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Written by Steve, KD7SPY
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Saturday, 28 April 2012 16:12 |
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Student and community (associate) members much pizza at a recent meeting in the "Ham Shack," room 303 in the Old Engineering Building. The "Ham Shack" is a term often used to describe the room in which the radio equipment is housed. During the month, there is usually at least one "Shack Night" at which club projects are worked, help is given by community members to students working on class projects, or presentations are offered on topics of interest.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 28 April 2012 16:18 |
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Satellite Station Work Continues |
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Written by Steve Anderson
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Tuesday, 29 November 2011 16:28 |
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The club's satellite station team again took to the roof to complete work planned during an earlier planning effort. The mast holding the satellite anetnna array and repeater antenna was tilted to near horizontal while wiring repairs and upgrades were performed. VHF and UHF preamps were re-installed after refurbishment and checkout, wiring was checked, and connections were completed. Finally the tower was tilted back into the vertical position and secured. Angles commanded by the rotator controller were checked and minor calibration was performed.
The Isopole VHF antenna on the main antenna tower was also connected so that students gaining their initial Technician license can operate the 2 meter band from the main operating station. This antenna was tested, and our station received good signal reports.
Our special thanks go to the team of 3 students and 3 community volunteers that performed this work. |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 01 April 2012 16:13 |
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From The Center Of The Campus We Talk To The World |
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Written by Steve, KD7SPY
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Thursday, 01 September 2011 16:17 |
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From the center of the U of A campus we communicate with the world. You may have noticed our antennas as you walk by Old Main. Our headquarters, referred to as The Shack, is housed on the third floor, room 303, of the Old Engineering Building. Here we operate several radio stations on the most commonly used frequencies allocated to the Amateur Radio Service by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Don't confuse us with professional radio stations that broadcast. We do 2-way communication. Also in The Shack is a repeater that picks up weak signals and re-transmits them over a wider local area as well as linking them into the internet for connection to other transceivers throughout the world.
The repeater system permits students with just a computer or walkie-talkie size radio to talk to remote areas throughout the world.
Those of us that are licensed are often referred to as “Hams” or “Ham Radio Operators.” The reasons often given for this label are mostly speculative, but the label stuck and we have accepted it. You don’t have to have a Ham (FCC) license to join the club, nor do you have to join the club to attend meetings or other activities. Our members interact with other clubs in the area as well as provide volunteer services to local non-profit organizations. Our meetings combine presentations on topics likely to be of interest to members as well as project work to improve our equipment. If you want to get an FCC license we’ll help you get it. Of course our membership includes students, but it also includes Associate Members from the community that provide experience, resources, and mentoring.
We would love to see you at one of our meetings; or if you see a light on in room 303, just knock and we’ll show you around. We usually keep the door shut during the day to avoid disturbing classes, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like visitors.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 01 April 2012 16:14 |
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