America West Amateur Radio Club, Phoenix, Arizona

America West Amateur Radio Club
K7AWA
Phoenix, Arizona

Our Mission

Foster a knowledge of Emergency communications techniques, provide opportunities for expansion of technical electronic communications knowledge, including obtaining or upgrading an amateur radio license and providing communications services in the public interest through the use of Amateur Radio equipment and frequencies.

Who we are

AWARC membership is made up of Pilots, Flight Attendants, Mechanics, Technical, Administrative and Support personel from America West and now, US Airways, who are, or wish to become, Hams. Our license classes range from Tech/Lite to Extra, with experience ranging from brand new to 35+ year hams. We have several members who are ARRL or W5YI VE's, so testing for all classes will be available.

How AWARC started

Several Pilots, Mechanics, Simulator Techs and Admin personel from America West have been throwing around the idea of a real club for quite a while. Only after several on-the-air QSO's had we realized that many of us worked for AWA and that a club would be a great idea. So back in March/April 2003 time frame, a bunch of us met up on a local repeater one evening. Had 9 people 'check-in' to the first "AWARC Net". Interest was gauged and the 'club' was born!

Checking with AWA Corporate Communications, and Legal for the use of the name, Capt's Larry Taylor, W7LDT and Bob Manning, N7AW really got things rolling. The first meeting of AWARC was held in the AWA Training Center cafeteria during everyone's lunch period on September 24th. During the meeting, Interim Officers positions were discussed and Capt. Larry Taylor, W7LDT volunteered to be interim President; Capt. Bob Manning, N7AW, the Vice President and First Officer TJ Hvasta, NS2E, Secretary and Webmaster. Regularly elected positions will probably be opened in April 2007 or assigned as soon as someone DOESN'T show up for a meeting.

Dues were discussed and right now are planned to be approx $25-30/yr (cost of a burger and fries/month), pro-rated. Dues are primarily for Liability coverage of the new repeater, a requirement of ARRL and the person donating the repeater equipment. Of course, donations are welcome anytime. An idea of a 'flower fund'(tip jar) was brought up as being able to generate additional funds for repairs/upgrades, etc.

What we like to do

HF, HF Mobile, CW, QRP, APRS, Contesting, Field Day, Emergency Services and SkyWarn are just SOME of the areas of interest our members have. With service now to Hawaii, several of us have taken our radios, tuners, and portable antennas out to Honolulu and Maui and set up in the rooms trying for our first island contacts!

Repeaters

AWARC was most graciously given access to a wonderful 2-meter repeater on 146.22/82, (-600khz) 162.2hz PL by the Horned Toad Acres Wireless Association. The repeater is fully-frequency coordinated with the AZ Repeater Association. Location is on the Bank One Building.

APRS

Want to get into APRS cheap and easy? A handheld GPS receiver, an interface and an HT are all you need to "show yourself off". Several different GPS receivers are available, from no-frills, no-display OEM units, and mouse-type GPS units ($40-$60) which, when run thru an TinyTrak or OpenTrak interface and plugged into a radio, transmit positions at regular intervals, the kit is available at Byonics.com, which is located in Las Vegas.

This page and links are a resource for both HAM radio operators and other interested parties in the community in the public service tradition and spirit of amateur radio.

This site last updated 20 March, 2007 and viewed times.

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