At the Gloucester County Amateur Radio Club (GCARC), our members are passionate about exploring the diverse and exciting world of amateur radio. Guided by our motto — Learning Stuff. Building Stuff. Doing Stuff – Together! — we engage in hands-on technical projects, educational sessions, and collaborative experiments that push the boundaries of radio technology.
A highlight of our calendar is Tech Saturday, a regular forum and work session held at our clubhouse on the Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds. These gatherings feature presentations, hands-on builds, and discussions on cutting-edge topics in ham radio. Members share knowledge, troubleshoot setups, and work side-by-side on everything from antenna construction to digital mode configurations.
Recent and ongoing member activities include:
- Building and deploying mesh networks with Meshtastic on both amateur and unlicensed bands
- Programming and operating DMR radios, including our club repeater on 440 MHz
- Experimenting with APRS for tracking, messaging, and integration with balloons or mobile setups
- Antenna design and construction workshops (e.g., Yagis, ground planes)
- Digital wattmeter/dummy load builds, PCB design, and soldering seminars
- High-altitude balloon projects in partnership with local STEM clubs
This section of our website provides resources, guides, and documentation for these popular activities. Select a topic below to dive deeper:
- Meshtastic – Mesh networking for off-grid and emergency communications
- DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) – Codeplugs, talkgroups, and repeater info
- APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) – Setup guides and tracking applications
- Other Tech Saturday Projects – Archives of past sessions and builds
Join us at an upcoming Tech Saturday or monthly meeting to get involved! Check our calendar for details.