Holiday City Amateur Radio Club - W2HC

Now that Field Day is behind us, it is time to explore other amateur radio activities. Since Field Day gave us the opportunity to contact other stations and exchange information, trying our success at Contesting might be an interesting challenge.

Every Contest has rules which must be followed. First, only certain bands may be used. Second, Contests only take place between certain times and certain dates. Third, an exchange of information is required during each contact. Finally, only certain operating configurations may be used. An example would be operation as a single operator using low power.

QST publishes Contest activity each month in their Contest Corral article. Other resources for finding Contest activity are available in a ARRL e-mail newsletter called "Contest Update" and in the magazine National Contest Journal. Both resources are free to ARRL members.

Even though a log is not required, it is recommended for your score to be considered. The log will also help you avoid recording duplicate contacts. Logs may be kept on paper or on a computer with a logging program.

Don't be frightened by only making a few contacts. Contests are competitive and a beginner should not become discouraged. The big advantage for a beginner is to use the contacts for gaining requirements for some of the ARRL Awards such as WAS (Worked all States).

Our July meeting will be a critique of our Field Day experience. The improvements suggested by the participants will be evaluated and considered for next year's event.

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