Come one, come all, to see what Ham Helpers has received in donated radio equipment. The Free Flea will take place at 2725 NE 14 Ave. Wilton Manors, 33334 from 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
It is open to all hams, family and friends. Free tailgating.
There will be an ICOM IC-7610 for auction with a starting bid of $750.00. The winning bid will be announced Saturday at 2 pm. Contact information : kennyh4600@gmail.com (ke4nc).
You must come and see what Kenny has scooped up in his trips around Florida. We will see you there!
Submitted by Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT
Many of you do not know what goes on in planning a Field Day so I thought I would review some of the processes of this past Winter Field Day.
When someone volunteers to head up the committee, in this case Joe McGee NX4T, they map out what they would like to see happen. Joe wanted to see as many different hams as well as club members attend the Field Day and have a good experience. He first thought of how to bring that about and came up with an idea to reach out by Post Cards to hams all over the Broward County area. Normally we had only used the emails we have in our database in the past. The Board agreed to support the project and Joe went to work designing the post cards with the help of Tom Savoca K9TJS, our PIO and webmaster over the December break period. After the design was complete it was sent off to the printer and when they were received by Joe, he went busily to work hand addressing the Post cards using the info from the FCC database for all the general and extra license holders in Broward County. He addressed some 400 cards and since he had not included call signs on them and the general thought was that it would be a better way to bring attention to the cards, a great friend to the club and most gregarious member, Aurora Figueiredo WD4AGF, then took the cards and added all of the call signs to them and sorted them by zip code for easy mailing. I then took all to the post office and put them in the mail.
Of course, although the hopes were that people would RSVP for food prep purposes, we did not get any and thought perhaps the Post cards may not yield any results. On WFD, we found that we got a 3% response in attendees and the visiting hams were delighted to be invited and meet our worker bees for the club. Some had issues with their antennas and other things in their shack but they were introduced to Jeff Stahl K4BH, Ricky Eaton KD4HGR, Tom McClain N3HPR, and Joe McGee NX4T to discuss the issues and get better ideas and the promise of future help with the problems.
It was wonderful to have satisfied people in our midst and we felt the Post Card effort was not in vain.
Joe McGee NX4T also felt that it was of the utmost importance for all visiting hams get a chance on the air during a Field Day so Joe again enlisted the able aid of Tom Savoca K9TJS to write a program where people could register for a time slot on the air of their choosing in half hour increments. This would, one, insure everyone got a chance to get on the air when convenient for them and two, the radio would be busy all day and night long. Thanks to these two gentlemen, who worked all through the Christmas holidays on the program project, its objective was met. Someone was on the radio at all times supporting the club by operating. We had over 15 different operators as opposed to the usual 3 or 5 we normally had on the radio. Some were first time operators and were given a chance to get their feet wet on the air. The GCARA Board were all happy with the result of the efforts of Joe and Tom and the support staff at the WFD. It was a first and it won’t be the last!
Now, if this intrigues you, we would like to invite your participation in the summer ARRL FIELD DAY. With the new ideas Joe spawned for inviting and operating, we managed to gather 54 visitors, all of whom were treated to a good time. The opportunities to shine are endless and Joe has more fun up his sleeve for the summer, as a consultant, to the contest. I admire his enthusiasm and genuine desire to mentor hams. He works with many newbies or shut ins who need help with equipment or whatever. He is one of the most socially active hams among us and I am so pleased he serves as a director in the club. I am also pleased with the hard work and creative designs of Tom Savoca KJ9TJS who saw these 2 involved projects through all of the time constraints and effort it took with such positive feedback and energy. Gentlemen, GCARA thanks you.
……….and that’s the rest of the story!
Submitted by Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT
Saturday morning ” ham” breakfast.
From 7 to 9 AM interested Hams meet since 1994 at JJs Cafe for breakfast.
Everyone is welcome to join.
JJs Cafe
6051 NW 31st Ave,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
http://jjcafefood.com/
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary@w4bug.org
Are you ready to earn your Amateur Radio Extra Class license and gain access to every amateur radio frequency privilege available in the United States? There has never been a better opportunity.
The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association (GCARA) is proud to offer an 8-week Amateur Radio Extra Class being held on Zoom beginning Friday, September 18, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM each week. The class will be taught by one of South Florida’s most respected amateur radio educators:
Jeff Stahl, K4BH
Jeff has been a licensed amateur radio operator for more than 50 years and has held an Amateur Radio Extra Class license for over 40 years. Throughout those decades, he has mentored countless operators, taught licensing classes at every level, and shared an incredible depth of technical and practical operating experience.
