Columbia Amateur Radio Club

06/14/2026

CARC SFD: Join us for a weekend of radio adventure!
Hi everyone,

As we continue preparations for the 2026 ARRL Summer Field Day, we have an important request that will help us plan for a smooth and enjoyable weekend.

ARRL Field Day: June 27–28, 2026
Location: Sesquicentennial State Park: Primative Camping Area

Details: Https://www.w4cae.com and https://www.arrl.org/field-day

Setup & Arrival
CARC members may begin arriving Friday, June 26th, after 2:00 PM. Primitive campers may choose any available spot within the five designated camping sections, each of which is suitable for up to five tent campers.

Planning Calls
We will hold two planning and logistics calls to coordinate assignments and answer questions:
• June 17th
• June 24th
See Club Calendar for Details!

Expanded Field Day Activities – Saturday
• Park opens at 8:00 AM
• Saturday Morning: Amateur Radio Testing session
• Operating & Logging: HF, VHF/UHF, digital modes, and multi‑operator stations throughout the weekend
• Technical Demonstrations: Digital modes (FT8, JS8Call, Winlink), Meshtastic, Poclink, hotspot technologies, and more
• Community Engagement: Visitors are welcome to observe, learn, and get on the air
• Hands‑On Learning: Antenna setup, power management, go‑kits, and emergency‑communications demonstrations

Sunday Activities
• Park opens at 8:00 AM
• Continued operating and logging until Field Day concludes
• Tear‑down and pack‑up operations begin late morning
• Final QSO pushes, equipment checks, and site cleanup
• Special Worship Service: This year, we will host a Sunday worship service at the park featuring a live stream from The Belonging Co (https://thebelonging.com). All are welcome to join Nick, K4NAS, and Jim, W4JLP, for this uplifting and energetic service.

Dinner Planning – We Need Your Input
As we prepare and plan for Field Day, we need your input on Saturday evening’s dinner. The club will be providing dinner around 5:30 PM, but we need an accurate headcount to ensure we have enough for everyone.

Please RSVP using the link below — this is very important for planning:
https://forms.gle/qkbiT7XfwLvTFCgYA

As a thank‑you for responding, everyone who submits the form will receive a cooling towel at the event.

Your participation and early response help us make Field Day smooth, enjoyable, and well‑organized for all.

Looking forward to another great Field Day weekend together.

73,
Jim Lathan
President, Columbia Amateur Radio Club

05/15/2026

**Building / Operating the Hardrock-50 Amplifier with the Icom IC-705 Interface? Pure magic.** 📻⚡
If you’re looking for the ultimate companion to your IC-705, this is absolutely it. The Hardrock-50 is an amazing kit to put together, and when you pair it with the dedicated 705 interface, the integration is seamless.

Having that automatic band tracking and T/R switching straight from the rig turns a fantastic QRP transceiver into a serious 50-watt powerhouse with zero fuss. Perfect for a clean shack setup or taking your portable ops to the next level. 🌲🚙

Highly recommend this build to anyone looking to add some extra punch to their 705!

05/15/2026

Nick working FreeDV for the first time, it's amazing. We have them present to the club very soon. Be ready everyone. Also using his new Hardrock 50 watt amp with tuner.

05/11/2026

K4NAS first CARC Sunday Night Net as Net Control. All the whole remote in Ohio outdoors and using an HT.

Great job sir!

05/02/2026

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 page.

We have plenty of room for visiting groups and individual operators. See you there!

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.

04/30/2026

Dear Columbia Amateur Radio Club members and friends,

It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of our fellow member and friend, John Clayton "Clay" Reynolds, K3VCR. Clay passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2026, after a brave battle with cancer.

Clay was a dedicated leader and member of our club and a truly inspiring individual who remained positive and uplifted throughout his journey. He will be deeply missed by all of us in the amateur radio community.

The Club will send flowers to the service on behalf of all our members and friends.

We will also hold a Silent Key ceremony at the beginning of the Columbia Amateur Radio Club Sunday Night Net on May 3rd to honor his memory.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, May 4, 2026, at New Life Baptist Church (2825 Ashland Road, Columbia, SC), with a visitation starting one hour prior at 12:00 PM.

