![[VASC Satellite Station Exhibit]](../images/s_vascex.jpg)
When the Virginia Air and Space Center opened for visitors during the first week of April of 1992, the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub (SPARK) set up a "Special Events" station operating on the high frequency Amateur Bands. Later in the year, preliminary discussions with staff members at the Center indicated interest in an operating Amateur Radio Satellite Exhibit. As encouragement in March of '93, the Tidewater Radio Conventions, Inc. (TRCI), a sponsor for the Annual Virginia Beach Hamfest, set aside $1000 toward the project. During the First Anniversary of the Space Center the following April, 1993, SPARK members set up a demonstration Satellite Station which created much interest among Visitors to the Center. In September SPARK made a formal Proposal for an Amateur Radio Satellite Station Exhibit.
In March of 1994, the Virginia Air and Space Center gave preliminary approval for a permanent Exhibit. Preliminary guidelines and specifications for the exhibit were completed that month, and the various vendors and suppliers for the Hamfest were asked for assistance through donations of radio equipment for the project. Also, because of the magnitude of the project, all of the Amateur Radio clubs in the Hampton Roads area were invited to participate with technical expertise and funds. In July the first meeting of the Oversight Committee was held with five clubs sending representatives and several others indicating interest.
In November, 1994, the VASC Amateur Radio Group, Inc. was chartered as a not-for-profit corporation consisting of 10 participating area clubs with one Director named to represent each club. Later, an additional club joined the Group. The sole purpose was to bring the project to completion and manage its future operations and maintenance. This action was required by the Space Center Directors so that all of the Exhibit and it's equipment would be the property of the Amateur Radio Group.
Preliminary Design for the project was developed in harmony with the Center's existing displays and exhibits nearby, and it was approved near the end of January, 1995. The Exhibit would consist of the following:
By late February numerous individuals in the clubs began to construct the several components of the Exhibit, for which detailed drawings had now been prepared. Control concepts for the Visitor Interface Console functions were established and procurement of needed components initiated. Early in March the antenna system location and conduit routing had been determined. By the end of April, 1995, all of the needed radio "gear" and supplies had been donated and were either already received, or delivery promised shortly. Also, corporate, club, and many individual contributions were received as the needs became known. In addition, the 1/4-scale Satellite Model was finished. By early May, the Radio Console was completed and delivered to the Center for final painting and assembly of the back-lighted transparency "boxes". The Display Case was completed and delivered in mid-May for final painting.
By mid-August the Display Case, the Radio Console and the Satellite Model were "in place". The first week of September saw the Display Case filled with antique Ham Radio equipment, the Visitor Interface Console installed and partially functioning, all radio equipment in the Radio Console, the antenna system erected on the roof using a temporary tower base and guy ropes, and all transmission and controls cables down to the station in place.
Satellite Station KE4ZXW was put on the air in full automatic operation on September 17, 1995. Excellent pointing and receive sensitivity were obtained with a satellite pass having a maximum of 2 degrees above the horizon. Signal acquisition and loss both occurred within a second or two of computer predictions.
The Amateur Radio Satellite Station Exhibit was "Formally Opened" on September 21, 1995 to which all of the major suppliers and principal participants were invited. All systems were then, at least, partially operating. The only major unresolved problem, existing since the first of May, was the permanent antenna tower mount, finally completed October 28th with the aid of Center staff and a Ham operator.
The first group of 14 Operator Trainees at the initial training session on November 16th proved just too large for the demonstrations at the station site. Future groups were limited to a maximum of 10. Orientation for the 2nd group was December 14th, the 3rd on January 20th with a 4th on April 11th. With this program 24 Station Operators were certified and the week-end Operating Schedules were set up beginning in April. Regular schedules are prepared quarterly.
Presently, the training plan has been modified so that individual Amateurs are given two training sessions under a Control Operator. One is primarily orientation and the other is demonstration and hands on operations. Certification is at the recommendation of the Instructor. Several have completed this training plan satisfactorily and three requests are in hand.
In August, 1996, a Cushcraft R-7000 vertical antenna was installed on the roof. Within two weeks, a Yaesu FT-990 HF (high-frequency) transceiver was put in place. The right hand operating position console was opened by installing a Plexiglas window, and the HF station is now operational. This permits new Amateur Radio capabilities to be demonstrated "live". With a total of 11 participating clubs as the Members, The VASC Amateur Radio Group, Inc. was established as an ARRL Affiliated Club in August, 1995.
In January, 1996, application was made to the Internal Revenue Service to establish the VASC Amateur Radio Group, Inc. as a "Non-Profit" corporation so that contributions would be IRS tax-deductible by both contributing corporations and individuals. Approval as a "tax exempt" corporation was issued by the IRS on May 5, 1996, which is retroactive to the 'start-up' date of the corporation. Letters to all donors were prepared to allow them to utilize that benefit.
Several options are in evaluation for future improvements at the Exhibit. These include a Packet Station, interfacing the packet computer, the Visitor Interface computer, and the satellite station computer. Such linking not only will provide for Control Operator's need for control functions and system interrogation, but would also permit local Amateurs with packet radio capability to communicate through a BBS and to download other station information. Possibly at a later date consideration would be given to provide a "gateway" capability. Plans to rotate some of the Display Case equipment items are in progress because very recently an excellent Galaxy 500 (high frequency radio) was donated to the Exhibit, and other items have been suggested for loan as well.
The total estimated value of the Exhibit exceeds $17,000, of which the manufactured radio equipment alone is more than $10,000. This complex project has been supported financially by cash contributions from Tidewater Radio Conventions, Inc., Member Clubs, and individual Hams. All major station equipment has been donated by manufacturers and vendors. In addition, hundreds of skilled man-hours were generously donated by local Hams to design & build cabinets, equipment, circuit boards and subsystems as well as to provide specially purchased items.
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