Jupiter Lighthouse- International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend Activation

   August 16, 09:30 - August 17, 03:00 PM

On August 16 and 17, 2014, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum celebrates International Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend (ILLW) with up to 450 other lighthouses and lightships around the world. Three local Amateur Radio operating groups will be on the air waves at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum over this special weekend. Jupiter Lighthouse Radio Group (JLRG,) the Martin County Amateur Radio Association (MCARA,) and West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group (WPBARC.) will be set up behind the Museum building from 10:00 on Saturday through 15:00 on Sunday with their radio equipment attempting to dial in other ILLW participants from over 50 countries.

The public are invited to stop by the Museum backyard to “get on the air” and also learn about the continued Public Service contribution of Amateur Radio to local events and emergency communications. Joined by Boy Scout troop 721 of Palm Beach Gardens this event also features educational activities for children and adults. ILLW participation is free. To celebrate the 2014 ILLW, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is offering discounted rate of just $5 for  Lighthouse and Museum tour admission to everyone that weekend.

The Museum’s unique history as the last remaining building from an important World War II installation which existed on this site adds to the importance of this event locally. U.S. Naval Supplementary Radio
Station, code named Station J, secretly operated as the “Tip-Off” station during WWII and intercepted German U-boat radio  transmissions off the Florida coast. Its role was to alert Allied ships and stations - allowing U.S. forces to thwart attacks of enemy vessels during the war. Thousands of ham radio operators volunteered for service and became the backbone of military communications during WWII.

JTRG, MCARA and WPBARC are three very active amateur radio groups in North Palm Beach and Martin counties focused on exposing their members to all aspects of the hobby with a particular interest
on the role Amateur Radio provides for emergency communications,” states Kevin Jackson, President of JLRG. As part of a long-standing tradition among radio groups, a special postcard will be exchanged
with contacts from that weekend.

During each third full weekend of August, the AYR Amateur Radio Group (AARG), sponsors the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. For this goodwill event, lighthouses around the world are activated by amateur radio operators to give them the proper historical recognition they deserve.


The basic objective of the event is to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, and at the same time to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill. Lighthouses are fast becoming an endangered species with the introduction of Global Positioning Systems and Satellite Navigation and the automation of the light source to solar power which has resulted in the withdrawal of management personnel (Keepers). It is hoped that this event will highlight this situation and help prevent further desecration of these magnificent structures all around the world.

JLRG and the Martin County Amateur Radio Association (MCARA) invite you to visit the Jupiter Lighthouse at 500 Captain Armours Way, Jupiter, FL 33477. We will have multiple operating stations and be making contacts all over the world with people trying to reach lighthouse operations. Whether you're a veteran Ham, newly licensed Technician, or hold no license at all, come out, learn Jupiter's history and the operation of Station J during WWII.






SSB freqs: 7250-7290, 14.250-14.290, 21.350-21.390, 28.350-28.390
BPSK31: 7.035, 14.070, 21.080, 28.070
RTTY: 14.080