Past Events

Space Force T-Minus 10-Miler Event

Posted Nov 8, 2022 (website Editor)

The KSC Amateur Radio Club (KARC) will be supporting the upcoming Space Force "T-Minus 10-Miler" event scheduled for Saturday Dec 10th 2022.  This inagural running event is hosted by the United States Space Force and will be held at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  The event is open to the public, but requires registration in advance.  For full details please click this link: Space Force Run

KARC will be providing communications support for the run event itself in addition to setting up a HF station at the finish line at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.  We need several club volunteers for the event to support both the running event comm along the 10-mile path and also operators for setting up and operating the HF station at the lighthouse.  This is a new and great opportunity for the club, and we really encourage membership participation - will be a fun and memorable time for all!  Please contact any KARC Officer for more details.

ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes - 2022

Posted Nov 18, 2022 (Website Editor)

Nov 19-21, 2022 - Tis Autumn!  Cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors, drier days and the airwaves filled with QSO exchanges during the ARRL November Sweepstakes!  What could be better than dropping by the EML Shack for a few hours to enjoy the sheer pleasure and relative ease of contesting from the comfort and luxury of this well-equipped, modern radio room.  ARRL Sweepstakes Info

The goal of the November sweepstakes is to exchange information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Working the November Sweepstakes is guaranteed to help you build confidence in your ability to operate amateur radio gear and learn to manage exhilarating pileups, all while experiencing the comradery of the amateur radio community at large.

NASA SLS Artemis I Launch (Uncrewed)

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted Aug 27, 2022 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the upcoming NASA SLS Artemis I launch, with a planned liftoff for Monday Aug 29th @8:33am EDT local time (scrubbed); new date/time is Saturday Sept 3rd @2:17pm EDT local (scrubbed);

Update: SLS potential launch date of Sept 27th has been eliminated; SLS/Orion has been rolled-back to the VAB due to hurricane Ian.  New date/time is Wednesday Nov 16th @1:04 am EST from launch pad LC-39B, with a two hour launch window.  Repeater transmission of NASA PAO launch coverage will begin one hour before liftoff, and complete upon successful orbit insertion. 

The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foundation to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond. The mission will demonstrate the performance of the SLS rocket and test Orion’s capabilities over the course of about six weeks as it travels about 40,000 miles beyond the Moon and back to Earth.   More Info

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 Mission

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted Oct 2, 2022 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the upcoming SpaceX Commercial Crew-5 mission, with a planned liftoff from Launch Complex 39A on Wednesday Oct 5th at 12:00pm EDT.  Repeater transmission of NASA PAO launch coverage will begin one hour before liftoff, and complete upon successful orbit insertion. 

NASA and SpaceX once again are gearing up to launch astronauts on an American rocket and spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.  NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission that will carry an international crew of four astronauts on a six-month science expedition to the microgravity laboratory.  More Info

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

Boeing CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2 (Uncrewed)

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted July 29, 2022 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the upcoming Boeing CST-100 Starliner Orbital Test Flight 2, with a planned liftoff for Friday July 30, 2021 @2:53 PM EDT (Scrubbed), Tuesday Aug 3, 2021 @1:20 PM EDT (Scrubbed), now planned for Wednesday Aug 4th, 2021 @12:57 PM EDT (Scrubbed). New scheduled launch date/time is May 19, 2022 at 6:54pm EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex SLC-41.  Repeater transmission of NASA PAO launch coverage will begin one hour before liftoff, and complete upon successful orbit insertion. 

As part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, United Launch Alliance will launch the Boeing Starliner spacecraft aboard an Atlas V rocket in an uncrewed test flight.  This launch is Boeing's next step toward sending humans to the International Space Station.  More Info

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 Mission

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted April 16, 2022 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the upcoming SpaceX Commercial Crew-4 mission, with a planned liftoff from Launch Complex 39A on Saturday April 23rd at 5:26am EDT.  Now scheduled for Wednesday April 27th at 3:52am EDT.  Repeater transmission of NASA PAO launch coverage will begin one hour before liftoff, and complete upon successful orbit insertion. 

NASA and SpaceX once again are gearing up to launch astronauts on an American rocket and spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.  NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 is the fourth crew rotation mission that will carry an international crew of four astronauts on a six-month science expedition to the microgravity laboratory.  More Info

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

NASA on the Air: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 16

Posted April 16, 2022 (website Editor)

NASA On The Air (NOTA) is BACK!  Amateur radio club stations at NASA field centers will be re-activating joint operations for 2022.  Our first event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 16 Moon landing.  Many of the NASA clubs will be on the air from April 23-27, 2022.  First event, celebrating the launch of Apollo 16, will be specially supported by the KSC Amateur Radio Club Saturday April 16, 2022 from 10am to 6pm EDT.  

