Bonner County Amateur Radio Club – K7JEP

Updates as of: 20 August 2025

This page is used for notifying members of scheduled Club activities or changes in those activities.  It will also notify members of any upcoming item considered of interest to Club members  (such as ARRL or FCC fee or regulation changes with links to those items).  The page will change frequently as notifications become outdated and are removed.  If you have an item you feel should be posted here, or in our “Member’s Corner”, for our members send me an email.

Another Fair Down

Club:

Our next meeting will be on the 10th of Sept. at the VFW Hall, 1325 Pine St, corner of Pine and Division.   (a map can be found here, if you are not familiar with Sandpoint)  At our monthly meetings the doors open before 6 PM for set-up, between 6:00 and 6:30PM you can find answers to your questions or just enjoy the fellowship of our members, the meeting starts promptly at 6:30PM.  
Next meeting topic: 
Join us at our next breakfast on Sept 27, 2025, 9-10:30 am, at Connies.
Meeting and breakfast dates for the rest of the year (as I now have them):  The meeting dates are pretty static but breakfast dates (at Connies unless otherwise noted) frequently change due to various conflicts.  Check here for any changes in schedule.

        Meeting                 Breakfast                    Meeting                  Breakfast                     Meeting                 Breakfast

        Sept – 10               Sept – 27                 

        Oct – 8                   Oct – 25                      Nov – 12                 Nov – 22                      Dec – 10                Dec – 27

Website:

  1. Still working on getting Email for all Officer’s up and working as time permits.
  2. Working with Scott R. (my go to IP person when I have no  clue as to what I’m doing) as our schedules allow, to implement a suggestion for website tracking of what is being used so we can further develop those areas.  One suggested app has been declined as it has too many security flaws, the major one being that it leaves the server vulnerable.
  3. If you have an issue/concern that you feel should be brought to the attention of our members, contact me at our monthly meeting or send me an email.  I will need a brief statement with the following: 1) what the issue is, 2) what, if anything, has been done, 3) any supporting documentation, and, 4) any help or assistance required.  It will be removed after it has been resolved or an adequate viewing time.  Any updates or follow-up will be posted, when feedback is received from the posting member, within each issues ‘ section.  Please be aware that, if this is a controversial subject, I may refer it to the Board of Directors before placing it on the site.  
  4. All Monthly Publications, in PowerPoint format, and the current, as well as 1 year of past copies of the COAX, in PDF format, can be downloaded from this area. The August issue of the COAX can be viewed here.
  5. If you are not a member of groups.io , it is highly recommended that you join the group.  BCARC members will have to subscribe to groups.io in order to receive direct communications from the Club.  Note that this  group is for BCARC members only, non-members will need to access the Facebook page or this website for links to the monthly presentations (PowerPoint format) and the COAX Newsletter.  When requesting admission please give your name and call sign
Remember that it is by your dues that we are able to maintain and update our repeaters.   By completing a new form each year we are able to verify and maintain accurate records for our membership.  Please allow time for processing.  A membership application is available here. 

Other News:

  • The ARRL and the RRI (Radio Relay International) have signed  a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 13, 2025.  A PDF of the joint press release can be viewed here and the MOU can be viewed here.

Upcoming Events/Activities:

  • BCARC “Radios In The Park” – August 30 th – 8 am to 2 pm
    • Round Lake State Park – Ponderosa Pavilion
    • Bring your portable rig or Go Box
    • For POTA People: US-2247
    • Or just play radio outdoors!
    • Must abide by park rules with antennas.
  • BCARC “Tally Ho! Fox Hunt” – Saturday, September 20th at Pine Street Woods, 9 am to 2 pm
    • The plan is to meet at the Sandpoint library (room number, TBA) at 9 a.m. for a 1-hour briefing
  • VE Testing – September 13 – 10am
    • Testing begins at 10:00am at The Library – Sandpoint Branch.
    • https://bonnerares.org/wp/license-exams/

Bonner County ARES VE Testing – sponsored here as it is free to take the test

They test at 10:00 AM at the Sandpoint Library (Community Room A).  The address is 1407 Cedar St, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
The good news is that there is no fee to take the exam and walk-ins are welcome.
You can see all details and all required material on their info page, here: https://bonnerares.org/wp/license-exams/ .
Future test sessions (second Saturday, ~bi-monthly):
        Sept 13, 2025                     Nov.  8, 2025