Upcoming Events

Check out our events below:

Until the JCC Library lifts restrictions on meeting rooms, all monthly club meetings will be held via Zoom. Check the WAARC groups.io page for info.
The weekly Williamsburg-James City County ARES net is each Wednesday at 7:30pm on the '76 repeater.
ARRL Field Day will be held on June 26-27 at Little Creek Reservoir Park. Visit our Field Day page for more information.

Event Calendar

WAARC Recent News

- Club Picnic Later in the Year
  June 6, 2021Normally the second Tuesday in June is our annual club picnic. However, because of how COVID-19 has impacted things, we are planning on having it later in the year. More details will be posted here when they are finalized. In place of the picnic, there will be a club meeting via Zoom on June 8. The hour of power will begin at 6pm and the regular meeting will begin at 7pm. The information for how to join the Zoom meeting will be posted on the club’s Groups.io reflector.... Read more...
- 2021 Jamestown Event Wrap-Up
  May 11, 2021While COVID-19 is still an issue for much of the country, WAARC was able to hold it’s annual Jamestown Landing Day special event out on Jamestown Island this year on Saturday, May 8. With many club members now vaccinated and restrictions easing, there were many club members eager to set up the station and get on the air. While it was rather windy and somewhat cool, the weather was pretty good. Setup went rather smoothly despite the gale-force winds. Some of the newer members were rather impressed with how well an antenna launcher works to pull lines through the trees. While the weather was rather enjoyable, the band conditions left a little to be desired. For several weeks the solar flux index has been rather low, and conditions were not much better for this event. We made a total of 68 contacts, all on 40 meters. There was also a somewhat high noise level, which was unusual for operating at Jamestown. One of the club’s biggest goals has been to get our newer members on the air. We did manage to get at least one newer club member some operating time. Solana N4SOL spent some time operating and was able to make 16 contacts. The club would like to thank Will K4MI and Ed K1NUH for their mentoring of Solana while she was operating. Something else that the club has been working on lately is satellite communications. Chuck AI4WU brought out a 2m/70cm handheld yogi and a home brew az-el antenna rotator controlled with a raspberry pi computer. We tried to make a satellite contact however there were no workable passes of any amateur satellites while we were on the island. However, the antenna rotator definitely seemed capable of making contacts. Look for more satellite contact opportunities in the future. The club would also like to thank Cynthia K4CEF, our special events coordinator, for her time and efforts for putting together this special event. She has done a great job getting people to volunteer and put together a great event.... Read more...
- Jamestown Special Event This Saturday
  May 5, 2021The annual Jamestown Special Event will take place this Saturday, May 8. The club will set up its special event station on Jamestown Island and operate from 10am-4pm. We plan to operate on 40m, as well as 20m as conditions permit. Planned operating frequencies are 7.265 +/- and 14.265 +/-. If you want more information about this event as well as our annual Historic Triangle special event series, please visit our Special Event Stations page.... Read more...
- ARRL Virginia Section Convention news
  April 28, 2021This past Saturday, April 24, the Vienna Wireless Society hosted the ARRL Virginia Section Convention for 2021. Club president Toby KL0SS was a speaker in two of the sessions. Click here to get to links for recordings of the sessions. (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQcoutWdcblHHkplMZwo07hD7QlXBnk6CLbbRTWcugJW7_UPxCTKTbid_nHhcZA5Ozok4GM8xyGHij4/pubhtml) Check out her first appearance that shows up at 2:10:40 and goes on into a panel discussion regarding clubs. Her second speaking slot is a round table discussion that starts around 3:46:28 and is a continuation of clubs and where the future is heading. Overall, Toby and the other two panelists and moderator brought up some very good and thought provoking points. The convention also was selling lottery tickets for some very nice door prizes. For $10 Sparky KY4DZ bought the winning grand prize ticket, a brand new Icom IC-7300. He said he hardly ever wins anything, but clearly, a 7300 makes up for any past lost opportunities. We are looking forward to hearing him on HF.... Read more...
- Another successful VE testing session
  April 27, 2021Following the success of the Friday, April 23 test session in Toano, a second session was held at the James City-Bruton Volunteer Fire Department on Monday, April 26. The five examinees all passed their tests. There were 2 new licensees and three upgrades. Pass congratulations to: DJ KO4JPR for passing his Amateur Extra; 11 year old Solana N4SOL and her mother Mari Ann KD4SGC for passing their General; Don Murtaugh of Hanover Co. and Jamie Carver of Pensacola, FL for passing their Technician. A tip of the hat to the volunteer examiners who made it all possible: Sparky KY4DZ, Dan WG4F, Jim AF4QG, Fred KN4ZME, Gil K4JST, Jack KY4EA, Mike W4NYY, Patti KB4PAT, Randy KM4YSN, Anita KH2FX and Kerry NH2A. And again, a special thanks to the Bruton VFD for allowing us the use of the classroom facility. This is a jewel of a resource for the community. Future test dates are TBD. Contact Kerry NH2A if you are ready to take an exam. He’s happy to pull together 3 volunteer examiners whenever you are ready. Just give him a date and a time and he’ll get you tested. Kerry, NH2A... Read more...