For more information & details of specific operating times Click Here

NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 Mission

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted Oct 27, 2021 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the upcoming SpaceX Commercial Crew-3 mission, with a planned liftoff from Launch Complex 39A on Sunday October 31st at 2:21am EDT (delayed 72 hrs due to weather); now planned for Wednesday November 2nd at 1:10am EDT (delayed due to minor medical issue with one of the crew); now planned for Saturday November 6th at 11:36 EDT (delayed for predicted weather), now planned for NET Monday November 8th at 9:51pm EST (delayed), now planned for NET Wednesday November 10th at 9:03pm EST.  Repeater transmission of NASA PAO launch coverage will begin one hour before liftoff, and complete upon successful orbit insertion. 

NASA and SpaceX once again are gearing up to launch astronauts on an American rocket and spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.  NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 is the third crew rotation mission that will carry an international crew of four astronauts on a six-month science expedition to the microgravity laboratory.  More Info

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend 2021

August 21nd & 22nd, 2021 - The KSC Amateur Radio Club is once again planning to participate this year by putting the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse On-The-Air for the annual ILLW event!  The objective of the ILLW event is stated as "to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill. 

The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse has stood on the Cape for over 150 years. Situated amidst America’s Premier Gateway to Space, the lighthouse is owned by the United States Space Force and maintained as an active aid to navigation by the United States Coast Guard. This year we will be operating our radio equipment from the new lighthouse keepers building (museum), with our antenna tower/trailer located in the Hanger 'C' adjacent parking area.

ARRL Field Day 2021

Jun 26-27, 2021 - After missing last year's Field Day due to Covid, the KSC Amateur Radio Club is back again this year for the single most popular Amateur Radio on-the-air event!   http://www.arrl.org/field-day. More than 40,000 radio amateurs gather to operate from remote locations.  We plan on operating as a 2A station, with two rigs devoted to phone (SSB) operations; both "GO" kits provide ease of setup and ops (running on battery/solar power).  This year's location is at KARS 1 Park in Merritt Island, FL.  Sign up now for one or more of the operating shifts to join in on the fun!  For more information contact the KARC activities officer.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 Mission

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted April 12, 2021 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the upcoming SpaceX Commercial Crew-2 mission, with a planned liftoff for Thursday April 22 at 6:11 AM EDT (scrubbed); now planned for Friday April 23 at 5:49am EDT from Launch Complex 39A.  Repeater transmission of NASA PAO launch coverage will begin one hour before liftoff, and complete upon successful orbit insertion. 

This is the second crew rotation flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and the first with two international partners.  The flight follows certification by NASA for regular flights to the international space station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program.  More Info

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

Happy Holidays from KARC!

Posted Dec 23, 2020

It has been a strange long 2020 year, and one that we all are probably looking forward to putting behind us.  Unfortunately, COVID had prevented most of our regular club activities to be cancelled this year, including our annual end-of year social party.  However, we still have some significant and notable club accomplishments this year:

1. KARC Repeater Phone-Patch capability added for enabling NASA PAO launch operations transmission (i.e. Space-X Demo-2, Mars 2020, Space-X Crew-1)

2. Elecraft K3S HF/6M Transceiver Complete Station added to the Ops Console (w/ Panadaptor, 500W Linear, 500W Tuner)

3. Preventive Maintenance on our tower tri-bander & dual-bander Yagi antennas, insuring many more years of in-spec performance

4. High-tech consoles replacing the Test & Cal Bench and Guest Ops Desk

We wish the very best season's greeting to our club members, families, and fellow hams everywhere.  May 2021 be a fresh start with returning to regular KARC activities in the shack and in the field.

Be safe, be well, be merry!

73

NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 Mission

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted Nov 13, 2020 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the upcoming SpaceX Commercial Crew-1 mission, with a planned liftoff for Saturday Nov 14, 2020 @7:49pm EST (Scrubbed); now scheduled for Sunday Nov 15 @7:22pm EST.  Repeater transmission of NASA PAO launch coverage will begin one hour before liftoff, and complete upon successful orbit insertion. 

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission is the first operational mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.  More Info

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

Kit Build Party - 2019 (now 2020)

Date TBD - The KSC Amateur Radio Club is once again planning to host a kit building party at KARS I Park.  The kit selected is a QRPGuys Digital Field Strength Meter (price ~$30).  A field strength meter is one of ham radio's earliest diagnostic tools that can be used in a variety of tasks inside the shack and out in the field, from detecting RF leaks in coax cables, testing antenna improvements, and aid in determining antenna emission patterns.

Update: Signup for the kit build has been incredible (over 20 and counting).  Unfortunately, the supplier may be unable to fulfil the kit order in a timely fashion.  Alternate kit plans are being evaluated.  Stay tuned...

Update (Oct 2020): Due to C19 and associated constraints on social distincing, the kit build activity has been unfortunately cancelled until a future time.  Monies were returned to all of the original kit builders that signed up.

