Benicia Amateur Radio Club

Andy Record, KF6TJR, “Building a Club Grade Repeater from Your Junk Box(es)”.
2018-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
For the Sept. 11th BARC Meeting we are happy to announce Andy Record, KF6TJR, from Martinez ARC will be our guest speaker. His presentation will be “Building a Club Grade Repeater from Your Junk Box(es)”. Mark your calendars now!
It meets at the Benicia Downtown Fire Station,150 Military West. Please enter via the 2nd Street side door. Doors open at 6:30 pm. The meeting begins at 7:00. There will be the presentation and a business meeting. All are welcome!

Ham License Test Session
2018-09-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Today, Saturday, September 8th We have a FCC exam session from 0900 to 1100 at the Downtown Benicia Fire Station, 150 Military W., Benicia, Ca. Please enter via the 2nd St. Side door. Walk-ins are welcome! (This is not a class!)
The fee is $15.
Bring two forms of ID.
Minors may bring school ID, minor’s work permit, report card, Kaiser card etc.
If upgrading bring photocopy of your current Amateur Radio license or the original(s) and photocopy(s) of any Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE). The photocopy(s)will not be returned.
If you have any questions contact Michelle at AA6AW@BeniciaARC.com

Kevin Amey, AA6KA presents “Digital Modes” at August BARC Meeting!
2018-08-14 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
We are looking forward to the August 14th BARC meeting featuring “Digital Modes” by Kevin Amey, AA6KA. Elwin, KJ6SGM, saw his incredible presentation at another Club’s meeting and recommended we have him speak at our club, and we were lucky enough to get him! Mark your calendars now for this informative and fascinating presentation.
We meet at the Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West. doors open at 7:00 PM and the presentation begins shortly after 7:30.
We also have a pre-meeting meal at Southampton’s Roundtable Pizza which begins at 5:00! All that are interested are welcome!

Pacificon / MDARC1 Van presentation
2018-07-10 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Our July 10th BARC meeting is going to be a really exciting double presentation event! Jim Siemons, W6LK and Lauren Styles, WA6CIE, will be presenting on Pacificon 2018 and will also be bringing the MDARC 1 van for a show and tell about the van and its capabilities.

2018 ARRL BARC Field Day June 23-24 (Ham Radio Open House)
2018-06-23 11:00 - 2018-06-24 11:00 | Benicia Fire Museum, 900 East Second, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
The Benicia Amateur Radio Club invites you, your family & friends to 2018 ARRL Field Day on June 23-24 at the Benicia Fire Museum, 900 East 2nd Street.

Field Day starts Saturday Morning at 11:00 AM and ends Sunday at 11:00 AM! You will see Demonstrations! You will be given an opportunity to talk on the air on a real ham radio!
24 continuous hours! Drop in anytime!

Walking Transmitter Hunt in Downtown Benicia led by Art Mayoff
2018-06-12 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
On June the 12th, Art Mayoff will conduct a transmitter hunt or “T Hunt”, with a “How-to” session before the hunt starts. Please bring your HT’s and your enthusiasm for this fun event! Bring friends too! Doors will open at 7:00 pm. Promptly a “How-to” session will begin. The Hunt will start around 7:30. After the hunt there will be a club business meeting.The Pre-Meeting Meal will be at Pizza Pirate beginning at 5pm. All are welcome!

Get On The Air (GOTA) Class
2018-05-15 07:00 - 20:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Two of BARC’s own Tom Ross, KR6TOM, and Bob Fentress, W6RBF, will lead a Free GOTA class with radios to get on-the-air experience. For more experienced hams it’s a great refresher class! They will also be available for any questions you have! All that are interested are welcome! Please enter via the 2nd St. side door.

"Locating and Killing Receiver Interference", by Gary Johnson, NA6O
2018-05-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
“Locating and Killing Receiver Interference”, by Gary Johnson, NA6O is our presentation for May. Several members went to see this fascinating presentation in January given at MDARC, and we are super excited that Gary has agreed to give the same dynamic presentation at BARC! The pre-meeting meal is at Pizza Pirate starting at 5:00pm.

