1st Wed EmComm will take place 1100 7 Jan 2026
Good news! Thanks to Marty West and the 1st Wednesday Committee there will be an 1100 1st Wednesday EmComm on 7 January 2026.
The West Contra Costa Emergency Radio Group (WCCERG), an informal network of EmComm advocates, tests parameters to connect WCC neighborhoods for purposes of mutual aid and assist local agencies when needed.
2-way radio EmComm is a fun, yet serious, hobby. EmComm is fun to stimulate your brain, meet voices over the air, and experiment with 2-way radios. EmComm is also a serious hobby that addresses disaster communication.
WCCERG will support the Contra Costa County OES during the 2026 BEACON EXERCISE on
Thursday, April 30, 09:00 – 17:00
BEACON = Building Emergency Area Communications Operations & Networks
For further details, go to www.beaconexercise.org
In 2026 WCCERG will sponsor several fun/serious net exercises. Explore these and join them whenever you can.
A. West Contra Costa wide area nets (WAN) on GMRS Ch.15 simplex (462.550 MHz):
1st Monday @ 1930, led by North & East Richmond CERT
1st Wednesday @ 1100, led by Marina Bay Safe Neighbors CERT
1st Wednesday @ 1900, led by Del Norte in El Cerrito
1st Saturday @ 1000, led by Rob Johnson WRQC300 in Zip Code 94803
B. Any & all West Contra Costa neighborhood local GMRS/FRS net development
C. WA6KQB triple repeater nets every Saturday @ 09:00, www.wa6kqb.org
D. Karo Echo semiannual Simulated Emergency Test (SET), www.karoecho.net
E. Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) simplex vs analog testing
F. Winlink & other digital messaging systems
(1) Aim to connect all WCC between Kensington and Hercules.
(2) The Richmond EOC, located in N&E Richmond, assists all WCC.
(3) Expanded MB leadership with HOA ham-GMRS hubs.
(4) Outreaches beyond hilly El Cerrito.
(5) Fix 84803 GMRS isolation by using ham-GMRS hubs.
Feel free to forward this communication to others. Send your comments & questions to karenleongfenton@gmail.com Thank you!
Jay Fenton (KJ6WSS) has written a personal report on the radio communication that he observed after the 6.4 magnitude earthquake near Ferndale, CA in Humboldt County, on 20 December 2022 at 0234.