RATS Members Demonstrate Ham Radio
for Boy Scout Troop 530
Grayle KF4USV asked several of us if we could put on a demonstration of ham radio for Boy Scout Troop 530, sponsored by the East Richmond Moose Lodge of which Grayle is a member. Naturally, we said "sure".
On Wednesday May 17, 2006, Jerry KJ4IT, Roy WK4Y, Tray N4PAT, and Dan KI4LWB, along with Grayle converged on the Moose Lodge. An R-4 vertical HF antenna was mounted in Jerry's truck bed and connected to one of the club's Icom HF rigs. Tray set up an APRS station with UI-View to show how APRS works. Jerry talked about ham radio in general and what it can do for you, and Dan spent some time talking about licensing and how easy it is to get your first ticket. The highlight of the evening was Roy managing to find two kind hams, Walt K1QS in Naples, Maine and Fred K4MPI in Sebastian, Florida, who stayed on the air and talked to the Scouts on 20 meters. We spent about an hour and a half with the Scouts and their leaders. Who knows, maybe some of them will begin to explore the fascinating world of ham radio!
The pictures can tell the rest of the story!
Left to right: Dan KI4LWB with the APRS digipeater in front of him, Tray N4PAT with the computer feeding a projector, Jerry KJ4IT (standing) and Roy WK4Y sitting beside the Icom rig.
Scouts on the air! Roy is the control op.
More Scouts talking to Florida and Connecticut.
Scouts checking out the APRS activity.
The entire group of hams and Scouts!
Thanks for the opportunity!