View from the WA4NC DMR Sugar Mt. Repeater site. In the distance is Rich Mt. and Howard’s Knob near Boone – Rich Mt. Is the home of the WA4J repeater and the other WA4NC DMR repeater.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n WELCOME! Looking for information about Amateur Radio?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you a newcomer to amateur radio and would like to learn more about this amazing hobby? Here are a few resources and suggestions that will help:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To become an amateur radio operator, you will need an FCC\u2013issued Technician Class License. This requires passing a FCC test, administered locally by many amateur radio clubs, including<\/strong> ours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend you take advantage of the large volume of learning opportunities online. Using online material allows you to study at your own pace. We strongly recommend http:\/\/hamstudy.org\/<\/a> Be sure to “sign in” there (it’s free). When you start taking the practice exams, the site will keep track of your progress and recommend areas where you need more study.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The same entity also offers a very nice Technician study guide, free to read online at https:\/\/hambook.org<\/a>.These two sites are all you’ll need to get your technician, or higher class, license.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our club meets monthly, on the first Monday of the month. We welcome you to attend<\/strong> one, or more, of our meetings and get to know us.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information, visit the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) website<\/strong> at arrl.org.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n A VERY BUSY MAY 16!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On Saturday, May 16, WARC once again participated in the Watauga County Emergency Fast held at Watauga High School in Boone. This was a great opportunity to show the general public what amateur radio is capable of doing an emergency situations. Thanks to all club members who participated<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, other club members were assisting the ASHE County amateur radio club in providing communications for the New River 100 Marathon. Thanks to these members as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remarkably, WARC was able to cover both events, even in the absence of some club members who were attending the Dayton Hamvention.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you missed the February 16 presentation by Terry Ketron covering the history of the WA4J repeater, hey link will be hopefully published soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WA4J NC QSO Part<\/strong>y results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On Sunday, March one, 2026, WARC operated in the North Carolina QSO party. This annual event, held each March, is a fun, but intense, contest in which stations in North Carolina attempt to contact as many US states and North Carolina counties as possible and to make as many additional contacts worldwide. This year we operated from K2SD’s station in Fleetwood. The following club members participated: K2SD, K2ODV, K4ANC, K1HE, NI4E, WB0RXQ, and KQ4ZH<\/strong>Y.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The results are in \u2013 WARC Took second place in the High-Power Multi-Op category. The NC QSO Party website has extensive comments on the results. The following is a small excerpt, describing our effor<\/strong>t<\/p>\n\n\n\n “First, using High Power, its no jolt that Bruce and Laurie Meier using their club call NC4KW, the North Carolina Kilowatts, came in with the leading score resulting from nearly 1000 Q’s and 115 different county\/state\/provinces\/dx multipliers. WA4J, Watauga Amateur Radio Club, took second place running their amplifier from Ashe county. These ops did a great job compiling 847 QSOs and 103 multipliers.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It should be noted that although we were in the high power category, only one of our two stations actually ran 1KW. The other station was running 100 W. jNext year, we hope to have both stations at the KW level and we shall see how that works!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coming Events<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wataugahamradio.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GENCY-FEST-2026-1024x576.jpg\")
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