Month: April 2006

On Christmas Eve, 1906, instead of a Morse code message, Fessenden made the first voice radio broadcast heard by Navy ships and ships of the United Fruit Company that carried his radio equipment. Dave Riley, AA1A of Marshfield believes that Reginald Fessenden could truly lay claim to be the inventor of radio but never received his due recognition. Until last December, when an article appeared in the Patriot Ledger, I suspect very few Whitman ARC members, aside from John Coombs, WQ1L of Marshfield, had ever heard about Reginald Fessenden.

Friday, April 14, 2006 just happened to be the day a group of Air Cadets would be camping at the remains of the Fessenden tower/radio station site in Machrihanish, Scotland and the US Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was asked to set up a special event Station at the Brant Rock antenna site and make contact with the Air Cadets in Scotland. Pi Pugh, K1RV and the K1USN amateur radio crew were contacted and invited to participate by Dave Newman WB1EVP, the CAP Project Officer for this activity and a local ham who is part of the local K1USN/Marconi crew. Pi, K1RV and the K1USN crew supplied the amateur radio HF and VHF transceivers and antennas. Both a Cushcraft R-5 vertical and a long wire antenna were installed for HF. The CAP crew had no problem making their scheduled contact.

Shown here (l. to r.): Bill O’Hara N1EY; Pi Pugh, K1RV; Walt Fitzgerald, W1WCF; Bruce Hayden, NI1X and George Glisham, W1YR. Also participating but not present when the picture was taken were: Dave Riley, AA1A; Ralph Butler, W1BT; Tom Wilson, KB1TOM and Dave Hill, N1GXV. It was interesting to note that several CAP member present had their amateur radio licenses.

—Thanks, Whitmn ARC The Spectrum, April 2006

Ham classes (see “Technician Class In Taunton”) conducted at the City of Taunton have finished as of April 23, 2006.

Shown here are some of the class participants, along with NI1X, WP4US and KB1LXH.

—Courtesy Whitman ARC Spectrum, April, 2006

Nashoba Valley ARC members recently assisted a local scout troop in obtaining the Radio Merit Badge. Dan Rasmussen, the Troop 3 Scout Master from Groton contacted Stan, KD1LE asking for help with the Radio Merit Badge. On March 24, 2006 NVARC members helped Groton Troop 3 Scouts fulfill requirements for the Radio Merit Badge in Amateur Radio at KD1LE’s QTH.

Joel, W1JMM and Stan, KD1LE first put the Scouts on the air to satisfy one of the requirements. In various combinations the Scouts talked to Larry, KB1ESR and Dave, N1MNX/m on the six meter repeater. Some spoke with Ralph, KD1SM in Cambridge on the Boston two-meter repeater. Several spoke with Bob W1XP/4 at his North Carolina QTH.

After the on-the-air part, Joel and Stan covered the other requirements with a presentation explaining repeater operation, the various aspects of Amateur Radio, how to get licensed, QSL cards, the many operating aspects of Amateur Radio, emergency communications, public service and quite a few other requirements. After a question and answer session we went back to the “shack” to point out various pieces of equipment and its function. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

—NVARC Signal, April 2006

About thirty boy scouts were taught theory and operated the W1AF station as part of a Radio Merit Badge Course set up by Harvard Wireless Club President Matt Gline, KG2OT for the annual Boy Scout Medal at Harvard College.

Gline, a senior at Harvard, was assisted by HWC members Clayton Nall, NF1R and Tim McBride, N1QZY. [N1QZY photo]

To Leaders of Scout Groups, Science Clubs, Astronomy Clubs, and Amateur Radio Clubs:

You and your club members are invited to join us on May 6, 2006 as an exhibitor, participant, or both. Display your colors, attract new members, and participate in the excitement!

For the past two years National Astronomy Day at the Clay Center Observatory has been a fantastic educational event that has brought in many hundreds of families from around the greater Boston area and from as far away as Rhode Island and New Hampshire. We co-host the event with the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston (ATMoB) who bring many types of solar and night telescopes to the event. In addition we will have three planetarium shows, a LASER light show, Galileo himself, NASA ambassadors, guest speakers and lecturers, and rooms filled with activity tables and displays on all kinds of sciences. For details, see http://www.claycenter.org/astro. I would like to offer your non-profit organization a table at this event at no cost where you can proudly display your banner and photos, recruit members, and even sell club related items. All I ask is that you offer some kind of hands-on educational science activity (should be somewhat connected to astronomy or earth science). The activity should be geared for children or scaleable to all ages.

