The Radio Amateur Club of Knoxville (RACK) was founded four decades ago as a way of promoting the interests of amateur radio operators in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Presently the club has a membership of approximately 300 amateurs. RACK is one of the largest and oldest amateur radio clubs in Tennessee.
RACK holds monthly meetings at the Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville. The club presently operates and maintains four repeaters. Repeaters act as signal boosters and "repeaters" which facilitate local area communications in the middle east Tennessee area.
In June of each year RACK sponsors the Knoxville Hamfest and Electronics Exposition, known colloquially as "the Hamfest". Amateur radio operators and computer buffs come to this event from both the local area and from distant cities to buy from amateur radio equipment vendors and private individuals with related wares to trade or sell. It is always well-received and attended. This year, the Hamfest will be held at The Knoxville Exhibition Center located on World's Fair Park Drive, beneath the Downtown Holiday Inn Select.
Another annual event, this one nationwide, in which RACK members participate is called Field Day. Field Day is just what it sounds like - an opportunity for amateur radio operators to set up their mobile emergency equipment in the field and operate for a 24-hour period on voice, CW (Morse Code), and radio teletype radio frequencies. points are given by the national sponsoring organization, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), for the most contacts on a given frequency or by a given method of transmission. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it is also great practice for real emergencies.
Members of the Radio Amateur Club of Knoxville have recently been called upon to work in conjunction with local emergency management officials to assist during emergencies. In February of 1993 we assisted the weather service and city and county officials with communications and aid when tornadoes hit north Knoxville. In March of that same year a much larger tornado touched down and caused severe destruction in Lenoir City and surrounding areas. Again, RACK members were there, both to provide on-the-spot weather reporting to the National Weather Service in conjunction with their radar view and to aid local officials with communications service. Mere weeks later came the Blizzard of 1993. Communication lines county-wide were unavailable but amateur radio remained in service and our members aided local officials once again.
In order to keep our skills well-honed, we provide free communications assistance at local public service events for groups including the March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and the Knoxville Track Club. We always have a good time and working together on these events keeps us ready for emergencies, when teamwork is important.
Members of the Radio Amateur Club of Knoxville provide a Volunteer Examiner service in accordance with Federal Communications Commission regulations. Exams are given monthly at Pellissippi State Technical Community College campus for a minimal, nationally determined fee. All work by the examiners is volunteered.
Free classes in amateur radio operation are also provided by RACK. These classes are open to the public and have a high pass rate.