You can find the full announcement and share your condolences through the link below:
https://www.bushriverfuneralhome.com/obituaries/john-reynolds

Please keep Clay’s family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

73,

Jim Lathan
President, Columbia Amateur Radio Club

View John Clayton "Clay" Reynolds's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/23/2026

Ever wondered how to keep messaging when the cell towers go dark? 📡📵

The Columbia Amateur Radio Club is leveling up this May! We are thrilled to host Bob Beasley for a deep dive into one of the hottest topics in tech right now: Meshtastic.

Whether you’re a long-time ham or just love off-grid gadgets, come see how low-cost LoRa hardware creates a resilient network for disaster response.

🗓 WHEN: Monday, May 4th @ 7:00 PM
📍 WHERE: 1101 George Rogers Blvd, Columbia, SC 29201

Why you should be there:
✅ See a live breakdown of off-grid mesh networks.
✅ Meet the local crew and talk shop.
✅ Learn how to stay connected when it matters most.

This meeting is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Bring a friend, bring your curious mind, and let’s get nerdy. ⚡️

03/28/2026

Subject: Join Us for the April Columbia Amateur Radio Club Meeting

The Columbia Amateur Radio Club (CARC) is excited to announce our upcoming monthly meeting. Whether you are a seasoned operator or just getting started in the hobby, we invite you to join us for an evening of learning, networking, and some great deals on gear.

**When:** Monday, April 6th, 2026
**Time:** 7:00 PM

# # # **Featured Presentation: Getting Started with Our New AllStarLink Node**

We are thrilled to dive into our newest club asset\! This month’s technical presentation will focus on our new AllStarLink node. We will cover the basics of how it works, how you can connect, and the ways this technology enhances our local and wide-area communication capabilities.

# # # **Club & Member Equipment Sale**

Looking to upgrade your shack? We will have a variety of amateur radio equipment available for purchase from both the club and individual members. This is a fantastic opportunity to pick up quality gear at great prices.

Items available include:

* **HF Transceivers**
* **HF Amplifiers**
* **And much more**

# # # **Meeting Location & Additional Details**

For specific directions to our meeting location and a more detailed list of items for sale, please visit the official club website:

www.w4cae.com

We look forward to seeing everyone there on April 6th\!

73,

**Columbia Amateur Radio Club (W4CAE)**

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.

03/23/2026

# # # 📱 **W4CAE In Your Pocket: AllStar Link Mobile Guide** 📻

Want to stay connected to the **Columbia Amateur Radio Club** even when you're away from your shack? You can turn your smartphone into a fully functional AllStar transceiver!

We’ve just posted a complete, step-by-step guide on the website covering everything you need to get on the air from your Android or iOS device.

**What’s inside the guide:**
✅ How to download your **Official FCC License** (Required for registration!)
✅ Setting up **DVSwitch Mobile** for Android 🤖
✅ Setting up **RepeaterPhone** for iOS 🍎
✅ Connecting directly to the **W4CAE Node (690060)**

Whether you're traveling or just out for a walk, don't miss out on the local ragchew.

**Read the full guide here:**
https://w4cae.com/w4cae-in-your-pocket-setting-up-allstar-on-your-smartphone/ -13221

73

03/22/2026

**Headline: 73 to a Fantastic Ham Hangout Day at Sesquicentennial State Park!** 🌲📡

A massive thank you to the over 20 visitors—a wonderful mix of club members, seasoned hams, and enthusiastic newcomers—who made our Ham Hangout a huge success! The weather was absolute perfection, providing the ideal backdrop for a full day of radio.

The park was buzzing with activity. We had stations making contacts worldwide: digital modes were in full swing with FT8 (contacts were literally rolling in!), and the bands were wide open on 10 meters for some great phone QSOs.

It wasn't just about operating, though. The day was a treasure trove of learning and mentorship:
* We had a fantastic, hands-on deep dive into the world of **Allstarlink**, demystifying how it all works.
* New licensed hams and potential operators learned the critical steps on **how to access our club repeater on 147.330** (don't forget that PL!).
* There were great demonstrations and discussions on using **DMR** (Digital Mobile Radio), showing just how flexible digital voice can be.
..and much, much more! From antennas to power sources, the knowledge-sharing was incredibly inspiring.

If you are curious about the hobby, this event perfectly showcased the incredible variety amateur radio offers. For those who couldn’t make it, don’t worry—we are already planning the next one. We would love to see you there to learn, share, and continue making those connections!

73,
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club