ARRL Foundation Grants $270,000 to Amateur Radio Clubs

From ARRL News:

08/31/2022 – The new ARRL Foundation Club Grant Program, funded by a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), has awarded $270,000 to radio clubs that participated in the first round of applications.

The Club Grant Program, introduced earlier this year, includes $500,000 to be awarded to radio clubs with projects that will have the most impact on amateur radio, the community, and the future of radio technology. The grants will fund transformative projects that encourage the growth of active amateur radio operators and training opportunities, education programs for student groups and schools, and club revitalization. A second round of applications to award the program’s remaining funding will open on September 7, 2022.

Twenty-four clubs were notified on Monday, August 29, that they are receiving grants. The ARRL Foundation received 128 applications in the first round, with requests totaling $1.74 million. The selection committee noted that it was difficult work deciding from many high-quality grant proposals considering the finite available funds. Radio clubs that did not receive grants in the first round may revise and resubmit applications in the second round.

An informational webinar will serve as an orientation to the program, providing information on how to apply. The webinar will take place on September 7 at 7 PM Eastern Time. Please register in advance to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar:

Webinar: ARRL Club Grant Program | Round Two Kickoff
When: September 7, 2022 at 7 PM Eastern Time
Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PezTqPKCTzuwy58FWWgJ3A

The ARRL Foundation, established in 1973 by ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®, administers the Club Grant Program. ARRL has long recognized that it is in the best interests of amateur radio to encourage and support amateur radio clubs. Clubs historically have recruited, licensed, and trained new radio amateurs and have provided the community setting for them to continue their education and training.

The new Club Grant Program will help clubs more easily provide and expand their important services. More information about the program can be found on the ARRL Foundation website at www.arrl.org/club-grant-program.

Barnstable ARC to Receive ARRL Club Grant

Barnstable ARC logoNorm Cantin, WA1NLG, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:

I just received some terrific news. [The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club] will be receiving a $25k grant from the ARRL to build an Amateur radio station at Camp Greenough for the Boy Scouts of America!  BARC is extremely pleased to have received this grant from the ARRL to use for such a worthy cause. 

I would like to thank all the folks who helped prepare the Grant submission and look for everyone’s support to execute our plan flawlessly.  Congratulations all!

The BARC Board of Directors will meet this weekend to review our plan in preparation to receive the Grant and reporting requirements from the ARRL.  We will provide an update at the September membership meeting on Monday.

73, Norm
WA1NLG

“Cape & Islands Emergency Communications System Working Group” at Barnstable ARC Hybrid Meeting, September 5, 2022

Barnstable ARC logoThe Barnstable Amateur RadioClub will meet  in-person on September 5, 2022 at 7:00 PM at the Brewster Police Department Community Room, 631 Harwich Road (Rt 124), Brewster, MA 02631. In addition we will provide a Zoom link to the meeting.

This month, Tom, KB1KCQ, with Lem W1LEM, Frank WQ1O, Bruce WASSWJ and Jason, KC1MLQ will present a joint presentation by the Cape & Islands Emergency Communications System (CAIECS) working group

[Contact Norm Cantin, WA1NLG, at norman.cantin@gmail.com for Zoom details.]

W8TEE, AC8GY: “Building an HF CW/SSB 20W Software Defined Transceiver” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, August 30, 2022

New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on August 30, 2022 at 7 PM and feature: “Building an HF CW/SSB 20W Software Defined Transceiver” by Jack Purdum, W8TEE and Albert Peter, AC8GY.
 
In this talk, Al and Jack will discuss their development of a SDT, which had its beginnings for them during Field Day 2019. Using a G90 running 15W to an EFHW thrown up into a tree, Portugal, Spain, France, and numerous stations in the U.S. were contacted. Jack and Al concluded that using low power SSB during FD was viable. The G90 suffered from various drawbacks, however, so they began designing the T41 on the drive home. Their design goals were: 1) Five band HF SDT – 80-10M; 2) SSB and CW; 3) Fuzzy QRP – user selectable power from 1-20W; 4) Self-contained – no PC, laptop, or tablet; 5) “Trunk Portable” – probably too big for SOTA, but okay for POTA; 6) Reasonable cost; and 7) Open Source – hardware and software.
 
