A Timeline of the University of Washington Amateur Radio Club

• 1915: The first experimental wireless station at the University of Washington is erected *. The aerial extended ‘from the water tower to the engineering building.’ Students reported at that time that they were already making contacts all over the world.
• February, 1916: University of Washington’s first call sign, 7XZ, is registered *. The 7 indicates that the station is operated in the Seventh district while the X indicated that this was an experimental, or educational, station.
• 1917 - 1919: All amateur radio operations cease due to WWI, and all Amateru licenses are cancelled. The radio station that was previously installed on campus was dismantled at the start of the war *
• 1919: University of Washington resumes operation under the call sign 7XZ *. The station is reconstructed on campus with a new antenna tower. *
• 1920: The University of Washington Radio Club is officially formed with 25 members, joining other west-coast institutions such as Washington State, Stanford, Montana and California. Members worked in shifts to exchange athletic scores and other news among other colleges. * *
• 1921: The Engineering school hosts an informal dance with music recieved via wireless, thanks to members of the Radio Club. *
• 1922: The Radio Club at the UW doubles it’s range by installing a 500-watt radiophone transmitter and a 1000-watt CW transmitter. *
• 1926: The University of Washington began to operate under the call sign ‘7YD,’ a precursor to the current call sign. *
• 1928: Amateur call signs begin using new prefixes. The University of Washington’s call sign is changed to W7YD, A call sign we still have to this day! *
• 1942 - 1945: Amateur radio operation again ceases during WWII, however this time licenses were not cancelled outright.