Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC)
September 2022

In this issue...

A Note from Rosy

Rosy Schechter KJ7RYV headshotHello, ARDC community!

My oh my, what a productive year it’s been so far. Behind the scenes, we’re in the final stages of hiring a Technical Director, working through data from the 44Net assessment (report targeted for early to mid November), and have so far awarded over 80 grants this year. Keep an eye on our website for more information about all of the above, all of which is coming soon.

Also coming soon - our last grant deadline of the year! If you’re interested in applying for an ARDC Grant, please get your application in by Oct. 1, 2022.

Apply here! 

I’m looking forward to seeing your application, so you can join our roster of incredible grantees.

And if you’re looking forward to seeing me, I’ll be at TAPR/ARRL DCC this weekend, giving a talk on onramps to learning technical subjects.

Keep reading to learn more about all the goings on.

73,

Rosy

Next Grant Application Deadline: October 1

The final deadline for submitting a grant application in 2022 is Sunday, October 1. After that date, you will still be able to submit applications, but they won’t be reviewed until early 2023. To learn more about how to apply for a grant, go to https://www.ampr.org/apply.

Arizona Science Center to Upgrade Amateur Radio Station

People at the Harkins Ham Shack, W7ASCA $12,000 grant to the Center for Amateur Radio Learning (CARL) will allow the group to upgrade the amateur radio station at the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix. CARL will improve the visitor and student experience at W7ASC, also known as “Harkins Ham Shack,” by purchasing and installing a modern HF radio with a panadapter display. The dynamic, visual presentation will give visitors a better understanding of radio technology and the importance of communications technology.

In addition, CARL will install a Geochron world map display that will provide real-time information, including:

  • Visual display of the gray line.
  • Propagation data, including the maximum usable frequency, in topographic and heat map overlays.
  • Satellite tracking data.Solar and aurora conditions.
  • Amateur radio contacts currently in progress.

This display will operate even when the station is closed, exposing visitors to amateur radio whenever the museum is open, not just when operators are present. CARL will also use the grant to purchase and install a VHF/UHF satellite transceiver and antenna that will permit more reliable satellite operations and provide an opportunity to host an International Space Station contact for students. The satellite capability will also allow CARL to work with the satellite development makerspace that is near the Arizona Science Center.

CARL is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting amateur radio to the public in the state of Arizona. In a typical year, more than 100,000 students visit the Arizona Science Center and get exposed to amateur radio.

Grant to Provide Tech Scholarships to 13 Women

Washington Women in Need (WWIN)An $85,000 grant to Washington Women in Need (WWIN) will provide scholarships for 13 women studying computer science, electrical engineering, computer/software development, computer engineering, and information technology.

Guided by the belief that every woman is worthy, WWIN empowers women in Washington State to achieve economic stability through higher education, and living wage careers. WWIN has positively impacted the lives of more than 7,000 women across Washington. These women share a common trait: the determination to move forward for themselves, their families, and their communities. With the support of WWIN, their stories of struggle have evolved into stories of hope, courage, gratitude and dreams fulfilled.

Come see us at QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, ARRL/TAPR DCC and the GNU Radio Conference

We have three more conferences on our schedule this year:

  • QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, September 17-18, 2022. Dan Romanchik, KB6NU will be representing ARDC at the Virtual Expo. In addition to being available at our booth, he’ll be speaking about how ARDC grants are making an impact. The talk is scheduled for 2300 UTC on Saturday, September 17, 2022.
  • ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC), Charlotte, North Carolina, September 16-18, 2022. John Hays, K7VE, and Rosy Schechter, KJ7RYV, will be attending this event. Rosy will be giving a talk at the banquet on Saturday about onramps into learning technical subjects, and John will be hosting an event featuring ARDC grantees on Sunday.
  • GNU Radio Conference (GRCon22), Washington, DC, September 26-30, 2022. We won’t have a table at GRCon, but Dan Romanchik, KB6NU, will be attending the conference and conducting a study session for those who will be taking the Technician Class license test there. The study session will take place Thursday morning.

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Our Mission

The mission of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is to support, promote, and enhance digital communication and broader communication science and technology, to promote amateur radio, scientific research, experimentation, education, development, open access, and innovation in information and communication technology.

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