Presented by Mike Cohen, AD4MC
Fellow NFARL members,
Mark your calendars — our July meeting is coming up on Tuesday, July 21st, and we have a presentation that I think will be genuinely valuable for every operator in our membership.
📍 Preston Ridge Community Center
3655 Preston Ridge Road, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30005
Doors open at 7:00 PM | Meeting begins at 7:30 PM
Can't make it in person? Join us virtually:
🔗 https://meet.google.com/kgg-vfyp-cyv
About the Presentation
Mike Cohen (AD4MC) will walk us through the story behind the NFARL Metro Atlanta Area Frequency Plan — how it came to be, how it was developed, and how we've rolled it out.
The origin of this effort traces back to our Education Strategy initiative earlier this year. After supporting TechFest in February and beginning to recruit students for a Ham Cram Technician Class, we realized our goal wasn't just to help people pass the exam — it was to get them on the air.
To do that, we wanted to provide HTs to new licensees pre-loaded with a practical set of frequencies. That led Mike and me to develop the NFARL Metro Atlanta Area Frequency Plan, which includes:
- NFARES frequencies
- A comprehensive list of local repeaters within a 25-mile radius
- Other useful channels of local interest
- 63 channels total, with coordinated display names gathered directly from repeater owners
One of the most important motivations behind this plan is emergency preparedness — having a broader pool of equipped local amateurs ready to respond in the event of a major disaster that could overwhelm the NFARES cadre.
The CHIRP file is already available on our website for download — but come hear the full story from Mike on the 21st.
Also Coming Up: J-Pole Antenna Workshop – July 18th
Before the meeting, on Saturday, July 18th, we're hosting a hands-on workshop featuring:
- Building 2m/70cm J-Pole antennas (Ed Fong design)
- CHIRP downloads of the Metro Atlanta Frequency Plan
- Repeater etiquette tips for new and experienced operators alike
Full details and information about the July 18th workshop can be found here.
Two great events in one week — hope to see you at both! 73!
