Benicia Amateur Radio Club

July 9th BARC Meeting: Fox Hunt
2024-07-09 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Monthly BARC Meeting:
Benicia Downtown Fire Station
150 Military West
Benicia, CA
Enter via the 2nd Street side door.
It’s a Fox Hunt / T Hunt, Direction Finding Hunt! This is an all family event!
Bring your HTs! The hunt will be outside in the general area around the park.
After the Hunt we will go back inside via the 2nd st side door and commence the Zoom Meeting where the T-Hunt will be reviewed and we may also review Field Day and the 3rd of July Parade.
The pre-meeting meal will be at Pacifica Pizza on 1st St. At 5:30.
If you are not a groups.io member leave your info either at the email or the phone number below to get an invitation to the Zoom meeting.

Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

June 11th Monthly BARC Meeting
2024-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
The meeting will be live at the Downtown Fire Station and available via Zoom.
We will talk about our upcoming Field Day.
All that are interested are welcome!
You’re also invited to gather with us at our pre-meeting meal at Pizza Pirate in Solano Square at 5:15 pm.
Watch our groups.io for the Zoom invitation if you would like to attend via Zoom. Or if you are not a groups.io member leave your info at the email or phone number below to get an invitation.

Monthly BARC Meeting 5/14/24
2024-05-14 19:00 - 21:30
BARC Monthly Meeting at the First Street Green
Where:
Corner First and East B Streets, Benicia, CA
Organizer:
Benicia Amateur Radio Club
info@beniciaarc..com
707-742-3227
Description:
This month’s club meeting will begin with an on-site tour of the July 3 Torchlight Parade route where we will be providing the Benicia Main Street organization with communications service. We will then move to our usual meeting location at the fire station at West Second Street and Military West.
All are welcome!

BARC April Meeting
2024-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
The meeting will be live at the Downtown Fire Station and available via Zoom.
It may be on Go-Kits or the upcoming Steam Discovery Festival or maybe not, but whatever it’s on it is always interesting and informative!
All that are interested are welcome!
You’re also invited to gather with us at Pizza Pirate in Solano Square at 5:30 pm.
Watch our groups.io for the Zoom invitation if you would like to attend via Zoom. Or if you are not a groups.io member leave your info at the email or phone number below to get an invitation.

March 12th BARC Meeting:Topic Changed: Now DMR!
2024-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
This months’ exciting meeting will cover DMR in general & will also cover specifically the new digital voice mode M17!
You’re also invited to gather and eat with us before the meeting at Pizza Pirate in Solano Square at 5:30 pm.
Watch our groups.io for the Zoom invitation if you would like to attend the meeting via Zoom. Or if you are not a BARC groups.io member leave your info at the email or phone number below to get an invitation.
All that are interested are welcome!

BARC February Meeting: Go Kits & New Officers.
2024-02-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
BARC Monthly Meeting in person and on Zoom
Benicia Fire Department, 150 Military West — Enter from West 2nd Street side
If you need a Zoom link leave your info at info@beniciaarc.com or 707-742-3227.
Meeting topics include Go Kits and report on election of officers.
You’re also invited to gather with us at Pizza Pirate in Solano Square at 5:30 pm.
We will attempt to show the meeting over Zoom.

February 3, 2024 BARC One-Day Ham Radio License Class
2024-02-03 08:30 - 17:00 | Benicia Senior Center, 1201 East 2nd Street, Benicia, 94510, United States
BARC One-Day Ham Radio License Class
The Benicia Amateur Radio Club is again hosting its One-Day Ham Radio Class. But if you want to go, you need to hurry.
It’s this Saturday, Feb. 3, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. The class is for an entry level Technician license, or existing Techs wishing to upgrade to General. The location is the Benicia Senior Center, 1201 East 2nd Street, Benicia, and the fee is $35.00; which includes all study materials, venue, snacks, handouts, and the exam fee. After the application is processed by the FCC you will need to pay a separate $35 fee directly to the FCC.
If space is still available, register at https://beniciaarc.com/hamclass/

