WCARES Monthly Meeting

Note there will also be a Planning Committee meeting.

The WCARES Monthly Meeting takes place the 3rd Saturday of every month with the possible exceptions of May (Hamvention) or August (Huntsville Hamfest) in which case it is held on the 2nd Saturday to allow members to attend those events.

We meet at the Williamson County Public Safety Building, located at:

304 Beasley Drive in Franklin, TN.

Meeting starts at 8AM in the EOC.  Members periodically give presentations covering a wide range topics including emergency communications,  propagation and antennas, operating techniques and best-practices, kit building, hardware and software, Winlink, weather, ARRL, new modes and more.  Upcoming events are also discussed.

Meet other WCARES members and learn more about WCARES and Amateur Radio.


WCARES Monthly Meeting

Featured Presentation:

    Radios on the Titanic, Chris Brown K4MGY (Titanic sank on April 12, 1912) (45 min)

ARES Presentation:

    Silent Auction of WCARES donated equipment

The WCARES Monthly Meeting takes place the 3rd Saturday of every month with the possible exceptions of May (Hamvention) or August (Huntsville Hamfest) in which case it is held on the 2nd Saturday to allow members to attend those events.

We meet at the Williamson County Public Safety Building, located at:

304 Beasley Drive in Franklin, TN.

Meeting starts at 8AM in the EOC.  Members periodically give presentations covering a wide range topics including emergency communications,  propagation and antennas, operating techniques and best-practices, kit building, hardware and software, Winlink, weather, ARRL, new modes and more.  Upcoming events are also discussed.

Meet other WCARES members and learn more about WCARES and Amateur Radio.


WCARES Monthly Meeting – Feb. change

Due to SWAD 2026, the WCARES Monthly Meeting for February is a week earlier on the 14th.

Featured Presentation:

    Ted W3TB, Porthcurno – the 1870 epicenter for global communications

ARES Presentations:

    1. WFD Results summary, Trey KI4ZIN
    2. ARRL Membership benefits – Jeff WB5WAJ

The WCARES Monthly Meeting takes place the 3rd Saturday of every month with the possible exceptions of May (Hamvention) or August (Huntsville Hamfest) in which case it is held on the 2nd Saturday to allow members to attend those events.

We meet at the Williamson County Public Safety Building, located at:

304 Beasley Drive in Franklin, TN.

DISCONTINUING REGULAR USE OF ZOOM

Beginning with our November 2024 monthly meeting, we have discontinued use of ZOOM during our meetings. We are not going to be routinely broadcasting our meeting. Future meetings will be an in-person meeting.

Meeting starts at 8AM in the EOC.  Members periodically give presentations covering a wide range topics including emergency communications,  propagation and antennas, operating techniques and best-practices, kit building, hardware and software, Winlink, weather, ARRL, new modes and more.  Upcoming events are also discussed.

Meet other WCARES members and learn more about WCARES and Amateur Radio.


WCARES Monthly Meeting

The WCARES Monthly Meeting takes place the 3rd Saturday of every month with the possible exceptions of May (Hamvention) or August (Huntsville Hamfest) in which case it is held on the 2nd Saturday to allow members to attend those events.

We meet at the Williamson County Public Safety Building, located at:

304 Beasley Drive in Franklin, TN.

DISCONTINUING REGULAR USE OF ZOOM

Beginning with our November 2024 monthly meeting, we have discontinued use of ZOOM during our meetings. We are not going to be routinely broadcasting our meeting. Future meetings will be an in-person meeting.

Meeting starts at 8AM in the EOC.  Members periodically give presentations covering a wide range topics including emergency communications,  propagation and antennas, operating techniques and best-practices, kit building, hardware and software, Winlink, weather, ARRL, new modes and more.  Upcoming events are also discussed.

Meet other WCARES members and learn more about WCARES and Amateur Radio.


WCARES Field Day 2025 – photos

Photographs from WCARES Field Day 2025 taken by Joe Marler, KQ1Q and Dave Rogers, W4DER – thanks guys!

 
This year included CW and SSB stations as well as GOTA and we were grateful for the use of the climate controlled Williamson County EMA Communications Trailer!

(Click on the photos to see a larger version then click outside the photo to return to the gallery.)


WCARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET Exercise) 2025

Fall is just around the corner, and that means the WCARES 2025 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is coming up!
Please mark your calendars for the morning of Saturday, October 11th and plan to take part in this important exercise.

This is a great opportunity to test your equipment, sharpen your skills, and gain valuable experience. This year, we’ll be working alongside the Williamson County EMA and their world-class team and resources.

A signup link is included below. The more participants we have, the more effective—and fun—the exercise will be! Additional details will be shared as we get closer to the date. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have

Signup Link

https://forms.gle/Kob9N4UBUqATJabL6


WCARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET Exercise)

Fall is just around the corner, and that means the WCARES 2025 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is coming up!
Please mark your calendars for the morning of Saturday, October 11th and plan to take part in this important exercise.

This is a great opportunity to test your equipment, sharpen your skills, and gain valuable experience. This year, we’ll be working alongside the Williamson County EMA and their world-class team and resources.

A signup link is included below. The more participants we have, the more effective—and fun—the exercise will be! Additional details will be shared as we get closer to the date. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have

Signup Link

https://forms.gle/Kob9N4UBUqATJabL6


WCARES Emergency Ops Plan Update 2025

From our EC, Hoop, K9QJS

WCARES is pleased to announce that a new version of the WCARES Emergency Operations Plan has been posted to the website. Special thanks to Jeff KC1DWP, former WCARES EC, who led a multi-month effort to update the document, which was last dated 2018. Thanks, too, to Laura N4CLO who reportedly ran the revised draft through an AI engine to further improve the wording and clarity. Many others were involved in the update, and thanks to them as well.


You can find the link to the updated WCARES Emergency Operations Plan in the right-hand sidebar of the website, in the Library & Special Interests section under Books, References, Guides and in the Members Area navigation menu when you are logged in to the site.


May 2025 Presentation – Making Voice Contacts in Ham Radio

It can be intimidating to make your first voice contacts when you’re a new ham.

Paul Havlik (WD9IOK) gave this excellent presentation to help motivate new hams to overcome their anxiety and get started.

See also: a video made by another WCARES member Cliff Batson (N4CCB):

For Nervous New Hams


May 2025 Presentation – What Is Emergency Management?

Joshua Walter, Operations Manager for the Williamson County EMA, provides an excellent overview of Emergency Management and how it works to coordinate responses among all local partners.

Recorded May 10th, 2025, at the WCARES Monthly Meeting.