Michelle Paquette: Compact Antennas
2018-04-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
At our April 10th BARC Meeting we are pleased to announce the return of one of our favorite speakers: our club’s own Michelle Paquette, AA6MP. She will be speaking on the latest in Compact Antennas. She always has a great presentation with lots of visual demonstrations that make theory clear and fun!

Tuesday, March 13th BARC Presentation, "Air Traffic Control" with Kurt McAninch @ 7:30 PM
2018-03-13 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Kurt was born and raised in Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1979 from Iowa State University with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Moving to Sacramento in August of 1980, opportunities for environmental jobs went south.
So he answered an ad in the Sacramento Bee in the Spring of 1981 for Air Traffic Control. In September of 1982 he was hired and went to Oklahoma City for training. On January 3rd 1983 he walked into the doors of Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center in Fremont. He retired from there on March 31st, 2013.
He controlled air traffic with radar and non-radar oceanic procedures. Moved into international ATC procedures office and then into Air Traffic Flow Control. In 2007 he was assigned Military Operations Specialist until retirement.
He resides in Pleasanton with his wife, Ruth, of 20 years (She also was a controller at Oakland tower). His oldest son is currently at Fresno tower training for ATC. His other son, who just moved to Miami from Seattle, is between jobs.
We are looking forward to his presentation on “Air Traffic Control”! His presentation is open to all! Doors open at 7:00. Presentation begins at 7:30! Please enter via the 2nd Street Side door.
We will be having our pre-meeting meal at Round Table Pizza, 878 Southampton Rd, starting at 5:00 pm. (Note: This is a different venue than we had originally said!) Hope to see you all there!

On February 13th, 2018, We will have our First Double Program! 1st:"The Disaster Response to the North Bay Wildfires", by John Williams, Larry Whitney and Tom Clausen.Then 2nd: "GED3-Ten"(Generic Disaster Exercise 3-Ten) given by Art Mayoff.
2018-02-13 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
At Our February 13th, 2018, meeting we will have an unprecedented, exciting double program!
Our 1st BARC presentation of the evening will be:
“The Disaster Response to the North Bay Wildfires”. It will be presented by BARC’s own John Williams, Larry Whitney and Tom Clausen.
They will be speaking to their own various experiences with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army etc. serving those affected by the disaster.
Our second program will be: “GED3-Ten”(Generic Disaster Exercise 3-Ten) given by also BARC’s own Art Mayoff.
We will have no business meeting in the Month of February, to make this exciting double presentation possible!
This is all open to all who are interested!
We will be having our pre-meeting meal at Pizza Pirate, 72 Solano Square, starting at 5:00 pm. Hope to see you all there!

January's BARC Meeting Presentation is "The Victorian Internet, a book by Tom Standage. (Or, A Brief History of the Telegraph), by Larry Lauber
2018-01-09 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
The January BARC Meeting Presentation by Larry Lauber will be, “The Victorian Internet, a book by Tom Standage. (Or, A Brief History of the Telegraph). We met Larry at Benicia Mini Makers Faire and he had a great Telegraph display and presentation. We look forward to seeing this presentation!
The pre-meeting meal will be at Pizza Pirate starting anytime after 5:00 pm.

Robert Hess presenter at BARC Meeting!
2017-11-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Robert Hess will give a presentation on “Broadcast Towers”. He gave us a fascinating presentation before and he’s back again! The pre-meeting meal will be at Roundtable Pizza in the Southampton Shopping Center starting at 5:00pm.

BARC's October Meeting will change from it's regular location to the Benicia Senior Center! Art Mayoff, AA6AM, will demonstrate our New HF/VHF/UHF GoKit!
2017-10-10 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Senior Center, 187 East L Street, Benicia, CA, United States
October 10th’s BARC Meeting has been changed and it’s location is the Senior Center,187 East “L” St. Benicia.

Art Mayoff will do the presentation, “GoKit Number 5”.
BARC’s new GoKit – The IN’s and Out’s. How it was designed. How it was built. How to use it. HF, VHF, UHF, Three antenna Systems. Our members paid for it through donations and dollar-for-dollar matching. Come and learn how it works and how to set it up!

