Weekly on-air gatherings for licensed amateur radio operators across Northwest Arkansas. All times are local unless noted.
HF SSB • 3.830 MHz
75 Meters Roundtable
4:00 PM CST / 4:30 PM CDT · 2200 / 2130 UTC
Weekly HF roundtable covering operating tips, building projects, hamfests, and radio trading. General Class license or higher required to transmit.
Frequency
FM Linked • Skywarn System
BVRC Social Junction Net
Every Sunday at 7:00 PM
A welcoming net for women, girls, boys, and the radio-curious. Unlicensed guests are welcome to participate alongside a licensed Control Operator. Come as you are.
System
Skywarn Link System — 5 linked repeaters serving the NWA region
FM Linked • Skywarn System
Ham 101 Net
Every Monday at 7:00 PM
A panel of Elmers stands by each week to answer questions for newcomers and experienced operators alike. No question is too basic — this is your on-air classroom.
Skywarn Link System
FM Linked • Repeater System
BVRC Legacy Club Net
Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM
Our flagship weekly net and on-air home for the club. Share news, discuss weekly topics, and practice proper net protocol. All licensed amateur radio operators are welcome to check in.
Linked Repeater System
SSTV • Slow Scan Television
BVRC Slow Scan TV Net
Every Friday at 7:00 PM
The Friday night Slow Scan Show explores the visual side of amateur radio. Send and receive still images over the air using a smartphone app or computer. A creative and uniquely satisfying corner of the hobby.
Linked Repeater System
Tips for New Net Participants
- Net Control is in charge and control at all times. These are directed nets. When joining a more formal net, you are likely to hear the phrase, “directed net.” This means that one operator is in charge of the net, and this person is the net control station (NCS). The NCS is sort of a traffic cop for the net, directing who does what and when. The NCS gets the net started, keeps it orderly, manages net activities, and closes the net down when finished. They’ll take check-ins near the start of the net and periodically thereafter. Listen closely to what Net Control is asking for. Whether it is the Elmer 911 Talking Tech Net or the BVRC Legacy Club Net, Net Control will want specific information from you when you check in. They’ll tell you what they’re looking for and in what format.
- Check-ins to our weekly nets are usually a one-turn affair: you check in, and you are called once for comments. If you wish to make additional comments later, great! Please wait for the next round of check-ins and ask for a re-check.
- When checking in, please state if you have traffic for the net. What constitutes traffic? If you have something specific to announce to the participants of the net, when you check in, indicate “with traffic” or “with an announcement” or similar. Net Control will often call stations with traffic first so that their announcement can get out early on during the net. Stations who check in with no traffic would still be called to make other comments when it’s their turn. Checking in with no traffic does not mean you do not want to be called to make comments.
- Some stations wish to make their presence known (“get on the list”) without being called later for comments. These are called for the count only check-ins. If this is you, announce “for the count only” after you give your call and other requested information at check in.
- When checking in to a net on our analog repeaters, key your microphone, announce “N5BVA” and then unkey and listen for a couple seconds. If you don’t hear any signs of other stations the moment you are unkey, continue your check-in. For example: “alpha bravo four charlie delta echo.” Done correctly by all parties this greatly reduces doubling and tripling during check-ins.
- Remember to slow down a bit during the check-in process so Net Control has a chance to write down all of your information. Give your call sign phonetically and slowly when checking in to a net.
- With our linked repeater systems, pause a second after keying the microphone to allow the repeaters to link up and broadcast simultaneously. This prevents your first word(s) from being truncated.
- The BVRC on-air presence should be a model of good amateur radio practice. REMEMBER – Folks are listening and evaluating!
