Great Bay Radio Association FAQs
What is the GBRA (W1FZ)?
The Great Bay Radio Association is a Special Services Club affiliated with the American Radio Relay League.
We're a non-profit public service organization and our mission is education, service and the advancement of Amateur Radio. You can download the
GBRA Constitution here. (Requires acrobat reader)
If you haven't joined the ARRL but would like to, please contact one of GBRA officers.
Joining through the club gets you the same great rates, and also benefits the GBRA!
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Where did the call W1FZ come from?
Jim Thayer, W1FZ, was famous as a DXer. He was known world wide, topped the DXCC honor roll and was always a gentleman.
People came from all over to see his famous antenna "Big Bertha" in Farmington, NH. Jim was a lifelong member of the GBRA.
Many a field day was run from his summer QTH on "Breezy Hill". Jim was always helping new hams get started,
and always without publicity. When he became a silent key, his family graciously allowed the GBRA to take over his call.
Jim will never be forgotten. The GBRA will keep his call active.
We also intend to keep up his tradition of helping new hams. He paved the way, and we intend to follow through.
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Sounds great! How can I join?
Membership dues are a mere $20 for individuals, $25 for the whole family, and just $10 for students.
New hams (those licensed within the past year) are eligible for a one year free membership to the club.
Download a membership application here.
(Requires acrobat reader)
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Where are the meetings held?
The GBRA meets on the second Monday of every month (except for July and August) at 7:00 pm.
Meetings are held at the Rochester Community Center in Rochester NH and are are open to anyone interested in Amateur Radio.
Refreshments are provided by club members and there is a 50/50 drawing held each meeting.
Visitors are always welcome and encouraged to attend.
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Directions to the GBRA
The GBRA is housed in the Rochester Community Center on Community Way in Rochester, NH.
Coming from downtown, Community Way is a left off Wakefield Street just after the Spaulding High School ball fields.
Click Here for a map to the Rochester Community Center.
To get to the meeting room:
Enter the Community Center through the front doors and take a right at the end of the hall.
Take a right at the sign that says "Girls, Inc".
The GBRA radio room is the door on your right and the meeting room is through the door on the left.
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How do I become a ham?
We're glad you asked! The ARRL's "Hello Radio"
program is one of the best sources of information when it comes to obtaining your amateur license.
Click the link to visit their website.
The GBRA also offers a great Technician Study Guide
(Requires acrobat reader) to help get you started.
It's available as a free download. It is important to note that the question pool for the technician class license changed in July 2006,
so you'll still want to get your hands on some more current resources as well.
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VE Sessions
The GBRA holds several VE (test) sessions each year, providing the opportunity to get your first license or upgrade your license for more band privileges.
When attending a VE session, you will need to bring two forms of identification, one of which must be a photo ID. If you are upgrading your license,
must bring original and a copy of your current license as well as any CSCE(s). You will also need to bring $14, which is the cost of the test.
All VE sessions are held at the Rochester Community Center unless otherwise specified.
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Other Activities
The GBRA sponsors and participates in many activities both civic and Amateur Radio related.
Members of the GBRA will frequently provide traffic control for many civic functions such as parades, charity sponsored runs and sother pecial events.
The GBRA also performs QSL presorting for the QSL Bureau.
On these occasions the GBRA hosts a QSL sorting party, providing an opportunity for area hams to get together to gab and eat pizza (provided by the club).
These events not only provide a valuable service, they are a good way for new hams to get more interested in DXing.
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Club Officers
- President - KB1MIP - Paul Michael
- Vice President - W1BOF - George Whitehead
- Treasurer - KB1KKL - John Rodenhuis
- Public Information Officer - KC1KA - Dick Ellis
- Secretary/Newsletter Editor - W1WRH - Bill Hodgson
Contact Information
- Great Bay Radio Association
- 78 Littleworth Rd.
- Dover, NH 03820
To reach us via email, please use the GBRA Message Board.
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