Welcome to the Highland LAKES Amateur Radio Club
Our goal is to help our members and the public learn more about the hobby through the educational and scientific aspects of Amateur Radio.
Next Monthly Meeting: September 29th
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Please donate to our non-profit club. Your donation is important and appreciated.
You can also pay your annual membership as well as buying our raffle tickets using the Donate button.
Annual Membership – $24/yr, Family Membership – $26/yr.
Announcement: Monthly Club Meeting 9/29/23 at 1830hr, Regular Meeting Agenda. Location: Marble Falls EMS, 609 Industrial Blvd, Marble Falls.
Club News
At the monthly meeting in August we had discussions about the new Hobby Net and it’s so far success. We’ve had some fun topics and good particitpation.
It was suggested that a presentation be part of the program for the September meeting to have a lesson/tutorial on how to use our club Discord Server.
The program in August was presented via Zoom from the owner of RTSystems Radio Programming Software.
It was also announced that the raffle for September will headline a Single License and Cable from RTS, a $75 value.
Upcoming Events
Radio Event
Parks On the Air in October. At Enchanted Rock SP. Date TBA
Weekly Breakfast Meeting
Monday Morning Rag Chew Breakfast club. 0730hr …Details
Weekly Coffee Club in JC
Wednesday Morning Coffee Club at the Johnson City Coffee Shop. 0730hr…Details
Thursday Net
Elmer Net 1930hr …Details
Sunday Net
Weekly Wrap-up Net 1930hr …Details
Hobby Net
Hobby Net 1930hr …Details
About HLARC
We have been in existence as a club since 1981.
Our club exists to help bring folks together with a common interest, HAM radio. There are so many different facets of the hobby, making it fun and relevant for everyone. From kids to parents to grandparents, all ages can enjoy the hobby.
We have fun informative NETS (On the air interactive radio programs) weekly. Your welcome to listen to the nets or, with a minimum of your Technician license, actually interact over the air with fellow HAM’ers.
Marble Falls, TX 78654
HLARC is a 501(c)(3) Corporation
At a glance info
.Our Repeater can be found on VHF 2m frequency of 147.020 with a tone of 100.0hz. UHF 443.250 with a tone of 100.0hz.
As of 2023 our repeater is a new Yaesu model DX-2R transmitting at 50 watts.
The repeater, tower and antenna are located off of Park Rd. near Inks Lake State Park in Burnet County, at an elevation of about 1,500 feet.
The repeater has great reach. The coverage area includes all of Burnet County, north into Llano, south in Blanco, west into Gillespie and east into Hays and Travis counties.
Backup Repeater: We have a backup repeater in the event our primary repeater is unavailable. It can be located at 145.390. The tone 103.5Hz.
Winlink Repeater, also known as a Digipeater. Winlink is a program you install on your computer and by tethering your computer to your radio, you can send and receive digital emails over the air! Our member, Riley W5RLY, has a RMS/Winlink Station operating on 145.030 MHz as W5RLY-10, with “via” connect info of K5HLA-1.
You’ll need to first download the Winlink Software and install it on your Laptop or Workstation. To connect to an HF or VHF digipeater it’s best to use the Vara Software that incorporates into Winlink. Once these two pieces are on your laptop, you can config your com/port/USB to your radio and if your radio has a built in sound card, you’re good to do some quick configuration and you’re up and checking actual email using your radio as the connectivity portion. There are club Elmers more than happy to help you set this up, just email and ask us.
The Winlink website has more detailed information about what they do and what they provide. You’ll also need the VARA add in to be able to connect with VHF/UHF Digipeaters to retrieve and send emails. This can bit complicated but rest assured with a little bit of help from our members, we can help you get it setup on your radio and laptop.
Al Chitwood – KG5BF (President) AlChitwood@ymail.com
Chris Dietz – KI5UYD (Vice President) chris@KI5UYD.com
Hey, thank you so much for checking out our website. Whether you’re a “HAM old timer” or new to the hobby like myself, finding this club and the amazing members really increased my knowledge level of HAM radio. They’ve helped way beyond just reading a book about it. The members were instrumental to me studying and getting my licenses. Just being able to text, call, email and get on Discord to ask questions has been very rewarding.
Lee Kinard – K5AVY (Treasurer)
As Treasurer of the club, I want to welcome you into our midst. I’m looking forward to receiving your club application so that I have more information about you. Our club meetings are the last Friday of each month unless otherwise communicated at the EMS station on Industrial in Marble Falls at 6:00 pm for ARES and 6:30 pm for the club. See https://www.arrl.org/ for our national organization, Amateur Radio Relay League. Our club is all about communications with others. We hope you enjoy being a member of the club and we look forward to seeing you at club meetings.
Toni Hauer – W5RCX (Secretary)
Other important links
- Get to know virtually everything in detail about HAM radio, it’s history, what’s out there now, what to expect in the future,,, as well as GREAT resources for all your testing and license info. They have a bunch of cool gear to buy as well. ARRL (American Radio Relay League)…
- QRZ… IS a fantastic site for visiting if you wish to access the database of HAM call signs. Enter a call sign in the search window and it will tell you all about the HAM. If that HAM has input info about themselves as well as photos of their HAM equipment or shack it’s even more interesting!
Club Programs
Activities/Programs
Monday Morning Rag Chew, POTA (Parks on the Air), Field Day, Ham Fest, Fox Hunts, Monthly Meeting, etc
What are Options
There is more than just “talking” on a HAM radio. You can now email, morse code, chat, FT8, text, GPS, and more. Talking and communicating with folks all around the world using these technologies, WITHOUT the aid of the internet.
Nets
A “Net” is an on the air gathering of licensed and unlicensed HAM’ers who share a common interest in the topic at hand and of the Net’s theme.
Parks on the Air
POTA (Parks On The Air) – This originally was a creation of the ARRL in 2016 with the intent of having an Activator (person with their equipment brought to a park) making contacts with Hunters (Folks at home with their HF equipment) responding and establishing an official exchange of information over the air.
Hunters attempt to get as many contacts as they can from their officially designated park.
It can be great fun and of course you get out into a city, county, state or national park!
As with the other upcoming new and exciting events, stay tuned for our first date and time.
Fox Hunts
A Fox Hunt is a scheduled event where licensed or unlicensed HAM take special (not expensive) track equipment out into the world, so to speak, to lock on and find a signal beacon. It’s almost like a game of hide and seek. There can be small teams or just individuals. Prizes or awards can be won!
Plus,,, there can be an awesome meetup afterwards for talk, lunch, coffee, or dinner!
Certification Classes and Training
So, you’ve thought about getting a HAM license every since you were a kid with a CB or recently with a couple of FRS radios on a cruise ship or in Disney World. It really is quite easy and you can learn and get licensed in stages. Also they DON’T require morse code any longer.
The testing is multiple choice, study guides have all the questions AND all the answers, what could be easier. A great part of the fun is studying with a friend, a kid or grandkid, and in the end testing together.
We as a club have testing sessions but if your anxious about in person testing or your schedule doesn’t match up with ours, there are plenty of ZOOM testing sites. Test pricing varies but is about 15 bucks-ish.
Let us know if you wish to get your license and we can hook you up with classes we sponsor and/or an Elmer (Mentor) to volunteer their time to help you.
OK, now you have no excuse!
Watch for training sessions and testing on our calendar.