Columbia Amateur Radio Club

07/27/2026

Get Ready for the CARC Hamfest Hangout!
Calling all ham radio operators, builders, tinkerers, and tech enthusiasts! Join the Columbia Amateur Radio Club for a morning dedicated to all things Amateur Radio. Whether you’ve been on the air for decades or are just curious about the hobby, this event is for you!

When & Where:
** Date:** October 24, 2026
**Time:** 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
**Location:** Potters Park — Elgin, SC

Why You Can't Miss It:
**100% FREE:** No admission fees to attend, and **zero cost** to set up and sell!

Buy, Sell & Swap: Score incredible deals on gear, find that missing piece for your shack, or clear out your own ham shack extra inventory.

Live Demos: See cool setups, new digital modes, and gear in action.

Eye-to-Eye QSOs: Put faces to callsigns, catch up with old friends, and talk shop with the local ham community.

Talk-In Info:
Need directions on your way in? Tune into the Columbia Amateur Radio Club repeater:

Frequency: 147.330 MHz (+ offset)
PL Tone: 156.7 Hz

Grab your gear, bring your appetite for radio talk, and come hang out with us!

Potter Community Park - Town of Elgin, South Carolina https://share.google/Rat3oOUp24tlUskhj

07/09/2026

With ARRL South Carolina Section – just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

07/09/2026

Repeater 330 is back on the air!

06/29/2026

What a wonderful ARRL South Carolina Section Field Day! Thank you, CARC members, friends, and family; It wouldn't have been a successful event without you.

Check out my QSO map on World Radio League - The New Era Of Logging Ham Radio Contacts

06/27/2026

Have a wonderful Field Day. This post is important and why we practice our hobby.

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.