GOTAhams Amateur Radio Club

POTA Activation
2026-05-02 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
We will be doing a POTA activation. Everyone is welcome to come to the park or participate from home.
Come to the park at [LOCATION TBA]. Setup your own a station, help with other stations, or just come to watch.
To participate from home (Hunters) all you have to do is check the POTA website here: https://pota.app/#/ and look for WG6OTA or look for [LOCATION TBA] Listen to the frequency the Club POTA group is using. Then make a contact. That is it. Signing up for your own account or logging your contacts at the POTA website is not required but optional if you want to keep track of your POTA contacts..
You can find more information about POTA here: parksontheair.com
For more information contact Marco, KN6SJQ@gmail.com

License Testing at Brackett Field
2026-04-25 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-28 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-28 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-31 13:00 - 17:00 | Brackett Field, 1615 McKinley Avenue, La Verne, CA, 91750, United States
VE testing at Brackett Field

GOTAhams is delighted to be sponsoring Frank Westphal’s team of ARRL-VEC examiners operating monthly in-person testing. Tests will be held on the LAST Saturday of each month (EXCEPT DECEMBER) at 1PM in the Pilots Lounge of the Brackett Field airport in La Verne (map below). Walk-ins are allowed, but you are strongly encouraged to contact Frank at 909-257-7205 in advance. Please leave a message with your contact information and indicate which license level(s) you are pursuing. Please bring $15.00 for the A.R.R.L. VEC exam fee. ($5 if under 18). Payment must be cash or check – no credit cards or electronic payment methods. Also, please review the ‘preparation’ link below to ensure that you have completed the other required preparations for a successful test. You MUST bring an FCC FRN number to the test event – contact us if you need help with creating this on the FCC website. Successful candidates will be contacted by the FCC for payment of any additional fees due before issuance of the license. There is no test at the end of December due to the holiday season.
GOTAhams is grateful to Frank and his team for their commitment to continue this long-standing
volunteer effort, having conducted hundreds of prior exam sessions.
Contact: Mr. Frank C. Westphal at 909-257-7205 or K6FW@ARRL.NET
Time: Last Saturday Every Month, 1PM
Preparation: Please review this page: http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session
Exam Fee (collected at test): $15.00 ($5.00 if under 18).
Information on FCC License Fees (NOT collected at test): https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee
Map and Directions:
The pilot’s lounge is located in the terminal building also housing Norms Hanger Coffee Shop. Enter the front entrance and turn to the left just after the gift shop. The meeting room where the exams are held are one door down on the left.
Brackett field la Verne Click for directions

Canceled - Big Bear HamEscape - Canceled
2026-04-24 - 2026-04-26
Not a GOTAhams event.
Big Bear HamEscape, an event for amateur radio enthusiasts.
It seems this event has been canceled for 2026. May be back in 2027.

Simplex net
2026-04-22 18:15 - 19:00, 2026-03-25 18:15 - 19:00, 2026-01-28 18:15 - 19:00
The Simplex net will be on 146.580MHz starting at 6:15pm.
A great way to explore the reach of your 2 meter equipment without benefit of repeater, both receiving and transmitting.
Bring a pad of paper and record signal reports for all you hear. We will collect and collate these.
Use this scale for your reports:

1=Nothing at all heard, not even noise or hiss suggesting a specific signal is present.

2=It was apparent that a signal was present but communication is impossible even with reasonable re-tries.

3=Communication possible with noise and possibly some re-tries to cover drop outs.

4=Good communication though with some noise or other artifacts, but generally solid copy.

5=Solid copy, little or no noise, full or nearly full quieting.

Be patient during silences as there will probably be participants you cannot hear and net control is likely communicating with those stations during silences.

World Amateur Radio Day / Radio In The Park - La Verne
2026-04-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Las Flores Park, 3175 Bolling Avenue, La Verne,, CA, 91750, United States
World Amateur Radio Day
April 18 each year, is celebrated worldwide by radio amateurs and their national associations which are organized as member-societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). It was on this day in 1925 that the IARU was formed in Paris. American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim was its first president.
https://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day?_zs=SQvQm&_zl=IE0H3

Radio In The Park

Radio in the Park is a social event to meet up with other hams and Get On The Air. Folks bring their HF radios, portable power systems, Antennas and attempt contacts all over the country/world. We look forward to seeing everyone there, all interested parties are welcomed, no need to be licensed, or a club member, we look forward to sharing the hobby with anyone interested and welcome any/all questions! Practice your EmComm skills or just enjoy the day in the company of other Hams! You may want to bring a chair and some water. Some people may bring food or snacks. We encourage you to bring and set up your radios and antennas!
Las Flores Park 3175 Bolling Avenue La Verne, CA 91750
Las Flores Park has a lot of shade trees but not a lot of tables. If you are bring a radio you will want a table. We are usually, towards the Southeast corner of the park. As usual remember to listen to the WG6OTA repeater before or on the way to the park, just in case there is a change in plans. See you on the Air!

