(short for Radio AMateur SATellite Corporation, www.amsat.org) is an international organization that helps coordinate satellite launches and oversees the construction of its own satellites. Yes, Virginia, there really are amateur radio satellites whizzing through the heavens! The first one, launched in 1962, sent a Morse code beacon consisting of the letters HI (in Morse code speak, “di-di-di-dit, di-dit”), known as “the telegrapher’s laugh.” The first, OSCAR-1 (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio), was about the size of a briefcase.
The big news in amateur satellites these days are the nano-sized satellites known as CubeSats (www.cubesat.org). Pioneered by amateurs, hundreds of these satellites are launched every year by NASA, the ESA, and JAXA. These are often constructed by university student teams (see Figure 3-6) and use amateur radio as their means of communication to send data. Some CubeSats include a repeater or translator so that hams can communicate through them.
FIGURE 3-6: University of Washington students designed and built HuskySat-1, launched in 2019 with a ham radio transponder and science experiments.
Radio operation via satellite is a lot easier than you may think, however, as you can find out in Part 4 of this book. All you need to make contacts through — or with — satellites is some simple equipment. Figure 3-7 shows Sean Kutzko (KX9X) using a handheld radio and a hand-aimed antenna to make contacts through satellite AO-27.
TAPR
Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR; www.tapr.org) has been instrumental in bringing modern digital communications technology to ham radio. In return, TAPR members created several innovative communication technologies that are now commonplace beyond ham radio, such as the communications system known as packet radio, which is widely used in industry and public safety. Recently, TAPR members have been involved in developing a state-of-the-art package of scientific instrumentation called the Personal Space Weather Station. It will provide research quality data and be affordable so that hams can install it at their stations around the world.
FIGURE 3-7: Sean Kutzko (KX9X) shows that satellite operation can be easy!
TAPR also sponsors conferences and publications, working with other organizations such as AMSAT and HamSCI (www.hamsci.org) to help develop state-of-the-art digital communications technology for amateur radio. If you have a strong computer or digital technology background, TAPR is likely to have activities that pique your interest.
YLRL
The Young Ladies’ Radio League (YLRL; www.ylrl.org) is dedicated to promoting ham radio to women, encouraging them to be active on the air, promoting women’s interests within the hobby, and providing a membership organization for female hams.
The organization has chapters in many countries, some of which host conventions, thereby creating opportunities for members to travel.
The YLRL’s website provides a list of activities and member services. The organization also has a vigorous awards program; it sponsors on-the-air nets and on-the-air competitions for members throughout the year.
QRP clubs
QRP is ham radio shorthand for low-power operating, in which hams use just a few watts of power to span the oceans. Like bicyclists among motorists, QRP enthusiasts emphasize skill and technique, preferring to communicate by using minimal power. They’re among the most active designers and builders of any group in ham radio. If you like building your own gear and operating with a minimum of power, check out these clubs and other groups of QRPers.
www.arrl.org/find-a-club and search for clubs with QRP in their name.
The largest U.S. QRP club is QRP Amateur Radio Club International, known as QRP ARCI (www.qrparci.org). Its magazine, QRP Quarterly (see Figure 3-8), is full of construction projects and operating tips. The club sponsors numerous low-power activities and achievement programs such as the 1000-Miles-Per-Watt award.
www.gqrp.com.
Courtesy QRP ARCI
FIGURE 3-8: The QRP ARCI publishes this excellent quarterly magazine featuring articles on technical topics and operating.
Attending Hamfests and Conventions
Depending on how much you like collecting and bargaining, I may have saved the best for (almost) last. Despite online retail being everywhere, hamfests — ham radio flea markets — continue to be some of the most interesting events in ham radio. Imagine a bazaar crammed with technological artifacts spanning nearly a century, old and new, small and massive, tubes, transistors, computers, antennas, batteries … I’m worn out just thinking about it. (I love a good hamfest; can you tell?) Commercial vendors are often present, as well, for you to stock up on needed items without a special trip — or maybe a new radio!
Ham radio conventions have a much broader slate of activities than hamfests do; they may include seminars, speakers, licensing test sessions, and demonstrations of new gear. Some conventions host competitive activities such as foxhunts or direction finding, or they may include a hamfest flea market along with the rest of the functions. Conventions usually have a theme, such as emergency operations, QRP, or digital radio transmissions. Similarly, hamfests may also include training opportunities, license exams, and presentations along with the flea markets.
Finding and preparing for hamfests
In the United States, the best place to find hamfests is ARRL’s Hamfests and Conventions Calendar (www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar). Search for events by location or ARRL Section or Division. The calendar usually lists about 100 hamfests. Most metropolitan areas have several good-size hamfests every year, even in the dead of winter.