Reference the discussion about radio amateurs building and repairing things...
Take a look at our local high school's engineering class -
http://eldorado-space-cowboys.com
Make sure that you click on the links on the left side of the page, including
their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Eldorado-Space-Program-The-League-of-Extraordinary-Space-Cowboys-461267087313859/
Since the start of the engineering program 3 years ago - as a part of the
engineering program, the school has gone from zero amateurs at the school
to 14 new Eldorado High School Students that now have licenses.
Those 14 kids (plus Paul McWhorter, their teacher) have obtained their Technician,
General & Extra licenses.
Not bad for a high school with about 150 kids in grades 9-12.
Several more 9th and 10th graders will be traveling to the Brownwood, Texas ARC
on the second Saturday of this month to take their
initial Amateur tests (or to upgrade their existing licensees).
Among many other things, the class designed and constructed the pan-tilt
mechanism that points their directional parabolic microwave antenna
that they mounted atop the High School Gym which automatically tracks the
balloons that they launch into outer space.
They are in the process of constructing a second automatic tracking antenna system which
will be installed atop the "Hambulance"
that you see on their web pages.
Once installed, it will automatically track their balloons after launch in real time
while driving down the road in the "Hambulance".
One young student, Austin Albin (KE5KK) has taken a keen interest in repairing
and building HF amplifiers in the past couple of years.
Austin just finished rebuilding an incomplete Hallicrafters HT-41 amplifier
that is now installed in their classroom and amplifies their HF station.
He is currently in the process of constructing a HF amplifier running two 813
tubes and is also in the process of designing a HF amplifier using a 4CX5000.
Go to www.QRZ.com and look him up. You can see some of the things that he has
recently done, including repairing a Drake L4B, which had major problems.
He loves the red glow of glass tubes.
One of the engineering classes students, Chase Mertz (KG5KKX) submitted an
article to QST last July regarding the classes engineering work.
She was recently notified that her article was scheduled to printed in the
February, 2017 edition of QST. Look for it.
If you feel inclined, send them an email with a word of encouragement. I am
sure that they will appreciate it.
Danny Ray Boyer W5AHN
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