The Bellevue Amateur Radio Club will be hosting a class for new Amateur Radio licensees.  If you've been interested in amateur radio, but weren't sure where to get started or what you needed to know, we've got just the class for you.  We'll take just two Saturdays of you time and teach you what you need to know to pass the FCC exam to become a licensed HAM radio operator.  For more information about the class as well as the upcoming exam session, click here.

The WB0CAP Youth Amateur Radio Club  is sponsoring Civil Air Patrol members that would like take this course by providing  limited number of textbooks which will be available for loan.  The Club will sponsor the $14 exam fee for CADETS if they attend both class sessions, and present a copy of a completed on-line practice exam from www.RadioExam.org/  with a minimum score of 80%.

For more information or to register to use the book and exam fee sponsorship, email WB0CAP@ARRL.net
 

The WB0CAP Youth Amateur Radio Club  is sponsoring a special event station in conjunction with the General Curtis LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol  to celebrate the CAP's 65th anniversary and the Squadron's 50th anniversary.

The station will operate December 1, 2100Z thru December 3, 0500Z, from Offutt Air Force Base located in Bellevue, NE.  The event is published in QST and the ARRL Special Events listing.   Operating frequencies will be on or near 21.340 MHz,  14.240 MHz, 7.240 MHz,  and 3.840 MHz. You MUST have an Amateur Radio License or have an Amateur Radio Operator as a control operator with appropriate privileges to transmit on these frequencies.  Most operation will occur from 0800 - 2200 CST. QSLs will be provided through eQSL or a printed QSL may be received by mailing your QSL card or reception report with a self addressed stamped envelope to: WB0CAP, P.O. Box 13402, Offutt AFB, NE  68113.

Civil Air Patrol was founded December 1st, 1941 by a group of aviation enthusiasts and private pilots who wanted to donate their time and aircraft to protect the Nation's coastlines during World War II and perform other Civil Defense missions. 

The 2006 JAMBOREE ON THE AIR was a great success!   The Jamboree is an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts and Guides all over the world make contacts with each other by means of amateur radio. It is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, thus contributing to the world brotherhood of Scouting.  Scouts learn how radio waves work and the event gives them the experience of talking to scouts across the world. The WB0CAP Youth Amateur Radio Club sponsored the event operating from a Camp Wakonda located in Bellevue, Nebraska. Members from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Civil Air Patrol all participated, offering everyone the opportunity to talk with Scouts around the world.  One highlight of the weekend, working a scouting station from the Czech  Republic. The event was a little cold, with temperatures dipping into the teens during the night.  Several of us braved the weather to operate into the night.  We were able to work stations from coast-to-coast... we even heard K2BSA, but were unable to make the contact due to the pile-up. (It was actually easier to work the Czech Republic! Most of the contacts were made operating from battery power with an Icom 706MkIIg and a BuddiPole operating on 20 meters.  Other than operating on the air, Scouts conducted several mini fox-hunts through the woods - drawing more than its fair share of attention. This activity fits closely with our charter to help the scout program and to expose youth to the magic of radio. Icom provided copies of the Max and Zach comic series along with band-plans and world maps. Each Scout also received their own JOTA patch, WB0CAP QSL card showing their first contact, the BSA mini JOTA log sheet along with ARRL and Hello-Radio materials. Club members, Scouts and parents alike all have the same general feelings about the program - amateur radio has great educational and recreational values, and fits well with Scouting by contributing to international goodwill and a offering the opportunity for a lifetime of enjoyment and learning.     Camp Wakonda has expressed an interest in establishing a permanent amateur radio station, and we intend on sponsoring the event each year - hopefully making it bigger and better than the previous year!

The WB0CAP Youth Amateur Radio Club partnered with Civil Air Patrol and the Bellevue Amateur Radio Club to participate in the 2006 Field Day.  The WB0CAP club operating the Get On The Air (GOTA) station, was the easy part... the Nebraska Wing, Civil Air Patrol provided the use of a communications van and generator - Club members provided the radios and antennas.

Field Day offers many opportunities to help sharpen our skills in emergency communications preparedness. We began setting up started setting up the GOTA station on Saturday morning June 23rd, at 9 AM, by putting up antennas and feed lines, along with the tents and tables required for each station.

