Iroquois County Amateur Radio 147.030+ and 444.625+ - Meetings 2nd Thursday at the Red Cross Office in Watseka, IL

The Glenn Raymond School Science Club was recently awarded an equipment grant to help establish an Amateur Radio station at the school. 8th grade science teacher and science club sponsor, Troy Simpson, spearheaded the endeavor as a means to bring another avenue of technology to the students at GRS. Mr. Simpson earned his amateur radio license after the Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club did a HAM radio demonstration for the school’s science club’s 30th Anniversary. He saw this as unique opportunity for GRS students and potentially the start of a lifetime activity.

The equipment grant is sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League and provides grants to schools to that incorporate amatuer radio and radio technology in their schools. Glenn Raymond School was one of only 6 schools in the nation to receive the grant for 2008. They received a Kenwood TS-480SAT radio with power supply, two antennas to transmit on a variety of frequencies, and an auto-tuner to help match frequency transmissions. The science club has already received their call sign as fittingly appropriate W9GRS.

The GRS Science Club is incorporating amatuer radio as a means to provide hands-on application of radio technology. Students will learn about how radio waves travel, how radio is used in weather spotting and emergency communications, and participate in contacting other amateur radio stations around the world. Students will also have the opportunity to earn their Amateur License.

The Science Club has also been working closely with the Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club in establishing the station. ICARC club members kicked things off with a demonstration of HAM radio 2 years ago at one of the Science Club meetings and recently held their annual Field Day at Glenn Raymond School.

“I believe this is a great addition to our science club and will give yet another unique opportunity for Glenn Raymond students. They will be introduced not only to the science of HAM radio, but the civic service that amateur radio contributes to.” - Mr. Simpson