KC3ARC

Kent County Amateur Radio Club

The Club is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

Club Nets: Wednesday at 7:00 PM on 146.910

ARES Net – Saturday 9:00 AM on 146.910

All Licensed amateurs are welcome to participate in either or both nets.

Club Repeaters:
146.910   (-) 77hz pl Camden (Main club repeater until further notice)

146.970  (-) 77hz pl Dover 
444.550 (+) 77hz pl Dover (Operational as of 10/20/2025. You are welcome to utilize it as needed.) 

Local Area Repeaters (not affiliated with KC3ARC)

147.300  (+) 77 hz pl N3YMS
442.450 (+) 127.3 hz pl Harrington

449.775  (-) 114.8 hz pl W3HZW Felton

Who is a Ham Radio Operator

A ham radio operator is someone who is licensed to use an amateur radio station for personal, noncommercial communication. Operators talk with one another on radio frequencies set aside for the amateur radio service by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States and by the International Telecommunication Union worldwide. These frequencies span VHF and UHF for local and regional communication and HF for long‑distance contacts that can reach across states, across continents, or around the world. Many operators also enjoy digital modes such as FT8, FT4, RTTY, and Winlink, which use computer‑generated signals to make reliable contacts under challenging conditions. Along with operating, hams often experiment with antennas and equipment, take part in emergency communication efforts, and support groups such as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which provides trained radio volunteers during public service events and emergencies. All of these activities reflect the technical skill, curiosity, and community spirit that make amateur radio a wide and rewarding hobby

 
Yaesu FTM-400X

📻 – March Message from KC3ARC – Kent County Amateur Radio Club

As we move into March, KC3ARC continues to stay active across the airwaves and throughout the community. The shift toward early spring brings better weather for antenna work, portable operating, and outdoor projects, and many members have already begun preparing their stations for the warmer months ahead. It is a great time to check equipment, refresh skills, and explore new modes or bands.

This season also gives us an opportunity to gather ideas for upcoming activities. Whether you are interested in a technical workshop, a field exercise, a presentation, or a project you would like to share with the club, your input helps shape our calendar and keeps our community strong.

Thank you to everyone who continues to participate in nets, meetings, and events. Your involvement is what keeps KC3ARC moving forward and ensures we remain an active and welcoming part of amateur radio in Kent County.

📅 – March Club Meeting – KC3ARC

The next meeting of the Kent County Amateur Radio Club will be held on Tuesday, March 10th at 7:00 PM at the Kent County 911 Center, 911 Public Safety Blvd, Dover, DE.

As we move closer to spring, this is a great opportunity for members to reconnect, share what they have been working on, and help shape the club’s plans for the warmer months ahead.

🚨 – ARES Meeting on March 30th

The March ARES meeting will take place on Monday, March 30th at 7:00 PM at the Kent County 911 Center, 911 Public Safety Blvd, Dover, DE. With spring approaching, this meeting is a good opportunity to review readiness, discuss recent activity, and prepare for the upcoming season of public service events and weather-related operations.

Participation from new and experienced operators strengthens the group, and all ARES members, KCARC members, and anyone with an interest in emergency communications are welcome to attend. Your involvement helps keep Kent County prepared and resilient as we move into the spring season.

🔊 – On the Air

  • Wednesday Night Net at 7:00 PM on 146.910 MHz with 77 Hz PL

  • ARES Net on Saturdays at 9:00 AM on the same repeater

Friendly check‑ins, updates, and a steady way to stay connected during the winter months. Any amateur radio operator is welcome to join both nets, whether you are a long‑time member, a new licensee, or just passing through the area. There is always room for another voice on frequency.

🛠️ – Repeater News

  • VHF Camden repeater (146.910) MHz remains our primary hub.
  • VHF Dover repeater (146.970 MHz) 
  • UHF Dover repeater (444.550 MHz)

📦 – Club Classifieds Have Returned

Our self entered and self maintained club classified ads are available. Members will once again be able to post equipment for sale, list items they are looking for, and share radio related gear with the rest of the club and the region.

The system is simple to use and gives everyone a convenient place to exchange equipment within the KC3ARC community.

Keep an eye on the website as the classifieds reopen and feel free to add your listings.

🗼 – New to Ham Radio?

March is a great time to get involved in amateur radio. As the weather improves, more operators begin working on antennas, portable setups, and outdoor projects, making it an ideal moment for newcomers to jump in. KC3ARC offers a mentor program designed to help new operators get on the air and support returning operators who want to refresh their skills. Whether you are making your first contact or exploring new modes, we are here to help you grow.

Visit KC3ARC.ORG for repeater information, club updates, and resources to guide you through the hobby.

Whether you are a long‑time operator, a newcomer, or someone simply curious about amateur radio, we invite you to join a meeting, check in on the air, or reach out with questions. There is always room for more voices and more knowledge on the dial.

