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ARRL Recognizes University of Scranton During Amateur Radio Station Dedication |
| The University of Scranton in Pennsylvania has a new amateur radio station, W3USR. A dedication was held at the university’s Loyola Science Center on Friday, October 25, 2024, led by Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, an Associate Professor of physics and electrical engineering, and club advisor for the University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club.
The new W3USR University of Scranton Amateur Radio Station supports the radio club, academic research, and the university’s outreach to the community. Frissell kicked off the dedication by framing the station’s purpose for education, research, service, and fun.
“With the establishment of your radio club and station, you’re not just creating a technical resource; you’re building a vibrant community of learners and innovators,” said Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, the Director of Marketing and Innovation for ARRL®. Inderbitzen is also a staff advisor the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Program.
Club President Gerard Piccini, KD2ZHK, ceremonially handed an application for ARRL affiliation to Inderbitzen, who responded by presenting the University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club with a certificate as the newest ARRL Affiliated Club. Since its inception in 1918, the Affiliated Club Program has united amateur radio clubs to enhance the Amateur Radio Service, recognizing their crucial role in developing active radio operators and serving local communities.
“You are now part of a thriving network of college ham radio stations across the country, each contributing to a larger tapestry of knowledge, innovation, and fun,” said Inderbitzen.
Before the dedication, students provided tours of W3USR. Perched five stories up, the room committed to the new station is impressive for being well appointed with the latest amateur radio gear, but also for its panoramic views of the campus and city of Scranton. THIS STORY CONTINUES ON ARRL NEWS. (Link takes you to rest of story.)
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| University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club President Gerard Piccini, KD2ZHK (left) is presented an ARRL Affiliated Club certificate. “I look forward to seeing how you will inspire current and future generations of students and friends through the W3USR Amateur Radio Station,” said ARRL Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R (right) in his remarks during the station dedication on October 25, 2024. |
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| (left to right) Guests attending the W3USR Amateur Radio Station dedication at the University of Scranton were treated to a rooftop tour of the antenna farm. The students pictured are (left to right) University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club Vice President Thomas Pisano, KE2BAC; President Gerard Piccini, KD2ZHK; Secretary Alexandros Papadopoulos, KC3WUD, and a new club member, freshman Owen Ruzanski. |
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| University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club President Gerard Piccini, KD2ZHK, beams proudly in the new station, located on the top floor of the science center, and commanding an impressive view of the campus and city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. |
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| The University of Scranton skyline now includes a 40-foot tower atop the Loyola Science Center, with a DX Engineering Skyhawk Tri-Band Yagi. |
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| The University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club is the newest ARRL Affiliated Club. This certificate was presented during the club’s W3USR station dedication on October 25, 2024. |
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| Just before the W3USR station dedication, University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club Secretary Alexandros Papadopoulos, KC3WUD, makes a 40-meter HF contact with W1AW, the Maxim Memorial Station at ARRL’s headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. |
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| On the air! Student members of the University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club activate W3USR during the station’s dedication day on October 25, 2024. |
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$47,000 Raised for Amateur Radio STEM Education Through ARRL Online Auction |
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The 19th annual ARRL Online Auction, sponsored by RT Systems Inc., went off without a hitch from October 18 – 24, 2024. In addition to hundreds of views, the auction saw 329 individual bidders vying for equipment, vintage books, “mystery junk boxes” from the ARRL Lab, and more.
There were 206 items up for bid and more than 1430 bids were recorded with 40 items finishing in overtime bidding. This year’s ARRL Online Auction grossed more than $47,000.
Top three items with the most bids were, both with 25 bids each, Mastrant rope and ARRL Field Day Cooler Bag surprise, and with 24 bids was one of the mystery junk boxes.
Proceeds from the yearly ARRL Online Auction go directly to ARRL’s education programs, including promoting activities to license new hams, strengthening amateur radio’s emergency service training, offering continuing technical and operating education, and creating instructional materials.
The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology trains educators to incorporate amateur radio and wireless communications into their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lessons. This is creating a real impact on the number of new hams across the country. See more about the program at www.arrl.org/TI.
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All Treats, No Tricks, in ARRL November Sweepstakes |
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Halloween is here, which means ARRL Sweepstakes is knocking at the door. No tricks, though, said ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE. “If the band conditions are as good as they were this last weekend, we’re in for a real treat.”
The CW weekend of ARRL Sweepstakes is November 2 — 3. ARRL Sweepstakes is the “oldest domestic contest, beginning in 1930,” with competition at the individual, multi-operator, and school club levels.
In this contest, multipliers are the 85 ARRL and RAC Sections; each may be worked once in the contest, regardless of band. The exchange is daunting for contest first-timers, but familiar to those who have operated it before. Contacts may be made on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters, but because multipliers may only be worked once, activity tends to cluster on the bands that are open and populated.
Phone weekend will be November 16 — 18.
