K7LWH, the Lake Washington Ham Club, is a radio community project designed to help 9-12 year olds earn an Amateur Radio License. The project was started in 1993 after ICOM of America agreed to loan an elementary classroom an amateur radio. The classroom teacher, Dave Condon, then received help through the Boeing amateur radio group to earn both the required Novice and Technician class license. From that start in 1993, the amateur radio project has gone on to license over 1000 students and parents. In 2007 130 9-10 year olds and their parents earned their amateur license. The latest student and parent class graduated in May of 2010.
Currently, ICOM America Inc, Alinco USA, Diamond Antennas, M2 Antennas, and the ARRL sponsor the program. The children have written volumes 2 through volume 6 of the "Adventures of Zack and Max" which is an ICOM comic series about Ham radio. The comic can be obtained at the ICOM OF AMERICA website as a download and they are often given out at ICOM trade show events. Volume 2, "Lost in Seattle" deals with emergency service, Volume 3 "Maddy goes to England" deals with International Goodwill, Volume 4 "Field Day" deals with emergency practice training, and Volume 5 "Max in Space" deals with satellite communications and is on display at the Smithsonian Science Center. Finally, Volume 6 “Lets Go Island DXing” is about a DX weekend in the San Juan Island of Washington State.
The students listen on the K7LWH repeater on frequency 145.490 (- offset) (tone 103.5). They would love to visit with you. The IRLP node is 3978. A Kid's Radio Net is held on Sunday night at 8:15 PM PST, and visitors are always welcome. Children from across the United States are invited to check in on the Kids Radio Net on IRLP reflector 3955.
In 2006 the club was incorporated and now has 501(C)(3) tax exempt status. Donations of 2 meter radio equipment as well as financial contributions are accepted. The club's officers are: John Schurman, AA7UJ, president; Conrad Thompson, N7DUO, vice-president; and Don Sayler, W7OXR, secretary-treasurer.
The LWHC currently owns and operates an analogue repeater system on Rose Hill in Kirkland that is 70cm, 2 meters, and 6 meters. In addition the club owns and operates a D Star repeater system in Bellevue that operates on 1.2GHz, 70cm, and 2 meters.
The club's mailing address is:
Lake Washington Ham Club P.O. Box 2432 Kirkland, WA 98083
Email is:
K7LWH@LAKEWASHINGTONHAMCLUB.ORG