ZBARC CLUB INFO

INTRODUCTION: The Zero Beaters Amateur Radio Club (ZBARC) is an organization of people who share a common interest in Amateur Radio communications and technology. ZBARC is a general interest club, its members are engaged in a wide variety of Amateur Radio related activities. This page will attempt to summarize the activities, services, and other benefits of club membership. Please direct any comments regarding additions, deletions, or corrections to this document to Perry NØMXJ. Thanks!

The Zero Beaters ARC has members throughout East Central Missouri

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

An Amateur Radio license is NOT a requirement for ZBARC membership. Anyone with an interest in Amateur Radio may become a member. Of course, we hope that you will get your license so that you can take full advantage of the club's facilities. See the Constitution and By-Laws for more information.

CLUB HISTORY

The ZeroBeaters Amateur Radio Club (ZBARC) was formed in the early 1960s. At first, meetings were held in member's homes. Sometime around 1962, ZBARC was given the use of the Old Bank Building in Dutzow, MO. Dutzow is located in Warren County on Highway 94 just east of Highway 47 and is only about 5 miles north of Washington MO.

Mr. Walter Voelkerding, President of the Bank of Dutzow at that time, made a generous donation to the club. In addition to providing us with the meeting location, he contributed funds for the purchase of equipment for a club station there. The club applied for a club station license and was assigned the callsign WAØFYA. Les Maune, KØPHD, one of the club's founding members, is trustee of the club station license.

CLUB BUILDING

The "home" of the Zero Beaters Club is the Old Bank Building in Dutzow, MO. This location has been is use by our club since the early '60s. It is the location of our monthly meetings, Wednesday night gatherings, Volunteer Exam test sessions, and is the location of the WAØFYA club station.

CLUB MEETINGS

ZBARC holds a regular monthly meeting on the first Wednesday of each month except August and December (see Activities). These meetings begin at 7:30pm and generally end around 8:30 or 9:00. Club activities, projects, maintenance, and expenditures are typical topics for discussion at these monthly meetings. There is usually time before and after the meeting for socializing.

In addition to the regular meetings, there is an informal gathering at the club building almost every Wednesday night. Members and visitors alike are welcome.

VE EXAMS

The Zero Beaters ARC has an ARRL VEC volunteer exam group which conducts exam sessions each month with the exception of June, July and August. (Exam held during Hamfest in July on 3rd Sunday) The test sessions are held at the Old Bank building (clubhouse) in Dutzow, MO. Pre-registration is recommended but if the exams are not cancelled due to lack of pre-registration, walk-ins are welcome. Information and directions are available on the local repeater the morning of the session on 147.240 MHz.

CLUB REPEATERS

The ZBARC sponsors two repeaters. The first is on 2 meters on the frequency of 147.240 MHz (input +600 KHz). Operating with the club callsign of WA0FYA, it is an open repeater system . When in normal operating mode, "The Two-Four Machine" does not require the use of a subaudible tone (CTCSS a.k.a. PL). However, under special circumstances, tone access may be enabled. The tone needed at those times will be 141.3 Hz. Tone access will remain in effect only as long as absolutely necessary.

The second is on the 440 band on the frequency of 444.350 MHz (input +5 MHz). The 440 repeater also uses the club callsign of WAØFYA and does not require a CTCSS (sub-audible) tone of 141.3 Hz to access it. This UHF system is not ordinarily linked to the 2 meter system but the two repeaters are co-located and use the same controller. The site of the "Washington repeaters" is just south of Washington. The 2 meter antenna is high atop a water tower and has excellent coverage throughout the area. The 440 antenna is mounted atop a phone pole and also provides good coverage.

In addition to the club operated repeaters, there are 7 other repeaters operated by ZBARC members.

• KØMUQ/R is located at Indian Prairie School house between Union and St. Clair, MO.

  Frequencies:
            147.180 (input +600 KHz).

  52.810 (input -1.7 MHz) - 6 meters. (Note: These 2 repeaters are linked together fulltime).

  224.940 (input -1.6 MHz) - 220 system. (Note: These 2 repeaters are linked together fulltime).

• KAØCWU/R is located in Warren County, MO.
  Frequency: 147.045 (input +600 KHz) pl tone of 141.3 Hz is required to access it.
• KAØBWH/R is located at Don's home south of New Haven, MO.
  Frequency: 444.900 (input +5 MHz).
• NØMFD/R is located at Craig's home just east of Washington.
  Frequency: 444.100 (input +5 MHz).
• KBØTWT/R is located near Leslie, MO high atop a very impressive tower at Mike's QTH.
  Frequency: 444.075 (input +5 MHz).

The club also sponsors a number of packet radio digital repeaters which are a part of the amateur packet radio network here in East Central Missouri.

• DRK/#DRK (Drake MO):
  The club's most extensive packet site is at Drake near the intersection of Hwy 50 & Hwy 19. Dick KA4POG (ZBARC member and Gasconade County EMA Director) was instrumental in arranging for the location of this system on a tower at a county highway maintenance shed (now the location of the new Gasconade County 911 Dispatching Center. But we were there first :-). DRK is an APRS node on 144.390 and shares a dual band antenna with #DRK:WAØFYA-3 operating on the regional 440 backbone frequency.
• UN (Union MO):
  The club's second packet site is a single frequency system. UN:WAØFYA-2 is on 144.990 MHz and is located at Union Firehouse #1 on Old Hwy 50. This site is co-sponsored by the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency.

Craig NØMFD sponsors the 2 meter half of a dual port system at Wentzville MO. WTZ:NØMFD-7 is on 144.990 MHz.

JUNE - FIELD DAY

Field Day is held the last full weekend in June every year and the ZBARC has operated WAØFYA from a variety of locations in Franklin and Warren counties.

JULY - HAMFEST

The Washington Hamfest is a major event for ham operators throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. It is held the 3rd Sunday of the month.

AUGUST - BBQ/PICNIC/ELECTIONS  

The ZBARC holds a barbecue at the Washington riverfront park on the 3rd Sunday in August each year. This a very popular events for members and their families. This is also the annual election of club officers. NOTE: There is no regular club meeting on the first Wednesday in August - an informal meeting is held at the BBQ instead.

DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS PARTY  

To wrap up the year, ZBARC members get together for a club Christmas party on the 1st Sunday in December. NOTE: There is no regular club meeting on the first Wednesday in December - an informal meeting is held at the Christmas party instead.

The Zero Beaters ARES Net is held every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. local time on 147.240 WAØFYA/R repeater.

NEWSLETTER

The Lightning Rod is the newsletter of the Zero Beaters Amateur Radio Club. Contributions of material are welcomed from any and all club members. Submissions for the Lightning Rod may be sent via email.

Dues for membership is currently set at $18 per year. Dues should be made payable to the Zero Beaters ARC  and may be paid in person at any regular business meeting, sent to the club's P.O. Box (see below), or sent directly to the club treasurer. (Also see Membership requirements and the Constitution and By-Laws for more information. Membership Application

  CLUB ADDRESS

 The Zero Beaters ARC mailing address is:

ZBARC Home Page

(last revised 4-21-08  by NØMXJ)