DA1BT

(Now QRT)

The Bitburg American Radio Club (BARC)
JN39GX


Years Active

1985 to 2023.

Who Were They?

The Bitburg American Radio club (BARC) were a group of American amateur radio operators living in Germany and come together to participate in amateur radio activities. The membership fluctuated significantly year-to-year primarily because of the normal rotation habits of military personnel. BARC was located and operated generally in the area of Bitburg, Germany. They maintained a club station in building 300 for years.

General history

There have been many American amateur radio clubs throughout the years located on Bitburg US Air Base, Germany. Each of them were morale and welfare military recreation clubs supporting the hams of the Bitburg military community. The last official amateur radio club on Bitburg Air Base was the Eifel Amateur Radio Club (EARC). EARC was issued the club callsign DA1BT in 1985. However, as a result of Bitburg US Air Base closing in October of 1994, membership declined significantly. So the remaining EARC membership elected to desolve EARC and create two smaller clubs, one on Bitburg Air Base and the other on Spangdahlem Air Base. The group remaining in the Bitburg area changed the club name to the Bitburg American Radio Club (BARC).

For a brief period, the Bitburg club was named the American Contest Team (ACT). But, shortly thereafter members of the American Contest Team decided to renamed their organization to "Bitburg American Radio Club (BARC)." Two organizations were formed: the Bitburg American Radio Club (BARC) and the Team Eifel Amateur Radio Society (TEARS). The callsign DA1BT was subsequently reassigned to the Bitburg American Radio Club, March 1996. At the same time, the members of TEARS applied for and obtained a new club callsign, DA1SP.

What activities were they involved in?

BARC primarily participated in three annual activities: the WPX contest, CQWW contest, and Jamboree-On-The-Air (JOTA) for Scouts worldwide. However, they did participate in other contests and special events that are Amateur Radio related activities and operations.

Contact Information:

E-Mail:

Contact Frequency:

Here is a common frequency where American-English speaking hams in Germany are typically found, Germany-wide:

144.725 MHz FM-simplex (TSQ/PL 88.5 Hz).

QSL Card:

View the last QSL card of the Eifel Amateur Radio Club.