PCARS is an ARRL Affiliated, Special Services Club. We are a group of Amateur Radio hobbyists located in Portage County, Ohio who believe that the whole point of being in the hobby of Amateur Radio is to have fun with it. Whether you are a new ham or an “old timer”, PCARS has something to offer you. The PCARS monthly meeting is held the second Monday of each month and the meetings start at 7:00 PM. We meet at The American Legion Post 496 – 1945 Mogadore Rd, in Kent. Click for more info!!
If you are interested in joining PCARS, click on Club Info to find out how!
| Nicholas AC8QG | Dennis AD8OL | Dick G0BPS |
| Don KD8LDG | John KE8MXR | Eric KE8TFJ |
| Ray KO6FYU | Paul N8QZ | Bob N8XAD |
| Robert W2THU | Cory W3JL | Chuck W8PT |
| Bill WB9LBI |
It’s time again to collect Inputs for the upcoming edition of The Radiogram!
If there is something that has been holding your attention in The Greatest Hobby On Earth, you should let your fellow PCARS members know about it. We love seeing pictures of your recent kit builds and hearing reports of your summer vacation trips on the air. Let us know what you’ve been up to.
If you’ve never contributed to The Radiogram or if it’s been a while, now is a great time to share something with the club.
Please send your inputs in a plain old text file along with full size pictures to kc8jc@portcars.org by TUESDAY JULY 29th. It is VERY important that your articles arrive by that date.
73!
J.C. Wilson
With deep respect and gratitude, the amateur radio community commemorates the life of Joseph L. Arcure, Jr., known worldwide by his callsign, W3HNK. Born on Christmas Day, 1933 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Joe’s life was as vibrant and far-reaching as the radio waves he cherished. He leaves behind a legacy defined by devotion, generosity, and an unwavering spirit of service.
Joe’s fascination with radio began during a period of convalescence after a medical discharge from the National Guard. Encouraged by his father, Joe embarked on a path of radio repair, unwittingly setting the stage for a lifelong passion. Building a superheterodyne receiver, he was first introduced to the magic of amateur radio when he tuned in W3 Queen Victor Queen—sparking a journey that would connect him to countless voices and hearts around the globe.
Licensed in 1956 as WN3HNK, Joe’s first station operated on a modest 40-meter folded dipole. Driven by curiosity and tenacity, he soon upgraded his license in New York City—a process that became legendary in family lore thanks to a broken pencil and Esther, his steadfast wife and greatest supporter.
An avid DXer, Joe was struck by the “DX bug” in 1957, pursuing contacts with distant stations on CW, AM, and later SSB. His passion for connecting with the world reached a new milestone in August 1963, when a QSL confirmation request from Southern Rhodesia introduced him to the role of QSL manager. From that moment onward, Joe became the QSL manager for hundreds of DX stations, never turning anyone away and often funding QSL cards himself. His meticulous management, warm correspondence, and tireless commitment made him the most recognized QSL manager in the world.
Joe’s mailroom became a miniature United Nations, filled with letters, stamps, and QSL cards from every corner of the earth. He delighted in both the administrative and human sides of the hobby, fostering connections that transcended borders and languages. Inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame in 1979, Joe’s reputation for integrity and friendship was as enduring as his presence on the airwaves.
Beyond managing QSLs, Joe explored the world as an operator, participating in DXpeditions to Sint Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. His love for CW, especially on 15 meters, reflected nostalgia for his early days as a novice and his reverence for the golden age of radio.
Joe confirmed 337 current DXCC countries (363 all-time), and while a few rare ones eluded him, his pursuit of excellence and community spirit never waned. He was also known for helping fellow collectors and for sharing his collection of stamps and stories with friends old and new.
Joe’s generosity extended far beyond QSL cards; he embodied the very best of amateur radio—selflessness, mentorship, and camaraderie. He made no profit from his service, reinvesting every donation into furthering the exchange of QSLs and the joy of the hobby.
To all who knew him, whether through a cherished QSL card, a voice on the air, or a story told at a club meeting, Joe Arcure was more than “the ultimate QSL manager.” He was a beacon of kindness, a trusted friend, and a devoted steward of amateur radio’s highest ideals.
His legacy endures in every confirmation, every new contact, and every operator inspired by his example. The pileups will never be the same without him. 73, Joe—your signal remains strong in our hearts.
This week, July 24th is NET NIGHT AT THE CLUBSITE! C’mon out – additionally we will be having a PCARS “mini-hamfest” on location. No entry fee, no table fee, just come out and either set up or do some personal shopping.
I’ll open the doors around 5:30 – 6:00 to give you a chance to set up if you’re selling and we’ll plan to hang around until 9:30 +/-…. Not knowing what type of crowd we’ll attract, dinner and snacks are on you – bring whatever you want.
I hope to see you there and/or on the PCARS Net! (8:00PM, 146.895mhz, 118.8 buzz or K8BF-L on echolink) Don’t let 20 for 20 get away from you!
73,
Tom WB8LCD
Hello PCARS DXers & Contesters:
Here is a friendly reminder that the DX/Contesting Special Interest Group meeting will take place Tuesday evening, July 22nd at 7PM at our World Famous headquarters.
Among our topics of discussion will be a review of our participation in the North American QSO Party – RTTY Mode that tookplace July 19-20. We will look forward to August to see what contests many of us can play in from home.
Of course, we will discuss the upcoming Ohio QSO Party that takes place on August 23-24. This is one of our better attended events since it is also our BBQ open house.
As always, the meeting will be available on ZOOM. So I hope to see a lot of members either in person or on ZOOM.
Event: DX/Contesting Special Interest Group meeting
Topic: Various topics as listed above
Time: July 22, 2025 at 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
PCARS K8BF is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 966 8610 8444
Passcode: 915088
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73 – Chuck W8PT
Hi POTA fans!
This weekend is the annual Summer Support Your Parks POTA Event. We will be at West Branch State Park Saturday from 8:00am-2:00pm:
WBR Shelterhouse: Google “Plus code”, 4VM5+M4 Ravenna, Ohio
ALL ARE WELCOME!
8:00am-2:00pm
Gene will be there early and late (maybe until 5 or 6, depending on the heat)
Reminder: NO POWER AT THE SHELTER
Hot dogs – Karl
Buns – Gene
Charcoal – Kenny
Cooler – Gene
Ice – Gene
Water – John
Pasta Salad – Kenny
Any other drinks – ??? – we have space in the cooler!
Mustard/ketchup, etc -Gene
Bowls, forks, napkins – Gene
AGAIN: NO POWER AT THE SHELTER. Bring your batteries, solar panels, hamster-driven generator, etc!
Any questions, please contact me at (330) 619-9194 or w8net@me.com
Cya at West Branch State Park!
73 de W8NET Gene
