Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club

Ham Radio
Welcome to All Hams !!
Welcome to the Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club (VBARC). We are an active club, with over 100 members. You can join us on the net multiple times a week, in person at our weekly breakfast, or on our radios every Saturday in a local park. You don't need to be a member to join us. See more in the 'membership and member dues' paragraph below or use the top left menu item.

Flex Radio Group
The club flex radio is using SmartSDR software version 3.8.23. Rick has changed the log-in crentials as of Thursday, 1 May. Be sure to sign up if you're interested. Rick W./N4WRW is our Flex Radio committee lead, text or call him at 772-321-6462. 6 Meter antenna has arrived, we might install it on Sunday. 


Clubhouse Access
ATTENTION ATTENTION - The Air Conditioning is NOT, repeat NOT working at the Club House. Remember, you need outside and inside combo to access the clubhouse. If you need a combo and you have paid your dues, please contact John, 772-404-8570. Please remember to use the shack log-in sheet. John notes: AC fix work-order is in, fix date is TBD.  Also, plan to tear-down club and rebuilt is in the plan. Dates are TBD, but likely at least 1 year away. 


Field Day, Sat-Sun, June 28-29
John F. (KM4MCK) and Paul T. (KN4KDX) will co-lead Field Day.
John Davis will man the PIO table near the GOTA station, he needs help, please contact him to help. 
John Davis will cook some of the meals, he needs help, please contact him to help.
No cash this year, purchase meal ticket in advance.


Technician Training Class, Test date is Sat, June 7
Paul T. (KN4KDX) is leading a Technician Training class, Sat June 7.
We have picked a free PDF book, click the <link> to check it out. 
We have around 10 instructors. We have around 12 students signed up. 
We plan to have 1 or 2 study sessions before class and test scheduled Sat, June 7.
Our location is TBD, since clubhouse AC is down.


VBARC Groups.io Email exchange is here, join to stay current.
VBARC has a Groups.io email exchange, it's public, so anyone can view the messages, click this <link>. Sending email is limited to Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club members, click above link to join. Jim K/K2JJK is lead, Bob L/KK6WYW is assisting.  Are you interested in becoming the moderator/lead? 

What's going on
1. Tue: Clubhouse: TBD, NO AC, see above. 
2. Thur: Breakfast Thursday 8:15 AM, May 22.
3. Saturday QRP: May, 17, 8 am -12 pm. Goodfellows for lunch, ~1600 Rt 1. Winlink and VARA setup and Training available. 

4. VBARC Ham Club at Navy Seal Museum, we support on Saturday, May 24. Memorial Day on Monday is for Museum ceremonies. All are welcome.
5.
May 29: K2JJK and XYL celebrate 54th Wedding Anniversary  (Nice Jim !!)
6. Tech Training, Sat 31 May, Sat 7 June. Details in new paragraph.  
7. Summer (ARRL) Field Day is Sat-Sun, June 28-29. John F./KM4MCK and Paul T./KN4KDX will co-lead Field Day. See Field Day paragraph above. 
8. Elmer training: New to the club or new to ham radio? Is there anything you want our Elmers to help you with?  Contact Jim Davis/W2JKD for details or attend Sat QRP. Future Topic, is sure to be "Using Your Rain Gutters as an Antenna (to comply with HOA rules)". 


Other Events - Not Radio Related
1. Car show: Sun, Jun 15, Father's Day Car Show, 10-2 pm, Elks Lodge 1350 26th St, Elks Lodge

Monthly Club Meetings
Our club has it's main meeting on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm. Location: Indian River County (IRC) Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 4225 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32967. Our next club meeting is Thur, Jun 12. You do not need to be a member to attend. Find out more about our club and ham radio. Our normal monthly schedule is: 1st Thur - no activity, 2nd Thur - Club Mtg (7:30 PM), 3rd Thur - License Testing (7 PM), 4th Thur - ARES (7 PM), 5th Thur - no activity.

Weekly Nets
1. Mon: Emergency Net: 7:30pm, FM RX 146.64, TX 146.04, tone 107.2, echolink: K4CPJ-R (Mon only)
2. Mon: Net About Nothing ... Much: 8pm, FM RX 53.33, TX 52.33, tone 100, (echolink: KG4ORQ-R)
3. Tue: IRC ARES Net: 7:30pm, FM RX 145.13, TX 144.63, tone 107.2, 40 watts, echolink: KM4MCK-R
4. Tue: IRC ARES Winlink Net: All week ending Tuesday at 5pm. To participate see the ARES Group menu tab on the left.
5. Tue: D-Star net: Tuesday, 8:30pm to 9:00pm on Reflector 078C
6. Tue: DMR net: Tuesday, 9:00pm in talk group 31123
7. Wed: Out of Towner Net: Wednesday, 8pm, FM RX 53.33, TX 52.33 tone 100, echolink: KG4ORQ-R
8. Sun: Skywarn Training and Practice Net: Sunday, 9pm, 146.775, tone 107.2, echolink: AF4CN-R
9. Daily: Treasure Coasters 7.153 prenet 6.45 am (N1PZB), net 7:45-8:45 am, NOTE frequency, Extras Only.
10. Daily: South Florida ARES net 3.940 7:45-8:00 am check in by county.  Logged: Logger.PlumTX.com

VBARC Thursday Breakfast
Every Thursday morning, 8:15 am.
Where: Nettie's Roadside Restaurant
Address: 2555 27th Ave, Suite G-6, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
All are welcome. If you don't know us, ask for the Ham club. We're in the back room. Kat took a VBARC group picture in Aug 2024. Nettie hung it up on the wall in the back room. <Click here to see a bigger picture>


Facebook Page
Visit our Facebook Page to find out more about the club; it includes pictures and other events. You don't need to have a Facebook account to visit the Facebook page, but you need to have a Facebook account to make comments.

VBARC Mailing Address - for Dues and Meetings
Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club
c/o IRC EOC
4225 43rd Avenue
Vero Beach, FL 32967


Membership and Member Dues
The W4OT.com Member's Area of the website is open only to members. Join us using Pay on-line with paypal or Credit card payment; use the menu link on top left or below. On-line is great for new members, we have an on-line application process too, try it. VBARC Member $20,  VBARC Family Dues $30. 
Separate donation for the Treasure Coasters Repeaters Association: $20 ($21 when done on-line).
Pay Dues or Become a Member


Become A Ham with Amateur Radio Exam Opportunities
A licenses is required to be an amateur radio user, we can help you, see our Testing and Training link on the left side menu. Attend any club event to find out more about becoming a ham. 
 
About our Club
Want more info about our club, see and click the "About Us" menu link on the left side or the top of this webpage. The Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club thanks the Indian River County (IRC) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for their support of our club and Amateur RadioThank You!

Treasure Coast Ham News
The Treasure Coast Ham News (TCHN) Winter 2024 issue is here. Unfortunatly, that was their last issue, as the newletter has retired. Please visit their website for local news and more information at:  https://treasurecoasthams.com/
 
Club Shirts and Logo Pins
Coin T-shirts can be viewed and purchased at the following website:  www.zazzle.com/store/w4ot_vbarc. VBARC pins can be purchased by VBARC members for $2 or $4 for non members. They are nice pins and have proven to be popular. Pins are available at club meetings or Contact the Club.
 

HAM SOFTWARE FOR YOU...
The Virtual Ticketing Progam is useful at hamfests for attendee ticketing, awarding prizes and marketing. Other HAM software is also available. Contact John at KK4SHF @ PlumTX.com  

--- Apr 23, 2025 (Bob L) ---