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 100+ 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 just want to reach out to us: click the ABOUT/CONTACTS web page and contact the President Bob KK4XA or Secretary Bob K9JU. Note: A SMARC Club Member Application is available for printing in the FILES/DOCUMENTS web page.
November 28th Meeting Highlights
☆ Action - October Meetings Minutes Approved
☆ Action - Treasurer's November Summary Offered and Approved
> Payments Authorized via Summary Report: Insurance, IRS 501C3 Submittal and Christmas Party Room Rental
☆ Action - Articles of Incorporation and New By-laws Approved
☆ Action - 2023 Dues Set at $30 per the By-laws
☆ Reports:
> 75th Anniversary & Christmas Holiday Party. Dec. 9th at 6pm, Regal Towers Banquet Room ($5 donation for meat/utensils plus dish to pass)
- Let Charles kn ow if you planning to attend.
> Repeater, Net, Health/Welfare, etc.
SMARC' s Fusion Repeater supports both FM and Fusion.
443.075 MHz / 448.075 Tone Encode/Decode: 100.0 Hz
VHF and UHF club repeaters are linked during the nets. Please let netcontrol know which repeater you are using.
Thanks Kurt, KC5NX, for his continued efforts!
James Speck, K8CEQ. James donated a bunch of equipment and asked donations be made to SMARC. Thus far the club has received just over $830. Thanks very much James!
Another thanks goes out to David Andrews, N1ESK, for his efforts to shepherd the club change to a 501C3. The next step was taken at the October meeting with a vote planned for the November meeting.
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, an application for membership or to contact SMARC leadership, click the Email us 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 will be scheduled soon.
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.
December 9th at 6pm - Potluck - $5 Donation for Meat, Dishes & Utensils. Bring Salad or Side Dish. Text Charles how many will be attending: (865) 898-8624. Location: 453 Greenbelt Dr, Maryville, TN 37804
Note: This is very near the Olympia Health Club
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 in December, in place of the normal club meeting. In the past the meat dish was provided and attendees are requested 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.
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), the linked UHF club repeater, 443.075 MHz and the KK4XA DMR repeater. 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 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 <<<<<
December 12th, 9:30am - UTARC Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic, 1422 Old Weisgarber Rd, Knoxville, TN
Please Call Ahead to Register: 865-254-3067
December 12th, 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:
On Line General Class:
A free, weekly, live, Amateur Radio General Class Licensing course on Zoom will begin on Thursday, Oct 27 and will run through Thursday, January 5. There will be 9 sessions, with two breaks for holidays. The three-hour sessions will start at 6:30 PM Eastern Time. Sessions will be recorded. These are the classes that we have been holding for years sponsored by the National Electronics Museum. Please publicize this with anyone that you think would be interested. Those wishing to sign up should email roland.anders@comcast.net.
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.
