Humboldt County Ham Radio Guide
A complete guide for new and experienced amateur radio operators in Humboldt County, CA. Covers local repeaters, simplex frequencies, weekly nets, and clubs.
Welcome to Humboldt County HAM Radio Guide 🎙️
Welcome to the exciting world of amateur radio in Humboldt County, California! As a newly licensed Technician, you’re joining a friendly and active HAM community. Humboldt’s unique radio environment – from its rugged mountains and dense redwood forests to its expansive coastline – offers both challenges and rewards for radio operators.
Whether you’re looking to chat with local hams, assist in emergencies, or explore other communication bands (aviation, marine, public safety), this guide will walk you through everything you need to get started. Let’s dive in!
🌲 The Humboldt Radio Environment
Humboldt County’s geography shapes our radio hobby. Tall peaks like Horse Mountain and Rainbow Ridge host repeaters that cover wide areas, linking far-flung communities. Deep valleys and towering redwoods can block signals, so you’ll quickly learn the value of high antennas and good repeater coverage.
The upside is a relatively quiet radio spectrum (less urban interference) and a strong tradition of helping each other – emergency communication is taken seriously here, and local hams are proud of their role in community safety. In Humboldt, a simple handheld radio can reach dozens of miles away if you hit the right repeater on a mountaintop.
The coastal location also means you can sometimes enjoy interesting propagation, like marine layer ducting along the Pacific or even the occasional long-distance skip on VHF. In short, Humboldt is a fantastic place to explore ham radio – friendly folks, beautiful scenery, and plenty of airwaves to discover!
📡 Local Repeaters in Humboldt County
Repeaters are the backbone of VHF/UHF communications here, extending the range of your signal by retransmitting it from high elevations. Below is a list of reliable local repeaters, including frequencies, access tones, and locations. These are open repeaters welcoming all licensed hams (just remember to follow standard etiquette and the repeater’s code of conduct).
We’ve noted the mountaintop sites and coverage areas – you’ll soon recognize these names as you get on the air. Popular repeater networks like the Far West Repeater Association (FWRA) link multiple sites, so you can talk across the county. HARC, RARC, and SHARC each maintain local machines as well.
📋 Popular Humboldt County Amateur Repeaters
| Frequency (Offset) | Tone | Location / Site | Network / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145.470 MHz (-0.6) | 103.5 | Eureka (Eureka City) | HARC Club Repeater – W6ZZK |
| 146.700 MHz (-0.6) | 103.5 | Humboldt Hill (Eureka) | FWRA Linked – Eureka to Trinidad |
| 147.000 MHz (+0.6) | 103.5 | Horse Mountain | FWRA Linked – Eureka to Weaverville |
| 146.760 MHz (-0.6) | 103.5 | Mount Pierce (Scotia) | FWRA Linked – Loleta, Fortuna, Rio Dell |
| 146.610 MHz (-0.6) | 103.5 | Pratt Mountain (Garberville) | FWRA Linked – Garberville & SoHum |
| 147.090 MHz (+0.6) | 103.5 | Fortuna | RARC Repeater – Fortuna |
| 146.790 MHz (-0.6) | 103.5 | Garberville | SHARC Linked – Primary SoHum |
| 146.940 MHz (-0.6) | 103.5 | Shelter Cove | SHARC Linked – Linked to 146.790 |
| 147.330 MHz (+0.6) | 103.5 | Grasshopper Mountain (Weott) | SHARC Repeater – SoHum & N. Mendocino |
| 146.910 MHz (-0.6) | 103.5 | Rainbow Ridge (Petrolia) | HARC Repeater – Intermittent |
| 147.445 MHz (-1.0) | 103.5 | Bunker Hill (Ferndale) | IRLP Node 7757 |
| 444.400 MHz (+5.0) | 103.5 | Eureka | HARC UHF Repeater – KE6SLS |
Notes:
- Standard offsets: 2m = ±0.6 MHz, 70cm = +5 MHz
- Most use PL tone 103.5 Hz, which simplifies programming
- One UHF exception: Horse Mtn 442.000 MHz uses 100.0 Hz
🛠 Programming Tips
- Program 103.5 Hz as default tone for local repeaters
- Add 146.520 MHz — the national simplex calling frequency
- Add 146.910 MHz — the “travel” frequency preloaded in many rigs (Rainbow Ridge, semi-reliable)
🗺 Bonus Monitoring Tip
You may hear other machines from outside the county:
- Del Norte ARC (DNARC): 146.880 (-) PL 136.5 in Crescent City
- Mendocino repeaters from Willits or Ukiah (south of Humboldt)
These aren’t central to Humboldt ops but are fun when traveling or from high elevations.
