The DARC has established a public Discord Server with several public Text Channels and a voice and video channel titled “DARC Lounge” – This is a handy resource to use – drop in anytime it is always on (in the cloud) use the #darc-public channel to share ideas, links ask questions or anything top of mind. The public channel is great to hang out on during some of the DARC Nets – a lot of the Internet links can be shared more easy. Access to the DARC Discord server is easy – you don’t even have to make an account or use an app if you don’t want – a Chrome browser works great. Details below
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DARC Lecture And Lab May 2021
Field Day Logging Options
Join the DARC for Lecture and Lab May 22, 2021 from 11am until 2/3pm Central Time virtually via Google Meet. (The virtual meeting ID/Link is always on the W5FC event calendar) During this lecture and Lab, we’ll be helping all participants learn how to use the free QRUQSP.org Field Day logger. This is an online logging system designed for Field Day and Winter Field Day and all you need is an internet connection and any device with a web browser with access to the https://qruqsp.org site.
Continue readingDARC Lecture And Lab April 2021
DIY Custom Shack LED Lighting Controller

Join the DARC for Lecture and Lab April 24, 2021 from 11am until 2/3pm Central Time virtually via Google Meet. (The virtual meeting ID/Link is always on the W5FC event calendar) You will be assembling a 12 volt custom LED lighting controller for your HAM Shack based on the QuinLED board with a WiFi enable Wemos board programed with WLED. In this LnL you will solder and assemble a complete WiFi enabled LED controller – it even comes with a case and a length of LEDs. Like previous virtual LnL events, participants will need to come to the Dallas Medical Center Apr 17, 2021 from 10:30 – 11:30 to pick up their kits from the Dallas Medical Center parking lot from Bill KF5ZBL.
Continue readingNo MOTA Apr-4-2021

In observance of Easter Sunday Apr 4, 2021 – there will be NO DARC MOTA (Meeting On the Air) Sunday Apr 4, 2021. Plan on attending the virtual DARC Club meeting Apr 6, 2021 at 7pm Central Time. As with all virtual events, the link to the Google Meeting invite to attend the virtual meeting is on the DARC Event Calendar. You will not want to miss this meeting, special Awards will be presented.
W5FC D-STAR Stack Upgraded and Online

Good News!! After a server drive outage in late Nov 2020 the W5FC D-STAR repeater stack has been successfully migrated to new server hardware, the OS updated and D-Star software upgraded to G3 code. Please let us know if you have any issues or questions just drop us a note here.
Continue readingDARC Lecture And Lab March 2021
Anderson Power Pole Workshop

Join the DARC for Lecture and Lab March 27, 2021 from 11am until 2pm virtually via Google Meet. This will be an Anderson Power Pole Workshop – This Workshop will give you a complete overview of Anderson Power Poles and how they are used in HAM Radio. Participants will have a choice of five different Power Pole accessory kits to purchase and build. Like previous virtual LnL events, participants will need to come to the Dallas Medical Center March 20, 2021 from 10:30 – 11:30 to pick up their kits from the Dallas Medical Center parking lot from Bill KF5ZBL.
Continue readingDARC Repeaters Back On Air Feb-26-2021

After the catastrophic cold weather events from Feb 12 – 18, 2021 here in Texas the DARC repeater facilities have restored building power and water and we are happy to report they are back online and operational. As a result, both the DARC W5FC 146.880 repeater and the 442.425 repeater are fully operational and are functioning as they normally would. The 442.425 is also re-linked to Wires-X and is online.
Continue readingLecture And Lab February 2021

The DARC Lecture And Lab for Feb 27, 2021 will be virtual via Google Meet! Join us at 11am Central Time from the comfort and safety of your home/location. In this virtual Lab And Lecture, We will be building from scratch a DIY power supply that is 50AMPs+ of 12-13.8volts – complete with cooling fan, USB charger, dual output 45AMP Anderson Power Poles, illuminated on/off switch and a voltage output LED display. The kit will be available for purchase from Bill, KF5ZBL prior to the meeting. Details below.
Continue readingWinter Field Day 2021

The purpose of Winter Field Day is to foster HAM camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on the air, outdoor fun in the midst of winter for American, Canadian, and DX HAMs. Don’t let those winter doldrums keep you locked up in the house… get out and play some radio but be safe about it!! Winter Field Day is the last full weekend in January of each year and runs for 24 hours 1900 UTC Saturday to 1900 UTC Sunday. For 2021 this is January 30/31, 2021
Continue readingLecture And Lab October 2020

The DARC Lecture And Lab for Oct 24, 2020 will be virtual via Google Meet! Join us at 11am Central Time from the comfort and safety of your home/location. In this virtual Lab And Lecture, We will be building from scratch a 1.5lb LiFePO4 4S 7Ah battery pack – complete with BMS and much more. The kit will be available for purchase from Bill, KF5ZBL prior to the meeting. Details below.
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