See the full rules and additional information at www.arrl.org/sweepstakes.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
| “FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: Fulton County Amateur Radio Club Recognized” / The Village Reporter (Ohio) October 21, 2024 — The Fulton County Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
“UNSUNG HEROES: Local radio club connects people during Helene” / Tryon Daily Bulletin (North Carolina) October 22, 2024 — Thermal Belt Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
“Deep Space Exploration Society Holds Open House with 100+ Attendees” / Kiowa County Independent (Colorado) October 23, 2024 — The Deep Space Exploration Society.
“County is in need of licensed ham radio operators” / Polk County Itemizer-Observer (Oregon) October 24, 2024 — ARRL Oregon Section Manager, Scott Rosenfeld (N7JI).
“New space: University of Scranton amateur radio station links others, home for atmospheric research” / WVIA (Pennsylvania) October 28, 2024 — W3USR Amateur Radio Station, University of Scranton is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
“Local Amateur Radio Operators Help Out at Neewollah” / KGGF (Kansas) October 29, 2024 — The Independence Amateur Radio Club, an ARRL Affiliated Club, and the Coffeyville Amateur Radio Club.
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On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
ARES® Task Book Updates
The ARES® Task Book, an important resource and reference for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service®, is used by amateurs who want to be of service to their communities. ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast to talk about the task book’s place in a ham’s training, as well as recent updates to the book.
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ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week’s top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews and other features.
The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry, iTunes, and Apple Podcasts.
On the Air | ARRL Audio News
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| The Wellesley Amateur Radio Society in Wellesley, Massachusetts, will hold a Parks on the Air (POTA) event on Saturday, November 2, 2024. The location will be the Elm Bank Reservation state park, Lot B, from 11 AM – 3 PM EDT. The club’s radio equipment will be set up and in operation for W1TKZ, but amateurs are welcome to bring their own gear for operation. Talk-in frequency for the location will be on 146.55 MHz simplex. More information is available at the club’s website.
The Independence Amateur Club and Coffeyville Amateur Radio Club teamed up to provide traffic and safety communications for the 9-day Neewollah Festival (Halloween spelled backwards), a community festival in Independence, Kansas. Hams served for the Grand Parade and Band Competition. Volunteers communicated utilizing the club’s radio equipment and their own ham gear to keep things moving and to respond to situations that might occur. “Having the radio club volunteers at critical points of traffic and their ability to communicate situations to my team was incredibly helpful,” said Jason Kastler from Eagle Security, who directed the volunteer hams. “Neewollah was impacted for the better because of the radio club volunteers and their skills. Thank you to all the radio club volunteers!” Visit the Neewollah Festival website for more information.
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| Veterans Day 2024 Special Event Stations:
On November 11, 2024, The American Legion Post 275 Amateur Radio Club, N3TAL, will operate a special event station to commemorate Veterans Day. The station will operate from 1800Z – 2100Z on 7.275 MHz (+/-) LSB. To receive a QSL card after working N3TAL, please send a S.A.S.E. to: American Legion Post 275 Amateur Radio Club, 8201 Martin Luther King Jr. Highway, Glenarden, MD 20706.
The American Legion Amateur Radio Club, KA4TAL, Horry Post 111, in Conway, South Carolina, will operate a special event station in honor of Veterans Day 2024 on November 11. The station will operate from 1500Z – 2000Z on 14.255, 7.264, 14.275, and 7.185 MHz. For a special e-certificate, e-mail Henry Chinery, President, at talarc.ka4tal@gmail.com.
Veterans Day 2024 will be celebrated from the National D – Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. The New River Valley Amateur Radio Club will operate special event station W2B from 1500Z – 2020Z on 14.275 MHz. To receive a QSL card, contact Danny Wylam, 710 McDaniel Dr., Christiansburg, VA 24073, or e-mail dannywylam@gmail.com.
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| The 2025 ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program will begin accepting applications on October 30, 2024. Applications will be accepted through January 6, 2025. More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000 will be awarded. All applicants must be active FCC-licensed amateur radio operators. Information, along with the link to the online application, can be found on ARRL’s website: www.arrl.org/scholarship-program.
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| This image was taken on October 31, 2024. [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI] |
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For this Friday’s ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP044
Solar activity increased this week. The average daily sunspot number went from 127.7 to 197.4.
Predicted solar flux is 270 on October 31 through November 1; 260 on November 2 – 3; 255 on November 4 – 6, and 214 on November 7 – 8.
Sunspot numbers for October 24 – 30 were 138, 157, 181, 198, 288, 220, and 200, with a mean of 197.4. The 10.7 – centimeter flux was 196.6, 209.3, 238.4, 246.2, 255.5, 265.6, and 269.8, with a mean of 240.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 13, 3, 14, 10, 17, 12, and 15, with a mean of 12. Middle latitude A index was 10, 2, 11, 8, 11, 10, and 10, with a mean of 8.9.
Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra@arrl.net.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read “What the Numbers Mean…,” and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.
Share your reports and observations.
A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News.
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- November 1 — NCCC FT4 Sprint (digital)
- November 1 — Weekly RTTY Test (digital)
- November 1 — NCCC Sprint (CW)
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