Welcome to the Ritchie Amateur Group Website

The Ritchie Amateur Group is a club of Amateur Radio operators wishing to secure the pleasures and benefits of the associations of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio and furthering the interest of Amateur Radio operations in Ritchie County, West Virginia. 

For those not familiar with the Amateur Radio Service, we hope this site will be informative and provocative.  Amateur Radio is a public service and a diverse hobby.  In particular, radio amateurs are an invaluable national resource providing emergency communications on a voluntary basis.  Licensed radio enthusiasts, also known as "hams," are in all parts of the world and come from all walks of life, but we all share an interest to communicate, experiment and explore.  Please accept our invitation to examine our curious pursuit of the radio art.

   

Art by KC8URS


Latest R.A.G. News

09/28/07 New Blog  - From KN8J

I have started a new blog please stop by at: notesditsanddahs.blogspot.com/.

08/25/07 A New Old Ham in the County and an Upgrade

Congratulations to Lee K. Smith, Jr. of Greenwood, WV who received the call sign KD8GWI upon passing the Technician class license exam.  Lee is no stranger to Amateur Radio though; he previously held the call sign KN3ZUO as a Novice class license.  Welcome back Lee! 

I am also pleased to announce that we have another General among us.  Congratulations to Joyce Bea, KD8EXV, of Salem, WV who may now operate with the privileges of the General class license.

06/14/07 Field Day 2007 Announcement

I.O.O.K. West Virginia Field Day 2007 operations will be hosted by KE8NK near the Ritchie County 4-H grounds just outside of Harrisville and will begin at 2:00p.m. (1800 UTC) on  Saturday, June 23.  We will operate 24 hours total.  Please visit the following links for more information:


05/25/07 Dayton 2007 Highlights

The 2007 Dayton Hamvention did not disappoint the thousands of amateurs who attended the 56th annual event.  Hams from all over the world were blessed  with terrific weather conditions in which they browsed cutting edge technology, vintage favorites from days gone by, plain old junk and copious curiosities.  Here are some personal highlights that I would like to share.  If anyone else has something to contribute please send me an e-mail.  Please click here.

05/04/07 KN8J's Dayton List and KN8J Blog

Here is  a list of items I am taking to Dayton Hamvention to sell.  Please review to see if there is anything here that interests you before I unload it.  R.A.G. members please contact me for special pricing.  KN8J's Dayton 2007 Price Sheet

Also, if any R.A.G. member needs something picked up at Dayton, or, if you just want me to check on a piece of gear that you are considering to purchase, send me an e-mail and I will review it for you and get pictures if possible.

You can now visit my personal blog: KN8J BLOG.

If anyone wants their blog or personal website listed linked please e-mail me at: kn8j@wwvrag.org.

04/29/07DX Bulletin 11, Scarborough Reef  and N8S Stats

DX Bulletin 11 is online.

The operators have arrived at Scarborough Reef after treading some rough seas.  I expect to copy their signal sometime today.  Good luck dxers!

Speaking of dxers, here are some stats from local dxers who worked the N8S, Swains Island, dxepedition team.  N8S logged an amazing 117,205 QSOs.  For more information on this dxpedition please visit the link on this page.

WB8PSR15M SSB  17M SSB 20M SSB 40M SSB
 KE8NK15M CW & SSB 17M CW & SSB 20M CW 
 KN8J 15M CW 17M SSB 20M CW 40M CW

04/22/07 Dayton Hamvention and Scarborough Reef Dxpedition Websites

The Dayton Hamvention will soon be upon us.  For details, visit the website at: www.hamvention.org.

Also, you can view the IOOK itinerary at: http://www.iook.org/hamvention.htm.  Don't forget to check out WA5KUB's helmet cam!

The tension is building for the most needed DXCC entity Dxpedtion to begin.  The team should be on the air at the end of April.  You can visit their website here: http://www.scarboroughreef.com/.

04/19/07 DX Bulletin

DX Bulletin number 10 is online.

04/15/07 DX Bulletin

DX Bulletin number 9 is online.

04/11/07 DX Bulletin

DX Bulletin number 8 is online.

04/08/07 DX Bulletins

DX Bulletin numbers 6 and 7 are online.  Please report any DX activity to dx@wvrag.org.

04/06/07 Congratulations for Uprgraded Licensees and DX Bulletins

I hope you are enjoying your new privileges!  Congratulations to:

DX Bulletins 4 and 5 are online.

04/01/07 DX News and DX Bulletin

A group of operators will begin transmitting on April 3, 2007 from the new DX entity Swains Islands.  They will operate with the call sign N8S.  For more information visit their website here.

DX Bulletin number 3 is online.

02/25/07 Newsletter and West Virginia Weather Guide

I did not have the correct link in the December newsletter for the West Virginia Weather Guide.  You may download it here; I will also post this on the Club Resources page.  Thanks to James White, KC8QFH, for passing this along.

The January newsletter is finally on-line.

02/16/07 A New Ham in the County!

Congratulations to Lanette Davis of Pennsboro, who received the call KD8FGM.

Also, congratulations to Ed Davis, KC8ZVW; Tammy McGinnis, KC8JKO and (Doctor) Bill Pippin, N8RFQ, who each received a CSCE to upgrade their license class.

