Fellow NFARL members — mark your calendars and dust off your portable rigs! We’re inviting you to participate in the 4th Annual Georgia State Parks on the Air — a fantastic opportunity to combine the great outdoors with the joy of ham radio. 🗓️ When 2026 Contest Period: Start: Saturday, April 18, 2026 @ 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) End: Sunday, April 19, 2026 @ 7:59 PM EDT (2359 UTC) (Operating hours are subject to individual park rules and schedules.) 🏕️ What Is It? Georgia State Parks on the Air is a statewide ham radio event with a simple but ambitious […]

Are you interested in the future of digital voice on the amateur radio bands? Whether you are a long-time club member or someone brand new to the world of ham radio, we invite you to join the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL) for our upcoming monthly meeting. This is an open meeting—everyone is welcome to attend! Presented by: Roy, KQ4OYM While VHF/UHF digital modes like DMR and D-STAR are common, digital voice on HF has often been limited by proprietary technology. Enter FreeDV. Roy will take us through the story of FreeDV and its flagship mode, RADE (Radio Autoencoder). […]

Are you ready to join the world of amateur radio? NFARL is hosting a special “Ham Cram” session designed to take you from zero to licensed in a single day! Why Join the Ham Cram? Accelerated Learning: Spend 6 hours in a classroom environment where we teach you the answers to the FCC Technician pool. Immediate Testing: Take your VE exam right after the class while the information is fresh. Awesome Bonuses: If you pass the test, you’ll receive: A FREE 1-year NFARL Membership. A programmed Handheld Radio (HT) with “NFARL Metro Atlanta” channels already set up, if you’re under […]

NEW DATE– TechFest 2026 has been postponed due to the high possibility of winter weather impact to roads   NEW DATE: Feb 21, 2026   Mark your calendars! NFARL is excited to announce our participation in the GARS TechFest 2026, the premier FREE amateur radio event in Gwinnett County. This annual celebration brings together ham radio enthusiasts of all experience levels to learn, share, and explore the latest in amateur radio technology. About GARS TechFest GARS TechFest is an excellent opportunity for individuals to learn about the latest developments in amateur radio technology, share knowledge and experience, and network with […]

“Performance Numbers – What Do They Mean?” by Rob Sherwood NC0B We were privileged to host Rob Sherwood, the renowned expert behind Sherwood Engineering’s comprehensive receiver performance testing, for an eye-opening presentation on interpreting radio specifications and lab measurements. For over 50 years, ham radio operators have relied on performance numbers to evaluate transceivers, but as Rob explained, many of us have been misinterpreting the data. The famous “Sherwood Table” – which ranks over 150 HF transceivers by their 2-kHz dynamic range – is often misunderstood. That ranking applies only to close-in dynamic range, not to every performance metric! Rob’s […]

It was the morning of December 24th when NFARL Lee Johnson, N4WYE, heard an unusual call on 40 meters. “CQ CQ CQ, this is S4NTA calling any station. I have an emergency traffic regarding gift delivery in the Atlanta area. Come back please!” Lee quickly grabbed his mic. After a brief exchange, the situation became clear: Santa’s sleigh was overbooked, his reindeer were overworked, and he desperately needed a local operator to handle a special delivery to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “I’ve got you covered, Santa,” Lee replied. “The NFARL and SEDXC families came through with four large bags of […]

The North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL) is thrilled to report that HamJam 2025A was a resounding success, setting a new record for attendance! This year’s event, held last Saturday, November 8th, brought together over 60 enthusiastic participants from the amateur radio community. The high turnout reflected the community’s interest and passion for the hobby. Attendees enjoyed a full day of engaging and informative presentations from fellow Hams, with a focus on programs supported by the NFARL YESA (Youth Education, Scholarship and Education) Program. This year’s speakers covered a range of cutting-edge and essential topics: Michael Walker VA3MW / KE2EAF […]