Whether you’re preparing for your Extra Class exam or simply want to deepen your understanding of amateur radio, you’ll benefit from Jeff’s extensive knowledge, engaging teaching style, and real-world experience.
Can’t Attend Every Class?
Life happens—we understand.
Every class session will be professionally recorded, and all registered students will receive access to the recordings. If you miss a class, or simply want to review a difficult topic before taking your exam, you can watch the lessons again at your convenience.
Why Upgrade to Extra?
Earning your Amateur Radio Extra license provides:
- Full operating privileges on all amateur HF bands
- Expanded DX opportunities
- Additional contest frequencies
- Greater operating flexibility
- A deeper understanding of radio theory and operating practices
Whether you’re an active operator looking for more privileges or someone who simply enjoys learning, this class is an investment in your amateur radio future.
Reserve Your Seat Today!
Pre-registration is required.
Visit www.w4bug.org to register and secure your place in the class.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the area’s most experienced instructors and take the next step in your amateur radio journey.
We look forward to seeing you in class this September!
Registration for Classes
Field Day 2026
The Board reviewed the highly successful 2026 ARRL Field Day event. Dan, AI4WW, reported that the official Field Day entry has been submitted to the ARRL with a final score of 3,621 points. The Board also reviewed the successful deployment of the club’s trailer during Field Day. The trailer, made available to the Association by Dirk, proved to be an excellent asset for display, storage, and support. Kenny KE4NC commented that, with minor modifications, the trailer could accommodate an operating station for future Field Day
events.
Dirk presented the Field Day statistics and financial summary, including attendance, membership growth, food service, donations, operating results, and event finances. The Field Day Statistics and Treasurer’s Financial Report are attached to these minutes and incorporated by reference.
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
GCARA May Meeting Recap and June 23 Field Day Preparations
What a wonderful evening! Thank you to everyone who attended our May meeting. The turnout was outstanding, resulting in one of the best-attended meetings we have had in recent memory. Seeing a packed room filled with members, guests, and new faces made for a truly special evening.
A packed house for our May GCARA meeting at Broward Health North.
A very special thank you goes to Shirley Ritchie, N4JKI, who shared a fascinating and heartfelt presentation about the life and legacy of her late husband, Chuck Ritchie, W4BUG, one of the founders of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association. Through photographs, memories, and personal stories, Shirley gave us all a deeper appreciation of Chuck’s remarkable contributions to Amateur Radio and our club. The audience response and participation showed just how much his legacy continues to inspire our members today.
Shirley Ritchie, N4JKI, sharing memories of Chuck Ritchie, W4BUG, GCARA co-founder.
We were also honored to recognize two outstanding members with Life Membership Awards. Congratulations to Alan Karden, N4ALK, and Shirley Ritchie, N4JKI. Special thanks to Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT, for presenting the awards and helping make the ceremony so meaningful.
Life Member recognition presented by Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT.
The evening also included FCC license testing. We are pleased to welcome two newly licensed Amateur Radio operators who have already joined GCARA as members and are awaiting the issuance of their new call signs. Congratulations as well to Aurora Figueiredo, WD4AGF, on successfully upgrading to General Class.
Special thanks go to our Volunteer Examiner Team: Alan Karden, N4ALK, Jeff Stahl, K4BH, and Jerry Deitch, W4LST, whose dedication helps bring new operators into our hobby and supports advancement within Amateur Radio.
Many thanks to Jim Schwantes, KJ4GJB, and Diane Schwantes of HamReady for attending the meeting and presenting samples of our new club apparel and merchandise. The shirts were very well received, and their continued support of Amateur Radio and GCARA is greatly appreciated.
We would also like to thank Ricky Eaton, KD4HGR, for stepping in on short notice to chair the meeting. Due to a severe case of laryngitis, President Ben Echavarria, N7BBE, was unable to fully participate in the program and remained largely in the background throughout the evening. Thanks to Ricky’s leadership, the meeting ran smoothly and successfully.
Another exciting milestone was reached as GCARA officially took possession of its new club trailer, generously provided by Dirk Basting, N4AN, just in time for Field Day preparations. The trailer will provide much-needed storage and transportation capability for club equipment and activities.
Special thanks to Kenny Hollenbeck, KE4NC, for providing parking space for the trailer and for helping coordinate its placement and storage.
GCARA’s new trailer, ready to support Field Day and future club activities.
