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! 📻✨
SKYWARN Storm Spotters are critically important to the National Weather Service’s primary mission: “Protection of life and property, and enhancement of the national economy.”
We want to thank our volunteers for the priceless work you do with an exclusive open house event! This event is not for the public; it’s only for current SKYWARN Spotters and Ham Radio Operators involved with or interested in SKYWARN.
You MUST pre-register.
Where & When: Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, from 8:00 AM to 5 PM EST. NWS Forecast Office Columbia, SC – 2909 Aviation Way, W. Columbia, SC 29170
ALL seminars will be in the Carolina Room in the CAE Airport Terminal – lower level past baggage claim)
Events:
Special Event Amateur Radio Station WX4CAE – operational the entire day. Want to operate your portable station? Bring it out!
Richland County ARES, with participation from the other EMA-3 counties, will be conducting an exercise to test their Simplex Emergency Communications plan and are asking for your help.
Date:Friday, 10/27/23
Time:4:00
Frequency:147.585 MHz
Scenario:
There has been a major event with significant destruction. All outside services are out, cell, power, etc., and roads are impassable.
You try your base station but find it is inoperable. You turn on your Mobile or HT and find that your repeaters are down.
You desperately need help and tune to the Richland County simplex frequency 147.585. That is where this test exercise begins.
Exercise:(Your Part)
On Friday, 10/27, at 4:00, tune in to the Richland County simplex coordinating frequency 147.585 MHz using HT or mobile at a maximum of 10 watts.
A test emergency net will be established, and you will check in when your county is called.
Check-ins will be by county: Newberry, Fairfield, North Richland (those north of I-20), Kershaw, Calhoun, South Richland (those south of I-20), Lexington, and Saluda.
Objective:
Verify that any ham operator in Richland County can reach help in times of emergency, from the general vicinity of their home and using basic ham gear.
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/richland-county-ares-simplex-emcomm-exercise/
