Overview & Welcome
We Welcome You to Participate to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and explore His Word, the Bible.
Join us any morning of the week, Sunday through Saturday, on the 75 m ham band on 3912.0 kHz SSB (LSB). Check in after: 6:00 AM EST (1100 GMT), or in the summer time after 6:00 AM EDST (1000 GMT). The Net begins at 6:30 AM EST (1130 GMT), or in the summer at 6:30AM EDST (1030 GMT).
It does seem rather hard to believe — an adult Bible Study Class that meets daily, is always well attended, and progresses with near perfect order and harmony. Each member has opportunity to share in each session, and no speaker is ever interrupted by another speaker. Surprisingly enough, such a class does exist. The short-wave radio enthusiast who tunes across the 75-meter amateur band during the early morning hours may suddenly come across references and quotations from the Bible – the Word of God, as an unusual group of Christian radio amateurs meet on the air to share their ideas and to fellowship in the one common denominator of all Christians, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Radio amateurs are individuals who are licensed by their governments to operate short-wave communications stations as a hobby. In the United States, each must prove his knowledge of radio principles, and demonstrate his operating proficiency to the Federal Communications Commission before a license is granted. Each amateur radio operator is assigned a call sign with which his station must be identified during each transmission. Over half of the world’s amateur radio operators are situated in the United States and in Canada.
Background and History of the SRBSG
The Sunrise Bible Study Group was begun as a joint effort of Lloyd Alford, VE3AX, and Don Cronemeyer, AD4NT (K8HHK at the time). These two men had met through a Christian amateur radio organization known as ARMS, The Amateur Radio Missionary Service, which had been operating on the ham bands for a number of years. At that time, Lloyd operated a quite successful automobile dealership in London, Ont. Canada, and Don was a research physicist at the Bendix Research Laboratory in Southfield, Michigan. Their common interest was the bond in Christ and desire to win others to Him, as well as a keen dedication to ham radio. They had also become aware that groups of Christian amateurs in other parts of the United States had been conducting radio nets for the purpose of Bible Study and Christian fellowship; also, certain cults had been counterfeiting Christian fellowship via amateur radio for some time.
Rather than participate in such a net dominated by a cult, they were led by the Lord to start a new Christian non-denominational Bible Study net. This net was to be centered around the Word of God, and would give preeminence to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Author of the Word of God. This new net was to adhere closely to orthodox Christianity with a fundamental outlook on Scripture – verbal and plenary inspiration of the Word being stressed. The one true gospel of the grace of God was to be emphasized and saving faith defined in relation to that wherein is “the power of God unto salvation”. In addition, an emphasis was to be made upon the “born-again” experience which underscores the gift of a new nature given to all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ at the moment of salvation. That moment, of course, was “when he or she has believed” that message of good news through Jesus Christ and Him alone.
Ideas and plans for the new organization were discussed during and after sessions of the ARMS net. Indeed, one can say that the Sunrise Bible Study grew out of the ARMS net – for there are many connections. On March 26, 1964 at 7 AM on 3903 kHz on the 75-meter ham band. the Sunrise Bible Study Group began. The first study was devoted to the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John. Basically, it amounted to a Bible discussion between the two founders of the net, Lloyd Alford, VE3AX in London, Ontario, Canada, and Don Cronemeyer, (then K8HHK, now AD4NT) of Franklin, Michigan, near Detroit. Both of the amateur radio stations of the founders were equipped with first-class equipment manufactured by Collins Radio Corp., running near the legal limit of power – one kilowatt, and could be heard well over the whole eastern half of the country. The particular time of day, near local sunrise, was favorable for “skip distances” of 150 to 1500 miles, so the founders were well aware that their two-way “private” conversation about the Scriptures could be monitored over a vast area of the two countries, the United States and Canada. From the start, the international flavor of contact between the USA and Canada was also an attraction. The first few sessions were held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, since these days were alternate to the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday meeting days of the ARMS net. The 3903 kHz frequency was chosen since it was adjacent to the ARMS net frequency of 3907 kHz.