1/9/24 Monthly BARC Meeting, “PSK31, New HTs and Elections”!
2024-01-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
BARC Monthly Meeting in person and on Zoom
When:
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
19:00 to 21:00
(UTC-08:00) America/Los Angeles
Where:
Benicia Fire Department, 150 Military West — Enter from West 2nd Street side
Organizer: Benicia Amateur Radio Club info@beniciaarc.com 707-742-3227
(If you are not in BARC’s group.io and need a Zoom link leave your info at the email or phone number above)
Description:
Meeting topics include PSK31, new inexpensive handheld transceivers, and nominations for club officers.
You’re also invited to gather with us at Pizza Pirate in Solano Square at 5:30 pm.
We will attempt to show the meeting over Zoom.

1/02/24 Zoom PSK31 Setup Demo
2024-01-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
An exciting opportunity
PSK31 Setup Demo
When:
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
19:00 to 20:00
(UTC-08:00) America/Los Angeles
Where:
Zoom teleconferencing
Organizer: Benicia Amateur Radio Club (BARC) info@beniciaarc.com 707-742-3227
(If you don’t get our Groups.io zoom invitations leave your info at the email or number above to get an invitation and link to this event).
Description:
Benicia ARC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: PSK31 Setup Demo
Time: Jan 2, 2024 19:00 Pacific Time (US and Canada)

The BARC Holiday Party is Soon!
2023-12-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Bruehol, 4828 E 2nd St., Benicia, CA, 94510
Come one! Come All!
The BARC Holiday Party is Coming!
December 12th 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Bruehol
4828 E 2nd St, Benicia, CA.
It will be a potluck, bring a dish to share. Bring family and/or anyone who is interested! Or you can come by yourself. Beer and sodas will be available for purchase. Come share in some merriment and eye ball QSOs with your fellow hams. White Elephant gift exchange for those wanting to participate bring a wrapped gift about $20 value.
Let a Club Officer know if you are coming and how many you are bringing so there can be a count of how many are coming! Hope to see you there!

November 14th BARC Meeting: Martin Rothfield, W6MRR, “Amateur Radio Balloons”.
2023-11-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Our Monthly BARC Meeting is coming up! It will be on Tuesday, November 14, 7:00 pm at the main Benicia fire station at the corner of Military West and West 2nd Street. Enter through the BARC radio room on the west 2nd side of the building.
Martin Rothfield, W6MRR, will talk about designing, building, and flying amateur radio balloons in the Bay Area with SF-HAB.org.
W6MRR got his extra license in 2010 to participate in a “Hackerspaces in Space” competition with HacDC. HacDC lost, but he continued launching countless high altitude and pico balloons. Payloads have included various radios, cameras, crossband repeaters, Geiger counters, environmental and biological sampling devices. He got started in the industry designing chips for signal processors and has worked in satellite, meteor burst, avionics and secure communications. W6MRR received EE degrees from University of Maryland and Tufts.
As always, Dinner will be beforehand at Pizza Pirate at 5:15, Meeting at 7 at the EOC and it will also be on Zoom. (If you are not on BARC’s group.io and need an invitation to the Zoom meeting please leave your info at the phone number or email below).

BARC October 10th Meeting: Remote Control for Base Station Rigs
2023-10-10 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Gregg, K6XSS, and John, AA6ZT, will be leading this exciting and informative meeting on “Remote Control for Base Station Rigs” (Using Rasberry Pi!)
It will be live and offered on Zoom.
Benicia Fire Department, 150 Military West — Enter from West 2nd Street side.
If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io to get a Zoom invitation leave your info at :
info@beniciaarc.com
or
707-742-3227
Doors open around 6:30 pm with the official meeting starting at 7:00 pm. All that are interested are welcome! Hope to see you there!
The pre meeting meal will be at Pizza Pirate at 5:15!

September 12th Monthly Meeting POTA and then Regular Meeting covering the Upcoming Ham Cram!
2023-09-12 16:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Parks on the Air Q 4-6pm (some people may come earlier!) Come join us at Benicia State Park near the Botanical Gardens. We will be on HF and vhf/uhf radios AND warming and cooking on the grill! Bring your HT. Bring your smart phone/tablet for downloading “Hammers”. Also bring your hot dogs or other grilling meats.