Mars 2020 "Perseverance" Launch Coverage

N1KSC UHF Repeater Support of NASA PAO Live Audio Events 

Posted July 29, 2020 (website Editor)

The KARC N1KSC 70cm UHF repeater will be supporting NASA/KSC PAO (Public Affairs Office) launch operations commentary for the Mars 2020 "Perseverance" launch, with a planned liftoff scheduled for Thursday July 30th at 7:50am EDT). 

Perseverance is NASA’s latest Red Planet rover, designed to search for astrobiological evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars. Following a seven-month journey, it will land at Jexero crater on Feb. 18, 2021. There, Perseverance will gather rock and soil samples for future return to Earth. It also will characterize the planet's climate and geology and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. The robotic scientist, which weighs just under 2,300 pounds (1,043 kilograms), also will carry the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, a technology demonstration that marks the first attempt at powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Anyone with a 70cm FM compatible radio and within range of the repeater coverage can enjoy the retransmissions.  Repeater Rx freq = 444.925 MHz (no PL tone required to monitor).  Please note that during the support of the live audio coverage, the repeater will be not open to regular use (emergency traffic can take priority if required).  

Note: This is a similar community service that LISATS provides on their 2m repeater (146.940 MHz) located in Merritt Island, FL.

KARC Annual End-Of-Year (Holiday) Social Event - 2019

Dec 7 - The KSC Amateur Radio Club will be holding the annual end-of-year (holiday) social event at Brasas Grill Brazilian Steakhouse in Merritt Island, FL on Saturday December 7th.  Please join us for what promises to be an enjoyable meal and good company.  Spouces, family, and friends are welcome.  Please contact the KARC Activities Officer for additional details.  Come join us in celebrating another wonderful year of club activities and welcoming in the holidays together!

ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes - 2019

Nov 16-18, 2019 - Tis Autumn!  Cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors, drier days and the airwaves filled with QSO exchanges during the ARRL November Sweepstakes!  What could be better than dropping by the EML Shack for a few hours to enjoy the sheer pleasure and relative ease of contesting from the comfort and luxury of this well-equipped, modern radio room.

The goal of the November sweepstakes is to exchange information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Working the November Sweepstakes is guaranteed to help you build confidence in your ability to operate amateur radio gear and learn to manage exhilarating pileups, all while experiencing the comradery of the amateur radio community at large.

KARC Supports KSC New Employee Orientation (NEO)

November 7, 2019 - N1KSC supported the KSC New Employee Orientation held in the SSPF for new engineers. This event is held three times a year, providing new employees with a comprehensive overview of NASA/KSC, including an opportunity to check out the various KSC Exchange activities offered.  Several folks dropped by the table to check out the Club.  Bianca Rhym, Andrew Lopatin, and Kevin Zari volunteered to support the event.  This is the third time KARC has participated, and we look forward to supporting future NEO's.

International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend 2019

August 17th & 18th, 2019 - The KSC Amateur Radio Club is once again planning to participate this year by putting the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse On-The-Air for ILLW!  The objective of the ILLW event is stated as "to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill. 

Click here for a summary report from our Activities Officer

Antenna Party & Tower/Trailer Preps

August 3, 2019 - In preparation for the upcoming ILLW event, the KARC had an antenna and tower/trailer preparations work party at the logistics building on Saturday August 10th.  We refurbished the previously donated Cushcraft A4S tri-band antenna; returning it to an operational condition.  In addition, we completed the installation of our Yaesu G800 rotator & mast onto the loaned mobile tower/trailer assembly.  These preparations will enable beam antenna operations for the first time in a field environment; specifically, the ILLW event at CC Lighthouse on Aug 17/18th.  Big thanks go to Andy Lopatin KB3KX, John McCardle KN4OBL, Michael Seay WA4ECT, Jeff Stewart KX4NM, Scott Vangen WB0QMZ, and Mike Williamson KF4PGQ for their time and help to get this task accomplished for the club.

KARC Supports KSC New Employee Orientation (NEO)

August 1, 2019 - N1KSC supported the KSC New Employee Orientation held in the SSPF for new engineers. This event is held three times a year, providing new employees with a comprehensive overview of NASA/KSC, including an opportunity to check out the various KSC Exchange activities offered.  Approximately a half dozen folks dropped by the table to check out the Club.  John McCardle KN4OBL, Robert Schwader KN4NNJ, and Scott Vangen WB0QMZ volunteered to support the event.  This is the second time KARC has participated, and we look forward to supporting future NEO's.