Field Day Meeting
2026-04-16 18:00 - 19:00
Thursday, April 16th at 6pm we will have a Field day meeting. Just join the regular Zoom Lounge at 6pm to find out more. Link to join is in the weekly email.

Marconi Net
2026-04-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-14 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-10 11:00 - 12:00 | WG6OTA, 34.186747, -117.701456, Claremont, CA, 91711, United States
The WG6OTA repeater will be linked to the GB3IW repeater on the Isle of Wight. On the second Saturday of the month at 1900UTC.

The Marconi Net is a cooperation between GOTAhams and the Isle of Wight Radio Society, UK. We will celebrate the fellowship between UK and US hams with the MARCONI NET. The WG6OTA repeater on Sunset Ridge, North of Claremont, in Southern California, will be linked to the GB3IW repeater, near Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, in the UK. The KS7MC repeater (Spirit Mountain Amateur Radio Club) in Fort Mohave Arizona may also be linked during these nets. These are open repeaters, and we welcome guests. As usual, we encourage all participants to completely ignore (do not acknowledge in any way) any intentional interference during this or any other net.
The net will always start at 19:00 UTC (which is 12 noon in California and Arizona and 8pm in Cowes, UK during the summer). The net start time is specified in UTC time to avoid any confusion as U.S. Daylight Savings Time and British Summer Time change on different weekends. (In the Winter it will be; 11am in California, 12pm in Arizona, and 7pm in Cowes, UK)
No special radio programming is required, just access the WG6OTA repeater as usual and it will be linked to GB3IW.
Keep transmissions to less than 2 minutes and allow time for a FULL carrier drop (by the repeater) between transmissions. We do ask that participants pay special attention to avoid time outs.
For information about the clubs, please check out their respective web sites at:
https://gotahams.com
https://iowrs.org
For information about the net, contact: Bill Appleton, KF4MCG at kf4mcg@hotmail.com
See the maps below for information on the locations of WG6OTA and GB3IW.

Approximately 5,425 miles between repeaters.

Club Meeting - Kevin Zanjani - Bioenno Power - Zoom Only
2026-04-09 19:00 - 21:00
Please join the GOTAhams for our monthly Club Meeting. This month we will be on Zoom only, not in the restaurant.
If you wish to attend on Zoom you can use the information in the membership e-mail as usual. If you are not a member send an e-mail to Tim N6DLC at: tim@wnbnet.net if you want to join the club meeting on Zoom.
This month we will have Kevin Zanjani from Bioenno Power. Keven has sent us MULTIPLE DOOR PRIZES, to be raffled away to some lucky club members during this Zoom meeting.
Winners will be picked from members in the Zoom meeting on April 9th. List of prizes and the link to join the Zoom meeting will be in the weekly e-mail on April 5th.

POTA Activation - Bolsa Chica State Beach
2026-04-04 08:00 - 17:00
We will be doing a POTA activation. Everyone is welcome to come to the park or participate from home.
Come to the park at Bolsa Chica State Beach. Setup your own a station, help with other stations, or just come to watch.
To participate from home (Hunters) all you have to do is check the POTA website here: https://pota.app/#/ and look for WG6OTA or look for US-3411 Listen to the frequency the Club POTA group is using. Then make a contact. That is it. Signing up for your own account or logging your contacts at the POTA website is not required but optional if you want to keep track of your POTA contacts..
You can find more information about POTA here: parksontheair.com
For more information contact Marco, KN6SJQ@gmail.com

Radio In The Park - San Dimas
2026-03-21 10:00 - 15:00 | San Dimas Canyon Park, 512 Sycamore Canyon Rd, San Dimas, CA, 91773, United States
Radio In The Park

Radio in the Park is a social event to meet up with other hams and Get On The Air. Folks bring their HF radios, portable power systems, Antennas and attempt contacts all over the country/world. We look forward to seeing everyone there, all interested parties are welcomed, no need to be licensed, or a club member, we look forward to sharing the hobby with anyone interested and welcome any/all questions!
Practice your EmComm skills or just enjoy the day in the company of other Hams! You may want to bring a chair and some water. Some people may bring food or snacks. We encourage you to bring and set up your radios and antennas!
San Dimas Canyon Park 512 Sycamore Canyon Rd San Dimas, CA 91773
Park has a lot of shade trees and a few tables. If you are bringing a radio you may want to bring a table. Depending on who else is where, we are typically among the shade trees alongside the large linear parking lot that parallels North San Dimas Canyon Road as it heads North-East. Look for antennas in roughly the area circled below.
As usual remember to listen to the WG6OTA repeater before or on the way to the park, just in case there is a change in plans. See you on the Air!

