In this video, Tim Kreth (AD4CJ) talks about calculating the power requirements for ham radio stations in the field. He discusses the different types of solar panels and charge controllers. He shows voltage curves for lead-acid vs. lithium phosphate batteries.
This is an excellent video for any ham who wants to power their station with a battery charged by solar panels.
Recorded at the WCARES monthly meeting in May, 2026.
David Rogers (W4DER) gives a brief history of 3D printing and then shows the myriad ways it can be used for ham radio and beyond. Recorded at the WCARES monthly meeting in April of 2026.
Chris Brown (K4MGY) has long been interested in understanding the radios used on board the R.M.S. Titanic, which sank off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, on April 12, 1912. You’ve heard the story, you likely saw the movie, and you might even have seen the musical (yes there is a musical about the RMS Titanic and it’s quite good). But you have likely not heard the backstory of the radios on board that famous ship. This video captures Chris’s presentation on the Radios Onboard the R.M.S. Titanic in use on the tragic day of its sinking.
Recorded at the WCARES Monthly Meeting in March 2026.
Dates: Saturday June 27 and Sunday June 28.
Location: 3000 BrightStone Pkwy, Franklin, TN 37064.
SIGN UP TO WORK A STATION:
(Contact the station captain below if you want to work a station – you will find their contact information in the May 26 WCARES Notes e-mail. You can also Contact us if you are not on the WCARES Notes e-mail list and would like to be added.)
KIT BUILD EXCERCISE During Field Day.
June 27th from 1-3pm
Due to popular demand and success of our last kit building exercise, we’ve decided to do it again! This time we will be holding the session as part of Field Day on June 27th from 1-3pm and beyond, if interested parties are still hanging around. You supply the kit, your tools, and a lawn chair to sit on, and we’ll supply the table, shade, electricity, and support and encouragement. We’ll have some extra tools just in case. You can find a list of kits here: Kit Sources
But don’t limit yourself to my list. There are plenty available through other sources.
You can bring any kit or project you wish, as long as it involves electrons and soldering. Order soon though, as we are only 5 weeks out and some of these come from Turkey.
Contact: Randy Paulson – his contact information is in the May 26 WCARES Notes e-mail.
Ted Edwards (W3TB) visited the Porthcurno Telegraph Station & Museum and gave this presentation during the February 2026 WCARES monthly meeting.
Due to the EOC activation and ongoing issues from the recent ice storm, our meeting was held virtually via Zoom.
You can find more information about the PK Porthcurno Museum at this link: https://pkporthcurno.com/ .
This video was shown at the WCARES January monthly meeting. It was put together as a teaching tool for those working SSB using an Icom IC-7600 at WCARES Field Days.
Would you like to easily learn about our WCARES DISCORD Channel? The Discord server has been nicely enhanced and organized for greater application to the WCARES group and beyond. At the January 18th WCARES Meeting, Ryan KN4VKW and Blake KN4VKY Pearson give us an update on DISCORD and all it can do for you.
Due to on-going storm recovery, the Public Safety Center EOC is still in partial activation (3). As such, the room will NOT be available for the WCARES Monthly meeting on Saturday Feb 14 so the meeting will be conducted over ZOOM. Details will be sent out this week in Discord and e-mail.
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Details, schedule, parking and registration information for SWAD 2026 can be found here:
https://www.weather.gov/ohx/swad
From NWS Nashville:
Severe Weather Awareness Day (SWAD) is a FREE event open to weather enthusiats of all ages!
Hosted by NWS Nashville and Trevecca University, this event encourages weather safety and preparedness as we head into the peak severe weather season.
Meet your favorite Nashville TV meteorologists!
Special guest speakers and presentations are scheduled during the afternoon!
While all ages are welcome to attend, younger children may enjoy the morning activities over the afternoon presentation. So come early!
Location:
Trevecca Nazarene University
Boone Business Center
333 Murfreesboro Road
Nashville, TN 37210
If you operate on HF frequencies, you very likely have encountered Radio Frequency Interference from some electrical device in your house or outside your house. It can be broadband noise, raising the noise floor, making the copying of any signal very difficult. Or it can be specific frequency noise you can avoid by tuning away ten or twenty Hertz from the frequency-specific noise. WCARES member Paul Havlik (WD9IOK) has dealt with a particularly challenging and protracted RFI incident, and he takes us through all the twists and turns associated with its identification and mitigation.
Recorded at the WCARES monthly meeting in December of 2025.