recent activities
2024
Oct 2024
Crash Course in CW
This week at our general meeting that took place October 1st at 6:30 PM, we had twelve of our amazing student members join us for a lesson in CW (Morse code) led by community member Harold Hallikainen (W6IWI). This included a fascinating history of CW, how it evolved over time, and an audio sample of a CW contact. With this new knowledge and enthusiasm, students had the opportunity to practice coding the club’s call sign, K7UAZ, using electronic keyers. We found this to be a very rewarding, informative, and enjoyable experience. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting and to Harold for leading the lesson. Finally, another thank you to our vice president Frank (KK7SNP) for helping interested students learn how to use some of the equipment in the shack after the meeting was concluded. We can’t wait for our next meeting!
Demo Video:
CWDemo.MOV
Mar 2024
Disassembly of James C. Wyant's (W7AH) Moonbounce Station
Members of K7UAZ helped disassemble the moonbounce station of the late James Wyant, former Founding Dean and Professor Emeritus of Wyant College of Optical Sciences. This opportunity provided students with a hands-on experience to learn more about antenna systems.
2023
Nov 2023
OVARC's 2023 Hamfest
K7UAZ members visited OVARC's 2023 Hamfest. This event offered students the opportunity to engage with the ham radio community, exchange knowledge, and buy and sell equipment!
Oct 2023
Pink Out the Park & AZ QSO Party!
K7UAZ members had an eventful month of October. Students engaged in emergency communications for a breast cancer awareness event and they also participated in 2023 AZ QSO Party!
Sep 2023
Annual Engineering Club & Organization Showcase
K7UAZ members introduced engineering students to amateur radio at the Annual Engineering Club & Organization Showcase. Thanks to Hanna (KK7EKD), Lance (KK7NHU), and Sarah (K7SLI) for representing the club!
Jun 2023
ARRL Field Day
K7UAZ members went to Sonoita, AZ to operate for the ARRL Field Day weekend! This was the largest student turnout for Field Day that the club has seen in many years.
Apr 2023
Surprise Visit from Fellow Ham
K7UAZ members had a surprise visit at their April meeting from Andrea Ghilardi (IK5QLO), a ham operator from Italy! Members talked with Andrea and received a gift to remember the occasion.
Mar 2023
RST Hamfest & Toast 101
K7UAZ members grabbed brunch together after attending RST's Hamfest. At the Hamfest, members interacted with local hams and saw some cool radio gear for sale!
Mar 2023
SOTA/POTA at Picacho State Park (K-1065)
Several club members got together over the weekend to activate a SOTA/POTA at Picacho State Park (K-1065)! The team had a successful activation and made about 30-40 contacts.
Jan 2023
Shack Night & Station Tutorials
K7UAZ members had a fun time learning about the club's HF station and satellite station at Shack Night! Members also got a chance to compete in the 2023 NA Collegiate Championship for SSB!
2022
Nov 2022
POTA Saguaro National Park at Signal Hill (K-0060)
Members of K7UAZ participated in Parks on the Air (POTA) with two portable operating stations! Students learned how to set up portable stations with various antennas as well as make proper exchanges on the air!
Oct 2022
Pink Out the Park
Student and community members of K7UAZ worked together to provide communication services for the Pink Out the Park event at UA's Tech Park. Members provided communication services for over 780+ participants in this mile-long walk for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Sep 2022
Annual Engineering Club & Organization Showcase
K7UAZ members introduced engineering students to amateur radio at the Annual Engineering Club & Organization Showcase. Thanks to Hilly (W7HIL), Zack (KN6GWL) and Sarah (K7LSI) for representing the club!
June 2022
K7UAZ Field Day
K7UAZ members participated in ARRL's Field Day and operated with three stations for around 24 hours in Sonoita, AZ.
Mar 2022
Mosley TA-63N Installation
Hanna (KK7EKD), Hilly (W7HIL), Sarah (K7SLI), D. Evans (AG7RE), David Hall (KJ7QPD), and Curt (K7ZOO) hoisted a Mosley onto a tower on Old Engineering's Roof.
Feb 2022
University of Arizona's Club Fair
A group of K7UAZ students promoting the club and its activities in the university's club fair.
Feb 2022
Finished the setup and improvement of the repeater's antenna
This morning, Curt (K7ZOO), Maricruz (KJ7WVH), Hilly (KI7IPE) and Arash (W7iii) worked on the roof top and brought down the old rotor.
This officially ends the setup and improvement of the repeater's antenna. Thank you everyone who helped and congratulations to all !!! :)
Feb 2022
The K7UAZ Experimental Station is complete and now available for student experiments.
The Diamond Discone antenna was installed, along with completing the run of LMR-600 to that antenna. There is a Type N connector in the shack, and also a 3-foot jumper cable in the shack terminated in an SMA male connector. It should be very convenient to connect this to a small SDR (or receiver of your choosing) and explore the spectrum from 25 MHz to 3 GHz. The SWR looks reasonable; there is some room for improvement on 6 meters with tuning.
Feb 2022
RF Choke Characterization
Zack, KN6GWL completed an RF choke in the shack and measured its characterization with NanoVNA Saver.
