New Amateur Radio Club - Need Ideas - $5k Budget

[KE5WZY]

Hello, I got my license recently (KE5WZY) and am thinking about setting up a ham club here at our library in Oklahoma. Thinking on calling it LARC (Library Amateur Radio Club). At our library we have about 10 kids programs that get them involved in educational areas. Helps keep them off the streets

For example we recently started the library flight club. We use simulators and have cooperated with the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) and their Young Eagles program. They flew into our grass runway airport with 3 planes and took up 26 kids. All in all we have about 60 kids signed onto the flight club, including my own two boys. We also have an astronomy club and own a nice 14" gps celestron scope. Now I am thinking of starting the ham radio club. Looking for idea that will capture the interest of middle school and high school aged kids. The club of course is open to everyone of all ages, and I have a couple of experienced hams that will sign up with this. This is just in the planning stage so far. I would like to budget up to $5K which is allocated for children’s programs. The library gets donations and grants for such stuff. I am hoping that after setting up a station here at the library, that the kids will get interested. So what ideas do you all have? Also ideas for equipment. Would like to talk to people in other countries. Will a 35 foot antenna be enough for that?
---Mike.

 

[Ham4CW]

Hi Mike

A 35-foot antenna should be more than enough! You could also lash up a magnetic loop (using a length of old coax for the loop itself) which would not take up too much space.

For 'phone contacts your best bet would be bands such as 20m and 40m. There is activity on there most times. If you were to meet of an evening then maybe 80m would pull in some good DX.

If you think you might struggle with 'phone contacts then why not use data modes such as PSK31 etc. Some of the newer data modes will keep on going long after they become inaudible to our ears. If you use data it would give the kids a chance to type in a few messages of their own (hands on always sparks more enthusiasm than just watching someone else have all the fun).

The Echo-Link system is excellent too, and again you could have contacts anywhere in the world.

Another system that comes to mind is the DSTAR one. If you don't have a DSTAR repeater nearby you can purchase a DSTAR Dongle, and with that and an Internet connection you can connect to any of the various DSTAR Internet enabled repeaters around the world.

A bit more specialised is the Amateur Satellite system. Though with a little effort you can normally easily listen to the down-link frequencies, and maybe even track a satellite by hand with a beam for the up-link. It has been done!

A few ideas there to get the ball rolling...


73's, Mark.