August 1 @ 10:00 am – 9:59 pm PDT

NAQP CW (August): August 1, 1800Z to August 2, 0559Z, 2026.

The North American QSO Parties are favorites of beginners and seasoned operators alike. The NAQPs are low-power only (no amplifiers allowed) which makes for a lot more breathing room on the bands. Small stations can generate very effective “runs” in the NAQP contests. Multipliers count once per-band, which makes for an exciting format, as multipliers can be “moved” from band to band. The NAQPs allow stations from all parts of North America to be in the running for the top spots. The 12 hour format allows participants to do some great contesting, yet still have time for other activities during the weekend. Participants can enter in the single op or multi-op categories and also have the opportunity to combine up to five separate single op scores into a team score.

The post North American QSO Party! appeared first on TCARES.

Join us for the 50th annual Pinecrest Run! The five-mile winds through the roads of Pinecrest and along the shores of Pinecrest Lake. The one mile is a quick race on pavement. This is a fundraiser event for Pinecrest Expedition Academy, our local private school. Sorry, pets are not allowed in the race. Get registered today!

TCARES GMRS licensees are being asked to provide volunteer radio support for the 1 mile, and 5 mile races. This is Tuolumne County’s oldest, continually running foot race. We can use 5 or 6 volunteers. As we learned last year a couple of places have a hard time reaching the Pinecrest repeater, so we will be operating on simplex, and also using GMRS. This will be a good chance to work the Strawberry GMRS repeater.

Contact Rich Combs, KK6RIC/WRMM317, at combsrichard@sbcglobal.net if you have questions.

The post 50th Annual PINECREST RUN! appeared first on TCARES.

August 15 @ 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.

August 15 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm PDT

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

The post TCARES Board Meeting appeared first on TCARES.

August 21 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm PDT

08/21/2026

Register at HamStudy.org. This will help streamline the process.

Sponsor: TCARES & the Motherlode VE Team
Date: August 21 2026 
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Herb
(209) 206-1962
Email: herbert_lewis@sbcglobal.net
VEC: Motherlode VE Team

Location: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1111 E A St
Oakdale, CA 95361
United States

MAP

 1.  MANDATORY BEFORE THE EXAM
           FCC Registration Number (FRN):  Examinees are required by 
           the FCC to submit your FRN with your license application form. 
           New license applicants must create an FCC user account and 
           register their Social Security Number (SSN) in the FCC Commission 
           Registration System (CORES) before attending exam sessions.  
           Registrants will be assigned an FRN which will be used in all license
           transactions with the FCC. For instructions on how to register your
           SSN and receive an FRN from the FCC, visit the CORES Registration
           page and the FCC’s Registration instructions page.
           Per FCC rules, a valid email address is also mandatory on the 
           application form to receive FCC correspondence, including the official
           copy of your Amateur Radio license.

      2.  One legal photo ID (identification): 
           a. State Driver’s License
           b. Government issued Passport 
           c. Military or Law Enforcement Officer Photo ID card
           d. Student School Photo ID card
           e. State Photo ID card 

      3.  If no photo ID is available, two forms of identification:
           a. Non-photo State ID card (some states still have them)
           b. Birth certificate (must have the appropriate seal)
           c. Social security card
           d. Employer’s wage statement or Minor’s work permit
           e. School ID card
           f. School or Public Library card
           g. Utility bill, bank statement or other business correspondence that 
               specifically names the person; or a postmarked envelope addressed
               to the person at his or her current mailing address as it appears on
               the Form 605.

      4.  Students/minors without a photo ID need to bring only one of the 
           above items if a legal guardian presents their photo ID; otherwise  
           two non-photo IDs are required. ARRL will cover the one-time FCC 
           application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years 
           old for tests administered under the ARRL VEC program. 

       5.  If applicable, bring a printed copy of your Amateur Radio license
           or be able to show proof of the license in the official FCC database.
           Acceptable copies or printouts of licenses are available from the
           following sources: the official license or reference license printed 
           from the FCC website or license data printed from the ARRL website 
           or QRZ website. The original(s) and photocopy(s) of any Certificates 
           of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) you may hold from 
           previous exam sessions. If your license has already been issued by 
           the FCC, the CSCE showing license credit is not needed. The 
           candidate is require to show proof of the current license to the team  
           but the team is no longer required to submit the proof to the VEC.
           Expired license proof must be submitted to the team and to the 
           VEC for processing to FCC. These photocopies will not be returned. 
           Instructions on how to obtain an official FCC license copy are on 
           our Obtain License Copy web page.

