Brockville Amateur Radio Club (BARC)
Serving the amateur radio community in Brockville, Ontario and the surrounding region
About the Club (VA3BRC)
The Brockville Amateur Radio Club is a not-for-profit incorporated club in the province of Ontario with members from Brockville, several of the surrounding townships as well as from the United States.
The Club’s purpose is to further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to conduct club programs and activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the community.
Club Executive and Key Positions
President: Martin Bordt (VE3MHA)
Vice-President: Rob Taillon (VA3KTU)
Secretary: Marcel Frigault (VA3MAF)
Treasurer: Mike Finlay (VE3BMF)
Net Manager: Rob Taillon (VA3KTU)
Webmaster: Brent Dalgleish (VE3GXD)
Facebook Administrator: Peter Nowak (VA3FXR)
Club Repeater
Call Sign: VA3LGA
Frequency: 146.625 MHz (VHF)
Offset: -600 kHz
Mode: Analog FM Voice
Subaudible Tone: 100 Hz
Location: Lansdowne, Ontario
Repeater Status: Normal
While the repeater is paid for and maintained by BARC members and donations, all licensed hams are welcome to use the repeater in a courteous and responsible manner. The repeater provides reliable coverage across Brockville and surrounding areas.
On-Air Nets
Code of Conduct & Preamble: View
Daily ARTAS Net: 0800 hrs
Weekly Thousand Islands Net: Fridays at 2000 hrs
Net Controller Schedule: View schedule
Meetings & Communication
Monthly Meeting: First Tuesday of the month, 1900 hrs at Hudson Point, Long Beach, ON (map) Meetings occur Sept–Nov & Jan–Jun. No meetings in Dec, July & Aug.
Facebook Page: Brockville Amateur Radio Club – Facebook Group
BARC Newsletter: September 2025 Newsletter (PDF)
Projects & Activities
Club members participate in a variety of amateur radio projects and activities, including community events, special operating days, technical projects, and collaborative learning opportunities.
For a list of current and upcoming projects: (coming soon)
Event Photos: (coming soon)
Join the Club / Membership
Anyone interested in amateur radio is welcome to join the Brockville Amateur Radio Club. Membership is open to licensed hams, new operators, and anyone curious about the hobby. The club accepts members throughout the year including those who are not yet licensed as non-voting members until they pass the basic exam. The club fee is $15 for the year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) plus an additional $14 for insurance through Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) for non-members of RAC.
To become a member, please complete our registration form: BARC 2025–2026 Membership Renewal and New Membership Application Form (PDF)
Special Announcements
Important club updates and notices will appear here, including meeting changes, event information, and member-related announcements.
We are saddened to report the passing of a club member who is now a Silent Key (SK). Obituary for Ron Bryan
Getting Licensed
Amateur radio in Canada is regulated by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). To become licensed, you must pass a multiple-choice exam based on the national question bank.
BARC members can guide you toward study materials, practice exams and accredited examiners in the region, and can help you get on the air once you are licensed.
Martin Bordt (VE3MHA) is a volunteer examiner, and can administer examinations.
Space Weather
Space weather conditions can have a significant impact on radio propagation, especially for HF communications. Solar activity, sunspots, geomagnetic storms, and auroral events can all influence how signals travel.
For current solar conditions, geomagnetic activity, and detailed forecasts:
Upcoming Hamfests
For regional hamfests and amateur radio events, visit the RAC Hamfest Listings.
Resources
Useful amateur radio tools and organizations for operators in our local region and across Canada.
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RAC – Radio Amateurs of Canada:
Canada’s national amateur radio association offering band plans, bulletins, and emergency communications resources.
https://www.rac.ca/ -
ARRL – American Radio Relay League:
The U.S. national amateur radio organization with extensive technical and operating resources.
https://www.arrl.org -
ISED Amateur Radio Service Centre:
Official Government of Canada portal for licensing, regulations, and call sign information.
ISED Amateur Radio -
RepeaterBook – Ontario:
Comprehensive directory of Canadian and Ontario repeaters with frequencies, tones, and coverage maps.
https://www.repeaterbook.com/ -
QRZ Callsign Lookup:
Worldwide callsign database used for operator information, lookups, and logging.
https://www.qrz.com/ -
DX Maps:
Live propagation maps showing HF/VHF openings, band conditions, and real-time DX activity.
https://www.dxmaps.com/ -
AMSAT:
Amateur radio satellite organization offering satellite status, tracking tools, and beginner information.
https://www.amsat.org/ -
WebSDR Receivers:
Global network of online software-defined radios you can tune through your browser.
https://www.websdr.org/ -
VOACAP HF Propagation:
HF propagation prediction tools for planning contacts and assessing band conditions.
http://www.voacap.com/hf/ -
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center:
Real-time solar, geomagnetic, and space weather alerts affecting radio propagation.
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ -
ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency Service:
Canadian emergency communications volunteers supporting public safety and community events.
https://www.rac.ca/ares/ -
Grid Square Locator:
Tool for finding Maidenhead grid squares used in VHF, UHF, satellite, and contesting.
Grid Square Locator
Contact BARC
The best way to reach the Brockville Amateur Radio Club is by email.
Email: barc.on.club@gmail.com
Please include your name, callsign (if you have one), and a brief message about how we can help (for example: licensing, meetings, repeater use, equipment questions, or general interest).
You can also listen or say hello on the VA3LGA 146.625 MHz repeater during local nets and informal conversations.