Gila Amateur Radio Society, Inc.

Hello all - The 2026 annual meeting of GARS will take place this Saturday, February 28th, 2025 starting at 11 am . It will be held in the second floor meeting room of the Silver City Town Annex located at the corner of Hudson and 12th Streets across from the Food Basket. If you feel hungry or need some coffee prior to the meeting, you're welcome to stop by Denny's at 9am for our monthly GARS breakfast. Club dues for 2026 are also now due. Payment information can be found at:  https://garsnm.blogspot. com/p/gars-inc.html . Club dues are critical to maintain the operation of the GARS repeater on Black Peak, to cover the cost of repeater insurance, and to pay for the site lease with the USFS. Without adequate funds, we would be unable to maintain the repeater operation, so please renew your club membership or consider joining now. Thanks, Mark Karagas K5MGK GARS Secretary/Treasurer

I followed this video and PDF guide to remove most of the default Google Android apps from a cheap Moto G for Straight Talk ($29.88 at our local Walmart purchased 11/18/2025). As the host says in the video, I will be using this as a tablet for my ham radio communications and not as a Straight Talk phone. This process allowed me to replace many of the apps with open source apps for enhanced privacy and customization. It took me awhile to complete the process but I did it during a couple of sessions today. It feels great to accomplish such a task and I recommend it for others who would like to take more control of their communications devices. I don't know if I will eventually buy the recommended handheld radio (BTECH UV Pro) as I already have a handheld and a TNC modem device that allows me to use Bluetooth to connect the android with the radio. Warning: high nerd content! Video:  De-google an Android Device for Dedicated Comms Use

https://www.blogarama.com/technology-blogs/1448360-ham-shack-blog/57121772-understanding-radio-codes-comprehensive-guide

I wanted to let everyone know Charles Rogers NM5CR, a member (and current VP) of GARS passed away on Monday at Lovelace Heart Hospital up in Albuquerque (complications from heart surgery). He has been in GARS at least since I joined the club. He lived in Silver City but has since moved down to Deming but was in attendance at the monthly Saturday breakfasts and club meetings. He was involved in the local club and ARES in the Los Alamos area before coming down to our corner of the state. Rest In Peace Charles. 73 Mark

Hi all, here's an introduction to APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System). It's a digital mode that is primarily operated on 144.39 MHz in North America. This mode is great for reporting your location while you drive and you can view your progress on the internet at: https://aprs.fi . Many VHF radios have the capability to utilize APRS built in but any FM VHF transceiver can be set up to use with APRS. There's a very portable option that'll even work with the least expensive handheld VHF radio. You can also use APRS to send short text messages to other hams as well as send messages to your friends and family via SMS. This is yet another option for the new technician who is looking into what can be done with ham radio besides talking on a handheld repeater. View some of the videos I collected below to learn more. Best Regards, Mark K5MGK

Hi all, I wanted to post this in case some of our new technicians (or anyone else in our club) are curious what they can do with their newly acquired ham license beside talking on a handheld radio. FT8 is a "digital mode" (still an analog signal over-the-air but which a computer can encode/decode) that allows hams to make short, concise contacts with another ham halfway around the world (called DXing in hamspeak). Digital modes allow a ham to operate with a modest antenna and low power transceiver but still be able to have fun reaching all over the world. Even a technician with transmitting privileges on 10 meters can join in on the fun. We are currently in the highly active part of the 11 year solar cycle and this helps 10 meters become alive with great propagation! I have attached a screenshot of my activity on 10 meters just yesterday. The map shows all of the hams that were using and listening on FT8 with their computers and their computers sent periodic data over the int...

