Welcome to SCCARC & K6BJ
Welcome to our club! Thank you for keeping our club thriving into the 110th year since our founding!
Read on to (re)acquaint yourself with the club.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
The most common ways members communicate with each other is on K6BJ repeater (146.790-, PL 94.8) and online, using our email reflector at https://k6bj.groups.io/, but those are just two of many ways club members connect. Here are more ways to get involved:
ON THE AIR
In our Monterey Bay VHF/UHF region there are many nets. They often occur on our club’s VHF repeater too, K6BJ at 146.790 MHz output, 146.190 MHz input, with a PL/CTCSS tone of 94.8 Hz.
The club has 2 regular weekly nets:
● SCCARC HF Net: Mondays at 7pm on 28.308 MHz USB
● SCCARC VHF Net: Mondays at 7:30pm on K6BJ repeater
One can get a net schedule on the K6BJ repeater, by transmitting the DTMF code: *930. Transmit your call sign before entering DTMF codes.
General ham conversation, ragchewing, is encouraged at all other times.
ONLINE
The K6BJ repeater is also available online through AllStarLink and EchoLink. K6BJ’s AllStarLink node number is 60216. K6BJ’s EchoLink node is K6BJ-R, 354814.
Our website at https://k6bj.org publishes content frequently and is a great resource for upcoming club events, resources, and history.
We recommend all members join our mailing list, a.k.a email reflector, at https://k6bj.groups.io/. It is the most active place to connect with members and friends of the club. One may login in to view and send messages or have messages emailed directly to their inbox.
IN PERSON
Here are some regular in person events:
● Field Day 2026: June 27-28 is Field Day, our biggest event of the year. Learn more about Field Day at https://www.arrl.org/field-day.
● Monthly Club meeting: At 7pm on the Third Friday of each month, we usually host a speaker at our club meeting. The club meeting is available in person and online. Check our website and mailing list for the topic, location, and zoom link. Past club meetings: https://k6bj.org/wordpress/club-meeting-location-and-zoom-link . We elect the new club board during the November club meeting, and we host a holiday party instead of the December club meeting.
● Monthly Swap Meets: On the third Saturday of the month and from May to October, we hold a small swap meet at the Shakespeare Parking Area at 501 Upper Park Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95065. Generally the swap meet includes coffee, sweet treats, a barbecue, organized activities (like a fox hunt), stuff for sale or trade, play with radios, and lots of great conversation.
● Monthly POTA: On the first Saturday of the month we organize a Parks On The Air (POTA) activity, where operators set up stations at local parks, make contacts and “activate” the park as part of the internal POTA program. More information about POTA is at https://docs.pota.app/. Here is a link to a past POTA adventure: https://k6bj.org/wordpress/archives/8940. For the next club POTA adventure, check our website and email reflector.
● Weekly Loft Coffee meet up: Almost every Wednesday from 10am to noon, club members and friends get together at Loft Coffee to chat radios to help each other out and enjoy some coffee. Loft Coffee is located at: 2701 Cabrillo College Dr 9000 Building, Aptos, CA. When Loft Coffee is closed for school holidays, we go to Whale City Bakery in Aptos.
● “CAKE” Coffee Assisted Knowledge Exchange: a weekend meet up at Loft Coffee and occurs on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, 10am-noon.
● Annual Winter Field Day: If you missed 2025 WFD, check out our photos at http://k6bj.org/wordpress/archives/9092 and join us this year on January 24-25! More information on WFD is at: https://winterfieldday.org/
● SCCARC 110 year anniversary. February 2026 marks 110 years since the club was officially established and announced in the earliest ARRL publications. Join us to celebrate the rich history of our longstanding tech social club and keep us going strong! Look out for more information on the celebration in early 2026.
EQUIPMENT
The club has a bunch of equipment you may use, from repeaters accessible to most folks in Santa Cruz County to an equipment lending library.
● Repeaters
Up to date information: https://k6bj.org/wordpress/repeaters-2
K6BJ VHF/2m
■ Frequency: 146.790 Mhz input, 146.190 MHz input, 94.8 Hz CTCSS/PL tone
■ Features
● ID, then send DTMF code *920 for help menu
● Radio uplink connected to K6RMW/W in Watsonville
● AllStarLink node number 60216
● EchoLink node K6BJ-R, 354814
● Phone patch and E911 service
● Battery backup
K6BJ UHF/70cm:
■ Frequency: 440.925 MHz output, 445.925 MHz input, 123.0 Hz CTCSS/PL tone
■ Features:
● Often connected to K6BJ 2m
● Allstarlink 655230
● Internet accessible HF radio
A 100w HF radio accessible over the internet for RCForb: http://www.remotehams.com/orb.html?id=11204
● Winlink RMS gateways
Winlink is essentially email over amateur radio, with additional features, like filing forms and reporting positions.
K6BJ-10: 1200 baud packet at 145.070 MHz
K6BJ-11: VARA FM WIDE or 9600 baud packet at 145.710 MHz
FREQUENCY LIST
One way to explore radio in the county and simplify communication is to program your radio with the Santa Cruz County Emergency Communications frequency list. The list has 128 channels of regional repeaters, common simplex channels, county/city services, and digital services.
The frequency list and accompanied radio programming files here:
Consider programming your radio’s first 128 channels with this list.
FRIENDS OF THE SCCARC
There are many great radio clubs in the area and nationwide that may interest you too, like:
● Santa Cruz County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
■ Nets: Wednesdays, 7:30 PM on either K6BJ (146.790-PL 94.8) or WR6AOK (147.120+ PL 94.8), alternating weeks but no net on Third Wednesdays
■ Website: http://xczcomm.com/
● San Lorenzo Valley Amateur Radio Club
Repeater: WR6AOK, 147.120 MHz output, 147.720 MHz input, 94.8Hz CTCSS/PL tone
Nets: Thursdays at 7:00pm on WR6AOK
Website: https://www.slvarc.org/
● Loma Pioneer Repeater Club
Repeaters: WR6ABD 146.640 MHz output, 146.040 MHz input, 162.2 Hz CTCSS/PL tone
Nets: Tuesdays at 8pm on WR6ABD
Website: https://lprc.net/
● Monterey Bay Amateur Radio Association
Nets: Friday evenings at 7:30pm on WR6ABD
Website: https://www.n6ij.org/
● American Radio Relay League
Website: https://arrl.org/
The ARRL represents the interests of amateur radio operators before federal and local regulatory bodies, provides technical advice and assistance to amateur radio enthusiasts, supports a number of educational programs and sponsors emergency communications service throughout the country. (wikipedia)
● Member supported VHF digipeaters, RMS gateways, BBS, and weather stations
If you are into VHF digital modes, like Winlink (emails and forms) and APRS (location tracking, instant messaging, and weather), then there are many member supported winlink RMS servers and APRS digipeaters/igates in the area to serve you.
Packet radio in the Monterey Bay area: http://www.ares.santa-cruz.ca.us/MRYBAYpacket.PDF
All APRS infrastructure is on 144.390 MHz
Winlink RMS servers are registered with Winlink and are findable in your favorite Winlink app
● Contact our board: Members may contact the entire 2026 board at board@k6bj.groups.io,
President: Ben KN6NDM
Vice President: Jim KN6NCG
Secretary: Lisa KN6IAB
Treasurer: Loyd KO6CWI
Board member: Keenan K6MML
Board member: Martin KN6GWQ
Board member: Andrew N6AAG
Board member and past president: Jerry W6OJE