The Reading Radio Club
W3BN - W3CCH
ARRL Affiliated since Feb 17th 1922
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Steve Dobbs, NE3F, on 8/30/2024.
He was an avid contester but he was ALWAYS willing to step aside and encouraged others to get on the air.
Steve allowed the club to do many events at his superstation.
More details will be sent out as they become available.
He was an avid contester but he was ALWAYS willing to step aside and encouraged others to get on the air.
Steve allowed the club to do many events at his superstation.
More details will be sent out as they become available.
Steve Dobbs, NE3F, Obituary
Stephen M. Dobbs, 73, of Mohns Hill Road, Spring Township, died Friday, Aug. 30 in his home following a brief illness. He was the husband of Beverly L. (Anderson) Dobbs to whom he had been married for 47 years.
Born in Newfoundland, Canada, he was the son of the late William C. and Olive (Adams) Dobbs. Stephen graduated from Wilson High School in 1969. Because of his father’s military postings, Stephen attended 13 schools over a 12-year period, including nearly four years in Ecuador. He was employed for more than 48 years by Boscov’s.
Stephen gained international recognition from the amateur radio community for his contest station operations at his Spring Township home where he assembled an impressive array of antennas and radio equipment. He operated the station under his FCC amateur radio call sign - NE3F “Norway Echo 3 Foxtrot.” He achieved several awards in international and U.S. radio competitions and held a record for his multi-multi operation in the Pennsylvania QSO Party. Stephen was first licensed as an amateur radio operator in 1972 under the call sign WA3SPJ. He eventually earned his Extra Class license and upgraded his call sign to NE3F. He was a long-time member of the Frankford Radio Club and member and past president of the Reading Radio Club. He helped to mentor several area amateur radio operators in the art of radio contesting over the years.
Stephen was a member of the North-South Skirmish Association for 38 years and earned numerous medals for his shooting accomplishments in regional and national competitions.
In addition to his wife, Beverly, he is survived by two children: Stephanie Dobbs-Leavitt, and her spouse, Nicholas Leavitt, Boca Raton, Florida; and William Dobbs, Womelsdorf. And, two grandsons, James Stephen Dobbs and Alexander George Dobbs, both of Womelsdorf.
Services are private. The family requests contributions in the name of Stephen Dobbs be made to the McGlinn Cancer Institute at Tower Health or Heartland Hospice, Wyomissing. The Good Sipler Funeral & Cremation Centre Inc., Reamstown, is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Newfoundland, Canada, he was the son of the late William C. and Olive (Adams) Dobbs. Stephen graduated from Wilson High School in 1969. Because of his father’s military postings, Stephen attended 13 schools over a 12-year period, including nearly four years in Ecuador. He was employed for more than 48 years by Boscov’s.
Stephen gained international recognition from the amateur radio community for his contest station operations at his Spring Township home where he assembled an impressive array of antennas and radio equipment. He operated the station under his FCC amateur radio call sign - NE3F “Norway Echo 3 Foxtrot.” He achieved several awards in international and U.S. radio competitions and held a record for his multi-multi operation in the Pennsylvania QSO Party. Stephen was first licensed as an amateur radio operator in 1972 under the call sign WA3SPJ. He eventually earned his Extra Class license and upgraded his call sign to NE3F. He was a long-time member of the Frankford Radio Club and member and past president of the Reading Radio Club. He helped to mentor several area amateur radio operators in the art of radio contesting over the years.
Stephen was a member of the North-South Skirmish Association for 38 years and earned numerous medals for his shooting accomplishments in regional and national competitions.
In addition to his wife, Beverly, he is survived by two children: Stephanie Dobbs-Leavitt, and her spouse, Nicholas Leavitt, Boca Raton, Florida; and William Dobbs, Womelsdorf. And, two grandsons, James Stephen Dobbs and Alexander George Dobbs, both of Womelsdorf.
Services are private. The family requests contributions in the name of Stephen Dobbs be made to the McGlinn Cancer Institute at Tower Health or Heartland Hospice, Wyomissing. The Good Sipler Funeral & Cremation Centre Inc., Reamstown, is in charge of arrangements.
A memorial service for Stephen Dobbs NE3F has been scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 at 7 p.m. inside the auditorium of the Berks County Agricultural Center located at 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA 19533.
Stephen, 73, died at home on Friday, Aug. 30 following a brief illness.
Stephen was a long-time member of the Reading Radio Club and a past president. He was also a member of the Frankford Radio Club and opened his contest station in Spring Township, Berks County to many operators over the years.
Stephen served as host of the Reading Radio Club’s 100th anniversary W3BN Special Event station and the 275th anniversary of the City of Reading W3BN Special Event station.
