Summary:
The USMA Amateur Radio Club (HAMS) is sponsored by the Electrical Engineering & Computer Science department and is licensed by the FCC as W2KGY. The goal of the club is to provide an educational environment which fosters enthusiasm in amateur radio and community service. The club provides terrestrial and space radio communications support to the corps and community, maintains a phone patch service, hosts both VHF and UHF radio relays, and participates in regional, national and international contests on the HF, VHF and UHF radio bands. W2KGY also provides support and resources to local radio enthusiasts to prepare for FCC licensing.
Each semester the club publishes a newsletter highlighting our accomplishments.
Club Room: Bartlett Hall Room 502 (Park on Thayer Hall roof, enter through Bartlett Hall Room 417, then left at top of metal staircase) Access: 24/7 by Cipher Lock, Club Meets Every Monday, 1930-2030. Optional Team Meetings are Thursday, 1930-2030. City: West Point, NY County: Orange ARRL Section: Eastern New York (http://www.hudson.arrl.org/eny/) ARRL Division: Hudson (http://www.hudson.arrl.org/) Time Zone: USA, Eastern (UTC-5 hours)
Repeaters: Bldg. 1210 (next to Water Treatment Plant near Redoubt #4)
- ARRL: w2kgy-at-arrl.net
Club Room
Comm: (845) 938-4615
DSN: 688-4615Bldg 1210 Repeaters
Comm: (845) 938-8475
DSN: 688-8475
- EECS External : http://www.eecs.usma.edu/webs/clubs/hams/
- DCA External: http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/Club%20Setup%20Info/hams.html
- ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/detail.html?master_id=2000274353
- QSL.net: http://www.qsl.net/w2kgy/ (redirects to EECS External W2KGY homepage)
- QRZ.com: http://www.qrz.com/callsign/W2KGY/
The club operates on 2m, 146.595 MHz (no repeater, no offset and no PL). The club is coordinating a new frequency pair with UNYREPCO for the 2m repeater/autopatch. The club also operates a 1.25m repeater on 224.180 MHz (Rcv: 222.580 MHz, PL: 123.0 Hz, UNYREPCO#: 2003-R393 ) and a 70cm repeater on 447.325 MHz (Rcv: 442.325 MHz, UNYREPCO#: 2006-R036 ).
Use the Hudson Valley Net (HVN) for National Traffic System (NTS) and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). Meets daily on the Mt. Beacon Repeater, 146.97 (-600) 100 PL / 123 PL (North, East, West), at 1930 local time.
- "Hello" ... Campaign (brochure, 597KB)
- Ham Radio ... Today and Into the Future (pdf, 246KB)
- Free Talk ... HAM Classes (pdf, 74KB)
- Communicating with Amateur Radio ... ARRL (pdf, 72KB)
ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager:
Norm Fusaro, W3IZ
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06011
w3iz@arrl.org
860-594-0230
- September VHF QSO Party:
- Who: ARRL
- What: Work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees X 1 degree grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. This contest includes an ARRL affiliated club competition.
- When: Second full weekend of September. Begins 1800 UTC Saturday and ends 0300 UTC Monday.
- Web: http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/sepvhf.html, http://www.arrl.org/contests/cc.html and http://www.arrl.org/contests/months/sep.html.
- Awards: Certificates will be awarded in the following categories.
- Top Single Operator High and Single Operator Low power in each ARRL/RAC Section.
- Top Single Operator High and Single Operator Low power on each band (50, 144, 222, 432, 902, 1296 and 2304-and-up categories) in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Note: Since the highest score per band will be the award winner for that band, an entrant may win a certificate with additional single-band endorsements.) For example, if KA1RWY has the highest single-operator low-power all-band score in the CT Section and her 50- and 222-MHz scores are higher than any other CT single operator's, she will earn a certificate for being the single-operator Section leader and endorsements for 50 and 222 MHz.
- Top Single Operator Portable in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Single Operator Portable entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top rover in each ARRL Division and Canada where significant effort or competition is evident. (Rover entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top multi-operator score in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Multioperator entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top limited multi-operator in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Limited multi-operator entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top scoring club in each club competition category will be awarded a gavel.
- Jamboree On the Air (JOTA):
- Who: Scouts and ARRL
- What: JOTA is an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts and Guides all over the world make contact with each other by means of amateur radio. It is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, thus contributing to the world brotherhood of Scouting The JOTA is a world-wide event. It is for members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and also for members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
- When: JOTA is held the third weekend in October of each year. Units may operate for 48 hours or any part thereof, from Saturday 00.00 h until Sunday 24.00 h local time, though some activity continues over from Friday to Monday to take advantage of long distance (DX) time differences.
- Web: http://www.scout.org/wse/jota.shtml, http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/scouthbk/, http://www.qsl.net/aa6j/radiomb/index.html, http://k2gw.tripod.com/radiomeritbadge/, http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/ideas.html, Boy Scouts Troop 23, Sarah Wells Girl Scouts Council
- Awards:
- Register and serve as the local Radio Merit badge counselor for your area Scout troop. Scouts that qualify for the Radio Merit badge can then be approved by you for award of the badge.
- Postcard-size certificates are free to anyone participating in any way. Order beforehand for presentation during JOTA or award later at Scout or Amateur Radio club meetings. (These are not "QSL" cards.) Send a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough to hold the cards ordered. Send requests to:
Jamboree-on-the-Air Certificate Cards
S221, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
PO Box 152079
Irving TX 75015-2079 - JOTA Pocket patches are $3.00 each; order early. (Price subject to change.) Include your local state sales tax (if any). Be sure to specify which year's patches you're requesting(i.e. patches for JOTA 1997, JOTA 1998, etc.). Send to:
JOTA Coordinator, International Division
Boy Scouts of America
S221, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
PO Box 152079
Irving TX 75015-2079
tel: (972) 580-2000
- November Sweepstakes:
- Who: ARRL
- What: For stations in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) to exchange QSO information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. The Collegiate Championship takes place during the November Sweepstakes. This contest also includes ARRL affiliated club competition.
