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.
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.
Midlands Skywarn Newsletter Sign-up
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
Important Links:
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?
Use the orange form at the bottom of the page to contact us, or visit the Columbia NWS at https://www.weather.gov/cae/skywarn.html
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.
Link for the schedule: CERT October 2023 Link for the application: COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM APPLICATION FORM
For more information, Contact Mark Goddard @ [email protected]
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®
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:
Whether you’re a long-time operator or new to the hobby, there’s something for everyone at this meeting. Don’t miss out!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85333006112?pwd=SIMA5UTJzYEEf1RPh8rfmIjWbyZMzP.1
Meeting ID: 853 3300 6112
Passcode: 132652
Current spotters, want to refresh your skills? We have several new sessions coming up soon. Our class schedule is updated, and here’s where to find more information: [https://www.weather.gov/media/cae/Spotter_Classes.pdf](https://www.weather.gov/media/cae/Spotter_Classes.pdf)Hope to see you online!
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/interested-in-becoming-a-skywarn-storm-spotter/
Subject: Repeater 147.330 Status Update – Back Online
Dear CARC/W4CAE members and friends,
I hope this follow-up email finds you well. I am writing to provide you with an update on the status of Repeater 147.330.
I am pleased to inform you that Repeater 147.330 is now back online and fully operational. Our technical team is still evaluating the root cause and will work diligently to address the issues affecting its functionality, and I’m happy to report that the repeater is now ready to resume its services.
We understand the importance of this repeater to our users, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused during the downtime. We are committed to ensuring the reliability and performance of our equipment, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we worked to resolve the situation.
Please feel free to utilize Repeater 147.330 for your communication needs. Should you encounter any further issues or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Jim Lathan. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us maintain the highest level of service.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. We look forward to serving you through Repeater 147.330 and our other communication resources.
Best regards,
Jim Lathan
Columbia Amateur Radio Club, President
803-669-6135
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/repeater-147-330-back-in-operation/
Subject: Repeater 147.330 Outage and Ongoing Resolution Efforts
Dear W4CAE members and friends!
I hope this message finds you well. I am bringing to your attention a recent issue regarding repeater 147.330. As of August 18, 2023, our Columbia repeater147.330 is currently experiencing an outage, rendering it unavailable for communications.
We understand the importance of this repeater in maintaining seamless communication within our community, and I want to assure you that our technical team is actively working to identify and address the underlying problem. We prioritize swiftly resolving the issue and reinstating the functionality of repeater 147.330.
Please be assured that we are committed to providing timely updates on the progress of our resolution efforts. We understand the impact that this outage might have on your operations and communications, and we are dedicated to minimizing any disruptions caused by this situation.
Our technical team is investigating the problem’s root cause and working diligently to implement the necessary repairs or adjustments. We will inform you about the developments and anticipated timeline for restoring repeater 147.330.
In the meantime, the W4CAE 146.775 repeater is online, and if you have any urgent communication needs or anything else we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, Jim Lathan, directly. We are here to ensure that your communication requirements are met to the best of our abilities, even during this challenging period.
As a precaution, plans are in place to still have the Sunday Night Net on Club repeater 147.330. If, at the time of the Net, repeater 147.330 is still offline; the Net will use the Clubs 146.775 repeater, also known as the Ft. Jackson Repeater. Make sure you have the Ft. Jackson repeaters frequency, offset, and tone programmed in your radios:
Ft. Jackson: 146.775 (-) T156.7
We apologize for any inconvenience this outage may have caused and appreciate your understanding and patience as we work toward a resolution. We value your continued partnership and trust in our services.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We will update you on our progress and provide you with the necessary information as soon as it becomes available.
