Our mission is to enable east Dallas and lake area neighborhoods to intercommunicate via ham radio in the event of an emergency.
We aspire to:
- have fun and meet other hams in the community
- assist our neighborhoods and neighborhood associations in emergency communications planning
- mentor new and prospective hams
- encourage more folks to join our fascinating hobby.
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Some History
After the extended power outage of June 2019 in east Dallas, several Amateur Radio operators began planning an informal “White Rock Hams” group to exchange information and meet our neighbor hams.
A planning team that included Robinson KG5UVN, Rich N5CSU and his XYL Leslie, Randy (who was soon to be W5WXY) and Tony NT5TM met throughout the summer to flesh out the idea. The first White Rock Hams luncheon was held September 19, 2019 at Verona’s Restaurant, with six attendees from five lake area neighborhoods represented (Forest Hills, Little Forest Hills, Casa Linda, Casa Linda Forest and Lakewood).
With expanded interest from the surrounding neighborhoods, the group formed the White Rock Lake Amateur Radio Club in November 2019. The FCC granted a club license, KI5HIH, the same month. The vanity callsign WA5WRL was approved on December 28, 2019.
The initially elected officers served for three years: Rich N5CSU as president, Tony NT5TM as vice-president, and Randy W5WXY as secretary/treasurer. A new set of officers was elected and assumed office January 1, 2023.
The group has since grown to 40 members representing 16 east Dallas and lake area neighborhoods. Members’ experience range from decades as a ham to new ham to folks interested in getting an amateur radio license. All are welcome.
Activities
An on-the-air net is held each Wednesday at 7 PM on the two meter ham band on 147.52 MHz, or what we call “White Rock Simplex.” Check-ins from hams throughout the Metroplex are always welcome.
Club members are encouraged to monitor White Rock Simplex anytime. An Echolink simplex node allows hams from around the world to pop out on 147.52 MHz via phones, laptops, and other Echolink nodes.
During COVID-19, all in person meetings were cancelled in favor of on air nets and quarterly virtual business meetings. Face to face meetings and lunches resumed in early 2023. General meetings are held the evening of the 3rd Wednesday of even numbered months, while a social luncheon is held the 3rd Wednesday of odd numbered months.
The club participates in ARRL Field Day in June and Winter Field Day in January at White Rock Lake Park. The club also sponsors frequent radio fox hunts, “Wires in the Park” and other activities. Browse our blog posts to check out past events and upcoming activities.
Club System Services
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- Simplex Node: WA5WRL-L, 147.52 MHz Node 703396
- APRS Receive only iGate: WA5WRL-10, 144.39 MHz
White Rock Lake Area Simplex Frequencies
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- Primary Frequency: 147.52 MHz “White Rock Simplex”
- Secondary Frequency VHF: 147.50 MHz “White Rock 2”
- Secondary Frequency UHF: 446.025 MHz “White Rock 3”
Affiliations
The club has been named as an Ambassador in the National Weather Service Weather-Ready Nation program. The Ambassador program recognizes organizations that are improving the nation’s readiness against extreme weather, water, and climate events.
We actively support and encourage membership in the Dallas Amateur Radio Club, which maintains several Dallas repeaters and hosts numerous nets and activities benefiting our area. Most White Rock Hams are also members of DARC.
Many of our members are also active participants in Dallas CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and Dallas RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service), both sponsored by the city of Dallas.
We also encourage membership in the ARRL, the national association for radio amateurs. The WRLARC was accepted as an ARRL Affiliated Club in May 2020.
The club was registered in Texas as a nonprofit corporation in December 2020.
Interested?
If you are interested in following our activities, enter your email address in the Follow box on our home page. You’ll be notified by email whenever we update our home page.
The club also hosts a private email group on groups.io to share info and files. East Dallas and White Rock area residents that are either Amateur Radio licensees, or actively pursuing their ham license, are invited to apply to join this private email group,and to apply for membership via HamClubOnline..
Club Officers 2023
President: Dave Catlett K5YR
Vice-President: Ron Adams N5SQA
Secretary: David Ricker KG5VSR
Treasurer: Randy Durham W5WXY
License Trustee/PIO: Rich Casey N5CSU
Email: info@wa5wrl.org
White Rock Lake Amateur Radio Club - WA5WRL 