🔊 Simplex Frequencies for Local Chatting
Simplex means direct radio-to-radio communication without a repeater. It’s great for short-range chatting, testing your rig, or when repeaters are busy. Humboldt’s hams use several simplex channels:
-
146.520 MHz – National 2m calling frequency
Use to initiate contacts. If successful, move to another simplex channel to continue your QSO. -
146.460 MHz – Eureka-area favorite
Used for the Eureka Emergency Net Mondays at 7:00 PM. -
146.430 MHz – Arcata / McKinleyville / Blue Lake
Used for the Arcata Emergency Net Mondays at 7:00 PM. -
146.580 MHz – Fortuna / Ferndale / Loleta
Known as “Eel River simplex.” Useful when the Fortuna repeater is quiet. -
223.500 MHz – 1.25m band
Simplex net every Monday at 7:00 PM. Great if your rig supports 220 MHz. -
446.000 MHz – 70cm national calling frequency
Not widely monitored but worth programming. -
444.000 MHz – Sometimes used for UHF simplex (usually repeater output). Some locals use it without offset.
🚀 Simplex Tips
- Range is terrain-dependent. Forests and mountains = reduced range.
- Use better antennas (like a 15” whip) or mobile radios (25–50W) for greater coverage.
- Simplex is often used in emergency simulations during net drills — it’s good practice!
🗓️ Local Nets: Stay Connected and Get Involved
Nets help you stay active, learn protocol, and meet other hams. Humboldt has a full calendar of nets, many of which happen weekly:
🛠 Monday Night Emergency Nets
These start around 7:00 PM on different channels across Humboldt and simulate local emergency response. You do not need to be a formal volunteer to participate.
| Net | Time | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Emergency Net | 7:00 PM | 146.460 MHz simplex | Operated by HARC & ACS |
| Arcata Emergency Net | 7:00 PM | 146.430 MHz simplex | Covers McKinleyville / Blue Lake |
| Eel River Valley Emergency Net | 7:00 PM | 147.090 MHz (+) PL 103.5 | RARC Fortuna repeater |
| Southern Humboldt Emergency Net | 7:00 PM | 146.790 MHz (-) PL 103.5 | SHARC repeater, linked to Shelter Cove |
| APRS Messaging Net | 7:00 PM | 144.390 MHz | Informal digital net |
| Digital HF Bulletin | ~6:55 PM | 146.460 MHz (MT63) | FM text mode bulletin |
At 7:30 PM, these all merge into one:
- Humboldt County Emergency Net
- Time: 7:30 PM
- Frequency: Any FWRA repeater (e.g. 146.760)
- Purpose: Full-county check-in. Everyone is welcome. Just say your callsign and location!
✅ It’s encouraged for new hams to join these! It builds your confidence and puts your callsign on the air.
🗓️ Continued: Weekly Nets in Humboldt County
| Net Name | Day / Time | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt County Emergency Net | Mondays @ 7:30 PM | FWRA Linked (e.g. 146.760 MHz) | All-county check-in |
| Eureka & North Coast UHF Net | Mondays @ 7:15 PM | 444.400 MHz (+5) PL 103.5 | Emergency prep net |
| HARC Weekly Net | Wednesdays @ 7:00 PM | 145.470 MHz (-) PL 103.5 | Humboldt Amateur Radio Club |
| FWRA Net | Wednesdays @ 7:30 PM | FWRA Linked | General roundtable, all welcome |
| Eel River Rag Chew | 2nd & 4th Thurs @ 7:30 PM | 147.090 MHz (+) PL 103.5 | Fortuna / Ferndale informal net |
| Humboldt Bay CERT Net | 2nd & 4th Thurs @ 7:30 PM | FWRA Linked | Community emergency volunteers |
| SHARC Rag Chew | Fridays @ 8:00 PM | 146.790 MHz (-) PL 103.5 | Friendly net for Southern Humboldt |
| Jefferson “YL” Net | Tuesdays @ 8:00 PM | 147.180 MHz simplex | Women-led, everyone welcome |
| Winlink Wednesday | All day | Winlink | Send a form to Net Control KN6CEI |
💡 All FWRA repeaters (146.70, 147.00, 146.76, 146.61) are linked for most county-wide nets.