Field Day preparations are already well underway. We are pleased to announce that Kenny Hollenbeck, KE4NC, has volunteered to serve as Field Day Chair, helping coordinate this year’s activities and operations.
A special thank you also goes to Jean-Marie Basting and Cara Jackson, who have generously volunteered to lead our culinary team and will be working the grill throughout the event.
Our hospitality team continues to grow. Ricki Witte, KJ4FSJ, will once again contribute her famous chili, while Leonardo Baldi, K4ITA, has generously offered to provide his outstanding Italian pizza for Saturday evening dinner.
Thanks to these volunteers and many others working behind the scenes, this year’s Field Day is shaping up to be one of the best in GCARA history. If you would like to help with setup, operating, logging, hospitality, antenna installation, teardown, or any other aspect of Field Day, please contact Kenny Hollenbeck, KE4NC. Additional volunteers are always welcome.
We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Broward Health North. Despite an unusually high demand for conference facilities, the hospital staff graciously made two conference rooms available on short notice, allowing us to accommodate the large turnout and ensuring the success of the evening. Their continued support of GCARA is greatly appreciated.
We would also like to thank Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB, for taking and sharing the excellent photographs from the meeting. Her photos beautifully captured the spirit of the evening and helped preserve memories of a truly special event.
A special thank you also goes to our Public Information Officer, Tom Savoca, K9TJS, for creating an outstanding Facebook story featuring many additional photographs and highlights from the meeting. His efforts allowed members and friends to relive the evening and helped showcase the activities and fellowship that make GCARA such a special organization.
Looking Ahead – June 23 Meeting
Field Day is almost here!
Join us on Tuesday, June 23rd, as we make our final preparations for ARRL Field Day 2026. This meeting will cover last-minute planning, operating schedules, station setup, logistics, hospitality, and opportunities for members to participate in one of Amateur Radio’s biggest annual events.
We are also pleased to welcome Mike Sams, KF4ZW, who will present:
Introduction to AllStar
Mike will provide an overview of the rapidly growing AllStar network, explaining how Amateur Radio operators can connect repeaters and stations around the world using AllStar technology. Whether you are completely new to AllStar or interested in expanding your operating capabilities, this presentation will be an excellent introduction to the system and its many possibilities.
We hope to see everyone on June 23rd for an informative evening as we make the final preparations for what promises to be another outstanding GCARA Field Day.73,
Dirk Basting, N4AN
Treasurer
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association
W4BUG.ORG
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary@w4bug.org
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Short answer: No — Amateur Radio is not in a broad decline. Current FCC license data shows more than 734,000 active amateur radio licenses in the United States, which remains a very large and active community. While participation styles have changed over the years, there is no evidence of a collapse in the hobby. The focus has simply shifted as technology and operating interests evolve. (ARRL)
📡 What the data shows
U.S. amateur radio license numbers remain strong at roughly 734,000 active licenses in 2026, showing that Amateur Radio continues to maintain a substantial operator base nationwide. Worldwide participation is still commonly estimated in the millions, and activity levels continue to move with solar conditions, contest seasons, DX activity, emergency events, and operating preferences. What many people see is not a decline, but a change in how operators participate. (ARRL)
📈 Where growth is happening
- Digital modes such as FT8, FT4, JS8Call, VARA, and Winlink continue to attract operators.
- Software Defined Radio (SDR), satellite operations, portable operating, Parks on the Air (POTA), and experimentation remain popular entry points.
- Emergency communications, preparedness groups, ARES participation, and public service events continue bringing in new licensees.
- Youth outreach, STEM programs, maker communities, and classroom projects are helping introduce Amateur Radio to younger audiences.
📉 Why some people think the hobby is shrinking
The perception usually comes from changes in activity rather than fewer operators:
- Some local clubs have smaller in-person attendance than in past decades.
- Traditional HF voice communities tend to have older demographics.
- Many operators have shifted from long ragchews to digital contacts, portable operations, or online coordination.
- Fewer brick-and-mortar ham stores make the hobby seem quieter than it was in the 1980s and 1990s.
- More activity now happens through digital systems, SDRs, remote stations, satellites, and portable events.
🧭 Bottom line
Amateur Radio is evolving, not disappearing. License numbers remain high, technology continues to expand the hobby, and new interests such as digital modes, emergency communications, SDR, satellites, POTA, and experimentation are bringing fresh energy into the community. The hobby looks different than it did decades ago, but it remains active, relevant, and technically innovative.
Sources: FCC license data and current statistics from the ARRL license count reports. (ARRL)