If you can join us, please go to the Astronomy Day web site at http://www.claycenter.org/astro and register in the vendor/volunteer section. You and your helpers will receive name badges and boxed dinners. Even if you don’t want to run a booth or table, feel free to bring your club or scout group for a fun afternoon or evening.

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2006

Daytime events 2:00-5:00pm Evening events 6:00-10:00pm

Free admission! Come anytime to each or both.
Free Astronomy Red Light on a keychain for first 300 children!

The Clay Center will hold astronomy day events in collaboration with the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston (ATMoB). Many activities have been planned for families and children of all ages.

* Many different telescopes will be set up for you to see and use. Safely view the sun in the daytime, and see the moon and stars in the evening, weather permitting.

* Demonstrations, lectu res, planetarium shows, LASER Light show, rocketry, stunt kites, celebrity appearances, educational activities for all ages.

* Astronomy Show by astronomer Ron Dantowitz about telescopic coverage of historic SpaceShip One launches and the famous Laser-to-Space-Station project last spring.

Bob Salow, WA1IDA writes:

The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) has again requested ham support for the Run of the Charles (ROTC) canoe races. Some administrative delays have caused time to be short and your prompt response will really help. Fortunately, the river and race conditions have not changed much in recent years. This event, like so many others in the Greater Boston area, has been coordinated by or through the Boston Amateur Radio Club. I manage the public service activities for the club.

We should all be aware of the critical nature of this event and the restrictions it imposes on the ham support. I intend to continue that concept. As I increase the number of hams needed to do this job, I plan to be selective of ham quality. To manage this I ask that you respond to the questions below as quickly and as accurately as you can. Email will be the primary means of communication between us. This year the ROTC will be on Sunday, 30 April 2006. Some assignments will begin as early as 0700, others somewhat later. As in the past, our duties are primarily safety and administrative at the dam portages, as well as shadows for key CRWA staff and at Net Control. A 2-meter, 5 watt hand-held is satisfactory. A dual-band radio is desirable, but not required. An antenna better than the “rubber duck” that came with the radio is essential because the riverside locations may make communications difficult. Be sure to have sufficient batteries to last the day. I will furnish you with assignments, more details and instructions as soon as the information is available.

As a ham event, this is an interesting and fun experience. The communication load is light, but that doesn’t begin to compare with the problems of handling canoes in a rushing river. The CRWA emphasizes safety and care for the participants, so wetness is frequent and accidents are few.

If you can help for this event, please respond with all of the following information as soon as possible. Reply by email is the best method.

Full name

On-air name

Call sign

Postal mailing address (including 9-digit ZIPcode)

Evening phone

Day phone

Cell phone

Email address

Does your 2-meter radio have CTCSS (PL)?

Do you have a dual-band radio?

Do you have a magnetic mount antenna?

T-shirt size

Also, with regard to this event, let me know your station preference(s), if any, and time of assignment desired. Note that we cannot assure you that all preferences can be granted. Depending on the responses received, there is a slight chance we cannot use all volunteers. Try to get back to me as quickly as you can.

If you know other hams who would meet the ROTC quality standards and are interested in this event, ask them to send the above information to me.

73,

Bob Salow

wa1ida@arrl.net

508.650.9440

The Boston Amateur Radio Club has been invited to participate at the Blue Hill Observatory Spring Open House on Saturday, April 29. Open to the public, this is a great opportunity to introduce ham radio to kids and adults alike. Attendance is expected to be more than 1500. The event runs from 1000 to 1600, with our set-up beginning at 0800.

We will be operating on 145.230, 146.520 and on HF. Our past experience operating from that location during SKYWARN Recognition Day indicates that 2M VHF contacts are possible all over New England.

Transportation to the top of the hill will be by shuttle service from the parking lot located at the base of Great Blue Hill on Rt. 138 in Milton – unless you would like to hike the 653′ elevation. I also suggest bringing a lunch and something to drink.

Those interested in assisting please contact me by e-mail at emgmgt@comcast.net or at 781.749.7664.

BARC enjoys a good working relationship with the Blue Hill Science Center. It’s important we support their events as they have supported ours. There will be several other organizations participating including the Mt. Washington Observatory and the EPA. More information is available at http://www.bluehill.org. Click on activates, and then the event calendar

(Please note that BARC’s participation is weather dependent and the final decision as to participation may not be made until the morning of the event, at which time it will be announced on the 145.230 repeater and on barc-list.)

