Tower Work Complete!

Work to complete the MSU ARC tower project is finally complete as of 3/31/2025. Starting on 3/20, the old antennas and hardware were stripped from the structure. Unfortunately, weather conditions prevented further progress and the installation had to be delayed. On Monday, that delayed work was finally realized. After several years of planning, funding, scheduling, and ordering, the project is done.

On the very top of the mast sits an 11 dBd gain Diamond UHF repeater antenna, a full 20 feet higher than the previously installed 3 dB folded dipole. Right below that, the new Momobeam Penta 10, a 10-20 meter all-inclusive beam is now available to students. Turning this beam is a brand new Yaesu 2800 rotator and controller.

Soon to come, hopefully right before the Michigan QSO Party, we will be installing a 40 and 80 meter wire dipole of some type to ensure nice juicy multipliers on those bands.

As a result of this work, MSU ARC will be entering the contest as a multi-op, multi-transmitter station for the first time in many years. We are extremely confident we will be heard calling CQ around the world!

All of this was made possible by a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications in July 2022 which allowed the MSU Amateur Radio Club to purchase the antenna, cable, rotator, new radios, and a new conduit for transmission cables from the roof to the club room on the second floor of the engineering building.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the planning and implementation:

Amateur Radio Digital Communications
MSU Staff
Ed W8EO
Al W8RXY
Frank NF8M
Jay NT0Y
Norah KF8BRM (Student President)
Charlie KE8ZRH (Student Vice-President)
Aryan Gondkar (Student Treasurer)
Brennan KE8JVZ (Student Member)
The Antenna Men / Cell Signal Pros
And more!