SCRC participates in the Solar Eclipse Event

The Suffolk County Radio Club participated in the Solar Eclipse HamSci Research Project on April 8th, 2024.  The event was held at the Moriches Branch of the Shirley, Mastic, Moriches Library.  Not only did we have many members in attendance but also some members of other local Amateur Radio Clubs as well as Jim Mezey, ARRL NLI Section Manager.  Some of those that could not attend assisted by making HF contact with us for the research project.  Suffolk County Legislator James F. Mazzarella attended the event and spent a couple hours with us.  In total we had 3 HF stations and 2 VHF/UHF stations in operation.  There was a 20m dipole, 40m hamstick, 20m/10m fan dipole, 2 dual band J poles and the club random wire end fed deployed.  Contacts were made on 20m ssb, 10m ssb, 2m FM, VHF Winlink and 40m FT8.  There was lots of public interaction all day long from the community coming down to the Library to see the Eclipse.

Around 11am Elaine Thompson and her Husband, Red, arrived and brought some paperwork with them.  We had no idea what was about to happen.  Elaine saw the article in Newsday about the SCRC holding a radio event for the Eclipse and decided to travel to the Moriches Library from Bohemia, NY.  Elaine’s father was Frank John Ryder, first licensed in 1917 at the age of 12 as 2AYW.  According to FCC records Frank received a new call sign in 1925-1926, 2DQ.  When the FCC added a letter prefix to all call signs Frank John Ryder was the first one to hold the current club call sign W2DQ.  Elaine brought down a copy of Franks WAS certificate as well as a copy of some QSL cards, one from 1925.  We had wonderful conversations with Elaine about her father.  We even got Elaine on the air operating as W2DQ and she made a contact on 20m with a South Carolina Station.  Elaine is such a wonderful lady, and we were honored to have her with us and operating using her father’s call sign.  I am sure she cherished the moment as much as we did. 

The SCRC received a Commendation Certificate for Public Service from the ARRL presented by NLI Section Manager Jim Mezey, W2KFV.  Accolades were also received from some non-club members about how organized and professional we were in addition to how active we have been lately holding many radio events.  Let’s keep it going and stay active!  THE SCRC is really making a name for itself lately and it is being noticed by many hams as well as the surrounding clubs.  Everyone looked sharp in their club shirts and jackets!

While the final number of contacts made by W2DQ has not yet been tallied I am figuring we made about 60 total QSOs on all bands and modes.  It was a great day of operating, public relations and observing a momentous celestial event.  Thanks goes out to Elaine Thompson, Legislator Mazzarella, ARRL Section Manager Jim Mezey for attending as well as Ed, N2XDD and Brian, NG2S for organizing the event for the SCRC.  Breakfast and lunch were provided by the club.

You can see a recap and highlights of the event on the renowned Youtube channel Ham Radio On the Go which is created by SCRC’s own WI2M.

edit 05/22/24 – SCRC received a QSL card confirming the contact to N1SUZ by Elaine Thompson