📻 Bonus: HF Nets to Monitor
- Humboldt HF Emergency Net – Mondays @ 6:30 PM on 3.955 MHz LSB (receive-only for Techs)
- North Coast Emergency HF Net – Sundays @ 8:00 AM on 3.855 MHz LSB
- ORCA Digital Net – Tuesdays @ 7:30 PM on 3.581 MHz (MFSK32, for digital fans)
🏘️ Local HAM Clubs, Organizations, and Events
You’re not alone! Humboldt has a handful of welcoming clubs that are great for socializing, mentoring, and learning.
🌲 Humboldt Amateur Radio Club (HARC)
- Based in Eureka. Call sign: W6ZZK
- Monthly meetings: 1st Tuesday @ 7 PM at the Eureka Municipal Auditorium
- Hosts: Field Day, license exams, Elmer (mentoring) programs
- Operates: 145.470 and 146.910 repeaters
- Newsletter: “RAIN”
- Website: humboldt-arc.org
Field Day is typically held at Woodley Island Marina with HF demo stations and social fun.
🐾 Redwood Amateur Radio Club (RARC)
- Based in Fortuna. Call sign: KF6SYK
- Monthly meetings: 4th Tuesday @ 7 PM at the Fortuna VFD or Rohner Park
- Maintains the 147.090 MHz repeater
- Supports local nets and public service events
🌊 Southern Humboldt Amateur Radio Club (SHARC)
- Based around Garberville / Redway. Call sign: KE6WC
- Monday night on-air meetings @ 7 PM via 146.790 / 146.940 linked system
- Operates repeaters: 146.790, 146.940, 147.330
- Known for emergency preparedness efforts and Elmering
- Website: minimal, check Facebook and nets
⛰️ Del Norte Amateur Radio Club (DNARC)
- Based in Crescent City. Call sign: W6HY
- Reachable from northern Humboldt (e.g. Orick)
- Repeater: 146.880 (-) PL 136.5
- Website: w6hy.org
🆘 Humboldt County AuxComm (ACS / ARES / RACES)
- Volunteer emergency communications team under the Sheriff’s OES
- Meets 3rd Tuesday @ 5:30 PM, in-person or on Zoom
- Trains hams in ICS, message handling, disaster response
- Not a club — more of an ops-focused support group
You don’t need to be a formal member to check into nets or participate in drills!
🗓️ Continued: Weekly Nets in Humboldt County
| Net Name | Day / Time | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt County Emergency Net | Mondays @ 7:30 PM | FWRA Linked (e.g. 146.760 MHz) | All-county check-in |
| Eureka & North Coast UHF Net | Mondays @ 7:15 PM | 444.400 MHz (+5) PL 103.5 | Emergency prep net |
| HARC Weekly Net | Wednesdays @ 7:00 PM | 145.470 MHz (-) PL 103.5 | Humboldt Amateur Radio Club |
| FWRA Net | Wednesdays @ 7:30 PM | FWRA Linked | General roundtable, all welcome |
| Eel River Rag Chew | 2nd & 4th Thurs @ 7:30 PM | 147.090 MHz (+) PL 103.5 | Fortuna / Ferndale informal net |
| Humboldt Bay CERT Net | 2nd & 4th Thurs @ 7:30 PM | FWRA Linked | Community emergency volunteers |
| SHARC Rag Chew | Fridays @ 8:00 PM | 146.790 MHz (-) PL 103.5 | Friendly net for Southern Humboldt |
| Jefferson “YL” Net | Tuesdays @ 8:00 PM | 147.180 MHz simplex | Women-led, everyone welcome |
| Winlink Wednesday | All day | Winlink | Send a form to Net Control KN6CEI |
💡 All FWRA repeaters (146.70, 147.00, 146.76, 146.61) are linked for most county-wide nets.