Jan 2022
New Soldering Smoke Filter for the Club
Thanks to Curt, K7ZOO, the K7UAZ's club now has a soldering table with a new and 3D printed soldering smoke filter system. He used many 3D printed parts, MDF, and spray paint. It's now much more comfortable and safer to solder in our shack.
Jan 2022
Looking for a lost satellite
A few of K7UAZ members gathered at Himmel Park and setup to listen for a lost satellite!
Jan 2022
Assembling powerpole distibution block
One of our student members, Sarah (KK7BVB), recently learned how to solder and assembled a powerpole distribution block -- which will be put to use in our shack almost immediately!
2021
Nov 2021
Meeting Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK
The K7UAZ club met with Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, in Phoenix to learn more about portable satellite operations.
Nov 2021
Road Trip to Ham Radio Outlet
On November 23rd Hilly KI7IPE, Sarah KK7BVB, Ken KG6T, and Curt K7ZOO took a road trip to Ham Radio Outlet to look at upgrade equipment for the club! Everyone had lots of fun and Sarah purchased her first radio!
Nov 2021
Backup Power System Maintenance
K7UAZ club, now, has a new power backup system thanks to the efforts of Curt, K7ZOO. Hilly, KI7IPE, helped Curt to test and verify the integrity of the new system!
Nov 2021
2m FM Station Distribution
Club's student members received new 2M Station Kit including Icom IC-2300H, SignaLink, Data Transfer Switch and Powered Speaker. This allows students to establish and practice various voice and data communication and protocols.
Oct 2021
SOTA on Pistol Hill
On Saturday October 30 Carlson-N7EFF, Curt-K7ZOO, and Hilly-KI7IPE hiked up to Pistol Hill (PE-074) and did an activation for Summits on the Air! Band conditions were fantastic and nationwide sideband contacts were available with only 10 watts!
Jan 2021
Satellite Operations
Curt-K7ZOO, was down next to the Rio Grande river in the southern tip of Texas, using CW/SSB to work a number of satellites. The antennas used were a pair of Lindenblad's he (K7ZOO) made especially for satellite roving.
2020
Feb 2020
SOTA on Pistol Hill
A group of about seven students hiked up Pistol Hill on the east side of Tucson. We made HF contacts, as well as 2m FM contacts. One highlight was KG7YTR working an aero-mobile station flying out of Houston TX! Multiple yagi's were used to contact people up in the Phoenix area. See more photos here.
Jan 2020
Phoenix Hamfest and Ham Radio Outlet
KJ7LCM, KM6BKU, K2VNT and K7ZOO trekked to Phoenix for the "Thunderbird Hamfest". We attended two seminars on Amateur Television, and Emergency Preparedness. Four yagi's were purchased at the swapmeet! A quick trip to HRO rounded out a nice day.
Jan 2020
POTA at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Tyler-KJ7LCM, Ken-KM6BKU, and Curt-K7ZOO, operated two stations for POTA. Tyler had a great 90-minute run of SSB contacts on 17-meters. See more pictures here.
Jan 2020
Digital Transceiver Build Night
Three students and one recent UA graduate started building small digital transceivers that will connect to a computer. Other club members were present as coaches. We learned good soldering techniques and how to wind / install toroid inductors. Fun evening! See more pictures here.
2019 and Before
Dec 2019
Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative On-The-Air Special Event
On a Saturday for about 5 hours, students and community members made 100's of voice contacts all across the nation!
Dec 2019
Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative On-The-Air Special Event
Casey-K7CHM and Ken-KM6BKU racking up SSB contacts on 20 meters.
Dec 2019
Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative On-The-Air Special Event
Ken-KM6BKU using voice operations on 14 MHz.
Dec 2019
Andrew K7ASQ, Anthony KG7YTR, Ken KM6BKU all copied SSTV images from the International Space Station!
Sept 2019
UA Club Fair on the mall
Sept 2019
Learning to use 2-meter handheld radios, and receive SSTV images over the air.
Sept 2019
Using a smartphone to decode SSTV images sent over the air
June 2019
Balloon launch: used APRS and MicroFox transmitter. K7UAZ helped track and recover the balloon.
June 2019
ARRL VHF Contest
Ken KM6BKU erecting multiple yagi's: 1296 MHz and 220 MHz
June 2019
Gary N7GSG racking up the 2-meter contacts during ARRL VHF Contest on Mt Lemmon
June 2019
VHF Contest on the top of Mt Lemmon
June 2019
Anthony KG7YTR constructed a 1.2 GHz 10-element yagi, and supporting mast
June 2019
Field Day
Anthony KG7YTR transmitting radiogram traffic like a professional.
June 2019
ARRL Field Day
About 10 students, three stations, local fire department visited, GREAT food from Eckhart KJ7CQC.
May 2019
Ken KM6BKU putting the final touches on a 220 MHz yagi
May 2019
Working satellite modes near Sonoita AZ
May 2019
Ken KM6BKU working digital modes near Sonoita AZ
May 2019
Ken, Ryan and Makena on A Mountain, 2-meter simplex communications 35 miles to Marsh Station Rd.
May 2019
Gary N7GSG testing 2-meter simplex communications over 35 miles from Marsh Station Rd Exit I-10 to A Mountain