Category Archives: Club Announcements

March 7, 2026 New-Not-So-New Workshop

Leave a reply

The March 7, 2026 New-Not-So-New Workshop had about a dozen folks that showed to learn about power supplies.  Steve laid out a sweet presentation on taking “old” power supplies and refurbishing them into useful power supplies for such things as our radios.

From this picture you can see that he took two power supplies and connected them to a buck converter (after adding in Schottky diode in between each lead).

It powered up his radio nicely!  Thank you Steve 😉

You missed an informational and ‘just great group of people’ time if you didn’t make it.

 

March 5, 2026 WARC Club Meeting

Leave a reply

The meeting was called to order with 20 members present.  After the welcome and all the reports were given and voted on, we heard reports of recent Amateur Radio activities (i.e., the last New-Not-So-New Workshop where Doug gave us the low down on Half Wave Dipoles, the SEARS rocket launches held in Samson, AL and the Fox Hunt at Southeast Parkway.)

A break from the actual meeting was taken for a Hands-on Activity to introduce an activity that will be used for the Tailgate in April.  The Daleville Library (Rachel Horne, Head Librarian) had previously turned us on to the SNAP Circuits for kids to learn about electronics (and some skills needed for the Amateur Extra Exam).  We assembled 5 different projects in teams of 3 or 4 folks.  Resistors, switches, speakers, and LED’s were assembled in various configurations for the projects assigned.  All groups completed their projects in under 15 minutes with laughter and delight abounding.

We then settled down and returned to the meeting.  The WARC Activities Sheet is pleasantly being filled in with names for folks offering demonstrations and helping with activities.

Greg Lane has informed us of the RaDAR Rally upcoming on April 4th.  He sent a link to help understand what happens:  https://youtu.be/hDh9sdOAX4M?si=XERvNqGH-Rc8dhuR

We discussed the April 24th Tailgate in depth.  We approved the flyer.  The Duty Roster was passed around and names were added as helpers/anchors/volunteers.  WE STILL NEED MORE!

We talked of the Rookie Round-Up.  Charles Woodall is heading this up.  Jimmie Hassell has agreed to help get it going.  https://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup is a site to help you understand what this event is about.  The April 19th (Sunday) event is Single Side Band (SSB) and is open to all Amateur Radio Operators who have been licensed 3 years or less (that’s a Rookie).  Other helpers are needed as well and they need folks to contact,… so get with Charles and let’s make it happen.

June 6th is the Tri-States Bike Ride this year.  We voted to participate in this event again.  Charles is heading up this one too.  A sheet was passed around to sign up.  The New-Not-So-New Workshop that was scheduled for that date has been canceled to accommodate folks helping with this event.

A few in-house items were discussed and then we learned about power supplies and how they work from Steve Norris.  He demonstrated a Flyback Transformer with a memorable story to share.  This Saturday he will teach how to make our own power supplies.  (Starts at 9AM – don’t be late;-)

Afterwards, the meeting was adjourned and Doug sold raffle tickets which are now on sale!  The grand prize for the Spring Tailgate on April 24th, 2026 is the Yaesu FTM-150R.  You do not have to be present to win the grand prize.  You do have to be present to win door prizes given throughout the day.

I have attached the flyer for the tailgate in case you can’t find it anywhere else.

TriClub Spring Tailgate

Great meeting y’all!

BLC

February 21, 2026 Fox Hunt

Leave a reply

All those who participated had a fun filled morning.  Three clubs were represented well,13 in all.  Weather looked bleak early in the morning but cleared out for a wonderful
day.  Everyone present were talented enough to find both foxes (although a few were seen wandering aimlessly at times). Door prizes were handed out, followed by a
good round of tech talk. Talks were held about a hunt for next month; all were exited about it.  A third fox was donated by Carl of the Enterprise club.  Many, many thanks for that.  That will make the next hunt even more fun.  Thanks again Carl!

Al declared himself the winner as he found both foxes first, way to go Al.

                  

February 12, 2026 ARES Meeting

Leave a reply

Thursday, February 12th, 2026, the WARC ARES members met at the Red Cross building in Dothan.  After welcome and roll call, task books were signed off for completed works by our Emergency Coordinator, Alan Curtis.  Current ID badges were distributed.

Discussion of Upcoming Events:

February 21st Fox Hunt at Eastgate Park in Dothan.  Coordinator Jimmy Hassell has it under control.  Eastgate is located at 2049 Sanitary Dairy Road.

SkyWarn Basic Training.  Virtual Class signups going on now.  Dates:  Feb 19 & 25.  2 more in March.  Advanced Class is March 10th.

Jim Bell Wireless Association Club Visit March 7th.

Camping Trip at Blue Springs for POTA activation.  April 11th date selected.

Project for NNSN Workshop:  Clint’s Jungle Antenna

Discussed June 6th Tri-State Bike Ride.

Routine Message recaps.  Phone Tree exercise information.

After some lively discussion on antennas and POTA, we adjourned at 7:25pm.

BLC

February 5, 2026 WARC Club Meeting

Leave a reply
We had two visitors last night, both of whom are already licensed. Very nice gentlemen.
It was great to hear how many participated in some way for Winter Field Day!  Thank you all for making that happen 🙂
We discussed the April 25th Tri-Club Tailgate being held in Headland.  Daleville and Enterprise are working with us to make this a fantastic event.  We have classes planned, testing, an antenna park, and a raffle with a sweet grand prize.
We are cancelling our October 24th Tailgate in Headland and moving testing to the American Red Cross because we voted to combine with DARC and EARS again for a HAMFEST to be held at the Daleville Convention Center/Armory on September 12th, 2026.  Hopefully we will have a bigger event with more classes and more vendors if we can gear-up enough at the Spring Tailgate in Headland.
Charles Woodall has agreed to head up the Rookie Roundup this year at our clubhouse.  It will be April 19th.  More info to come on that.
Doug Bates gave a talk on Half Wave Dipoles and created a lively discussion.  Great job Doug and we are looking forward to Saturday’s (tomorrow’s) Workshop on them.

