What’s Happening in Amateur Radio ?
We are Cumberland Amateur Radio Club. Something’s in the works almost all the time.
Here are some of the things we found interesting:
FLrig Software.
Software can make radio more fun ! When I read that headline my first reaction was --- "What? Software can make radio more fun?" YES, it is true. Even a fairly modern ham radio can benefit from software enhancements ...
Operation Deep Freeze
The History Guy tm discusses Ham Radio’s contribution to world science in the 1950s. Every now and then YouTube turns up a real gem. https://youtu.be/uaTm_LUifUI is one of these. The History Guy tm takes a look at a pair of ...
Radio Frequency Exposure Rules
Updated Radio Frequency Exposure Rules Become Effective on May 3, 2021 From the ARRL Newsletter The FCC has announced that rule changes detailed in a lengthy 2019 Report and Order (R&O) governing RF exposure standards go into effect on May 3, 2021 ...
Sandpatch Mountain and Railroad Tunnel
For many years, I was a member of the Yahoo Groups Sandpatch List. Sandpatch, named for Sandpatch Mountain and tunnel, is where the Baltimore & Ohio, now CSX, crosses the Alleghenies. It was built after the world famous Horse Shoe Curve ...
FT8 Addiction?
With some help from our friends at WSJTX@groups.io.com
FT8 is one of the many digital modes in the WSJT-X software suite from Joe Taylor, K1JT and his team of collaborators. The basic software covers everything from weak signal HF to earth-moon-earth and ...
Do Not Pass GO. Do Not Collect $200
This news blog headline was inspired by something that shows up now and then in my Monopoly game. You probably will not "Go directly to jail." but you may hear from the Volunteer Monitor crew if you unknowingly do what I am ...
Field Day Contact Logging
Field Day Logging Editor's Note: Originally written for 2022. This document has been updated for 2025.
If you are doing Field Day 2025 from home (we understand the whole world cannot do Field Day at Shaffer Park) you will want some ...
CARC Calendars – Things To-Do
Great Day,
CARC has had a Things To-Do page for several years. This page delivers listings of Hamfests, Contests, License Training Classes, License Exam Sessions, On-The-Air Nets, Radio Club Meetings (ours!), and Face-To-Face get-togethers.
The format of our Things To-Do page is ...
June 2025 — Amateur Radio Month
Governor Josh Shapiro names June 2025 Amateur Radio Month in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ...
HANDIHAM PROGRAM
Amateur Radio for people with disabilities Some might say: Amateur Radio for people with different abilities.
The fine folks at the Courage Kenny Handiham Program sent me a nice letter recapping their achievements during the year. Their envelope contained two otherwise ...
Request from EPA Traffic Manager, KC8T
Section Traffic Manager Scott Walker (N3SW) is leaving our region. He has handed his managerial duties over to me (Tom Inman, KC8T).
Monthly, the traffic manager submits reports to the ARRL, regarding public service honor roll, and net activities.
Another responsibility of ...
Reward for a Job Well-Done
Tangible Rewards ! Between March 19 and 26, 2022 eleven Cumberland Amateur Radio Club members operated Special Event station W3R, celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Rockville Bridge. At 3,720 feet, the Rockville Bridge is the longest Stone Arch Masonry Railroad ...
A Bit of Morse Code Telegraphy History
Morse Code Telegraphy History A ham radio friend shared this information with me via email. While reading, I found the original source of several morse code shortcuts that are commonly used by ham radio operators. Hams call these shortcuts "prosigns".
The information ...
Know the FCC rules
Let not your Baefong lead you to temptation! Or, Know the FCC rules! On a groups.io that I follow, there was a recent posting about a CSX train crew in New York state. They were M409, a manifest or “mixed” ...
What’s Old is New
It is a great day to learn something new, even if that something happens to be 50 years old... perhaps older.
A new article (in PDF format) has been posted on the Resources page, associated with the sub-heading OPERATING YOUR STATION. The ...
Why Play Radio?
Why Play Radio...