Field Day Planning
2026-03-19 18:00 - 19:00
This will be a virtual meeting to discuss plans for Field Day 2026. Club members may join to find out what we are planning, participate or make suggestions. We are looking for more input and people that want to make Field Day fun and successful for everyone.
We will meet on the Zoom Lounge at 6pm. You can use the same link or meeting ID and password that is in the Reference PDF sent out with the weekly e-mails. The info will also be sent out in the weekly email on March 15th.

Club Meeting - Wolf River Coils
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:00 | El Ranchero, 984 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, 91711
Please join the GOTAhams for our monthly Club Meeting. We will be at EL RANCHERO Restaurant at: 984 West Foothill Blvd. in Claremont.
If you are meeting at the restaurant, they will expect you to order a meal so, come by 6pm so you can order and eat before the meeting. As usual, the meeting will start at 7pm.
If you wish to attend on Zoom you can use the information in the membership e-mail as usual. If you are not a member send an e-mail to Tim N6DLC at: tim@wnbnet.net if you want to join the club meeting on Zoom.
This month we have a presentation with Terry & Gary from www.wolfrivercoil.com

POTA Activation - Chino Hills State Park
2026-03-07 08:00 - 17:00
We will be doing a POTA activation. Everyone is welcome to come to the park or participate from home.
Come to the park at Chino Hills State Park. Setup your own a station, help with other stations, or just come to watch.
The Park opens at 8am. We will set up inside the park almost exactly 3 miles from the intersection of Sapphire Rd & Bane Canyon Rd, just past the Telegraph Canyon Rd Lookout, turn right on the dirt road headed North. You can use this link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nGtL3gHWBeYLmga67?g_st=ic or enter these coordinates into your GPS: 33.920868, -117.701230 I think there is a $10 charge to get into the park.
To participate from home (Hunters) all you have to do is check the POTA website here: https://pota.app/#/ and look for WG6OTA or look for us-1139 Listen to the frequency the Club POTA group is using. Then make a contact. That is it. Signing up for your own account or logging your contacts at the POTA website is not required but optional if you want to keep track of your POTA contacts..
You can find more information about POTA here: parksontheair.com
For more information contact Marco, KN6SJQ@gmail.com

Linux Expo - (Not a GOTAhams Event)
2026-03-05 - 2026-03-08 | Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E Green St, Pasadena, California, 91101, United States
ATTENTION: LINUX FANS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN A ONE-DAY TECHNICIAN CLASS
GOTAhams Member Discount Pass to Southern California Linux Expo 2026
It is being held March 5-8 at Pasadena Convention Center.
Event info available at: https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x
There are many ham radio applications for the Linux operating system and event organizers are adding in-person VE testing at the event this year as well as a Tech-in-a-day one day training class organized by Daniel M Romanchik KB6NU. You can read about his classes at his web page at: https://www.qrz.com/db/KB6NU

There are two types of tickets offered for the Linux Expo:

EXPO PASS – Provides access to the exhibit hall and free events ONLY. The exhibit halls are open on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday. This is $20 and is not discounted. This ticket is NOT sufficient to access the ham training class unfortunately.

SCALE PASS – Provides access to all SCALE technical sessions and presentations as well as the exhibit and all, and free events. A SCALE Pass also includes a Kids Companion Pass for 1 child under the age of 18. You may request a Kids Companion Pass at the registration desk on the day of the event. Please have your child with you. The normal price of a SCALE pass is $100 but with the GOTAH discount code this is reduced to $60. This is the ticket you want if you want to take advantage of the training class and/or test session. (Renting the Pasadena Convention Center is expensive!)

If interested, you can initiate registration and payment at the ‘Buy Ticket’ link on the website above OR use this link: https://register.socallinuxexpo.org/reg23/
The website’s ‘VENUE” menu choice offers information on the location and on parking costs, which look to be about $15.

KB6NU is offering 1 day ‘Tech in a Day’ training classes ahead of the Friday and Saturday afternoon test sessions. See the website for details but it appears these classes will be held in Room 209. At this time, classes are scheduled to run from 9AM to 7PM on each day, Friday and Saturday and the conclusion of the class will run right into that day’s VE test session, which should be wrapped up before 7PM. Make SURE you register for an FRN number with the FCC before you go. Have your ID and test fee.