- VE test session success – new Extras and Generals
  April 24, 2021On Friday April 23, 2021 six hams took seats in the James City-Bruton Volunteer Fire Department’s social classroom to sit for upgrade exams. By the end of the session all six passed their test. Congratulations to Kenzie KO4GLN, Robert KN4UUT and Peter KN4UPM for passing their Amateur Extra exams. And congratulations to Ron KN4ZLV, Donna KO4GLO, and John KO4MST for passing their General tickets. Ron, Donna and John are graduates of the club’s General Class course organized by Wally WA3RWP and Dino KL0S. Kenzie, Robert and Peter studied on their own. As hard as that is, Kenzie had the extra burden of also studying for her SAT exams. Nine volunteer examiners proctored the exam: Randy KM4YSN, Fred KN4ZME, Mike W4NYY, Sparky KY4DZ, Dan WG4F, Jim AF4QG, Steve KO4ENU, Anita KH2FX, and Kerry NH2A. This session also marked the first time in over a year that an exam session was held at the JC-Bruton VFD. The club was able to use this facility to conduct their license class courses as well as license test sessions until COVID shut everything down last year March. In addition, a second testing session was held on Monday, April 26 as an additional opportunity for those from the recently completed licensing classes to take an exam. There were five examinees and all passed their tests. Congratulations to these individuals who tested at the Monday session: DJ KO4JPR for passing his Amateur Extra Solana N4SOL and Mari Ann KD4SGC for passing their General Don Murtaugh of Hanover Co. and Jamie Carver of Pensacola, FL for passing their Technician. Fingers are crossed that their new callsigns will be published in the next few days. It appears that licensing is getting back on track. ... Read more...
- Randy, KM4YSN, earns ARRL Instructor Patch
  April 24, 2021WAARC Training Coordinator Wally Frank WA3RWP (right) presents Randy Altona KM4YSN with his ARRL Instructor Patch after successfully completing his first teaching duties during the club’s recent Technician licensing course. The course was taught using the Zoom teleconferencing platform because of Covid restrictions. Other instructors who participated in both the Technician and General upgrade classes were club President Toby Papas KLØSS, VE and Community Support Coordinator Kerry Hofferth NH2A and Director at Large Dino Papas KLØS. Current plans are to conduct in-person classes in the fall so if you have a good understanding of the regulatory and technical topics contained in the Technician and General licenses, have a knack for teaching and would like to be considered for membership with the instructor team please contact Wally at hamradioclass@yahoo.com.... Read more...
- Testimonial of Bill, NR4C/sk
  April 2, 2021We have a lot of newer members in the Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club, and with the COVID restrictions and practices, many may not have had the opportunity to get to know Bill Conkling, NR4C who became a silent key late last month. Bill was a long-time member of WAARC and a friend to all of us. Below we share a testimonial of Bill. Bill Conkling, NR4C/sk got his initial start in electronics in the 1960’s when he got deeply involved in building and operating radio-controlled airplanes. After obtaining an FCC Class C license he enjoyed building several 27 MHz six- and ten-channel transmitters and receivers for his fleet of planes. In 2002 a friend who had just received his Amateur Radio Technician class license sparked Bill’s interest in ham radio. Bill received his Technician class license in April 2002, with the KG4TFF call sign. He quickly upgraded to General and Extra class licenses becoming AG4YQ and then NR4C. Upon first becoming a licensed Amateur Radio operator, Bill joined both the Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club (WAARC) and the Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club (MPARC). Over the years Bill held several elected offices in both clubs, serving as Vice President of WAARC in 2003, President in 2010 and later Director at Large. Dividing his time between WAARC and MPARC, he was elected Vice President of MPARC in 2012 and served as President for two different terms. His affiliation with the Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC) Colonial Chapter began in April 2007, leading the chapter for several years. Bill became a Volunteer Examiner in both the ARRL and W5YI Volunteer Examiner systems, heading up the W5YI program at MPARC for several years as well as assisting the Hampton Public Service Group and the WAARC testing programs. Bill became a key player in WAARC’s participation in the annual Field Day event in 2004 and in WAARC’s annual three Historic Triangle Special Events stations beginning in 2005. He