Goose River Amateur Radio Club
Mayville, North Dakota
2 Meter Repeater: 146.910 -0.6 MHz 123Hz
Club Activities
The Goose River Amateur Radio Club participates in various activities throughout the year.
Field Day
The American Radio Relay League sets up two Field Days during the year. The Winter Field Day is held during the last full weekend in January and the Summer Field Day is held during the last full weekend in June. Field Day exercises encourage amateur radio clubs and individuals to practice setting up and operating in simulated emergency conditions (ie. using non-commercial power in a location away from normal operations)
Club Meetings
The Goose River Amateur Radio Club meets on the first Saturday of each month at Paula’s Cafe in Mayville, North Dakota at 9:00 AM. During club meetings, members discuss various aspects of amateur radio operation, plan for upcoming events, and seek ways of communicating the benefits of the Amateur Radio world to the citizens within the general Mayville area (approximately a 40-mile radius).
Network Meetings
Network Meetings, commonly known as Nets, are on the air meetings to provide training and public service information to the public and the amateur radio community. Area nets include: A North Dakota Weather and Road Information Net on Monday – Saturday on frequencies 03.859 at 8:30 AM and on 03.872 at 5:00 PM.
The Goose River Amateur Radio Club operates a net weekly on Monday nights at 8:00PM on the repeater frequency of 146.910. The Forx Amateur Radio Club follows at 9:00 PM on the repeater frequency of 146.940.
GOOSE RIVER AMATEUR RADIO PICNIC
Save the Date: July 26, 2025
The Goose River Amateur Radio Club is planning an Amateur Radio Operators and interested parties picnic get together. This will take place at the Island Park in Mayville, ND. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. More information to come as plans develop.
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur Radio, better known as Ham Radio, is a group of individuals around the world that operate various radio stations to make contact with each other. They do this without any external infrastructure, such as cellular networks or the internet, using their own equipment and antennas. While it is an enjoyable hobby, amateur radio operators also can provide communications during emergencies when all regular phone, cellular, and other communication services are down.
How do I get involved with Amateur Radio?
The easiest way to become involved with amateur radio is to contact a local amateur radio club in your area. In the area surrounding Mayville (approx. 40 miles) please contact one of our club officers or attend a club meeting at Paula’s Cafe on the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 AM. If you are from another area, we can help you find a club in your area.
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Are there special requirements to operate Amateur Radio?
Each country around the world controls the various radio frequencies within their own country. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission is the agency that has that control. They require that an individual obtain a license to operate in the US. The Amateur Radio Relay League assists with training and testing for an Amateur License. Your local club will have additional information. It should be noted that there is no longer a requirement to learn and be proficient with morse code.
Can this be an expensive hobby?
The initial expense of the hobby is the testing ($15) and the licensing ($35). After that, it will depend on an individual’s personal budget. There is used equipment available from other operators that have upgrade their equipment. The Gosse River Amateur Radio Club doe have a limited amount of equipment for loan to help get started.
Interested in studying for your license?
Studying can be accomplished either in a class atmosphere or on your own. There is an on-line class available through an Amateur Radio Operator in Fargo. If this interests you, please contact Jay at tapladder@gmail.com . A textbook is required for this class and can be purchased at Get a Ham Radio License | Ham Radio School and is available in hard copy or electronic.
If you wish to study on your own, there are various ways to do that as well. You may purchase a study guide through the Amateur Radio Relay League ( ARRL – Home ) or you may study through the internet at HamStudy.org: Cutting edge amateur radio study tools just to name a couple opportunities.
Testing can be arranged through our sister club in Grand Forks – Forx Amateur Radio Club. They can set up a test session after their regular club meeting on the last Tuesday of the month.
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Why do I need Amateur Radio when I can buy a radio off the internet and talk across the country?
If you have been led to believe that buying a few radios would enable you to talk all across the country, you have been lied to. The cheap VHF or UHF radios you may have been told to buy are not going to provide communication beyond a few miles. When regular phone lines and cell phones and towers go down, you have nothing. True Emergency Communication (EMCOMM) almost always involves shortwave (HF) radio. It is at this point that ham radio shines. However, ham, amateur, or shortwave radio is a hobby and skill set all of its own. Please contact an amateur radio operator or attend one of our club meetings to get all your questions answered in a factual maner.
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