Thanks to Caden W3DEA, Noah W7RPX and Don Taylor K4KGT for sharing the photos.
Experimentation
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.
Get Ready for the Big One: ARRL Field Day 2026!
Mark your calendars! The most anticipated event in amateur radio is just around the corner. ARRL Field Day 2026 is officially set for the fourth full weekend in June: June 27–28, 2026.
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.
The 2026 Message: “Resilience Through Connection”
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:
- Emergency Preparedness: Testing our gear in “less-than-optimal” conditions.
- Technical Growth: Experimenting with new antennas, solar power, and portable deployments.
- Public Outreach: Showing our neighbors that ham radio is a modern, vital resource for the community.
Call to Action: Start Planning NOW!
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:
- Join a Committee: We need leads for Site Selection, Antenna Safety, Food/Logistics, and Public Relations.
- Inventory Your Gear: Dust off those portable rigs, check your battery health, and inspect your coax. Don’t wait until June 26th to find a blown fuse!
- The GOTA Station: We need “coaches” for our Get On The Air station. If you enjoy mentoring new hams or curious visitors, this is your time to shine.
- Bonus Point Hunting: From satellite contacts to copying the W1AW bulletin, there are dozens of ways to boost our club score. Who wants to take the lead on the Section Manager message this year?
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.
W4CAE in Your Pocket: Setting Up AllStar on Your Smartphone
“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…
Field Day 2026: The Year of the Club!
Join W4CAE for Field Day 2026: The Year of the Club!
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club (W4CAE) invites all hams and enthusiasts to join us for ARRL Field Day 2026 at Sesquicentennial State Park! Starting June 27th at 8:00 AM, we’ll be operating through the night until noon on Sunday.
As part of the ARRL Year of the Club, we are celebrating the local groups that serve as the backbone of our hobby. Come out to the primitive camping area for portable stations, person-to-person QSOs, and on-site VE Testing.
Dinner is on us! We’ll be serving up a catered BBQ spread on Saturday evening—because great radio work deserves great food.
Stay Informed: It is crucial to join all planning calls, attend our May and June Club meetings, and join the Hams and Eggs Breakfasts. For the latest updates, keep a close watch on https://www.W4CAE.com and our Facebook page.
We have plenty of room for visiting groups and individual operators. See you there!
More details to come!
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/carc-2025-christmas-party-photos/
CARC 2026 Board of Directors Election Results
Thank you to those who voted in person or by mail in ballot at the November 2025 club meeting. Below is a list of who was elected for the 2026 calendar year.
President- Jim Lathan W4JLP
Vice President- Paul Finan N4PRF
Treasurer- Amanda McKinnis K4ASM
Secretary- Wes Munn KJ4FIG
Director- Steve Ross W4LED, Noah Bergervin W7RPX (Two Year Term)
Trustee- Robert Bogan N2RB
73, CARC
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/carc-2026-board-of-directors-election-results/
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/ham-eggs-in-the-park-october-2025/
Columbia Amateur Radio Club – November 2025 Meeting
Join us for the November meeting of the Columbia Amateur Radio Club (CARC) on Monday, November 3, 2025, at our usual location — ETV Headquarters — and on Zoom for those who can’t attend in person.
This month’s meeting will feature club officer elections for the upcoming year. Your participation is important — come cast your vote and help shape the future direction of our club! See the website post below for more details on voting and absentee ballot requirements.
Following the elections, we’re excited to welcome a special Zoom presentation from the Long Island CW Club (LICW). The LICW is well-known for promoting Morse code training and camaraderie among hams worldwide. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn more about CW operations, training programs, and how you can get involved.
Please note the zoom meeting will not start till 7:30pm. Voting will take place in person from 7pm-7:30pm and then the LICW club will start to present at 7:30pm.
Meeting Details:
- Date: Monday, November 3, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: ETV Headquarters (and via Zoom)
- Topics: Club Officer Elections & Long Island CW Club Presentation
All members and guests are welcome. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or newly licensed, this is a meeting you won’t want to miss!
Zoom details-https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86149943593?pwd=N6jxm9D8kSGplYCgBnuT0Qq6buPaWu.1
Meeting ID: 861 4994 3593
Passcode: 802075
73, CARC
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/columbia-amateur-radio-club-november-2025-meeting/
📡 Columbia Amateur Radio Club Elections — November 3, 2025
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club will hold its annual Club Officer Elections on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 7pm during our regular club meeting at ETV, 1101 George Rogers Blvd, Columbia, SC 29201. All members are encouraged to attend, participate, and help shape the future of our club.
If you’re unable to attend in person, mail-in ballots are accepted. Click HERE to download the pdf mail in ballot. Please follow these important steps to ensure your vote counts:
- Place your completed ballot in a sealed envelope.
- Sign your name across the glued flap on the back of the envelope.
- Mail it to the Club P.O. Box before the election date. CARC PO Box 595 Columbia SC 29202
- Mailed ballots must be postmarked by 10/29/25.
🗳️ Voting Eligibility Reminder:
To cast a ballot—whether in person or by mail—you must have your dues paid and be a member in good standing with the Columbia Amateur Radio Club.