was a major part of those three annual Special Events. For many years he coordinated with the National Park Service for the Jamestown Island and Yorktown Battlefield events and with Colonial Williamsburg for the July 4th event and served as the primary WAARC point of contact with both agencies and ensured announcements were published in the QST magazine and a smooth operation occurred on event day. He was a mainstay for those events, always present, lending his own equipment from battery cables to logging computers, antennas, and most generously his state-of-the-art transceiver many times. His contributions as an Elmer include coordinating Morse Code classes, introducing the club to an antenna support launching “spud gun” with several members copying his design, suppling 3-D printed parts for their launchers, encouraging members in their home brewing efforts, supporting the club’s Builders Group, and providing impromptu lessons in cable connectors and many other topics. He was a frequent participant in Amateur Radio support of local community events, along with providing updates on club events and serving as the club’s official “breakfastmeister” coordinating weekly Saturday morning breakfasts and Wednesday lunches with local restaurants. For his longtime support of the Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio club, our local amateur radio community, and ham radio in general, Bill was the second recipient of the club’s Jim Bailey KB4ZIN award in 2019. A memorial service will be held at 2pm, Thursday, April 8, 2021 outdoors in the churchyard at Bruton Parish Church.... Read more...
- One-Year anniversary of the Coffee & Radio net
  March 21, 2021On Saturday March 20th our WAARC Director at Large Dino Papas KLØS hosted the one-year anniversary edition of the club’s daily Coffee & Radio Net. There were 47 net members who checked in by radio with a number using the KB4ZIN repeater’s newly installed EchoLink system. The first check-in was appropriately offered to Kent Brinkley KN4ZMF who was the first check-in on March 20, 2020 during the net’s very first session. Kent was followed by 46 more check-ins with the net lasting almost an hour and a half. Immediately following the net Dino quickly QSY’d to host the club’s Virtual Builders Group on Zoom. The net continues to meet daily at 9:00 am and a host of new Net Control Stations have stepped forward to fill in for several regular net controls who are teaching the club’s Technician licensing and General Class upgrade classes. During the Friday and Saturday anniversary nets many individuals commented on how much the camaraderie and positive outlook of the Coffee & Radio Net has meant to them during the pandemic.... Read more...
- EchoLink Functionality now on ’76 Machine
  March 17, 2021Recently there has been an interest in checking into nets when people are away from the area. While there is IRLP capabilities available on the 147.105 machine, this requires having a repeater or simplex node in order to connect via IRLP. Echolink is not restricted to repeater connections, which makes it easier to connect when away from the area. There are apps for smartphones, tablets, as well as a PC application which allow connections to repeaters as well as directly with other users. In order to use Echolink, you will need to download the application to the device you wish to use. For smartphones and tablets, search for the free “Echolink” app in your device’s app store. For PCs, visit www.echolink.org and download the installer file. Unfortunately, this program is only available for Windows-based machines. If you have not used EchoLink before, you will have to validate your license by uploading an official copy of your license from the FCC database. If you need instructions on how to do this, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/how-obtain-official-authorizations-uls. To connect to the ’76 repeater via EchoLink, open the EchoLink application and search for KB4ZIN-R. There is a limit of 10 users at one time connected to the repeater via EchoLink. If there are several users connected and you are just listening, you may wish to disconnect and use the live stream via Broadcastify instead. This is available at https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/29772. This feature would not be possible without the help of Jerome K8LF and Chuck AI4WU. Jerome set up a temporary link at his QTH for testing purposes to demonstrate how the functionality works. The popularity was encouraging, and Chuck set up the equipment necessary to have the functionality present at the repeater site. Also, thanks go out to Chris KC4CMR for allowing the addition of the EchoLink node to the 146.76 repeater.... Read more...

Previous news posts can be found here.

About WAARC

Welcome to the WAARC web page. We are a general interest radio club in Williamsburg, Virginia, located in the historic triangle of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Club members participate in a variety of activities, including chasing DX, contesting, and public service.

About the Club

Groups.io

The club uses groups.io for its email communications platform. If you are a local ham please sign up for our groups.io page. More information is on the Groups.io info page