Welcome Club Station: KB1YXI

OnNovember 21, 2012, the Applied Technology Club at Salve Regina University (SRU)was granted an Amateur Radio Station licensed by the FCC with the help from Perry (WY1O) Club Station Call SignAdministrator for ARRL, ARRL – VEC, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494. <o></o>
This is exciting news for club members, supporters, staff,and faculty who participated in the efforts to put the club on the air! Back in September, students with their facultyadvisor (W9DAD) and staff member (KC2FMI) began preparations for a clubstation. First, a proposal was draftedand an application was sent to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) viathe Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL - VEC) for a club station license. Turnaround was swift because now we are happyto announce that The Applied Technologies Club at SRU has been granted a validFCC amateur radio station license. Thestation call sign is KB1YXI and an application has been set in motion to adopt avanity call that better suits the University such as W1SRU. <o></o>
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The first contact was made on December 4^th withW1DQD on 3.941 Meters, LSB, with 55 and 59 reports. Operating conditions include: a Kenwood 430son a 20-meter beverage line strung across some pine trees. Students are actively working with theUniversity design department making QSL cards. The first QSL card came in Friday and the first stick-pin was set intothe world map on display at the University shack. Students were quick to populate a QRZ.compage and begin documenting the journey. The club second session pushed to Belgium, Moldova, and Midwest to Iowaand Minnesota. The club wants to thank Phil (W1DQD), Brian (N1VDK), Bob(W0ZPE), and Glen (W0FBP) for their patient “Elmering.” <o></o>
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The club has been talking to local radio clubs to exploreways to “Elmer” students better and to motivate the next generation into theart of amateur radio. The club has beenapproached by a local Boy Scout group to join in on some projects involvingamateur radio and robotics. Localamateurs have voiced a willingness to help the club in many ways. <o></o>
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Donations: <o></o>
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The club needs just abouteverything. They are using borrowedequipment that will have to be returned eventually – maybe in a fewmonths. They need HF rigs, tuners, powersupplies, SWR meters, patch cords etc. Thegoals are to make “many good DX” (contacts), do some PSK31, make contact withthe ISS (NA1SS) with voice and APRS packets, produce some new amateurs(Technicians), and help local groups such as local high school science classesand Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. Emphasis is on older equipment, notantique equipment, such as the Kenwood 830s (sugar) so students will learn andappreciate Plate and Grid Loading, manual antenna tuning, etc., and beginlearning the art of radio in addition to the practice of radio.