ITT-Technical Institute Amateur Radio Club
K8ITT
The ITT-Technical Institute Amateur Radio Club, K8ITT was a revised station, following
the defunct KC8QYK station. When I arrived in 2001, The 70' tower was in place,
and a lot of equipment
was in storage. I did the work relocated the station
from its previous (small) room, added the HF amplifier,
ATV station, digital station, 6m antenna, 160m loop antenna, and repaired the satellite
antennas.
At the left, you can see one corner support for a 160m loop antenna.
If you look closely, you will notice a stepladder strapped to the mast, above the
tower. This is how I was able to work on the satellite antennas, and replace the
2m/440 vertical.
Whoever installed them originally had the altitude ranging from straight down to
straight up. Funny. I mean, satellites are useless
below the horizon.
You can see more pictures by taking the
"Albums"
link from the top of this (or any) page.
That's me on the tower. The Grand Rapids Press took this photo and printed it. I
thought they'd rather use one of me standing on the ladder. The photographer preferred
this one - he took it from his car, before I even knew he was there.
I lowered the tri-band beam to make room for the 6m Yagi. It was a tight squeeze,
getting all those antennas working on such a short mast. At first, the satellite
antennas would get hung up on the 6m antenna. All the feed lines were restrung,
with new lightning protection.
This is after installing the HF amplifier. I'm showing an electronics lab class
what the station can do. It sure is nice to have a directional antenna, a good tuner,
and lots of power.
These two students became good friends of mine. Paul KB8RFX already had his license.
Sean got his while attending ITT-Tech: KD8APE.
Sean is working on the multi-mode digital TNC. The gear had been stored from previous
years, but Sean had to find the manual on the Web.
While Sean was working on the TNC, Andy KD8AUO worked on our new ATV system. Andy
also got his license while attending ITT-Tech.
Here's Paul. He's working on the gama-match and feedpoint connectors on the 440
MHz satellite antenna. The thing had a very narrow passband at best, but had also
been damaged in previous years. (I'm always surprised how big antennas are once
you get them down on the ground.)
This is me. I'm just settling in for a 24 hour CW contest: the November SS / Collegiate
Championship. Whenever I do this, I swear I'll never do it again. It's hard going
to work on Monday with that code still resounding in my ears. I'm always exhausted
and depressed because my score isn't as high as I'd hoped it would be.
Here we are a couple weeks later, for the phone part of the same competition.
This is more fun for me. I can just hang out and support the troupe.
A lot more students are able to participate in the phone part. I like that better
than playing all by myself.
I only step in on the microphone when there's an opening. I like getting through
the pileup, and helping with my ears. It gets pretty confusing with all the racket
that goes on in the SS contest.
What would be the sense in having a radio club if you don't set up and compete
during Field Day? I was really impressed with this club. They did all the preparation.
I was in Canada until the morning of Field Day. I rolled in on my bike and found
that these brand new, never-done-a-Field-Day novices were ready! What fun!!
Sean linked our computers, so that we were all writing to the same log. (What
would you expect from a student at a technical college?)
He was focused on digital and ATV.
These guys didn't know it yet, but generator breakdowns are a necessary ingredient
to a well formed Field Day.
And so is rain. I have operated several Field Days now, and every one has a small
cloud burst. Never bad. Just enough to get you thinking.
I'm doing what I like best: low band CW with my trusty IC-735.
Sean made his digital and ATV contacts, just as he hoped.
In all, the K8ITT club was everything I would want in a college ARC.