📻 Bonus: HF Nets to Monitor
- Humboldt HF Emergency Net – Mondays @ 6:30 PM on 3.955 MHz LSB (receive-only for Techs)
- North Coast Emergency HF Net – Sundays @ 8:00 AM on 3.855 MHz LSB
- ORCA Digital Net – Tuesdays @ 7:30 PM on 3.581 MHz (MFSK32, for digital fans)
🎪 Club Events & Fun Activities
Besides nets and meetings, clubs participate in awesome events like:
📡 ARRL Field Day
- Last full weekend in June
- HARC sets up at Woodley Island Marina
- Hands-on HF experience, antennas, logging, potluck vibe
🧭 Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)
- Scouts talk to other scouts worldwide via HAM radio
- Held every October
- Clubs set up demo stations for scouts to participate
🚲 Tour of the Unknown Coast
- Annual cycling event across remote coastline
- Hams provide comms support, especially in dead zones
- Awesome way to use your license to help
🍔 Ham Swaps, BBQs & More
- Occasionally hosted by HARC or RARC
- Usually announced on nets or mailing lists
📣 Online Communities
- HARC email list: Join here
- Facebook: Search for Humboldt and North Coast ham groups
- Repeater status: farwestrepeaters.org
✈️ Fun Aviation Frequencies to Monitor
Airband is AM mode (not FM) — use a scanner or a ham rig with airband receive.
| Frequency | Station / Usage |
|---|---|
| 124.850 MHz | Seattle Center (ACV airspace) |
| 123.000 MHz | Arcata Airport CTAF / UNICOM |
| 118.525 MHz | ACV ASOS Weather |
| 122.700 MHz | Murray Field CTAF |
| 122.900 MHz | Rohnerville, Garberville, Hoopa, Kneeland (shared CTAF) |
| 306.300 MHz | Seattle Center (UHF, military side) |
✈️ Listening Tips
- Most commercial flights into ACV check in with Seattle Center overhead
- Coast Guard Rescue Helicopters (MH-65s) call in on 124.850 / 123.0
- Shelter Cove & Kneeland use 122.9
- If you’re near the airport, you’ll hear self-announcing traffic like: “Arcata traffic, Cessna 12345 on final for Runway 32…”
🧠 Scanners with airband AM capability or wideband SDRs like SDR# work great here!
🌊 Marine VHF & NOAA Weather Channels
Monitoring marine traffic and weather on the North Coast is fascinating — especially near Humboldt Bay, Shelter Cove, or any harbor or fishing town.
| Channel / Freq | Usage |
|---|---|
| CH 16 (156.800 MHz) | Distress, safety, and hailing. Always monitored by Coast Guard. Only used for initial contact. |
| CH 22A (157.100 MHz) | Coast Guard working channel after initial call on CH 16. |
| CH 13 (156.650 MHz) | Tugboats, commercial vessels, barge traffic, bridge-to-bridge navigation. |
| CH 14 (156.700 MHz) | Port of Humboldt Bay operations, Woodley Island Marina staff. |
| CH 77 (156.875 MHz) | Bar Pilot coordination channel (Samoa bar crossings, heavy weather). |
| WX2 (162.400 MHz) | NOAA Weather Radio – Eureka transmitter. |
| WX4 (162.450 MHz) | NOAA Weather Radio – Horse Mountain transmitter (for Willow Creek, Trinity Co). |
✅ Many scanners and marine radios have WX2/WX4 pre-programmed. Useful during power outages.
🎣 Maritime Monitoring Tips
- Channel 16 is where boats initially call the Coast Guard.
- During rescues, expect CG helos, cutters, and local vessels to coordinate on CH 22A.
- Fish boats often hang out on unofficial channels: try CH 68 (156.375 MHz) or CH 69 (156.425 MHz).
- CG “bar reports” and river mouth status are often shared over CH 16.
💡 AIS monitoring (Automatic Identification System) is possible via SDR:
- Frequencies: 162.425 and 162.475 MHz
- Shows ship names and locations on a map!