01/14/07 R.A.G. DX BULLETIN

Hello!  The R.A.G. DX Bulletin number two is online.

KN8J

01/09/07 R.A.G. DX BULLETIN and Morse Code FAQ

Hello everyone!  You will find a new project on the Club Resources page.  I have decided to begin a DX Bulletin.  It's purpose is to report DX activity in our area.  I would like anyone with an HF radio to participate.  Even if you only hear one DX station, please report it at: dx@wvrag.org.

For those of you who are getting ready to enter the world of HF radio, you may find this ARRL FAQ helpful.  It addreses questions about the Morse code elimination.

73

KN8J

01/06/07 Call Signs Issued

Joyce Bea, who earned her Technician class license at our last testing session, received the call KD8EXV.

Raymond Croxford, who earned his General class license at the same session, received the call KD8EXW. 

I hope to hear them on-the-air hamming it up soon!

Congratulations!

KN8J

01/01/07 Web Update: HAMRADIOCLASS.ORG

Happy New Year!  I would like to wish everyone good health and prosperity for 2007. 

If you have some extra time, please visit: hamradioclass.org.  This site is by John Martin, KF8KK and Mike Dell, N7LMJ, fellow International Order of Krazies members.  There is a wealth of Amateur Radio information to be heard in their podcasts.  If you are interested in a new license or an upgrade, I recommend checking it out. 

KN8J

12/28/06 Important Notice!

Testing dates have changed!  Please see the Testing page for more information.

KN8J

12/25/06 Newsletter and Test Session Report

Merry Christmas everyone!  The December Newsletter is online. 

Also, I would like to congratulate those who passed their tests from the December 21, 2006 session: 

  • Joyce Bea of Salem, WV earned her Technician class license.
  • Ray Croxford of Athens, OH earned his General class license.
  • President James White, KC8QFH earned credit for Element 3.
  • Secretary/Treasurer James Mossor, KD8AMN also earned credit for Element 3.

God Bless and 73

Mike, KN8J

If anyone is interested in testing for January, please visit the Testing page and fill out the online pre-registration form.

12/19/06 Morse Code Survey

Please take a moment to answer the new online survey.

12/16/06 Element 1 No Longer Required

The FCC has announced the deletion of the 5 WPM Telegraphy requirement for access to the HF bands.  For more information click this link: FCC News. 

Don't forget the club meeting is Thursday, December 21, 2006.

Mixed Feelings...

KN8J

11/26/06 Newsletter

Late again!  The November Newsletter is finally online.

73 and Enjoy!

Mike KN8J

11/17/06 Testing, Web Updates and New Member: N8RFQ

Our ARRL VE Team has administered their first test session.  It was held after the club meeting on 11/16/06.  Please visit the new Testing page for more information. 

Congratulations to our new member, "Doctor Bill," N8RFQ, Pippin who earned the element 3 credit at the session.  If you would like to introduce yourself, you may hear him in the early morning or mid-afternoon on the WB8NSL VHF repeater as he makes his long commute from his job in Wood county to his home in Marion county.  Welcome to the club Bill!  We look forward to helping you pass element 1.

73

Mike, KN8J

11/03/06 Website Updates

Hello everyone!  I have added a link to the Ritchie County Ambulance Authority on the links page.  This nice looking site was designed by fellow ham, Gary Williams, KC8RTN.  Please give the site a visit.  Also, I have added serveral items to the frequency page. 

73

Mike, KN8J

10/22/06 R.A.G. Meeting Rescheduled

The meeting has been rescheduled for this upcoming Thursday, 10/26/06, at the Pennsboro Branch of the Ritchie County LIbrary.

10/15/06 Newsletter

The October issue of the R.A.G. News is online.  I apologize for the delay this month, but I had a lot of website issues to correct.

73 and Enjoy

Mike, KN8J

10/15/06 News Page Updated

The News page has been improved.  You can actually read the articles now.  Just click on the headline and it will display the full article text.

73

Mike, KN8J

10/10/06 Updates

I have made a few updates to the site this morning.  I need your feedback to improve the website.  Let me know what you like or don't like.  There is a survey on the News and Weather page; I'm trying to decide whether to keep it or lose it. 

Stay tuned...

Mike, KN8J

10/09/06 Announcements

  • The next Ritchie Amateur Group meeting is Thursday, October, 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pennsboro Branch of the Ritchie County Library.  See our About R.A.G. page for directions.
  • The Doddridge County Amateur Radio Society (DCARS) is sponsoring a Skywarn class on Tuesday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m.
  • I have added a few pictures to the Photo page. 
  • The News & Weather page has problems.  I am trying to determine the problem.

If anyone has any suggestions for our website please let me know.  I am trying to come up with more ideas.  If you haven't signed the guestbook yet, please drop us a few lines.  

73

Mike, KN8J 

9/30/06 Ritchie Amateur Group Website Launched!

Hello to all and welcome!  I hope you will enjoy my first attempt at website publishing.  Take a look around, then post some comments in the guestbook.  I look forward to reading them.  Special thanks to Donna, KC8URS, for her patience and hard work.  I have additional items planned for this site, so visit often and check for updates. 

God Bless and 73,

Mike, KN8J

 

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For questions about this website contact: kn8j@wvrag.org.