For further information please contact the Southern California Linux Expo at the website address listed above. You can read more about ham related activities at the Expo at: https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x/blog/ham-radio-training

The Simplex net
2026-02-25 18:15 - 19:00

Radio In The Park - Claremont
2026-02-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Larkin Park, 660 N Mountain Avenue, CA, Claremont, CA, 91711, United States
Radio In The Park

Radio in the Park is a social event to meet up with other hams and Get On The Air. Folks bring their HF radios, portable power systems, Antennas and attempt contacts all over the country/world. We look forward to seeing everyone there, all interested parties are welcomed, no need to be licensed, or a club member, we look forward to sharing the hobby with anyone interested and welcome any/all questions!
Practice your EmComm skills or just enjoy the day in the company of other Hams! You may want to bring a chair and some water. Some people may bring food or snacks. We encourage you to bring and set up your radios and antennas!
Larkin Park, Claremont, CA, 660 N Mountain Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
Larkin Park has shade trees and a few tables. If you are bringing a radio you may want to bring a table. We meet near the Northeast section of the park near 7th street.
As usual remember to listen to the WG6OTA repeater before or on the way to the park, just in case there is a change in plans. See you on the Air!

Club Meeting - Kirk, KN6UMV - How to Use DMR
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 | El Ranchero, 984 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, 91711
Please join the GOTAhams for our monthly Club Meeting. We will be at EL RANCHERO Restaurant at: 984 West Foothill Blvd. in Claremont.
If you are meeting at the restaurant, they will expect you to order a meal so, come by 6pm so you can order and eat before the meeting. As usual, the meeting will start at 7pm.
If you wish to attend on Zoom you can use the information in the membership e-mail as usual. If you are not a member send an e-mail to Tim N6DLC at: tim@wnbnet.net if you want to join the club meeting on Zoom.
This month we will have Kirk Beasley with his second presentation on DMR. In the first presentation he covered what is DMR and how it works. This presentation will focus more on how to use DMR.

POTA Activation - Dockweiler State Beach
2026-02-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Dockweiler State Beach, 12001 Vista del Mar, Playa del Rey, ca, 90293
We will be doing a POTA activation. Everyone is welcome to come to the park or participate from home.

Come to the park at Dockweiler State Beach.Do NOT use the entrance where Imperial ends at Vista Del Mar; instead, turn left from Imperial (or continue south on Vista Del Mar) for about 1/4 a mile and enter there. The address, for driving maps purposes, is 12505 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293. There’s a $8 all-day parking fee per car. There are no picnic tables nor shade trees; we will be in the parking lot. Setup your own a station, help with other stations, or just come to watch, the view is great (ocean).

To participate from home (Hunters) all you have to do is check the POTA website here: https://pota.app/#/ and look for WG6OTA or look for US-3425 Listen to the frequency the Club POTA group is using. Then make a contact. That is it. Signing up for your own account or logging your contacts at the POTA website is not required but optional if you want to keep track of your POTA contacts..

You can find more information about POTA here: parksontheair.com

For more information contact Marco, KN6SJQ@gmail.com

Winter Field Day
2026-01-24 - 2026-01-25
Not a GOTAhams event.
Winter Field Day is an annual event for amateur radio enthusiasts, taking place on the last full weekend of January. You may choose to participate solo or get your your friends, family, or whole club involved. Winter Field Day is organized by the Winter Field Day Association.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2026-01-19
We will have the nightly net as usual.

Quartzfest
2026-01-18 - 2026-01-24
Not a GOTAhams Event.
QuartzFest is a week-long ham radio, camping, learning and living event.
For more information see their website here: https://quartzfest.org/

Radio In The Park - La Verne.
2026-01-17 10:00 - 15:00 | Las Flores Park, 3175 Bolling Avenue, La Verne,, CA, 91750, United States
Radio In The Park

Radio in the Park is a social event to meet up with other hams and Get On The Air. Folks bring their HF radios, portable power systems, Antennas and attempt contacts all over the country/world. We look forward to seeing everyone there, all interested parties are welcomed, no need to be licensed, or a club member, we look forward to sharing the hobby with anyone interested and welcome any/all questions!

Practice your EmComm skills or just enjoy the day in the company of other Hams! You may want to bring a chair and some water. Some people may bring food or snacks. We encourage you to bring and set up your radios and antennas!

Las Flores Park 3175 Bolling Avenue La Verne, CA 91750
Las Flores Park has a lot of shade trees but not a lot of tables. If you are bring a radio you will want a table. We are usually, towards the Southeast corner of the park.

As usual remember to listen to the WG6OTA repeater before or on the way to the park, just in case there is a change in plans. See you on the Air!
