Welcome to the membership of the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club (GVARC). If you hold a valid license, we encourage you to use the facilities of the club and participate in activities, particularly your area of special interest. If you are not licensed, the club membership will help you qualify for the license class you desire. There will be somebody with you through all the necessary steps. We are pleased that you have decided to become a member of GVARC. An application for membership to join the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club will be found on our web site at www.GVARC.US.
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club (GVARC) was started in the summer of 1979 by a small group of local Amateur Radio operators (hams). Dr. Allen Carter, MD (KA7EVH) hosted a group in his home including Jim Brown (KBOKP) , Doc Nay (WB7PVN), Ralph Woodward (KA7EDJ), Phil Sterner (WB7ORC), Lou Navarro (WB6TYP) and Phil Doersam (KX7J - then W7JKA). The meeting was planned to find a way for hams in Green Valley to have antennas that are real antennas. Most areas of Green Valley have severe restrictions regarding antennas in the Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) imposed by the homeowner’s associations.
The original group started a 10 - meter net (a round - robin discussion on the air) once a week, in the beginning, with Phil (W7JKA) as the first net control operator. A little later, about 1981, Lou Navarro (WB6TYP), installed a 2 meter repeater and the net switched to it.
John Washburn (KA7NBM) who was very active with the Sheriff s Auxiliary Volunteers (SAW, arranged to get GVARC together with the SAV in the early l980’s. The SAV provided much needed funding for equipment and provided space in their old SAV building for our club station. GVARC participated in the 1983 flood communications, various other emergencies, annual parades, bike races and events, etc. One of the main missions of the GVARC is to be prepared for any and all emergencies where we can help provide necessary communications.
Dr. Allen Carter (KA7EVH) 81-82, Phil Sterner (WB7ORC) 83, Phil Doersam (KX7J) 84-85 Sam Steel (WOROD) 86-88, Trevor Reese (NOCHY) 89, Shelby NelsonW0ELH 90, Aron Trianger (W2JUI) 91, Nelson Raymond W6YSM) 92, Lloyd Miller (K8AVH) 93-95, BT Jeavons (WA6GEF) 96, Dave Sader (AB7VE) 97, Ron Finger (W7ZT) 98, Ed Kaufman (N0XIR) 99-02 Jack Reeder (W6NGZ) 03-04, Gene Schouweiler (W0KAD) 05-07, Ron Gross (AD7FV) 08-09, Jack McGowan (AD7NK) 2010
The club is incorporated as a 501c non-profit corporation. Annual dues are presently $10 per year and are due January 1st of each year. Dues are delinquent if not paid by February 1st. Those using the repeater are encouraged to donate a similar amount to the repeater fund each year.
Other sources of club income include equipment donated to and sold by the club. The club also works with estates in pricing and disposing of radio equipment.
The club meets year round on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at the SAV building in Green Valley, 601 N La Canada Dr. This is a business meeting and usually includes a guest speaker.
Weekly Nets on Two Meters (145.290 repeater)
The membership meets every Wednesday morning at about 7 a.m. for breakfast or just coffee at La Placita Family Restaurant in the Green Valley Village Mall. This is an informal gathering where information is exchanged on a variety of subjects.
Usually held in April and October. Time and placed to be announced.
Held in December, as a combination banquet and December meeting. Time and place to be announced.
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club station is located in the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers (SAV) building, 601 N. La Canada, Green Valley. The club station is available for use by all members subject to limitations based on its location in the SAV building.
Before you plan to use the station, contact Tom Lang k7voa@gvarc.us for an orientation meeting.
The normal hours of access to the SAV building are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Once in the building you may stay beyond the 4 p.m. subject to closing conditions described later.
An SAV badge must be worn at all times when in the building. To obtain a badge, make a request to the club Treasurer. Badges generally can be picked up at the next meeting.
Tell the receptionist you are there to enter the Amateur Radio Club room and display your badge. Sign in the radio log in the lobby with your name, call sign, time and date. The receptionist will provide you with a key to the room. Unlock the radio room door and return the key to the receptionist. You are allowed access to the radio room and the nearby restrooms only. All other areas are off limits.
