur radio. This month's General Meeting will be "Homebrew night", where you can see and/or bring out your own, homebrew projects. This month we'll be heading back to No Label Brewing company in Katy for Brews with BVARC. Looking forward to next year, Winter Field Day 2025 is coming January 25th and 26th, and BVARC is currently planning on hosting an event at Duhacsek Park in Sugar Land. Please keep an eye on the reflector and BVARC.org website for info. I also want to publish the word about the resurrected 146.880 MHz repeater! At a height of roughly 1400 ft, the repeater should have an even greater footprint than the our old faithful 146.94 MHz machine. Please give it a try (146.880 MHz, PL Tone 167.9Hz, and a -600kHz offset).
Of course we have the Christmas Holiday and New Years coming, and as this will be my last update email of 2024 I want to wish a great holiday and happy new year from my family to you and yours! Enjoy your time with family and be sure to sneak in a little amateur radio when you can LOL. Joking aside, the holidays are a great time to show your family (and especially young people in your lives) the fun and practical values of amatuer radio. As always, check out our website BVARC.org <http://bvarc.org/> for updates, and for information on our weekly in-person events, nets, and other resources. The December Newsletter will be posted on the BVARC.org website <https://bvarc.org/newsletters.php> soon. Don't forget about our social media as well! We have a Facebook Page <https://www.facebook.com/groups/bvarc/>, a Discord Server <https://discord.gg/kwVGeXM7UH>, and YouTube channel <https://www.youtube.com/bvarc> for the club. Add the BVARC Calendar to your calendar app (by clicking the link here <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=YTk0YTkxYmRhNWU3ZmY3ODhkNjFjOWExNWVjNzY5M2VlYjUzM2IxYTE1YTc4NDlmNDM4MTRmNzI3NzZlNWNmY0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t>), all events for the next 30 days should be on that calendar as well as others as we confirm their dates. *Notes from Wednesday 12/4/24 Stir-Crazy Net:* Our topic was "Amateur Radio Resources" and we had plenty of great comments with participants giving recommendations on books, websites, apps, and lots of YouTube channels.While this is by no means comprehensive account, below are some of the resources I noted down for your reference and I'm publishing them at the behest of some of our members on the net. Please tune in to the Stir-Crazy Net each Weekday Monday-Friday starting at Noon (until we run out of stuff to talk about) on the 146.94 MHz repeater. I'll see you there as NCS each Wednesday! - The ARRL Amateur Radio Handbook, ARRL Antenna Book, and QST Magazines - W1FB's QRP Notebook - Voice Of America Coverage Analysis Program (VOACAP <https://www.voacap.com/hf/>) - DX View Website for HF <https://hf.dxview.org/> and VHF <https://vhf.dxview.org/> propagation - DX Summit <https://www.dxsummit.fi/index.html> website for DX Spotting - Reverse Beacon Network <https://www.reversebeacon.net/main.php?rows=10&max_age=10,hours&hide=distance_km> for checking your propagation and general propagation on the bands - Repeater Book website <https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/> - QRZ.com for looking up calls and gathering info about our fellow operators we hear on the air - *Various YouTube Channels (w/ links):* KM4ACK <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQhXfGo_68Ta8-2wStAWkw>, DX Commander <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wLPPAzu7iPDMaUeHoVvJw>, DX Explorer <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgaWKPt1P-4D6YI-Opd15_Q>, Ham Radio Crash Course <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChAu6Cof9KlfFxSbL9ytosQ>, Mr. Carlson's Lab <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU9SoQxJewrWb_3GxeteQPA>, Ham Radio Concepts <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuawHU2iYR_0tpYAIDyIH4Q>, Ham Radio 2.0 <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpVMjRE0m60lKCBWhIlo0A>, KB9VBR <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC2RJ3tINAiKEH9X_ijo1Yg>, K8MRD <https://www.youtube.com/c/K8MRDRADIOSTUFF>, Off-Grid Ham Radio OH8STN <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3xxr5EeFDtxnuHTWsDu2rA>, Ham Radio DX <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo_jX41l6nYfnrQuk0qsZFw>, and of course there are many more. - NanoVNA-Saver <https://nanovna.com/?page_id=90> a software tool to use with your nanoVNA - "Ham Call Signs", "HamAlert", and "RepeaterBook" Apps. (A Note from J.D. (K4USN) to keep an ear out for contacts with *FT4YM and* *IA0/IZ1KHY who are currently operating from Antarctica*!) - Solder Smoke Blog <https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/>. - And of course our fellow hams on the airwaves (146.94 MHz repeater and others) and at our club events and get-togethers. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *BVARC Calendar for December 2024:* *BVARC VE Test Session* This month we will not have a VE test session. Our next test session will be on January 4th at 10:30am at Bayland Community Center. You can register online via the BVARC.org website by clicking on the "License Testing" link at the top of the page. *BVARC Board of Directors Meeting* *Sunday December 8th at 5:00pm* The BVARC BoD is currently meeting on the Sunday before the Second Thursday of the month at 5pm (with few exceptions). This meeting will take place on Zoom, and all members are encouraged to attend so they can check out what the board is up to. The BVARC BoD is here to serve you, so please attend and let your voice be heard. *Where:* On Zoom (Link will be posted on the email reflector) *Brews with BVARC* *Tuesday December 10th at 6:30pm* For our last Brews with BVARC of 2024, we are heading back to our old favorite: No Label Brewing Company in Katy. As usual they will have their great taco truck the Birria Boyz with delicious tacos etc. If you've been to No Label before and purchased a glass, don't forget to bring it with you to get it filled. Call us on 146.52 MHz FM Simplex to let us know when you're close and we can direct you to our table. Please come on out if you can! It's always a fun event. *Where:* No Label Brewing Company 5351 1st St. Katy, TX 77493 *BVARC General Meeting* *Thursday December 12th at 7:00pm* The BVARC General meeting for December will be our big Homebrew Night. Please bring out your own homebrew projects to show them off and tell us just how you made your homebrew projects. It will be a great opportunity to share some amateur radio and electronics knowledge with your fellow ham radio operators. There will be holiday food prepared by our wonderful BVARC Food Team (please send your RSVP to Scott kd5...@gmail.com or Mike n5...@att.net.). Hope to see you there! *Where:* Volunteer Fire Station #4 16005 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77083 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *Don't forget about our GREAT nets: * *- Stir-Crazy Net: *Weekdays (Mon-Fri) at 12 noon local time on the wonderful 146.94 MHz repeater (PL 167.9 Hz, Offset -600kHz). * - Public Service Net: *Monday nights at 8pm on the 146.94 MHz repeater. * - Rag Chew Net: *Wednesdays at 7pm (early check-ins around 6:30pm) on 3.910 MHz (That's in the General Class portion of the 80m band so check-in over the air if you can or listen for the telephone number at the beginning of the net to call and check-in via phone). That's the rundown that I have for now. Please reach out to me or any BVARC board member if you have any questions or concerns about our club events, volunteering, or anything else ham radio related. We're here for you! Thanks for being a member. Thank you for your time and 73 everybody! Kori Rahman, WX5KR *Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club* *Vice-President and Club Call Sign KK5W Trustee* Cell: (770) 298 8516 kori...@gmail.com
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