January 3, 2026 WARC Meeting

Leave a reply
The first meeting of WARC was this morning.  No new guests or visitors, just the home crowd.
Under topics, the Future Activities Events Sheets was passed around.  Some additions were added.  There is still more, especially for Demo/Informational Talks during the monthly meetings.  Jimmie Hassell is the head of the committee to hog tie y’all into doing these, but I thought I’d ask sweetly first 🙂  He also could use a few folks to help organize these or help come up with ideas.
January 24th-25th is Winter Field Day.  Ed Winkler and some others will be out at Blue Springs State Park.  Alan and I will make a plan to be there and support this event.  (Ed, please send times/itinerary so we can all be up to speed.)
April 19th will be the Rookie Roundup.  This is a chance to wrangle up all newbies (those licensed 3 years or less and maybe some wanna be’s).  Al DeWeese has offered to open the station.  Charles doesn’t know that we have him as coordinator – surprise Charles 😉
April 25th is the Spring Tailgate which will be a joint effort with Daleville and Enterprise Clubs.  We should have more details and flyers soon.  Any input or comments would be greatly appreciated.  Yes, we will be looking for vendors… could use help in asking them to come.
And,…. we would like a few volunteers to be on the Club Events Team.  This team just keeps an eye on all things Ham Radio and opportunities to make our club shine and then suggest these ideas to the club in a timely manner.  I confess, that I do not have enough time to keep up on all fronts and could really use the help here.  I would like our club to have a really fun, educational and successful year.
Thank you to all you participated today!
KM4RBE
Barbara
Jimmie Hassell did an informational talk on putting together a portable antenna which created quite a lively discussion.  Thank you Jimmie!

Fox Hunt Information and Exercise

Leave a reply

On Thursday, August 7th, 2025, during the W4DHN monthly meeting which starts at 6:30pm, Greg will give information and tips for what to do in Ham Radio Fox Hunting.  This is another skill available to Ham Radio Operators that involves finding a hidden radio transmitter.  It’s a lot like a scavenger hunt, orienteering, or geocaching involving radios.  It requires simple direction finding equipment.  It is relatively easy to learn with just a few basic skills needed.  Also, it is recognized as a competitive sport called ARDF.

Why is Fox Hunting an important skill?  It is used in Search and Rescue (crash sites, stranded people, wildlife beacons, and distress signals).  It is also used for locating interference (i.e., jammers, illegal transmissions, stuck transmitters, and other sources of noise).

On the following Saturday at the New-and-Not-So-New Ham Workshop, held at the Red Cross building, 1004 Montezuma Avenue, Dothan (same place at the monthly meetings), we will meet at 9am and progress to the next door parking lot and work on actual skills.  Bring your antenna finding rig and your thinking caps and have some fun as Jimmy and Greg will put us through the paces of becoming adept at finding the “Fox”.  This will be sure to be an informative and fun time.  Hope to see you there!

       

 

June 12, 2025 ARES Club Meeting

4 Replies

Thursday evening at 6:30pm, the W4DHN ARES group had it’s monthly meeting.  After the roll call and information dissemination and Task Book updates, we assembled in the radio room and Al DeWeese gave us a run down on how to turn on/turn off/ and how to use the antennas with the club radios.  A very informative time!  We decided to have a Saturday workday that we each do it a few times to make sure we have a firm grip on the process.  We also decided to get a copy of the manuals for the radios for familiarity with each one and to make sure that they are loaded on the computer in pdf form for ease of use should the need arise.  Al said he would check into that.

We then reassembled back in the meeting room and discussed the Radiogram Multiple Frequency Exercise and decided to table it until August.

The Rag Chew on 80 meters was discussed and was voted to move to Friday evenings at 8:30pm beginning in August.  A discussion of the Rag Chew on our ARES net each Tuesday night to see if folks liked it or not and was agreed upon to keep it on the Tuesday 2M FM nets.

Bruno discussed the QST articles regarding the FEMA disasters and the Ham operator that was such a blessing to many by getting information to loved ones and to get help to the areas that needed it.

We discussed about finding the highest areas around the Houston and Dale County areas for ease of line of sight Simplex communications.  Dan said that he would find some topo maps for next meeting.

The July ARES meeting is cancelled.   We will resume August 14th.

Another fantastic ARES meeting!

     

BLC

June 7th, 2025 Tri-States Bike Event

Leave a reply

On Saturday, June 7th, 2025, our W4DHN Wiregrass Amateur Radio group helped out with the annual Tri-States Bike Event.  Each year bicyclists pedal one of four courses (104.6 miles, 62 miles , 43 miles  & 25 Miles) to raise money for a particular charity.  This year benefitted the Girl’s Inc of Dothan.

We had operators scattered strategically throughout all legs of the courses to aid in communication and whatever else was asked of us.  The race began around 7am and finished somewhere about 4pm.  A few riders could not complete the course and our members radioed to get the riders assistance.  Our operators tracked participants as they passed our sites as well as kept the comfort stations and sag vehicles informed of any pertinent information.

It is great fun to help during the Tri-States and enables us to practice our skills at the same time.  Thanks to Joe Varner for asking us to help out and keeping us in the loop and to Charles Woodall for organizing our clubs particulars to make us shine.

Some pics from the event…thanks to those who shared them!