When operating the club station you have the option of using your FCC Amateur Radio call sign which will limit you to the frequencies that your operator privilege class allows. You are not required to fill out the club operating log if you make any transmissions. If you use the GVARC Club Call sign you must use the log book and log the required information which includes frequency, mode, time, date, operator’s call sign, and your signature. You are limited to the frequency privileges of whoever is in the room acting as control operator.
HF equipment
UHF and VHF Equipment
Help is available to assist in setting up the remote operation software. Contact the Club Vice president to get someone to check you out on any piece of equipment.
Leave all equipment as found, check log for completeness, the door has a lock control in the center of the knob, turn off room light, close door and check to see that it is locked.
Sign out in log book in lobby.
If it is before 4 p.m. you may leave by the main door. If it’s after 4 p.m. and everyone has gone and the building is locked, you must leave by the exit thru the classroom (where monthly club meetings are held). To leave this way go thru the classroom and to the right of the black board, is an exit. This is the only door that will automatically lock behind you when you leave. Check door after leaving.
The building is normally locked at all times except 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday. If you desire to operate the club station at other times contact the club Station Supervisor for access information.
The GVARC has a website with up to date information covering past and present newsletters, club sponsored activities and technical information. We can be found at www.GVARC.US
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club has made arrangements to use the discone antenna while the Titan Missile Museum is open (check Museum hours on their website). The Club has often conducted a Special Event Station in the parking lot. The Radio Club uses the large discone antenna at the missile site to contact amateurs around the world, then, issues special event certificates to all stations contacted
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club participates in the ARRL Field Day held each June, to practice emergency preparedness. This is to insure that all Radio Clubs are ready if a disaster strikes and Amateur Radio is called upon to provide emergency communications. Field Day is the most popular operating event that the ARRL has to offer. All equipment used during Field Day must operate from portable emergency power. Operation is for a 24 hour period continually. We combine this activity with a potluck luncheon.
GVARC provides coverage of the Annual White Elephant parade by supplying coordinated monitors along the parade route to be readily available for emergencies arising from accidents, heat-related health problems and general crowd observance.
Upon request from the Boy Scouts the GVARC demonstrates different aspects of Ham radio at Boy Scout camps and outings including: radio directional finding, live ham radio communications, soldering, Morse code and electronic circuit demonstrations.
"Learning is hard work, and it’s occasionally painful. As a new ham you have a tremendous amount of learning ahead of you. If you have a genuine thirst for knowledge, the learning never stops--- no matter how long you’ve been licensed. As you stand at the beginning of a long journey, you have two choices: You can go it alone and hope for the best, or seek guidance through a willing mentor. In Amateur Radio these helpful individuals are known as Elmers.” (Reprinted with permission from October 1996 QST; copyright ARRL.) There are many Elmers in the GVARC. Ask one of the club’s officers to find someone to help you.
The GVARC supports and provides volunteers to assist and teach: Electronic Kit Assembly, RC Aircraft, Ham Radio, Robotics and Electronic Circuit Fundamentals to students at the local middle school.
Several times each year, classes to assist in learning and passing license exams for: Technical-, General-, and Extra-level licenses are given and are followed by FCC tests.
The following website will give you guidance on helping you select the right equipment. http://www.arrl.org/members-only/choosingaradio/. Generally the first radio purchased will be a 2 meter. Guidance can be sought thru an Elmer. (See Elmer program above).
The club owns and operates 3 repeaters. The 145.29 and the 449.375 are located near Elephant Head. The 145.27 is a local repeater in Green Valley. These are open repeaters with a PL tone of 107.2. The 145.29 repeater also has IRLP and Echo Link.
Key the repeater and announce your call and the intention to access either IRLP or EchoLink. To connect to an IRLP node, you simply key up your radio and enter the IRLP node number. To connect to an EchoLink node, key up your radio and enter a # before the node number.
Once connected, wait for at least 30 seconds before calling. This ensures that you won't interrupt any conversation that might be taking place on the other repeater. If clear, then simply make your call, as you would on any repeater. If the other node operator has taken the time to ensure good audio quality, any answering station will sound like they're also on the local repeater.
Clearing IRLP/EchoLink connections:Once the conversation is over, a "73" entered on the touchtone pad shuts down the link.
An updated list of all AZ repeaters and frequencies can be found on the following website. http://www.azfreqcoord.org/listings.htm