Visit from JSC Intern and UH ARC Students

Both the new JSC Fall Semester Student Ham Radio committee and the University of Houston ARC Students attended a JSCARC visit on Sept 24.

Jeff AB4ME, Chris W5HOO, and Dave W5OC were the JSCARC hosts for the meeting which involved a presentation in the Gilruth MARS room and then a walk to the W5RRR shack for demo/tour.

As a goal this year, we proposed new collaboration among our UHARC neighbors, for some potential joint operating events and elmering as required.The leads from the JSC Student Ham Committee and the UH ARC both have Technician licenses, and the others in attendance were working towards licensing.  Both club leads had lots of interests/expertise with VHF/UHF and Satellite ops.

With potential interest in ham radio ballooning, Jeff reminded them that a General Class licensee was required to activate the use of 20m WSPR on the payload tracker.  That was a good tactical incentive for the groups to seek higher licensing goals.

For those getting their Technician licenses, Chris suggested participation and shadowing of some upcoming CLARC-led fun runs.  The notion of Elmering (offered by us)) was conveyed, to ease any new licensee into the hobby.

During the shack tour, Jeff demoed FT8 on his portable zbitx SDR radio.  Jeff also fired up the sat station to make a few QSOs on a passing Saudi LEO sat.  Dave W5OC demoed an HF contact with VP2ETE on the Caribbean Island of Anguilla.  This was done using the Flex Alpha barefoot since the KPA1500 amp was broken.

There were lots of questions and the atmosphere suggests it was good meeting to kick off their semester.