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Volunteer Information: The following information and guidelines have been prepared for the Arizona Science Center Ham Shack Volunteers. If you are a licensed Amateur Radio operator, live in the Phoenix, Arizona area, and would like to be a W7ASC volunteer, please contact Bob Burleson, KG7QJ, at kg7qj@cox.net or call 480-961-1109 and we can set up a schedule. You may also use our Volunteer Sign-up form. If you are a "winter visitor" in the Phoenix area, please let us know when you will be available. New volunteers are always paired up with "Old Timers" for the first few shifts so the new folks can get familiar with procedures and equipment at W7ASC. Shack Equipment: The W7ASC Ham shack is set up with a Kenwood 570G for almost all HF modes, including SSB, CW, PSK31, SSTV, RTTY and more. On VHF/UHF we have a Kenwood V7A for FM and IRLP on 70 Cm and 2 meters, a Kenwood 790/Yaesu 990 for HF/VHF Satellite modes complete with tracking program (being set up).
Try volunteering at the AZ Science Center W7ASC Ham Shack today! Operating Hours: The Science Center hours are from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. During the school year the W7ASC Ham Shack is manned with two 4 hour shifts daily: from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM (school groups may come in early) and 1:00 PM -5:00 PM weekdays. On weekends the hours are 10:00 AM -1:30 PM and 1:30 PM -5:00 PM. Sometimes there are special shifts ("Adult Night", etc.) from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM. These special programs will be announced. During the Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) the W7ASC hours are 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM with only one two person 5 hour shift. Directions to the Science Center: Take I-10 to 7th St. and exit Southbound on 7th St. Go to Monroe St. (just south of the "Mercado"), turn right for one half block and then left into the Heritage Square parking garage. After getting your ticket at the automated ticket machine, find a good parking place. There are Handicap places on the south side of the garage on all floors. There is an elevator near the southeast corner of the building. If you park on the upper levels, you can use the stairs or the elevator located on the southeast corner of the building. Volunteers can have their garage parking ticket validated at the main ticket counter. Be sure to get yours validated before you leave. Just tell them you are a Ham Shack volunteer. The Science Center is the building with the "fin" to the south of the parking structure. Go down the Science Center entrance ramp and to the main lobby, be sure to sign in the Volunteer Log Book at the Security desk (on your left by the elevator). You may need to make a new sign in sheet with your name on it, blanks are in the notebook. The Ham Shack is on the 2nd level. Take the elevator behind the Security desk to "2" and go left to the "Networks" room. There is also an elevator midway in the building just behind the Planetarium. Upon exiting that elevator, go left past the stairs to the "Networks" room. You can't miss it! Proper Attire: The suggested attire for Volunteers is a white or light colored shirt and dark trousers ("Sunday" clothes). Science Center polo shirts are available from the Volunteer coordinator (602 716-2037). We want to present a clean and neat image to the public: no shorts, sandals, tank tops, thongs or dungarees, please! ASC badges (with your call sign) will be available from the Volunteer Coordinator after you have been through 3 or more shifts at the Ham shack. Additional "V" clip-on ASC Volunteer badges are available from the volunteer coordinator. Operations: Remember that the "Control Operator" is the Amateur on the shift and in the Shack with the Highest grade of license. If that is "Tech Plus" then you can operate VHF/UHF/10 Meters SSB and Novice CW only! If General, then operation in all portions of the Ham bands allowed for General class, etc. We are there at the Science Center to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the public, not to work DX or contests. It is strongly suggested that when there are two operators on a shift that they switch off, one doing the explaining to the public and one operating. If you are scheduled with someone else and they do not show up, please give me a call (480-961-1109, my phone number is on the phone in the Ham Shack). I need to track "no-shows" and make accommodations so that volunteers can be scheduled at more convenient times. If you are NOT scheduled for a particular day please do not "hang out" at the Ham Shack. If you want to help out please call me and I will get you on the schedule. When it gets too crowded with volunteers (3 is a crowd) there is no room for the kids to get on the air. This also applies to unscheduled "guests", the ham shack just isn't that big and we do not want to crowd out the kids. The Volunteer Schedule for the following week is usually posted on the W7ASC website and e-mailed every Thursday evening. Day Shift Volunteers: (Summer Schedule) If you are on the day shift during the summer schedule, verify with the Science Center Security at the Guest Services Desk that the Ham Shack has been opened. If it has not been opened, request that it be done for you. During the summer hour schedule (10 AM to 3 PM), the security staff will not open the Shack until an operator is present. This is different from the winter schedule when the Shack is (usually) opened at 9 AM. Morning Shift Volunteers: (Fall-Winter-Spring Schedule) If the afternoon shift volunteers do not show up on time (by 1:15pm, or do not show up at all) please call Bob Burleson. The number is on the telephone. If the Shack is not manned, it must be closed. Close the Shack according to the shift end closing procedure. After shutting down the equipment, close and lock the windows (window keys go on the hook by the HF computer), and pull down and LOCK the door. Notify Science Center security that you have locked up the Ham Shack before you leave the building. At the end of each shift be sure the Ham Shack is clean and in good shape. You do not want to arrive at the Ham Shack with pencils scattered about, papers and stuff all over, charts out, books out, equipment left on, and windows not locked. Shift End: At the end of the afternoon shift, empty the waste baskets into the yellow ASC trash bins. Be sure all equipment is turned off and power cord is UNPLUGGED. The exceptions are the ATV, VCR, and TV. They are only turned off. When locking the window, be sure the locking pins are insert in the holes in the bottom window frame and not under the frame. If you are at the shack by yourself and need a break, put up the "Back in 5 minutes" sign in the window and pull down the roll-up door (do not lock the door). Safety and Security Items: You might be surprised how fast the kids can turn on a rig, connect the mike, and get on the air without an operator in control! IMPORTANT! DO NOT LEAVE POWERED EQUIPMENT UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME!! Unattended station equipment in the W7ASC Ham Shack MUST be disabled. If you are the only volunteer in the Shack be sure that the equipment that you are not using has: Power UNPLUGGED and Antennas UNPLUGGED. Common Courtesy: Please, as a courtesy to others, if you can't make it for your assigned shift, let me know as soon as possible (480-961-1109) and let the other Volunteers on your shift know (the number for the Ham Shack is 602-716-2082) Do NOT add programs to the computers in the Ham Shack. If you have something that might be useful please let me know. We do not need Stock tracking programs, Adventure games, Solitaire, or MP3 players on the system - Only Ham Radio related software will be allowed. Arizona Science Center Volunteer Coordinator:
73 de KG7QJ For more information, please contact us at: Center for Amateur Radio Learning 600 E. Washington Street
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