Another West Texas SOTA Adventure

I’m posting here again to encourage and inspire hams to activate the SOTA (Summits On The Air).  I hope others will join this aspect of ham radio especially if you enjoy the outdoors and need an excuse to go on a mini-adventure. SOTA is not an especially common activity here in Houston.  Why?  Because there … Read more…

The First JSCARC/Intern Balloon Project

From gentle push… to potential game changer Compliments to Paul KJ5JIO and John AB5SS.  Paul instigated the gentle momentum to re-think about our student intern ham radio program, and John generously grabbed the leadership role to kickstart a brand-new balloon program for our student interns. <John behind inflated balloon> Background The club has been supporting … Read more…

“The Colors of the World, Seen From the International Space Station”

Courtesy of The Atlantic Recent photographs from crew members aboard the ISS show some spectacular views of auroras, moonsets, the Milky Way, and more, seen from from their vantage point in orbit. By Alan Taylor https://www.theatlantic.com/photography/archive/2025/08/colors-international-space-station/683844/?gift=rzeMu4JTHottX_SwDf9zchtDMyB8-PQ45PUDZOeC0_I&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

JSC Summer Interns 2025

It’s been a fast-flying summer and the activities the JSCARC members had hosted for the JSC Student Interns.  Here’s a fast recap and update: Licensed hams During this summer, Faheem’s student ham committee successfully licensed 5 new hams: Stella KJ5LYT Max KF8ENQ John KF8ENS Kellen KJ6LYU Jacob KR4FHZ With an upcoming licensing exam this Sunday, … Read more…

NOTA and Quindar Tones.

The NOTA commemoration for Apollo 11 (56 years) is always special to the public.  What an inspiration to land on the moon and to have NASA ON THE AIR (NOTA) as a vehicle to use ham radio to promote these types of events. While Chris W5HOO and Jayant KG5LJZ were able to activate W5RRR (good … Read more…

POTA #30 @ San Jacinto

POTA 30 Hot, hot, hot.  Luckily, our San Jacinto enclave is shaded with picnic tables where David KG5URA and Joe K5KUA setup up for their station ops.  I elected to drive up a few hundred yards and setup on a picnic table under a tree.  This location allowed me to operate without any nearfied RFI … Read more…

Tideland Hamfest July 12, 2025

A terrific turnout of JSCARC members at the Texas City Tidelands Hamfest on Saturday July 12, 2025. Many thanks to Ken K5RG who acquired 2 seller tables for club members to use.  And a special gratitude to Carl WD5JRD who donated personal ham items to the club which we sold at the tables. In attendance: … Read more…

40m Dipole Antenna is Back ON-LINE

The W5RRR antennas are the flagship features of our club.  Over the last year, we’ve been having issues with the D40 rotatable 40m dipole.  Through the efforts of Ken K5RG, John AB5SS, and Tanner W9TWJ (supported the first repair effort), we’ve had 2 major repairs that are easily under-appreciated since there’s little fanfare for the … Read more…

ARRL Field Day 2025- A CW Journey

By Terry N5LOW Field Day 2025. It feels like I’ve been preparing for this for years—because I have. The journey started back in the summer of 2022 when Dave, KG5URA, convinced me to join him in the pursuit of Morse code contacts on CW. I was intrigued but overwhelmed. Those first couple of Field Days … Read more…

June 2025 VHF Rover- W5OC/R

It’s been 57 years of ham radio for me yet this awesome hobby continues to be an intoxicating gulp of mystery, adventure and new learning.  In this case, I’m hooked on VHF roving- an opportunity to test one’s wits against an in-motion 36-hour road trip while outfitted with multiple radios using multi-band VHF/UHF/microwave bands and … Read more…