       6.  Two number two pencils with erasers and a pen for in-person sessions. 

      7.  A calculator with the memory erased and formulas cleared is allowed.  
           You may not bring any written notes or calculations into the exam session. 
           Slide rules and logarithmic tables are acceptable, as long as they’re free 
           of notes and formulas. Cell phone must be silenced or turned off during  
           the exam session and the phones’ calculator function may not be used.
           In addition, iPhones, iPads, Androids, smartphones, Blackberry devices 
           and all similar electronic devices with a calculator capability, may NOT 
           be used.

      8.  No need to bring a check, a money order or cash to cover the exam, since it is free.

      9.  Be aware that some information about you will be made publicly available 
           on the FCC’s website (FCC Licensee Privacy) including a felony conviction 
           status. All applicants must answer the Basic Qualification Question (felony 
           conviction status question) on the 605 Form at the exam session. 
           Applicants that answer “YES” for the question must follow these FCC 
           procedures: FCC qualification question instructions

The post Ham Radio FCC Testing Session appeared first on TCARES.

September 19 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am PDT

This month’s breakfast meeting is cancelled, due to the Tri-County Ham Picnic, in Angels Camp (see the “Upcoming Events” list for details). We’ll see you at Utica Park, in Angels Camp!

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

Calaveras Amateur Radio Society (CARS) and the Tuolumne County Amateur Radio and Electronics Society (TCARES) are having a joint picnic & BBQ on September 19, 2026 at Utica Park, Angels Camp, California, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

CARS will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, condiments, plasticware, as well as the BBQs. TCARES will provide waters, sodas, ice, sliced tomatoes and onions. Both CARES and TCARES members should bring side dishes and desserts.

Utica Park has a beautiful covered seating area and the event will happen RAIN or SHINE. A table will be provided for the swap meet, too, so bring something to sell!

If you have any questions, call Steven Airola, W6RXK, President of CARS, at 209.770.3263.

The post Tri-County Ham Picnic & BBQ! appeared first on TCARES.

October 3 @ 8:30 am – 11:00 am PDT

THIS IS A FREE CLASS, limited to the first 25 people. REGISTER BELOW.

Learn how to use your handheld radio during a simulated emergency. This class will give you hands-on radio experience by simulating 2 different emergency situations: 1) your own family; and 2) your neighborhood/community. By the end of the class you will also learn more about how to get the best performance out of your handheld radio. Finally, you will develop a plan to take home with you, on how to use a handheld radio during an emergency, for your situation.

If you have a handheld radio (FRS/GMRS/Amateur (Ham)), bring it to the class. If not, we will have extra radios for use. 

Hands-on skills training will get you up and transmitting right away, with instructions on emergency communication.

STAY INFORMED when cell phones are down and power outages occur.

RADIO CLASS AGENDA

• Introduction to Planning for an Emergency – Developing a Personal/Family Plan
• How to Get the Best Performance Out of Your Handheld Radio
• Simulation of an Emergency Using Handheld Radios on Simplex (Radio to Radio)
• Simulation of an Emergency Using Handheld Radios and a Local Repeater (Directed Net)
• Discussion & Lessons Learned
• Turn in a Copy of Your Personal/Family Plan

OPTIONAL: Tuolumne County has 6 GMRS, and 5 ham radio repeaters on hill tops that allow wide communications across the county and parts of the Central Valley. A GMRS and/or Amateur Radio license is required for repeater usage. Apply for your GMRS license today. One GMRS license will cover your entire extended family, even if they don’t live in the same home. There is NO TEST, only a FCC $35. application fee. Follow these step by step instructions to get your NO TEST GMRS License. FCC processing time usually takes one to three days and has a $35.00 fee. START NOW.

• OCT 3, 8:30 AM (about 2.5 hours) Please check in by 8:15, thanks!
• Limited to the first 25 people
• TBA

REGISTER NOW AND SAVE YOUR SEAT! (Link forthcoming…)

October 3, 2026 is the TENTATIVE date for the class. Once confirmed, this will be updated.

The post Training on How to Use Your Handheld Radio During an Emergency appeared first on TCARES.

October 17 @ 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.

November 21 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am PST

All are welcome, JOIN US! Come to the back room around or just before 8:30 AM to order your breakfast…or just a cup of coffee. At 9:00 we will begin our formal agenda. This month we will raffle off a NanoVNA, donated by Dave, AD6AE! 5$ per ticket to raise funds for the club!

Additionally, Steve, N6VIN, will be giving a video presentation on his recent “Asia Dive Vacation” with his wife. Come enjoy the fun!

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