STATION TOUR

K3BSA is housed in SPARK Lodge at Camp Delmont. It was formerly Cook's Cabin.  It housed the kitchen staff for the Cedar Dining Hall.  In 1994 the Council loaned the derelict cabin to the radio club to provide program opportunities for the camp.  The club completely gutted and rebuilt the interior of the cabin, added a new roof and added a porch-like extension to protect outdoor classes from the rain. 



SPARK Lodge presently houses two all-mode HF operating positions.   Seen here is the Yaesu operating position which includes a Yaesu FT-990 transceiver and a Yaesu FL-7000 linear amplifier. In the foreground is a packet station used to participate in the DX spotting cluster of the Frankford Radio Club. 
Our other HF operating position  uses a Kenwood TS-930 transceiver and other equipment donated by Addison Howard, KC3VM, of Perkasie, PA.  It shares the packet cluster station with the Yaesu position.  The computers at the two HF operating positions are fully networked into a state-of-the-art ethernet.  HF operations on SSB and CW take place on any open band on all Saturdays that the camp is open.

In the center left of the picture, the interlocking antenna switching arrangement can be seen. It permits the selection of a Cushcraft R7 vertical or either of two multi-band dipoles (one up about 35 feet and the other at about 60 feet) from either HF operating position.



The VHF operating position has a Kenwood for VHF-FM Phone operations on simplex and through several local repeaters.  A Yaesu connected to a computer through a home brew modem is used for packet operations.  The antennas for these operations are a pair of Ringo Rangers mounted about 25 feet up.

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 Repairs and projects are easily handled on our well equipped workbench



Our kitchen/bunk area doubles as a classroom in inclement weather.   So does the operating room when conditions get really crowded. (Don't let the appearance fool you, we have no running water--yet!)

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 When weather permits, classes are held on our open porch.  The porch also makes an excellent outdoor dining area and sleeping area when the weather is nice.