About This Site

Update August 2024

When I started this website nearly 10 years ago, I believed–and still do–that amateur radio needs REGIONAL websites with basic information for both new hams and for emergencies. When I was new to amateur radio, I found a lot of information spread out among all the clubs and agencies in the area. Some seemed rarely updated. I worked at trying to keep this one updated for a few years.

If I was retired and not working, I’d go around to the all the clubs and ask them for support…like someone on the club who would just look at Central Alabama Ham periodically and feed me information that needed updating. But I didn’t get that done. So, this website is not up-to-date. It’s too bad. I’m going to hang on to the URL and keep the website up. Maybe I’ll retire one day!

Thanks,
Dale

N4HEY

What are you up to here?

We’re building a website for ham radio operators in Central Alabama. The idea is not to replace any other website’s content, but to have a centralized presence, on the web, to list basic information: Area Nets, VE testing schedules, club information, etc.

Who the heck are  you?

It’s a perfectly fair question. One of us is N4HEY, Dale in Cahaba Heights.

What is your problem?

Information about local amateur radio activity in the greater Birmingham area is spread out across various national databases, the websites of more than a half-dozen ARCs (Amateur Radio Clubs), and other sources. All the national databases include, for example, repeaters that have not been active in years. This is inconvenient for all operators and a great hindrance to new operators. The idea of the website is to compile information gleaned from multiple sources to provide easy reference for ham operators in the Birmingham Metro area.

What area will the website cover?

We plan to initially include information regarding amateur radio in these counties, focusing on VHF/UHF activity: Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, Bibb, Fayette, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Talladega, and Cullman.

What information will be compiled?

This depends on how things go with the site and, particularly, how much interest is generated. The more people who are willing to contribute, the better. Here are our initial goals.

  • Listings of active 2 meter and 70 cm repeaters (why bother with inactive ones?) in the area, with the needed technical/programming information, location references, and user-provided notes on the activity level of each.
  • A compiled lists of area nets.
  • VE Testing locations and schedules.
  • A calendar of special events.
  • A listing of contact information and links of all area Amateur Radio Clubs.

But, it’s easy to imagine the kind of additional information that could be provided on a consolidated, multi-county ham website.

How will this process work?

This should work by having visitors, radio operators in the area, swing by and contribute information. Please do!

Are you trying to make money or something?

Oh, we’re trying. But not with this website. This is a non-commercial, non-revenue producing activity. Like much of life.

Ok, I’m in. What can I do to help?

So very much. We need:

If you want to participate, email us here.