Nope. CORE is open to everyone and actively seeks to be more than just a ham radio club. Licensed hams, GMRS users, Meshtastic and MeshCore enthusiasts, scanner listeners, and people who are just curious about radio are all welcome. You don't need any credentials to show up, to join the Discord server, or come to a meetup. Of course, if you want to get licensed, we'd love to help with that too.
No. There's no membership, no dues, and no registration. You're part of the community just by showing up. If we ever need to collect money for a specific thing—say a workshop that requires materials—we'll tell you before hand.
Maybe. But you definitely won't be made to feel dumb. And there are plenty of people to help you out. The community spans everyone from noobs to seasoned pros. Beginners asking questions is a feature, not a bug—most of us love explaining stuff.
Normally we meet at CGI in Westerville, but some special events might be at different locations. Check the meetings page for details.
Just yourself. Maybe something to take notes with. If you have a project, gadget, or anything else you want to show off or have questions about, bring it. If you want to give a talk about something you've been working on or are passionate about, reach out on Discord or send an email and we'll get you scheduled.
100%. CORE isn't trying to replace radio clubs and, if anything, could help existing clubs by providing a more casual space for people who are be interested in radio but are intimidated by a ham club. A lot of our members are active in radio clubs and other organizations. We just fill a different niche: more informal, broader topics, and more maker and developer oriented.
Traditional clubs are great, but they tend to be more formal and more narrowly focused on licensed amateur radio. CORE is deliberately informal and welcomes anyone interested in all sorts of radio technology—including GMRS, Meshtastic, SDRs, LoRa, and more. It's for makers and developers and the chronically curious. And licensed amateurs too. But there are no bylaws, no officers, no required attendance. Just people who like radio.
Yes, please. Talks and demos are the whole point. They don't need to be polished—a 10-minute "here's what I've been messing with" is fine. So is a 1-hour presentation on radio theory. Just mention it on Discord or email us and we'll get you on the agenda.