—Thanks, Boston ARC The SPARC, April 2006

       PSLIST                                              April 11, 2006

    Public Service Volunteer Opportunities in the New England Division
Listing public events at which Amateur Radio communications is providing

a public service and for which additional volunteers from the Amateur

Community are needed and welcome.  Please contact the person listed to

identify how you may serve and what equipment you may need to bring.
The most up-to-date copy of this list is maintained as

http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv
   **** Every event listed is looking for communications volunteers ****
Date    Location      Event                       Contact      Tel/Email
Apr 30  Groton     MA Groton Road Race             Ralph KD1SM 978-582-7351

                                                             kd1sm@arrl.net

May 7   Boston     MA Walk for Hunger              Bruce KC1US 781-275-3740

                                                    wfh06@amateur-radio.net

May 13  Grafton    MA Grafton Road Race            Bob KA1OTQ  508-865-6957

                                              Robert.Beausoleil@verizon.net

May 13  Westford   MA Apple Blossom Parade        Terry KA8SCP 978-692-2069

                                                            ka8scp@arrl.net

May 21  Devens     MA Parker Classic Road Race     Stan KD1LE  978-433-5090

May 21  Wellesley  MA Veterans Parade              Tom N1CPE   508-478-4230

              http://www.wellesleyparade.com/index.htm      n1cpe@amsat.org

Jun  4  Boston     MA AIDS Walk Boston             Bruce KC1US 781-275-3740

                                                    wfh06@amateur-radio.net

Jul  1  Princeton  MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM 978-582-7351

                                                             kd1sm@arrl.net

Jul  2  Fitchburg  MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM 978-582-7351

                                                             kd1sm@arrl.net

Jul  4  Chelmsford MA 4th of July Parade           Darrel K1EJ 978-251-4805

                                                              k1ej@arrl.net
This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE

and Ralph KD1SM.  Our usual distribution is via packet to NEBBS, via

Internet mail to the arrl-nediv-list and ema-arrl distribution lists,

and on the World Wide Web (see address above).  If other mailing list

owners wish us to distribute via their lists we will be happy to

oblige.  Permission is herewith granted to republish this list in its

entirety provided credit is given to the authors and the Web address

below is included.  Send comments, corrections, and updates to:
(via packet) KD1SM@K1UGM.#EMA.MA.USA,

(via Internet) KD1SM@ARRL.NET.
We make an attempt to confirm entries with the coordinator unless the

information is from another published source.  We very much appreciate

the assistance we have been receiving from our 'scouts'; everyone is

welcome to send us postings.
Refer to http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv for the most

recent version of the PSLIST.

		

Arthur Minasian, N1KZC writes:

Does anyone know of any reputable techs that have experience in repairing and or restoring back to specs boat anchors? In particular, I am trying to find someone for a blind friend of mine that needs his R390 “tweeked”.

If you can help via your own experience with a reliable tech, please email me at: akm_325@yahoo.com. Thanks.

73 de:
Dah dit/di dah dah dah dah/Dah di dah/Dah dah di dit/Dah di dah dit.

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association plans to be on-hand at the upcoming Emergency Preparedness Exposition on September 16, 2006 on Pond Road in Framingham. The event is being sponsored by the Knox Trail Council of the Framingham Boy Scouts.

“They are expecting between 700 to 1,000 attendees for the event,” writes Framingham ARA president Gordy Bello, K1GB. “FARA will be there with a booth depicting ham radio’s role in emergency communications.” He adds, “We will be handing out brochures, flyers, etc. and [operating our handi-talkies] for demonstration purposes.

The Expo will feature organizations such as: NSTAR, the FBI, Framingham Fire Department, and Framingham Police Department. Lunch will be provided for those participating.

Says, K1GB, “This is FARA’s golden opportunity to show our value to the the public.”

Mark your calendars for the 32nd Eastern VHF/UHF Conference, April 21-23, 2006 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Enfield, Connecticut.

The conference is an opportunity to share with fellow VHFers and above technical achievments in the field of communication and experimentation. It will feature technical talks, photo displays, band sessions, noise figure measurements, and much more.

For additional information, visit http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html.

An interesting thread on the Harvard Wireless Club (HWC) email reflector discusses who has legitimate claim to being the oldest college radio club in existence.

