Weekly Online Elmer Meeting – 11/5/2026

Summary of the WN4RC Amateur Radio Club Online Elmer Session

Attendees: Randy, Evans, Jim, Bruce

This online Elmer session was an informal mentoring and planning discussion among club members, covering amateur radio operations, club activities, training opportunities, website development, and future events.

Club and Member Updates

• A club HF radio was recently gifted to a newer operator with the goal of getting them active on the air. Discussion focused on simple antenna options and encouraging newcomers to get stations operational quickly.
• Members emphasized that many new operators overcomplicate antennas, when simple wire antennas can be highly effective for HF communications.
• The group discussed encouraging Technician operators to upgrade to General class licenses to participate in regional HF communications activities.

Nets and Operating Activities

• Members promoted participation in the 146.910 MHz repeater net and discussed local net schedules available through the club website.
• The Thursday evening Trader’s/Technical Net was highlighted, although participants noted it often evolves into a friendly rag-chew session.
• Plans were discussed for expanding regional HF communications activities, including:
  • Continued use of the club’s 75-meter net.
  • Future JS8Call digital communications activities.
  • Demonstrations of effective HF antenna setups for new operators.

Recognition of Members

• The group discussed recognizing a longtime amateur radio operator named Barry, noting his active participation in nets and club activities. Members expressed appreciation for amateur radio’s positive impact on individuals with disabilities and community involvement.

Christmas Party and December Meeting Planning

A significant portion of the meeting focused on planning a combined December club meeting and Christmas potluck. The group tentatively agreed to:

• Hold the event on December 12.
• Use the Gallagher-Hofheinz Community Room in Cookeville.
• Schedule:
  • Club meeting: approximately 10:00 AM – Noon
  • Christmas potluck/social gathering: Noon – 3:00 PM
• Expect around 30 attendees.
• Keep the event simple without a formal gift exchange, while potentially offering door prizes.

Emergency Preparedness and CERT Activities

• Updates were provided on CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training efforts and upcoming classes.
• Members discussed assembling communications backpacks and equipment for trainees.
• Future disaster-training scenarios and use of former fire station facilities for exercises were considered.

Website and Technology Updates

• Club website development received significant attention.
• Discussion included:
  • Event calendar management.
  • Email announcements and recurring event notifications.
  • Member communications through Signal groups.
  • Preparedness and mutual-assistance content.
  • Creating administrative access and content workflows for partner organizations.
• Members reviewed logo options and website branding for related organizations.

Technical Radio Discussions

Members shared experiences with:

• HF propagation and regional communications strategy.
• 75-meter versus 40-meter performance for regional coverage.
• Digital modes, including FT8/JT modes and JS8Call.
• APRS and BTech radio configuration issues.
• Eliminating unwanted digital data bursts transmitted by certain radios.

Key Takeaways

1. Continue mentoring and assisting newer hams with antennas and HF station setup.
2. Promote General-class upgrades and participation in regional HF communications.
3. Move forward with planning the December 12 Christmas potluck and meeting.
4. Support CERT training and preparedness activities.
5. Continue improving the club website, calendar, and communications tools.
6. Develop future digital communications initiatives, including JS8Call and expanded regional HF networking.