{"id":11,"date":"2020-11-21T19:23:51","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T19:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pcars.org\/wp\/?page_id=11"},"modified":"2025-11-13T13:20:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T18:20:03","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pcars.org\/wp\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About PCARS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society<\/h1>\n\n\n
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PCARS is an amateur radio club located in Melbourne, Florida, that serves primarily central & southern Brevard County. The club is a Florida non-profit corporation with over 300 members, and it has existed for over sixty years. PCARS is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)<\/a>, which is a national membership organization for licensed amateur radio operators. In 2020, PCARS was designated as a Special Service Club by the ARRL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCARS amateur radio operators, often called \u201cHAMS\u201d participate in a wide variety of amateur radio activities. These include providing disaster communications, experimenting with things like amateur TV and satellite communications, competing in amateur radio competitions, and contacting amateurs around the world. Our members use not only voice, but many different modes of communications, such as Morse code, amateur television, radio teletype and other digital modes using computer interfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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W4MLB QSL card<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The club has an FCC issued amateur radio call sign, W4MLB, and a well-equipped amateur radio station. This station has been used by club members to compete with other clubs and groups around the world in various radio sport competitions. Recently, a whole new generation of contesters have sprung up & begin winning contests as well. Wednesday evenings<\/strong> from 6-8PM is Elmers’ Night at the club station, where we encourage would be & new hams, to come out & ask questions, get assistance with radios, antennas, etc. There is also usually a topic of the week, depending on requests from members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCARS conducts a general membership meeting on the second Monday of every month except for December. All amateur radio operators and interested parties are invited to attend. See the meeting page<\/a> and the calendar<\/a> for more information. PCARS also publishes a monthly newsletter. Anyone can read the most current newsletter<\/a> to see what the club is about. Members can access an archive of past newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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PCARS owns, operates, & maintains three FM repeaters<\/a> in the area. The 146.85 MHz repeater is Fusion enabled. There is also a 2nd VHF repeater, 146,61 MHz & a UHF-FM repeater. These enable consistent and effective communication over a large part of Brevard County using small hand-held transceivers. These repeaters have been very valuable in helping club members support Red Cross Shelters during hurricanes, and in supporting public service events. Many PCARS members are also members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)<\/a>. PCARS sponsors a weekly emergency training net, the Melbourne Region Emergency Net (MREN), where members and guest radio operators check into a controlled group on the 146.61 MHz repeater.<\/p>\n\n\n

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There are also a number of PCARS members who are interested in severe weather. storm spotting, and reporting. They participate in a weather reporting net immediately following the MREN each week. Most of these members are registered SKYWARN\u00ae<\/strong><\/a> spotters, and receive training from the local National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting office<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another new mainstream for PCARS members is Parks on the Air (POTA<\/strong>). Several members patriciate in POTA each week, traveling about to the various parks located in our area & beyond. POTA is essentially Field Day every day, without the fanfare. Some members have even operated POTA from a DX country!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Melbourne Hamfest<\/strong> has been sponsored by PCARS since 1965. This annual event is held the second weekend in October at the Melbourne Auditorium. It draws over 2000 enthusiasts from all over the state of Florida and beyond. It’s a time of fellowship, attending forums, browsing through tables piled high with radio equipment, and “eye-balling” all of the latest gear available through retail outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In addition to providing reliable communications for worthy public service events (races, parades, mock disasters, etc.), PCARS sponsors regular classes<\/a> to teach interested individuals the technical theory required to obtain an FCC issued Amateur Radio License. PCARS also conducts the exams<\/a> for those licenses throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Amateur Radio License Examiners – November, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

SKYWARN\u00ae is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society PCARS is an amateur radio club located in Melbourne, Florida, that serves primarily central & southern Brevard County. The club is a Florida non-profit corporation with over 300 members, and it has existed for over sixty years. PCARS is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), which is … <\/p>\n

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