HWC member George Clark, W1XW states, “Two potential challengers are the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Wirless Association, now W1YK, which also claims to have been founded in October, 1909, and The MIT Radio Society, which also claims founding in 1909.” Clark goes on to ask, “Does anybody have a citation for (or even better, a copy of) a document that mentions the date of [the Harvard Wireless Club’s] founding?”

In responding, W1AF trustee Mike Manafo, K3UOC writes:

“According to page 6 in The WPI Wireless Association: Its Origin and Growth, 1909-1932, David M. Mangini, (unpublished dissertation, WPI, 1978), the author writes:

‘… radio clubs were still a new thing when WPI established their wireless group. Public clubs were still few in number and centered mainly around the larger cities. The first of the college wireless club is reputed to be the Harvard Wireless Club in Cambridge, Mass. The next club thought to be founded at a college is the MIT Wireless Society from which WPI got its encouragement.'”

Manafo goes on to state, “A copy of the Mangini thesis sits on the bookshelf in the [W1AF] shack. In addition, there is a QST article from the 1920’s in which MIT RC credits the HWC as instrumental in its founding. There should be a copy of the article in our files.”

The Harvard Wireless Club was originally founded as “The Radio Society of The Institute for Geographic Exploration.”

New England Area   Ham - Electronic  Flea Market  ***  DATES  *** 2006 P 1 of 2

All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except ~_____~

*******************************************************************************

2006                                                    Contact          Source

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 Apr Laval PQ CRALL @HS George-Vanier $5@9 $19/T@7             514 708 8033 W+

8 Apr Londonderry NH IRS @Lions Club $10@7 $3@9    Gayle KB1LHA 781 598 1442 F+
15 Ap S Portland ME PAWA @AmLegion                   Roger N1XP 207 671 0671 A
16 Apr Cambridge MA          FLEA at MIT                   Nick 617 253 3776

                Third Sunday April thru October                               
22 Apr Nashua NH NE Antique RC $15/T@7 $5@8 $2@9 @StStan  Marty 603 755 2839  
22 April Montreal PQ MARC @LaSalleRCL $4@9 $8/T@8         James 514 697 7205 R
23 Ap Southington CT SARA @HS $5@9 $10@8:30 $20/T@6:30     Chet 860 628 9346 F
23 Ap LaGrangeville NY MtBeaconARC @TymorPk          Rich N2ZKX 845 344 2720 A+
23 Ap Enfield CT NEWS EVHF/UHF Conf                  Mark K1MAP 413 566 2404 W+
29-30 Ap Watertown MA Photographica @ACEC ~photo~          John 781 592 2553 W+
5,6 May Hopkinton NH HossTraders @FG x7 I89           Joe K1RQG 207 469 3492 T
6 May Goshen CT SBARC @FG Rt 63 $3@8 $5/TG@6          Lee K1LEE 860 435 0051 F+
8 May Whately MA FCARA @ElSch $3@5PM                 Bill N1EWK 413 774 4669 W+ 
13 May Halifax NS HARC @ForumAnnex B@9 S@6:30     Murray VE1MMD              R
13 May Rensselaer NY EGARA @FireHse $5@8 $10/T@6  Thomas KC2FCP 518 272 1494 F+
21 May Cambridge MA          FLEA at MIT                   Nick 617 253 3776   
27 May Vernon CT NARC @Tolland AG Ctr $4@9 $15/T    Wayne N1GUS 860 487 1921 A+
28 May SorelTracy PQ STARC $5@9 $15/T@6              Luc VE2DWE 450 743 8676 R+
2 June Feeding Hills MA HCRA TG Party @CongCh @6PM   Dave KB1MU 413 596 6605  
2-4 June Rochester NY RARA @FG                      Harold K2HC 585 424 7184 A 
3 June Hermon ME PSARC @HS                         Roger KA1TKS 207 848 3846 A+
4 June Queens NY HoSARC 47-01 111st $5@9 $10/sp@7:30      Steve 718 898 5599 F+
11 June Newington CT NARL @ShrinerHall             George AB1GL 860 463 0948 A+
11 June Bethpage NY LIMARC @Briarcliff                Rick K2RB 516 526 6975 A+

*******************************************************************************

LAST UPDATE 3-30-06 de W1GSL                                             P 1

   List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version

*******************************************************************************

Additions/ Corrections via e-Mail   w1gsl@mit.edu   ***

Page 3 Electronic distribution only.  This page has the overflow if any    P3

from the paper version.

