Rowan Amateur Radio Society - N4UH on Rowan Amateur Radio Society

Discord Quick Start Guide

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Discord Quick Start Guide

New to Discord? This quick start guide covers everything you need to know to get up and running. Discord is a free communication platform used by many amateur radio communities for text, voice, and video chat.

What is Discord?

Discord is a communication platform that lets you interact through text, voice, and video. It works on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), mobile (iOS, Android), and in your web browser at discord.com. Think of it as a mix between group chat and a forum, but in real time.

Firecracker Hamfest 2026

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Firecracker Hamfest 2026

Join us for the annual Firecracker Hamfest! This popular event brings together amateur radio operators from across the region for a weekend of buying, selling, trading, and socializing.

Event Schedule

Friday, July 10 – Setup Day

Setup: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Saturday, July 11 – Hamfest Day

Vendor Setup: 6:00 AM
Doors Open: 8:00 AM
VE Testing: 10:00 AM

Location

Salisbury Civic Center 315 S. Martin Luther King Ave Salisbury, NC

Local Nets

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Local Nets

A guide to amateur radio nets in and around Rowan County, NC. VHF/UHF nets listed are within approximately 30 miles of Salisbury. 10 meter and HF nets with broader reach are listed separately.

Always verify frequencies and schedules before checking in. Nets may change without notice.

Rowan County

Net Name	Frequency	Day	Time
Rowan County ARES Training Net	145.410 MHz -0.600 (136.5 PL)	Wednesday

Cabarrus County

Net Name	Frequency	Day	Time
Cabarrus ARES Net	147.300 MHz +0.600 (136.5 PL)	Tuesday	8:30 PM
Ragchew	147.300 MHz +0.600	Tuesday	9:00 PM

Davidson County

Net Name	Frequency	Day	Time
Davidson County ARES Net	146.910 MHz -0.600 (107.2 PL)	Tuesday	9:00 PM

Mecklenburg County

Net Name	Frequency	Day	Time
Mecklenburg ARES Net	146.940 MHz -0.600 (118.8 PL)	Wednesday
Mecklenburg ARES Net (Alt)	145.290 MHz -0.600 (118.8 PL)	Wednesday
Mecklenburg ARES Net (Alt)	146.580 MHz simplex	Wednesday
Metrolina Two-Meter Emergency Net	146.940 MHz -0.600 (118.8 PL)	Daily
Charlotte (CLT) SKYWARN Net	145.350 MHz -0.600	As needed
Carolina Amateur Radio Net	145.350 MHz -0.600 (82.5 PL)	Tuesday	8:30 PM
Piedmont Emergency Training Net	145.350 MHz -0.600	Daily	8:00 PM
Gaston Spotter Net	145.350 MHz -0.600 (82.5 PL)	Tuesday	7:30 PM

Surrounding Area

Net Name	Frequency	County	Day	Time
Montgomery Amateur Radio Society	147.090 MHz +0.600 (100.0 PL)	Montgomery	Monday	8:30 PM
Forsyth County ARES Net	145.470 MHz -0.600 (100.0 PL)	Forsyth	Wednesday	8:30 PM
Lincoln Co RACES/ARES	147.015 MHz +0.600 / 442.350 MHz +5.000	Lincoln	Tuesday
Rockingham County ARES Net	147.030 MHz +0.600	Rockingham	Tuesday	9:00 PM
Cleveland County ARS 2m Simplex Training Net	147.505 MHz simplex	Cleveland	Monday	9:00 PM

Regional Traffic Nets

Net Name	Frequency	Day	Time
Central Western Traffic Net	145.250 MHz -0.600 (88.5 PL)	Daily	7:00 PM
Piedmont Coastal Traffic Net	146.880 MHz -0.600	Daily	9:00 PM

10 Meter and HF Nets

These nets have a broader reach and can often be accessed from Rowan County on HF.

What is an Elmer?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

What is an Elmer?

An “Elmer” in ham radio is an experienced, often volunteer mentor who provides personalized guidance, technical knowledge, and encouragement to newcomers or those looking to advance their skills. Coined in 1971 by Rod Newkirk to honor his own mentor, the term is unique to amateur radio and signifies the supportive, peer-to-peer education that is crucial for navigating the hobby.

Key Aspects of an Elmer

Role: Mentors, tutors, and guides new operators, often helping them earn their license and set up their first station.
Origin: Coined in the March 1971 “How’s DX” column of QST magazine by Rod Newkirk (W9BRD), referring to his mentor, Elmer P. Frohardt Jr.
Context: Used as both a noun (the person) and a verb (“Elmering” someone).
Finding One: Often found through local amateur radio clubs like RARS.
Purpose: Provides hands-on assistance with radio operations, technical skills, and navigating the nuances of the hobby.

Need an Elmer?

The Rowan Amateur Radio Society has experienced operators who are happy to help newcomers get started. Whether you need help studying for your license, setting up your first radio, or figuring out antennas, we’re here to help.

About RARS

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

About Us

The Rowan Amateur Radio Society (RARS) is an amateur radio club serving Rowan County, North Carolina. Operating under the call sign N4UH, the club proudly represents the society on the airwaves from its home in Salisbury.

