A Special Event Operation by BIARA's NI6BB
The founding of the U.S. Navy dates back to the Revolutionary War. George Washington created the United States’ first naval fleet by converting three Massachusetts schooners into warships. The makeshift fleet’s purpose was to intercept an unarmed British supply ship. The next day, Washington sent a letter to Congress urging them to establish a naval force. On October 13, the Continental Congress passed a resolution in order to create the Continental Navy. This date now represents the official establishment of the U.S. Navy.
The Battleship IOWA Amateur Radio Association’s NI6BB will celebrate the US Navy’s 250th birthday with radio operations from October 4 through October 19, 2025. Frequencies will be on or near those listed below. Modes will be at the discretion of the individual operators manning NI6BB. Operating hours are expected to be between 1400 and 2400 UTC.
For prompt handling all NI6BB QSL requests should be addressed to:
Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association, Inc.
c/o QSL Manager
250 S. Harbor Blvd.
Berth 87
San Pedro, CA 90731-2830
Self sealing, self addressed stamped envelopes are REQUIRED for domestic contacts (NO SSSASE — NO QSL – “lick and stick” envelopes are usually received already sealed due to moisture exposure during transit.)
QSLs received from DX stations desiring a direct QSL will only be responded to if they include $2 USD with a self sealing, self addressed envelope to the above address – no IRC’s will be accepted. Bureau cards will be processed periodically.
No eQSL; No QRZ.com Logbook: No LOTW.
| BAND | A1A / CW | J3E / SSB |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 7.061 MHZ | 7.261 MHZ |
| 30 | 10.116 MHZ | ————— |
| 20 | 14.061 MHZ | 14.261 MHZ |
| 17 | 18.073 MHZ | 18.161 MHZ |
| 15 | 21.061 MHZ | 21.361 MHZ |
| 12 | 24.900 MHZ | 24.943 MHZ |
| 10 | 28.061 MHZ | 28.361 MHZ |
FT4 and or FT8 operations will be on the standard frequencies.
BIARA has a TASMA-coordinated 2 meter repeater, NI6BB, operating on 146.880 Mhz, -600 Hz with a PL of 88.5 Hz. The primary service area is the Los Angeles / Long Beach Harbor area and surrounds. Please feel to use this open machine when you are in our area. The repeater is on the 010 level of the battleship and the antenna is on a yardarm at 013.
Battleship USS Iowa Museum is open. Check www.labattleship.com for details. IOWA is normally closed ONLY on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
To request a schedule with NI6BB please E-mail us at 
info@biara.org and or w6hb@biara.org.
To coordinate an individual or group visit to BIARA’s NI6BB or to request guest / visitor operations under our control please contact w6hb@biara.org.
The Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association (BIARA) is an association of radio amateurs whose purpose is the support of radio activities on, or associated with, the Battleship Iowa. The operation of the Battleship Iowa is under the control of the Pacific Battleship Center (PBC), a 501(c)3 non-profit California corporation. BIARA is a social and recreational non-profit 501(c)7 California corporation. All BIARA full members who engage in amateur radio activities aboard the Battleship Iowa are required to be accepted and registered as volunteers of the PBC and to abide by all volunteer guidelines and directives as may be established by the PBC.
BIARA acts as the representative of the Battleship Iowa, the Pacific Battleship Center and the National Museum of the Surface Navy within the amateur radio community. In this role, BIARA promotes the Battleship Iowa, the Pacific Battleship Center (PBC), the National Museum of the Surface Navy, the interests and advancement of amateur radio, coordinates the activities of the associates in providing public service and provide the opportunity and facilities for the gathering of associates and others interested in the hobby.
BIARA operates its station under license NI6BB from the communications center on the Battleship Iowa promoting the PBC, the Iowa, the National Museum of the Surface Navy and amateur radio in general. We appreciate your contacting us and helping us in our mission.
BIARA does not solicit donations for our operations. Persons wishing to make tax deductible donations are encouraged to do so to the Pacific Battleship Center (PBC) as our host. The PBC is dependent on grants, donations, ticket sales and event income to maintain and enhance the battleship. The IOWA is not supported by or responsible to the US Navy. Your help for the greater good is appreciated.
Please use the PayPal link below to make your tax deductible donation to the Pacific Battleship Center (PBC).
Donate to PBC via PayPal!NEPM was the Iowa’s call sign from her initial commissioning in 1943 until her final decommissioning in 1990. In 2002, it was assigned to the USCGC Heron. In 2016, through efforts by Bob, WB6SLC, the battleship was able to have the call sign reassigned. The USCGC Heron now has NHRN. The Iowa is one of the few US museum ships that has it’s original military call sign assigned.
Having the call sign does not afford any operating authority, although once a year, BIARA may use the callsign NEPM during the annual Armed Forces Day Cross-band Test if authorized. With authority from the Navy Marine Corps Spectrum Office Southwest we may gain approval for special event activations. These events will be promoted throughout the world to the amateur radio community. Stations outside the United States are reminded to verify that your country allows you to work us as a military station during cross band operations. The ship’s periodic activation of the “Gray Radios” is under the Innovation & Engineering Technology’s call sign NE6PM for which Gary Lopes, WA6MEM, is the trustee.
Each station contains an Astron RS-60M linear power supply with an Icom IC-7300 HF transceiver paired with a laptop for logging, spotting and digital modes. We have three identical stations that may be tied each to one of five possible HF antennas.
Station operator in the photo is Roee, 4Z1KO/KU6L.
The discone-cage antenna in on the bow. Two antennas, each with a separate feed point, are combined in one structure. Higher bands (~10-30 MHz) use the discone, with the radial elements at the top as the disc and the upper section of the cage as the cone. The feed point is the gap between the disc and the apex of the cone. The lower bands (~3.8-12 MHz) , fed from the bottom, use the entire cage section.
A trussed monopole is mounted above the Aviation Service Center on the aft deck. This antenna covers 10-30 MHz. The red base identifies this as a transmitting antenna (blue bases denote receiving antennas). The nonskid deck in foreground is for the flight operations area. Three hooded signal lamps are along the aft edge of the hut roof. At left is the No. 3 16-inch gun turret.
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© 1998 The Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association | All Rights Reserved!
BIARA - The Battleship IOWA Amateur Radio Association
Battleship Iowa Museum
Pacific Battleship Center
National Museum of the Surface Navy