GCARA is a general interest amateur radio club intended to promote amateur radio, electronics education and fellowship through amateur radio in the Greater Cincinnati Tristate - Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky area. The club service area lies within a circle having a radius of 25 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
GCARA meets the 4th Wednesday of each month
Maple Knoll (Breese Manor) 11200 Springfield Pike, Springdale, Ohio
Click here for directions
Club membership is open to all licensed radio amateurs and persons interested in amateur radio. Dues for the GCARA are $15 per year ($20.00, if you would like a hard copy of the club newsletter) for regular membership. There is no charge for membership for Amateurs who are students in grades 1 through 12. The club year is from January 1st through December 31st. Student members enjoy the same privileges as regular members. Only current members and their guests are eligible to attend the picnic and the Christmas dinner. Contact GCARA Membership Chairman David Self, K8SSN (membership@gcara.org) for information.
The Family Picnic is held as one of the summer meetings. It is open to members, their families and their guests. There is a modest charge of $5.00 for each member and guest above 10 years of age. Children under 10 years are free. A catered picnic dinner, Cincinnati style, and entertainment for adults and children are provided.
Annual Christmas Dinner-Party
The Christmas Dinner-Party is open to members and their families. The evening consists of quality entertainment, the annual induction into the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Hall of Fame (see below), a delicious, hot catered dinner and a momento of the evening.
Scholarships
Scholarships are offered each spring to radio amateur members for study at the college level. Contact Rick Burdick, K8WWA, for information.
Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame recognizes Tristate radio amateurs who have performed meritorious service to amateur radio and/or have used amateur radio to serve the community. Nominations for the Hall are opened during late summer. Nominees need not be members of the GCARA. Inductions are held at the GCARA Family Christmas Dinner-Party. Contact Hank Greeb, N8XX, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Search Committee, for information.
The Mike & Key
The Mike & Key is the monthly newsletter of the GCARA. This newsletter won first place in the ARRL Ohio Section Newsletter Contest for 1996. It is posted monthly on the web at www.themikeandkey.gcara.org and sent to members who request a snail mail copy at $5.00/year. TM&K informs members of club happenings, activities of members, national and international events that impact on amateur radio, and news of general interest to Ham radio operators. Members may place free ads in the Member-mart section to assist in selling personal, surplus equipment. Commercial ads are also available. For information on The Mike and Key contact the editor, David Self, K8SSN .
GCARA Communications Expo (Hamfest)
The annual Greater Cincinnati ARA Cincinnati Hamfest is the major show and social event of the fall season. Known for its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, the Hamfest is held the Sunday of the third full weekend of September each year. For full information connect with http://www.hamfest.gcara.org
FCC License Classes
License classes are held at Maple Knoll Village near the WMKV studios, 11100 Springfield Pike (SR 4) in the Cincinnati Springdale suburb. The entrance to Maple Knoll Village is 5 traffic lights south of the SR 4/I-275 interchange. For further information contact Paul Flaugher, KB8ANY.
VE Exams
Exams are scheduled to coincide with the completion of GCARA licensing classes, immediately prior to the annual GCARA Communications Expo, on ARRL National Exam Days and at other times during the year. Contact Gary Osborne, W8XS, for information.
Ham Help/Equipment Support Committee
This committee assists radio amateurs solve equipment malfunction, installation and other problems that are keeping them off the air. On occasion, loaner equipment is also available for amateurs who need this assistance. To help or to request help, contact Jim Kamphaus, N8SIM. The committee accepts donations of equipment (may be tax deductible) to assist needy amateurs.
Youth OutReach Committee
The OutReach committee presents programs in the classroom or at youth meetings. These programs can be structured to compliment school lessons by focusing on basic electronics, wave form or another topic related to radio, electronics and electricity, in addition to brief introductions to amateur radio, or the discussions can be limited to introducing youngsters to radio communications and amateur radio. The discussions are formatted to be most useful to youngsters in approximately the 3rd through the 8th grades. For information, to arrange a presentation or to volunteer to help, contact Jay Parks, N8JP .
ARRL Field Day
The club participates in the annual ARRL Field Day exercise. This event provides a test of radio communications using portable amateur stations and offers great opportunity for camaraderie. For information, contact Jim Kamphaus, N8SIM.
During the summer we hold one meeting at the GCARA Family Picnic and another at the GCARA Hamfest. Also, our December meeting is held during the GCARA Christmas Dinner-Party. There is a modest charge for the picnic and Christmas party. See left for further information on these events.
Repeaters
GCARA owns and operates a 2 meter repeater on 145.27 - 600 kHz. The repeater is located in the Clifton community of Cincinnati and provides coverage throughout the Greater Cincinnati. area. It is opened to all properly-licensed amateurs.
GCARA On-Air Nets
GCARA sponsors two nets each week on the 2M and 160M bands. These nets are used to spread information on the GCARA and its activities, on amateur radio and on events that impact amateur radio, to permit participants to share ideas and information, and to provide a means to develop camaraderie. All amateurs are invited to participate in these nets.
The 2M River Cities Net meets every Monday evening (except holidays) at 9:00 PM Eastern Time on the W8DZ, 145.27 MHz, repeater. Contact Net Manager Dale Prichett, KC8HJL. Please note that the 2M net is QRT.
The 160M 1936 Net meets every Thursday at 9:00 PM Eastern Time on 1.936 MHz. Al Haller, W8PBX, is Net Manager. The last Thursday of the year, the GCARA holds an AM Net on 1.936 MHz at 9:00 PM Eastern Time.
