w5qx.org

The San Angelo Amateur Radio Club (W5QX) supports licensing in two practical ways: its website has a Get Licensed! page covering the licensing process, and the club announces upcoming license test sessions in its news section. To use either, start at w5qx.org, open Get Licensed! for the process overview, then check Club News for the next test date. For specifics that aren't posted, email [email protected].

What the club provides

The site does not publish exam fees, registration deadlines, or required documents, so confirm those with the club before you commit to a date.

Steps to follow

1. Read the licensing overview. Go to w5qx.org and open Get Licensed! This is the club's own starting point for the process.
2. Find the next session. Check Club News / Recent Announcements for the latest test date. The site has listed sessions in March and April 2026; newer posts may supersede them.
3. Confirm details by email. Write to [email protected] and ask about the next session's date, location, what to bring, and any fee. The club states it is happy to assist with questions.
4. Attend the session. Expect a standard amateur radio exam session run by volunteer examiners. The club's separate notice about becoming an ARRL Volunteer Examiner shows that its testing is tied to the ARRL VEC system.
5. Watch for results and your license. After passing, your examiner team handles the paperwork; ask at the session how results and your call sign will be delivered.

Verify before you go

• Date still current? Announcements are dated, so re-check the news page close to the session rather than relying on an older post.
• Session open to the public? The club's regular meetings are explicitly open to the public; test sessions are announced separately, so confirm yours is open to non-members.
• Which exam element? Tell the contact address whether you are a first-time examinee or upgrading, so you are scheduled correctly.

Common sticking points

• Treating a past announcement as the next session. The March 7 and April 4, 2026 listings are examples of what the club posts, not a standing schedule.
• Assuming the meeting location is the test location. Meetings are at the SAARC Clubhouse, 5513 Stewart Ln, San Angelo, TX 76904, near Mathis Field; the site does not state that exams are held there.
• Skipping the email step. Since fees and requirements aren't published, one message to [email protected] resolves most uncertainty.

If you want to go further

The club also recruits ARRL Volunteer Examiners, so once licensed you can help administer future sessions. Its activities—tower work, repeater and net operations, and demonstrations at Angelo State University—are described on the site and give a sense of what the license lets you join.

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:

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.

The W5QX website (w5qx.org) has a dedicated Repeaters & Nets page listed under its "Page Links" menu, which is the starting point for repeater frequencies and net schedules. The site also offers an Email Reflector link for ongoing member communication and a contact address, [email protected], for questions the published pages don't answer. Note that the specific frequencies and net times are not reproduced in the site text available here, so you'll need to open those pages directly.

What the Site Provides

The San Angelo Amateur Radio Club (SAARC), established 1922, organizes its site around a small set of navigation links. The two relevant to on-air activity are:

A separate Club Activities Calendar and Meeting Information page cover in-person events, which are distinct from on-air nets.

If the Pages Don't Answer Your Question

Contact the club by email at [email protected]. The site explicitly invites questions and offers to assist people who want to learn more about the club.

Related In-Person Contact

If you'd rather ask in person, regular meetings are held at 7 PM Central on the second Thursday of each month (except December) at the SAARC Clubhouse, 5513 Stewart Ln, San Angelo, TX 76904, near Mathis Field / San Angelo Regional Airport. Meetings run about an hour, begin with brief club business, and are followed by a program or hands-on activity. They are open to the public.

Practical Notes

• Start with the Repeaters & Nets page for frequencies and net times; the homepage excerpt does not list them.
• Use the Email Reflector if you want to reach the wider membership rather than a single contact.
• Recent announcements on the site (license testing sessions, a mesh network update, volunteer examiner recruitment) show the club posts time-sensitive notices on the homepage, so check there for schedule changes that might affect a net.

The San Angelo Amateur Radio Club (W5QX) welcomes new members, and the simplest path to joining is to start at the "Become a Member" link on w5qx.org, then follow up by emailing [email protected] with any questions. The club has been active since 1922 and serves the Concho Valley area around San Angelo, Texas. Before committing, you can attend a monthly meeting free of charge—meetings are open to the public—to see whether the club fits your interests.

