GVARC History
Welcome:
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 that you take.
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 www.GVARC.US.
Origins:
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 (KB0KP), Doc Nay (WB7PVN), Ralph Woodward (KA7EDJ), Phil Sterner (WB7ORC), Lou Navarro (WB6TYP) and Phil Doersman (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 on the residents.
In January of 2022, the SAV was busting at the seams and needed to request additional space from Pima County. They felt they could not justify housing the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club and the radio room, due to their need to expand. We were asked to vacate. We did, within 30 days, and are now in the process of accommodating our members with our new circumstances. We now meet at the Green Valley Fire District Headquarters and have a store room of used gear that we are working to sell, toss or keep for future use.
Net:
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.
Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers:
John Washburn (KA7NBM) who was very active with the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers (SAV), arranged to get GVARC together with the SAV in the early 1980’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, with annual parades, bike groups, 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.
Past Presidents:
Dr. Allen Carter (KA7EVH) 81-82, Phil Sterner (WB7ORC) 83, Phil Doersman (KX7J) 84-85 Sam Steel (W0ORD) 86-88, Trevor Reese (N0CHY) 89, Shelby Nelson (W0ELH) 90, Aaron Trianger (W2JUI) 91, Nelson Raymond (W6YSM) 92, Lloyd Miller (N7GV) 93-95, BT Jevons (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 (AD7FE) 08-09, Jack McGowan (AD7NK) 10, Jane Lang (AD7NR) 11-12, Tom Lang (K7VOA) 13-14-15-16, Dale Lang (AA1SZ) 17-18, Rudy Sweisfurth (N7COP) 18, Gary 'Beetle; Bailey (K7GSB) 19, Tom Smith (K7AFA) 20, John Perlick (KØUM) 21, Rick Rogers (K7RCR) 22
FUNDING
The club is incorporated as a 501c non profit corporation. Annual dues are presently $15 per year and are due January 1st of each year. Dues are delinquent if not paid by the day of the monthly membership meeting in March. of the year. 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.
Country Store & Consignment Store
The club has two pages available only to members. The Country Store and the Consignment Store. Items which have been given to the Radio Club are offered in an Auction Method to members to bid on for a defined period of time. The top bidder gets the prize. Unclaimed items remain with the club. Proceeds go to the Radio Club's General Fund.
Sometimes, we are asked by members or families to help dispose of some equipment, but the seller would like to receive a percentage of the proceeds. These items are posted on the Consignment Store, as they become available.. The Club's split goes to the Radio Club's General Fund.
MEETINGS
Business Meetings:
The club meets year round the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm, at the Green Valley Fire District Headquarters, 1285 W. Camino Encanto. This is a business meeting and usually includes a quest speaker.
Weekly Nets: all are now - Year around
Weekly Breakfast:
The membership meets every Wednesday at 7:00 am for breakfast at El Rodeo in Green Valley. This is an informal gathering where information is exchanged on a variety of subjects.
We had a Thursday gathering at Coach's around 4: 30 pm. - This group is now meeting at various other dining locations around Green Valley, still on Thursdays. Contact the Webmaster to get in touch with the current dinner coordinators.
Spring and Fall Picnics:
Usually held in April and October, Time and place announced.
Christmas Dinner:
Held in the second week in December (based upon the availability of a restaurant).
CLUB WEBSITE
The GVARC has a website with up to date information covering past and present news letters, club sponsored activities and technical information. We can be found at www.gvarc.us
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club conducts several special event stations thru out the year including the Titan Missile Museum special event usually the first Saturday in May from the missile museum using the large Collins Radio discage antenna.
Drive Outs:
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club has several "drive outs" to interesting places around Arizona.
A few of the places visited in the past have been:
KVOA Television, Kitt Peak Observatory, U of A Mirror Laboratory, Paul Bond Boots, Amazon Warehouse distribution center, Valle Verde Train Excursion just to name a few.
Field Day(s) and 7QP:
Provided that members steip up to coordinate the event, the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club participates in the
Support of the Boy Scouts:
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.
ASSISTANCE
Elmer Program:
Learning is hard work. 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 — nor 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 Elmer’s.
(Reprinted with permission from October 1996 QST; copyright ARRL)
There are many Elmer’s within the GVARC.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
License Classes:
Classes, test times and locations for the Technician, General, and Extra Class Amateur Radio licenses will be determined by the number of people interested in taking the class
CLUB REPEATERS
The club owns and operates three repeaters. The 145.290 and 449.375 are located near Elephant Head Mountain. The 145.270 is a local repeater located at Diamond Air Park in Green Valley. These are open repeaters with a PL tone of 107.2
The 145.290 repeater also has IRLP and Echo Link.
Accessing IRLP/Echo Link:
Key the repeater and announce your call and the intention to access the link. To connect to another node, you simply key up your radio, enter in the node number, for echo link type a * before the node number, using a touchtone pad, and the connection is established. Once connected, simply make your call, as you would on any repeater. If the other node operator has taken the time to ensure good audio quality, it will sound like the other station is also on the local repeater.
Clearing IRLP/Echo Link:
Once the conversation is over, a “73” entered on the touchtone pad shuts down the link.
This site has a listing of GVARC OFFICERS and COMMITTEE CHAIRS waiting to help.
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 that you take.
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 www.GVARC.US.
Origins:
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 (KB0KP), Doc Nay (WB7PVN), Ralph Woodward (KA7EDJ), Phil Sterner (WB7ORC), Lou Navarro (WB6TYP) and Phil Doersman (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 on the residents.