Program begins at 7:30. Doors open at 7:00.
Pre-meeting meal will meet at Roundtable Pizza in the Raley’s shopping center anytime after 5:00.

AGAIN:We will meet at the Senior Center this month!!!

Captain Tuuli Messer-Bookman will give BARC's Sept. 12th Presentation, "Maritime Casualties: Causes and Consequences".
2017-09-12 19:00 - 21:30 | CA
Capt. Tuuli Messer-Bookman grew up aboard wooden sailboats in picturesque Sausalito, California. Her parents, both teachers, lived aboard for over thirty years. In 1986, Tuuli graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. After several years of working as a ship’s officer aboard commercial cargo ship, she earned her U.S. Coast Guard unlimited tonnage master’s license. She has sailed over 300,000 sea miles as a merchant marine officer. She returned to school and earned her law degree at the University of San Francisco, School of Law. She is currently a tenured, full professor in the Marine Transportation Department of the California Maritime Academy, a campus of the California State University System. She teaches all aspects of navigation and is the lead instructor for U.S. Coast Guard license exam preparation for the Academy’s senior cadets. She also evaluates and trainscadets for navigational watch standing in the Academy’s state-of-the-art full-mission ship simulator.
We are excited to have this wonderful opportunity to hear her exciting presentation; and she will bring copies of her book that it’s based on also! All that are interested are welcome! We meet at the Benicia Downtown Fire Station. Please enter by the second street side doors. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Meeting Starts at 7:30.
We will meet for a pre-meeting meal at our local Pizza Pirate, 72 Solano Square. Capt. Tuuli Messer-Bookman plans on being there around 5:30, but you can come and order your food as early as 5:00.

Our August 8th BARC presentation by Gary Gross, KE6QR, is "Vallejo's Field Day".
2017-08-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
We are excited to have Gary Gross coming back to give us another presentation! He has given well received presentations to BARC over the years and his expertise and enthusiasm are evident. His Presentation will be “Vallejo’s Field Day”. Have you ever wondered what other club’s Field Days are like? This is a perfect opportunity to find out! We always also enjoy visiting with his XYL, Jennifer, who too is an enthusiastic ham radio operator! Side doors open at 7:00 PM, Meeting begins at 7:30. Our pre-meeting meal is at anytime after 5:00, Roundtable Pizza in the Southampton Shopping Center.

July is 11th Direction Finding/Transmitter Hunting at BARC!
2017-07-11 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
On July the 11th, Art, AA6AM, will conduct a transmitter hunt with a “How-to” session before the hunt starts. Please bring your HT’s and your enthusiasm for this fun event! Bring friends too! Doors will open at 7:00 pm. Promptly a “How-to” session will begin at 7:00 pm. The Hunt will start around 7:30. After the hunt and a short break there will be a club business meeting.

BARC's ARRL Field Day!
2017-06-24 11:00 - 2017-06-25 11:00 | Benicia Fire Museum, 900 East Second, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
The Benicia Amateur Radio Club (BARC) Invites You to it’s ARRL Annual Field Day!!
June 24-25 from 11:00 AM Saturday to 11:00 AM Sunday.
It meets at the Benicia Fire Museum on 900 East 2nd Street.
For 24 hours straight Amateur Radio operators or “Hams” will be demonstrating radios and using a variety of electronic equipment to practice communications techniques as a disaster preparedness exercise. Solar power batteries, various antennas from a wire to much more complicated ones and even digital modes using laptops or tablets with the radios will be used. Because in a real emergency phones and power and cell towers may all be down. Anyone who is interested will be given the opportunity to contact other people involved in this national event via a real ham radio, because on Field Day even people without a license can get on the air! Many other uses of ham radio will also be displayed. It’s a great opportunity, informative and fun for everyone!

