Meeting Dates Fall 2020
Due to the Covid restrictions and to allow for students away from campus to participate, we will be meeting on Zoom this semester. We will have presentations on interesting topics related to amateur radio each month, as well as other meetings related to other activities as needed. Everyone is welcome to join us at our club meetings. Some updates from the year can be found below:
Upcoming meeting:
September: TBD, 6pm EDT, Zoom info to be published.
Past meeting and events:
March Club Meeting on Thu Mar 19, 2020 at 6:30 – 8:30 in 1005 EECS
Sat, Jan 18, 2020 2pm – 5pm
NAQP/NACC contest (https://www.w9smc.com/nacc/)
Results: We made 10 contacts or so, not much effort put in.
Thu, Jan 23, 2020 6:30 – 8:30 – EECS 1005
Adventures in Ballooning at the University of Michigan – Prof. Aaron Ridley of CLASP
In 2005, the University of Michigan started a high altitude balloon program. The balloons are launched to about 100,000 feet, where they burst, and the payload drops back to the ground with a parachute. Back then, the communications were done with a hand-held radio with a TNC.There was a lot of experimentation with communications systems back then, with the team trying 900 MHz systems and UHF systems. Eventually, we settled on APRS (144.39 MHz). Over the last 15 years, everything has changed with microcontrollers and GPS units and even radios. We have formed student teams to launch balloons and started classes to teach students about the systems. We have launched about 100 balloons and have had many adventures!
KB6NU 1-day Tech Licensing Class + Licensing Test Session
Results: All students passed!
Above: Joel Thurtell, K8PSV demonstrating the Zenith 100-R for the club after his presentation. Jan 2018.
Parking Info
Learn about Ham Radio, Join the Club!
Communicate with other site stations around the world using U-M’s amateur radio station W8UM, obtain your own FCC Amateur Radio License, and get involved in an exciting hobby that you’ll enjoy for a lifetime.
Check out this flyer (pdf) describing our club.
Also, be sure to get on our e-mail list, so you’ll get announcements of upcoming meetings and events around the W8UM “shack”.