School Club Round Up

Clifton Harper, KE5YZB is an Art Teacher at the Eisenhower Middle School in Lawton, Oklahoma.  He organizes and facilitates the Viking Radio (school) Club, KF5CRF, an alternative activity for students.  During the school year, Viking members venture into the classroom to use the radio, either before or after school.  Several students enjoy talking on the radio while others work on their individual projects such as being able to say their name and club call sign phonetically.

KF5CRF has the flexibility to operate all day during the week long School Club Round Up (SCR) amateur radio contest.  The format is simple, use amateur radio contest protocol and allow students (K-16) over North America (including US territories) to talk with other students.  The contest allows for operations for a maximum of 6 hours a day, not to exceed 24 total operating hours for the week.  Local amateur radio operators rotate in and out of the school club station to supervise proper operations.  This allows Harper to continue teaching, while the SCR is active in the classroom.  Interested students in the class are encouraged to venture over to observe and talk on the radio.

Interest always peaks when a station being heard is in another country.  Such was the case when students attempted to reply to a Nova Scotia station that went unanswered.  This was not the end of the story, as a short time later, students talked with North Pole, Alaska for several minutes.  Most conversations are general in nature with a lot of focus on current weather.  Without exception, all contacts are made by the students.  Logging is still something new to the young Vikings, but they are taking to the task well.

Coordination is critical and Harper speaks with each Viking member’s teacher.  The goal is to allow participation in the SCR for at least 50 minutes each day during four days of operations.  This way, students miss only one class from any one subject.  This level of cooperation allows for two and occasionally three student operators to be present.  Members already in Harper’s class are allowed to participate in the SCR or work on their assigned class work.

Participation in the SCR allows students the chance to talk with other students while reinforcing their understanding of geography and how the sun plays an important role in amateur radio communications.  With the recent blizzard and ice storms in Oklahoma, many students have personal stories of power loss and temporary relocation while repairs to the local grid were being made.  The conversations are interesting because they are unique to the students.  Other topics students are encouraged to develop over the radio include school sports or other areas of commom interest.

Vikings strive to use good operating procedures.  Students locate a quiet frequency and listen.  They must then decide if the frequency is already in use.  This is followed by calling and asking if the frequency is in use.  If they don’t hear a reply and they frequently do, they proceed to call CQ, which is short for “calling any station” and continue with a preformatted CQ announcement.  Students generally memorize the CQ announcement after a few attempts.

Students are continually reminded that they may only be able to hear one side of a radio conversation.  As 8^th grader Cristi discovered when a 59 plus (referred to as an RST.  RST is a method of station reception reporting) blasted into KF5CRF; just as she was getting ready to ask if the frequency was in use.  Although startled, she laughingly remarked, “I guess that frequency is in use” and moved to another “quiet” frequency.

Occasionally, students forget all previous drills when they get a reply from their CQ calling efforts.  This is changing as their experience grows.  Most of the time, they get it right and repeat back the call sign,  KF5CRF along with RST, location and identify themselves as a school.  After completing the log, they’ll reply with something personal such as their name, age and what grade they attend.  Each QSO, which is short for conversation, is typically brief and may require coaching on the part of the

amateur radio control operator present.  Students are encouraged to be thoughtful of the other operator, thank them for the contact.  If they’re participating in the SCR, wish them luck in the contest.  Once the QSO is over, students begin another round of calling CQ.

This is the second time the Vikings participated in the SCR.  There has been considerable growth in their radio skills.  Students are more at ease and doing a better job of listening and developing the conversation.  Those that were “MIC SHY” during the last SCR are now comfortable talking on the radio.  Several students from the classroom also venture over to observe the activities.

Another positive from this SCR was the amount of recruiting that took place just prior to, and the week of the SCR event.  Viking Radio Club member Jackson would talk about amateur radio to anyone that would stand still long enough to listen.  He’d invite them to come and see the station and learn more about amateur radio.  Many of the newest members are a direct result of Jackson’s steadfast recruiting efforts.  The club picked up seven new members, four girls and three boys.  Of the new members, two have amateur radio connections.  Crista is the granddaughter of KC5JAU and Landry is the niece of W5RSN.

The majority of the Vikings are in the 6^th grade.  This level of growth potential should mean that several of these 6^th graders may eventually become licensed operators.  In the meantime, they’ll continue to have fun, learn about the world they live in and explore amateur radio.  As was the case when Vikings enjoyed the opportunity to talk  with station operator Roy Dickinson, operating as XE2/N5SWE from the Light House in Sonora, Mexico.  Photo courtesy of www.qrz.com/db/n5swe.

Club members are encouraged to get their license, either by independent study or taking a locally provided class.  Beginning on April 3^rd, Viking Radio Club members will be able to take (6) Saturday classes to prepare for the Technician Class License.  All amateur radio classes are given at no cost. The last class generally includes a test session.  Viking Radio Club members enjoy a scholarship for the cost of amateur radio study materials, text books, and when they are ready, testing fees.  We look forward to the day when a Viking Radio Club member will have their own call sign.  For more information about amateur radio contact Clifton Harper, Paul Goulet, kc5cyy@gmail.com or Milton Simpson, WB5YZD schoolmaster5@sbcglobal.net – 73 and good DX .