BARC's Tuesday, June 13th, Club Meeting Presentation "Compact Antennas" will be given by Michelle Paquette, AA6MP.
2017-06-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Michelle Paquette, AA6MP, BARC’s Past President, will be giving our Presentation in June. The Topic will be “Compact Antennas”. She gives fascinating and entertaining presentations that appeal to both new hams and experienced hams. This is an event not to be missed! Doors open at 7:00. Meeting begins at 7:30.
We will have our pre-meeting meal at Roundtable Pizza anytime after 5:00 pm.

Kevin Stow, N6VLF, to give "Repeaters" presentation at BARC's May 9th Meeting
2017-05-09 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Kevin Stow, N6VLF’s presentation will be “Repeaters” at BARC’s May 9th Meeting. This is a fun, informative and interactive presentation! The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. The doors will open at 7:00 p.m. We meet at the Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 West Military. Please enter via the Second St. side door.

Klaus Berkner, K6KHB, will be our speaker on FLDIGI at our April 11th BARC Meeting
2017-04-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Klaus Berkner, K6KHB, will be our speaker on FLDIGI at our April 11th BARC Meeting. He has done presentations on FLDIGI that have gotten rave reviews and we have had many requests to get him for this talk and exciting demonstration! The meeting will be at Benicia’s Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military W. Please enter via the 2nd Street side Door.

"The USS Hornet, and it's Radio Club HARC" will be explored at the March BARC Meeting, by Jerry Inman, AE6I.
2017-03-14 07:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Jerry Inman, AE6I, President of the USS Hornet Amateur Radio Club (HARC) will give a presentation on Tuesday, March 14th. The meeting starts at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 PM. We meet at the Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 West Military. Please go in the Second street side door.

At the February BARC Meeting: Bob Hess, W1RH, "The Official Observer Program".
2017-02-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
On February the 14th, Bob Hess, W1RH, will give a presentation on what the Official Observer Program is and what they do.

CHANGE OF LOCATION!! BENICIA SENIOR CENTER!! January BARC Meeting: Richard Rodriguez from PGE: Electricity for Emergency Responders.
2017-01-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Senior Center, 187 East L Street, Benicia, CA, United States
PG&E’s Richard Rodriguez is coming back to our January BARC Meeting! In November we had the first half of his presentation on “Hazards: Gas”, January’s will be the second part; “Hazards: Electricity”. The BARC Meeting will be at the BENICIA SENIOR CENTER-187 East L Street, Benicia!! Doors open at 7:00. Meeting begins promptly at 7:30 p.m.

December Meeting is Our Annual Holiday Party!
2016-12-13 19:00 - 21:30 | CA
Details coming soon! Times may change.

PG&E Senior Safety Specialist Richard Rodriquez is coming back to Benicia to speak at our November 8th BARC Meeting!
2016-11-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
At our November 8th BARC Monthly meeting, we are excited that PG&E Senior Safety Specialist Richard Rodriquez is coming back to Benicia to provide us with information on Gas and Electric Hazards from the perspective of volunteer first responders that are involved in ham radio. We meet at the Benicia Downtown Fire station. Doors open at 7:00PM. This exciting and informative program begins at 7:30 PM.

The Benicia Amateur Radio Club is pleased to announce that internationally renowned antenna expert and author, Tom Schiller, N6BT, will be the guest speaker at its October 11th meeting.
2016-10-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
Tom is developing new Next Generation Antennas which can be purchased through his website at N6BT.com. Continuing to move technology forward, he is conducting real-time antenna testing: measuring take-off angles and comparative strengths of antennas using a sophisticated quad copter. He speaks on this and other antenna information in presentations such as he is giving at this years’ Pacificon Antenna Forum and is happy to also talk to you about this at his booth in the Contra Costa vendor hall. Tom shares his knowledge and experience in the books which he has authored, “Array of Light (third edition)”, written for new to very experienced amateur radio operators. He has been licensed over 50 years, is an A.R.R.L. Life Member and operates as an expert consultant on antenna and tower installations. He has developed hundreds of antennas and will help you assess your needs based on your individual application and specifically build an antenna right for your location. Tom is the founder of Force 12, Inc. where he produced revolutionary designs, shipping over 24,000 antennas worldwide. After selling the product line in 2008, he began his current operations. He is an avid contester, founding Team Vertical with Kenny, K2KW, setting over 20 world records with the team and individually, including his incredible CQWW CW QRP 160 World Record.