Al Peter’s educational background is in Physics and Engineering, with degrees from University of Cincinnati and University of Michigan. Al has been an electronics builder/experimenter since high school, and earned his Extra Class license in 2010. He was founder and CEO of SDRC, a major consulting firm specializing in Mechanical CAD and related engineering and manufacturing software. He is co-author of Microcontroller Projects for Amateur Radio (ARRL) and Software Defined Radio Transceiver: Theory and Construction of the T41-EP Software Defined Transceiver. Al has a number of published articles on technical/amateur radio subjects in various magazines including QST, RadCom, and QRPQ.
 
Dr. Purdum has a Ph.D. in Economics and has been licensed since 1954. He was the founder and President of Ecosoft, a software house. He has authored 20 books, mostly on programming topics, and over three dozen articles in various publications (QST, CQ, QRP Quarterly, RadCom, etc). He and Al were awarded the Bennett Prize by the Radio Society of Great Britain “…to recognize a significant contribution or innovation which furthers the art of radio communication…” for their article on their Double-Double Magnetic Loop antenna. Dr. Purdum is an avid supporter of the Open Source initiative and QRP radio operations.
 
[For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.]

RAO to Launch New Amateur Radio Learning Program for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Students with Support from ARDC

Nico Bezzerides, KC1PNP, writes on the STARS-radio mailing list:

I just saw this (https://public.nrao.edu/news/nrao-receives-ardc-ham-radio-grant/) and I thought this was really cool. There may even be an opportunity for us to partner with this project in order to fulfill their “connection with amateur radio clubs” requirement.


“Following a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the National Science Foundation‘s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will soon launch a two-year project to engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students in learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and the excitement of amateur— also called ham— radio. The new project, Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS), is expected to offer its first student-facing trainings in January 2023.

ARDC selected EMS because of NRAO’s proven track record in supporting underrepresented minority students in the sciences by combining mentoring and instruction from content experts with best practices in equity.

As a part of NRAO’s broader impacts-focused SuperKnova learning platform, EMS will combine the expertise of NRAO staff, amateur radio enthusiasts, and other subject matter experts to develop a scalable and shareable curriculum, introduce students to EMS and radio technologies through hands-on activities, and support students in attaining technical and general class licenses in amateur radio.

Amateur radio provides a hands-on entry point to understanding the radio spectrum and its practical uses, including communications, astronomy, and community emergency infrastructure and response. Early support and engagement with amateur radio has the potential to create pathways for students to a future career or lifelong hobby in the sciences. The $315,123 ARDC grant will allow NRAO to develop and execute the program for two cohorts of students. It will also result in the development of a nine-month EMS curriculum that will be freely available to school groups, community clubs, and educational institutions.

NRAO Director Tony Beasley said, “Amateur radio continues to be incredibly important to the nation and global communications, and NRAO is excited to be working with ARDC to bring a new generation and diverse communities to the field.”

73

Nico, KC1PNP

AB2IX: “Test Bench” at Framingham ARA Hybrid Meeting, September 1, 2022

Framingham ARA logoJohn Iwuc, KB1VXY, writes on the Framingham ARA mailing list:

We have our first hybrid meeting of the autumn season this Thursday [September 1, 2022] at 7:00 pm at the main Framingham library.  After a short business meeting we will have a presentation by Adrian Zeffert, AB2IX, on the “Test Bench.”

This is a hybrid meeting. You can view it on Zoom by registering below.  But we will also have a meeting room with AV set up at the main Framingham library in the first room on the right as you come in from the parking lot. 

Even if you plan to come live, please consider registering as it helps with the head count.

John KB1VXY

[Members will receive a zoom invitation. Non-members may request an invitation by sending an email to John at  president@w1fy.org.]

Call for Amateur Radio Operators to Support the 1 Oct 2022 Cycle for Life Charity Event Supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Eric Balles, W1ENB, writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list:

Original call for volunteers sent by Dave Gilman (KC1DDH):

Good morning everyone.

The 2022 Cycle for Life is coming up on Saturday October 1, 2022 and I am in need of Amateur Radio operators to volunteer for SAG (Support & Gear) operations and if there is sufficient quantity of volunteers we will also be staffing the rest stops.

For those who have not worked this event before, it is a charity bicycle ride starting and finishing in Holliston, Massachusetts. Funds raised benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in their quest for a cure.

There are three routes: a 12-mile, 30-mile and 62-mile loop and four rest stops traversing several towns around Holliston.