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary NASA-On-The-Air (NOTA) Special Event

July 16 - 24, 2019 - Even though the NASA on the Air event ended in December 2018, the year 2019 contains one of the most significant anniversaries of the space program, the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.  Many of the NASA clubs will be on the air from 16 – 24 July 2019 celebrating this event.  Check back here for details and be sure to check the DX Cluster and NASA on the Air Twitter and Facebook sites for spots of our operating frequencies.  Note: Once again the nota.ka0s.net site will be used to track contacts with each of the participating clubs.

N1KSC will be on the air for much of the NOTA Apollo 11 Special Event; come join us in the shack and participate with SSB, Digital, and Satellite contacts to help celebrate this incredible NASA anniversary!

ARRL Field Day 2019

Jun 22-23, 2019 - The KSC Amateur Radio Club participated again this year in the single most popular Amateur Radio on-the-air event!  http://www.arrl.org/field-day. More than 35,000 radio amateurs gather to operate from remote locations.  We operated as a 1A station, with one rig devoted to phone (SSB) operations.  This year's location was at KARS 1 Park in Merritt Island, FL.  Click here for a summary report from our Activities Officer.  

Florida QSO Party 2019

April 27-28, 2019 - KSC Amateur Radio Club once again is planning to participate for the fourth straight year in the Florida QSO Party (http://floridaqsoparty.org/).  Last year all 67 Florida counties were on the air with plentiful fixed and mobile/portable stations activating many of them on both modes.  More than 550 stations participated and the logs received represent about 120,000 QSO’s - Wow!  Regardless if you are a serious or casual participant … the Florida QSO Party was designed to be a FUN operating event. Why not give it a try?  Details to come!

KARC Supports KSC New Employee Orientation (NEO)

April 11, 2019 - N1KSC supported the KSC New Employee Orientation held in the SSPF for new engineers. This event is held three times a year, providing new employees with a comprehensive overview of NASA/KSC, including an opportunity to check out the various KSC Exchange activities offered.  Approximately a dozen folks dropped by the table to check out the Club.  John McCardle KN4OBL, Robert Schwader KN4NNJ, Scott Vangen WB0QMZ, and Kevin Zari KK4YEL volunteered to support the event, including setting up an operational station.  Jim Hale KA3DHV created a KARC tri-fold information flyer which we debuted for this event.  This is the first time KARC has participated, and we look forward to supporting future NEO's.

ARISS / NOTA Slow Scan TV Event (Update)

February 15, 2019 - N1KSC successfully downloaded two NOTA SSTV images from an ISS pass, and obtained a special ARISS recognition award (see picture).  

February 15-17, 2019 - Another opportunity to obtain the NOTA SSTV images will occur this weekend starting Friday Feb 15 at 8:45 UTC, and running to Sunday Feb 17 at 17:25 UTC.  For clarity, these will be the same images that were downloaded last weekend.

February 8-10, 2019 - ARISS is planning another of their popular Slow Scan Television (SSTV) experiment events. Transmissions are scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 8 at 14:00 UTC and run through Sunday, Feb. 10 at 18:30 UTC.

SSTV operations is a process by which images are sent from the International Space Station (ISS) via ham radio and received by ham operators, shortwave listeners and other radio enthusiasts on Earth, similar to pictures shared on cell phones using twitter or instagram.

When this event becomes active, SSTV images will be transmitted from the ISS at the frequency of 145.80 MHz using the SSTV mode of PD120 and can be received using ham radio equipment as simple as a 2 meter handheld radio or a common shortwave or scanner receiver the covers the 2 meter ham band. After connecting the audio output of the radio receiver to the audio input of a computer running free software such as MMSSTV, the SSTV images can be displayed.

Transmissions will consist of eight NASA On The Air (NOTA) images see https://nasaontheair.wordpress.com/ , In addition, four ARISS commemorative images will also be included.

Once received, Images can be posted and viewed by the public at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php .

In addition, you can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. Once the event begins, see details at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ .

CQ CQ - Happy Holidays!

Thanks to all for a fun & productive year, and we look forward to the coming new year of club operating activities, projects, and comaraderie in amateur radio!  First club activity in 2019 is an off-site social meeting on Wednesday Jan 9th 5pm at Playalinda Brewing Co., Brix Project (5220 S. Washington St, Titusville).

KARC Holiday Party

Sunday Dec 9, 2018 - This year's KARC Holiday Party will be lunch (11am - 2pm) at Alfredo's Kitchen in Merritti Island (https://alfredoparadisokitchen.com/), owned by the same Chef Alfredo who owns Alfredo's Paradiso, where we hosted previous holiday parties.  This is a private party, meaning we will have the entire place to ourselves.  We have a minumum rate the facility will cost us, so we really need to understand if you will attend.  Please reply back to Kevin Zari promptly if you (and guest) are planning on attending.  Please join us for this fun end-of-the-year club celebration event!

