The Cascades Amateur Radio Society (CARS); a group of amateur radio operators in
Jackson County Michigan.
Jackson Radio News!
Field Day 2025 is in the record books.
This years Field Day operations have concluded. It was a successful year, a bit WARM but other wise a very enjoyable time. Click here for a report of this years activities from our Field Day Chairman.
We’re back at the Jackson County Fair!
August 03 – 09
We will need operators to staff the booth all times we are open, chat with visitors,
answer questions and play radio.
Details to follow so mark your calendars.
Looking for a fun Ham Radio activity? Try hunting for special event stations,
collect special QSL cards and Certificates.
Here is a sampling of some events to look for:
07/18/2025 | W3A Commemoration of Apollo 11 Live TV From the Moon
07/19/2025 | NS Savannah Launch Anniversary
07/26/2025 | Friends of Bodie Living History Day
08/09/2025 | US Coast Guard Birthday
08/16/2025 | International Lighthouse Weekend – Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Mi.
08/24/2025 | Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival Special Event Station
09/06-14/2025 | Route 66 “The Mother Road”
09/13/2025 | SS John W Brown Sept 13 Living History Cruise
10/11/2025 | US Navy Birthday
11/03/2025 | ‘Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald’
12/01 – 11/2025 | W2W Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration
Are you Prepared?
Do you have a plan?
Amateur radio is often seen as the backup plan for municipalities in the event of radio or power failures. In order to be ready to help the community, we need to do some work ahead of the storm to make sure our families are prepared and will be safe during an emergency. For information on Disaster Preparedness see this page of the Jackson County Health Department. Look for the link to signing up for local emergency alerts and the preparedness guides in the Resource section.
For further information on Preparedness, ARES / RACES Click here
Ham in a Day is back!
Attention:
Future Amateur Radio Operators
Do you think you might enjoy Amateur (HAM) Radio?
Does a 6-to-8-week course deter you from getting a license?
How about a “HAM radio license in a Day”?
The Cascades Amateur Radio Society (CARS) will be hosting a “Ham in a Day” Technician Class session on Saturday, 19 July 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wishes to get their
amateur radio license. This will be an all-day session and you must be present all day.
The session will begin at 8am “sharp” with a break for lunch, followed by the exam at 4pm.
No prior knowledge of electronics is needed.
Prior registration for study session or
VE testing is required.
Cost:
Study session: $20.00 (Study session cost includes exam fee)
Exam Only: $14.00, CASH ONLY, Due at time of testing.
Materials: Will depend on your choice of Study Guide materials.
VE testing will be available for anyone at ALL license levels.
Great Lakes Region Hamfest – 2025
Jul 26, 2025 Blossomland Hamfest, Berrien Center. MI
Sep 6, 2025 Grand Rapids Area Hamfest, Wyoming, MI
Sep 13, 2025 OAARS Hamfest, West Branch MI (TBD)
Sep 13, 2025 GMARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp, MI (TBD)
Sep 14, 2025 Adrian Hamfest, Adrian, MI (WB8R)
Sep 20, 2025 Top of Michigan ARC Hamfest, Gaylord, MI (WB8R)
Oct 2, 2025 MAARC Meeting, Muskegon, MI (WB8R)
Oct 4, 2025 Keweenaw County Repeater Assn, Baraga, MI
Oct 4, 2025 Kalamazoo ARC/SMART Vintage Electronics Expo (WB8R)
Oct 11, 2025 Muskegon Color Tour Hamfest, Muskegon, MI (WB8R)
Oct 19, 2025, USECA Hamfest, St. Clair Shores, MI (TBD)
Dec 7, 2025 LCARC ARC Hamfest, Troy, MI (WB8R)
Amateur Radio License Testing available
The CARS VE Team offers testing for all license levels on alternate months.
Next testing date is:
August 09, 2025 @ 10 a.m.
Testing is held at the Carnegie (downtown) branch of Jackson district library,
244 West Michigan Ave, Jackson MI 49201 – McIntyre room, at 10 a.m.
CARS Monthly Meeting:
Next Meeting: Tuesday July 15, 2025
Time: 1900 Local
Location: 1715 Lansing Ave, Jackson County Health Dept.
Enter building at the lower level parking lot entrance.
Talk in: 146.880 – 100 Hz PL
Club Roster is available here.
Weather Siren Testing for Jackson County
We have been ask to help provide verification that the weather warning sirens located in Jackson County are working as expected. If you would be willing to take an hour or less out of your day once a month to check on a siren please let Tim WD8PMD know and we will add you to the list of watchers. For more information see the SkyWarn page.
Siren testing job aid (how to sign up) is now available – click here for pdf copy
Go direct to Siren Map – click button
CARS Email Reflector
Have you signed up on to the CARS email reflector? Keep up to date on what’s happening with the club. We won’t spam you with lots of junk and you can unsubscribe at anytime, just let us know.
To sign on, just follow this link. CLICK HERE
LOCAL NETS:
Thursday Night 2 meter net
Time: 8:00 pm (2000 local)
146.880 – 100 Hz PL
Sunday Night 2 meter Net
Time: 9:00 pm (2100 local)
146.880 – 100 Hz PL
Sunday Night CW Net
Time: 8:00 pm (2000 local)
Held on 28.100 MHz +/-
