W9BGX

Northwestern University Amateur Radio Society (W9BGX) Northwestern University, Evanston, IL Faculty Advisors: Professor A.V. Sahakian Professor A. Taflove

NUARS was formed in 1949 under the auspices of what is today known as the IEEE. In 2003, the club station was upgraded, including erecting a new H.F. seven-element beam antenna. The primary purpose of the club is to give members of the Northwestern community the opportunity to operate an amateur radio while at school. There are also many opportunities for experimental work (including circuit design and fabrication), message handling, working DX (amateurs in distant lands around the globe), award chasing, and antenna experimentation. Facilities are available for transmitting CW, SSB, AM, FM, and digital packet on various amateur frequencies available between 3 and 450 MHz. Membership is open to all Northwestern students, faculty, and staff, although only licensed members may operate the transmitting equipment. Electrical Engineering students with an interest in communications and experimentation are especially encouraged to join.

Equipment

• Icom IC-7200 Transceiver

• Alpha 8410 Linear Amplifier(1500 watts on 160m-10m)

• Inoperative: Drake L7 Amplifier(1000 watts on 160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m)

• Cushcraft X-10 HF Beam at 110 for 20m, 15m, and 10m

• Zero Five 43’ HF Vertical 160m-10m

• SignaLink USB interface

• D-Star Gateway REF041 - No RF

Protocols

• Joining NUARS

• Antenna Tune-Up

• Using PSK31

Awards

• DX Century Award

• DX Century Award(Phone)

• Worked All Zones

• Worked All States

Potential Future Directions

• QRP Transceiver (Rockmite 40m) Building Party

• Weather Balloon Launch

• Satellite work

• Moonbounce(EME)

• Homebrew D-STAR equipment

• VE Testing

Contacts

• KA9SCF pgreen@northwestern.edu

• AB9XS traviscj@u.northwestern.edu