Are you a ham radio operator
Read More1 min read
We Communicate
Olympia Amateur Radio Society
"OARS"
ABOUT
OARS, the Olympia Amateur Radio Society, club call sign NT7H, is an ARRL Special Service Club dedicated to promoting and supporting Amateur Radio in the Olympia Washington area as well as all of Thurston County. We are also a Washington State Non-Profit organization and in the process of becoming a Federal 501(c)(3) Non-Profit.
We meet weekly every Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM on the OARS Repeater system (see the "OARS Repeater" section on this site) and on Zoom, 216 944 109, no password.
The monthly meeting is the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM at Tugboat Annie’s, 2100 West Bay Drive, Olympia, WA Zoom 435 905 935 password 147360. Come early, order dinner and enjoy the meeting.
Note: You have reached the site of the Olympia Amateur Radio Society in Thurston County, Washington. If you are searching for the Clallam County Amateur Radio Club their address is https://olyham.com/
We meet weekly every Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM on the OARS Repeater system (see the "OARS Repeater" section on this site) and on Zoom, 216 944 109, no password.
The monthly meeting is the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM at Tugboat Annie’s, 2100 West Bay Drive, Olympia, WA Zoom 435 905 935 password 147360. Come early, order dinner and enjoy the meeting.
Note: You have reached the site of the Olympia Amateur Radio Society in Thurston County, Washington. If you are searching for the Clallam County Amateur Radio Club their address is https://olyham.com/
Join Us!
Here's why OARS is the perfect place for you:
- Learn from the best: Exchange ideas with experienced Ham operators and pick up valuable knowledge.
- Make lasting connections: Join a welcoming group of people who share your fascination with radio communication.
- Dive deeper into your hobby: Monthly meetings and a weekly net schedule provide endless opportunities to explore the world of Ham Radio.
Annual Membership Dues:
1. New Member (first time joining OARS): Free for the first calendar year
2. Regular Membership Renewal (individual and family): $25 per calendar year
3. Associate (unlicensed) Membership: $20
4. Newly Licensed HAM (past 12 months) : Free for the first calendar year
5. Student Membership: Free for full time students
Ready to join the fun? Fill out the easy online application and you will start an exciting journey to connect, learn, and explore the exciting world of Ham Radio!
Join with this easy online application: Online Application
Calendar
Repeaters
NETS:
TCARES (see wa7oly.org) Every Tuesday Evening beginning at 7:00 PM on the OARS Repeaters.
OARS Information Net Every Tuesday Evening beginning at 7:30 PM on the OARS Repeaters.
| Location | Frequency | Offset | PL tone | Call sign |
| Olympia | 147.360 MHz | +0.600 | 103.5 | NT7H |
| Crawford Mt | 224.460 MHz | -1.600 | 103.5 | NT7H |
| Crawford Mt | 441.400 MHz | +5.000 | 103.5 | NT7H |
All three repeaters are linked for greater coverage of Thurston County.
License Testing
LICENSE TESTING:OARS EXAM SESSIONS
NOTE: Time Change Effective January 2024
The OARS license exam sessions are held at Tugboat Annie's, 2100 West Bay Dr. Olympia WA from 5:00 to 6:00PM on the third Wednesday of each month except for December. This is the same night as the OARS meetings, so walk-ins will be welcome, appointments/reservations will no longer be required.
**Remember you need a federal registration number, available for free on the FCC website, https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/knowledge-base/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration.
Follow this link for more information:
http://oars-ve.duckdns.org/
OARS Membership application: Online Application
Technician Training: Let this year be the year to get licensed! Lee Chambers, callsign KI7SS, will lead a new Technician training class starting in March. Lee is one of our most experienced HAM operator and instructor. The Online registration and class information is available here: Technician Class
Watts Newsletter
New HAM Resources
Free Online Technician and General Courses
Online training for the Technician and General License
Learn MoreContesting
Welcome to the WA7BNM Contest Calendar. This site provides detailed information about amateur radio contests throughout the world, including their scheduled dates/times, rules summaries, log submission information and links to the official rules as published by the contest sponsors.
Learn MoreLinks of Interest
Weather Underground
My Weather Underground station on Olympia's West side. Check the NWS site as well
Propagation Estimates
http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101vhfper.php?ver=1695920710263
Gallery
Articles
Written by our own Dr. Eric S. Messelt, W8ESM, this pamphlet will strive to answer many of your questions about ham radio.
Read More1 min read
With spring (hopefully) just around the corner, late winter is a great time to evaluate our station lightning protection arrangements prior to lightning season.
Read More2 min read
In the early days, amateur radio and hams were considered irritations and nuisances to the "real" communicators -- the commercial sector and the military.
Read More2 min read
Club Documents
Officers
2025 OARS Officers and Key Personnel
| Position | Name | Call Sign | Phone |
| President | Howard Lim | W1COL | |
| Vice President | Paul Smietan | NT7PS | |
| Secretary | Mark Gayman | KK7MCI | |
| Treasurer | Dr. Rick Miller | KK7RMH | |
| Member-at-Large 1 | Eric Messelt | W8ESM | |
| Member-at Large 2 | Bill Mackey | N3DPQ | |
Committees and Key Contacts | |||
| Position | Name | Call Sign | Phone |
| Club License Trustee | TBD | TBD | |
| Repeater | Mark Weisenfeld | K7TUM | |
| Information Net | Lee Chambers | KI7SS | 360 951-2538 |
| ARES Net Manager | Ernie Bodoh | KK7ASX | |
| ARES Liaison | Steve Tomlin | W7SLT | 360 970-6850 |
| Newsletter Editor | Corinne Tobeck | ctobeck@comcast.net | 360 790 2829 |
| Classes | Lee Chambers | KI7SS | 360 951-2538 |
| License Exams | Klaus Neubert | AC7MG | 360 280-2428 |
| Web Developer | TBD | TBD | |
| Director of Marketing | Doug Grover | N7POV | 360 402-2968 |
| Historian | Phil Cornell | W7PLC |
Contact
- Olympia, Washington, United States
Olympia Amateur Radio Society PO Box 2861 Olympia, WA 98507 For web site issues or questions contact the Web Developer
Swap-n-Shop
Volunteer for OARS
Please fill out this form below