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Introducing the Radio Club of America
Founded in 1909, the Radio Club of America is the oldest, most prestigious group of wireless communications professionals in the world, with members across the globe. Its members are dedicated to the wireless art and science for the betterment of society. The Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all contributions made to RCA are tax exempt.
Learn more about RCA’s three exciting major initiatives: Creating the Future, Ensuring the Present, Honoring the Past
Donate to the Tom Sorley Memorial Fund
Tom Sorley was an RCA member, well known in public safety circles, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. You can donate to the Tom Sorley Memorial Fund which goes to assist RCA in its many activities in the wireless industry. The donation form is here. (Note: your contribution may be tax deductible because RCA is a 501c3 organization.)
RCA’s 2018 Technical Symposium and Awards Banquet Was a Great Success!
For those that were able to make the Technical Symposium and the Awards Banquet, both were great events! At the Technical Symposium 74 attendees watched 9 presentations. The slide decks will be up on this Website in a few days. Dr. Rappaport’s keynote was both excellent and moving on his life and career in wireless.
Pictures from the Technical Symposium:
Alan Spindel of HAL Communications speaking on HF data modems
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Awards Banquet’s Keynote Speaker was Dr. Ted Rappaport. Dr. Rappaport has over 100 U.S. or international patents issued or pending and has authored, co-authored, and co-edited over 200 papers and 20 books in the wireless field, including the classic Wireless Communications: Principles & Practice (translated into seven languages), Principles of Communication Systems Simulation with Wireless Applications, and Smart Antennas for Wireless Communications: IS-95 and Third Generation CDMA Applications. Dr. Rappaport is the David Lee/Ernst Weber Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and is a professor of computer science at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He is a pioneer in RF propagation, wireless systems simulation, and 5G networks. His research has influenced international standards bodies for three decades.
Help support the Future of RCA
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RCA will return to Pittsburgh in 2020 to help celebrate KDKA’s 100th anniversary
KDKA will be celebrating their being the first commercial broadcast station in the U.S. They broadcast the presidential election results of the Harding-Cox election on Nov. 2, 1920,
Another tour of the KDKA facilities, which was so successful in 2017, is being planned, as well as several other historic activities. Don’t miss this event!
In the meantime, you may be interested in several historical links about KDKA:
3 minute YouTube clip on KDKA history
Detailed excerpt from a broadcasting book, plus bios on key KDKA persons
Audio clip on the Harding-Cox broadcast on Nov. 2, 1920
A short early history of wireless including KDKA
Congratulations to RCA’s New Officers and Directors for 2019-2020!
Click here for the press release
To find the 2018 Technical Symposium slide decks and videos click HERE
Please Support Our 2018 Annual Banquet and Technical Symposium Sponsors!
Denver RCA Meeting Report
Carole Perry, RCA Director and Chair of the Youth Activities Committee while visiting Denver and Boulder area schools and amateur radio clubs, took time out of her busy schedule to join RCA members at the Blue Bonnet for lunch this past week. Carole was excited to see her friends, and presented her report on the Youth Activities happenings and some exciting news from her recent trip to Alabama. The event was moderated by Charles Kirmuss.
Barney Wooters brought his famous antique RCA light bulb for show & tell.
Barney Wooters with the famous RCA light bulb from times past!
RCA at the Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum
Carole Perry’s annual Youth Forum is one of the most well attended events at the Dayton amateur radio festival. Carole features a number of school-aged youth who have become interested in STEM (science, engineering, technology, and math) through their experiences with amateur radio. This was the 31st Youth Forum hosted by Carole Perry and RCA!
You Tube Video of Thomas N1SPY at Carole Perry’s RCA Youth Forum
Wyatt AI6V Wins RCA and QCWA “Young Ham Lends a Hand” Award for 2018
The pictures below show some of the fun that took place at Dayton and the Youth Forum.
Carole Perry with the 8 Youth Forum presenters
NEW!! MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
We are adding a new feature to the RCA Website: a short feature on a current member, what they are doing, and what their wireless interests are. The member that is featured will be changed regularly.
If you are interested in being spotlighted, please send a brief summary of your wireless interests, a brief bio, your contact information, and a picture to info@radioclubofamerica.org. We cannot guarantee that every member will be spotlighted, but we will attempt to spotlight as many as we can.
Introducing RCA Member Geoff Mendenhall
Geoff Mendenhall
Geoff Mendenhall’s background includes 47 years of experience managing the technology and design of new products for the communications and broadcast markets. His experience includes: hardware design, engineering team management, product line management, general management with P&L responsibility, over 60 articles and technical presentations, and advanced technology assessment.
His specialties: Identification and evaluation of new technologies for application to RF transmission products. Management of R&D teams; RF, digital audio, digital video, and antenna design with focus on broadcast transmission products and markets; High power RF heating; U.S. Government projects.
Geoff has worked at Harris Corporation, GatesAir, and Broadcast Electronics. He is a registered professional engineer in Ohio and Illinois, and has a BEE from Georgia Tech.
Email: geoff@mendenhallengineering.com
1. How long have you been in the wireless industry? 48 years
2. What are your specific interests or wireless areas of expertise? My primary wireless interests are AM, FM, and DTV broadcast systems. I am currently a consultant to the FCC on the DTV channel spectrum repack. My primary areas of expertise are in RF signal processing, RF power amplification, RF systems engineering, and antenna design.
My primary wireless interests are AM, FM, and DTV broadcast systems. I am currently a consultant to the FCC on the DTV channel spectrum repack.
I am an active amateur radio operator with a keen interest in antenna modeling, design, and construction. I am also converting my amateur radio station to software defined radio technology.
3. How many years have you been an RCA member? New member. Applied in May 2018
4. What caused you to join RCA? I am a friend of other members, including Jim Breakall and Jay Adrick, who encouraged me to join. Interesting newsletters and activities.
5. Where do you live and work? I live on Catawba Island, Ohio where I continue to work as a broadcast and wireless technology consultant after retiring from Harris Corporation.
6. Is there a specific benefit from the RCA “Member Spotlight” that you are hoping for? (e.g. ‘to meet other members with an interest in X’, or ‘to meet other members in my area’, etc.) Yes, I would like to let members know that I have joined RCA and introduce myself to the membership. I would like to get to know and have a dialog with members who share my wireless technology interests.
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RCA History
The history of our Club is one with which every member should be familiar.