What Is W5QX? The San Angelo Amateur Radio Club Explained

Updated

W5QX is the call sign and website of the San Angelo Amateur Radio Club (SAARC), an amateur radio organization based in San Angelo, Texas, that dates its founding to 1922. Its stated purpose is promoting amateur radio and public service in the Concho Valley. If you are a licensed operator, someone curious about getting a license, or a local resident looking for a club to join, the site is the club's main public entry point.

Who the Club Is and Where It Operates

SAARC identifies itself as established in 1922 and serves the Concho Valley region around San Angelo. Its activities are not confined to a single meeting room: site photos show members doing tower work for other operators in the area, installing equipment at the clubhouse tower, raising a UHF antenna in Runnels County, and presenting amateur radio to the Society of Physics Students at Angelo State University (ASU).

That range of activity matches the club's own framing: amateur radio plus public service, delivered through meetings, hands-on projects, and outreach.

Meetings: When, Where, and What to Expect

The club's regular meetings are open to the public and follow a predictable format:

Item Detail
Time 7 PM Central, second Thursday of each month
Exception No regular meeting in December
Location SAARC Clubhouse, 5513 Stewart Ln, San Angelo, TX 76904
Area Near Mathis Field / San Angelo Regional Airport
Format Brief club business, then a program or hands-on activity
Length About one hour total
Cost No fee mentioned; meetings are described as open to the public

If you are deciding whether to attend, the practical takeaway is that the business portion is kept short and the bulk of the hour is a presentation or activity — useful if you want to see what the club actually does rather than sit through administration.

What the Club Offers Beyond Meetings

The site's navigation points to the main ways to get involved:

  • Get Licensed! — entry point for people who want an amateur radio license.
  • License testing — the club posts upcoming test sessions; recent announcements list sessions on March 7 and April 4, 2026.
  • ARRL Volunteer Examiner — an April 8, 2026 announcement invites members to become ARRL Volunteer Examiners, which supports the testing program.
  • Repeaters & Nets — on-air infrastructure and scheduled nets for members and local operators.
  • Club Activities Calendar and Club News — schedules and announcements, including June events.
  • Become a Member — membership information.
  • Email Reflector — the club's mailing list for communication between members.
  • Club History, Clubhouse, and Constitution and Bylaws — governance and background documents.
  • HamClubOnline — an external link, commonly used by clubs for membership management.
  • License Free Mesh Network (Meshcore) Update — a recent announcement indicating club interest in mesh networking.

One caution: the site also links an "Old Site Archive (not maintained)," so information found there may be stale. For current meeting details, testing dates, and events, use the main pages and recent announcements.

How to Get Involved or Ask Questions

  1. Check the calendar and announcements first to confirm the next meeting or test session, since the December exception and dated announcements affect what is current.
  2. Attend a meeting at the clubhouse on the second Thursday at 7 PM Central. Meetings are open to the public, so no prior contact is required.
  3. Email the club at [email protected] with questions about licensing, membership, or activities. The club states it will be happy to assist.
  4. If you want a license, start with the "Get Licensed!" page and watch for the next posted test session.
  5. If you are already licensed, look at Repeaters & Nets and the Email Reflector to get on the air and into club communications.

Common Points of Confusion

  • W5QX is a call sign, not a separate organization. The site belongs to the San Angelo Amateur Radio Club.
  • "Est. 1922" refers to the club, not to any particular program or the website.
  • The December gap is real — there is no regular December meeting, so plan around January.
  • Meeting location is the clubhouse near the airport, not a general San Angelo venue; the street address is 5513 Stewart Ln.
  • No pricing is stated on the pages reviewed, so membership or testing costs should be confirmed directly with the club rather than assumed.

For anyone in or near the Concho Valley, the shortest path is simple: check the announcements, show up on a second Thursday, and email [email protected] if you need anything clarified before then.