ARRL East Bay Section

Ham Radio Licensing
Education and classes
Ham Radio clubs
...and much more!

It comprises of California’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, and Solano Counties

ARRL EB Newsletter - Download Here

Why Ham Radio?

Some of these reasons may be to find a new hobby to operate a radio transmitter, to be experimenting with radio waves, find good friends, to volunteer for emergency services, public service events, etc. You may find some answers in this inspiring article here

Get on the air

To get on the air with a ham radio may be easier than you think. No knowledge of morse code necessary. There are three Ham License categories: Technician, General and Extra. Ham clubs teach courses on this subject. Click here for more info

Local Clubs

There are many local clubs in and around San Francisco East Bay. There is a good chance there is one just near you. For the lists of ham radio clubs and their points of contact click on the Club Corner page here

Next Selected Event:

Technician License Course + Testing

By MDARC (Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club)

In the Technician License Course the participants will get all the necessary training to pass the first level of the ham radio license - the Technician Level. One week after the last lesson there will be a testing session also for other licenses such as General and Ham Radio Extra. The course will be held via Zoom.

Dates: 01/10/2023 - 02/28/2023

License testing will be on 03/07/2023. For more details click here

Public Service Events

Many of the local clubs are involved in doing communications support for various public events. They may include long distance bike rides, bike races, running races, walkathons, a half marathon and local city parades in many beatiful scenic areas such as regional and wilderness parks. Click here for more info

License Testing

Most of the local clubs offer license testing. Exam sessions are conducted by volunteers working under the direction of the FCC and a Volunteer Exam Coordinator (VEC). There will likely be a charge for taking the exam. The exam fee is set by the VEC and is usually $15 or less. Click here for more info

Emergency Preparedness

Amateur Radio may be a hobby, but it can also play a crucial role in providing communications during a disaster when other means may not be available. The critical link in any major disaster is the flow of information. Click here for more info