Mobile Amateur Radio Club announces Partnership with Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center

On Saturday, January 11, 2003 the Mobile Amateur Radio Club Board of Officers approved the project to join with the Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center to set up an Amateur radio station at the Exploreum in downtown Mobile, Alabama.

The club will begin work immediately to set up the station, to be fully functioning on Monday, January 20, 2003 at 10:00 AM.

The club and it's volunteers will operate work several modes of ham radio: High frequency, VHF Repeater, EchoLink, ATV, CW and a Cross Polarized two meter FM with which to make voice contacts with the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

The Mobile Amateur Radio Club, in conjuction with volunteers from other area ham clubs will man the station with qualified operators on a regular basis for the period of January 20, 2003 through May 5, 2003.

The Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center expects 70,000 - 80,000 visitors to their 5,000 sq. ft. exhibit "International Space Station:The Earth Tour" and the current IMAX Film "Space Station" during that four month period, which also includes Mobile's Mardi Gras season.

The Exploreum's operating hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Sunday.

The main objective of the station will be for contacts with the ISS, but when that is not possible, the club will be seeking contacts with other countries, across the United States and the southeastern states on the HF bands and EchoLink, and local two meter repeaters to introduce and demonstate Amateur Radio to the visiting public.

According to the current ISS schedule, we have at least 55 good opportunities for contact with the crew during the daytime hours.

WE WILL BE LISTENING FOR OUR OPPORTUNITY EVERY TIME ISS IS AT LEAST 35 degrees ABOVE OUR HORIZON!

Please call us or CQ Mobile, Alabama!! 73 from MARC and the Science Center!

Hershel McGraw KG4IUS