About MARC

The McKinney Amateur Radio Club (MARC) is made up of locally licensed Amateur Radio operators and family members.  The club promotes education, community service and fellowship amongst the Amateur Radio community.  The club is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League as one of its Special Service Clubs.  The ARRL holds Special Service Clubs to a high standard of community service and development of Amateur Radio as a hobby and public service.

MARC holds its regular monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. More information about the club meetings can be found on the calendar, or on the meetings page.

Membership in the McKinney Amateur Radio Club is open to all licensed amateur radio operators, their families, and anyone with an interest in amateur radio activities.

Activities

McKinney Amateur Radio Club (MARC) supports the American Red Cross, Collin County ARES (SkyWarn), Plano Balloon Fest, Ham-Com, The Heard Museum, the Richardson Wild Ride, and participates in ARRL Field Day and Texas QSO Party, as well as other amateur radio related activities. MARC serves as a unified group to furnish communication services for Civil Defense, Red Cross, State, County, and City Law Enforcement or other such charitable organizations during times of emergency, distress, natural disasters and to provide for instruction in the fundamentals of electronics and it’s allied parts.

Sidewalk Sale

 McKinney Amateur Radio Club conducts a sidewalk sale the last Staurday of each month at the Collin College Campus located in McKinney, Texas. The sale is held in the South/West parking lot of the campus, across from the fire station, under the shade trees. The sale begins at 9:00am and is preceded by breakfast at Spoons Cafe, which begins at 7:30am. You are invited to join club members and guest for breakfast. Directions: From Hwy 75, go West on US 380. Turn right on Community and then right into the parking lot. You will see the vehicles parked in the parking lot. This sale is open to the public.

Saturday Breakfast

MARC has a weekly breakfast at Dennys on 75 and 380 in McKinney from 7:30am to 9:00am each Saturday morning.

Dennys is located at 1615 N Central Expressway in McKinney on the Southwest corner of 75 and 380. Members and Visitors are welcome.

History

McKinney Amateur Radio Club was formed in February 1968, and became McKinney Amateur Radio Club, Inc when the Articles of Incorporation from the State of Texas were received on September 4, 1979. The initial meeting was held at the Collin County Bank on N. Tennessee street, one block north of the downtown square. Following meetings were then held at the Texas Power & Light Company, located two blocks West of the square on W. Virginia Street, in downtown McKinney. Initially, club membership fees were $10.00 per year. 

The club’s first repeater (WR5AQI) was assigned the frequency of 147.075 (receive) and 147.675 (transmit) by area coordinator Vernon Dyer with 20 watts of power.