Congratulations to three newly-minted hams who passed their tests last Saturday. A big thank you to the VE team for providing this important and convenient service to the local amateur radio community.
Bryan Texas Utilities Electrical Distribution engineers joined us during our usual meeting time to educate us about radio interference from electrical sources. BTU has clear responsibilities to comply with FCC guidelines and those were explained along with the ways that BTU uses licensed radio services. If you suspect you are having problems with RFI from electrical service, create a log of your observations, noting the times the interference occurs, the weather, and the frequencies. It would also be helpful to have some recording of what you are hearing. Call your local electric service provider to report your observations and be patient as these interference problems can be challenging to locate.
Following BTU’s presentation, we had our usual business meeting including updates from our officers. At the close of our business meeting there was a brief board meeting to review and adopt guidelines for club construction projects.
If you couldn’t make it by, we missed you! Our next meeting is Saturday, 15 September. After our meeting on that day, we’ll learn about software defined radios from Kerry Miller, WD5ABC. We’d love to see you there!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/august-meeting-and-presentation/
W5BCS will be having a breakfast social gathering at the Bryan IHOP on Saturday August 11 at 8am. All is invited to come. So stop on by and say hi and socialize while dining on some pancakes and such. See calendar to right and click on the Aug 11 for map location.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/breakfast-social-gathering-ihop-bryan/
Good attendance at our July meeting. We were back in the USDA meeting and had good discussions of club business, lots of fun conversation, and a great presentation from Matthew Barry about the basis of digital signal processing. We missed you if you couldn’t make it but, we’ll look forward to seeing you in August!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/july-2018-club-meeting/
Amateur Radio operators are well-accomplished and innovative people. Many of us have had the opportunity to be a part of high-impact work that makes our lives safer, better-informed, and more comfortable. You can learn more about just one example in Dick Zimmer’s, W5DZ, RELLIS Recollections interviews. Among other things, Dick worked on manned space flight, including the Apollo moon landing and went on to make strong contributions to transportation research with the Texas Transportation Institute.
Dick Zimmer in RELLIS Recollections
Dick Zimmer video interview, “Rocket Man”
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/dick-zimmer-in-rellis-recollections/
I can’t vouch for all of his work but, this fellow with Mr. Carlson’s Lab on YouTube has quite an array of radio and electronics video recordings. They are high-quality, well-lit and well-edited. He also has a paid subscription YouTube channel with member-exclusive video recordings. Lots of good ideas and projects!
Click here: Mr. Carlson’s Lab Videos
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/mr-carlsons-lab/
You may have seen Jerry’s work on the cover of QST magazine, as he has been featured in that journal more than once. You might enjoy exploring Jerry’s interests in amateur radio, machining, photography and outdoors hobbies on his web pages. Jerry does some very detailed amateur radio work with antennas, and mobile, portable and satellite operations.
VE6AB Amateur Radio Photos
VE6AB Journal
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/ve6ab-jerry-clement/
FOOD! FUN! RAFFLES! RADIOS! PEOPLE! Come see what is happening in your Community with Amateur Radio!
Saturday, June 23th 1pm thru Sunday 1pm June 24th at Brian Bachmann Park in College Station is the location for the W5BCS ARRL Field Day!
What is Field Day? Basically put it is a chance for hams to setup and demo at public locations under simulated emergency (no power) conditions & communicate with other hams around the country & world — ALL WITH NO INTERNET REQUIRED!
So come out and see many things that Amateur Radio has to offer. Talk to amateur operators from the Brazos Valley and listen to radio communications from around the United States and beyond!
Have a question you have always wanted to know or are just curious about how to obtain your Amateur Radio License? Then this is a great time to come and check it out!
HAVE YOU BEEN STUDYING FOR YOUR FIRST LICENSE EXAM, OR WANT TO TEST FOR AN UPGRADE? Come on down then at 3:00 pm in the Pavilion area and test at our VE TEST SESSION.
Various handouts will be available about Amateur Radio as well as radio brochures and catalogs.
SWAPFEST TABLES will be avail if you want to bring something for sale or to buy, as well as a Silent Auction section.
THERE IS A BBQ DINNER AT 6PM (tickets are $10 available at the event). You do not want to miss out on all the fantastic food that will be available!
THERE WILL ALSO BE A RAFFLE WITH LOTS OF PRIZES!
Tickets are $5 for 1 ticket, $25 for 7 tickets, $50 for 15 tickets, and $100 for 30 tickets plus W5BCS membership (or next year membership if current member).
Prizes for this raffle will include:
-1st Place – Yaesu FT-450D HF Transceiver
-2nd Place – Comet CAA-500 MKII Antenna Analyzer
-3rd Place – TYT MD-2017 Dual Band DMR Handie Talkie
-4th Place – $50 Gift Card to Academy Sports & Outdoors
-5th Place — $50 Gift Card to Sam’s Club
(Drawings for major prizes to start after bbq dinner)
PLUS!!! Lots of door prizes drawn before and during BBQ dinner. (raffle ticket required-must be present for door prizes)
Radio Operators: Yes we need your help to man the radios, especially during late night hours. Whether you’re an OM or a new ham wanting some experience come on out.
CW Operators: Yes we can always use cw or digital operators. Bring your own keyer or device. Iambic keyer will be avail.
Show & Tell: Got a new radio or other item you wanna show, demonstrate or tell about? Bring it! We’d all like to see it!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/field-day-2018-almost-here/
On 16 June, we’ll meet at Peace Lutheran Church. Here is the address: 2201 Rio Grande
College Station, TX 77845. Here is a link to the location on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/xrmzrFmv5vs
The parking lot entrance is actually at the intersection of Airline DR and Shenandoah DR.
Click on the photo to enlarge.
I’ll look forward to seeing you there!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/alternate-meeting-location/
I got my amateur radio cards. Do you have yours? What is your “elevator speech” when someone asks you about that handie talkie you are carrying? What will you say about all the fun you are having with your hobby? These cards are easy to get from local printers or, order from an online source like, Cheap QSLs or, Sam’s Club. A card like this lets you leave a tangible reminder with people you meet.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/amateur-radio-cards/
We enjoyed a great presentation after our 19 May business meeting. Paul, KF5WGJ introduced us to modern microcontrollers, gave a demonstration, showed some examples, and handed out a few samples as prizes. We also got to see the µBITX HF transceiver kit thanks to John, K5ZY.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bryanarc.org/microcontroller-presentation-at-19-may-meeting/
