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
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/
Walk MS® brings together passionate people for a powerful purpose: to end MS forever. Feel the support that can only come from a community whose steps fuel breakthroughs, solutions, and a cure.
Join the movement today to show that together, we are stronger than MS:
For more information and how to volunteer contact Gary K4HGA.
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/walk-ms-columbia-sc-2022/
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.
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/a-february-webinar-will-discuss-amateur-radio-and-auxcom-support-to-the-us-department-of-defense/
David Bagwell, W4DZF, is Division Captain at Richland County Emergency Services Department and is spearheading a new initiative to build a volunteer communications CERT group to support emergency services in Richland County.
So, what is CERT?
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/richland-county-emergency-services-department-cert-initiative/
The ARRL has announced a new worldwide radio contest – the ARRL World Wide Digital Contest. It will take place during the first full weekend in June every year and feature FT8 and FT4 digital modes. Yes, you heard that right. The Amateur Radio Relay League has created a contest for all the FT8 and FT4 digital fans across the world.
More information at QRZ.com https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/arrl-announces-new-world-wide-digital-contest.800341/
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/arrl-world-wide-digital-contest-new-ham-radio-contest/
Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators. The SC QSO Party is Saturday 2/26/2022 and the Columbia Amateur Radio Club is again a highly sought-after bonus station. Want to experience the SC QSO Party? We will have several stations operating as Expeditionary in Chesterfield County about 25 minutes from Camden. Our location will be providing QSOs for 4 counties which will provide plenty of opportunities for you to get on the air.
Continue readingPermanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/sc-qso-party-planning-call/
Send captured images to Columbiaarc@gmail.com for posting. Good luck and happy hunting.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/iss-slow-scan-tv-sstv-event-2-7-8/
