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.

September 27 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm PDT

Held at the Sierra Flow Fitness Gym:
21051 Crystal Falls Drive, Suite 4
Sonora, CA 95370

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.

• SEPT 27, 1:00 PM (~3 hours) Please check in by 12:15 PM, thanks!
• Limited to the first 25 people
• TBA

REGISTER NOW AND SAVE YOUR SEAT!

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

November 21 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm PST

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.