Home | Fulton Amateur Radio Club

Welcome

The Fulton Amateur Radio Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the lower level of the Oswego County Office Building, across from Mimi's restaurant, Route 481 North, Fulton at 7PM. The purpose of our club is to promote amateur radio through involvement with the various facets of the hobby. Join us!

Whether you are a licensed amateur radio operator or just have an interest in radio and communications...please join us!

The Fulton Amateur Radio Club was founded in 1957 and aims to encourage interest in radio/electronics, provide license training and testing, and promote Amateur Radio for emergency communications. The club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007 with a Special Event Station, and continues to conduct successful operations and assist with public service events. Ham Radio plays a critical role in emergency communications during power outages and other natural disasters, and the Fulton ARC provides communications when needed. The club also offers license training and testing, technical assistance, and welcomes anyone to attend their meetings, held on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Minutes from Previous Meetings: View Here

General Class Amateur Radio Exam Instruction Offered

CANCELED

The General Class course has been canceled due to insufficient interest. Anyone interested in getting support with a self study course can contact [email protected]

Are you a Technician Class amateur radio operator looking to expand your horizons? The Fulton Amateur Radio Club is excited to offer a free 10-week course aimed at helping you upgrade to a General Class Amateur (Ham) Radio license. This course will not only prepare you for the exam but also open up a world of new possibilities in your amateur radio journey.

Course Details:

Start Date: Thursday, September 5
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Lower level of the Oswego County Office Building, across from Mimi's Restaurant, Route 481, Fulton, NY
Class Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 7
Exam Date: Thursday, November 14

Why Upgrade to General Class?

The General Class license is a significant step up from the Technician Class, granting you access to many more frequencies, including those that enable global communication without relying on the internet, cell towers, or repeaters. This license opens doors to advanced communication modes and technical opportunities, allowing you to explore the full potential of amateur radio.

Whether you’re interested in high-frequency (HF) operations, experimenting with digital modes, or understanding the solar effects on HF propagation, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed. Topics will also cover operating with single sideband (SSB) on HF, utilizing test instruments, and delving into practical electronic circuits and antenna theory.

What to Expect:

The course is structured to build on what you’ve already learned as a Technician, with a deeper dive into the more complex aspects of amateur radio. Each class will cover a specific topic, ensuring that by the time you’re ready to take the exam, you’ll have a solid understanding of what it takes to be a successful General Class operator. The hands-on learning approach will make these concepts practical and easier to grasp, giving you the confidence to pass the exam and enjoy your new privileges.

How to Register:

To ensure we have enough resources prepared for all students, we ask that you preregister. You can do so by contacting Redd Swindells, AI2N, at ai2n(at)twcny.rr.com. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your license or simply expand your knowledge, this course is a great opportunity to connect with fellow radio enthusiasts and take your skills to the next level.

Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your amateur radio experience. Sign up today and get ready to explore new frequencies and communication modes with your General Class license!

License Courses

The Fulton Amateur Radio Club (FARC) offers instruction, support and testing for anyone interested in acquiring a Technician Class (entry level) FCC Amateur Radio License, as well as higher class licenses.

Amateur Radio, also known as Ham Radio, is a hobby that is accessible to almost anyone. Age, background, national citizenship, even physical disabilities are not barriers to passing the necessary tests to receive your own FCC amateur radio license and callsign..

You can earn an entry level Amateur Radio Technician license by passing a 35-question multiple-choice examination. No Morse code test is required. The exam covers basic regulations, operating practices, and elementary electronics theory, with a focus on VHF and UHF applications.

Self-study license guides are available under the “links” section of the FARC website, at http://www.fultonamateurradioclub.org/ An instructor is also available to answer questions via telephone, e-mail or in person, one-on-one, at a time and place mutually acceptable to the student and instructor. There is no fee for this service, though there is a small fee for the exam itself.

Questions regarding obtaining an Amateur Radio license may be directed to Redd Swindells, AI2N, at ai2n[at]twcny[dot]rr[dot]com

Interested parties are also encouraged to attend a meeting. The Fulton Amateur Radio Club meets at 7 PM on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the lower level of the Oswego County Office Building, across from Mimi's restaurant, Route 481 North, Fulton.

The primary purposes of the Fulton Amateur Radio Club are to promote the use of Amateur Radio for emergency communication, foster interest in radio/electronics and to provide license training and testing.

Meetings

Radio Club Meeting Dates: Fourth Wednesday of the month at 7PM:

Meeting Location: Oswego County Building, 200 North Second St. (Route 481), across from Mimi's Restaurant, in Fulton.

The meeting location has plenty of parking and is wheelchair accessible.

No meetings during July and August

Send your ideas for meeting programs or if you would like to put on a presentation at the radio club meeting, contact a club member.

