ABOUT HVARC
Expanding the knowledge and craft of amateur radio
The Hanover Virginia Amateur Radio Club is a growing community of radio enthusiasts based in Hanover County and the surrounding region. We’re passionate about communication and having fun with radio. Our club was built on the idea that amateur radio should be both approachable and forward-thinking, and we’re proud to offer a space where anyone,
from curious newcomers to lifelong hams can get involved,
learn something new, and feel right at home.
OUR STORY
The Hanover Virginia Amateur Radio Club (HVARC) was officially founded in 2024 by a group of local hams who shared a vision: to create an innovative, supportive, and friendly amateur radio community based north of the James River. With most existing clubs meeting well outside the Hanover area, there was a clear and growing need for something closer to home, something that embraced modern radio interests while still honoring the roots of the hobby.
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The idea gained traction in June 2024 when the N8ELS 145.110 ("511") repeater came online, offering exceptional coverage across Hanover County and beyond. Its launch brought many local operators out of the woodwork and sparked conversations about finally establishing a club. Interestingly, the first informal gathering of Hanover-area hams had already taken place a month earlier in May, during a planning session for amateur radio involvement in a regional VOPEX emergency management drill.
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Momentum built quickly, and by August 2024, a founding group of operators—Doug Mitchell (N4HDF), Sean Pyne (W4BKR), Bob Harris (W4RTH), Santiago Montalvo (KQ1O), TJ Jennings (N1ENC), Nathan Elswick (N8ELS), and PJ Calhoun (KO4RMV)—held the first official meeting to form the club.
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Since then, HVARC has grown rapidly and developed a reputation for its sense of community, engaging presentations, and fun, hands-on events like our summer Field Day.
