Ready to Dive into the World of Ham Radio? Join SMRA!
Are you curious about Amateur Radio and looking for a fun, active club in the Carlisle, PA area? You’ve found it! The South Mountain Radio Amateurs (SMRA) is your gateway to an exciting hobby filled with learning, community, and real-world communication skills.
Whether you are brand new or upgrading your license, we’ve got you covered. We offer FREE FCC Technician License training classes and provide FCC license testing for Technician, General, and Amateur Extra classes. You’ll meet fellow Hams, build your skills, and become part of a vibrant community.
Come See What We’re About!
Drop in as a guest at one of our monthly meetings, held every 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the Carlisle Department of Public Safety (1 Public Safety Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013). Electronic license testing is available before the meeting at 6:00 PM, if precoordinated. Each meeting includes engaging presentations on everything from antennas to emergency communications.
Explore the Airwaves
SMRA operates four FM repeaters on mountaintops surrounding Carlisle: – 145.43 MHz, -600 kHz offset – 146.46 MHz, +1 MHz offset – 443.30 MHz, +5 MHz – 146.685 MHz (DMR), – 600 kHz (All use a 67 Hz tone.) We’re more than just talk! SMRA provides communications support for motorcycle events in Michaux and Tuscarora Forests and has an active ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) group that trains for real-world emergency scenarios with Cumberland County and the American Red Cross.
Get on the Air and Make New Friends
Join us every June for the ARRL Field Day, a 2-day event (28-29 June 2025) at the Carlisle Emergency Services Training Academy 180 Army Heritage Drive, Carlisle. You’ll get hands-on experience with voice, Morse code, digital modes, and even satellite communication. Don’t have a license yet? No problem! Try Ham Radio yourself with our Get on the Air (GOTA) station, under the supervision of a licensed operator.
Stay Active Year-Round
– Monday Night Net Check-In at 8:10 PM on the .43 repeater, followed by the Elmer Help Net for live Q&A. – Sunday Digital Net at 7:00 PM (fall-winter), where we send photos, emails, and forms via radio. – Ham Radio Breakfasts on the 2nd Saturday of every month, complete with “show and tell” and tech talks. – QRP (low power) Dinners & Park Outings—including Parks on the Air (POTA) events. – Hands-on Workshops—from building antennas/projects to crimping Coax and Anderson PowerPoles.
Why SMRA?
Because Amateur Radio is a hobby that never gets old. There’s always something new to explore—new radios, new tech, new friends. Whether you’re interested in emergency communications, building gear, digital modes, or just chatting with people around the world, you’ll find your community here.
Join the Adventure You can email us at N3TWT@arrl.net, and join us on Facebook. Better yet, we’d like for you to come out to a meeting, meet our members, and catch the radio bug. We’re excited to meet you! For a list of upcoming events and meetings please check out our club calendar.