  It's now official on the ARRL website. Details can be found at: https://www.arrl.org/exam_ sessions/silver-city-nm-88061- 1 We have five people interested in taking the exam, but if you know of others or would like to take the exam yourself, please let me know: w5mts@arrl.net . Mark, K5MGK, Jeff, K5VU, and I will be the VEs.  Marc, W5MTS GARS President

This post is an invitation to our annual meeting scheduled for 9am on Saturday, January 13th at the Town of Silver City's Annex Building (located on the NW corner of Hudson and 12th St) in the 2nd Floor meeting room.    Also, please help support our continued efforts to maintain the GARS repeater on Black Peak by renewing your 2024 membership or if you are not a member of GARS, now is the time to join. GARS, Inc. has been registered as a Domestic Non-Profit since 2016. Please visit our homepage or click the link below and scroll down to the " Become a contributing member of Gila Amateur Radio Society " section for instructions on how to join or renew your membership online or send/mail a check. https://garsnm.blogspot.com/p/gars-inc.html

  I have included this video for anyone who has been curious about amateur or ham radio. The presenter does a great job explaining what is possible in ham radio from the perspective of emergency communications in case the grid goes down. Good beginner information and simple explanations. Useful for finding out what amateur radio is capable of achieving.

I came across a video this morning and it is interesting and informative. Professor Col. Stephen Hamilton KJ5HY gives us a perspective of the relevance of modern HF radio communications for the military. Ham radio enthusiasts will appreciate the information he is sharing as well since he credits the ham radio community for continuing to advance HF communications technology and techniques. Worth a view.

From Marc W5MTS:   Hi all - We'll be having an in-person GARS meeting on Saturday, August 19th starting at 1000 in the Silver City Town Annex meeting room. The meeting will begin with a special presentation by Dave Jorgensen, WD5COV, who participated in the recent Bouvet Island Dxpedition that encountered many weather challenges. Following that will be a very short business meeting.  Also a reminder that the monthly breakfast meeting will be held Saturday, July 29 at the Patio Restaurant in Hurley at 0900. 73, Marc, W5MTS

Let's All Freak Out Over RM-11953, Shall We? Dave Casler KE0OG "Ask Dave" gives a great description of what the FCC's RM-11953 proposal and how it may work and affect our HF band allocations. It's worth watching his video. 73 de K5MGK

 I ran across this video today and it resonated with me. I am one of those individuals that the YouTube Channel creator describes in his video. It's never too late to enjoy a new hobby! 73 de K5MGK Mark

From Marc W5MTS: Hi all - We will be having an in-person GARS meeting on Saturday, April 8 at the Silver City Town Annex upstairs meeting room starting at 0900. Steve London will present a session on contesting that we didn't get to in December. Following that, we will have a short business meeting. Hope to see you there. Marc, W5MTS

 04/01/2023: Taken by Mark K5MGK from station A at the Big Juniper Tree Trailhead: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XY9wVDhhZSKDPFdZ8  

Free to download and use in Google Earth. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10Lvzkdtox8vG7iNkpQHSOIUfn8yUNV5b Read more about this project on QRZ .

  QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Will Return March 25-26, 2023   ​ Exhibition Opens and Presentations Begin Los Angeles (USA - California)  Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 08:00:00 PST  UTC-7 hours UTC (Time Zone)    Saturday, March 25th, 2023 at 15:00:00 UTC       2nd Day Exhibition Opens and Presentations Begin Los Angeles (USA - California)  Sunday, March 26th, 2023 at 08:00:00 PDT  UTC-7 hours UTC (Time Zone)                Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 15:00:00 UTC - 7 hours. The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is the first and only on-line amateur radio convention, since August 2020. Click to register: https://qsotoday.vfairs.com/en/registration-form Click to download vFairs mobile app for Android and iPhone:  https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/mobileapp.html YouTube videos from past expos: https://www.youtube.com/@qsotodayvirtualhamexpo/featured  

Welcome to the club of amateur "ham" radio enthusiasts serving Southwest New Mexico. Our mountaintop K5GAR repeater has an extended coverage area well beyond Silver City, the mining communities, and Grant County. Mission Statement: "To further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to so conduct club programs and activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the region. GARS, Inc.   11 Oakridge Dr, Silver City, NM. 88061-8852 E-mail: K5GAR@protonmail.com Our Long Range FM repeater, K5GAR is: 146.980 (-), tone 103.5 ​Our System Fusion C4FM/Analog FM repeater, K5MGK is: 448.05(-), no tone   GARS Message Forum:   https://groups.io/g/garsnm ​  ​ Upcoming events   GARS 2 Me...