6m Antenna Installation Party

Nov 30 & Dec 1, 2018 - Installation of a new 6m antenna to our existing tower is being made possible by a kind donation to the club by one of our members.  The new antenna will be installed at the very top of our tower mast, and will provide a new operating VHF band ("the magic band").  The build & installation party will assemble the new antenna, install it on the tower mast, and build/run new coax cables as required.  This will be the first opportunity to test & use the new tower tilt-motor!  We will also take advantage of the tower lower/raise to exercise our hurricane procedures, and also install a HF antenna switch (for future wire antennas).

ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes - 2018

Nov 17-19, 2018 - Ah Autumn!  Cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors, drier days and the airwaves filled with QSO exchanges during the ARRL November Sweepstakes!  We’ll have a blast this year, especially with the added gain from our beam antennas mounted high atop the sturdy and beautiful Heights tower.  What could be better than dropping by the EML for a few hours to enjoy the sheer pleasure and relative ease of contesting from the comfort and luxury of this well-equipped, modern radio room.

The goal of the November sweepstakes is to exchange information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Our new rotatable 20, 15 and 10 meter beam antennas should make connecting with distant operators a breeze.  Working the November Sweepstakes is guaranteed to help you build confidence in your ability to operate amateur radio gear and learn to manage exhilarating pileups, all while experiencing the comradery of the amateur radio community at large.

We’re just over a month away from the start of this fun filled event, so make your plans to participate now. Be a part of making this year, even better than last year. Mike Williamson has volunteered to help set up the shift schedule, so please standby for his email and signup for a shift, or two.  Hope to see you there!  http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes

NASA On-The-Air (NOTA) SSTV Downlink Special Event from ISS

Oct 27-29, 2018 - The cosmonauts are scheduled to begin the Slow Scan Television (SSTV) event this Saturday at 10:00 UTC, ending transmission on Monday 19:30 UTC.  Six of the total twelve downlinked images transmitted from ISS will be for NASA on the Air.  You don’t need any fancy setup to hear them.  The Russian SSTV equipment aboard ISS uses FM, so even a HT will work - you can even decode some passes with a Boafeng while standing in a parking lot, and decoded them in real time with an iPhone/iPad app.

There are two really nice, high elevation passes this weekend. One on Saturday around 14:30 local time, and one on Sunday at 13:30. Folks will be at the shack both days around the time of the passes. Why not drive in and experience the excitement of seeing images decoding in real-time from our new satellite setup?  The shack will have folks in it this Saturday 14:00 - 15:00 (local), and Sunday 13:00 - 14:00 (local).  There's two low elevation passes on Monday which we'll also have the shack open; 12:30 - 13:00 (local) and 14:00 - 14:30 (local).  With a ten minute ISS pass, we can expect to capture at least 2 complete images.  Come join us if you want to see history in the making.  See more details in our News section of the website.

Satellite Antennas Upgrade Installation Party

Sept 27-29, 2018 - KARC successfully upgraded from the existing iso-loop satellite omni-directional antennas setup to a new directional (AZ/EL) circular polarized 70cm & 2m Yagi antennas setup; specifically, the M2INC "LEO-Pack".  The new antenna setup provides improved satellite communications reliability with increased signal gain and reduced signal fading.  The two new Yagi antennas were assembled Thursday, the new coax & rotator cables fabricated Friday, and Saturday completed all of the rooftop work with the non-penetrating base, mast, AZ/EL rotator, and antenna mounting; along with cable routing and other final integration work.  Initial tests and satellite contacts confirm a significant gain in sensitivity, and enhanced operational capability.  Thanks to all the club members that volunteered their time, energy, and generous donations to help make this happen.  The upgraded satellite antenna system is fully operational and ready for club member use!

NASA On-The-Air (Year Long Special Event)

Dec 2017 through Dec 2018 (multiple anniversary event dates)

2018 is a big year for NASA anniversaries and we’d like for you to help us celebrate.  NASA was created in 1958, the first manned lunar mission was in 1968, and the first elements of the International Space Station (ISS) were launched in 1998.  The club stations at the various NASA centers and facilities plan to be on the air with special events to celebrate these milestones and some may be offering commemorative QSL cards.  There will be a special certificate indicating how many centers you worked on various bands and modes that may be downloaded.  QSL instructions are available on the QRZ.COM site for each individual club station.  We have a web-based system for you to check your points total and download a certificate at the end of the event in December 2018.  Visit the Scores section for a link to that system.  Points will be awarded for each center worked on each band and mode (phone, CW, digital).