Initially, it was hoped that the new group, the Sunrise Bible Study Group would be an adjunct to the ARMS net. Many of the regular ARMS net members were interested in the formation of the Sunrise Bible Study Group, particularly Jack Buck, K2AXO, of Centerport, L.I., NY. The second session of the Sunrise Bible Study Group was held on Saturday, March 28, 1964, and was devoted to Phil. 3:4-7. Later, it became obvious that the regular study of Scripture was more important than coordination with Christian missionary activity as stressed in the ARMS group, and the net became a 7-day a week operation, completely independent of the ARMS net. Among those who were involved in these earliest sessions besides Jack Buck, K2AXO, were Bob Bell, W9RPX of Worth, Illinois, Tom Adams, K8CUC, of Farmington, Michigan, and Jim Erwin, W8CXE, of Blissfield, Ohio. Many, many others joined in as time went on, and the group is still going strong and is attracting new members. Part of the fascination which adheres to the operation is the wide diversity of check ins, spiritually and geographically speaking. Check ins from California (3 hours earlier!) and Bermuda do not happen every day, nor do check ins from “completed” Jews or converted Roman Catholics, but such events have happened and there is no way of predicting in advance when they may occur again.
In the early days of the net, many of the Sunrise Bible Study Group members sought to enhance their witness to other radio amateurs by the use of QSL cards featuring Scripture verses. Often these cards which radio amateurs share with each other to acknowledge and verify contacts could include references to the times and frequencies used by the Sunrise Bible Study Group as well. Gospel tracts especially suitable for amateur radio operators and designed to win others to receive Christ as Savior became popular with the members. A number of these tracts had their origin in the work of the ARMS net; several tracts such as “Your Best Contact”, and “The Wrong Manual”, had been written by Dr. William A. Meirop, K2JEI. Dr. Meirop is credited with being the founder of the ARMS net. Also, Lloyd, VE3AX, designed a little brochure which detailed times and frequencies of the Sunrise Bible Study Group; the brochure gives our theme verse, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). The verse is extremely applicable to our Study since it so well encapsulates the reason for our existence.
Current Net Control Stations
The Sunrise Bible Study Group is a directed net. This means that one operator is responsible for preparing the scripture selection for that day’s study, checking in operators and making verse assignments as check ins progress, and then managing the operations of the net for that session. The current net control list is (as of October 2025):
| Day | NC | Call Sign | Town / City | State |
| Sunday | Bill | K8BDR | Bruceton Mills | WV |
| Monday | Jim | NG1Y | Concord | NH |
| Tuesday | Jerry | N9TU | Connorsville | IN |
| Wednesday | Steve | N2COJ | Geneva | NY |
| Thursday | Eric | KB4MTS | Lexington | NC |
| Friday | Dave | K3GAU | Springfield | OH |
| Saturday | Tom | AB1FF | Shirley | MA |
Internet Tools (RemoteHams & Google Docs)
For nearly over ten years now the net has had the added benefit of using two tools that have really made the difference especially during times of poorer propagation. These are the remote operations capability provided by remotehams.com software and management tools (called by the group, “the dashboard”) available through a shared spreadsheet that reflects each day’s Bible study.
Remote Station access with RemoteHams.com
A number of stations are currently made available by way of the Internet for both listening and for transmitting (when transmit rights have been assigned upon request of the station owner). A server PC application is installed on the shack PC which is then connected by serial or USB connection to the shack’s transceiver. This application “publishes” that station to the Internet for access by stations running the PC client application. Both applications are freely downloadable after registering one’s call sign (or ID, for those who are not licensed hams, who ARE ALLOWED to listen!) from www.remotehams.com. Using a station that is operating this remote capability requires only that the remotehams client application be installed on one’s PC (sorry, but no Mac version is available). The user logs in to the application using his call sign and password (as determined during the registration process) and the client application then lists the stations that are available to be used at that time. Clicking on an “online” station will then connect your PC to that station. The stations in the list that are NOT grayed out are currently “on line” and available for use. If all has gone well, the audio stream as it is received by that connected station may then be heard on your PC speaker. Transmitting via the Internet on that connected station may also be done for those to whom transmit rights have been granted.
