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Atlanta Radio Club

2/28/2021 (reconfirmed 4/19) Our 2m repeater is running in stand-alone mode for the time being. This means that:
  • ​Our EchoLink node (W4DOC-R/691899) is offline
  • ​Our 220 MHz repeater will not be linked during the Sunday Night Net
  • We will not be linking to the Southeast Linked Repeater Net on Wednesday nights

Upcoming Events

COVID-19 is still plaguing the world so we'll be meeting via Zoom again.
https://zoom.us/j/4263755765?pwd=Vzdva1NaODZxUDByQmplcjN4WG5zUT09
Meeting ID: 426 375 5765
Passcode: 791957

May 6th Meeting
Our May program will be announced shortly.

🗓 April Calendar
Event: Monthly Atlanta Radio Club Meeting
Date: Thursday, April 1, 2021 (April Fools' Day)
Time: 7 p.m. ET (2300Z)
Location: Zoom. To join the meeting, click here.


Event: ARC Georgia QSO Party (GQP) event in the park
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2021
Time: 12:00 noon ET (1600Z)  to 8 p.m. ET (0000Z)
Location: 
Brook Run Park in Dunwoody, near the Treetop Quest attraction. (33.9355022,-84.3032829)  MAP
Talk-in:
  • ARC FM Repeater 146.82 MHz  PL 146.2
  • EchoLink: (offline)
  • DMR: Talkgroup 31131 (Atlanta)
Contact Phone: 
  • John Talipsky, N3ACK   (470) 272-8940

​The ARC will hold an outdoor event the first day of the GQP. We'll set up radios and we'll get everyone who wants to be on the air on the air, regardless of license class.  Even non-hams will be able to get on the air.

​Covid-19 protocols will be followed. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Dinner, too, if we still have a crowd.


​Also, don't forget our groups.io calendar here

Future Meetings and Events
2021
May:
June:
July:
August:

This column is archived on the Previoius Programs page
At Our Last Meeting. . .

We had two excellent speakers at our April meeting. First,  Jeff Clarke, KU8E, told us all about the 61st Annual Georgia QSO Party (GQP), which will be held in two weeks (April 10-11, 2021) It's an annual competition where amateurs outside of Georgia attempt to make as many contacts with amateurs in Georgia as they can. This will make Georgia amateurs pretty popular that weekend so we will we able to make lots of contacts.  Jeff mentioned that the QGP website URL had changed since last year. The new GQP URL is http://gaqsoparty.com.
Jeff went over the rules for Georgia Stations and non-Georgia Stations. All stations get one point for each SSB contact and two points for each CW contact. Georgia stations multiply their number of contacts by the number of unique US States (0-51 (DC counts, too)) + Canadian Provinces (0-13). Non-Georgia stations multiply their number of contacts by the number of unique Georgia counties (0-159) that they talk to. People in Georgia can get in their cars and operate from as many counties as they can. Awards are given to individuals and clubs who get the most points in 37 categories. The ARC sponsors the award for the Georgia Club with the highest score.
More details can be found on the GQP website and in the video of the meeting, which will be posted to YouTube shortly.
If you missed any of this presentation or you would like to hear it again, tune in to the Southeast Contest Club's zoom meeting on Monday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The ARC will hold an outdoor event so we can participate in the GQP. The event details are in the April Calendar above.

​Our main speaker, Lee Johnson, N4WYE, gave an excellent presentation on the NanoVNA analyzer.
He explained the functions of the NanoVNA. In addition to measuring SWR and reflected power, it can locate breaks in cables, generate Smith Charts, measure the transmit pattern for an antenna, find its nulls, measure the velocity factor (VF) of a feedline and antenna, test filters and much more. For $50, it will give the amateur the equivalent of a $50,000 professional analyzer. Lee showed diagrams of the internal structure of the NanaVNA and he showed videos of the operation of the NanoVNA in several scenarios. 
The ARC will be using a NanoVNA at the GQP event in 2 weeks to measure the performance of antennas we'll string up in the trees at the park.
Lee said that he's available via email if anyone needs NanoVNA help in the future. [email protected]​. Thanks, Lee. He also provided a slide of resources for further NanoVNA education.
And he recommended the "Absolute Beginner's Guide to the NanoVNA". It can be found here.
​
The video of the meeting is available on YouTube here.
You'll also be able to find it and our past videos by searching for "The Atlanta Radio Club" on YouTube.

Slides are available:
Georgia QSO Party:  (will be posted shortly)
NanoVNA: PDF • PowerPoint • Keynote
Due to restrictions placed on public gatherings, our meetings are still online.

