What we are
The Steel City Amateur Radio Club, Incorporated, is a Pennsylvania non-profit organized for educational, scientific and charitable purposes under section 501(c)(3). In plain terms, we exist to:
- Promote amateur radio and encourage members to assist in civil defense and other public-interest activities.
- Cooperate with other radio clubs for the common good of the hobby.
- Take part in contests such as Field Day, DX contests and VHF contests.
- Maintain a clubhouse and operating facilities so members have a place to meet and equipment to use.
- Teach and help people who want to earn their FCC license.
- Do anything else that improves and advances amateur radio.
We are an ARRL Special Service Club, affiliated with the American Radio Relay League since February 6, 1947. Read the original ARRL affiliation letter (PDF).
History
The club took shape between 1940 and 1941 and officially became a club with its own property and clubhouse in 1941. In 1942 the property, almost two acres, was sold to a trustee of the Steel City ARC, although members had already been using the site for a year or more.
The first clubhouse was bought for one dollar from Pittsburgh Plate Glass. It had been a paint and glass test building sitting on a rotating platform about five miles east of the current site. Members dismantled it, hauled it piece by piece up the hill, and reassembled it without the turntable. It served the club for about sixteen years.
By the time the club applied for a station license the FCC had suspended all amateur activity for World War II. W3KWH was finally issued in 1946. Old minutes tell of the struggle to keep up with taxes and expenses while most members were off to war or had moved away to defense work.
The present building was constructed in 1957. Everything that could be salvaged from the original was reused, including some of the glass block for sentimental reasons and the steel I-beams for structural ones. Over the years the grounds have hosted an oil-derrick tower, a 6 meter phased array, a nine-foot satellite dish and a forest of telephone poles. Inside, the fireplace gave way to more chairs, and one radio became more than eight, from a Drake 4C to an Icom IC-7610 and a Flex 6600.
In August 2021 the club celebrated its 80th year with special event station W8O, “Whiskey Eight Oscar”, and a commemorative certificate for everyone who worked us.
For a longer walk through the archives, read the highlights from the minutes, 1942 to 1995, or browse the Old Time Pictures.
The station today
The property sits at 1,247 feet with a clear 360-degree horizon. Six steel towers and a few wooden poles carry tri-band beams for 10 through 40 meters, a Hy-Gain HyTower vertical covering 10 through 160, wire antennas for 60, 75 and 80, and beams for 6 m, 2 m, 70 cm and 23 cm. Two radio rooms, a battery-backed emergency communications position, three remote-operable HF stations, and a 15 kW propane generator round it out. Tour the clubhouse and equipment.
Leadership
The club is run by elected officers and volunteer committee chairs. Meet the current officers and get in touch. Governing documents, including the constitution and bylaws, are on the documents page.