Source
r/amateurradio•
DataVeg

Advice on donating gear

QUESTION

Hi all, I’m doing a bit of a downsize and I have some lightly used ham gear I’m thinking of donating. A yaesu ft-450d, a yaesu ft-8800, a couple of power supplies, a yt-450 autotuner a bench speaker, j-pole, antenna and cables etc.

I’d rather donate as I don’t want to go through the hassle of selling. Ideally I’d love it to go to an org working with disadvantaged kids. My local club is far from diverse (cough) and I’m not thrilled with the Boy Scouts.

I’m in the Portland area, but might ship for the right cause.

Any thoughts?

Posted Mar 6, 2022, 3:22 AM UTC

1633
LeisureActivitiesUS [General]•

Good on you for donating! You might check out the Portland neighborhood emergency teams, since they use ham radios for a variety of comms. DM me for contact info if you need it.

7
backcountrymedicAR•

We had a class called EAST Lab that we did electronic tinkering in high school. Check that. 🤙🏻

2
anonymouslosername•

Maybe poke around the high schools and/or college for clubs?

5
DataVegOP•

Yeah I don’t know if any but I will check my local high school.

2
MultiplyAccumulate•

Generally, you could call the high schools shortly after school is out and ask for the electronics teacher if they have one or the physics, or computer science, or math teachers if they don't.

There is aparently a K7PPS amateur radio club but the webpage is defunct. Contact KI7OCP who is the trustee. https://www.pps.net/Page/11307

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=3959369 https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=3927189

3
anonymouslosername•

Good find! 👍

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anonymouslosername•

Yeah, I wouldn't offhand either. I'd probably just call their main number and mention having some equipment to donate and do they have an amateur radio club that could use it. (I discovered not too long ago that my high school had a club station while I was there, not sure if they still do)

I know there's a teacher/club advisor for one of the Sacramento area schools that posts in one of the Facebook groups here and there.

2
All_Your_Base•

Use your radio to check with a more distant club ?

Maybe the Girl Scouts?

Edit: Are there any groups around that do SAR for lost hikers, etc. ? Bet they need good equipment. Local Firestation maybe be able to help.

3
DataVegOP•

Haha yes unfortunately all my gear is packed up. But the Girl Scouts is an excellent idea, not sure why I haven’t thought of that.

3
CycleMN•

Yes, the CAP does, aka the Civil Air Patrol . They also utilize ham radio and DXing to do it, especially with downed aircraft

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

2
thenetscapenavigator•

Have you thought about a Maker Space of some sort? I belong to a maker space in Australia and one of our aims is to have a publicly accessible shack. BTW not asking you to send them to Australia just pointing out that a large number of makers are interested in radio but don’t have the equipment. You could donate it to a community based maker space with the idea that they make the shack available to the public.

2
DataVegOP•

That’s something I hadn’t thought of, thanks!

1
moonie42•

Good on you for wanting to ham it forward!

If you're striking out with your club, check in with your other local clubs....if they can't handle something themselves, they may be able to point you in a good direction.

You could also check in with your local ARRL section, they may have youth or donation program or be able to steer you to one.

2
ke4keKE4KE MN•

There are a couple ways to get rid of gear. Go to the local club and donate it. Go to a hamfest in your area and mark it free in the back of your truck or on or under your hamfest table. Of course there is always "reverse hamfesting". That comes from a funny ham magazine article in the 90's where a guy would set an item down on a table at a hamfest and pick up something to look at. Set it back down and walk away leaving the item he brought.

2
DataVegOP•

Haha not heard of that!

2
sheriffrosco•

https://handiham.org/

2
sheriffrosco•

https://handiham.org/wordpress1/donations/

2
DataVegOP•

That’s really interesting- I will check them out.

1
sheriffrosco•

If you have echolink you can connect to N0BVE-R. I believe their nets are in at 11 am cdt (1700 zulu)

2
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1
Ok_FreeBread•

Shoot I’ll pay for shipping to get my hands on ham stuff I’m just starting out but super interested 👀

1
Ok_FreeBread•

Good Cause Needed, I’m young and poor 💀

0
array_repairmanN0MO [E]•

Where are you at? Many clubs have stuff they can lend out to new hams.

1
Ok_FreeBread•

Washington State!

1
array_repairmanN0MO [E]•

Sorry, I'm not up that way. I'm in the Chicago area.

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koschboschK7WXO [G]•

where in Washington?

1
catdude142•

I googled "Amateur radio club donations" and came up with many organizations.

1
DataVegOP•

Yes I did that, nothing jumped out, it’s mostly for arrl and club funds. - I was hoping to find something doing cool things with kids or something like that.

1
catdude142•

There's a school in New York that advertises for ham radio donations in QST Magazine.

2
DataVegOP•

Thanks I just googled this and found wb2jkj - that is exactly the kind of thing I am looking for. Will be checking them out

2
DataVegOP•

Hmm on second thoughts, doing a bit of investigation wb2jkj seems less than legit... which is sad because it seemed perfect. I guess if something seems too good to be true...

1
nicks_bars•

Donate it to a club. I'm in the Salem club. Sales from donated items help keep us running and active, plus I really enjoy being able to give items away to new hams! We would happily take it and even come get it. I imagine there are closer clubs that would also do this.

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[deleted]•

[removed]

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