Would you like to know more about amateur (ham) radio?
Are you a licensed ham and new to the area, been here forever or just have an interest in amateur radio, consider joining SMARC. Our 90+ members would enjoy meeting you, making a new friend and sharing the excitement. One good way to learn about SMARC is to join a Zoom session either every M-Th at about 8:30am to 10:15am or at a monthly meeting. Click the Join Zoom Link below. Passcode is w4olb. Are you already a ham and just need to ask a question and do not know who to reach out to, just click the Email us button below and ask your question.
Next SMARC Meeting is in May
Meetings are the 4th Monday, at 7:00pm. Most start arriving before 6:45pm.
Typical agenda will be recognizing guests and introductions, reports, announcement and then a program.
See this Special Note!
A motion to make a change to the present SMARC Constitution will be offered at the May meeting, to be voted on at the July meeting. Due to the problems encountered getting to this point, a proxy voting system will be set on motion. Per the club constitution, at 2/3 of active members are needed to vote in the affirmative.
No official meeting occurred in April, rather:
The April Speaker was Bob Heil - "Audio for Amateur Radio" (via Zoom)
NOTICE: The SMARC Fusion Repeater is OPERATIONAL in the AMS Mode and at full power. Try it out.
443.075 MHz / 448.075
Tone Encode and Decode: 100.0 Hz
CLUB MAILING LIST
To get on our email list, just join our groups.io by clicking here. You will then be on an email list where you will be sent for more information and announcements of SMARC club meetings and activities. Just want more information or to contact SMARC leadership, click the button below to email us.
As a little background relative to SMARC, the early club history is described under the More tab on the ribbon above.
If you are not yet licensed, SMARC holds a regular Technician class and also routine FCC tests are given locally (see below). A Technician Class is coming in January.
Blount Emergency Communications Service (BCECS) is an active ARES group. This is not a club, rather it is a service group formed under the structure of the ARRL. ARES communications operators receive emergency communications training and offers communications services to such organizations as Blount County Emergency Management, Blount Memorial Hospital, the local American Red Cross chapter and other community organizations. All licensed amateur radio operators are invited to take an active role in this organization.
SMARC donated their communications trailer in support of the Blount County ARES group in 2019. A grant request was submitted to Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) for funds to update the trailer and make some needed repairs. ARDC awarded a $11,750 grant to BEARS. The trailer roof and floors have been repaired, the carpet cleaned and door repairs are underway. The AC power system has been updated and updated DC lighting mostly installed. Soon a DC power system, replacement LED light fixture, two donated 100AH batteries, new chairs, U/V/HF radios and the antenna systems will be ordered and installed shortly.
If you have an interest in ARES, the group meets at the Blount County 911 Center at 7pm on the 3rd Tuesday each month and there is a regular Thursday evening Net at 9pm on the 146.625 repeater. Want more information? Contact the BCECS TEAMAPP button below and/or take part in the Net, it is open to all licensed amateur radio operators.
The Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Weekly Net is held each Thursday at 7:00 P.M. on the W4OLB Club Repeater (146.655 MHz, Tone 100.0 Hz) with the backup repeater being the WB4GBI (146.625 MHz, Tone 118.8 Hz). All amateurs are welcome to take part. Net Control will ask only for your Call Sign, Name, Location and Affiliation. We also hold a simultaneous Zoom video conference which you are welcome to take part in by clicking here and using passcode 'w4olb'.
Join the the very informal KK4XA Morning Net every Monday through Thursday morning at 9:00 A.M. on the W4OLB Club Repeater (146.655 MHz, Tone 100.0 Hz) or the KK4XA DMR Repeater, 444.075 MHz, CC1, TG 314742. We also invite you to join the Zoom Conference, just click here and use passcode 'w4olb' to join the KK4XA Morning Net Zoom.
The KK4XA DMR repeater is connected to the internet via Brandmeister, thus these two repeaters can be accessed from anywhere by connecting to Talk Group 314742.
>>>>> NEXT TEST SESSIONS <<<<<
May 7, 9:30am - UTARC Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic, 1422 Old Weisgarber Rd, Knoxville, TN
Please Call Ahead to Register: 865-254-3067
June 13th, 7pm - Parish House, St. Andrew's Church, 314 W. Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN
Contact Carrol, W4PCA to RSVP/Register: w4pca1938@gmail.com
ALL TEST APPLICANTS PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE
Applicants must use an FCC Registration Number (FRN) for all license transactions with the FCC. Examinees must register in CORES and receive an FRN before exam day. As of May 20th, ALL electronic batch filed applications that do not include a candidate's FRN will be rejected. The Social Security/Licensee ID Field will be disabled. The FCC will use the FRN rather than a Social Security number with all interactions after May 20th.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING AN FRN. Register in CORES (COmission REgistrati
SMARC TECHNICIAN CLASS
Watch here for the next one.
UPDATED SCHEDULE:
The Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Club Meeting: We are now again having our monthly meetings in-person at the United Steelworkers Union Hall, 339 S. Hall Road, Alcoa, TN. We meet the fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 P.M. Members and non-members are welcome to attend.
As a special note, meeting will also be on Zoom, please carve out the date/time. To join the Zoom video conference, click here. The passcode is w4olb. If you are not a member of our groups.io, please click here to join. There will be an email sent out to club members before each meeting including the credentials necessary to join the meeting. Thank you for your patience and we hope that you and your family are well.
SMARC also has a Club leadership meeting the Thursday before (4th Monday of every month) at 8:00 P.M. via ZOOM video conferencing. Announcement of the meeting and any changes to the schedule will occur via email. All are welcome to attend this meeting.
Please Note: There are no meetings in June due to Field Day and in December, as this meeting is replaced by our Christmas Party. If you have any questions or need directions, please click here.
EVERY THURSDAY: Want to get involved in a face to face technical discussion? A number of members meet at TC's Grill on 2514 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville starting about 11:30am every Thursday. Just come in and look for the big group of folks in the back of the restaurant. All are welcome to stop by.
EVERY FRIDAY: We also welcome you to join a number of our members, spouses and guests for breakfast at TC's Grill on 2514 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville every Friday morning at 9am. Just come in and look for the big group of folks in the back of the restaurant. All forms of radio any other topics are likely discussed. See: S.M.A.R.C. (w4olb.org)
FOX HUNTS and PICNIC: This event will be planned as weather permits where the club sponsors a picnic and then has a fox hunt. Announcement of the event, location, time and date will be sent out via email to all registered on SMARC groups i/o. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}
TAILGATE and POT LUCK: This event is usually held in the spring where members are invited to bring any ham related equipment to sell and then afterward for a pot luck with meat dish provided. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}
CHRISTMAS PARTY: This event is held of course in December, in place of the normal club meeting where the meat dish is provided and attendees are required to bring a salad or desert to share. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}
WANT TO KNOW MORE: Just go to the SMARC Team APP for most up to date information.
