The United Radio Amateur club was formed back in 1927, and has served the
South Bay area of Los Angeles for over 80 years.
During the 1970s, U.R.A.C. gained worldwide recognition when it spearheaded
the fabrication of kits with printed circuit boards for an extensive line of
projects. These were given away at hamfests and ARRL conventions. We manufactured
500 kits for the IARU 20-meter transmitters and receivers. These were provided to
the ARRL to promote amateur radio in third-world countries.
In 1987, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum
(LAMM) invited U.R.A.C. to become one of its permanent volunteer groups to
educate visitors on radio communication. Thus began a relationship that has provided a
permanent meeting place, a Volunteer Examiner (VE) testing site and our
K6AA operating
station where we've made contacts and established long-lasting friendships with people
from all over the world.
K6AA is located on the 2nd floor of the
Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the museum is
situated on the main channel of Los Angeles Harbor in what was once a ferry building for
the City of San Pedro. The club's antennas sprout from behind a clock tower 21 meters
above salt water. Volunteer club members man the station Tuesday through Sunday,
demonstrating communications to everyone -- from classes of local school children to
museum visitors from all over the globe.
Our members promote the amateur radio service by hosting events such as scouting's
annual Jamboree On The Air(JOTA),
by operating stations for Islands On The Air
(IOTA), by participating in World Port weekend, and by lending a hand wherever
our skills are needed.
On the American Radio Relay League's
Field Day you can find us at our primary field
operation site. That site is at Angels Gate Park located directly above the Point Fermin
Lighthouse (adjacent to the Korean Bell monument.) This former Fort MacArthur reservation
overlooks the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors and the Pacific Ocean.
Of historical note, U.R.A.C. placed 1st in the nation in the first and second Field Day
events in 1933 and 1934. From our field operation site we can see the Angels Gate Lighthouse
and the Point Fermin Lighthouse. We also operate a special event station here during
lighthouse events. This location provides a great communications control point for various
public service events that we routinely support.
U.R.A.C. belongs to the 10-10 International, and many
10-10 Net members welcome collecting our #99.
Copyright © 2000-2008 United Radio Amateur Club
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