Fall is the perfect antenna season. NFARL is launching a club-wide program of site surveys, build days, and Elmer-assisted installs, starting with a hands-on 40/80m EFHW build workshop at the October meeting.
Ready to Level Up Your Signal?
Whether you're trying to break through a pileup on 20 meters, finally get on the air as a new Technician or General, or clear out the noise on 80 meters, one truth holds in ham radio: your station is only as good as the wire and aluminum in the air.
With fall approaching and the leaves coming down, now is the ideal time to audit, upgrade, and optimize our antennas. That's why we're kicking off the NFARL Antenna Opportunity 2026, a club-wide initiative to boost every member's station performance, on-air enjoyment, and technical curiosity.
The Mission
A structured club program to maximize member station performance through site surveys, antenna consulting, hands-on build days, and Elmer-assisted installation.
Antennas always top the list of what our members want to work on. This project bridges the gap between wanting a better signal and actually getting one in the air.
- New Hams: Get a high-performance starter antenna working correctly, without the guesswork.
- Experienced Hams: Audit your current setup, fix high SWR, or explore multi-band options.
- Elmers: Share your knowledge, test equipment, and build techniques with eager learners.
- Everyone: We'll pair the energy of our younger members with the experience of our Elmers, so nobody has to climb or rig alone.
How It Works: Four Steps
- Design & Survey: Join our weekly "Meets," where we look at your space, constraints, and operating goals and match you with the right antenna design.
- Build: Get hands-on experience building quality gear alongside experienced members.
- Deploy: Get physical help and advice on hanging, elevating, and routing coax safely.
- Tune: Check SWR and resonance on-site, so you walk away with a tuned, turn-key installation.
October Kickoff & Hands-On Build Workshop
At our October club meeting we'll lay out the vision, the project roadmap, and the real-world station progress made so far. Right after the program, we're hosting a Hands-On Antenna Build Workshop:
- The Project: Build a robust 40m/80m End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) transformer and antenna system.
- Power Rating: 200 W PEP SSB/CW, or 100 W FT8 continuous duty.
- The Goal: Take home a proven, high-efficiency antenna ready to string up this season.
📅 When: Tuesday, October 20th @ 7:30pm (doors open 7:00pm)
📍 Where: Preston Ridge Community Center, 3655 Preston Ridge Road Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30005
💻 Can't make it in person? Join via video: meet.google.com/kgg-vfyp-cyv
🔧 Workshop kit: [cost / how to register / what to bring]
Take the First Step
Take five minutes this week to look up at your current setup. What band are you missing? Where is your noise floor too high? What project have you put off because you needed an extra pair of hands or an SWR analyzer?
Bring those questions to the weekly Meets [day/time/location] and to the October meeting. Let's get hands-on, work together, and make sure NFARL dominates the bands this fall.
See you there! 73!