In January of 2022, the SAV was busting at the seams and needed to request additional space from Pima County. They felt they could not justify housing the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club and the radio room, due to their need to expand. We were asked to vacate. We did, within 30 days, and are now in the process of accommodating our members with our new circumstances. We now meet at the Green Valley Fire District Headquarters and have a store room of used gear that we are working to sell, toss or keep for future use.
Net:
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.
Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers:
John Washburn (KA7NBM) who was very active with the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers (SAV), arranged to get GVARC together with the SAV in the early 1980’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, with annual parades, bike groups, 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.
Past Presidents:
Dr. Allen Carter (KA7EVH) 81-82, Phil Sterner (WB7ORC) 83, Phil Doersman (KX7J) 84-85 Sam Steel (W0ORD) 86-88, Trevor Reese (N0CHY) 89, Shelby Nelson (W0ELH) 90, Aaron Trianger (W2JUI) 91, Nelson Raymond (W6YSM) 92, Lloyd Miller (N7GV) 93-95, BT Jevons (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 (AD7FE) 08-09, Jack McGowan (AD7NK) 10, Jane Lang (AD7NR) 11-12, Tom Lang (K7VOA) 13-14-15-16, Dale Lang (AA1SZ) 17-18, Rudy Sweisfurth (N7COP) 18, Gary 'Beetle; Bailey (K7GSB) 19, Tom Smith (K7AFA) 20, John Perlick (KØUM) 21, Rick Rogers (K7RCR) 22
FUNDING
The club is incorporated as a 501c non profit corporation. Annual dues are presently $15 per year and are due January 1st of each year. Dues are delinquent if not paid by the day of the monthly membership meeting in March. of the year. 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.
Country Store & Consignment Store
The club has two pages available only to members. The Country Store and the Consignment Store. Items which have been given to the Radio Club are offered in an Auction Method to members to bid on for a defined period of time. The top bidder gets the prize. Unclaimed items remain with the club. Proceeds go to the Radio Club's General Fund.
Sometimes, we are asked by members or families to help dispose of some equipment, but the seller would like to receive a percentage of the proceeds. These items are posted on the Consignment Store, as they become available.. The Club's split goes to the Radio Club's General Fund.
MEETINGS
Business Meetings:
The club meets year round the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm, at the Green Valley Fire District Headquarters, 1285 W. Camino Encanto. This is a business meeting and usually includes a quest speaker.
Weekly Nets: all are now - Year around
- Sunday Evening net: Sunday 7:00pm (145.290/145.27 repeater)
- DMR Net: 1st and 3rd Mondays 7:00pm DMR Repeater
- Oatmeal net: Tuesdays at 9:00am (145.290/145.27 repeater)
- Snowbird net: Wednesdays 1pm local 2000 UTC, on or about 14.260 (20 meter band)
- (Note: All repeaters have a PL Tone of 107.2)
Weekly Breakfast:
The membership meets every Wednesday at 7:00 am for breakfast at El Rodeo in Green Valley. This is an informal gathering where information is exchanged on a variety of subjects.
We had a Thursday gathering at Coach's around 4: 30 pm. - This group is now meeting at various other dining locations around Green Valley, still on Thursdays. Contact the Webmaster to get in touch with the current dinner coordinators.
Spring and Fall Picnics:
Usually held in April and October, Time and place announced.
Christmas Dinner:
Held in the second week in December (based upon the availability of a restaurant).
CLUB WEBSITE
The GVARC has a website with up to date information covering past and present news letters, club sponsored activities and technical information. We can be found at www.gvarc.us
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club conducts several special event stations thru out the year including the Titan Missile Museum special event usually the first Saturday in May from the missile museum using the large Collins Radio discage antenna.
Drive Outs:
The Green Valley Amateur Radio Club has several "drive outs" to interesting places around Arizona.
A few of the places visited in the past have been:
KVOA Television, Kitt Peak Observatory, U of A Mirror Laboratory, Paul Bond Boots, Amazon Warehouse distribution center, Valle Verde Train Excursion just to name a few.
Field Day(s) and 7QP:
Provided that members steip up to coordinate the event, the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club participates in the
- Winter Field Day in late January
- 7QP the First weekend in May
- ARRL Field Day held each June, to practice emergency preparedness.
Support of the Boy Scouts:
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.
ASSISTANCE
Elmer Program:
Learning is hard work. 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 — nor 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 Elmer’s.
(Reprinted with permission from October 1996 QST; copyright ARRL)
There are many Elmer’s within the GVARC.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
License Classes:
Classes, test times and locations for the Technician, General, and Extra Class Amateur Radio licenses will be determined by the number of people interested in taking the class
CLUB REPEATERS
The club owns and operates three repeaters. The 145.290 and 449.375 are located near Elephant Head Mountain. The 145.270 is a local repeater located at Diamond Air Park in Green Valley. These are open repeaters with a PL tone of 107.2
The 145.290 repeater also has IRLP and Echo Link.
Accessing IRLP/Echo Link:
Key the repeater and announce your call and the intention to access the link. To connect to another node, you simply key up your radio, enter in the node number, for echo link type a * before the node number, using a touchtone pad, and the connection is established. Once connected, simply make your call, as you would on any repeater. If the other node operator has taken the time to ensure good audio quality, it will sound like the other station is also on the local repeater.
Clearing IRLP/Echo Link:
Once the conversation is over, a “73” entered on the touchtone pad shuts down the link.
This site has a listing of GVARC OFFICERS and COMMITTEE CHAIRS waiting to help.
Last Updated 3/16/22 - 06:55 AM MST - jdo