3rd Thursday · 7:00 PM
Maple United Methodist Church
342 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI
Battle Creek, Michigan · Since the radio days
Clear signal. Steady hands. Friendly operators.
SMARS / W8DF is the Battle Creek area home for amateur radio: club meetings, repeaters, local nets, emergency communications, license testing, code practice, swap-shop listings, newsletters, and a practical path for new hams to get on the air.
Club life
Meetings, breakfast, coffee.
All persons with an interest in amateur radio are welcome. No callsign required. Meetings usually last under two hours.
2nd Saturday · 8:30 AM
Coney Island on NE Capital Avenue, north of Fog Motors and south of Bailey Park.
1st Saturday + 1st Thursday
After the 1st Saturday siren test, interested parties meet for coffee. The BLB meets on the 1st Thursday at 11:30 AM at Coney Island.
Get or upgrade your amateur license.
Bring what ARRL requires for an exam session and make sure you have your FCC CORES / FRN ready.
- Thursday, June 25, 2026 · 7 PM · Maple United Methodist Church
- Thursday, August 27, 2026 · 7 PM · Maple United Methodist Church
- Thursday, October 22, 2026 · 7 PM · Maple United Methodist Church
Sponsor: Southern Michigan Amateur Radio Society
Contact: Kyle Brown, W8KDB · VE Coordinator
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Join the society.
Membership is open to all persons having an interest in amateur radio. Dues are $20 annually and payable January 1.
For new amateurs, dues are waived for the remainder of the calendar year in which they are first licensed. Members receive the monthly club newsletter, FEEDBACK, electronically or by USPS on request.
Applications may be mailed to SMARS, P.O. Box 934, Battle Creek, MI 49016, brought to a meeting, or submitted electronically.
Infrastructure
Repeaters and coverage.
Program these into the rig before you head through Calhoun County.
146.660 MHz
2 Meter · -600 kHz offset · CTCSS 94.8 Hz
146.790/19
2 Meter Digital / D-Star · -600 kHz · Module C
442.7625 MHz
70cm D-Star · +5 MHz offset · Module B · D-Star registration
443.950 MHz
70cm · +5 MHz offset · CTCSS 94.8 Hz
224.240 MHz
1¼ Meter · -1.6 MHz offset · CTCSS 94.8 Hz
W8DF-5 · 144.39
Digipeater / iGate · find it on aprs.fi
WX8BTL
SKYWARN / ARES / RACES · 147.120 +600 kHz PL 186.2 · 442.350 +5 MHz PL 186.2
W8IRA Link
145.150 MHz · -600 kHz offset · PL 94.8 Hz
On-air schedule
Local nets.
The 220 and 440 repeaters are linked together and accessible via EchoLink.
When
Net
Frequency
Sunday · 8 PM
2 meter net
146.660 FM
Monday · 8 PM
220 / 440 net
224.240(-1.6 MHz) / 443.950 MHz
Tuesday · 7 PM
SKYWARN net
147.120 +600 kHz · PL 186.2
Wednesday · 7 PM
220 / 440 net
443.950 FM
Wednesday · 8 PM
10 meter net
28.365 USB
Saturday · 8 PM
220 / 440 net
443.950 FM
Mon–Fri · 11:30 AM
BLB round table
146.660 FM
Club contacts
Officers and coordinators.
Current club contact roster from the SMARS site.
PresidentMatt Woodman
AD8KA
Vice PresidentKevin Hoyt
KE8UU
TreasurerDan Whipple
KE8DW
SecretaryMelanie Lake
KE8TPQ
Member at LargeDan Pesch
WB8KC
VE CoordinatorKyle Brown
W8KDB
WebmasterPending
—
Saturday, May 2, 2026.
2026 Crossroads Hamfest at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds. Contact the hamfest committee for tables.
Email: smarshamfest@gmail.com
Phone: 269-358-8809
Location: Calhoun County Fairgrounds
Flyer and registration form · Map to Crossroads Hamfest location
Fairgrounds route.
From points east and west: take I-94 to exit 112 Partello Road. Turn right at the end of the exit. Follow Michigan Avenue into Marshall to Marshall Street, turn left heading south. Turn left onto Fair Street and proceed into the fairgrounds.
Vendors are located in the Commercial Building. Check-in takes place under the awning at the eastern building entrance.
Resources
Everything else the current site carries.
Quick links to the canonical SMARS resources and external amateur-radio services.
FEEDBACK newsletter
Monthly club newsletter archive with issues from 2010–2026.
Code practice
Morse code learning resources, CW trainer download, and W1AW practice schedules.
Swap Shop
Buy, sell, or trade amateur-radio-related items. Listings run for a maximum of 30 days.
Public service
RACES / SKYWARN, CERT, and SAR information through Battle Creek Emergency Services.
ARRL W1AW
ARRL bulletin station, code practice, and amateur radio operating resources.
Constitution
Club governance and society rules from the existing SMARS site.