CAP members, along with Tom Schaeffer, Nebraska Wing Director of Communications, set upte hte station and antennas. Our antenna for the GOTA station consisted of a 150 ft loop (like a folded dipole) fed by a SG-239 antenna tuner.  We soon learned that the combined weight was too much for the frail, thin mast... which buckled as it was being erected.  Fortunately, another club member happened to bring a 30 ft heavy-duty telescoping mast. Still, it wasn't easy...  the rain started and lasted most of the morning, at least until we were done installing the new mast and erecting the antenna.

After a short reprieve from the rain, the high winds (60mph) and lighting started... requiring us to disconnect our equipment and retreat from our stations for a short while.  Members and friends of the club provided lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast Sunday morning to keep the hard working operators going around the clock. 

Over all, it was a good showing - The GOTA station had a few hams visit and operate, and we had several children and young adults get their first introduction to Amateur Radio.  When all was done, we worked all but three states, with contacts to each of the Canadian Providences. The GOTA station made half of the clubs 649 contacts earning a total of 2804 points. 

 

Parents often tell their children “you don’t know how good you have it.” Ed Moss, N0LJD, told a room full of parents the same thing during the presentation of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) club charter to the WBOCAP Youth Amateur Radio Club.

The club received its charter at Offiut Air Force Base, Nebraska as a youth oriented club, and was presented by Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ, Nebraska Section Manager for the ARRL to LtCol Darrell McMillan, Commander of the General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol.

The message to parents was clear, we all rely on technology: telephones, cell phones, and email across the Internet. All of this is part of our communications infrastructure, and when disaster strikes, this infrastructure becomes stressed. Given enough time, this stress can turn into failures, as was evident during the hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast this past year. Amateur Radio plays in important role in backing up communications in our communities, but only if we have trained operators.

“This club defiantly has a step in the right direction, and there are few clubs in the area with a focus on youth.” stated Nebraska Section Manager, Matt Anderson. We know that Amateur Radio needs to bring youth into our ranks, and the club’s goal is to do just that. But even more importantly, introduce youth to aspects of technology, science, and math that they may not be exposed to in school, and present it in a way that will keep their interest.

“The club also provides a unique opportunity for young adults” stated Ed Moss, N0LJD, the club trustee and twenty-five year member of CAP. We formed the club specifically for Civil Air Patrol cadets as a way to educate them about amateur radio and for them to get more experience and increase their proficiency in communications.” At the 2005 Dayton Hamvention, the ARRL and Civil Air Patrol signed a Memorandum of Agreement encouraging education of their respective memberships about each other. This club is one tool that will help accomplish that goal.

The club isn’t just for members of CAP, it is open to all youth with an interest in communications and the club puts even more focus on communications in the aerospace industry. We have a seen strong interest in direction finding, telemetry from model rockets, working with high altitude balloons and satellite communication. All of these topics fit well with our goals of communications, technology, aerospace and science. Along the way, we hope to bring our message to other amateur radio clubs, local schools, and Scouting programs.

A copy of the ARRL / CAP Memorandum of Agreement can be found at: www.arrl.org/FandES/field/mou/CAP.pdf
 

Several Civil Air Patrol Cadets and family members gathered together to participate in the 2006 Kids Day.  Working this event had special meaning as this was the first club event to use the new club call, WB0CAP.  "We couldn't have planned  it better if we tried" stated Ed Moss - N0LD.  "One of the  missions of Civil Air Patrol is is to help educate the general public about  Aerospace Education.  Appropriately,  our first contact was with W5RRR - The Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio Club located in Houston Texas."  Operation was sporadic, with conditions fading, but it was well worth it.  CAP cadets along with brothers, sisters and friends were able to speak with Astronaut Dorothy Marie "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger.

Younger kids eyes lit-up when they heard they were talking to an astronaut, and Dottie served as an inspiration to the young ladies attending.  The conversations made it very clear - Stay in school - Study math and science because they are important.  Hobbies like amateur radio and organizations like Civil Air Patrol can give young adults a competitive edge and opportunities to learn about things the average student will never get to experience.  If you study hard, and direct your energy towards positive activities, you can achieve your goals, including becoming an astronaut!