Meetings

RARS meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at:

Rowan County Rescue Squad, 1140 Julian Rd, Salisbury, NC 28146

Officers

President: David Jackman N7WOY
Vice President: Michael Zinicola WD4PVS
Secretary: Doug Bowers KR4HIL
Treasurer: James “Jim” Russell KR4FHI

Repeaters

RARS maintains two repeaters under the N4UH call sign:

Activities & Events

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Activities & Events

Stay up to date with RARS activities and events! Check out our calendar below for upcoming meetings, hamfests, field days, and other club activities.

Club Calendar

ARES and Emergency Communications

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RARS ARES

Communications and Disaster Preparedness

When emergencies strike Rowan County, reliable communication becomes essential. The Rowan Amateur Radio Society (RARS) ARES team plays a critical role in ensuring that emergency managers, public safety agencies, and community partners have dependable backup communication when traditional systems fail or become overloaded.

“We hope we’re never needed – but we train like we will be.”

ARES in Rowan County: A Mission of Service

RARS ARES volunteers are FCC licensed amateur radio operators trained to provide supplemental communication during disasters, severe weather, and major public events. Their work supports Rowan County Emergency Management and the broader Salisbury region.

Contact Us

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Contact Us

You can reach the Rowan Amateur Radio Society by:

Phone: (704) 433-7371

Meeting Location: Rowan County Rescue Squad 1140 Julian Rd Salisbury, NC 28146

We meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 PM. Visitors are always welcome!

On the Air

Listen for us on the N4UH repeaters:

2m: 145.410 MHz, -0.600 offset, 136.5 PL
70cm: 443.250 MHz, +5.000 offset, 136.5 PL

Contact Form

Field Day

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

RARS 2025 Field Day

Celebrating the Power and Possibility of Ham Radio

The RARS 2025 Annual Field Day brought together radio amateurs, hobbyists, students, and curious newcomers for a full weekend dedicated to the art and science of communication. What began as a technical exercise quickly transformed into a vibrant celebration of teamwork, innovation, and the enduring magic of radio waves.

A Gathering Built Around Connection

Field Day has always been about more than equipment and antennas. In 2025, the RARS community emphasized the deeper purpose of amateur radio: connecting people. Operators of all ages – from seasoned hams with decades of experience to first time participants earning their very first contacts – worked side by side, sharing knowledge and building friendships across the bands.

Helpful Links

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Helpful Links

A collection of useful resources for amateur radio operators, from our club pages to licensing information, equipment retailers, and more.

RARS Resources

RARS on ARRL - Our club listing on the ARRL website
N4UH Broadcastify Feed - Listen to the N4UH repeater online

Licensing & Testing

Study Resources

HamStudy.org - Free online study materials and practice exams
ARRL Exam Session Search - Find a license exam near you
ARRL Getting Licensed - Official guide to getting your ham license

License Lookup

FCC License Search (ULS) - Look up any amateur radio license in the FCC database

Nearby VE Testing Sessions

Mecklenburg ARS (Charlotte) - Charlotte area testing
Richmond County ARC - Rockingham area testing
Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts - Raleigh/Fuquay-Varina area

Equipment Retailers

Major Online Retailers

Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) - World’s largest ham radio supplier with stores nationwide
DX Engineering - Quality equipment, antennas, and accessories
GigaParts - Amateur radio, computers, and electronics

Used Equipment

QRZ Swapmeet - Buy/sell used ham radio equipment
eHam Classifieds - Used equipment listings

Organizations

ARRL - American Radio Relay League (National Association for Amateur Radio)
ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service
SKYWARN - NWS severe weather spotter program

Technical Resources

QRZ.com - Callsign lookup and ham radio community
RepeaterBook - Repeater directory for North America
APRS.fi - APRS tracking and mapping
PSK Reporter - Digital mode propagation reporting
DX Summit - DX cluster spots
GMRS (FCC) - General Mobile Radio Service information
NCMesh - North Carolina mesh networking community

Propagation & Conditions

NOAA Space Weather - Solar and geomagnetic conditions
HF Propagation - HF propagation prediction
DX Heat Map - Real-time DX activity

Discord Communities

OARC - Online Amateur Radio Community - Large online ham radio community
HHRC - Ham Radio Crash Course - Ham Radio Crash Course Discord server
The HamShack - General ham radio discussion server

Find more ham radio Discord servers at Disboard.

Join Us

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Join Us

Thinking about getting into amateur radio? Already licensed and looking for a local crew? The Rowan Amateur Radio Society (RARS) is a great place to plug in. We’re a relaxed, friendly group that enjoys learning, experimenting, and helping each other out – on the air and in person.

Why Join RARS

You’ll Find a Community. Ham radio is more fun with people around you. At RARS, you’ll meet operators of all experience levels who are happy to share ideas, answer questions, and swap stories.

Live Repeater Feed

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Listen Live

You can listen to the N4UH repeater live through Broadcastify. This feed covers the RARS repeater system in Rowan County, NC.

