W0ENO
Longmont Amateur Radio Club
Connecting hams across Boulder County and the Front Range since 1952 — on the air, in the community, and ready when it matters most.
1952
Founded
70+
Years Active
150+
Members
40+
LARCFests Hosted
2
Repeaters
1978
BCARES Founded
🎯
Our Mission
“To advance the art, science, and enjoyment of amateur radio; to promote fellowship among amateur radio operators; and to serve the community through emergency communications and public service operations.”— LARC Mission Statement, W0ENO
👥
Who We Are
The Longmont Amateur Radio Club (LARC), operating under the callsign W0ENO, is one of Colorado’s longest-running amateur radio clubs. Based in Longmont, Colorado, LARC serves Boulder County and the surrounding Front Range with a diverse membership of licensed amateur radio operators — from brand-new Technicians exploring their first repeater contact to seasoned Amateur Extra operators with DXCC and decades of contesting experience.
LARC is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and is the home club for BCARES — Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, providing critical communications support to Boulder County Emergency Management and other served agencies.
📡 On the Air
Club operations on HF, VHF/UHF, digital modes (FT8, DMR, D-STAR, APRS, Winlink), POTA/SOTA activations, and major contests including ARRL Field Day.
🤝 Community
Monthly meetings, the annual LARCFest hamfest, Elmer mentoring program, VE licensing exams, and participation in public service events throughout Boulder County.
🚨 Emergency Ready
BCARES keeps LARC members trained and equipped to serve Boulder County when disasters disrupt commercial communications infrastructure.
📜
A Brief History
1952
LARC is formally founded in Longmont, Colorado — one of the earliest amateur radio clubs on the Front Range.
1969
Club re-energized by Ray Parnaby K0AP and a core group of enthusiastic operators who formalize club activities and begin regular programming.
1976–1978
The Big Thompson Canyon Flood (1976) demonstrates the life-saving value of amateur radio in disasters. Two years later, LARC founds BCARES to formalize emergency communications operations. The first W0ENO repeater is installed on a Longmont water tower.
1984
LARC hosts the first LARCFest — an annual hamfest that continues today with 40+ consecutive years of operation. Frank Duff W0ENO SK is memorialized; the club adopts W0ENO as its callsign in his honor.
2003
The W0ENO repeater system is officially licensed to the club, formalizing decades of community radio service in Boulder County.
Today
LARC remains one of Colorado’s most active clubs, with 150+ members, an active digital and HF presence, regular VE testing, and a strong commitment to community service and emergency preparedness.
📖 Read the full LARC History →
📻
Club Activities
🏕️ Field Day
ARRL Field Day — last full weekend of June — is LARC’s biggest operating event of the year. Members set up field antennas and operate all weekend from parks or public spaces.
🛒 LARCFest Hamfest
LARC’s annual hamfest brings hundreds of amateur radio operators together for equipment buying, selling, trading, technical talks, and fellowship.
📡 Monday Night Net
Weekly check-in net on the W0ENO 147.270 MHz repeater. All welcome — a great first step for new hams getting comfortable on the air.
🏔️ POTA / SOTA
Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air group activations throughout Colorado’s parks, open space, and mountain summits.
🎓 Licensing / Elmers
VE testing sessions and the Elmer mentoring program help new hams get licensed and get on the air with confidence.
🚨 BCARES / EmComm
Emergency communications training and deployment readiness for Boulder County through the BCARES program. Learn more →
🏛️
Current Officers
| Position | Name | Callsign |
|---|---|---|
| President | (Update with current officer) | — |
| Vice President | (Update with current officer) | — |
| Secretary | (Update with current officer) | — |
| Treasurer | (Update with current officer) | — |
| BCARES EC | (Update with current officer) | — |
| VE Liaison | (Update with current officer) | — |
Officers elected annually at the December meeting. Full board information at Board Information →
🤝
Membership & Meetings
📅 Monthly Meetings
3rd Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM.
Longmont, Colorado.
See full schedule →
💰 Membership Dues
$20/year individual membership. Includes The Splatter newsletter, voting rights, and member pricing on club events.
📩 Contact Us
Questions? Reach out anytime.
Contact Form →
info@w0eno.org
🌐
Affiliations
📻 ARRL
Affiliated club of the American Radio Relay League — the national organization for amateur radio in the United States.
🏔️ ARRL Rocky Mountain Division
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Division serves as the link between local clubs and national ARRL leadership.
🚨 BCARES / ARRL ARES
LARC is the home club for BCARES, the Boulder County ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service group.
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