In memory of Stephen and in keeping with his wishes, his station also will host W3BN for the 100th anniversary of the Reading Railroad Special Event station on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Stephen’s wife, Bev, and daughter, Stephanie, son, William, and grandsons James and Alexander plan to attend the memorial service.
Please come and share your memories of Stephen.
STEPHEN DOBBS NE3F MEMORIAL SERVICE
Next General Meeting: September 13th, 2024 - 7:30 - Berks AG Center
Topic: Come on out and find out.
Topic: Come on out and find out.
Next Board Meeting: September 10th, 2024 - 7:30 PM ZOOM
Next FLDIGI: September 5th, 2024 7:30 PM 146.91
Next Simplex Radio Test: September 14th, 2024 1 PM 146.55 / 446.00
Next VE Testing Session: October 12th - Fire Training Center.
Special Event: September 21st, 2024 - Multi-Location
Welcome to the Reading Radio Club, Inc's Website.
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-- Repeater --
146.910 MHz.
- 600 kHz.
PL Tone 131.8 Hz.
-- Weekly MOTA --
(Meeting On The Air)
Every Friday that we do not have an in-person meeting.
Net starts at 8:00pm on the RRC Repeater.
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[email protected]
146.910 MHz.
- 600 kHz.
PL Tone 131.8 Hz.
-- Weekly MOTA --
(Meeting On The Air)
Every Friday that we do not have an in-person meeting.
Net starts at 8:00pm on the RRC Repeater.
You do not need to be a member to join us!
[email protected]
W3BN, W3CCH SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS TO CELEBRATE
100th ANNIVERSARY OF READING RAILROAD ON SEPT. 21
100th ANNIVERSARY OF READING RAILROAD ON SEPT. 21
When? SEPT. 21, 2024 from 9 a.m. EDT (1300 UTC) – 9 p.m. EDT (0200 UTC)
The Reading Radio Club in Reading, PA is marking the 100th anniversary of the formal incorporation of the Reading Railroad with two Special Event Stations – W3BN and W3CCH. All licensed amateurs are invited to join the celebration and make contact with W3BN and W3CCH on 10, 15, 20, 40 or 80 meters SSB to qualify for a personalized, color certificate commemorating the contact. Reading Radio Club operators will be staffing four HF stations – two in the Reading, PA area and two aboard stationary rail cars parked along tracks outside the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, PA - for a 12-hour period. Look for spots on your favorite DX cluster to find and work one of the stations. Be sure to email [email protected] with your contact details to get your beautiful emailed certificate.
The Reading Radio Club in Reading, PA is marking the 100th anniversary of the formal incorporation of the Reading Railroad with two Special Event Stations – W3BN and W3CCH. All licensed amateurs are invited to join the celebration and make contact with W3BN and W3CCH on 10, 15, 20, 40 or 80 meters SSB to qualify for a personalized, color certificate commemorating the contact. Reading Radio Club operators will be staffing four HF stations – two in the Reading, PA area and two aboard stationary rail cars parked along tracks outside the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, PA - for a 12-hour period. Look for spots on your favorite DX cluster to find and work one of the stations. Be sure to email [email protected] with your contact details to get your beautiful emailed certificate.
The Reading Radio Club is offering a Technician Training Class for anyone interested. The two-day in-person class will be held at the Berks County Fire Training Center, Morgantown Road, on October 5th and 12th, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. An online session will take place during the week of October 6th for additional content and questions.
To register for the free training class, please contact Stuart at 484-339-3456 or email [email protected].
An exam session will be held on October 12th at 2:30 PM for students and the general public.
To Register for the Exam please email [email protected] or use the following link: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/66ccc483dded4fdd6a79d05b/1
Please pass this on to your family and friends as it is a unique opportunity to both learn and gain the information necessary to pass their Technician Exam.
The ARRL exam fee is $15 for those over 18 and $5 for those under 18, payable to the Reading Radio Club. New licensees must also pay a $35 FCC fee, while there is no FCC fee for license upgrades.
To register for the free training class, please contact Stuart at 484-339-3456 or email [email protected].
An exam session will be held on October 12th at 2:30 PM for students and the general public.
To Register for the Exam please email [email protected] or use the following link: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/66ccc483dded4fdd6a79d05b/1
Please pass this on to your family and friends as it is a unique opportunity to both learn and gain the information necessary to pass their Technician Exam.
The ARRL exam fee is $15 for those over 18 and $5 for those under 18, payable to the Reading Radio Club. New licensees must also pay a $35 FCC fee, while there is no FCC fee for license upgrades.
The Bulletin article from 2016 showing the club's March 10, 1921 founding date can be found here:
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