• Apollo 17 45th anniversary – 11-19 December 2017, beginning of event
• NASA founded 60th anniversary (act signed by President Eisenhower) – 29 July 1958
• ISS First Element Launch 20th anniversary – 20 November 1998
• ISS Node 1 Launch 20th anniversary – 4 December 1998
• 50th anniversary of Apollo 8 – launch 21 December 1968, splashdown 27 December, end of event

For complete details please visit: NASA On-The-Air Special Event Website

NASA/KSC Press Release: NASA On-The-Air Announcement

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend – ILLW 2018

August 18-19, 2018 - For the third year in a row, KARC enjoyed operating this fun & unique event held at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse located at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Despite challenging band conditions, we logged 216 QSO's; contacting 39 states, 9 DX countries, and 17 fellow lighthouses.  In addition, 21 satellite contacts were obtained by Kevin Zari KK4YEL with a handheld Arrow antenna (pictured).  Kind permission of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation https://canaverallight.org allowed for the use of the adjacent "Keepers Closet" gift shop trailer which made operating very convenient & comfortable. Thanks to all who participated and helped to make this a very successful and enjoyable club activity.  The event is organized by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS), which was founded in 2000.  For more information about ILLW: https://illw.net

NASA 60th Anniversary Special Event Operations (KARC Shack)

Sunday July 29, 2018 (9:00am to 12:00pm local) - The KARC shack in the EML building operated in support of a NASA-On-The-Air (NOTA) activity; celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act by then President Eisenhower in 1958.  There was lots of interest by fellow hams eager to contact one of the NASA centers around the nation during this NOTA event (KSC had a steady pileup, with ~125 contacts during the three hour window of operation).  Thanks to those that joined in on the fun helping N1KSC make contacts during this event!

ARRL Field Day 2018

Jun 23-24, 2018 - The KSC Amateur Radio Club participated in the ARRL Field Day at the Valiant Air Command Museum in Titusville, FL.  https://www.valiantaircommand.com  This is the single most popular Amateur Radio on-the-air event!  More than 35,000 radio amateurs gather to operate from remote locations.  We operated as a 2A station, with one rig devoted to phone (SSB) operations and one rig supporting digital modes (mostly PSK31).  Although some severe weather did cut us short on the first day of the event on Saturday, we reactivated on Sunday morning and had an enjoyable sunny day of operating our two stations!  More event summary details & pictures coming.  http://www.arrl.org/field-day

K1EL PaddleStick CW Keyer Kit Build Party

June 9, 2018 - KARS 1 Park Conference Room in Merrit Island. Several members joined in on a group discounted purchase of ten (10)  K1EL PaddleStick CW Keyer kits when proposed at the last club social meeting.  Eight participants were in attendance for the assembly party fun at KARS Park, and all kits operated succesfully when completed (including a couple first time kit builders).  The PaddleStick CW Keyer when assembled provides a clever non-mechanical capacitive coupled compact iambic keyer, with bult-in sidetone and numerous features and programming capabilities.

'Beam Team' Tower Hold-Down Post Installation Party

May 4th & 26th, 2018 - The Tower Hold-Down Post, consisting of two heavy duty aluminum post sections bolted together, was installed on May 4th along with driving a 11 ft steel pipe into the ground 5 ft deep securing the integrated assembly.  On May 26th four x 4 ft long earth anchor screws were driven into the ground providing tie off points for 1000 lb rated straps to add extra post securing in the case of hurricane safing of the stowed tower.

'Beam Team' HF Dual-Bander Yagi Antenna Installation Party

May 6 & 7, 2018 - What's better than a HF Yagi beam antenna on our new club tower?  Well, two HF Yagi beam antennas of course!  The Beam Team installed the previously refurbished Cushcraft A3WS Dual-Bander (17/12m) antenna, along with a heavier duty rotator (Yaesu GR-1000) and thicker walled aluminum mast (20 ft).  In addition, new 1:1 current Baluns were installed on each beam antenna.  A second run of LMR400 Flex coax cable was run up the tower sections, and measurements indicate both antennas are performing to spec.

This completes the Beam Team's work to provide the baseline capabilities of the new club tower and two HF Yagi beam antennas! 

Florida QSO Party 2018

April 28-29, 2018 - KSC Amateur Radio Club participated for the third straight year in the Florida QSO Party (http://floridaqsoparty.org/). We competed in the Multi-Single category, 100 watt 'low' power station.  Unofficially we amassed 602 contacts for an unofficial score of 85,484.  A majority of the contacts were made on the 20m band using the new tower & Tri-band antenna.  During the full 20 hours of the party the club made 535 contacts with 47 states, and 67 contacts with 17 countries.  A big thanks to all club members who participated!

'Beam Team' HF Dual-Bander Yagi Antenna Prep Party

Apr 21, 2018 - Members of the KARC 'Beam Team' performed a refurb of the previously donated Cushcraft A3WS Dual-Band (17/12m) HF Yagi antenna.  The antenna was in pretty good condition as-is, but every aluminum element section & trap was cleaned thoroughly, and reassembled per the assembly manual.  Some mechanical element-to-boom hardware was missing, but was available from Cushcraft.  A 1:1 current BALUN is still required prior to installation on the tower.

