What is the Explorer Post 599?
What is Ham radio?
Isn't ham radio that thing where old guys talk to each other?
How old do I have to be to join?
What is CW?
Do I have to be a ham operator to join?
What do you do?
What events have you done communications for?
Are girls allowed?
Are there camping trips?
What level of experience must I have to be a good member?
How much does it cost?
How do I sign up?
Do I have to sign up before I come to a meeting?
I'm afraid of commitment, is this a permanent club where I have to stay for so many meetings if I want to stay in?
What is the Explorer Post 599?
We are an Explorer Post based in Mesa, Arizona whose purpose is to promote Amateur Radio with teenagers, which could be helpful to plan for a future carrier, or just as a hobby.
Ham Radio or Amateur Radio is a way of communicating using wireless radios. There are so many things to do in Amateur Radio. Hams enjoy everything from talking around the world using short-wave frequencies to chatting it up with astronauts in the International Space Station! You can spend as little as $50 dollars for your station all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars. There are several easy ways of getting in on the action. And also ham radio is a learning experience where you will learn about today’s newest science and technology.
Isn't ham radio that thing where old guys talk to each other?
No, there are many younger ham operators around the world that talk on the radio. It is defiantly not a hobby just for old people, although older people are welcome to participate as well.
How old do I have to be to join?
Any age is welcome to come and join us as an associate member, but to be an actual member you need to be between 14 and 21. Also older people can come and join as an adult adviser.
CW is short for Morse Code and is widely used as a name in it’s place.
Do I have to be a ham operator to join?
No, you can join us and we might even be able to help you get your license. We have also been doing CW practice for those who are trying to upgrade, but CW isn’t even required for a basic license.
We have weekly meetings every Tuesday where we work on different projects and plan for events, or we generally hang out and have a good time. We have special presentations one meeting a month when special speakers come in and talk. In the past we have had presentations on Space Weather balloons, Trunking Radios, Internet Radio Linking Project, Automatic Position Reporting Systems, the radios Firefighters use, and much more.
What events have you done communications for?
We have helped do communications for the MS-150, Nova Dessert Classic, Whisky Ride, and other bike races. We have also helped out at the ARRL convention, and some ham fests.
Yes girls and boys are welcome to join the Explorer Post.
We don’t have regular camping trips like the Boy scouts but we do camp out when we do events or go to places that are too far away to drive back and forth to.
What level of experience must I have to be a good member?
Any and all levels of experience are welcome to come and join us. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never heard of Ham Radio before you can come to one of are meetings and find out what its all about.
We have a $15 dollar fee once a year to join the post.
Come to a meeting and we can get you a sign up form.
Do I have to sign up before I come to a meeting?
No, Come to some of our meetings and see what we are all about before you sign up.
I'm afraid of commitment, is this a permanent club where I have to stay for so many meetings if I want to stay in?
No, if you pay your yearly dues you don’t even have to attend any of the meetings. But we would like to at least hear from you from time to time over the radio!
Last Updated: Sunday, December 5, 2004