The Bridge - Issue 2, 2019 - 4

Guest Editor

The Bridge, May 2019
Introduction from the Guest Editor
Dear Eta Kappa Nu Members and Friends,

Dr. Steve E. Watkins
(WØWMO)
Gamma Theta Chapter
+ 573-341-6321
steve.e.watkins@ieee.org

The theme for this issue of THE BRIDGE magazine is "Connecting the World with
Amateur Radio." Amateur radio provides a rich environment for students and
professionals to connect with others around the world and to apply their technical
knowledge and skills. The features in this issue discuss how involvement in amateur
radio can enhance a career in electrical and computer engineering and how projects
in amateur radio can support one's professional education. The cover image highlights
a few of the university amateur radio chapters with their QSL cards. (QSL is a radio
three-letter code that means "I confirm receipt of your transmission.") These cards
document a successful radio communication and provide a record on one's operator
activity. Cards for the University of Chicago (N9UC), the University of Pennsylvania
(W3ABT), Ohio State University (W8LT), the University of Arizona (K7UAZ), Texas
A&M University (W5AC), Case Western Reserve University (W8EDU), Temple
University (K3TU), Missouri S&T (WØEEE), and the Georgia Institute of Technology
(W4AQL) are shown.
Amateur radio is an activity for individuals of all ages and technical backgrounds.
It can be used for recreation, education, science, competitions, and emergencies.
A recent scientific use was during the 2017 North American eclipse. Thousands of
radio operators, often referred to as "hams," collaborated on measuring the effects
of the solar eclipse on the upper atmosphere, see http://hamsci.org/seqp.
Competition events are regularly held across the world in which hams are tasked
with a transmitter hunt, sometimes called a fox hunt, to practice their technical skills.
The amateur radio community also is a well-respected resource during emergencies,
during which they can provide critical communication capability. Trained amateur radio
volunteers are organized through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) to
provide public service and emergency communications in the U.S. and Canada, see
http://www.arrl.org/ares and https://wp.rac.ca/ares/.
Many contributed to the making of this themed issue. Thanks go to the magazine
editorial board, the authors of the feature articles, the magazine staff, the IEEE History
Center, and the ARRL - the National Association for Amateur Radio. A special thank
you goes to Brad Ziegler (KCØCDG) who collected the many QSL cards used in the
issue (see his profile on page 34).
The early experiments in wireless telegraphy of G. Marconi have led to broad
contributions to modern life. Amateur radio is a great activity, especially for someone
pursuing an Electrical or Computer Engineering (ECE) career. It is an example of how
our profession is "Advancing Technology for Humanity" (IEEE tagline). If you are not
involved, check out the opportunities with your local chapter of hams.

Regards,

THE BRIDGE

https://wp.rac.ca/ http://www.hamsci.org/seqp https://wp.rac.ca/ares/ http://www.arrl.org/ares https://hkn.ieee.org/

The Bridge - Issue 2, 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Bridge - Issue 2, 2019