Early in 1965, the club met informally at Mike Maloy’s home. Approximately 6 members gathered to learn the hobby and to upgrade their license. This was the catalyst for one of the largest clubs in the area. The Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club, Inc. first incorporated in 1971 and began the first formal meetings in the Port Richey Fire House located on Grand Boulevard in Port Richey, Florida. The membership of the Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club is composed of persons who share the common convictions of Amateur Radio, guided in part by the FCC, and ARRL Rules and Regulations. Part of the mission of the club is to maintain an organization of people devoted to the convictions in order more thoroughly to enjoy the hobby and provide a means for the enhancement of member’s knowledge in amateur radio through education for amateur radio and disaster preparedness and the advancement of scientific learning of radio theory. Also to promote friendship by association and have fun. This club is full service to meet the needs of the membership, assist with all types of communication for the community and educate all, in the purpose of amateur radio.
GCARC BOARD of DIRECTORS
MONTHLY MEETING
The Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club holds it’s monthly membership meetings on the 4th Monday of the month at Millennium Academy, 10005 Ridge Road, New Port Richey, FL.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER: Chuck Miller k5kaz chuckmk5kaz@gulfcoastarc.com
Before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. US licenses are good for 10 years before renewal and anyone may hold one except a representative of a foreign government. In the US there are three license classes—Technician, General and Extra.
The GCARC offers testing for all license classes normally on the second Saturday of each month. Anyone who tests with us and passes will be offered a free membership for the remaining calendar year. Also, anyone who passes the technician test and joins the club, for a limited time will be given a hand held radio. (subject to availability) You must pre-register if you would like to take the test, walk ins are NOT ACCEPTED.
To "pre-register" you can contact Al by emailing to AJ4JA@icloud.com. He will inform you on how to obtain an FRN from the FCC and any other documentation you would need to bring with you to the test site.
Testing is held at:
MILLENNIUM ACCADEMY
10005 RIDGE RD.
NEW PORT RICHEY 34654
SEE MAP ABOVE
LICENSE TESTING