April 18 @ 7:30 am – 10:00 am PDT

Find the TCARES Communications Trailer in the middle of Columbia state park to check in and get a vest and your assignment. Be there at 7 am for the briefing meeting. Contact Grayson Rehn at papabird.ke6kyi@gmail.com if you’re interested in volunteering, or if you have questions. We hope to see some of you there!

The post 2026 Old Mill Run Radio Support appeared first on TCARES.

April 18 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am PDT

This month the Old Mill Run conflicts with our club meeting. Since many TCARES members will be helping with the annual run in Columbia, the breakfast meeting in east Sonora will be OPTIONAL, with no formal agenda or program. If you’re inclined, come socialize and hang out with other hams and enjoy some rag-chewing over breakfast.

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POTA Meetup at Elizabeth Peak, Cedar Ridge

Join us for a casual Parks On The Air (POTA) meetup at Elizabeth Peak in Cedar Ridge, Tuolumne County.

Date: Sunday April 26

Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

POTA is an international radio program where amateur radio operators set up in parks and make contacts from designated public lands.

This is an informal, hands-on event open to all experience levels. Bring whatever radio gear you want to run (HT, Mobile, HF, etc.), or just show up and check out how portable stations are set up.

A shared club station will be available if you want to get on the air but don’t have your own equipment.

Optional Goals (just for fun):

1) Get on the air in 30 minutes;
2) Log 10 contacts (POTA activation);
3) Operate on multiple bands or antennas; and/or
4) First POTA activation.

Directions:

– Location: Mount Elizabeth Lookout (Elizabeth Peak, Cedar Ridge)
– Coordinates: N 38° 03.782′ W 120° 14.848′ LINK

Getting There:

– Head toward Cedar Ridge and follow your GPS to the coordinates above.
– The final stretch is a dirt fire road leading up to the summit.
– The road ends at the top near the historic fire lookout tower.

You can also view the location here:

http://nhlr.org/lookouts/us/ca/mount-elizabeth-lookout/

Contact Andrew, K6AEF, for more info, or questions at k6aef@outlook.com.

The post TCARES POTA Meetup! appeared first on TCARES.

May 14 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am PDT

Tuolumne County OES and Sheriff will be testing 5 Sirens in the following locations: Groveland, Tuolumne City, Twain Harte, Cold Springs and Strawberry. The County has asked TCARES if we can monitor the locations and report what was heard in a live Net that day.

WHEN: Thursday MAY 14 11:00 AM

Schedule:

• 10:30 Net Opens (All Repeaters)
• 10:45 Checkin from your assigned location
• 11:00 Siren alarms
• 11:05 Checkin and report what you heard
• 11:30 Net closes.

WHERE: Groveland, Tuolumne City, Twain Harte, Cold Springs and Strawberry (We need some Hams to drive up to Cold Springs and Strawberry and listen and call into the repeaters.)

If you are a licensed Ham or GMRS user, please email info@tcares.net to indicate your interest and if you will stay at home or can be mobile to drive to Cold Springs or Strawberry or Tuolumne City.

MOBILE ASSIGNMENTS

• TUOLUMNE 1: Elementary School
• TUOLUMNE 2: Casino
• COLD SPRINGS 1: End of Shasta Dr.
• COLD SPRINGS 2: Mia’s Restaurant
• STRAWBERRY 1: Ranger Station
• STRAWBERRY 2: Near or past Lakeshore dr roundabout (Pinecrest Lake)

https://arcg.is/1HfKCi1

The post 2026 County OES Emergency Siren Test MAY 14 11:00 AM appeared first on TCARES.

May 16 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am PDT

All are welcome, JOIN US! Come to the back room around or just before 9 AM to order your breakfast…or just a cup of coffee. At 9:30 we will begin our formal agenda.

The post TCARES Monthly Breakfast and Club Meeting appeared first on TCARES.

May 16 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm PDT

There will be a TCARES Board Meeting following the monthly club breakfast meeting. Feel free to attend!

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May 23 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PDT

Free test session (3-5 pm) for the ARRL Technician License. This is in conjunction with a Technician Class License Ham Cram that will begin at 08:00 am. The Ham Cram is free but please email Herb at af6hl@arrl.net if you plan to attend the Ham Cram so he can have enough copies of the handouts available. Exams will be administered for all license levels. Sign up on the link below.

The post Free Technician Class Ham Cram followed by Free Exam for all License Levels appeared first on TCARES.

May 30 @ 6:30 am – 4:00 pm PDT

The Ultimate Gravel/MTB Cycling Adventure Returns to Groveland, CA!

The Groveland Grind is a Yosemite Area Adventure Ride on mixed terrain(pavement, broken pavement, dirt and gravel)on Yosemite National Park’s doorstep! Three amazing routes with amazing views to choose from- Ride the 48 miles Long route- The Rumble up to Trumbull(Peak), the 30 miles medium route or the 21 miles Short route through the majestic Stanislaus National Forest on historic sections of the original roads and railroads to Yosemite!

First, please be on site by 6 am on Saturday (the race starts at 8 am and this gives us time to go over logistics, get to the sites to set up, and prepare). We will meet at the parking lot at the intersection of Yosemite Lakes Road and Harden Flat Road (31191 Hardin Flat Rd, Groveland, CA 95321). You will receive instructions, along with equipment for the day (i.e. popup shade structures, chairs, tables, lunches/drinks, clipboards and forms, etc.). You will then head out to your assigned site (see map), following an experienced TCARES member, who will guide you to your location.

Second, once on site, you will set up your station for the day. We will be using the Duckwall VHF TCARES repeater for ham operations. Additionally, there will be a crossband repeater set up (frequency = 147.510 MHz; PL = 141.3 Hz) to link into Duckwall, if needed).

Third, your primary responsibility will be to provide communications support for the race. Incidents might include some of the following: crashes, mechanical failures, injuries/medical issues, navigation errors, encounters with wildlife, equipment damage, collisions, etc. Our job will be to report any incidents to net control, who will then relay the information to the race directors, who will take action. Be prepared to follow commands and protocols. We will be provided with an incident report form, to be completed, if necessary, following any incidents.

Finally, once all participants have passed by your station, you will pack up all of your gear (i.e. popups, tables, chairs, etc.) and return to the Start/Finish Line to turn in all of your equipment. Food will be served at 12 noon and awards will be given at 3 pm. You will be free to leave after you have turned in all of your equipment at the Finish Line, or you can stay for food and awards. T-shirts will be given out at the end of the race for TCARES participants. Please check with the race directors to obtain yours.

Thank you all, SO MUCH, for your volunteer efforts – the race directors have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for all of your efforts and we wish you a safe journey home following the race festivities.

If you have any questions, please email me and we’ll go from there.

73, jeff, n6jwt

The post 2026 Groveland Grind Bike Event Radio Support appeared first on TCARES.

June 13 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm PDT

2026 Father’s Day Fly-in Public Info Table

TCARES ham radio club will set up a public information and radio demonstration trailer at the 2025 Father’s Day Fly-in with other vendors and public agencies and organizations.

Will you volunteer? The information booth will be open for about 6 hours on Saturday, can you work a 2 or 3 hour shift and help hand out flyers and demo radios? if so, please email info@tcares.net and indicate when you can help in the booth.

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June 20 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am PDT

All are welcome, JOIN US! Come to the back room around or just before 9 AM to order your breakfast…or just a cup of coffee. At 9:30 we will begin our formal agenda.

The post TCARES Monthly Breakfast and Club Meeting appeared first on TCARES.