Wait what? Last month’s Ham and Eggs attendees received a USB key packed with tools and software for Winlink, JS8Call, and VARAChat. Perfect timing, there is training posted at ARES-SC.org that will take you through Winlink A-Z. More details are below:
NOTE: This is will a late evening event, it is posted to be a 7 pm PST time, making it 10 pm for the east coast.
The Columbia SKYWARN Team assists the Columbia National Weather Service with Ground-Truth weather observations during severe or dangerous weather. The Columbia NWS forecast area covers much of South Carolina and is divided into August/CSRA, Midlands, and Eastern Midlands.
The Columbia SKYWARM Team holds NETS and Virtual Training/Meetings weekly and monthly. More Information can be found at the Columbia Amateur Radio Club Calendar
Founded in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN Spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite, and other data, has enabled the NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash floods. SKYWARN Storm Spotters form the nation’s first line of defense against severe weather minutes that can help save lives.
In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damage. The National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN with partner organizations to obtain critical weather information. SKYWARN is a volunteer program with 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather Spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service. Although SKYWARN Spotters provide essential information for all weather hazards, the focus is reporting on severe local thunderstorms. In an average year, the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, and more than 1,000 tornadoes. (Information courtesy of the Columbia NWS)
Interested in learning more, have questions, or want to sign up for training-Newsletter-meetings?
Community Emergency Response Team – CERT Training – STARTING Tuesday, October 10 at 6 PM at the Richland County EOC.
This is the 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team Class. This training is scheduled for three consecutive Tuesdays & Thursdays in October. We have openings and need additional participants to register with Sharon Long by the close of business on Wednesday, October 4, to avoid canceling this training.
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club is now a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador.
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club is excited to collaborate with NOAA/NWS to help strengthen our nation’s readiness against extreme weather, water, and climate events. If you would like more information, please visit the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador Frequently Asked Questions. And if you need any additional information, email WRN anytime at [email protected]. You can also find WRN on X (previously Twitter) @WRNAmbassadors.
We are excited to announce that at the January Club meeting, we have a special guest: Craig KM6LYW. Craig KM6LYW is a trailblazer in the amateur radio community, known for blending traditional ham radio practices with cutting-edge technology will be joining the Clubs Zoom meeting. As the creator of DigiPi, a compact, Raspberry Pi-based platform for digital communications, KM6LYW has made digital modes more accessible and affordable for amateur radio enthusiasts worldwide. The Club Zoom meeting details are at the end on this article.
The DigiPi is a versatile and user-friendly solution that supports popular digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, APRS, and more. By combining modern software with low-cost hardware, KM6LYW has empowered operators to explore the exciting world of digital amateur radio without needing expensive, specialized equipment.
Beyond developing the DigiPi, KM6LYW is passionate about supporting the ham radio community. He actively shares his knowledge, engages with fellow enthusiasts, and fosters innovation to ensure that digital amateur radio continues to thrive. Explore the world of digital amateur radio with KM6LYW and DigiPi—where tradition meets innovation.
In addition to exploring the exciting world of DigiPi and digital amateur radio, we’re excited to share that the club will offer our members a variety of amateur radio hobby items. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or just starting, you’ll find a range of gear and accessories to enhance your amateur radio experience. These items are available on a donation basis, and all proceeds will go directly to supporting the club’s activities, resources, and outreach efforts. It’s a great way to get something you need while giving back to the community that keeps the hobby alive and thriving! Bring your $$$.
Here’s how you could present the additional topics for the meeting:
Additional Meeting Topics
Join us for a dynamic and informative meeting as we dive into several exciting topics, including:
Harbison 50K Review: This is a look back at the event and the role amateur radio played in its success.
Winter Field Day: Preparation and strategies for this popular event to hone emergency communication skills.
South Carolina QSO Party: Tips for participating and maximizing your contact logs during this state-focused radio contest.
Hams and Eggs & New Lunch and Learn: Discover these engaging opportunities to connect, share, and learn in a casual setting.
Hands-On Experience: A practical session to explore and practice amateur radio techniques.
April CARC Swapfest: Get a preview of this must-attend event for buying, selling, or trading amateur radio gear.
ARRL Summer Field Day: Early planning for one of the most significant events in amateur radio, focusing on teamwork and readiness.
Whether you’re a long-time operator or new to the hobby, there’s something for everyone at this meeting. Don’t miss out!
What a great way to get outdoors; a Trunkfest is an opportunity to mingle with other Amateur Radio Operators, share ideas, and reconnect with those you haven’t seen face to face in a long while. The Columbia Amateur Radio Club Spring Trunkfest is a swap meet that is free for those who want to buy, sell, swap, or trade amateur radio-related gear and items.
Welcome Amateur Radio Operators from any club to join us, we enjoy meeting fellow hams!
When: April 30th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Potters Community Park, Elgin SC 29045
For more information Contact: Jim Lathan, W4JLP Columbia Amateur Radio Club President Click to EMAIL
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/columbia-amateur-radio-club-spring-trunkfest-april-30th-pass-the-word/
Our very own Angelo AC2BC is hosting, as IEEE Section Chair, a presentation on the application of mmWaves (EHF, 30 to 300 GHz). While it obviously a bit techie, but no heavy math, or equations, it is intended for a audience of broad backgrounds. It will have radio issues of interest to many Hams. It is open to all, registration is free. The presentation will be held next Tuesday evening (3/15) at 7PM and held virtually
South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week, jointly sponsored by the National Weather Service and South Carolina Emergency Management Division, will take place the week of March 6-12, 2022.
See club calendar for full details!
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/south-carolina-severe-weather-and-flood-safety-week-march-6-march-12/
Ukraine: IARU-R1 statement IARU Region 1 has released the following statement regarding any radio transmissions you may hear from radio amateurs in Ukraine.
“Any radio amateur currently transmitting from Ukraine is risking his or her life. If you hear a Ukrainian station, do not broadcast its callsign, location, or frequency-whether on the band, in a cluster, or on social media. You may be putting lives at risk.”
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/ukraine-iaru-r1-statement/
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On Thursday, February 18, at 0100 (the evening of February 17 in North American time zones), the US Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) will host a Zoom call to discuss amateur radio and AUXCOM support to the US Department of Defense. During this presentation, the NETCOM representative will discuss the authorities for these operations; upcoming DOD exercise opportunities for 2022 where outreach to the amateur radio/AUXCOM community will be a primary training objective; use of the five 60-meter channels, and the concept for the types of amateur/AUXCOM outreach.
