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WELCOME
Welcome to the Appalachia Amateur Radio Club. We are based In Murphy NC, located in the Beautiful Smoky Mountains. The club was
formed for the purpose of promoting amateur radio in our community. The Club offers many avenues for your amateur radio enjoyment and growth from 2 meter nets to POTA (Parks on the Air) along with Skywarn, digital and contesting.
MEETINGS
The Club meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month, except December, beginning at 7PM at the First Baptist Church of Murphy, 517 Hiwassee Street, Murphy, NC 28908. Guests are always welcome!
Feel free to browse the site, leave a comment through the contact page, or stop by at a meeting and see what we have to offer. 73!
For more information on the diverse field of amateur radio, visit a local club or the ARRL. American Radio Relay League
Members login: https://www.hamclubonline.com
HISTORY
by Kevin Heyboer KD4UYR
On March 2nd, 2012, at 7:35 pm, an EF-3 tornado ripped through the Hiwassee River Valley. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but a serious flaw was discovered in the 911 communication system. Both radio communication and telephone communication failed as a result of a significant blackout caused by the tornado.
In neighboring Clay County, Larry Ford K4AEC was already trying to start an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group at the county level. In 2013, as a result of the tornado, about twelve persons became active ham operators in both Cherokee and Clay County.
In August of 2013, Jim Howard W4SDJ, Charlie Earle K4CTE, Dick Leineke KJ4GTK, and Kevin Heyboer KD4UYR decided they should create our own ARES group in Cherokee County. 
Once the ARES program was formed, they were joined by other licensed hams from as far away as Robbinsville. This included Josh Roach K4LI (KK4KVE at that time), Bob Pelletier KK4NUJ, George Dinsmore KK4JQV, Lois Dinsmore KK4JQU (sk), Pete Michel W4MXY, Gary Gobeo NC4GG, and Skip Davis NC9O. The group had their first Field Day in the Summer of 2014.
In 2016, with the numbers growing, Charlie Earle K4CTE began researching the idea of forming an amateur radio club in the area. The previous Murphy ham club, the Triode Club, had disbanded years before. Charlie reached out to the WCARS group in Asheville, and in 2017, the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society-Murphy Chapter was born. Charlie Earle was the first president of the club. The group remained active with the ARES organization and participated in multiple public service events throughout Cherokee and Clay County which included Field Day.
Charlie Earle K4CTE served two terms (2017-2018) as president before stepping down. Dick Leineke KJ4GTK took over the reins of the club for the following three years,(2019-2021). Ron Parks KX4IU then picked up the reins and has been president of the club since 2022.
Having reached the point of having a much larger, self-sustaining club, in January of 2024 the decision was made to become independent from the WCARS organization and form the Appalachia Amateur Radio Club (AARC).
The Appalachia Amateur Radio Club can boast of having one of the most diverse amateur radio clubs in the country. We have a large group of women who are licensed and active hams, and our group has a wide range of ages and interests. We even have one of the very few amateur radio operators with Down’s Syndrome, Anna Grace Davis WD4AGD, who passed her technician test in 2023.
*** We at the Appalachia ARC will never sell, give away or trade your personal information that you share with us to any other sites or third parties. We value and respect your privacy.***