DVRA CLUB STATION

One of the oldest radio clubs in the USA, the Delaware Valley Radio Association takes pride in our modern club shack atop “Wireless Hill,” a county location five miles north of Trenton, NJ, which includes HF, VHF, and UHF capabilities for contesting, education, message handling, and other activities.

The primary HF postion has a TenTec Omni VII and Kenwood TL-22 Linear Amplifier. The secondary HF position is a full Icom station using an IC-756 Pro 2 with matching IC-2KL 500 watt linear amplifier and IC-AT500 antenna tuner.  A third operating postion is dedicated to VHF, UHF, and digital. A lounge/conference area and a well equipped workshop complete the facility.

Our main HF Antennas are a 2 element Yagi for 40 meters (Force 12 Magnum 240N), and an 14 element 20, 15, and 10 meter (Force 12 C-31XR) multi monoband Yagi  turned by an M2 OR2800 rotator atop our primary 100 foot tower.   Our secondary 50 foot tower has a Cushcraft A3S with various VHF/UHF antennas.  Dipoles for 80 and 160 meters are strung between the towers and various supports.

Scheduled Hours of Operation are Tuesdays 6:30 – 9:00 pm  and on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm local time.

We invite all to visit the station.  Check http://www.w2zq.com/calendar/  for additional planned operations or feel free to call the station at 609-882-2240 or on 146.67 MHz as members may be there anytime.  You may even contact our Station Director Dom DiClementi, N3DD at N3DD@ARRL.net  if you’d like to make an appointment to visits at other hours.

REPEATERS

Local W2ZQ repeaters are on 146.67 MHz(-) (FM analog) and 442.65 MHz(+) (Yaesu System Fusion). Both repeaters use 131.8 PL.   The 442.650 machine is currently in digital mode only covering NJ from New York City to Philadelphia.  The Wires X room number for W2ZQ-DVRA is 28381.

We also maintain a strategic AX.25 packet digipeater supporting the East Coast Flexnet 220 MHz backbone.  Local user access is on 145.01 MHz.  Connect to W2ZQ-2 for the digipeater and W2ZQ-4 for the PBBS.

HISTORY

One of the oldest radio clubs in the USA, the Delaware Valley Radio Association was founded in April 1930 by amateur and commercial radio operators "to extend knowledge of the Radio Art to its members, promote good will between associated persons of the radio fraternity and the general public, and to serve as a means of social contact among its members."  It has served the community for 85 years.

The club first met July 9, 1930 and was issued the call W3AQ in September 1931.  Due to the post-war call area shuffle, it was then given W2ZQ in 1946.

The DVRA became a charter affiliated club of the American Radio Relay League in 1931.  Our certificate is personally signed by Hiram Percy Maxim, founder of the ARRL, and is proudly displayed in the club shack.

Over the decades, club members have run hamfests and other events.  Even a club orchestra was formed to raise funds, and later a Women’s Auxiliary.  In February 1939, the Delaware Valley Radio Association became incorporated under the laws of New Jersey as a non-commercial, non-profit organization.

The DVRA met in various locations around Trenton before acquiring the present W2ZQ shack in 1952. Current meetings are held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in West Trenton near the club station.

Club meetings have had many speakers.  One was USN Radio Officer and DVRA Secretary Lt. Amory H. Waite, Jr who saved Admiral Byrd during his polar expedition.  Recent presentation topics have ranged from PSK31, Video Editing, and Antenna Modeling to Interesting QSL Cards and our annual Field Day planning meeting.

DVRA members are also active in ARES, RACES, and NTS.  Members provide communications for walk-a-thons and bicycle tours and work closely with the Boy Scouts for Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and teaching Radio Merit Badge.  They also provide emergency communications support to the Red Cross, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, and other county, state and national disaster relief authorities.  Recent hurricane and flood disasters proved the need and utility of the amateur radio services to elected officials.

MORE INFORMATION

Although the Delaware Valley Radio Association had a humble beginning in the early 1930’s, today the DVRA has over 50 members from the area.  The men and women of the DVRA come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, but one thing brings us together…“Fun, Fellowship, and Service for Amateur Radio Operators.”

Please visit our website at www.w2zq.com to learn about our latest activities, enjoy more photos and videos, and see how you can join in the fun!

73!

QSL INFO

Our Current QSL showing part of our Portable Antenna set up for Field Day 2003.  QSL us direct or via LOTW or the buro.