The Unusual Suspects UNCLUB group came together in 2006, during that time I think we as a GROUP have done an amazing job of promoting Amateur Radio. I thought I would share some of our events and Activities. It is these projects and the friendships of an incredible group of people that make me proud to be part of this fine group. – Greg N5XO
Website: We built a new website, http://www.wx5us.us/, where we featured photos and news from various ham radio events that our members participated in, plus a list of our proud members.
Tower Raising: I think we have had more tower raising projects than about any group around. Since every thing we do is about Taco’s… it would explain why as a group we seem to be getting fatter {grin}. We have helped each other raise towers, design systems and improve our stations. I am impressed with our accomplishments. When we first started operating simplex like many ham’s and clubs we relied on repeaters and our stations showed it … now we have stations that anyone can be proud of … and have outstanding simplex coverage.
In fact within the members of our group…
- we have 3 more tower projects coming along in the next month to month in a half…
- 2 of them 72ft towers with large antenna arrays….
PROMOTING SIMPLEX AND WEAK SIGNAL is our thing {grin}
Remote Field Day: We have sponsored remote field day every year for the past 5 years … This is a fun event with getting away from the hussle and bussle of city life … plus it promoted for training remote field operations, emergency communications and allowed us to test antenna designs in remote conditions that we had worked on the year prior.
We have encouraged non-hams to join us for the weekend events… to enjoy the out doors and get interested in ham radio….I’m happy to say we have created 6 or 7 new hams out of this activity over the years.
School Day: We got with a local school and promoted a Radio Fair day … our group donated a 100% full brand new working 2 meter ham station….20 amp power supply, 2 meter mobile radio, 40ft push up pole, J-Pole antenna and 60ft of LMR 400 … We introduced a 8th grade Junior High school Science class to Amateur Radio … and offered the 2 meter station to the first student who got his or her license. This program created 9 new hams for the hobby… and afforded one lucky young lady a 2 meter station…
This is a program we should do again… it was a lot of fun…
Repeater: We put up a 440 repeater {located on 443.025 PL 82.5}, this repeater was put up for a few reasons.
First and Foremost we wanted to see if we as a group could pull of a repeater project. I am happy to say we did a very good job. Not one of us had any past repeater experience, Ruth and I built the repeater and ran it on test at the house for a week to iron out the bugs….
Biggest bug issue was tuning the duplexers and I am happy to say that was a great learning experience. The repeater went on the air 3 years ago now….and the only maintenance or attention it has required was when we purchased a DB-420 high gain antenna to replace the temp hustler 440 base antenna that went up as a temp antenna until we could get what we wanted. Not a second of maintenance or any issues have developed or been required in over 3 years.
- Our 440 repeater has 4 county coverage with incredible range out East heading towards Houston providing strong communications back to San Antonio as far as Flatonia…..
- The repeaters intended use has been for the local ARES group to provide communications for Shelters around the County as required in emergencies….
- And for us to use mobile to mobile when simplex just can not do it…
Encouragement of New Hams: We have reached out directly or indirectly to brand new hams and helped guide them to a club that fits their needs or help promote them into simplex operations. We have mentored more than a few hams over the years and while we do not individually have all the answers, with a diverse group such as ours … we usually have someone who can help them out….and or get them in the right direction.
One of the most interesting aspects of our group to me that shows we are promoting and pushing things in the right direction is the number of wives who married to hams for years, decades, etc. and never had a moments hint of interest in Amateur Radio started attending our breakfast, activities, etc… and enjoyed themselves so much that they are now hams….
THAT TO MY WAY OF THINKING SPEAKS VOLUMNES ABOUT THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST…
THIS IS JUST THE START …
This is what brought us together… and what we are about… PROMOTING AMATEUR RADIO.
PERHAPS NOW IS THE TIME TO START FOCUSING ON OUR NEW BALLOON PROJECT…