Past meeting topics have included (to name a few):

PSK31
Slow scan television
Portable battery types
Mobile radio installation
Antenna and tower installation
Bat tracking via Amateur Radio
50th Anniversary Special Event Station
Home brewing QRP HF Transceivers

Guest speakerers:

Dave WJ2O, Ken N2ZN, and Redd AI2N on thier DXpedition
Steve N2TXK - Data acquisition using model rockets
Dave Eichorn 9WSYR Meteorologist - Weather in CNY and Doppler Radar
Keith WB2NVY - Communications on the Titanic
Bruce Frassinelli - Old Time Radio
Representatives from the ARRL, ARES and RACES

Videos:

History of Electronics Park (GE)
DXpedition to Bhutan
HF Mobile Operations

Annual Picnic

Our FARC Annual Picnic has been scheduled and reserved for Sunday, August 25th at the Brietbeck Park pavilion from 9am til 9pm. This will be discussed at the next FARC meeting. We are hoping to see all our members there. I will also schedule the catering of the chicken dinners from JT Flippin’ Chicken for our dinners. I will have more info at the next meeting.

Judy KC2SUM

date

Sunday, August 25, 2024 - 11:59

contact person

Judy LaMay

contact email

[email protected]

cost

TBD

Event type

Club Gatherings

ARISS Program

So a few weeks ago I had my cousin over to help me with a few projects I couldn’t do myself. One was restringing my cable for my long wire antenna.

We got talking about amateur radio and school activities, then I told him about ARISS program. We reviewed the current program and required documentation plus submitting dates. Well he took the information to teachers at Oswego School District, and I believe we have a few that want to do live chat with the ISS next fall.

Thus, I thought I should give everyone an update, and possibly notice that we might be getting a request to support a live chat session. The current deadline in February 29, and according to my cousin I should be hearing something soon.

I think this will be a wonderful opportunity for the club to promote Amateur Radio. Plus if anyone has a child, niece or nephew, or know someone in any of the school districts, now it’s time to share the information.

Thomas G. Cantine Jr W2TQF Memorial Scholarship

Tom Cantine

This scholarship was established after the untimely death of Thomas G. Cantine Jr, who was an active amateur radio operator for over 50 years. Obtaining his license at the age of 13 in 1957, Tom held the call sign: W2TQF. Tom’s hobby of amateur radio led to a career as a sales engineer and engineering consultant. Tom taught amateur radio classes, was a volunteer examiner, active in ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service), RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) and was a charter member of the Fulton Amateur Radio Club and served as the president of the radio club for several terms. This scholarship has been set up in memory of Tom and his passion for amateur radio.

The purpose of amateur (ham) radio is to foster the art of wireless communications, and to encourage goodwill, cooperation, education, and emergency preparedness among licensees at local, national, and global levels. Licensed amateurs agree to abide by license class rules outlined by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) after passing a written examination. A wide variety of activities and interests are available to the amateur radio operator. The Fulton Amateur Radio Club, founded in 1957, offers forums for discussion of relevant topics, instructions for amateur licensing, FCC license testing, and training for volunteer operators who provide wireless communications during special community events and emergencies.

This annual college scholarship, in the amount of $500, may be awarded to one or more licensed amateur radio operator(s) in the following New York state counties: Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga and Jefferson. Competition is open to undergraduate students pursuing a career in electronics, engineering, communications, broadcasting, computer science, medical, or business-related fields.

Selection is based on significant prior involvement in amateur radio, evidence of outstanding leadership and community service. The student must meet and fulfill the requirements listed below.

The $500 award will be paid in full to the student after successfully completion of one full semester with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The selection committee will comprise of members of the Fulton Amateur Radio Club and members of the Cantine family. The Cantine family will have final authority on dispersing the award.

Requirements are:

1. The applicant must hold an active amateur radio license (any class). Proof of license is required; a copy must be enclosed with the application.

2. The applicant must live in one of the following Central New York counties: Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga or Jefferson. Copy of license will verify address of applicant.

3. The applicant must be accepted into an accredited college or technical school. The applicant may be a graduating high school senior or a current undergraduate college student.

4. The applicant must be pursuing a degree in electronics, engineering, communications, broadcasting, computer science, medical, or business-related field.

5. The applicant must submit a completed scholarship application and include at least two (2) letters of recommendation from any combination of the following: employer, teacher, clergy, neighbor, or friend. Persons serving as references cannot be related to the applicant.

6. The completed application must be received by May 25, 2024.

The Scholarship Application Download Here

All scholarship information should be sent to:

The Thomas Cantine Jr W2TQF Memorial Scholarship, 2807 County Route 45, Fulton NY 13069

Scholarship questions to Pamela Cantine: [email protected] or phone 315-592-9305.

The Thomas Cantine Jr W2TQF Memorial Scholarship

The applicant must hold an active amateur radio license (any class). Proof of license is required; a copy must be enclosed with the application. The applicant must live in one of the following Central New York counties: Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga or Jefferson County. Copy of license will verify address of applicant. The applicant must be accepted into an accredited college or technical school. The applicant may be a graduating high school senior or a current undergraduate college student. The applicant must be pursuing a degree in electronics, engineering, communications, broadcasting, computer science, medical or business-related fields. The applicant must complete the scholarship application and also include at least two (2) letters of recommendation. The written recommendations can be from an employer, teacher, clergy, neighbor or friend. The reference cannot be related to the applicant. The completed application (including the recommendations) must be mailed to the address provided and must be received by May 25, 2024.

Downloads - PDF Files		Send completed application to: The Thomas Cantine Jr W2TQF Memorial Scholarship 2807 County Route 45 Fulton NY 13069
Application	Information