KSC Family Day 2018 

April 14, 2018 - Space Center Affairs Office coordinated an open house day so that employees and contractors working at KSC could bring their families and friends on the center to visit workplaces on this restricted area installation.  The event was Saturday 14 April 2018, 0900-1500 hours.  Selected offices and workplaces were manned for the visits.  KARC participated with the event for the first time, with an estimated 125+ guests stopping by the EML Club Shack.  Thanks to Jim Hale, Jeff Hamilton, Jim McDonald, and Scott Vangen for their support.

'Beam Team' Tower Top Section, Rotator, and Antenna Installation Party

Mar 21 - 24, 2018 - A significant major milestone was accomplished with the latest work effort by the Beam Team.  The remaining top 8 ft section of the tower was installed, along with the Yaesu GR-800 rotator, 15 ft mast, and previously refurbed Cushcraft A3S Tri-Band antenna.  The coax & rotator cables were run, utility box cabling completed, and preliminary tests confirmed excellent SWR specs.  A huge thank you to everyone supporting this final push making the Tower & Tri-Bander operational in time for the FL QSO Party!

'Beam Team' Tower Sections and Lightning Protection Work Party

Mar 16 - 18, 2018 - A significant major milestone was accomplished with the latest work effort by the club members.  Four 8 ft sections of the tower were installed, along with adding the lightning protection per specifications.  Three 10 ft rods were driven into the parameter of the base, and cad-welded copper wiring to the tower legs and utility box.  Thanks again to everyone that continues to make these days successful!

'Beam Team' Tower Conduit, Cables, and Base Work Party

Mar 9 -11, 2018 - More significant progress made on the installation of the club tower.  A ditch was dug with the help of our KSC Heavy Equipment friends, plus some old fashioned manpower.  PVC conduit was installed, along with a cable harness composed of coax & control cables.  In addition the fixed base section was installed and aligned, along with the tiltable tower section.  A big thanks to everyone that made those busy days a huge success!

'Beam Team' Tower Base "Big-Dig" Work Party

Feb 22, 2018 - The big day finally arrived, and the installation of the tower base was accomplished by a convergence of plans, preps, people, equipment, and organizations coming together.  The folks with KSC Heavy Equipment did an outstanding job with the digging (10 ft deep x 4 ft diameter hole), along with the installation of the Sonotube, re-bar cage assembly, and the tower hold-down bolts assembly.  Five cubic yards (~10 tons) of cement was poured completing the hard days work.  Thanks to everyone that made the day a huge success!

'Beam Team' Sonotube Acquisition & Installation Prep Party

Feb 7 & 19, 2018 - A 12 ft long x 4 ft diameter Sonotube has been generously donated to the club by Sonotube Concrete Forms Company (worked by Kevin Zari KK4YEL).  Eugene Stoccardo (non-member) kindly transported the Sonotube on the 7th from the supplier in Orlando and delivered the tube safely to a temp storage area (same bldg as our club logistics).  Club members on the 19th fabricated a unique holding jig assembly made with 2x4's which will allow handing & alignment during the dig & Sonotube installation.

'Beam Team' Re-Bar Cage Assembly Work Party

Jan 17 - 28, 2018 - To save money, the Beam Team decided to fabricate the required large rebar cage in-house using the building skills and shop tools made available to us by Kevin Panik.  The cage was built per the engineering specifications, and hauled when completed to the EML for temp storage until which time we're ready for the base installation.  A big thank you to Kevin for making this in-house build an option for the club!

'Beam Team' HF Tri-Bander Yagi Antenna Prep Party

Jan 13, 2018 - Members of the KARC 'Beam Team' performed a refurb & checkout of the previously donated Cushcraft A3S Tri-Band (20/15/10m) HF Yagi antenna.  The antenna was in very good condition as-is, but every aluminum element section & trap was cleaned thoroughly, and reassembled for the phone portions of the bands per the assembly manual.  A 1:1 current BALUN is still required prior to installation on the tower.

KARC End-of-Year Club Social 2017

Dec 8, 2017 - KARC celebrated its end of year club social at Alfredo's Paradiso in Merritt Island.  Approximately eighteen members & guests were in attendance.  The food and company were both excellent, and an enjoyable evening was had by all.

EML Friends "Thank You" Pizza Party

Dec 14, 2017 - KARC hosted a "Thank You" Pizza Party in the conference room for our EML hosts & friends.  Donations were collected from the Officers for the pizza, and all club members and EML residents were welcome to join the social.  Some additional guests were invited that have been supportive of the club, including some KSC Exchange folks.

ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes - 2017 (Update Required)!

Nov 18-19, 2017 - KARC once again operated in this popular ARRL event; where the objective is to contact as many stations in the USA and Canada that you can, and "sweep" through each state / territory.  This years participation was much better than last year, and the resulting score was significantly higher accordingly!

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend - ILLW 2017 (Update Required)!

