The 2023 Spring semester JSC Student Ham Radio Internship Committee kicked off with a JSCARC sponsoried “Soldering 101” class.  Utilizing W5OC’s bulk buy of Kelvin LED Flashing Kits, which is comprised of 12 components including 2 2N2222A transistors, 2 LEDS, 2 electrolytic caps, 4 resistors, a SPST switch and a 9v battey holder, this kit has … Read more…

POTA #10 @ Galveston Island Park This blog post is dedicated to David Kimbrell KG5URA, who got up early in the morning, packed and ready to activate at the Galveston Island State Park… but his truck battery was dead due to a faulty alternator.  Luckily it happened in his driveway. Who would have thought we’d have … Read more…

N5LOW and KG5URA plan to set the bar with kite antennas for this upcoming POTA activation on March 11. N5LOW already had huge success last month, using his kites and a 20m end fed half wave wire antenna.  He noted that the kite lift was poor and better lift would have given the antenna some … Read more…

Who:  Anyone!  to date- KG5URA, N5LOW, AB5SS, AD5CQ, K5RG confirmed; W5OC tentative What: Activation of POTA K-3013 Galveston Island Park (and IOTA W5/NA-143) When:  Saturday March 11, 2023 0800-1200 CT Where:  Galveston Island State Park, Picnic Shelter  29.20437467939392, -94.9566918792423  https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/galveston-island/map How:  $5 entrance fee into GISP, or purchase a $70 year long pass for free entry to 89 state parks for … Read more…

   To purchase (JSCARC members only), please authorize your PayPal remittance of $5 / kit to http://paypal.me/w5rrr/5 This is another JSCARC initiative to encourage hams to (re)learn morse code.  Additionally, this is an example of creative processes to design, develop, build and test our ham radio accessories. Jeff AB4ME is offering his 3D printing expertise to … Read more…

What a great day for portable ops @ Galveston Island State Park (GISP).  This earmark’s the club’s 9th POTA activation. The intrepid JSCARC members, N5LOW, AB5SS, K5RG, and myself (W5OC) had a blast working multiple pileups with hot HF band activity on CW, SSB and FT8. With a weary cold and windy forecast the day … Read more…

Wow, we had a bumper crop of members bring in projects for this month’s Show N Tell session. This is especially why attending the meetings pays huge dividends- to be able to see, touch, share, and converse about interesting projects.  Here’s an abbreviated summary: John AB5SS Rotary Attenuator   (Note, I forget to take photos … Read more…

Who:  Anyone!  to date- KG5URA, N5LOW, AB5SS, AD5CQ, W5OC confirmed; K5RG tentative What: Activation of POTA K-3013 Galveston Island Park (and IOTA W5/NA-143) When:  Saturday February 11, 2023 0800-1200 CT Where:  Galveston Island State Park, Picnic Shelter  29.20437467939392, -94.9566918792423  https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/galveston-island/map How:  $5 entrance fee into GISP, or purchase a $70 year long pass for free entry to 89 state parks for … Read more…

Are you interested in: A.  Learning/Practice Morse Code (CW)? B.  Joining a 1 evening club project build (soldering/programming)?  C.  Willing to pay ~$15 for a kit (parts, PCB)? Currently, the club is finding the Vband website a terrific place to practice CW, for both beginner and experienced hams.  DOES NOT REQUIRE A HAM RADIO LICENSE, … Read more…

W5RRR had another great Winter Field Day outing this year. In spite of lousy weather (wind and rain), N5LOW, KG5URA, K5KUA (guest), AB5SS, KG5U, KB5PGY, and KA5TBB  came to participate.  Special acknowledgement to David KG5URA, who setup outside with his buddipole portable antenna and IC7300, while the rest of the operations were conducted in the protected indoors … Read more…