On April 26, 2025, at 9:25AM local time, the third Rio ARC Pico Balloon—sponsored by Tom (WT5TX)—was launched southwest of Harlingen, TX. It started reporting shortly after launch heading north, to the west-side of Harlingen. At the time of launch the wind was tracking from the south-east at over 10 MPH.

Serial #3 has been on the air all day like a champ. It almost pulled off a full lap around Harlingen before getting bored and making a break for the Gulf. Around 12:30 PM, it was cruising at over 30,000 feet, just vibing at the top of the world. But now? It’s dropping between 100 and 200 feet every time it checks in — basically pulling off the slowest nosedive in history.

As I’m writing this, it's barely hanging on at a little over 11,000 feet. It's traveled over 142 miles so far — not bad, but kind of a bittersweet victory. Looks like this will be the first one to tap out on the same day it launched. We tried some "new and improved" ideas this time, but spoiler alert: they weren’t all that improved. So it’s back to the old ways — if it ain't broke, don’t fix it!

The last report came in at 3:50 PM local time: Serial #3 was cruising about 40 miles east of South Padre Island, floating along at 2,000 feet. Then... radio silence. This balloon ghosted us harder than a bad Tinder date.

But don’t worry — just like SpaceX and their Starship, we’ll be back with another launch in a week or two. Stay tuned, because the sky (and possibly the ocean) is the limit!

To track its global path on Traquito, [watch here].

Wondering what the heck a Pico Balloon is well just [click here] and all your questions will be answered.

Rio ARC K5RGV

A Warm (and Slightly Static-Filled) South Texas Welcome!
Howdy from the Rio Amateur Radio Club (Rio ARC)! Whether you're a seasoned Ham with more QSL cards than fridge magnets, just getting started, or simply wondering what all the antenna talk is about—we’re glad you found us. We hope this site becomes your go-to frequency for all things Amateur Radio.

Broadcasting from the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley
Our home base is Harlingen—fondly nicknamed The Tropical Playground of Texas—and we proudly serve the whole Rio Grande Valley (RGV). That includes McAllen, Brownsville, South Padre Island, Port Isabel, San Benito, Raymondville, and even Starbase (yes, that's a real place—just ask Elon). With its rich culture, friendly folks, and year-round sunshine, the RGV is a great place to live—and an even better place to be a Ham.

Not Just a Hobby—It’s a Hamily
At Rio ARC, we welcome anyone with an interest in Ham radio, electronics, computer theory, or just pushing buttons and seeing what happens. But let’s face it—Ham radio is really about people. It’s about community, camaraderie, and the occasional debate over which antenna is “truly the best.” (Spoiler: it depends.)

Come for the Radio—Stay for the Pancakes
Twice a week, we gather for informal breakfast meetups. No membership required, just bring your appetite and a good story (radio-related or not—we’re not picky). There’s coffee, conversation, and usually someone trying to explain how DMR works... again. Details are in the “Future Events” section below or on our calendar page.

So Pull Up a Chair (or Key Up the Mic)
Whether you’re here to learn, tinker, ragchew, or just escape the XYL (of course she is invited) for a couple hours—we’re happy you’re here. Welcome to Rio ARC. We can’t wait to hear your call sign and meet you face-to-face!

The first Rio ARC Pico Balloon (Serial #1), sponsored by Tom (WT5TX), was launched southwest of Harlingen, TX, at 0800 local time on March 21, 2025.

Unfortunately, the balloon stopped transmitting on the morning of March 25, 2025. However, before going silent, it covered an impressive distance and provided valuable data:

Total distance traveled: 5,862 miles
Last reported location: Mauritania, Northwest Africa
Average speed: 81 mph
Fastest speed recorded: 127 mph
Slowest speed recorded: 35 mph
Average altitude: 34,826 feet
Highest altitude recorded: 35,630 feet
Coldest temperature recorded: -29°F
A big thanks to Tom (WT5TX) for introducing something new and giving many of us a fresh and exciting experience in ham radio!

Breakfast Every Wednesday at 8:00 am

Los Leones in La Feria , 109 N Main St, La Feria, TX 78559-5004

Breakfast Every Saturday at 8:00 am

Tejano Grill in Harlingen, 803 S 77 Sunshine Strip
Harlingen, TX 78550

2025 ARRL Field Day is June 28. Rio ARC will be at Dixieland Park from 1:00pm until about 5:00pm. Just look for the Rio ARC Banner.

Dixieland Park, Harlingen, TX 78550

Monthly Club Meeting, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm 2nd Tuesday of each month, except December.

Meeting Schedule:
May 13, 2025
June 10, 2025
July 8, 2025
August 12, 2025
September 9, 2025
October 14, 2025
November 11, 2025
No Meeting for December

Harlingen Irrigation District, 301 E. Pierce Ave., Harlingen, TX . 78550

Rio ARC Website Updates – March 2025

Ham Technician Test Questions

Below are four questions from the FCC Amateur Radio Technician Class question pool (valid July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2026), along with their correct answers and explanations. These are sourced from the official pool available through the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) and reflect common topics tested.

1. Question T1A01: Which of the following is part of the Basis and Purpose of the Amateur Radio Service?

A. Providing personal radio communications for as many citizens as possible

B. Providing communications for international non-profit organizations

C. Advancing skills in the technical and communication phases of the radio art

D. All these choices are correct

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: The FCC’s Part 97 rules define the Amateur Radio Service’s purpose, which includes advancing skills in technical and communication aspects of radio. This aligns with the service’s focus on education, experimentation, and technical development. Options A and B are not explicitly stated in the FCC’s basis and purpose, and D is incorrect because only C accurately reflects the rule.

2. Question T2B04: What is an appropriate action to take when attempting to contact another station in an area where repeaters are commonly used?

A. Transmit on the repeater output frequency

B. Transmit on the repeater input frequency

C. Say the other station’s call sign, then your call sign

D. Say “breaker breaker” to get attention

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: When contacting another station via a repeater, proper protocol involves identifying the station you’re calling followed by your own call sign (e.g., “W1ABC, this is K1XYZ”). This ensures clear identification, as required by FCC rules. Option A or B would involve transmitting on specific frequencies, which doesn’t address contacting protocol, and D is a CB radio term not used in amateur radio.

3. Question T5C01: What is the unit of electromotive force?

A. The ampere

B. The watt

C. The volt

D. The ohm

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Electromotive force (EMF) is the electrical potential that drives current through a circuit, measured in volts. The ampere measures current, the watt measures power, and the ohm measures resistance, making them incorrect for EMF. This question tests basic electrical concepts critical for radio operation.

4. Question T7D02: What is the purpose of a balun in an antenna system?

A. To match the antenna impedance to the feed line impedance

B. To increase the antenna’s bandwidth

C. To reduce RF radiation from the feed line

D. To protect the antenna from lightning

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: A balun (balanced-to-unbalanced) is used to match the impedance between a balanced antenna (e.g., dipole) and an unbalanced feed line (e.g., coaxial cable), ensuring efficient power transfer. While it may indirectly reduce RF radiation (C), its primary purpose is impedance matching. It doesn’t increase bandwidth (B) or protect against lightning (D).

Upcoming Event: 2025 Field Day

Mark your calendars! Rio ARC’s next major event is Field Day 2025, happening on June 28, 2025. Stay tuned for more details!

Rio ARC K5RGV

Rio ARC Website Updates – March 2025

Ham Technician Test Questions

Upcoming Event: 2025 Field Day

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