Welcome to the MSU ARC!
The first radio station at Michigan State University was established through the efforts of the Amateur Radio Club in 1919 using the call letters of 8YG – broadcasting weather reports and farm market prices.
In 1925 8YG became WKAR, the public broadcast station of Michigan State University, while a ham radio station was formed using the call letters 8XBU. In 1927 the call 8SH was issued to the amateur radio station. Today the MSU Amateur Radio Club operates W8SH and W8MSU from the campus in East Lansing.
Engineering at the Edge of the World: Bouvet Island DXpedition Talk
When: Wednesday, October 7, 6:00–8:00 PM
Where: Engineering Building, Room 2250
A DXpedition combines an expedition with amateur radio operation, usually from rare or remote locations such as islands. Bouvet Island, located in the South Atlantic is among the most isolated places on Earth. Getting a team and radio equipment there is already challenging, keeping a station in the air is even harder.
Dennis KT8X will talk about how the 3YØK team did it: getting on the island, generating power, dealing with the weather, and operating a radio station far away from any normal infrastructure.
Tech In A Day Class 2026!
It couldn’t have been a better day to be inside. While it was pouring rain out, the members of the MSU Amateur Radio Club convened in EB 1145 on Shaw Lane for the first ever Tech-In-A-Day Class, eager to get some new hams on the air. After securing the room, we started setting out some…
Sparticipation 2026!
Sparticipation this year was looking bleak around 9:00am on the same day. It was pouring rain in the greater Lansing, MI area with no signs of letting up. As it turned out, the clouds parted and allowed the club to continue with the premier student club recruiting even of the year. We passed out about…
Contest: Michigan QSO Party 2026!
Spartan ARC members gathered on a rather chilly day in April to participate in the annual Michigan QSO Party, an event in which radio amateurs try to contact all 49 other states, all Canadian provinces, at least one distant contact (DX), and all the Michigan counties. This year, conditions on the usual bands was tough…
Meeting: Building Receivers!
For the latest MSU ARC meeting, the club dusted off a few boxes of the 4SQRP (Four States QRP Group) regenerative receivers to work on putting together. Students learned basic soldering skills, and how to wind a torroid while learning about crystal controlled sets. A few followup sessions will probably be necessary, as winding torroids…
Winter Field Day 2026!
With the morning temperature in Lansing reading a balmy -18 degrees F on Saturday, of course the MSU squad was attempting to fix a satellite antenna for the 30 hour event. While unsuccessful in this repair, but very successful in saving their fingers and toes, this set the stage for the tenacity that amateur radio…
New Hams! School Club Roundup Results!
The MSU ARC would like to send a massive congratulations to the following new hams: Rohan KF8FBHDong AD8QGLeandro KF8FHZ (Also a Brazilian ham!)Jacob KF8FCHWe also don’t want to miss out on a rather late congrats to the following MSU ARC members who’ve had their licenses under 1 year: Suzy KF8DPQAryan KF8ESIMichael KF8DQS Additionally, the ARRL…