For about 50 years or so, rail fans have used radio scanners to listen to the railroad frequencies in the land mobile FM portion of the 137-174 MHz band. The railroad frequencies are right below the ...
This contesting is nuts. Why do we do it?
This contesting is nuts. Why do we do it? Scott Davis, N3FJP, the creator of the N3FJP line of computer logging programs from Affirmatech, answered a question on the N3FJP reflector with a link to the FAQ page.
This contesting is nuts ...
Straight Key – Morse Code QSOs
Straight Key Morse Code QSOs QSO #1 -- Jim WE5E and John WA3KCP have an on-the-air conversation using straight keys to send Morse Code while Lynn NG9D listens.
QSO #2 -- Lynn NG9D and John WA3KCP hold their own conversation upon completion ...
Firsthand Recollection of Hurricane Diane Destruction — August 18, 1955
Royal Kramer, Amateur Radio Call Sign W3ZIF, recalls the destruction that accompanied Hurricane Diane as it passed through the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Royal and several colleagues provided emergency communications support to the towns on each side of the Delaware River ...
Free Book: Managing Interstation Interference
** Special Thanks to Vibroplex for hosting the author's work on their website. **
It is my pleasure to promote this man's book. W2VJN is the former owner of INRAD. AF3I
Immediately Available for FREE DOWNLOAD ...
The new DXers Handbook — Third Edition
It is my pleasure to promote this man's book. I learned about promoting books and movies by watching The Tonight Show, Starring Johnny Carson. He did a great job. I can only hope to do a fraction of a job. AF3I
...
Digital Landscape
• Do you have an interest in DMR radios?
• Perhaps you are hesitant to wade into digital radio communications because it seems as if there are so many different “standards”.
• D-STAR, WIRES, FUSION, C4FM -- Where do I ...
Hey Guys… Watch This !
Achievement Test... A+ Results The Cumberland Amateur Radio Club is proud to recognize one of its members for producing A+ results in a recent Achievement Test.
Congratulations to Doug Stenger, KC3CPT for hitting the books, studying, and passing the FCC General ...
CARC Two-Meter Net Invitation
Newly Licensed Hams... Welcome to the CARC Two-Meter Net Editor's Note: This information was first posted over a year ago. The content remains an important part of our Club approach to encouraging involvement and participation in ham radio events. I am re-posting ...
Wavelengths and Frequency Bands
It was a dark and stormy night. We've all heard that opening line at one time or another. Here is the Summertime-In-Central-Pennsylvania version of the same concept:
It was a hot and humid afternoon. One of the creative writers, who is ...
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Amateur radio on the international space station 20th Anniversary Celebration
SSTV Image reception from space is within your reach ! The 20th anniversary of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station event is going on through December 31, 2020. The astronauts and ...
Montana Outreach
Ham Radio on Kate's Ag A little birdie told me I should spend a few minutes watching one of the newest YouTube videos on the Kate's Ag channel. The title is: A BLAST FROM THE PAST - PART 1
As I watched ...
Memory Lane
The Beginning of Amateur Radio License Plates in Pennsylvania
Royal Kramer, W3ZIF, shares with us this amusing story about one of the first Ham Radio Operators to receive a call sign license plate for his automobile. The year was ...
RTTY Software and Contesting
RTTY Software and Contesting
RTTY - radio teletype - is a fun digital mode. I became active in the hobby when I learned about FLDIGI software and PSK31 and Domino. Andy AF3I suggested I’d like RTTY and gave it a ...
Practice Makes Perfect — Part II and Part III
Upcoming State QSO Parties -- Ohio and Hawai`i Cumberland Amateur Radio Club has a goal of building its bench strength in preparation for a big showing in Field Day 2021.
Part of our preparation strategy calls for placing greater emphasis on the ...
Pennsylvania Statewide WIRES-X Net –and– EPA DMR Talkgroup
New Weekly Statewide WIRES-X C4FM Net and Eastern PA DMR Talkgroup Earlier today ARRL Members in the EPA Section received information from Jay Silber, ARRL Public Information Coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania Section, describing new weekly digital nets.
