*New Hams - A guide to getting started in amateur radio* Getting started with your 2-meter handheld. You have your new handheld radio. Now it's time to get your radio programmed and get on the air. Randy Hall, K7AGE, has a few short videos to help you get started. *How to get started on Ham Radio 2 Meter FM, Part 1 - Repeater basics ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmOfkdhJL1U ) * *How to get started on Ham Radio 2 Meter FM, Part 2 - Operating your handheld ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrRLBPhwaus ) How to get started on Ham Radio 2 Meter FM, Part 3 - Programming your handheld ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1PtDM3lI3Q ) * -- Doug KM4LKC Having fun promoting amateur radio technology

I participate in the Lee county winklink training session run by Steve, W9GPI. Steve does a great job encouraging us to learn the many facets of the winlink program. Are you wondering just what is winlink? Winlink is...a worldwide radio email service that uses radio pathways where the internet is not present and is capable of operating completely without the internet--automatically--using smart-network radio relays. Winlink provides its user's email with attachments, position reporting, weather, and information bulletins, and is well-known for its role in interoperable emergency and disaster relief communications. To begin with, there is no need to get the radio involved. We'll save that for another time. First, let's get the program up and running and get comfortable with sending and receiving messages using the internet function of the program. Take these three simple steps to get started. 1) Watch the following short video -- *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO730gfzYko* 2) Download the winlink express software -- *https://downloads.winlink.org/User%20Programs/Winlink_Express_install_1-5-25-0.zip ( https://downloads.winlink.org/User%20Programs/Winlink_Express_install_1-5-34-0.zip )* 3) Setup your winlink account. - Using Winlink Express, follow the account creation instructions presented by the program. Winlink Express makes the process easy. For more information (and there is a lot of it), see *https://winlink.org/ Doug KM4LKC*

Please find the link to the CARS Membership Application to join or to renew your membership. Thank you for your support! *Link to the Membership Application is here ( http://carsfl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/The-CARS-dues-for-calendar-year-2021-.pdf )*. -- Doug KM4LKC

UPCOMING CLUB EVENTS: Join us at Perkins Restaurant in Port Charlotte for lunch every Friday at 11:00 am. Directions to Perkins located here ( https://goo.gl/maps/UjTRAZpmUnyDHquM7 ) Also, join us weekly beginning August 18th at 5:00 pm for our CW Skills Building Course. Directions to CW Course located here ( https://www.google.com/maps/place/American+Legion+Post+110/@26.9839912,-82.0958446,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x82acd18025b77f7b!8m2!3d26.983991!4d-82.0958431 ) * CARS 6-Meter Net - Thursday, January 20th at 7:00 pm on 50.200 USB * *Winter Field Day on Saturday, January 29th, and Sunday, January 30th ( https://cars-fl.groups.io/g/main/message/1781 )* * CARS 6-Meter Net - Thursday, February 3rd at 7:00 pm on 50.200 USB * Club Meeting on Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 pm * *HamCation 2022 - Orlando on February 11th - 13th ( https://www.hamcation.com/ )* * CARS 6-Meter Net - Thursday, February 17th at 7:00 pm on 50.200 USB * *Radio Daze in the Park - QRP Challange on Saturday, February 19th ( https://cars-fl.groups.io/g/main/message/1816 )* -- Doug KM4LKC Having fun promoting amateur radio technology

Please find the listing of our local area nets. There are more than 100 ways to get on the radio. There is a pdf file as well as a sortable spreadsheet. The spreadsheet can be sorted by date and time, band, mode, and more. Thank you to everyone who helped put this listing together. Enjoy! The Net Listings were updated to reflect a couple of recent changes as of 04/28/2020. -- Doug KM4LKC Having fun promoting amateur radio technology

We have learned a lot about operating JS8 on the CARS 6-meter nets, which are held on the first and third Thursdays each month. We can send text messages to a cell phone. We can post our location on the aprs map. Some can even send emails using the "collective hive". During the last net, we practiced using the very powerful "RELAY" feature. It might be a good idea to confirm the JS8 Software setup that many are using. Note, these posts should not be about radio settings, computer settings, or sound cards issues. Rather they should focus on the JS8 software. I will post a screenshot on the next post to kick off the review. -- Doug KM4LKC Having fun promoting amateur radio technology

A QRP CHALLENGE Join us for another exciting operating event. We will meet at the Burnt Store Lakes Community park on Saturday, February 19th at 8:00 am. Bring your portable rig, antenna system, and portable power. Radio power settings are limited to 5 watts. Setup begins at 8:00 am. Operations begin at 10:00 am. We will break for lunch at 12:00 noon. Bragging rights for the longest communication distance from the park location. Be sure to add your name to the operation list by posting here before February 11th! DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION: Saturday, February 19th From 8:00 am to approximately 2:00 pm Burnt Store Lakes Community Park Google Map to the parking for the event -- Doug KM4LKC Having fun promoting amateur radio technology

Join us for Winter Field Day on Saturday, January 29th, and Sunday, January 30th! The Charlotte Amateur Radio Society hosts one of our favorite field operating events. We will begin our setup at 9:00 am on Saturday, January 29th. The first contact begins at 2:00 pm and the event will continue for 24 hours. Takedown will begin at 2:00 pm on Sunday, the 30th. This is a great introduction to contesting. We encourage any amateur radio operator who wants to learn more about contesting or emergency communications to sign up for an operating slot. We will have experienced operators working with you to help you get started and learn the process. Winter Field Day is a fun event that promotes operating in different modes and on many different bands. You can learn more about the event here ( https://www.winterfieldday.com/ ). We will be located at the Deep Creek Park just across the Desoto County line. The park is next to the Navigator Grill off of Kings Highway. Address and Google Map to the Park Deep Creek Park 9751 SW Peace River St Arcadia, FL 34269 ( https://goo.gl/maps/GBAe7KzFSQgbbifS8 ) -- Doug KM4LKC Having fun promoting amateur radio technology