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.
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®
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.
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:
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:
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.
#HamRadio #W4CAE #ColumbiaSC #POTA #Meshtastic #EmergencyPrep #AmateurRadio #SesquiStatePark
See less
“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…
Whether you’re a DMR pro or strictly an analog operator, we’ve got you covered:
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! 📻✨
#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #TGIFNet #CARC #W4CAE #DMR #Allstar #FridayNightNet #ColumbiaSC
The club roster is now updated and posted at https://w4cae.com/6699-2/.
Take time to verify your status, if you have any questions contact Jim Lathan at jim.lathan@gmail.com, if you need to pay your club dues, followhttps://w4cae.com/become-a-member/ and select pay dues near the bottom of the page.
Thank you
Jim Lathan, W4JLP
CARC President
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/columbia-amateur-radio-club-roster-october-1-2023-posted/
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/iss-sstv-hardware-testing-this-week/
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.
Topics: This month’s breakfast gathering topic will be Show and Tell. Bring an item you would like to tell us about; Ham related or not, and show us what you are interested in or have been working on. W4JLP will bring field power options to include batteries, battery boxes, and solar panels.
TIME: 9:00 am – 11:00am
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/
For more information, contact Jim W4JLP @ 803-669-6135
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/october-hams-and-eggs-10-21-2023-show-and-tell/
The October 2nd guest presenter is Matt Hall, KD4EOD, Trustee of W4FTK. Matt will cover FleetTalk, both the amateur side and the commercial side. He’s preparing a presentation and will bring some cool gadgets to show the group. He’s driving down from York County to make this presentation IN PERSON.
FleetTalk – W4FTK Presentation posted in Presentations.
Also, for the October 2 club meeting, Joe Wilson, KO4WAA, Richland ARES EC, has been actively promoting getting folks – especially ARES guys – involved with simplex, especially regarding emergency communications. Joe has a good plan that he wants to share with the club.
Other topics:
147.330 – Repeater Replacement Discussion
Club officer elections are scheduled for November 6, and there is a need for nominees.
Christmas plans – Planning Committee
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83449661381?pwd=OUhFMWQ4STFtZTk3VGNyOVF4VE5QUT09
Meeting ID: 834 4966 1381
Passcode: 823770
—
One tap mobile
+13052241968,,83449661381#,,,,*823770# US
+13092053325,,83449661381#,,,,*823770# US
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/carc-october-club-meeting/
September 16, 2023 Hams and Eggs will discuss the Who, the What, and the Why of Zello and Hamshack Holine. Don’t miss this special hands-on workshop and demonstration.
After Hams and Eggs, we will QSL to Sesquicentennial State Park Group Camping Area Site 2 for POTA. Bring your gear to activate or activate using radios there. Be your own DXpedition!
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/september-hams-and-eggs-zello-and-hamshack-hotline-workshops-followed-by-support-your-state-parks-pota/
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/
