If you built a J-Pole at the July 18th workshop and are still wondering just how well one of these things performs — Gary Siepser, KR4LUL, has your answer. Gary finished his DBJ-2 build, swept it on 70cm at the workshop, and — the same day — took it home, hung it in a tree at roughly 6 feet off the ground, and hit the repeaters. No mast, no tower, no ground plane. Just a tree branch and a fresh coat of solder. 🛠️ From Kit to Feedpoint 📊 Checking the Numbers Gary’s 70cm sweep came in at a clean […]

Following up on our J-Pole Workshop announcement, NFARL members turned out on July 18th for a morning of hands-on antenna building, radio programming, and repeater know-how. Hams of all experience levels — including several brand-new licensees fresh off Ham Cram — built their own dual-band 2m/70cm J-Pole antennas, programmed their HTs with the new NFARL Metro Atlanta Frequency Plan via CHIRP, and picked up practical tips for getting the most out of local repeaters. By noon, tables that started out covered in twin-lead wire, PVC, and soldering irons were covered in finished — and tuned — antennas ready to take […]

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, […]

🛠️ Workshop: 2m/70cm J-Pole Build, CHIRP Programming, & Repeater Tips – July 18th Following up on our highly successful Ham Cram class, it’s time to put those new HTs (handheld transceivers) to work! This hands-on workshop is designed to help you build a portable, raised outside antenna for vastly superior repeater coverage, get your radio programmed with local frequencies, and master the airwaves. We will start at 9am and try to finish by 12 noon. 📋 Workshop Objectives Build a Twin-Lead 2m/70cm J-Pole Antenna: Construct a high-performance, portable/base antenna to take home. CHIRP Radio Programming: Flash your HT or portable/base […]

Get ready, everyone! The most anticipated amateur radio event of the year is just around the corner – 2026 ARRL Field Day!  NFARL is inviting the communities we serve to join us in participating in this exciting weekend event!  This is a fantastic opportunity to operate, learn, socialize, and showcase the power and fun of ham radio to everyone. Event Details: What: ARRL Field Day 2026 When: Saturday, June 27- Sunday, June 28, 2026 On the Air Start Time: Saturday, June 27 at 1800 UTC (2:00 PM EDT) On the Air End Time: Sunday, June 28 at 1800 UTC (2:00 […]

The North Fulton Amateur Radio League just made history — and the future of this hobby looks very bright indeed. Our 2026 Ham Cram class has wrapped up, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the results: an 88% pass rate on the first attempt. But the numbers only tell part of the story. How We Built Our Model When planning this event, we looked to proven results. The Georgia Tech Bootcamp, using materials from KB6NU (Dan Romanchik), achieved a remarkable 39 out of 40 students passing. We adopted the same approach, and it delivered. I taught the first two […]

The Georgia QSO Party is over — almost! All indicators point to high levels of activity and lots of participation based on the initial score reports from the NFARL “Challenge” team!! If you participated in the GQP, please remember there are two score submissions we need you to make. 1. Submit Your Cabrillo File to the GQP Submit your entry directly on the GQP Log Submission page: https://gaqsoparty.com/log-submission-2/ The online submission page has a drop-down for affiliated clubs where you can indicate your club. Be sure to also include the full club name in your Cabrillo file itself. ✅ Enter […]

⏰ Deadline Reminder: The Georgia QSO Party Cabrillo file submission deadline is Monday, April 27 at midnight. Club Affiliation – Important! When submitting your Cabrillo file to the Georgia QSO Party, be sure to enter your affiliated club exactly as shown below. This ensures your score is properly counted toward the club total. ✅ North Fulton Amateur Radio League Do not use any of the following: North Fulton ARL NFARL Any other abbreviation or variation Log Submission Submit your Cabrillo log to the Georgia QSO Party at the link below: https://gaqsoparty.com/log-submission-2/ NFARL Challenge – Spreadsheet Submission All participants are encouraged […]

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 […]

Introduction: What Is a Go Box? A “go box” is a self-contained, portable radio station built into a protective case that can be grabbed and deployed at a moment’s notice. Whether you’re activating a park for POTA (Parks on the Air), setting up a Field Day station, or responding to an emergency communications event, a well-built go box means the difference between being on the air in minutes and spending that same time untangling cables on a picnic table. The challenge with any go box is the same: how do you pack a capable, full-featured HF station into something you […]