Jay's announcement ...
Contesting — Practice Makes Perfect
Practice Makes Perfect. With a special focus on the Maryland -- DC QSO Party Scheduled for August 8, 2020
Cumberland Amateur Radio Club recently recapped its performance in the ARRL 2020 Field Day Operating Event. The short version is that ...
Helpful Hint for FM Repeater Users
Helpful Hint for FM Repeater Users I was listening to a conversation on the Frederick, Maryland W3ICF 146.730 MHz repeater this morning. The gentlemen I heard shared a helpful hint for those, like me, who were listening. The hint follows....
There are ...
FLrig Software.
Software can make radio more fun ! When I read that headline my first reaction was --- "What? Software can make radio more fun?" YES, it is true. Even a fairly modern ham radio can benefit from software enhancements ...
Operation Deep Freeze
Radio Frequency Exposure Rules
The FCC has announced that rule changes detailed in a lengthy 2019 Report and Order (R&O) governing RF exposure standards go into effect on May 3, 2021 ...
Sandpatch Mountain and Railroad Tunnel
For many years, I was a member of the Yahoo Groups Sandpatch List. Sandpatch, named for Sandpatch Mountain and tunnel, is where the Baltimore & Ohio, now CSX, crosses the Alleghenies. It was built after the world famous Horse Shoe Curve ...
FT8 Addiction?
With some help from our friends at WSJTX@groups.io.com
FT8 is one of the many digital modes in the WSJT-X software suite from Joe Taylor, K1JT and his team of collaborators. The basic software covers everything from weak signal HF to earth-moon-earth and ...
Do Not Pass GO. Do Not Collect $200
This news blog headline was inspired by something that shows up now and then in my Monopoly game. You probably will not "Go directly to jail." but you may hear from the Volunteer Monitor crew if you unknowingly do what I am ...
Field Day Contact Logging
Editor's Note: Originally written for 2022. This document has been updated for 2025.
If you are doing Field Day 2025 from home (we understand the whole world cannot do Field Day at Shaffer Park) you will want some ...CARC Calendars – Things To-Do
Great Day,
CARC has had a Things To-Do page for several years. This page delivers listings of Hamfests, Contests, License Training Classes, License Exam Sessions, On-The-Air Nets, Radio Club Meetings (ours!), and Face-To-Face get-togethers.
The format of our Things To-Do page is ...
June 2025 — Amateur Radio Month
HANDIHAM PROGRAM
Some might say: Amateur Radio for people with different abilities.
The fine folks at the Courage Kenny Handiham Program sent me a nice letter recapping their achievements during the year. Their envelope contained two otherwise ...
Request from EPA Traffic Manager, KC8T
Section Traffic Manager Scott Walker (N3SW) is leaving our region. He has handed his managerial duties over to me (Tom Inman, KC8T).
Monthly, the traffic manager submits reports to the ARRL, regarding public service honor roll, and net activities.
Another responsibility of ...
Reward for a Job Well-Done
Between March 19 and 26, 2022 eleven Cumberland Amateur Radio Club members operated Special Event station W3R, celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Rockville Bridge. At 3,720 feet, the Rockville Bridge is the longest Stone Arch Masonry Railroad ...
A Bit of Morse Code Telegraphy History
A ham radio friend shared this information with me via email. While reading, I found the original source of several morse code shortcuts that are commonly used by ham radio operators. Hams call these shortcuts "prosigns".
The information ...
Know the FCC rules
On a groups.io that I follow, there was a recent posting about a CSX train crew in New York state. They were M409, a manifest or “mixed” ...
What’s Old is New
It is a great day to learn something new, even if that something happens to be 50 years old... perhaps older.
A new article (in PDF format) has been posted on the Resources page, associated with the sub-heading OPERATING YOUR STATION. The ...
Why Play Radio?
For about 50 years or so, rail fans have used radio scanners to listen to the railroad frequencies in the land mobile FM portion of the 137-174 MHz band. The railroad frequencies are right below the ...
This contesting is nuts. Why do we do it?
