Getting to know the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club
- The Franklin County Amateur Radio Club of North Carolina was started back in the 1980s by a handful of licensed hams in the local area. The club’s original callsign was KF4HFQ. The first club repeater was in a home of a member, Duane, KD4DMQ, in Louisburg with an antenna on a mast pole. Sometime later, another member of the club, Roger, KD4MYE, was very instrumental in gaining the club more on the air coverage when he provided the first tower-based repeater at 200 feet on 145.110 MHz. Both hams are still members and continue to support the club and the hobby.
- Fast forward to 2018: Another of our long-time club members, Jim, W8EMD, is originally from Michigan and comes from a family of hams. Upon his father’s passing, his father’s callsign, AA4RV, became available. Thus he spearheaded an effort to make it the club’s new callsign as a memoriam. It was an honor to be offered this call sign and the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club bears it proudly.
- Club meetings occur on the 1st Monday at 7 PM of each month unless it falls on or around a holiday. We are currently meeting at The Forks Cafeteria, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
- Club fiscal year is July to June each year. Club dues are Pro Rated for each month ($2.50) beginning in August.
- Social Media sites, https://www.facebook.com/fcncarc/, fcarc@groups.i.o, Instagram @fcarcnc.
- Three repeaters, 147.315 +0.6, tone 88.5 and 444.950 +5.0, tone 88.5 located outside of Rolesville on Rolesville Road and 146.805 -0.6, tone 118.8 located outside of Louisburg on Highway 56.
- Echolink is available to all paid members. Contact is Daryl Cash, K4DCP.
- 2021-2022 Officers are:
- John Deacon (KB4OI) – President
- Ted Szypulski (K2GAV) – Vice President
- Daryl Cash (K4DCP – Treasurer
- Ben Davis (KN4RFT) – Secretary.
- The club offers testing every other month in Youngsville. Candidates must register in advance after the test session is set up and the library (test location) must be available.
- Club Committees
- Repeater
- Scouts
- VE (Volunteer Examiner)
- Field Day
- Training
- The club has a station and antenna set up at the Franklin County EOC (Emergency Operations Center) located at 8146 NC 56, Louisburg, NC 27549. This site is used for Field Day and can be used for emergency operations when needed for disasters or a request from Franklin County for operators.