- When: November Sweepstakes has two contest periods: 1) CW, First full weekend in November and 2) Phone, Third full weekend in November.
Begins 2100 UTC Saturday, ends 0300 UTC Monday. - Web: http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/novss.html, http://www.collegiatechampionship.org/, http://www.arrl.org/contests/cc.html and http://www.arrl.org/contests/months/nov.html.
- Awards:
- Certificates to the top single operator CW and phone scores in "A," "B" and "Q" categories in each ARRL/RAC Section, and the top multioperator entry in each ARRL Division and Canada.
- Plaques, if sponsored, are awarded to the top scores in each division and overall winners in each category.
- Anyone who makes at least 100 contacts during the ARRL November Sweepstakes, CW or phone, will qualify for an achievement pin. Separate pins for CW or phone will be available. Also all the individual operators of a multioperator station (that qualify) are eligible for their own pins. These handsome pins are marked with the year and mode, making them possible collector's items. To order, include with your log entry of 100 or more QSOs: (1) A mailing label (preferably a self-adhesive label). (2) Make sure to indicate which pin, "CW" or "phone," with your order. (3) A check or money order for $5, payable to the ARRL (includes the price of the pin, packaging, padded envelope and postage). Your pin will be shipped after your contacts have been verified and the results printed in QST.
- A coffee cup with a gold and white design commemorating the prestigious "clean sweep" for those who manage to work all 79 sections on either CW or phone during the November Sweepstakes. These coffee cups, full of steaming hot coffee, holding pencils or as a trophy, high up on a shelf will look terrific in your shack. They are sure to become the talk of the airways and quickly become a most sought after collector's item. To order, include with your log entry indicating a "clean sweep" (1) A mailing label (preferably a self-adhesive label). (2) A check or money order for $10, payable to the ARRL (includes the price of the coffee cup, packaging and postage). Your coffee cup will be shipped after your clean sweep has been verified and the results printed in QST.
- 10-Meter Contest:
- Who: ARRL
- What: For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many stations as possible on the 10-meter band. This contest also includes ARRL affiliated club competition.
- When: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday; ends 2359 UTC Sunday
- Web: http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/10-meters.html, http://www.arrl.org/contests/cc.html and http://www.arrl.org/contests/months/dec.html.
- Awards:
- The highest-scoring single-operator station (in each category) from each ARRL/RAC Section and DXCC country.
- The top scoring Novice/Technician Plus station (in each category) in each ARRL Section.
- Top multioperator entries in each ARRL Division, Canada and each continent.
- Additional certificates will be awarded as participation warrants.
- January VHF Sweepstakes:
- Who: ARRL
- What: To work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees X 1 degree grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. This contest also includes ARRL affiliated club competition.
- When: Generally held the third or fourth weekend in January. Begins 1900 UTC Saturday, ends 0400 UTC Monday.
- Web: http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/jan-vhf-ss.html, http://www.arrl.org/contests/cc.html and http://www.arrl.org/contests/months/jan.html.
- Awards:
- Top Single Operator High and Single Operator Low power in each ARRL/RAC Section.
- Top Single Operator on each band (50, 144, 222, 432, 902, 1296 and 2304-and-up categories) in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Note: Since the highest score per band will be the award winner for that band, an entrant may win a certificate with additional single-band endorsements.) For example, if KA1RWY has the highest single-operator low-power all-band score in the CT Section and her 50- and 222-MHz scores are higher than any other CT single operator's, she will earn a certificate for being the single-operator Section leader and endorsements for 50 and 222 MHz.
- Top Single Operator Portable in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Single Operator Portable entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top rover in each ARRL Division and Canada where significant effort or competition is evident. (Rover entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top multi-operator score in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Multioperator entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top limited multi-operator in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Limited multi-operator entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
- Top DX stations where significant effort or competition is evident.
- Top scoring club in each club competition category will be awarded a gavel.
- School Club Roundup (SCR):
- Who: ARRL (Hudson Division)
- What: Sponsored by the Council for the Advancement of Amateur Radio in the New York City Schools (CAAR/NYCS), the ARRL and its Hudson Division Education Task Force to foster contacts with and among school radio clubs. The SCR with its low-pressure format is intended to eradicate the fear new operators have with not knowing what to say to the stranger on the other radio. Having a set contest exchange helps newcomers with that fear. Experienced SCR operators are encouraged to be patient and take time to chat beyond the contest exchange. In response to requests, the SCR rules were limited to 6 hours in any 24-hour period. Separate award certificates will be issued for elementary, middle school, high school and college/university levels for US and DX entries.
- When: Monday through Friday in the second full week in February. Start 1300 UTC on Monday and end 2400 UTC on Friday, (0800 EST Monday through 1900 EST Friday). Operate no more than 24 of the possible 108 hours.
- Web: http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/scr.html
- Awards: 8.5 x 11 inch Certificates for the top three entries in each class. The school club class will be divided into elementary, middle, high school and college/university. DX will be listed separately at the end of US entries in each category. A certificate is issued for any station contacting ten or more school clubs. Send a large (9x12 inch, 23x30 cm) SASE or a mailing label and sufficient postage or IRC's for complete results.