Welcome to Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Club (SMARC)

Would you like to know more about amateur (ham) radio? Are you a licensed ham and new to the area, been here forever or just have an interest in amateur radio, consider joining SMARC. Our 60+ members would enjoy meeting you, making a new friend and sharing the excitement. One good way to learn about SMARC is to join a Zoom session either every M-Th at about 8:30am to 10:15am or at a monthly meeting. Click the Join Zoom Link below. Passcode is w4olb. Are you alreay a ham and just need to ask a question and do not know who to reach out to, just click the EMail us button below and ask your question.

To get on our email list, just join our groups.io by clicking here. You will then be on an email list where you will be sent for more information and annoucements of SMARC club meetings and activities. Just want more information or to contact SMARC leadership, click the button below to email us.

As a little background relative to SMARC, there is some early history under the More tab on the ribbon above. If you are not yet licensed, SMARC holds a regular Technican class and also routine FCC tests are given locally (see below). Some ask, what does amateur radio cost?

• Technician course book is $25
• Technican class is FREE, just your time
• FCC Test is $10 (administrative fee)
• A basic two meter portable radio can lost as little as $50
• A basic digital radio, $150 - $250
• First year of SMARC Club membership as a new ham after completing the class is FREE ($25 per year thereafter)
• Over time and assuming you enjoy the hobby, likely you will acquire more used and/or new equipment 

Blount County Emergency Communications System (Local ARES Unit)

Blount County has another amateur radio organization, Blount Emergency Communications Service (BCECS) which is an ARES type of group. This is not a club, rather a service group formed under the structure of the Amateur Radio Relay League. ARES members receive emergency communications training and offer services for the local community to such organizations as Blount County Emergency Management, Blount Memorial Hospital, the local American Red Cross chapter and other community organizations. 

In 2019, SMARC donated their communications trailer in support of the Blount County ARES group. The ARES group today meets via Zoom and its regular Thursday evening Net. Want more information? Contact the BCECS TEAMAPP button below and/or take part in the Net, it is open to all licensed amateur radio operators.

Weekly and Morning Nets

The Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Weekly Net is held each Thursday at 7:00 P.M. on the W4OLB Club Repeater (146.655 MHz, Tone 100.0 Hz) with the backup repeater being the WB4GBI (146.625 MHz, Tone 118.8 Hz). All amateurs are welcome to take part. Net Control will ask only for your Call Sign, Name, Location and Affiliation. We also hold a simultaneous Zoom video conference which you are welcome to take part in by clicking here and using passcode 'w4olb'.

KK4XA Morning Net

Join the "The Bobs or Mike" every Monday through Thursday morning for the very informal KK4XA Morning Net beginning at 9:00 A.M. on the W4OLB Club Repeater (146.655 MHz, Tone 100.0 Hz) or the KK4XA DMR Repeater, 444.075 MHz, CC1, TG 314742. We also invite you to join the Zoom Conference, just click here and use passcode 'w4olb' to join the KK4XA Morning Net Zoom.

The W4OLB VHF Club Repeater and the KK4XA DMR Repeater are Linked

The KK4XA DMR repeater is connected to the internet via Brandmeister, thus these two repeaters can be accessed from anywhere by connecting to Talk Group 314742. 

New to Ham Radio or Want to Upgrade?

Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Club is a social club with its membership having hundreds of years of combined experience in many of the various aspects of ham radio. Check out our local repeater, W4OLB (146.655 MHz, Tone 100.0 Hz). We meeting informally, in-person, at TCs resturant in Maryville (see information in about TCs).

SMARC routinely offers a Technician licensing class to help newcomers get into the hobby. A Volunteer Examinar test follows the training class, typically on the last after a morning review. This training class is open to anyone interested in the hobby and you will learn the needed information to pass the FCC element 2 exam. To learn more about ham radio, click here.

For information on testing offered by SMARC and The University of Tennessee Amateur Radio Club please click here

---

Amateur (Ham) Radio Tech Class and Regular Testing

NEXT TEST SESSIONS

April 17th, 1pm - Partnership Church, 323 Partnership Parkway, Maryville, TN

June 14th, 7pm - Partnership Church, 323 Partnership Parkway, Maryville, TN

FREE TECH CLASS

The class listed below has just About ended and as soon as the next class is scheduled information will be available here.

Join Us for Our Monthly Meetings

Regular Social Events

EVERY THURSDAY: Want to get involved in a face to face technical discussion? A number of members meet at TC's Grill on 2514 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville starting about 11:30am every Thursday. Just come in and look for the big group of folks in the back of the restaurant. All are welcome to stop by.

EVERY FRIDAY: We also welcome you to join a number of our members, spouses and guests for breakfast at TC's Grill on 2514 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville every Friday morning at 9am. Just come in and look for the big group of folks in the back of the restaurant. All forms of radio any other topics are likley discussed. See: S.M.A.R.C. (w4olb.org)

FOX HUNTS and PICNIC: This event will be planned as weather permits where the club sponsors a picnic and then has a fox hunt. Announcement of the event, location, time and date will be sent out via email to all registered on SMARC groups i/o. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}

TAILGATE and POT LUCK: This event is usually held in the spring where members are invited to bring any ham related equipment to sell and then afterward for a pot luck with meat dish provided. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}

CHRISTMAS PARTY: This event is held of course in December, in place of the normal club meeting where the meat dish is provided and attendees are required to bring a salad or desert to share. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}

WANT TO KNOW MORE: Just go to the SMARC Team APP for most up to date information.

Field Day