Canterbury Amateur Radio Club

The Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club (FMARC) has had a relationship with the Canterbury School, a college preparatory school located in Fort Myers, FL, going back a number of years.  This relationship included working with the International Space Station (ARISS) program that culminated in using Amateur Radio to talk with an astronaut on the International Space Station (https://fmarc.net/canterbury-ariss-contact/).  This spring, members of the FMARC helped facilitate a highly successful 7-week program with the Canterbury Amateur Radio Club where Middle School participants learned about a wide variety of topics and had the opportunity for a lot of hands-on practice.  Areas covered included:

  • Amateur Radio history including the usage of telegraphy in the old west

  • The electromagnetic frequency spectrum

  • Repeater and Simplex Usage

  • HF set-up and operation

  • Portable operations

  • Morse Code

  • Digital voice communications – DMR as well as WiresX and Yaesu System Fusion

  • Fox Hunting, which is where participants use directional antennas to find a hidden radio transmitter

FMARC members worked with Canterbury Staff planning the program, giving presentations, and guiding participants in using amateur radio equipment.  Participants included:

  • Steve Clayton, K4SJC

  • Tom Provenzano, KM4LPW

  • Frank Richards, KB4VU

  • Vic Delnore, W2ILY

  • Bill Warren, WB2ICW

  • Bob Lewis, N8GU

  • Jim Walsh, K4DIP, Co-Chair

  • Evonne Clapper, KQ4BFE, School Liaison

Presentations:

Simplex, Repeaters, Digital Voice, and Handhelds:

HF Communications including learning some Morse Code!