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
WHAT: Columbia Amateur Radio Club Get Radio Active class is targeted at new and old licensed Amateur Radio Operators. This is a 3-hour session with volunteer club members who will discuss and demonstrate some topics for Radio Activity to help get you started (in no particular order):
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/i-got-my-license-now-what-get-radio-active/
Update! Completed the battery build, this is a good bit of kit and I give it 2/5 stars for build difficulty and 4/5 stars for quality. In this build, I used 21 2400 mah 18650 batteries that will produce a max of 40ah with the battery management board. The cost of the total project not including tools less than $100.
I will have this battery and the spot welder used during the build at Ham and Eggs Breakfast on 3/19.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/40ah-li-ion-battery-project-update-2/
Pierce Larkin, a meteorologist with NWS Columbia will be presenting “Basic Spotter Talk” on April 7th to the Columbia Amateur Radio Club Thursday, Apr 7, 2022, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT. You don’t have to be a HAM to attend and/or be a Spotter. Register today and mark your calendars.
For more details and registration information: https://w4cae.com/event/basic-storm-spotter-training-hosted-by-columbia-amateur-radio-club/
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/basic-storm-spotter-training-hosted-by-columbia-amateur-radio-club-april-7th/
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
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/bringing-scalable-millimeter-wave-networks-and-applications-to-the-masses/
The featured March presenter is Rober Bretzmen, found of TGIF DMR Network and Hotspots. Robert discussed his starting of TGIF Network and his Hotspots
Ordering Information (tgifspot.com)
TGIF Dashboard
Member Spotlight
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/march-columbia-amateur-radio-club-meeting/
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/
