DCARA: Denton County Amateur Radio Association

10/28/2026

Lively conversation @ many Ham Radio related topics
Miss a little, miss alot, Where were you ? 2nd & 4th Wed of the month @ 11am at Portillo's in Denton
Denton County Amateur Radio Association & Robson Radio Club - Radio-Active Lunch Bunch - Be There 🎙

10/22/2026

DCARA - RRC Antenna Intervention Task-Force
Dave WB3JOY needed help getting back on HF
He talked to Wichita KS minutes after we finished his * * 198 foot All HF Band Under Eave Antenna * *
Thank you to our great crew that made this possible:
Bill - KG5IE / Jeff - N5DN / Darrell - W2KF
John - AI5EM / John - N5YAI / Jeff - WA9JAM
Tingxiu - KJ5MZE / Wayne 1 - KE0RCB / Wayne 2 - KE0RCC / Bart - KJ5LLZ / Fred - KJ5NBD
David - K5DTH

10/16/2026

R R R R R Radio-Active Lunch Bunch strikes again 🎙
2nd & 4th Wed @ 11a at Portillo's in Denton 😎
Where were you ? We waited ! 146.92 Talk-in 📡
Many also on the Antenna Intervention Task-Force

10/12/2026

Here is a link to the Denton Record Chronicle's story about a group of hams using various repeaters including our own 92 Repeater. Check it out (it is a very positive story about a small group of morning commuters). Sorry there may be a pay-wall.

It's a simple act: Getting in your car and turning on the radio. Whether it's a podcast or the latest release from your favorite artist, it's more routine than anything

10/07/2026

B I G N E W S: QSO1 has added FCS, D-Star & P25
This is truly exciting, I have already been on Texas Nexus this morning on QSO1 & this leaves only NXDN, yet to be added that QSO1 does not have on DroidStar

I run QSO1 on my Android phone & tablets, as well as a couple of small Android MP3 players.

No Ham Radio Hotspot, no Digital Radio, no M1KE.

They added 4 of the D-Star networks (see image), including REF, XRF, DCF & XRX.

Be sure to update your credentials on the new modes

Access to FCS is through YSF (look for it,it's there)

Dive in, the waters just fine, exciting Digital App

Talk to you "Out There"

K5DTH - David

09/27/2026

BIG NEWS about HamClock - You may already have it
If you have FireTV or Android TV or TV Box
You can now load the HamClock App ! ! Nothing else needed, you already have it.

If you are running a FireStick or Roku device, your television / SmartTV may have an Android menu.

This photo is of HamClock running as an App on my 65" Sony using a 4k FireStick. The app is loaded on the Fire TV app & has an icon in my shortcut menu.

It appears to do virtually everything the HamClock program does, with the exception of Aviation mode.
** Aviation mode is in one of the sub-menus

Clicking on different boxes & areas on HamClock, once you have it up & running, always nearly infinite customization of the App.

During startup it will ask to connect to your network for the Back-End Servers & allow you to input your Call Sign & Maidenhead Grid Square.

You no longer need a device or raspberry pi to run it on

There are so many different settings & things to monitor AND the boxes can now do more than one function. Nearly infinite possibilities.

Play with it, Explore it's capabilities, repurpose an old television or an old FireStick that was sitting in a drawer.

Many things it can do for non-Hams too
And it looks Really Cool 😎

The Absolute Best News is the price ! F R E E !

K5DTH - David

09/26/2026

Worked CA6SNT Luis in Chile - 5,272 miles on 10m Band Friday - band was dead for voice but great FT8
The mode & Frequency I used, can be done with a Entry Level Technician Class License.

I was running FT8 on 10 meter / 28.074 at 60 watts
He responded immediately & gave me an R -12

With Solar weather hindering the use of the 10 meter band for voice signals, using a computer to computer Digital Mode pushed through when voice could not, and went through easily.

Each of those stripes are other Ham Radio Operators making contact.

Computer digital modes are quick & easy & do not require you to listen. Perfect for those beginning to experience hearing issues.

This was an example of "Trans-Equitorial" Propagation, which is strongest in Spring & Fall.

Further testimony to the effectiveness of the "All HF Band Under Eave Antenna" I built, further proving it's ability to do long range HF communication.

The last photo shows all the traffic (people attempting to make contact) on that band, just on FT8, there are other Digital Modes on other frequencies on that band.

There are DOZENS of paths to follow in Ham Radio, this is one of them. So many ways to explore, learn & discover.

I have been a ham now for over 52 years & there is still so much to learn, experiment with & try . . .

Come on in, the waters fine !

David - K5DTH

09/22/2026

It's Coming . . . R U Ready ? Radio-Active Lunch Bunch
Wed Sept 23 @ 11am - Portillo's in Denton 🎙
Be There . . . or Be a Square Wave 📡
The unofficial official talk in is 146.92 / 41087
John Grier Steve Mitchell Mitch Mitchell David Hume
Romie M Green Dave MacDonald Topp Robertson
Rodney Price Scott Boutwell Ferrell Bullard Sr.
David Blassingame Jeff Francis Fred Gregory
Jeff Peltier Bill Davis Mike Krzystyniak
Lance Lohmann Michael Penaluna Michael Porter

09/20/2026

Incredible Success - Robson Residents Emergency Preparedness Fair !

What a Great Success this years Robson Residents Emergency Preparedness Fair was for the Robson Radio Club !

We had many people stop by to visit & ask questions and to drop Robson Severe Weather Radios off to be programmed . . .

But the Really Exciting News is, we helped 5 Robson Residents sign up for the Technician License Class & Test next weekend & they are raring to go !

Several Robson Ranch residents voiced their interest in Ham Radio & our club !

Come join us for our Informational Work Shops & Discussions about Ham Radio at Robson Ranch in the Exciting 21st Century !

We are approaching 280 members & have several new & existing members getting their license !

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Bart Ogburn - KJ5LLZ
Wayne Caudill - KE0RCB
Wayne Caudill Jr- KE0RCC

2nd Monday of the month - Room 104 CATC **
9am Work Shop / 10am Discussion / 11am Meeting
** Creative Arts & Technology Center Building

How can we help you realize your Ham Radio Dream ?

www.RRRadioClub.com

09/17/2026

Having Breakfast with DroidStar, QSO 1 & DVSwitch
DroidStar on Texas Nexus
QSO 1 on K5HRR Robson Ranch Repeater
DVSwitch on 146.920 DCARA Repeater
Baofeng on 442.600 Decatur Repeater

Not my normal breakfast, just exploring with new toys & technology

Going to do a trial setup of the Radio Club Emergency Preparedness Fair tables & video displays

K5DTH - David