Rogue Valley Manor Amateur Radio Club (RVMARC)
located at:
1200 Mira Mar Ave.,
Medford, Oregon 97504
Amateur Radio is definitely unique at retirement communities.
 This small storage closet at roof level was our first bonafide ham shack. |
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Amateur Radio at the Rogue Valley Manor goes back to the mid 80's when the first ham operated with his rig mounted on a cart which he brought up to the roof level via an elevator. He connected a long wire antenna, plugged into a wall socket and was on the air.
Maury Whitlock, WA7MW (formerly WB6EWA - KB7FOK) operated from his new cottage using a 10 meter quad and a temporary vertical approved by the administration until more cottages were built. In 1989 Ed Soults, now AA7GM, arrived and the Manor provided a very small storage closet at roof level as our first bona-fide ham shack. In cooperation with the Red Cross a 10 meter emergency antenna and equipment was installed. The Manor hams became member of the ARES network. The administration installed emergency backup power to the shack. A vertical doublet, 2 meter, long wire and a 3 element beam installed.
 The present club station was established in 1997 |
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A very successful Ham-Gram service was provided to Manor residents.
The present club station was established in 1997 after an extensive retrofit of a large storage area on the 9th floor of the hilltop main building of this retirement community. The administration provided and installed the necessary electrical and phone/data wiring and suspended acoustical ceiling.
The resident Hams constructed and installed the casework for the 5 operating positions, including a test/work area, library shelving, bulletin board, black board and a small sink countertop with reefer under. Each operating position has 4 - 110 volt (emergency power) outlets, an individual phone/data outlet, and four transmission coax cables available. The air conditioned shack has a carpeted floor, a group table and swivel chairs. The two windows have a westerly view of the Siskiyou and Cascade mountains which ring the beautiful Rogue Valley.
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The antennas are on the roof of this ten-story building and consist of two separate triband yagis (KLM KT34A & a Moseley), an all band GAP vertical, a 40/80 dipole, 2 meter & 6-meter verticals, and rotatable 2 meter/70 cm beams. The antenna transmission coax cabling is led in two large conduits to the shack where they are patched to the positions desired. Our shack is the location for the local DX Cluster equipment. All rooftop antennas being at 1700 ft + above sea- level makes for an ideal location.