The weather was great and the bargains were plentiful at the 2016 Des Moines Radio Amateurs Association’s Hamfest.  Several new friends entered Amateur Radio after they passed their Technician’s exam.  Forums included the Iowa Repeater Council meeting and the ARRL Iowa Section forum.  We saw hams from four states as well as Iowa.  Door prizes […]

The 2016 version of the DMRAA Hamfest will be held on Saturday, April 16th, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Elwell Family Center located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.  There will be a lot to do at this year’s Hamfest.  First, several vendors are on tap to help you get your radio gear […]

11 new hams attended the technician follow-up class Thursday March 11th, Topics for the meeting included basic operating procedures, use and understanding the Baofeng radio, and proper net protocol.  Many of the attendees had just received their call signs.  The group practiced checking into an impromptu net on a portable repeater.  Many questions were answered.  […]

The first meeting of the year saw several presentations on handheld radios.  Multiple presenters and even more HTs provided the large group at the January DMRAA meeting with many ideas.  The subject was very timely with the large group of recently licensed hams, many of whom were at the meeting.  Kenwood, Icom, Baofengs and Yaesu […]

Be sure and bring your favorite handheld radio to the DMRAA’s first meeting of the year.  This meeting will be all about HTs.  If you are a new Ham or a seasoned veteran be sure to come.  For January’s meeting, several hams will be speaking about their HT.  Topics covered will include why you love it, […]

Ron Overholser, KDØTTO was presented with the DMRAA’s “Ham of the year award” at the club’s annual Christmas Party Tuesday December 8th. The Wintrop Mager award is given to the club member that illustrates dedication to Amateur Radio and the principles of leadership with in the Des Moines Radio Amateurs Association.  Ron serves the club […]

The DMRAA annual Christmas Party and award dinner will be held in the Waveland Room (2nd floor) Plymouth Congregational Church, 42nd and Ingersoll December 8th at 7:00 PM.  This annual event is held by the DMRAA to recognize the winner of the prestigious Winthrop Mager Award.  It is also a time to get together with […]

The DMRAA is proud to sponsor our annual ChiliFeed Auction.  This great event has become a tradition to the Central Iowa Amateur Radio community.  There will be generous amounts of tasty chili and plentiful items for auction.  All you need to do is come hungry with your excess radio gear for auction.  The cost is […]

  This year’s Field Day was a very nice time.  Several of the many hams that helped set up for Field Day commented on how smooth everything went.  Various groups set up three towers, beams and rotors with little difficulty.  Other folks were busy setting up the radios and logging computers.  The food was scrumptious […]

Field day is just around the corner.  The DMRAA plans on another Field Day filled with fun and food. Location is Fort Des Moines County Park,  7200 SE 5th St, Des Moines Saturday, the 27th of June Set up begins at 9:00 AM with operating starting at 1:00 PM.  The event runs for 24 hours. […]