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By Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT
Contributing Editor
April 24, 2001
"Radio Central" aboard the Battleship North Carolina took to the amateur bands this month with youth in control of the mike!
Bill Wetherill, N2WG, of Wilmington, North Carolina, and the Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Club organized a unique event recently to give some area middle school youngsters an opportunity to tour an actual battleship and contact other hams around the world from the vessel.
 Williston seventh grade students operating from Radio Central aboard the Battleship North Carolina. |
Nine seventh-grade students and one teacher, Liz Crace, from Williston Middle School attended the special event on April 11. Bill gave a presentation on Amateur Radio to two of Crace's classes at Williston, and kindled an interest of Amateur Radio in many of the students. Crace had those interested students write essays on why they would want to tour the North Carolina and talk to others via Amateur Radio from it. More than 25 essays were received, but the small size of the radio room aboard the North Carolina could accommodate only nine students.
Using the club callsign of NI4BK (NIBK was the battleship's original call sign), the three-hour operation allowed the youths to make 50 contacts on 20 and 40-meters from "Radio Central." Radio Central is located deep within the ship and is only open for viewing to the public. But, thanks to Capt David Scheu, the students were allowed the special opportunity to operate from the radio room.
Among the contacts were the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown in South Carolina and the Destroyer Haida in Canada. They also made contacts with many schools across the country and were asked to join the Submariners Net, which they did.
 Williston Middle School's students and teacher under the North Carolina's turrets. |
A week later, on April 18, seven eighth-graders from Topsail Middle School operated from the North Carolina, too, logging 40 contacts. Despite bad band conditions they certainly had a great time!
What I found interesting was that the youngsters used the already-existing coax, patches and antennas on the battleship--commissioned on April 9, 1941. The antennas they used originally were the battleship's receiving antennas. The 40-meter antenna used was a 33-foot vertical, and the 20-meter antenna was a 16-foot vertical. They had to place an L-C network on the 20-meter vertical to get a good match, however.
 Eight graders from Topsail operate from the Battleship North Carolina. |
Bill noted that these young people took an active role in other activities when they are operating from the North Carolina. They acted as guides when people touring the battleship approached the radio room, and they and readily explained their activities from Radio Central with little prompting.
They were certainly proud to be given the chance to be operating aboard the historic ship. The students also enjoyed the pileups and the fact that it is easy to talk to people who live far away using Amateur Radio.
Probably the most gratifying comment Bill heard was from seven of the nine students aboard: "How do I get my license?" Bill says he intends to organize classes to help those interested to study for their tickets.
 QSL card made for those who contacted the North Carolina while the Williston students operated. |
N2WG would like to thank all those who made contact with the Williston and Topsail students. He plans to host students from South Brunswick Middle School on Wednesday, April 25. They will take to the bands from the North Carolina between 1300 and 1600 UTC. Be sure to look for them on 20 and 40, and if you don't get a chance to work the North Carolina then, Bill says he plans to organize additional operating opportunities at Radio Central throughout the summer. Stay tuned, and thank you, Bill Wetherill, N2WG, for your tireless efforts to bring youth into our hobby!
2001 Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award Deadline Looms!
I'm sure you know of a young ham who has gone the extra mile after getting his or her license. Perhaps he or she is a net control station, or has played an active role in his or her community as an ARES member. Or perhaps he or she has promoted Amateur Radio to a group of other young Amateurs. No matter what he or she has done, I strongly encourage you to nominate that young ham for the Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award. It takes little time to fill out the form, but it will leave a lasting impression on the youth who might be selected as the recipient!
The deadline to nominate someone for YHOTY is fast approaching. This award is is underwritten by Yaesu (Vertex Standard) and CQ magazine.
Created in 1986, the YHOTY award recognizes one young amateur under the age of 18 in the continental United States for his or her contributions to society through Amateur Radio. The Young Ham of the Year Award selection committee will consider all received nominations and select one winner.
The winner will be flown to Huntsville, Alabama, where the award will be formally presented during the annual hamfest there in August. Hotel accommodations as well as convention tickets are normally provided, and CQ treats the recipient to a week at Spacecamp-Huntsville--an experience of the lifetime!
All nominations and materials required by the official rules must be received by Amateur Radio Newsline before May 30, 2001. Complete details and application forms are available on the Newsline Web site, or they can be obtained by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to The Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award, 28197 Robin Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Don't let this deadline slip by without nominating the young ham you know!
Till Next Time
That's all for this month. As always, I'm looking for topic ideas to use in future Youth@HamRadio.Fun columns! Don't hesitate to pass them along to me via e-mail at n5zgt@arrl.net.
School is about to wrap up for the year/semester, so get out there and enjoy Amateur Radio!
Editor's note: Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico. A 21-year-old senior in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico, Brian was the 1999 ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Award winner as well as the 1997 winner of the YHOTY Award. He was first licensed in 1992 at age 12, holds a General license and now is studying for his Amateur Extra ticket. "I love Amateur Radio, and wish I could have gotten into the hobby sooner," he says. Brian enjoys many of the activities afforded by Amateur Radio, including CW, QRP CW, transmitter hunting, satellite operation, some digital modes, and, of course, just speaking into the microphone. Brian authored the "Youth Forum" column for Worldradio magazine for three years. He's a brother of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, as well as very active in the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scoutmaster and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. Brian welcomes visitors to his Web site.