*******************************************************************************

2006                                                    Contact          Source

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*******************************************************************************

LAST UPDATE 3-30-06 de W1GSL                                             P 3

   List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version

Additions/ Corrections via Internet  w1gsl@mit.edu

                           US Mail  W1GSL POB 397082 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139

(c)2006 W1GSL   http://www.swapfwst.us        SASE for updated copy as issued.

unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety

*******************************************************************************
  List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version       
Be sure to check for the latest version as updating is under the control

of the page owner.                                                           
* You can have the list e-mailed directly to you as it is updated.            *

* Just send a request to be added to the distribution to   w1gsl@mit.edu      *
                             73 Steve F

                                W1GSL
***********************************************************************

New England Area  Ham - Electronic  Flea Market  ***  DATES  ***     P4

Links to New England Hamfest Web Sites                (c) 2006 W1GSL

***********************************************************************

This section is only included in the electronic distribution.
Cambridge MA    Flea at MIT     http://www.swapfest.us                        
Hopkinton NH    Hosstraders     http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg/
Amherst MA      Mt. Tom ARC     http://www.mtara.org/hamfest/flea.html
Adams MA	N BerkshireARC	http://www.nobarc.org/hamfest                 
Boxborough MA   NE ARRL Conv    http://www.boxboro.org/
Framingham MA	FARA		http://www.fara.org/                          
Newton MA       Waltham ARA Auction    http://www.wara64.org/auction/
S Dartmouth MA  SEMARA          http://www.semara.org/flea/fleamkt.htm       
Watertown MA    Photographica   http://www.phsne.org/                        +
Whately MA	FranklinCARC    http://www.fcarc.org/news.htm                +
Enfield CT      VHF/UHF Conf    http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html          +
Newington CT 	NARL 		http://www.narl.net/1.htm
Southington CT  SARA            http://www.chetbacon.com/sara.htm
Wallingford CT  Nutmeg CT Conv  http://www.nutmeghamfest.com                 
Windsor CT      Vintage R Mus   http://www.NationalCommunicationsMuseum.org/  
Lewiston ME     AARC		http://www.mainearrl.org/convent.htm         
Portland ME     PAWA            http://www.qsl.net/pawa/fleamarket.html       
Henniker NH     CVRC            http://www.qsl.net/k1bke/                     
Rochester NH    GBRA            http://www.kb1kbe.com/hamfest06.html         
Bergen NJ	BARA		http://www.bara.org/
Lake Placid NY  NNY ARA	 http://www.northnet.org/nnyham/hamfest_flyer2004.htm 
Lindenhurst NY  ToB ARES 	http://www.tobares.org/hamfest.html           
Long Island NY  LIMARC          http://www.limarc.org/fest.htm                
Massapequa NY   GSB ARA	        http://www.gsbarc.org/          
Queens NY       Hall of Science http://hosarc.org/hamfest.html               
Rensselaer NY   E Greenbush ARA http://www.com-tech.org/EGARA.html            
Rochester NY 	AWA		http://www.antiquewireless.org/
Rochester NY    RARA            http://www.rochesterhamfest.org/            
Greenwich RI    Fidelity ARC    http://users.ids.net/~newsm/dates.html
Essex Junction VT   Burlington ARC  http://www.vtstetson.net/fest02.pdf
Milton VT       RANV VT Conv    http://www.ranv.org/milton.html
St Albans VT    STARC           http://www.starc.org/
Drummondville PQ  leCRdeD	http://www.9bit.qc.ca/ve2crd/hamfest/index.html
Greenwood PQ    GARC   http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/esmith/GARC/activities.htm  +
Montreal PQ     MARC            http://www.marc.qc.ca/fest/fest.html        
Montreal PQ	WIARC		http://www.pubnix.net/wiarc/hamfest.htm       
Montreal PQ     MS-SARC         http://www.ve2clm.ca/hamfesta.htm
Laval PQ        CRALL           http://www.ve2crl.qc.ca/                   +
Sorel-Tracy PQ  CRAS-T		http://www.hamfest.qc.ca/                     
Summerside PEI  SPARC		http://www.summersidearc.com/fleamarket.htm  
St Therese PQ	CRALL		http://www.ve2crl.qc.ca/hamfest2002.htm       
Halafax NS 	HARC            http://www.halifax-arc.org/
Timonium MD	GBHC            http://www.gbhc.org/                          +
Canada          RAC List   http://rac.eton.ca/data/racfleas.taf?function=form
Phila. Area	VARA List	http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/hamfest.html         
USA             ARRL List       http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html