🚓 Scanner-Friendly Public Safety Frequencies
Legal to monitor in CA, but never transmit! Most are analog or P25 digital (non-encrypted).
| Frequency | Use |
|---|---|
| 154.740 MHz | Sheriff Dispatch (Analog, PL 192.8) |
| 154.950 MHz | Eureka Police Dispatch (P25 Digital, NAC $2E8) |
| 155.070 MHz | Sheriff TAC3 (Analog) |
| 155.475 MHz | CLEMARS statewide mutual aid (Analog) |
| 42.540 MHz | CHP “Green” Dispatch (Low-band base) |
| 154.370 MHz (P25) | Humboldt Bay Fire (NAC $1E8) |
| 154.070 MHz | County VFD Paging (Analog) |
| 155.160 MHz | Cal Fire air/ground ops (common tactical) |
| 151.220 MHz | Cal Fire Humboldt Command Net |
| 462.975 MHz | EMS Dispatch / Ambulance (Analog, PL 85.4) |
🧠 Some of these require P25-capable scanners (like Eureka PD, Fire Dispatch). Others are analog and easily received with a wideband radio.
🚗 Heads-up: California law limits mobile scanner use — but licensed hams are generally exempt. Just don’t use it while doing anything sketchy.
🧰 Helpful Resources for New HAMs
🔁 Repeater Directories
- RepeaterBook – Best online source, updated by users
- ARRL Repeater Directory – Print or app
- Far West Repeater Assoc. – Local status for FWRA network
📓 Logging Tools
- N3FJP Amateur Contact Log – Simple PC logging
- HamRS – Lightweight logging, great for POTA
- QRZ Logbook – Cloud-based, integrated with LoTW
- Logbook of The World (LoTW) – Secure ARRL logbook for award tracking
Start simple — even a paper log works! Just record date, call, frequency, and signal report.
🛠 Antenna Building & DIY
- ARRL books – Classic reference for all skill levels
- ND6T’s Projects – Easy and practical builds
- SolderSmoke blog/podcast – Electronics, QRP, homebrew fun
- YouTube: “Build a 2m ground plane” or “J-pole from twinlead” – lots of tutorials
💡 Local tip: ask HARC members for antennas that work well in redwood forests or coastal areas.
👥 Local Mentorship (Elmers)
- HARC, SHARC, and RARC all welcome beginners
- Join HARC’s email list
- Say “newly licensed, looking for help” on a net — someone will jump in!
Also check:
- Reddit: r/amateurradio
- Facebook: “North Coast Amateur Radio” group
🌐 Online SDRs
- WebSDR – Real-time remote radios around the world
- KiwiSDR Map – Great for HF band exploration
- Try decoding APRS or shortwave when away from your radio
🎥 YouTube Channels
- Ham Radio Crash Course (KI6NAZ) – Energetic, beginner-friendly
- KE0OG (Dave Casler) – Systematic tutorials and gear help
- Ham Radio 2.0 (KC5HWB) – News, interviews, product testing
- W2AEW – RF, test equipment, oscilloscope basics
- The Radio Prepper – Off-grid and survival communications
- POTA (Parks On The Air) videos – Field ops inspiration
🧯 Emergency Preparedness
- AuxComm team holds Winlink and simplex drills
- FEMA IS-100, IS-700 — Great free intro courses
- Build a “go kit” — batteries, antennas, cheat sheet (this doc!), maps
🎉 Final Thoughts
There’s a LOT you can do with your HAM license. Don’t feel like you have to do everything at once.
Start by:
- Monitoring the repeaters listed here
- Joining a net (any night of the week!)
- Saying hello and getting comfortable on the air
- Attending a club meeting or eyeball QSO
- Building a basic antenna or logging a new contact
Eventually try:
- HF via club stations
- POTA activations
- Packet / APRS
- Listening to the ISS on 145.800 MHz FM!
73 and welcome to the Humboldt HAM community! 🎙️
We can’t wait to hear you on the air.
Happy DX!
Sources: This guide was compiled from local club resources, the Humboldt ARC site, RadioReference, NOAA, USCG, and other local volunteers as of 2025.