19 August (00.01UTC) to 20 August 2016 (2400UTC)  -  KSC Amateur Radio Club is planning to operate at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse for the ILLW event.  Standby for more details.

ARRL Field Day 2017 (Update Required)!

The KSC Amateur Radio Club participated in ARRL Field Day, June 24-25, 2017 at the Valiant Air Command, in Titusville, FL. We operated as a 2A station, with one rig devoted to digital modes (mostly PSK31).

Florida QSO Party 2017 (Update Required)!
April 29-30 - KSC Amateur Radio Club is pleased to announce our planned participation in the 20th anniversary of the Florida QSO Party http://floridaqsoparty.org/. We hope you are able to work us, and exchange QSL cards with us. We'll be sure to display them on the wall of our shack, and share the photos on our Twitter and Facebook pages. We will be on the air for the entire 20 hours of the party, operating from our shack, located on Kennedy Space Center, in Brevard County, Florida. 

KARC End-of-Year Club Social 2016

Dec TBD, 2016 - KARC celebrated it's end of year at Alfredo's Paradiso in Merritt Island.  Approximately a dozen members & guests were in attendance.  The food and company were both excellent, and an enjoyable evening was had by all.

Picture Required!

KARC Kit-Build Party - 2016 (Update Required)!

Dec 10, 2016 - KARC hosted its first kit build party at KARS 1 Park in Merritt Island.  This kit was a portable End-Fed 60-6m HF wire antenna, incorporating a 9:1 UNUN toroid to achieve proper impeadance match. For more information on the kit visit: 40-6m End-Fed HF Antenna

ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes - 2016

Nov 19-20, 2016 - KARC operated in this popular ARRL event with limited participation; where the objective is to contact as many stations in the USA and Canada that you can, and "sweep" through each state / territory.  This was our second club operating event in the EML club shack, and the first opportunity to use our new donated Yaesu FT-450D Transceiver, along with our club's two end-fed antennas.  We logged TBD QSO's, and turned in a combined score of 2,516.  We were delighted to find out that we received an award: "First Place Southern Florida Section Multi Operator Unlimited Low Power" (view the award certificate).

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend - ILLW 2016

20 August (00.01UTC) to 21 August 2016 (2400UTC) - KARC/N1KSC will be operating at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse for the ILLW event. We will be setting up a portable stations at the lighthouse and endeavour to make contact with other lighthouses and amateur radio operators around the world. The event is organized by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society, ARLHS, which was founded in 2000. For more information about ILLW: http://illw.net

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EML Shack Antenna Party

July 16, 2016 - Multiple antennas were assembled & installed to significantly expand the club shack operating capabilties.  The club now has a Dual-Band VHF/UHF Vertical Antenna, 40-10m End-Fed Long Wire antenna, 80-10m End-Fed Antenna, VHF/UHF "Egg Beater" Satellite Antennas, plus a Discone Wide-Band Antenna. A recently installed window coax pass-thru panel, with Polyphaser lightning surge protectors, provides ease of patching the desired antenna to the various rigs.  Numerous coax cables were prepared for both interior & exterior routing.  The exterior cables on the EML rooftop were safely routed to the exterior of the pass-thru patch panel via a cleverly engineered & installed PVC pipe conduit assembly.

ARRL Field Day 2016

June 25th & 26th - Valiant Air Command - Titusville Airport, Titusville FL

This is the single most popular Amateur Radio on-the-air event! More than 35,000 radio amateurs gather to operate from remote locations. Field Day is practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN! It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public.This will be our first year participating in the ARRL Field Day. The event will be fun, interesting and challenging, and if you get a chance to stop by and say hi, please do so!  Read More...

Florida QSO Party 2016
April 30 & May 1 - KSC Amateur Radio Club was delighted to participate in its first operating event at the EML club shack, the "Florida QSO Party" https://floridaqsoparty.org.  Several club members operated multiple shifts during the two day event, and successfully logged over TBD QSO's.  We operated a loaned Yaesu FT-450D transceiver, along with a simple 40-10m end-fed antenna.  It was a simple temporary operating setup to get us on-the-air, so we were very surprised to find out that we received an award! - "First Place Multi Single SSB Low Power Florida" (view the award certificate).  We have received our first batch of QSL cards, and an opportunity for us to reciprocate with sending out our new QSL cards in reply.  We'll be sure to display the QSL cards on the wall of our shack, along with sharing some photos on our Twitter and Facebook pages.  Thanks to all who participated, and help make KARC's first club event fun & successful!

KARC End-of-Year Club Social 2015

Dec 12, 2017 - KARC celebrated it's 'First' End-of-Year club social at the home of member Scott Vangen (WB0QMZ) in Titusville, FL.  In addition to good company and  burgers/dogs on the grill, a portable QRP station was setup for a few quick QSO's courtesly by Kevin Zari (KK4YEL).