K2GXT

K2GXT is the Rochester Institute of Technology Amateur Radio Club located on the RIT campus in Henrietta, New York. The club is student-run and is recognized by the RIT Student Government. The club participates in amateur radio activities (also known as ham radio). K2GXT has been noted and awarded for activities of it's members since 1952. Many areas include public service, technology, operating activities, and the promotion of amateur radio to students or RIT and members of the Rochester, NY region. The club room is located in the tunnel under the Student Alumni Union (SAU) close to WITR. K2GXT was an (W1AW) ARRL Affiliated Club and is working to re-obtain affiliation in 2008.

Facilities

Club room
The K2GXT station is located under the Student Alumni Union (SAU) in the tunnels. Located opposite of WITR, the RIT FM radio station, in room A-91. The room contains amateur radio equipment and supplies. Anyone, licensed or non-licensed is welcome to stop by and find out more information about amateur radio and the club during hours that the SAU is open.

Antennas

* Mosley TA-33 10M, 15M, 20M HF Beam
* 80 Meter Off Center Fed Dipole

Repeaters

K2GXT is open to all licensed amateur radio operators on their repeaters and iGates.

A repeater is used to allow amateur radio operators to communication with each other easily. An individual, group, or club usually builds a repeater and obtains a special frequency to transmit and receive on. Radio operators can communicate with extended range with repeaters that are located with a large HAAT (Height Above Average Terrain) which means the antenna is located higher than most objects in the area. Some repeaters are linked to the internet with Echolink and IRLP. This allows radio operators who can access the repeater to connect to anywhere in the world via the internet and converse with other amateurs in those regions of the world.

2 Meter Repeater

147.075 MHz
+ Offset
110.9 Hz Tone

Echolink : K2GXT-R, node 25308
IRLP Node # 5800

The 2 Meter repeater was installed in November 2007. It is the former Xerox Amateur Radio Club repeater, a GE Mastr II base station that was converted for full duplex use by club members. It is located on top of Ellingson Hall, a dormitory located on the RIT campus. The antenna is installed at 150 feet at the antennas base, making it the highest antenna on the RIT campus.

;70CM Repeater
The K2GXT 70 CM Repeater was taken off the air in November 2007 due to failure of the repeater. It was replaced with the 2 Meter repeater.

;APRS Digipeater & iGate
144.390 MHz

Located on top of the Ellingson Hall dormitory on the RIT Campus. Antenna is 150 feet in the air at its base. Provides APRS digipeating and an iGate link to the internet.

Activities
K2GXT is affiliated with the Rochester Amateur Radio Association and has joined them on many activities and events which serve Monroe County and the Greater Rochester Area.

Project Meteor
Members of K2GXT are affiliated with Project Meteor with the call sign W2RIT. The project is an ongoing senior design which aims to put a satellite in space without getting a ride on a commercial rocket. K2GXT operators as well as non K2GXT members were responsible for keeping communications with the electronics on the weather balloon and providing APRS tracking of its location.

Community service
Representatives from K2GXT have joined other community hams for Pumpkin Patrol, volunteering to watch bridges the night before and the night of Halloween to prevent pumpkins and other debris from being thrown on to the NYS Thruway. In the past, pumpkins being thrown from overpass bridges have caused many tragic accidents. Troop T of the New York State Police sponsors this event and has thanked the Amateur Radio Community for its involvement.

Members of K2GXT have assisted in providing communications and bike/rider transportation and repair the American Diabetes Association Tour De Cure in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and also at the 2007 MS Bike Race at Keuka College.

Members of QST helped the Rochester Amateur Radio Association (RARA) conduct a contact with the International Space Station NA1SS and the Sherman Elementary School in Henrietta, New York on Monday May 8, 2007.

RIT Blimp
Members of K2GXT and RIT Aero have built a twelve foot remote controlled blimp in 2002. The blimp was written up in the March 2005 RC Universe Magazine.

The blimp has been rebuilt in 2007 and flown at RIT Tigers Hockey Games (NCAA Div. 1) with attendance in the thousands from around the Rochester area. In 2008 it was fitted with an ATV (amateur television) camera and provides a video down link above the crowd. This upgraded RIT Blimp was flown at "Imagine RIT", an innovation festival on May 3, 2008 to showcase its technology with radios and imaging science.

History
Awards
Brass Pounders League award for traffic handling. Noted in March 1984 QST

QSL Card

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