Below is the current ballot. You are welcome to write in someone on the absentee ballot or in person during voting at the November 3 club meeting.
| Position | Name | Call | Incumbent |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Jim Lathan | W4JLP | Yes |
| Vice President | Paul Finan | N4PRF | Yes |
| Treasurer | Amanda McKinnis | K4ASM | Yes |
| Michael Blackburn | KQ4DNM | ||
| Secretary | Wes Munn | KJ4FIG | Yes |
| Director (2 year term) | Steve Ross | W4LED | Yes |
| 2 slots to be filled | Michael Blackburn | KQ4DNM | Yes |
| Noah Bergervin | W7RPX | ||
| Trustee | Robert Bogan | N2RB | Yes |
Let’s make this year’s election a strong showing of member participation and club spirit. See you at ETV on November 3rd!
73, CARC
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/%f0%9f%93%a1-columbia-amateur-radio-club-elections-november-3-2025/
🥓🥚 CARC Ham & Eggs at Sesqui State Park – This Saturday!
📅 Date: Saturday, October 18
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Sesquicentennial State Park, Columbia, SC at Shelter 2 by the Ball Field
Join the Columbia Amateur Radio Club (CARC) for a fun and relaxing day in the park at our Ham & Eggs outside gathering this Saturday!
We’ll kick off the day with a lite breakfast provided by the club, so come hungry and ready to enjoy food and great company.
Bring your ham radio gear, set up your portable station, and spend the day operating and experimenting in the field. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or new to the hobby, this is a fantastic opportunity to:
- Test your portable setup
- Participate in a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation
- Get hands-on help and advice from friendly Elmers
- Meet fellow hams and share ideas
- Demonstrations:
- MMDVM Hotspots Featuring DMR, D-Star, Fusion, and more
- Allstar Nodes featuring Radioless, UHF, and VHF nodes
- SSTV
- Digital Modes featuring FT8, Keyboard to Keyboard Chatting/QSOs with JSCall, and VaraAC
- QRP Radios and QSOs around the world
- Alternative OPs featuring Meshtastic, Rattlegram, Zello, and Signal
- Foxhunting – Getting Started
This is a casual, family-friendly event — come and go as you please throughout the day. Please watch this post for weather updates or new info as we get closer to Saturday.
Reminder also that if you have a SC State Park pass bring it with you. You will be responsible for the entry fee into the park. More info on the cost can be found here at-https://southcarolinaparks.com/sesqui
Please bring your own chairs and any other equipment you made need to operate.
Have questions? Join our CARC planning call Wednesday 10/15/25 at 7pm via google meet.
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/tsa-wgvn-hwv
We will be monitoring the CARC Simplex frequency (146.400) if you need directions for parking and finding the shelter.
📻 Let’s fill the airwaves from Sesqui and make some contacts!
73, Columbia Amateur Radio Club
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/%f0%9f%a5%93%f0%9f%a5%9a-carc-ham-eggs-at-sesqui-state-park-this-saturday/
Columbia Amateur Radio Club – October Meeting
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club invites all members and guests to join us for our October Monthly Meeting! This is an important meeting you won’t want to miss as we prepare for the upcoming months of amateur radio fun and service.
📅 Date: 10/6/2025
🕖 Time: 7pm
📍 Location: ETV Building, 1101 George Rogers Blvd, Columbia, SC 29201
Can’t come to the meeting in person? Join us via google meet by the link below.
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jzb-zctq-iee
📋 Club Officer Elections
It’s election time! The November club meeting is when we hold club officer elections, and your participation matters. This is your opportunity to help shape the direction of our club for the upcoming year. Please be present and cast your vote! Please send any nominations for elected positions to John W4SFX or Clay K3VCR by 10/17/25.
🍳 Ham & Eggs – October Location Change!
This month’s Ham & Eggs breakfast social will have a special location:
➡️ Sesquicentennial State Park.
Come enjoy a great breakfast, fellowship, and the chance to enjoy the outdoors with your fellow hams. We will be meeting at shelter 2 by the ball field.
🏃 Harbison 50K Volunteers Needed
The Harbison 50K trail race is coming up, and the Columbia Amateur Radio Club is proud to support the event once again by providing communication and safety support. We need volunteers to help make this event a success! If you can assist, please let us know at the meeting or reach out to a club officer.
❄️ Winter Field Day 2026 is Coming Soon
Yes, it may be a few months away, but Winter Field Day 2026 will be here before we know it! Planning is already underway, and this is always a highlight of our operating year. Start thinking about your gear, antennas, and how you’d like to participate. Stay tuned for details at upcoming meetings.
🎄 Columbia Amateur Radio Club Christmas Party
Mark your calendars! Our Christmas Party will be held on:
📅 Monday, December 1, 2025
📍 Little Pigs BBQ
Come enjoy a festive evening of food, fun, and fellowship as we celebrate the holiday season together. More info to come on this wonderful event.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the October meeting and at our upcoming activities. Amateur radio is all about community, service, and fun—and there’s no better time to get involved!
📻 73, Columbia Amateur Radio Club
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/columbia-amateur-radio-club-october-meeting/