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.
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.
“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…
Looking to kick off your weekend with some great conversation? The Friday Night TGIF Net is happening tomorrow, April 3rd, 2026, at 8:30 PM, and we’re making it easier than ever to join the fun!
🌍 How to Connect
Whether you’re a DMR pro or strictly an analog operator, we’ve got you covered:
DMR Users: Tune in to the TGIF Network on Talk Group 31665.
Analog/2M Users: For this week only, the Columbia Amateur Radio Club is linking the 147.330 repeater directly to the net via Allstar!
🚀 No DMR? No Problem!
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! 📻✨
From the ARRL Division News Roanoke Division Email:
ANTENNA RELIEF BILL REINTRODUCED – Identical versions of The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act have been reintroduced in Congress in both the House and the Senate. If passed and signed into law, the legislation would require homeowner associations to accommodate the needs of FCC-licensed Amateur Radio operators by prohibiting the enforcement of private land use restrictions that ban, prevent, or require the approval of the installation or use of Amateur Radio station antennas. Among other provisions, this legislation would prohibit homeowner association rules that would preclude or ban Amateur Radio antennas, specify an approval process for installing Amateur Radio antennas, and provide a federal private right of action to Amateur Radio operators in disputed cases. The bill numbers are HR1094 for the House version and S459 for the Senate bill. ARRL will be coordinating a grassroots campaign to have members contact their congressional representatives for support.
The text of the House Bill can be found at the link below:
Hi I’m Michael‚ KB9VBR‚ and I’m on a mission to inspire and educate the amateur radio community. I’ve been a ham radio operator since 1999‚ so my interests are varied and run deep. But most of all‚ ham radio is more than a hobby; it’s a lifestyle that I enjoy and love to share with others.
My goal is to share positive and uplifting videos. I’ll answer your questions and take deeper dives into some of the mysterious parts of ham radio. Whether you are a new ham or a grizzled veteran‚ I’m sure there will be something you’ll like. Ham Radio Q&A answers your amateur radio questions and explores the different aspects of the hobby.
Ham Radio Q&A is brought to you by KB9VBR Antennas: Supplier of Amateur Radio, Land Mobile, Scanner, Low Power FM, and Airband VHF/UHF Antennas.
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!
This little radio was shown at the November 4th club meeting by Jim Lathan W4JLP.
It can be purchased as a kit ~$90.00 or a ready to operate ~$140.00. Make sure to order via the official suppliers list here. You will receive a serial number with an official kit/radio and need the serial number to download future firmware upgrades.
Here is the main website for the radio and more information. https://dl2man.de/
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/trusdx/
A few years ago, I decided to upgrade my PC. In researching, I found a mini fan-less PC that runs on a 12v wall wart. After researching my software wouldn’t have any issues I purchased and installed the software I use.
The only issue I had was that even with my off the shelf UPS system the PC would reboot during bad weather. I investigated and found the wall wart was susceptible to power line transits.I thought about using one of my ham radio power supplies, which I thought was way over kill.
Searching the internet I found that battery operation was preferable. But then again it was much more than I needed. Then on “YouTube” I found them using an oversize AA with a voltage of 3.7v. This is actually called a 18650 cell as the designated size. What was impressive was the different capacities viable on “Amazon”. These cost from $2.25 in multiples and capacities from 2000mah to 9900mah
More research indicated I could build a DIY UPS with no switching time and a fairly large run time. Since the most time I have been without power has been less than 1 hour. So I sat down and worked out a wiring diagram. The schematics program I use is called “Fritzing”. Here is a link to the webpage for the software. https://fritzing.org/
Here is the parts list, cost supplier.
12v 18650 UPS BOM
QTY
Label
Part Type
Unit
Part Number
Supplier
1
Case
Enclosure
$18.99
Blue Metal Enclosure.7 x 4.33 x 3.1 inch
Amazon
1
120vac to 12vdc
S-350-60 Power Supply
$12.98
12v @ 5amp
Amazon
1
5.15V Out
Generic female header – 2 pins
$1.44
Terminal Binding Post Spring Clip 2-Way
Amazon
1
AC1
AC Power
$1.83
Inlet Module Plug Socket Power Entry
Amazon
3
Bat1
18650 Battery
$5.97
3.7v @ 9900ma
Amazon
1
C1
Electrolytic Capacitor
$0.35
470uf
Amazon
1
D1
Rectifier Diode
$0.05
1N4007
Amazon
1
DS2Y-5-DC5V1
DS2Y-12-DC12V
$1.00
HK19F-DC 5V-SHG Signal Relay
Amazon
1
LED1
LED
$0.04
3mm Green (570nm)
Amazon
1
R1
Resistor
$0.05
470kΩ
Amazon
1
S1
Push-button
$0.53
Momentary (NO)
Amazon
1
TP1
BMS Li-ion Charger
$0.64
3S 12V 10A 18650 Lithium Battery Protection Board
Amazon
1
U1
Buck converter
$3.24
Mini-360 Step-up DC-DC
Amazon
1
VM1
Voltmeter
$2.16
3 digit LED (2 wire)
Amazon
Total
$49.27
Here are a couple of pictures of the finished unit.
The Future-
Since I also operate a couple of Raspberry Pi’s 24/7, I am refining the schematic with a couple of changes and will build one for 5v.
Mike- N7ETA (Extra Terrestrial Amateur)
Do you have a project you would like to share on our webpage?
If so please send a brief write-up with info, pictures and any other information to the webmaster, John W4SFX at jkiselica@gmail.com
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/12v-ups-for-mini-pc/
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 wrn.feedback@noaa.gov. You can also find WRN on X (previously Twitter) @WRNAmbassadors.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/columbia-amateur-radio-club-is-now-a-weather-ready-nation-ambassador/
