Holiday City Amateur Radio Club - W2HC

Amateur Radio is like many other hobbies. For example, when one takes up fishing; a fisherman must gather equipment, select a suitable location on the body of water and then wait for a curious or hungry fish. If there are no “interested customers” after a certain period, the fisherman must choose a different location or move to a different body of water. All of this takes time and patience on the part of the fisherman. Keep in mind all this effort could result in a successful experience or a complete failure.

The Amateur Radio operator faces similar challenges as the fisherman. Equipment must be selected, other operators on the air identified and attempts to catch the operator and make a QSO accomplished. If the radio operator is unsuccessful in connecting with another operator after a certain span of time, other options must be explored. As with the case of the fisherman this could be a good or a bad experience.

Fortunately, the amateur radio operator has some of the following choices to assist in the success of completing a contact. Looking at websites which provide propagation information is one means of making a contact successful. Another technique is to look at logs and use “spotting” information. This method will provide the time and location of operators currently on the air and their location. One more approach to assist in making a QSO is to use the Reverse Beacon Network or RBN. This method will be discussed at our March meeting.

Doug Poray KC2TZC

The Holiday City Amateur Radio Club (HCARC) invites all hams or prospective hams to join our club. We are an ARRL affiliated club and have members eager to help others to achieve licensing or to up-grade their present license privileges.

Members of the HCARC have a sense of friendship and concern for each others welfare and interest. This extends to helping each other with problems associated with their station, rigs, computers and more.

We meet the first Thursday of the month, in the evening at 7:00 PM. Our meeting place is in the Club House complex of Holiday City South off Mule Road (Corner of Mule Road and Santiago Drive) in the Toms River area.

We always have an interesting monthly program that in the past have consisted of discussions about APRS, DX, Computer Aids, Power Line Surge Protection, the Battle Ship N.J. Amateur Radio Station and many other topics. The club has arranged for tours of such places as the Naval Engineering Station at Lakehurst (location of the famed Hanger 1 and the Hindenburg disaster) and the Nuclear Power plant at Cedar Creek. Guest speakers from the world of elder law, medical professionals, club members presenting alternative hobbies, and speakers from other Amateur Radio Clubs, have also provided interesting and educational presentations. We have annual get-togethers. These include our holiday party and a Field Day picnic at the Toms River Park. Luncheons, including XYLs and friends, take place from time to time at local restaurants and an every other Monday luncheon for members are also part of our regular routine. At each meeting we provide refreshments; coffee, cake and cookies and quarterly we host a pizza meeting. XYLs are in the picture at all social events held during the year, assisting and helping to plan such activities. Our club has sponsored technician and general class license classes that included learning or increasing ones Morse code ability. We think the club has something to offer each member and would be delighted if you participated.

We here at the Holiday City Amateur Radio Club welcome all who venture into the ranks of Amateur Radio. Like all radio operators there comes a point when we attempt to set up a working radio station and get "on the air". Many questions come to mind such as, What radio should I buy and where to buy it?, What type antenna should I use?, Can I install an antenna where I live?, or if I have already set up my station, When do I push the transmit button?. We here at the Holiday City Amateur Radio Club are here to help answer those questions. All you have to do is ask. You may contact me at my email address: n2wlh@yahoo.com