ARROW Communications Association

Ham Radio at the Hands-On Museum is a joint effort of ARROW and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum whose goal is to promote amateur radio and an understanding of radio and other wireless technologies. This effort includes a number of different activities, including:

• operation of a permanent amateur radio station, WA2HOM, at the museum,
• creation of several "hands on" displays at the museum that will demonstrate electrical and electronic principles,
• amateur radio license classes that teach students all they need to know to get an amateur radio license, and
• other activities that will give kids and their parents a better understanding of wireless technologies.

WA2HOM
WA2HOM is the centerpiece of Ham Radio at the Hands-On Museum. In the spring of 2008, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) awarded us a $10,000 grant to purchase equipment for the station and purchase or construct the furniture for the station. In October 2008, the permanent station had its grand opening. WA2HOM is on the air at least twice per week.

The current antenna system includes inverted vees on the museum roof for the 40-meter band and the 20-meter bands. We recently, however, received $3,000 from the ARRL Foundation to put up a tower on the roof and install a more sophisticated antenna system. This project is currently underway and should be up before the snow flies.

Hands-On Displays
In addition to the station, we'll be working with the museum folks to create several exhibits demonstrating electrical/electronic principles and wireless technology. Currently under construction are a crystal radio display and a telegraph display.

We have several more ideas for exhibits, including:

• Ohm's Law
• See your voice on an oscilloscope
• Resonant Circuits/Oscillators
• How Radio Waves Work (Hertz' Experiment)

Other Projects/Activities
We're also working on some other projects and activities, including:

• "hams do TV, too," where we'll use amateur TV to transmit television signals around the museum,
• radio direction-finding, sometimes called "fox hunting," and
• a "build your own radio" or some other kind of construction project.

Classes
ARROW regularly conducts amateur radio license classes. Some of these are at the museum. For more information on the classes, visit the ARROW website.

Get Involved!
We would love to have you get involved with Ham Radio at the Hands-On Museum. One way to do this is to make a contribution.

You can also donate your time. We could use your talents to set up and operate the station or talk to Museum visitors about amateur radio. If you would like to get involved, please contact Dan, KB6NU by e-mail at kb6nu@w8pgw.org or by phone at 734-930-6564.