Then by 7:00 we will have our regular meeting back at the Fire station! We will be talking about the upcoming ham cram! All that are interested are welcome!
The intent is to do Zoom for the regular meeting, so If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io you can get a Zoom invitation by leaving your info at: info@beniciaarc.com or 707-742-3227

August 8th BARC Meeting: Dan Goldstein,KJ6KEU, “EmComm Mutual Aid in a Digital World”.
2023-08-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
At our Tuesday, August 8th, BARC Meeting, at 7:00 pm, Dan Goldstein, KJ6KEU, will be presenting, “EmComm Mutual Aid in a Digital World“.

Also all interested are welcome to join us at our pre-meeting meal at Pizza Pirate at 5:15 pm.

Watch our groups.io for the Zoom invitation if you would like to attend via Zoom. Or if you are not a groups.io member leave your info at the email or phone number below to get an invitation.
“EmComm Mutual Aid in a Digital World”, builds on lessons learned from recent disasters. “Mutual Aid” answers the question, “If my team can’t respond, who will help?” It also clarifies which local teams support the Red Cross, Salvation Army, hospitals, schools, tribal governments, critical infrastructure, served agencies, neighborhoods, and others. In addition, it addresses why the digital component (Internet) needs to be considered, and what resources are necessary (WinLink, AREDN, solar generators, etc.). Finally, it points to standardized training that can help us meet the government’s need for resource typing to facilitate mutual aid deployments.

Dan Goldstein, KJ6KEU
Dan is the Region 2 Emergency Communications mutual aid coordinator and the Administrative Sergeant for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Communications Team. He is also the ARRL East Bay Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC). In addition he serves as Hayward Planning Commissioner, Hayward Education Foundation treasurer, HOA board president, and CMA chapter president. In his spare time, he plays ice hockey and rides motorcycles. He adores his two college age kids, and their Siberian Husky “Jack”.

July Monthly BARC Meeting
2023-07-11 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
This month’s club meeting activity will be conducted outdoors with a hidden transmitter search, also known as a Fox Hunt. We will meet at the downtown fire station for a brief orientation prior to going out to search for the transmitter, individually or in teams.
Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Yellow club shirts or jackets are encouraged. The foxhunt will conclude before it gets dark.
Bring your handheld transceiver (HT) radio with the poorest antenna you have such as the one that came with the radio. You will need to degrade the signal to find the transmitter. If you have an attenuator tube, such as an empty Pringles can, bring it too. We will have a few attenuator tubes available for your use. The transmitter will emit an FM beacon in the 2 meter VHF band at 144.280 MHz.
We hope to see you there!

June 13th BARC Meeting: Antenna Analyzing in Real Life and Wrapping plans for Field Day
2023-06-13 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
We have an exciting meeting planned! We will have real life antenna analyzers and how to use them, and also we will be finalizing the plans for the upcoming Field Day! All that are interested are welcome! Note: It starts at 7:00. Doors May open at 6:30 or slightly earlier. There had been a typo previously.
Watch groups.io for the invitation to the Zoom version if interested. Or if you aren’t a member of the groups.io you can leave your info either at the phone number or email below to get an invitation.

May 9th BARC Meeting
2023-05-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Benicia Downtown Fire Station 150 Military West, Benicia, CA – Please enter via the 2nd St. side door. Doors will open at 6:30pm.
This month’s BARC Meeting, both live and on Zoom, will discuss upcoming Ham Cram and Field Day prep. ALSO there will be an opportunity to crimp connectors to coax. Bring your crimpers, your connectors and your coax. If you don’t have any, Justin, KM6ZTH, will make available some coax and connectors (?) at cost.
There will be a pre-meeting meal at Pizza Pirate starting after 5:00 pm.
Watch our Groups.io for a Zoom invitation. If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io then leave your info at the phone number or email below.
Phone:
707-742-3227
Email:
info@beniciaarc.com
Hope to see you there live or on Zoom!

