Sept. 23: RRC Special Event – City of Reading’s 275th Birthday

Sep 13, 2023 | Events

Reading Radio Club W3BN Special Event for the City of Reading’s 275th Birthday: 

Sept. 23 on HF and VHF bands –

The W3BN Special Event Station launch date is Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. The time of operations will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT on SSB on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 meters. At least three HF radios will be transmitting through an array of beams high atop towers as well as through a series of long wires (depending on the band, of course).

For those in the region who don’t have HF capability, a team of VHF operators will set up a portable operation atop Mt. Penn along Skyline Drive overlooking Reading on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 at 1 p.m. EDT until at least 2 p.m. EST on 146.550 MHz. (simplex).

Each station making contact with W3BN qualifies for a colorful, commemorative certificate to mark the occasion. All a licensed operator has to do to get their certificate is to send log information about the contact – call sign, date, time, and band as well as their name – to w3bn275@gmail.com to receive the certificate via email.

Reading Radio Club logo

Sept 24 – Reading Radio Special Event Station W3BN

Jul 14, 2022 | Club Station, Special Event

The Reading Radio Club will celebrate their 100th anniversary with their W3BN Special Event station on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. There will be a beautiful keepsake certificate to commemorate your QSO with them. Details to come. 

As part of this celebration, VHF operators will activate the Reading Pagoda between 1 pm and 2 pm on simplex frequency 146.550 MHz to give local hams an opportunity to get on the log.  More to come!  

RRC website: https://www.qsl.net/w3bn/
RRC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RRCW3BN/

Reading Radio Club logo 

August 7 – RRC Hamfest

Aug 2, 2021 | Hamfest

RRC Hamfest 2021- Saturday, August 7th
Location: Heritage Park, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Off routes 422 & 724 – look for signs

SINKING SPRING, PA (Reading area) – Reading Radio Club Hamfest
Heritage Park, Sinking Spring, PA. West on 422 at Rt. 724, after one mile left on Park Ave ( just past the Sunoco station on the right); Park Ave 0.3 miles to dead end, left onto Clematis St. 0.2 miles to the entrance to Heritage Park. Look for signs.

GPS: N 40 deg 19.320 min W 076 deg 01.950 min
Closest home to Heritage Park entrance: (992 Clematis Street, Sinking Spring, PA 19608)

Website: http://readingradioclub.org
Sponsor: Reading Radio Club, Inc.
Type: ARRL Sponsored Hamfest

Talk-In: 146.91/.31 tone 131.8

Opens: 8 a.m., Vendors 7 a.m. (Ticket prizes awarded at intervals)

COST: $ 5 entrance fee or $ 8 tailgate fee for sellers (per space)
NO ENTRANCE FEE for: those taking license exams, Amateurs under 18 years of age, unlicensed spouses, and children under 18 years old.

Handicap Accessible Rest room facilities and refreshments available inside Freight Station

Test Bench with limited AC power and HF antenna provided near Freight Station

ARRL VE License Testing at 8:30 am (inside Freight Station)
Cost $ 15 (we prefer check written to ARRL/VEC). Exact cash payment is also acceptable.
Please bring one form of ID. (A copy of your license or CSCE is sufficient) You must provide an e-mail address and FRN number. 

Reading Radio Club Hamfest – Sat., Aug. 8th

Jul 16, 2020 | Events, License Exams

The Reading Radio Club will be holding a Hamfest live at Heritage Park in Sinking Spring (992 Clematis St.) on Saturday, August 8. The event will be open to hams selling equipment from 0700 local, and those who would be interested in buying equipment can arrive at 0800 local. Volunteer examiners will also be administering license exams for anyone who wants to get an amateur license or existing hams that want to move up to a higher-level license. Tickets are $5 for shoppers, $8 for sellers; no entry fee for people taking license exams, unlicensed spouses, or anyone under the age of 18. The usual $15 fee applies if you want to take an exam, but there is no further charge to enter the hamfest. Since so many in-person events have been canceled or switched to virtual, online venues, this will be a good way to enjoy an in-person amateur radio event again. Please remember to follow the necessary precautions that may be in place on the date of the hamfest, including any requirement for wearing a mask and social distancing. View the Facebook page for the latest information: https://www.facebook.com/RRCW3BN.  Visit their website: https://www.qsl.net/w3bn/

They are offering an Amateur Radio license test session. You must pre-register for it. See this URL for more info: https://www.qsl.net/w3bn/vetest.html

Reading Radio Club Hamfest – 8/3

Jul 12, 2019 | Hamfest

READING RADIO CLUB HAMFEST is on Sat., August 3, 2019. Rain or Shine. 

Heritage Park, Sinking Spring, PA  19608 – GPS Use:  992 Clematis St., Sinking Spring, PA 19608.
Watch for HAMFEST signs

  • Hamfest opens at 8:00 AM.  Vendors/Sellers welcome at 7:00 AM. Admission $ 5.00 per adult. No admission fee for those taking license exams, or Radio Amateurs under 18 yrs. of age, unlicensed spouses, or children under 18 yrs. of age. All handicap accessible facilities at this event. Door prizes awarded at intervals.
  • Tailgating:  $8.00 per 4’ X 10’ space.  Bring your own table. (Includes 1 admission.)
  • FCC/ARRL license exams start at 8:30 AM inside the Freight Station.  Cost is $15.00 with a check made payable to “ARRL/VEC”.  Please bring at least one form of ID.  A copy of your Amateur Radio License or CSCE is sufficient. To sign up in advance contact Harry Hoffman, W3VBY, at 610-678-8976 or HarryHoffmanjr at juno dot com.
  • Test bench provided in the freight station with 110 VAC,  HF antenna, and dummy load.
  • Hot Breakfast and Lunch items, plus Coffee, Sodas, & bottled Water For Sale. 
  • Talk-in:  RRC Repeater 146.91/.31 (CTCSS 131.8)