Scott Davis, N3FJP, the creator of the N3FJP line of computer logging programs from Affirmatech, answered a question on the N3FJP reflector with a link to the FAQ page.
This contesting is nuts ...Straight Key – Morse Code QSOs
QSO #1 -- Jim WE5E and John WA3KCP have an on-the-air conversation using straight keys to send Morse Code while Lynn NG9D listens.
QSO #2 -- Lynn NG9D and John WA3KCP hold their own conversation upon completion ...
Firsthand Recollection of Hurricane Diane Destruction — August 18, 1955
Royal Kramer, Amateur Radio Call Sign W3ZIF, recalls the destruction that accompanied Hurricane Diane as it passed through the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Royal and several colleagues provided emergency communications support to the towns on each side of the Delaware River ...
Free Book: Managing Interstation Interference
** Special Thanks to Vibroplex for hosting the author's work on their website. **
It is my pleasure to promote this man's book. W2VJN is the former owner of INRAD. AF3I
Immediately Available for FREE DOWNLOAD ...
The new DXers Handbook — Third Edition
It is my pleasure to promote this man's book. I learned about promoting books and movies by watching The Tonight Show, Starring Johnny Carson. He did a great job. I can only hope to do a fraction of a job. AF3I
...Digital Landscape
• Do you have an interest in DMR radios?
• Perhaps you are hesitant to wade into digital radio communications because it seems as if there are so many different “standards”.
• D-STAR, WIRES, FUSION, C4FM -- Where do I ...
Hey Guys… Watch This !
The Cumberland Amateur Radio Club is proud to recognize one of its members for producing A+ results in a recent Achievement Test.
Congratulations to Doug Stenger, KC3CPT for hitting the books, studying, and passing the FCC General ...
CARC Two-Meter Net Invitation
Editor's Note: This information was first posted over a year ago. The content remains an important part of our Club approach to encouraging involvement and participation in ham radio events. I am re-posting ...
Wavelengths and Frequency Bands
We've all heard that opening line at one time or another. Here is the Summertime-In-Central-Pennsylvania version of the same concept:
It was a hot and humid afternoon.One of the creative writers, who is ...
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
20th Anniversary Celebration
SSTV Image reception from space is within your reach !The 20th anniversary of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station event is going on through December 31, 2020. The astronauts and ...
Montana Outreach
A little birdie told me I should spend a few minutes watching one of the newest YouTube videos on the Kate's Ag channel. The title is: A BLAST FROM THE PAST - PART 1
As I watched ...
Memory Lane
The Beginning of Amateur Radio License Plates in Pennsylvania
Royal Kramer, W3ZIF, shares with us this amusing story about one of the first Ham Radio Operators to receive a call sign license plate for his automobile. The year was ...
RTTY Software and Contesting
RTTY - radio teletype - is a fun digital mode. I became active in the hobby when I learned about FLDIGI software and PSK31 and Domino. Andy AF3I suggested I’d like RTTY and gave it a ...
Practice Makes Perfect — Part II and Part III
Cumberland Amateur Radio Club has a goal of building its bench strength in preparation for a big showing in Field Day 2021.
Part of our preparation strategy calls for placing greater emphasis on the ...
Pennsylvania Statewide WIRES-X Net –and– EPA DMR Talkgroup
New Weekly Statewide WIRES-X C4FM Net and Eastern PA DMR Talkgroup
Earlier today ARRL Members in the EPA Section received information from Jay Silber, ARRL Public Information Coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania Section, describing new weekly digital nets.
Jay's announcement ...
Contesting — Practice Makes Perfect
With a special focus on the Maryland -- DC QSO Party Scheduled for August 8, 2020
Cumberland Amateur Radio Club recently recapped its performance in the ARRL 2020 Field Day Operating Event. The short version is that ...
Helpful Hint for FM Repeater Users
I was listening to a conversation on the Frederick, Maryland W3ICF 146.730 MHz repeater this morning. The gentlemen I heard shared a helpful hint for those, like me, who were listening. The hint follows....
There are ...