We welcome all that are interested!

April 11th BARC Meeting: Simulated Ham Test Session
2023-04-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
This months’ meeting will be about our upcoming new Ham Crams! We will talk about our current plan to bring back ham crams how they are now done and what we need for doing testing and crams. Even a Simulated Test Session will take place!
It’ll be over zoom and in person.
Watch our Groups.io for a Zoom invitation. If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io then leave your info at the phone number or email below.
Phone:
707-742-3227
Email:
info@beniciaarc.com
Hope to see you there live or on Zoom!
Pizza beforehand as always!

March 14th Monthly BARC Meeting: APRS
2023-03-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
BARC Meeting
March 14 @ 19:00 – 21:00
Benicia Downtown Fire Station 150 Military West, Benicia, CA – Please enter via the 2nd St. side door.
This month’s BARC Meeting, both live and Zoom will be on the exciting topic of APRS!
Watch our Groups.io for a Zoom invitation. If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io then leave your info at the phone number or email below.
Phone:
707-742-3227
Email:
info@beniciaarc.com
Hope to see you there live or on Zoom!

February BARC Meeting
2023-02-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
This month’s BARC Meeting will discuss upcoming Ham Crams and Testing Sessions. Our club is renowned for its providing these programs to help people enter the world of amateur radio.
If you would like to be involved, or if you have some input, or even just want to know what’s going to be offered, this is the meeting for you!
This year’s election results will also be announced!
Watch on our Groups.io for a Zoom invitation. If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io then leave your info at the phone number or email below.
Phone:
707-742-3227
Email:
info@beniciaarc.com
Hope to see you there live or on Zoom!

January Monthly Meeting: Winter Field Day
2023-01-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Our January 10, 2023 Monthly Meeting will be: “Winter Field Day”!
The organizers of Winter Field Day will be presenting over Zoom, but the Downtown Benicia Fire Department’s EOC will be open for the event. We will then have a regular club meeting on Zoom and in person.
If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io you can get a Zoom invitation by leaving your info at: info@beniciaarc.com or 707-742-3227.
For the Winter Field Day Website:
https://www.winterfieldday.com

Hope to see you there!

BARC’s November 8th 2022 Monthly Meeting presents ARRL Section Manager Mike Patterson, N6JGA!
2022-11-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 19:00 to 21:00 is the BARC Monthly Meeting in person and on Zoom (We will attempt to show the meeting on Zoom.)
Guest Speaker: ARRL Section Manager Mike Patterson, N6JGA!
Benicia Fire Department, 150 Military West — Enter from West 2nd Street side.
If you are not a member of BARC’s groups.io to get an invitation leave you info at :
info@beniciaarc.com
or
707-742-3227
Doors open at 6:30 pm with the official meeting starting at 7:00 pm. All that are interested are welcome! Hope to see you there!

Emergency Drill Practice BARC’s October 11th Meeting!
2022-10-11 17:00 - 18:30
Exciting event at our October meeting! We get to practice and learn from having an Emergency Drill! Look for the announcement on our groups.io! Details to follow!

September BARC Monthly Meeting
2022-09-13 19:00 - 20:30
September BARC Monthly Meeting!
Tuesday, September 13 @ 7:00pm.
We will be meeting at the Downtown Fire Station. (Please enter via the 2nd St. side door).
We will be looking at BARC Go Kits!
The meeting will also be available via Zoom!
Look for the groups.io announcement.
If you aren’t a member of the BARC Groups.io, to get a Zoom invitation Leave your info at one of the below:
Phone:
707-742-3227
Email: info@beniciaarc.com
We hope to see you there!