Video Timeline
0:00 Meeting Intro
1:18 Jeff Clarke (KU8E) – Annual Georgia QSO Details
27:42 Club Repeater Updates
30:51 Lee Johnson (N4WYE) – Why You Need a NanoVNA
32:03 Thanks for the Invitation
34:36 My HF Antennas
36:04 Looking for an Antenna Analyzer
37:10 VNA is…
38:44 Vector Network Analyzers
39:52 Vector Network Analyzer Block Diagram
41:53 NanoVNA Measurements
43:26 Geek-Toy of the Year
44:22 My NanoVNA
44:44 NanoVNA Backgrounder
47:09 NanoVNA
47:50 NanoVNA Schematic
48:01 NanoVNA H4 Specifications
50:02 NanoVNA User Interface
53:05 NanoVNA Menu Structure Map
53:59 NanoVNA Measure Configuration
56:15 NanoVNA Calibration
57:37 NanoVNA Live Demonstration
1:05:55 SWR – OCF Dipole Antenna
1:06:30 SWR – 40 Meter Dipole Antenna
1:07:39 SWR Comparison
1:09:18 EFHW @ 7 MHz – SWR, Return Loss & Smith Chart
1:11:34 Filter & Amplifier Characteristics: 88-108 MHz Bandstop Filter
1:12:51 Antenna Radiation Pattern
1:13:27 Time Domain Reflectometer – Distance & Impedance
1:14:31 NanoVNA Saver
1:15:34 Sources & Links
1:16:33 Group.IO
1:17:48 Presentation Summary
1:19:01 Test Question – Name of this Antenna Type?
1:20:03 NanoVNA Q&A
1:43:00 Closing Club Business
Timestamps courtesy of ARC Member Eric Pourciau, W4EWP

​2020/2021 Leadership Team

​President - John Talipsky Jr (N3ACK)
Vice President - Michael Miller (KI4RDP)
​Secretary and Treasurer - Ade Shamblin (KJ4CUY)
Member at Large - Val Bruce (WD4EX)
Member at Large - Rob Osattin (KI4UTY)

Newsletter Editor - Tom Crowley (KT4XN)
Program Director - Rob Osattin (KI4UTY)
Repeater Trustees
  • W4DOC (FM/D-STAR/DMR) - Stephen Slider (KG4PTO)
  • WX4GPB (D-STAR Stone Mountain) - Robin Cutshaw AA4RC)

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Georgia QSO PArty 2021 Photos

Click here to see photos from the ARC Georgia QSO Party 2021 event!

Membership

First year FREE for new hams! (Details on Membership page)
Click here for details on how to join or renew your membership

Free License Exam

Because of COVID-19, we must cancel our VE License Exam Sessions.  We will assess the situation each month and resume our free license testing as soon as possible.
For more information:  Meetings & Events

An FCC Registration Number (FRN) is REQUIRED
​Detailed Rules: https://www.atlantave.team/rules.html
FCC CORES Registration

Nets

Every Sunday night - 8:00 PM ET
More details

Club History

The Atlanta Radio Club (ARC) was founded in March 1911. It is believed to be the longest continually operating club in Georgia (Georgia Tech was founded earlier). With over 100 members, ARC activities include meetings, operating events, training sessions, membership outings, and community service activities in Metro-Atlanta.

​The ARC helps operate the Atlanta Hamfestival and owns, operates or supports 11 repeaters around the metro area.  In an average month, the club will hold a regular membership meeting, a tech/training session or operating outing, publish the Atlanta Ham newsletter, have 8 lunch outings and host over 20 nets via club repeaters.

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Sister Club - Geelong Amateur Radio Club - VK3ATL

Did you know the Atlanta Radio Club has a sister club?

In 2010, Dallas Jones (VK3DJ) from Drysdale, Victoria in Australia visited the United States to meet some friends he met on the air. "During his travels, he visited the Atlanta Radio Club and from all accounts had a great time with the guys."
Sponsors

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6071 Buford Hwy Atlanta, GA 30340

Atlanta Radio Club

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  • W4DOC
  • Atlanta ARES
  • Atlanta Hamfest
  • Blog
  • Club Newsletter
  • Meetings & Events
    • Past Events and Outings
    • Previous Programs 2020-2025
    • Previous Programs 2010-2019
    • Previous Programs 2008-2009
  • Membership
  • Nets
    • Other Nets
  • Repeaters
  • Resources
    • Social Networking >
      • Groups.io - ARC
      • Facebook - Atlanta Radio Club
    • DMR Central >
      • Atlanta Area DMR Repeaters
      • RadioID.net
      • DMR Repeater Networks >
        • K4USD Network
        • Brandmeister Network
        • DMR-MARC Network
        • NC PRN Network
    • D-Star Central >
      • D-Star Info
      • D-Star NEW Registrations
      • W4DOC D-Star Dashboard
      • W4DOC D-Star Login
    • ARC Public Google Drive
  • Worked All Georgia Award
  • 2025 Leadership Team
  • ARRL Field Day
  • Special Event Stations
  • W4DOC
  • New Page
  • W4DOC