 

🎓 – License Testing Information

Looking to earn your amateur radio license or upgrade your current one? You can find upcoming testing sessions in our area using the link below. It’s an easy way to see dates, locations, and available exam opportunities.

Click here to view local license testing sessions.

📡 Wishing you clear signals, steady contacts, and a productive start to March.

 

🇺🇸  73, The KCARC Ham Radio Club Team  🇺🇸

K-Ind

K-Index –  indices from observatories around the globe updated every three hours.

 

0 and 1 represent quiet magnetic conditions equal good HF band conditions, subject to a sufficient level of solar flux.
2 and 4 indicate unsettled or even active magnetic conditions, reflected in a degradation of HF conditions.
5 represents a minor storm.
6 larger storms.
79 represents a very major storm that would result in a blackout of HF communications.

A-Ind

A-Index – Daily Average of Magnetic Activity

0  to 3   Represent quiet magnetic conditions, thus good HF band conditions.
4   Quiet to unsettled
7   Unsettled
15    Active – active magnetic conditions, reflected in a degradation of HF conditions. 
27   Active – active magnetic conditions, reflected in a degradation of HF conditions. 
48  Minor storm
80  Major storm
132    Severe storm
208   Very major storm – blackout of HF communications
400   Very major storm – blackout of HF communications

SFI

Solar Flux Index (SFI) measures the sun’s radio emissions at a wavelength of 10.7 cm (2800 MHz).

 

70 – Not Good

80 – Good

90 – Better

100+ – Best

Monthly Club Meetings

Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm.

Meetings are held in the conference room of the

Kent County Emergency Operations Center. (EOC)
911 Public Safety Blvd. Dover, DE.

     Drive up to within about 1 or 2 feet of the gate, it will automatically open. No code or access is needed for the gate.
     After passing through the gate make an immediate left and park there.

     The door you will see is our access door into the building.  The door is locked, but during meeting nights someone is close by to open it. Our meeting room is straight in when you past through the doors.

ARES Meeting

Meetings are held at 7 PM on the last Monday

 of the month in the conference room of the

Kent County Emergency Operations Center.

911 Public Safety Blvd. Dover, DE.

 

(The Club Radio Room will be open 2 hours
before each meeting for Club members
to use the UHF/VHF/HF radios located there)

Check the Calendar of Events for the next Meeting date.

KC3ARC NETS

Day

Time

Frequency

Offset Frequency

Offset / Mode / CTCSS

Net Name

Download Script

Wednesday

7pm Eastern

 146.910

600 kHz

(-) / Tone / 77.0 Hz

Wednesday Night Net

Saturday

9am Eastern

146.910

600 kHz

(-) / Tone / 77.0 Hz

ARES Net

Wednesday Evening Net Control
 
    1st     Tom (N3ARX)
    2nd    Rich (N3JCP)
    3rd     Larry (K3LT)
    4th     Paul L (KC3TIR)
    5th     Jim M. (KC3BTV)
Saturday Morning Net Control
 
    1st      Larry (K3LT)
    2nd    John (AB3JS)
    3rd    Tim (KC3OO)
    4th    Jim M. (KC3BTV)
    5th    Jim M. (KC3BTV) (Volunteers welcome!)
 
Delmarva Emergency Net
  • 3.904 MHz 5:30pm EST (22:30 UTC) Sundays

Net Control: Tim KC3OO, Jim KC3BTV, Spence NS3F (Sussex Co), Hunter W3CZ

Delaware Traffic Net
  • 3.904 MHz 5:30pm EST (22:30 UTC) Monday thru Saturday
Lake Forest High School (Lake Forest Amateur Radio Club) KD3AME

Tuesday’s at 3pm on the KC3ARC Camden Repeater  146.910 (-) 77hz pl  

 

LFARC   https://sites.google.com/view/lfarc/home   A student based organization at Lake Forest High School in Felton, Delaware

DMR Net on the 8802 talkgroup
Monday’s at 8 PM on the N3YMS repeater system. A part of the Interstate DMR system.

Net control is Danny N3WCB.

Saturday Evening Rag Chew (open topics, anything you would like to discuss)

 Saturday’s at 8pm on the Mount Joy repeater, 443.200

 Net hosts: Willie KC3RPU, or Russell KC3RP

Traffic Nets in the DE/NJ/MD/PA areas

If you’re interested in reaching Traffic Nets in surrounding states, check out this comprehensive daily list. It covers National Traffic System (NTS) nets across VHF, UHF, and HF bands.

Traffic Nets

 Compiled by Josh, KD3AHL

Contact, information, or webpage questions: info@kc3arc.org

 
    *** New Constitution and Bylaws where approved at the 3/8/2022 Club meeting ***
 
    *** An announcement was made at the KC3ARC Club meeting on 08/09/2022 that the Club was officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) entity. ***
 
          The new Constitution and Bylaws are on the About Us page.