August 9th Monthly BARC Meeting - T Hunt
2022-08-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Monthly BARC meeting — Transmitter Hunt!
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
19:00 to 20:30
(7:00pm-8:30pm)
Benicia Fire Department, 150 Military West — West 2nd Street side.
This month’s club meeting activity will be conducted outdoors with a hidden transmitter hunt, also known as a Fox Hunt or “T” Hunt. We will meet at the downtown fire station for a brief orientation prior to going out to search for the transmitter, individually or in teams.
The transmitter will emit an FM beacon in the 2 meter VHF band at 144.280 MHz.
Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. If you have Yellow club shirts or jackets you can wear them! Bring a folding chair if you want to be seated for the orientation and debriefing. The event should conclude before it gets dark.
Bring your handheld transceiver (HT) radio with the poorest antenna you have such as the one that came with the radio. You will need to degrade the signal to find the transmitter. If you have an attenuator tube, such as an empty Pringles can, bring it too. These are really fun events! We hope to see you there!

JULY 12th BARC MONTHLY MEETING
2022-07-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
At the BARC Monthly meeting we will have a debrief of both Field Day and the Torchlight Parade.
We always have fun at these meetings and questions can be asked about ham radio. This meeting will probably be a hybrid live & Zoom meeting. To get an invitation leave your information at the email or phone number below.
If going to the live meeting please enter via the 2nd St. side door (Go through the Radio Room).Doors will open at 6:30.

Benicia Amateur Radio Club Annual Field Day: Saturday, June 25, 2022
2022-06-25 11:00 | Train Depot, 90 1st St,, Benicia
Free Family Event! Benicia Amateur Radio Club Annual Field Day: Saturday, June 25, 2022
2022 Field Day ended early, but it was a great day!

The Benicia Amateur Radio Club (BARC) invites the public to its fun & free annual ARRL Field Day, an amateur radio public awareness event, from 11 am to 8pm, Saturday, June 25, 2022.
Amateur radio operators or “hams” will be demonstrating radios and using a variety of electronic equipment to practice communications techniques, contacting other ham stations across North America and beyond as a disaster preparedness exercise.
At this exciting event the public will be given the opportunity use actual radios! Bring the kids, family and friends and talk to each other and to the world!
There will be various radios, solar panels & batteries, antennas from a simple wire to tall & complicated ones, even digital communication from laptops or tablets to radios!
In a real emergency, phones, power, and cell towers may be down and hams are there to help communication.
This year Field Day takes place at the Benicia Train Depot, 90 1st St. Benicia CA, 94510.
All that are interesting are welcome! Bring the whole family! Bring your friends!
Hope to see you there!

Previous Field Days shown above.

Monthly June 14th BARC Meeting
2022-06-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
The Monthly BARC Meeting will finalize all the details about this years’ Field Day. It will be a Zoom meeting only!!!!
To get an invitation please leave a message on either the email or phone number listed below.
Hope to see you there!

BARC May 10th Monthly Meeting: Planning Field Day
2022-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 is our Monthly meeting. We are excited to announce we will be planning Benicia Amateur Radio Club’s Annual Field Day!

Help us plan! Give your input on this fun event!
It will be a hybrid meeting: a live and Zoom Meeting. It will be at 7pm. More details to follow on our groups.io. If not a member of BARC groups.io, then to get a Zoom invitation leave a message at the email or phone number below.
All that are interested are welcome!
Previous BARC Field Days pictured above.

April 12 BARC Meeting:Build an End Fed Half Wave Antenna!
2022-04-12 19:00 - 21:00
At our April meeting we are planning to build EFHW. If you are interested in building your own and would like supplies provided please let myself or any officer know. Please spread the word to your fellow hams both members and non members.This will probably be offered as a both in person and Zoom event!

Currently the parts list is as follows

49:1 Unun- looking to do an Ali express order hoping they will be here in time
135’ of 20g stranded silicone coated wire
Insulator
Zip ties
Shipping
$40/ antenna

We are looking for elmers and equipment to aide with this project as well.
We will need portable HF rigs and batteries, antenna analyzers (the club has 2), tape measures, wire cutters, wire strippers, wire crimpers. Elmers!

Lastly we need you all!

If you are interested in building but aren’t comfortable being in person yet we will do our best to get the parts in your hands prior to the meeting but will not have extra tools or analyzers. We can get those to you at a later date.

To order please go to:
https://beniciaarc.com/payment/
Ammount: $40.00
Purpose: Build an EFHW

Justin Cowgill
KM6ZTH
