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.
“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…
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!
This month’s meeting will feature a presentation by Matthew Littleton from the Ridge Radio Club about EMCOMMS, followed by Winter Field Review, and the South Carolina QSO Party.
Don’t forget, Eat before Meet gathering at California Dreaming…
January Hams and Eggs breakfast will discuss USB-C PD power options for your devices. Will have examples of DIY adapters that will enable you to simplify powering devices. See you Saturday at the Lizards Thicket!
Lizard’s Thicket on Two Notch Road 9 am
10170 Two Notch Road Columbia , SC 29229
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/hams-and-eggs-power-virtually-anything-with-usb-c-pd/
Exciting news from one of our club members! This is very exciting news for the Midlands S.T.E.M. Charter School in Fairfield County.
ARISS lets students worldwide experience the excitement of talking directly with crew members of the International Space Station, inspiring them to pursue interests in careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, and engaging them with radio science technology through amateur radio.
Join us in congratulating the Midlands S.T.E.M. Charter School students, teachers, and Michael Grimsley, KF4W in such an honor. Micheal’s letter to his students is below.
The Columbia Amateur Radio Clubis the primary sponsor of the South Carolina QSO Party and is seeking volunteers to join the event and help cover as many counties as we can. There are 46 counties in our fine state and as a sponsor, we will be one of two bonus stations awarding highly coveted points.
My apologies for the delay in getting this posted. At several club meetings and Hams and Eggs breakfasts, we highlighted several cool and handy Ham gadgets. Here are a few…
Quadra runs as a dedicated HamClock appliance on a TV or monitor (1080p or higher). Our HamClock setup program makes this as easy as a few clicks. You can also view your clock in a browser on any Windows or Mac PC, Apple or Android tablet/phone, or on a smart TV in your local network.
This year’s Harbison 50k was a true test of preparedness and endurance of the runners and amateur radio operators alike. The Harbison 50k is unlike many other races, is a race through wooded areas, dirt roads, and difficult trails. This year, the weather made this an even harder task for all who were there. There was a soaking rain most of the day along with cold temperatures, as you can see, like the troops they are, runners and our volunteer club members made the best of it. Congratulations to all of the runners and a special thank you to the CARC members who volunteered to make this event a tremendous success.