"Following the Lewis and Clark Expedition in an RV" by Art Schipper, K6ALS at BARC's September 13th Meeting.
2016-09-13 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
An exciting presentation is coming up at our September 13th BARC Meeting,
“Following the Lewis and Clark Expedition in an RV”
by Art Schipper, K6ALS.
It meets in Benicia’s Downtown Fire Station.
Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30 PM.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend this free event!
Please enter via the 2nd Street side door.

BARC's August 9th Meeting: Mike Paquette, “The Care and Feeding of Ancient Electronics”
2016-08-09 19:00 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
At BARC’s August 9th Meeting
Mike Paquette, AA6MP, will be giving the presentation,
“The Care and Feeding of Ancient Electronics”.
Featuring his recent restoration of a 50 year old Heathkit receiver.
It meets in the Benicia Downtown Fire Station.
Doors open at 7:00, Meeting begins at 7:30 PM.
Please enter the 2nd St. side door.

Slight Time change! Hidden Transmitter Hunt at BARC's July Meeting given By Art Mayoff, AA6AM
2016-07-12 18:45 - 21:30 | Benicia Downtown Fire Station, 150 Military West, Benicia, CA, 94510, United States
At BARC’s July 12th Meeting
We are having A Hidden transmitter Hunt.
For this special event our times have changed slightly:
Doors will open at 6:45!
If you are interested in the body “fading” demonstration – It starts at 7:00.
The Hidden Transmitter Hunt begins at 7:30.
We will meet in the Benicia Downtown Fire Station.
The Transmitter Hunt will occur in the blocks surrounding the Fire Station.
Be sure to bring your HT radio, and a flashlight.
Also, if you want to use one of Art’s “Attenutaters”, please bring a 4′ string.
Remember:
Doors open at 6:45
Demonstration begins at 7:00
Meeting begins at 7:30 PM.
Please enter the 2nd St. side door.
There will be a pre-meeting meal at Elvia Rita’s at 5:00.
Details:
Doors open at 6:45 PM and the meeting starts at 7:00 PM for those who want to sit in on a short training session on Radio Direction Finding (RDF). We will show you how to use “Body Fade” in order to locate a hidden transmitter. We’ll also have a number of cylindrical attenuators to lend out.

Those who are experienced at Radio Direction Finding techniques are invited to arrive by 7:30 PM.

At 7:30 we will begin a Walking Transmitter Hunt (T-Hunt) lasting approx 30 min, followed by a short after-action discussion some time after 8 PM. We’ll form teams of two or three hams so we can help each other out. Transmitter hunting is a time honored tradition in Ham Radio and predates “Geocaching” by decades. This is always an enjoyable activity and I encourage beginners to team up with the others so we can all stumble our way to the hidden transmitter.

What to bring?
– Your HT with a charged battery.
– Program your radio to receive 446.250 (no pl), the input to Ben-2.
– If your HT has a “Reverse” feature, you can go to Ben-2 and push Reverse (RV), no programming necessary.
– Practice how to adjust your squelch control in advance. You’ll need it.
– If you own more than one HT, a name brand radio is preferable over the $30 Chinese radios. One with a built in Attenuator is even better.
– Leave your upgrade Rubber antenna at home. The poorer the antenna, the better. (Yes. You heard me right. Crappy is Good).
– A 4 foot piece of string or a 4 foot shoelace
– For anyone who owns a directional UHF antenna, bring it.
– For those who don’t, we’ll lend you one of our RF Attenutators which are similar to a long Pringles can.
– Wear comfortable shoes
– And in case it gets cold like last week, bring a jacket just in case.

We will conduct our business meeting after the break, somewhere around 8:30 or so.

Pre-Meeting Dinner
We will be getting together for a pre-meeting dinner at Elvia Rita’s at 5:00 PM, (Note the time change), 725 First St, Benicia. Please RSVP directly (aa6am@beniciaarc.com) or on the net, if you plan to join in.
