Test Session Tomorrow, 9/14/19

GCARS VE Test Session tomorrow , Sat. Sept. 14 @ 9:30 am
**Exams are held at Southminster Presbyterian Church at 1401 Hoffman Rd. in Gastonia, NC 28054

The cost for the test is $10. The $10 cost covers all test levels taken at that exam session provided that the examinee passes the previous level license exam. (So it is possible to take the tech, general and extra exams for $10 given each prior level is passed).

GCARS examinations are accredited through the WCARS VEC.

2019 GCARES Field Day!

When: Saturday, June 22 @ 2pm thru Sunday, June 23 @ 2pm Where: North Belmont Park 3110 Hickory Grove Rd. Gastonia NC 28056 Who: Everyone!

This event is free and open to the public. .Everyone is welcome to come out and experience amateur radio. We will be making as many contacts as possible within a 24 hour period on emergency power. If you are interested in amateur radio or know someone who is, then come on out to field day and learn more about the hobby.
**We will be setting up at 8 am on Saturday, June 22nd and breaking down at 2 pm on Sunday, June 23rd** All help is appreciated!
***We will be having our Family BBQ Supper on Saturday, June 22nd around 5:30 or 6. Thank you to all who signed up to bring a side item. Everyone is invited to join us and enjoy the fun fellowship with amateur radio operators and their families!!!!
Can’t wait to see you there!!!!

ARES May Monthly Meeting!

Just a friendly reminder that the ARES/RACES meeting is tonight (Thursday) May 9 at 7 pm at the Gaston County EOC, 615 N. Highland Street, Gastonia, NC.

We are going to debrief the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) that we had back a couple of weeks ago. Also, planning on talking about HSMM/MESH networking again, as well as training on the HF equipment at the EOC. Most importantly, we are going to discuss an adaptation of the ICS-213 message format for local use.

Please come if you can (some have already told me that they will be out). We would enjoy your participation. Thank y’all at any rate for your dedication to Emergency Communications and Public Service in Gaston County, NC.
God Bless & 73,

Bill StevensonAJ4JZGaston County ARES / RACES EC

Fox Hunt! Fox Hunt! Fox Hunt!

It’s time to hunt the hidden transmitter! Please join GCARS this Saturday, March 2nd @ 10 am on 146.535 simplex frequency. We’ll meet at 8 am at Grits N Greens in Lowell for breakfast before the hunt! Bring your attenuators and radios and let’s have fun finding the fox!! There will be a prize for the first to find the transmitter!

https://www.facebook.com/events/644652555991672/?active_tab=about

Equipment for Sale!

Please contact Christopher Vance at 828-449-9166 or chrisnhickory@gmail.com regarding the equipment below for sale:

  • Kenwood HF Transceiver TS440S with External Power Supply with Kenwood SP430 External Powered Speaker – currently priced on ebay for $480 to $585
  • Heathkit CW Keyer with Paddles – currently priced on ebay for $99 to $125
  • Kenwood AT250 Auto Antenna Tuner – currently priced on ebay for $100 to $125
  • Kenwood Station Monitor SM-220 (these are somewhat rare, especially if in working condition – worth maybe $300 if working)
  • Kenwood SWR & Power Meter Model SW2100 – currently priced on ebay for $99
  • Kenwood Linear Amplifier TL-922A – currently priced on ebay for $1000 to $1500
  • Cobra CB2000 GTL Base Station with external speaker – currently priced on ebay for $295 – $360
  • Siltronix Model 90 external VFO for CB – currently priced on ebay for $32 – $125
  • Elenco MX9300A power supply/frequency counter/function generator/digital multimeter – currently priced on ebay for $300
  • Radio Shack DX-394 General Coverage Communications Receiver – currently priced on ebay for $400
  • ARRL Handbooks: 1999, 2007, 2010 – worth about $20 each used (they’re $50 each new)

2019 Ham Hike!

ALL HAMS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE WELCOME TO HIKE WITH GCARS. We will be doing the HAM HIKE on the last Saturday of each month.​ We will start with nice leisurely strolls around the Lake Trail. It is approximately .80 miles around the lake. That’s less than a mile…YOU CAN DO IT!! Since this is a HAM HIKE, bring your HT radios so we can test our signals while we hike. If enough people show up, we may even do an impromptu Hiking Net �.

Date: February 23rd (last Saturday of February)
Time: 9:00 am
Location: meet at the Lake Trail near the Kayak/Boat Shack at Crowders Mountain State Park

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/252218995714267/?active_tab=about

GCARS Winter Field Day 2019

Please join us for Winter Field Day 2019!

Come and enjoy some ham radio fun while practicing emergency communications protocol on the air! Set up is at 10:30 am on Saturday if you can help. Our Winter Field Day Feast is at 5 pm with pork butt, hamburgers and hot dogs. Remember to bring a side dish, dessert or drinks if you can. We hope to see you there!

Location:

p1808 Ratchford Dr, Dallas, NC 28034-7528

ARES MEETING 8-10-17

Just a friendly reminder that the ARES meeting is Thursday, 8-10-17 at 7 p.m. at the EOC on N. Highland Street in Gastonia.

We will be discussing the recent FEMA SET and also learn all about the Yaesu FTDX-1200 HF radio.

If you are an amateur radio operator or, you have technical bent and a heart for public service, please consider joining ARES! You can serve the community in a marvelous way by providing emergency communications in times of need.

Hope to see you there!

 

 

Civil Air Patrol & GCARS/GAARC/GC ARES/RACES Team Up!

On August 1, 2017, GCARS, GAARC & GC ARES teamed up with the Gastonia Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.  At the request of the squadron leadership, we presented a nearly 2 hour program introducing the group (and in the main, the cadets) to amateur radio and its many facets: radio history & theory, transmission modes, radio applications and new technology. We demonstrated HF, VHF, and UHF radios, using analog and digital voice and data modes.

Annlette, KV4WB, GCARS President (and GAARC and GCARES member) smiles as she helps the CAP cadets learn about amateur radio

 

Bill Stevenson, AJ4JZ, GCARS VP and GC ARES Emergency Coordinator (and GAARC member) presents amateur radio to the Gastonia CAP squadron

The cadets of the squadron were very responsive, asking many bright questions and displaying fine manners and discipline. A couple of the adult members of the squadron are hams and they enjoyed the update on many of the new technologies in amateur radio today.

It was a great night- we greatly appreciate the opportunity to visit with the Gastonia CAP. We have been invited back to the Gastonia CAP on November 28, 2017, to give a presentation on “Satellite Communications”.  Cheerfully, we look forward to working again with this great group, a group that shares our passion for public service and technology!

Check out the Gastonia CAP Composite Squadron’s FaceBook page.

https://www.facebook.com/Gastoniacap/ 

 

 

enjoying the ham radio hobby in gaston county