Best regards,
Jim Lathan
Columbia Amateur Radio Club, President
[email protected]
803-669-6135
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/repeater-147-330-is-offline/
Greeting all, CARC submitted the following ARRL Field Day Log:
Summary:
Entry received at: 2023-07-18 01:34:20
Call Used: W4CAE GOTA Station Call: K4TLC ARRL/RAC Section: SC Class: 8A
Participants: 34 Club/Group Name: Columbia Amateur Radio Club
Power Source(s): Generator, Battery, Solar
Power Multiplier: 2X
Preliminary Total Score: 1,886 – (Additional 400 points pending bonus documentation)
Bonus Points:
100% emergency power 800
Media Publicity 100 – Pending documentation
Public location 100
Public information table 100 – Pending documentation
W1AW Field Day message 100 – Pending documentation
Site visit by invited elected official 100
Site visit by invited served agency 100
Educational activity 100
Youth participation (3 x 20, max of 100) 60
Safety Officer 100 – Pending documentation
Social media 100
GOTA Station 20
GOTA Coach 100
Entry submitted via Web 50
Total bonus points 1,930
Score Summary: (Cabrillo log/dupe sheet file: W4CAE.dup)
CW Digital Phone Total
Total QSOs 72 10 14
Total Points 144 20 14 178 Claimed Score = (QSO points x power mult) = 356
Submitted by: Jim Lathan, W4JLP [email protected]
Band/Mode QSO Breakdown:
CW Digital Phone
QSOs Pwr(W) QSOs Pwr(W) QSOs Pwr(W)
160m
80m
40m 17 50 8 35
20m 54 50 6 100
15m 1 50 2 35 3 100
10m 1 100
6m
2m
222
432
Other
Satellite
GOTA 4 50
TOTAL 72 10 14
GOTA Bonus: GOTA Coach – 100 Bonus Points
Name/Call QSOs Bonus Points
Tedd Clayton, K4TLC 4 20
We await the final confirmation of documents supporting our claim for Bonus Points.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/carc-arrl-field-day-summary/
UPDATE!!! We will not have access to Sesqui for Hams and Eggs; they are hosting Military Day, and all sites are booked. We will be meeting at a new venue; Lizards Thicket NE.
Join us for breakfast! Local friends and HAMS will meet every 3rd Saturday of the month for breakfast and fellowship. Meet with Friends, find an Elmer, ask questions, share your experiences, or discuss your next outing over breakfast.
TIME: 9:00 am
Where: Lizard’s Thicket Restaurant, 10170 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29229, USA
NEW VENUE ANNOUCEMENT!
HAMS AND EGGS WILL NOW BE HOSTED AT LZARDS THICKET NE IN A PRIVATE ROOM.
https://www.lizardsthicket.com/food-menus/breakfast/
Topics: SSTV Hands-On Demonstration, October Elmer Day, Open Topics
For more information, contact Jim W4JLP @ 803-669-6135
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/august-hams-and-eggs/
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club formed a committee to review the Club’s current Bylaws and recommend any edits/changes/additions to modernize the Club Bylaws. During the August 2023 Club General Meeting, these Bylaw recommendations were presented for Club consideration. I ask all club members to review the recommended Revised Club Bylaws and be prepared to discuss them in an open forum at the September meeting. After the Open Discussion, there will be an open vote to adopt the revised Bylaws.
Important Note: Zoom attendees who are current members are encouraged to participate and vote!
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88960505814?pwd=N3RVTXlGVzErWlpEKzd3eDIxa1BqUT09
Meeting ID: 889 6050 5814
Passcode: 974895
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88960505814#,,,,*974895# US (Washington DC)
+13052241968,,88960505814#,,,,*974895# US
Access Bylaws for review:
Current By-Law for reference.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/proposed-columbia-amateur-radio-club-by-laws/
Greetings, everyone! This month we will have an in-person Skywarn training/presentation.
A Skywarn presentation is an educational session to inform and train individuals about the Skywarn program and its role in severe weather reporting and response. The presentation is typically conducted by representatives from the National Weather Service (NWS) or trained volunteers who know the program.
During a Skywarn presentation, participants can expect to learn the following key points:
Overall, a Skywarn presentation aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to become active participants in the program, contributing to the overall goal of creating a weather-ready nation.
Following Skywarn training, we will present suggested CARC By-Law changes for Club consideration.
Zoom Details
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85161979965?pwd=azJzaWhFaWozNE51R0FvNFlWc1dnZz09
Meeting ID: 851 6197 9965
Passcode: 386573
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One tap mobile
+13126266799,,85161979965#,,,,*386573# US (Chicago)
+16469313860,,85161979965#,,,,*386573# US
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Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/carc-august-meeting-details/
