Delaware Valley Radio Association
Encyclopedia
The Delaware Valley Radio Association (DVRA) is a historic amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...

 organization. The Delaware Valley Radio Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to the promotion and preservation of the amateur radio hobby. The club is composed of amateur radio operators and their families. The DVRA is a Special Service Club, a distinction awarded by the American Radio Relay League
American Radio Relay League
The American Radio Relay League is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the USA. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was founded in May 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut...

 (ARRL), which is the national association for amateur radio.

With over a hundred active members and a fully equipped radio station, the Delaware Valley Radio Association is one of the nation’s oldest radio clubs, having been founded in 1930. Persons interested in learning more about Amateur Radio are encouraged to explore the club’s website or attend any regular meeting of the club. The DVRA meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 137 West Upper Ferry Road, West Trenton, NJ. The church is located one-quarter mile west of the intersection of routes 634 and 579, and is just south of Trenton-Mercer Airport
Trenton-Mercer Airport
Trenton-Mercer Airport , formerly known as Mercer County Airport, is a public airport located in Ewing, New Jersey, four miles northwest of the central business district of Trenton, a city in Mercer County, New Jersey...

.

Operating as W2ZQ, it was originally licensed as W3AQ prior to the realignment of FCC callsign districts after World War II.

Facilities and Activities

  • A fully equipped club radio station with two HF
    High frequency
    High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...

     stations, Packet, VHF & UHF stations
  • A competitive antenna farm with beams for all bands from 40 meters to 1.2 GHz
  • Two repeater
    Repeater
    A repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...

    s, one with autopatch and the other with EchoLink
    Echolink
    EchoLink is a free computer-based Amateur Radio system that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them...

  • A packet radio
    Packet radio
    Packet radio is a form of packet switching technology used to transmit digital data via radio or wireless communications links. It uses the same concepts of data transmission via Datagram that are fundamental to communications via the Internet, as opposed to the older techniques used by dedicated...

     Bulletin Board (BBS)
  • Support for state and local ARES
    Amateur Radio Emergency Service
    In the United States and Canada, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a corps of trained amateur radio operator volunteers organized to assist in public service and emergency communications...

     and RACES
    Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
    The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service is a standby radio service provided for in Part 97.407 of the Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations governing amateur radio in the United States....

     groups
  • Support to Mercer County
    Mercer County, New Jersey
    As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...

     Skywarn
    Skywarn
    SKYWARN is a program of the United States' National Weather Service . Its mission is to collect reports of localized severe weather. These reports are used to aid forecasters in issuing and verifying severe weather watches and warnings and to improve the forecasting and warning processes and the...

     http://www.freewebs.com/mercerskywarn/ as sponsored by NOAA
  • Amateur radio license training classes and testing http://www.hello-radio.org/
  • A comprehensive monthly newsletter
  • Events throughout the year including memorable guest speakers at monthly club meetings
  • Fun and competitive Field Day activities with multiple stations and different modes
  • Annual hamfest
    Hamfest
    A Hamfest is a convention of amateur radio enthusiasts, often combining a trade show, flea market, and various other activities of interest to amateur radio operators . In the United Kingdom the term rally is more commonly used for amateur radio conventions...

     held at Mercer County Park
    Mercer County Park
    Mercer County Park is a recreational park located mostly within West Windsor Township, New Jersey. Mercer County Park encompasses over covering areas of the Townships of West Windsor, Hamilton and Lawrence. It is the home for the US Olympic Rowing Team's training center...

  • A club picnic in August
  • A holiday party in December
  • A place to share experiences with others with similar interests
  • See below for a link to photos of amateur radio station W2ZQ

External links

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