Clark County Amateur Radio Club, Inc.

About the Clark County Digital Group

The Clark County Digital Group is interested in a wide variety of digital modes. It is an informal group with about a dozen regular attendees.  When we meet, anything goes. We mainly discuss the digital modes, but we always stray to other topics and just have a good time. We also bring digital gadgets for show and tell.

The CCARES/RACES group has two portable emergency radio stacks (4 radios mounted in a wood stand) that includes a portable PACKET radio station. We use them for emergencies and special events.

PACKET radio:  PACKET radio started as an HF mode in 1980 but it took a little too long in transmitting to be efficient so it evolved into PACTOR. It is the same principle in that it sends error free text messages but PACTOR does it faster and that works a whole lot better for the HF bands. PACKET Radio was also on the 144 MHz and 440 MHz bands and it has remained popular on the 144 MHz band (2 meters).

PACTOR:  Since sending error free messages is a great idea for both fun and in emergency situations, PACKET was not forgotten when PACTOR became one of the favorite digital messaging modes.

Winlink 2000:  Access to the Winlink 2000 (WL2K) system in Clark County using VHF or UHF RMS systems is done through a Winlink 2000 Radio Message Server (RMS) ‘Gateway’ station.  We have dedicated WL2K Gateways in Clark County to support Winlink operations, K7YFJ-10 (2M, 220 & 440), K7GJT-10 (2M, 220 & 440), KA7CTT-10 (2M) and KB7APU-10 (2M)).  These gateways are not connected to the Clark County 144.99 PACKET network.
Winlink is very popular with RVers and boaters and especially to ARES groups (Amateur Radio Emergency Service).  Winlink 2000 was used a lot after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.  Fire Dept and Police Dept phones and radios were knocked out for days but Ham Radio Operators brought in their portable emergency ham radio stations and sent emergency traffic by voice and text messages.  The Winlink system simply reached out to where they could access the Internet and sent messages from the Gulf Coast to the rest of the world.

This is just an overview of what the Ham Radio digital modes are doing in Clark County so to find out more come to a meeting or jump on the Internet and Google the digital mode that interests you.

Clark County Digital Group

PACKET, Winlink 2000, APRS, HSMM-MESH, HamWan, DSTAR, DMR, C4FM & more!

We��usually have a digital radio station of some sort at every meeting so you can see one in action. New modes are always welcome. Somewhat new to the area is Yaesu's C4FM and we have Icom's DSTAR as well.

In the area, we have one W7AIA repeater at Memorial Hospital (443.825+), and a K7CLL D-STAR repeater/gateway (440.0125+) on Larch Mtn relocating to OHSU.

Interested in learning about D-STAR?

Mike/KB7WUK, one of the pioneers in making D-STAR operational in the Portland/Vancouver area, made an excellent presentation on the D-STAR system on 19 Nov 2016 to include how to use our new local K7CLL D-STAR Gateway that he brought on-line for us on our 440.0125+ D-STAR repeater on Larch Mtn. Mike is our SYSOP for the Gateway.

Click here for the presentation and click here for the handout

Clark County PACKET System

The Clark County PACKET system is on 144.990 @ 1200 baud & 441.060 @ 9600 baud.

The Primary BBS call sign is K7CLL-8
The Backup BBS call sign is K7CLL-15

All hams are invited to use the system unless it is under ‘Emcomm’ status where it becomes dedicated to CCARES/RACES use. There are several digipeaters on 144.990 to use located throughout Clark County.

Clark County Winlink System

The Clark County Winlink 2000 VHF & UHF RMS locations and frequencies are:
Battle Ground K7YFJ-10:144.920 at 1200 Baud
Battle Ground K7YFJ-11:223.700 at 1200 Baud
Battle Ground K7YFJ-12:441.525 at 9600 baud
East Vancouver KA7CTT-10:144.920 at 1200 Baud
West Vancouver KB7APU-10:144.940 at 1200 Baud
East Vancouver K7GJT-10:144.940 at 1200 Baud
East Vancouver K7GJT-11:223.700 at 1200 Baud
East Vancouver K7GJT-12:441.525 at 9600 baud

WL2K Digipeaters:
"WOODLN" up on Woodland Heights on 144.920 @ 1200 Baud
"ECLARK" on Livingston Mtn on 144.940 @ 1200 Baud
"YACOLT" on Yacolt Mtn on 223.700 @ 1200 Baud

Young Ladies (YL) Information

The YLs in CCARC are an involved group of women that have a love for Amateur Radio. We have some women in the club leadership that teach and others involved in various YL groups, from local to international.

We also have women involved in ARES/ RACES, EYEWARN, Search & Rescue, and providing communications for local community events.

MINOW Leadership - Margaret/AE7MB Secretary/Treasurer; Vanessa/KE7UBB President; and Marilyn/AF7MM Vice-President

YLRL International President and Vice President
Vice-President Rita McConnel/NE0DB - President Barbara Yasson/AC7UH

What is an Elmer?

The term "Elmer" is very synonymous  with the terms ‘teacher, mentor, tutor, guide, helper, or sage’ but with a history.

Elmer means someone who provides personal guidance and assistance to would-be and current hams. The term first appeared in QST in a March 1971 "How's DX" column by Rod Newkirk, W9BRD (now also VA3ZBB). Newkirk called them "the unsung fathers of Amateur Radio." While he probably was not trying to coin a term at the time, here's how Newkirk introduced "Elmer" in his column and, as it turned out, to the rest of the Amateur Radio world.

If you wish to contact an Elmer, send an email to elmers@w7aia.org or call the club hotline at  360-989-9268 and we’ll have an Elmer contact you! To volunteer to become an Elmer in any of the subjects listed below or for any other ham radio related subject not listed below, contact Dave/WZ8T at elmers@w7aia.org.

Who Are We?