Listen on Broadcastify

About the Feed

This Broadcastify feed streams audio from the N4UH 2-meter repeater operated by the Rowan Amateur Radio Society:

2m Repeater: 145.410 MHz, -0.600 offset, 136.5 PL

Note: Only the 2m repeater is streamed on Broadcastify. The 70cm repeater (443.250 MHz) is not included in this feed.

Local Repeaters

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Local Repeaters

A quick reference guide to amateur radio repeaters in and around Rowan County, NC. This list includes repeaters within approximately 30 miles of Salisbury.

Data sourced from RepeaterBook. Always verify frequencies before use.

Rowan County

N4UH - Rowan Amateur Radio Society (Salisbury)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	145.410 MHz	-0.600	136.5 PL	Primary club repeater
70cm	443.250 MHz	+5.000	136.5 PL	Secondary repeater

Cabarrus County

W4BFB - Mecklenburg ARS (Concord Area)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	146.940 MHz	-0.600	100.0 PL

N4CSI (Concord)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	147.315 MHz	+0.600	131.8 PL

Davidson County

W4DP (Lexington)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	146.685 MHz	-0.600	82.5 PL
70cm	444.200 MHz	+5.000	82.5 PL

N4YDU (Thomasville)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	147.390 MHz	+0.600	100.0 PL

Iredell County

N4IRS (Statesville)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	146.760 MHz	-0.600	100.0 PL
70cm	444.725 MHz	+5.000	100.0 PL

W4MVB (Mooresville)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	145.230 MHz	-0.600	100.0 PL

Stanly County

W4UA (Albemarle)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	147.120 MHz	+0.600	91.5 PL

Mecklenburg County

W4BFB - Mecklenburg ARS (Charlotte)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	146.940 MHz	-0.600	100.0 PL	Large coverage area
70cm	444.000 MHz	+5.000	100.0 PL

N4NC (Charlotte)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	145.350 MHz	-0.600	118.8 PL

Randolph County

W4RAT (Asheboro)

Band	Frequency	Offset	Tone	Notes
2m	147.255 MHz	+0.600	88.5 PL

Programming Tips

Most modern radios can store these as memory channels
Always verify the tone (PL/CTCSS) is correct before transmitting
Standard offsets: 2m uses +/- 0.600 MHz, 70cm uses +/- 5.000 MHz
Negative offset (-) means transmit frequency is lower than receive

Online Resources

RepeaterBook - North Carolina - Complete NC repeater database
ARRL Repeater Directory - Official ARRL listings

Know of a repeater that should be listed here? Contact us with the details!

Meetings

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Meeting Schedule

The Rowan Amateur Radio Society meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 PM.

Location

Rowan County Rescue Squad 1140 Julian Rd Salisbury, NC 28146

Get Directions on Google Maps

What to Expect

Our meetings typically include:

Club business and announcements
Technical presentations or demonstrations
Discussion of upcoming events and activities
Time for socializing and Q&A

Visitors are always welcome! Whether you’re a licensed ham or just curious about amateur radio, come on by and say hello.

Membership Application

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Join RARS

Thank you for your interest in joining the Rowan Amateur Radio Society! Whether you’re a newly licensed ham or an experienced operator, we welcome you to our club.

Membership is open to all - you don’t need to be licensed to join, but active participation in club activities is encouraged.

You can apply online using the form below, or download the membership application (PDF) and bring it with you to the next meeting.

Privacy Policy

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

RARS Website Privacy Policy

The Rowan Amateur Radio Society (RARS) is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. This policy explains how information is collected and used when you visit the RARS website at www.rowanars.net. By using this website, you consent to the practices described below.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the RARS website, limited technical information may be collected automatically, such as the date and time of your visit, your IP address, and the type of web browser used. This information is anonymous and is not personally identifiable. It is used solely to help us understand how the website is used – for example, which pages are visited most often and how long visitors remain on the site. This data is reviewed only in aggregate and not at the individual level.

Repeaters

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Repeaters

The Rowan Amateur Radio Society (RARS) operates a repeater system under the call sign N4UH that serves as a vital communication hub for amateur radio operators across Rowan County and surrounding areas. More than just a technical asset, the RARS repeater is a community resource that supports daily radio activity, emergency readiness, and public service communication.

N4UH Repeater Frequencies

Band	Frequency	Offset	PL Tone
2 Meter	145.410 MHz	-0.600 MHz	136.5 Hz
70 Centimeter	443.250 MHz	+5.000 MHz	136.5 Hz

Extending Communication Across the Region

A repeater receives a signal on one frequency and retransmits it on another, dramatically increasing the range of handheld and mobile radios. For local hams, the RARS repeater provides:

Silent Keys

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Silent Keys

In amateur radio, we honor those who have passed on as “Silent Keys” – a reference to the Morse code key that has gone quiet. These operators dedicated themselves to the hobby, to public service, and to the fellowship of amateur radio.

The Rowan Amateur Radio Society remembers and honors our members who have become Silent Keys. Their contributions to our club and to the amateur radio community will not be forgotten.

Thank You!

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you for your submission!

We have received your information and will get back to you as soon as possible.