The “Dashboard” using Google Docs
Net Control manages a shared Google Docs spreadsheet for management of the net each morning. It is very useful to know who is assigned what verse(s) and what the net status is as the net proceeds. All of that and more are provided by this shared spreadsheet (which we call the “dashboard”) as it is viewed by means of an Internet browser connected to the Internet. There is also a shared chat column for interactive messages and a comments / notes column is often kept up to date as the Bible study proceeds. If you would like a link to this document, please send a request email to Bill Ramsey, K8BDR, at k8bdr@arrl.net, the creator and maintainer of the Google Docs spreadsheet, and he will send it to you.
The King James Version is our “Standard” text
The use of the King James Version is not mandatory but is highly recommended. It enhances clarity and orderliness in the study to be able to follow along in one’s own Bible as each operator reads and comments on the Scripture. The KJV is still not only the most widely available Scripture version, but is also one of the most reliable translations available today, even after over four hundred years! For those reasons it was chosen as our common Bible text; reference to other reliable versions of the Scriptures, and to their rendering of certain verses may be helpful, but should not be allowed to get out of hand, since confusion easily results. The King James Version may be obtained in any bookstore or freely online at sites like blueletterbible.org, biblehub.com, and youversion.com.
Net Operations
Each Bible Study session is moderated by a “net control station”. Participants who are regular in attendance, sound in Christian doctrine, and who have powerful signals take turns acting as net control operator. Each net control operator has a particular morning on which he is to officiate, and he must do his “home-work” in advance in preparation for this task. Being a net control operator is fascinating and interesting, but also requires the discipline of getting on the air early, making certain the frequency is clear, as well as lining up the Bible verse assignments in advance. He must also make certain that his transmitter and antenna are in good operating condition so that he will be able to control the net effectively. A strong signal usually requires an amplifier and a considerably elevated antenna. Most of our net control stations are classified as Advanced or Extra Class in their operator status. At least a General Class license is required in order to operate on the frequency used by the net, 3912 kHz. The usual net control operator has been with the net for years, and is thoroughly familiar with the procedure and the stations which usually check in. Careful, considerate handling of his station is essential to success. Technical prowess in radio, and courtesy in interaction with the members of the net go hand-in-hand.
A separate net control operator officiates on each morning of the week. Participating stations “check in” by calling the net control station in response normally to a call or standby request issued by net control. As each station checks in, the net control operator assigns a verse or two from the portion of the Bible currently under study. The net control operator has previously reviewed the Scripture portion and has laid out the verses in as logical a fashion as possible, so that verse assignments make sense and each check in will have something to comment upon concerning his Scripture verse assignment.
During the check in period, one station will be asked to take the first one or two verses of Scripture in the study, preceded by an opening prayer. Prayer requests are solicited during the check in period.
Format & Structure
There is no required format for the study, so that the content may be altered at any time to fit the needs of the net at a given time under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. If cultists should appear (and the Jehovah’s Witnesses are not the only ones as there are so many these days), emphasis is firmly made to the orthodox fundamental stand upon Scripture alone as our basis of operation. Such emphasis immediately quells such distractions from the Scripture. The net procedure is firmly directed by the net control station, so that each station takes his turn and little transition time is consumed in passing from one station to the next. As the net proceeds, each station is called by the net control, has the opportunity to read the verses (but normally saving his comments for the second round), and then turns it back to the net control station. The net control then passes it on to the next station in order. Each station is numbered in the net control operator’s log, and is checked off as he has his turn. The progression is orderly—that must be emphasized and must be maintained for maximum success. The focus during the net is on the Scripture — weather, personal affairs, other matters should not detract from this focus to maintain continuity and interest in the Scriptures.
Affiliations
The Sunrise Bible Study Group is not affiliated with any particular denomination or group, nor is it directed exclusively by any one person. Sectarian discussion is avoided, so that oftentimes operators will participate for years without other operators knowing what group they may belong to; thus each net proceeds harmoniously in spite of a wide variety of groups represented, and considerable actual divergence of opinion with regard to certain matters of individual Christian practice.