W4FSV
Breadboard Radio – Ham Radio Kits that are easy to build and fun to use!
KM4ACK
Build-a-Pi will allow you to get up and running fast with a Raspberry Pi for ham radio.
Congratulations! The SSC status has been approved for the Columbia Amateur Radio Club, W4CAE.
Thank you for being so supportive of amateur radio.
Sincerely,
Mike Walters, W8ZY
Field Services Manager
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®
Whether you are a seasoned contester, a digital mode enthusiast, or a brand-new ham looking to make your first contact, Field Day is the ultimate “open house” for our hobby. It’s part emergency exercise, part contest, and 100% community.
Every year, Field Day reminds us why we do what we do. In an era where communication is often taken for granted, the 2026 focus remains clear: Science, Skill, and Service.
The goal isn’t just to rack up points; it’s to prove that when the grid goes down, and the “normal” world goes quiet, amateur radio operators are ready. This year, we are placing a special emphasis on:
A successful Field Day doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of teamwork and early preparation. We are calling on all club members to step up and help make 2026 our best year yet.
Here is how you can jump in right now:
Event Details at a Glance:
- When: June 27 (1800 UTC) to June 28 (2059 UTC)
- Where: TBD – will update as soon as possible
- Objective: To contact as many stations as possible and learn to operate in abnormal situations.
Let’s show the world what we can do! Check your email for the next planning meeting date, or reach out to the Club President to volunteer for a specific role.
Calling all Hams, Preppers, Techies, and Radio-Curious!
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club is heading to the pines for a Ham Hangout at beautiful Sesquicentennial State Park! Whether you’ve been licensed for 40 years or have never even touched a radio, this event is for YOU.
What’s the vibe?
Think “Science Lab meets Backyard BBQ.” We’re setting up portable stations, firing up the grill, and showing off what modern radio can really do.
What to expect:
GOTA Station (Get On The Air): Want to try making a contact? Our mentors will walk you through it—no license required to try it out!
Off-Grid Messaging: See Meshtastic (mesh texting), Winlink (email over radio), and FT8 in action.
Emergency Power: Check out solar panels, LiFePO4 battery setups, and field-ready gear.
Family Comms: Demos of GMRS, FRS, and Zello for staying connected when cell towers fail.
Food & Fellowship
We’ll have the grill hot and the antennas high. Bring a lawn chair, your family, and all your “how does that work?” questions.
When: March 21, 2026, 10:30 am to 8 PM
Where: Sesquicentennial State Park
Who: Licensed Hams, FRS/GMRS/MURS users, makers and tech enthusiasts, families, and friends!
Let’s build community, share some “Elmering” (mentoring), and enjoy the great outdoors together.
#HamRadio #W4CAE #ColumbiaSC #POTA #Meshtastic #EmergencyPrep #AmateurRadio #SesquiStatePark
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“Did you know your smartphone can double as a powerful handheld transceiver? Whether you’re away from your shack or out of range of a local repeater, the AllStar Link network keeps you connected. This guide walks you through the essential steps to get your mobile device configured for AllStar—from obtaining your mandatory FCC documentation to…
Whether you’re a DMR pro or strictly an analog operator, we’ve got you covered:
Thanks to the Allstar link, you can participate in the TGIF Net using your standard 2M radio. You get the reach of digital with the simplicity of analog—no codeplugs or hotspots required. Just tune your radio to 147.330 and join the conversation.
Net Start: Friday, April 3rd @ 8:30 PM Analog Access: 147.330 Repeater Digital Access: TGIF Talk Group 31665
Dust off the mic, grab a cold drink, and help us make some noise on the airwaves! 📻✨
#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #TGIFNet #CARC #W4CAE #DMR #Allstar #FridayNightNet #ColumbiaSC
We’re planning for the Harbison 50k and need VOLUNTEERS!
Here are the details you’ll need at this point:
When – Saturday, January 7th
Where – Harbison State Forest
Pre-event meeting – via Zoom the night before!
Race Start – 7:30 am from the field in front of the gazebo.
The primary frequency will be 146.400 simplex – make sure you have a good antenna
The secondary frequency will be 147.330 2m
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/harbison-50k-january-7th-2023/
With the holidays closing in on us fast, I have decided to cancel the Decembers Ham and Eggs event. Being so close to Christmas I want to give you all time to be with your families, we will resume Ham and Eggs in December, check the club calendar for new and exciting events planned.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/december-ham-and-eggs-cancelled/
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/columbia-amateur-radio-club-christmas-party/
SCHEART will be offering Ham (Amateur) Radio classes in December of 2022. This is for Technician, General, and Extra. All classes will run from December 12th through 16th from 6 pm to 9 pm. Some classes will not take the whole week but will finish when all the material is covered. These classes run concurrently. You can only choose one of the classes.
We’re presenting the classes via video conference using Zoom (http://zoom.us ) If you didn’t have the time to attend in person before, now is your chance. Email me at midlandsve@gmail.com. I’ll forward your email to your instructor and they will send you an invitation to the video conference.
Here’s a tutorial on how to use zoom: https://tinyurl.com/y8hbdlvr
If you’ve never used videoconferencing before, Here are a couple of tips:
Use a headset or headphones. Any headphones that plug into your computer will do. Even the wired ones that came with your cell phone, if it’s using the 1/8” plug. This eliminates feedback when you unmute your microphone.
Mute your microphone when not speaking to the instructor. Otherwise, the class will hear any background noise from your computer.
Find the text/chat function and use it.
New hams will have to start out with the Technician course.
All classes are free. If you wish to attend, RSVP to MidlandsVE@gmail.com. Be sure to tell me which class you want to take and include your cell number.
Testing will be offered on December 17th at 08:30 am at SCETV headquarters, 1041 George Rogers Blvd in Columbia. We’ll take care of the administrative work first and start the testing when the admin work is done. Bring a photo ID, an original copy of any Ham Radio license, your FRN, and $10.00 cash. If a child is testing and has no photo I.D., bring a copy of a birth certificate.
If you are testing for the first time, you must bring your FCC Registration Number (FRN), which you can get here:https://tinyurl.com/yayymn28
If you’re coming for testing only, email us so we can plan accordingly.
Please refer any questions to MidlandsVE@gmail.com
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/december-2022-testing-and-training/
Greetings Columbia Amateur Radio Club members!
SRD 2022 is a go on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022, with a slight modification…the classes/seminars will be held in the airport terminal, and we will have small groups for tours in the building.
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/23rd-annual-coop-skywarn-recognition-day/
The NASA / SpaceX Crew-5 mission brought new Astronaut-Hams to the ISS.
Welcome Josh Cassada, KI5CRH, and Koici Wakata, KI5TMN. Listen for them making ARISS student contacts and maybe just working from the ARISS repeater.
Photo: Crew-5 Official Portrait.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/hams-in-space/
Last call before Swap Fest join to ask questions and learn what’s going to take place. Call starts at7pm Thursday 6th.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86823977047?pwd=M3NYWmNsOGl2OHo4ajMrSkNTVVk2QT09
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/swap-fest-planning-call/