What the Club Offers Members

W5QX is more than a social group. Based on the club's website, members take part in:

• Hands-on technical work — club photos show members performing tower work, installing equipment at the Clubhouse tower, and raising a UHF antenna for mounting in Runnels County.
• Public outreach — members have presented and demonstrated amateur radio to the Society of Physics Students at Angelo State University (ASU).
• Licensing support — the site includes a "Get Licensed!" page and announcements about license testing sessions and ARRL Volunteer Examiner opportunities.
• Regular nets and repeaters — the site maintains a "Repeaters & Nets" page for on-air activity.
• A license-free mesh network — recent announcements mention a Meshcore mesh network update.

Step-by-Step: How to Join

1. Visit w5qx.org and use the "Become a Member" link in the Page Links section.
2. Attend a meeting first (optional but recommended). Regular meetings are held at 7 PM Central on the second Thursday of each month (except December) at the SAARC Clubhouse, 5513 Stewart Ln, San Angelo, TX 76904, near Mathis Field/San Angelo Regional Airport. Meetings last about an hour: brief club business followed by a program or hands-on activity.
3. Email [email protected] with questions about membership or to express interest. The club states it will be happy to assist.
4. Check the Club Activities Calendar on the site to see upcoming events and find a good time to get involved.

What to Expect at a Meeting

Meetings follow a predictable format: essential club business is covered briefly, then a program or hands-on activity fills the rest of the hour. Because meetings are always open to the public, you can attend as a guest before deciding to join. This is a low-pressure way to meet members and learn what the club actually does week to week.

Practical Notes

• Location: SAARC Clubhouse, 5513 Stewart Ln, San Angelo, TX 76904.
• Schedule: 7 PM Central, second Thursday monthly, except December.
• Contact: [email protected].
• Related resources on the site: Get Licensed!, Club News, Meeting Information, Club Activities Calendar, Repeaters & Nets, Email Reflector, Club History, Clubhouse, and Constitution and Bylaws.

The website does not publish membership dues or a formal application process, so emailing the club is the reliable way to confirm current requirements. If you are also interested in getting licensed, the club's "Get Licensed!" page and its announced test sessions are the natural next step after you make contact.

The San Angelo Amateur Radio Club (W5QX) holds its regular meetings at 7:00 PM Central Time on the second Thursday of each month, except December, at the SAARC Clubhouse, 5513 Stewart Ln, San Angelo, TX 76904, near Mathis Field / San Angelo Regional Airport. Meetings are open to the public and typically last about an hour.

Meeting Details at a Glance

What to Expect at a Meeting

The club describes a simple format: essential club business is covered briefly, then the remainder of the hour is given to an interesting program or a hands-on activity. That structure makes a meeting useful whether you are a licensed operator, studying for a license, or simply curious about amateur radio.

The club also documents its broader activity in the Concho Valley — tower work for other operators, equipment installation at the Clubhouse tower, and demonstrations for the Society of Physics Students at ASU — which gives a sense of the practical, hands-on culture you would be walking into.

Before You Go

• Check the calendar first. The site lists a Club Activities Calendar and Recent Announcements (including events and license test sessions), so confirm nothing has shifted for the month you plan to attend.
• December is the exception. If you are planning a first visit in December, do not assume a regular meeting will take place.
• Arrive on time. The club notes that meetings are held "promptly at 7 PM," and with only about an hour scheduled, arriving late means missing part of the program.
• Ask questions in advance. For anything about the club or a first visit, the published contact is [email protected].

Related Entry Points on the Site

If your interest goes beyond attending a meeting, the club's page links cover Get Licensed!, Repeaters & Nets, Become a Member, Club News, and Club History, along with a link to HamClubOnline. These are the natural next stops after a first meeting — particularly the licensing and repeater pages for anyone new to the hobby.