Katy Amateur Radio Society (KARS) is an active club in Katy, TX, just west of Houston, dedicated to the fascinating hobby of amateur radio.
We welcome everyone whether licensed or not to come and join in the fun and have a good time.
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Our By-Laws and Constitution are available for those wishing to look them over prior to considering joining the group.
Our History
The Katy Amateur Radio Society began as a mechanism to fund and operate a radio repeater in Katy. Original members of the group were Mark Tyler K5GQ, Carl Hickman K5OWC, Carl Pleasant W5MPX, Winifred C “Charlie” Preslar K5HZ, and Paul MaundK5LTS. KARS was issued Texas state tax payer ID 30005083438 on June 17, 1980. The license holder was Winifred Charles Preslar W5HZ A homebrew repeater was assembled from two radios, a Motorola and a GE. by Preslar and Paul Maund K5LTS. The repeater antenna was located on a tower associated with the City of Katy Fire Station. Repeater ID was W5HZ/R. Due to the small number of participating hams, club meetings were originally informal and no officers or club structure until 1982. At that time formal club meetings began using the Katy VFW Hall and Frank L “Dusty” Rhoades KB5KP began to put out a newsletter. The Repeater has seen moves from the City of Katy Fire tower to West I-10 Station 2 then to it’s current location over the last 40 years. Meeting location was moved to the MUD Building on Hidden Canyon In 1994 and then to ESD48 Station 4, MHKaty Hospital and finally to its current location in the Westlake Fire Station on Saums Rd.