If you are available to help out please fill out this form and I will be in touch with more details as the date gets closer.
VOLUNTEER SIGN UP LINK

Thank You,
Dave Gilman KC1DDH
Course Safety & Communications Coordinator
KC1DDH@Gmail.com

Double Fox Hunt, Belmont & Waltham, August 20-21

This weekend, K1MJC and I are once again putting our foxes out in the same general area.  They will be within two adjoining conservation areas:

  • Rock Meadow, Belmont, MA
  • Beaver Brook Reservation North, Waltham, MA (accessible from Rock Meadow by foot bridge)

Fox #1
Call:  K1MJC
Frequency:  146.565 MHz

Fox #2
Call:  W1MJ
Frequency:  147.540 MHz

Both foxes will be on the air from 10 AM Saturday until 5 PM on Sunday.  The best place to park for both foxes is the Rock Meadow parking area on Mill St. in Belmont.  If the lot is full, parallel parking on Mill St. is allowed, or you can use the Lone Tree Hill lot just up the street.

The following link shows a map of the area containing both foxes.  The Western Greenway Trail crosses a wooden bridge from the back-left-corner of Rock Meadow into Beaver Brook Reservation North:

https://www.trailforks.com/region/rock-meadow-conservation-area-belmont/?activitytype=1&z=16.0&lat=42.40183&lon=-71.20170

73,

Eliot, W1MJ

CNN: “8-year-old girl chats with ISS astronaut using ham radio”

Isabella Payne spoke with ISS astronaut Kjell LindgrenFrom nediv.arrl.org:

London (CNN) – When Isabella Payne heads back to elementary school in September, she’s going to have the best “what I did in my vacation” story to tell.

In a tale of “right place, right time,” the 8-year-old girl from Kent in southeast England spoke with American astronaut Kjell Lindgren aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using her dad’s ham radio.
 

Barnstable ARC Amateur Radio Demo at the Brooks Park Festival, Harwich, August 13-14, 2022

Barnstable ARC logoRob Leiden, K1UI, writes:
 
The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club will be holding an amateur radio demonstration this weekend at the Brooks Park Arts and Crafts Festival in Harwich. [The club station call sign] W1MA will be on the air on 10, 15 and 20 meters.
 
The festival runs from 9 AM—4 PM on Saturday and Sunday, with setup on Friday afternoon.
 
The event is one of the largest crafters’ events in the summer on the Cape with many food offerings as well.  The Brooks Park Arts and Crafts Festival information is at https://www.fairsandfestivals.net/events/details/2022-brooks-park-arts-and-crafts-festival.
 

KC1PNP to Activate Bug Light Lighthouse (USA 1235) August 7, 2022

Bug Light Park, S. Portland ME
Bug Light Park, S. Portland ME

Nico Bezzerides, KC1PNP, writes on the Sci-Tech ARS mailing list at 9:10 AM on August 7, 2022:

This is Nico B., KC1PNP. I’ve been an amateur radio operator for about a year and had my general ticket for about 10 months now. 

I recently got the opportunity, due to some very generously donated equipment from Bruce Tinkler N9JBT, to operate at the Bug Light lighthouse (USA 1235) up in Maine today for the National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend. I’m very excited about it!

If we manage to get over there safely (I’m on an island, and the water looks a bit rough today w/ higher winds), then I’ll be operating QRP SSB from there from about 10am onwards, EST. If you hear me (I’ll probably be on the upper end of the 20m band most of the time, please work me! It would be great to make some contacts with STARS members.

Hope to see you on the air!

Reminder – Traffic Handlers Picnic Sunday August 7 Concord MA

Just a reminder the traffic handlers picnic is this Sunday August 7 from noon on, 44 Raymond Rd in Concord MA. All traffic handlers and those with an interest in traffic handling are welcome. Hamburgers, hot dogs and Italian sausages will be provided along with baked beans. Bring your beverage of choice and anything else you wish to share. The latter is not a requirement. Also bring a folding chair if you have one. I have a limited number.
 
An RSVP to KW1U@arrl.net would be helpful so I can plan amount of food. Our director Fred AB1OC plans to be there and we can talk about the ongoing plans for a revitalized NTS we’re calling NTS 2.0. Hope to see you there.
 
73, Marcia KW1U
508 314 6836

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday 8/6/22 at 1000 AM

Good evening,

On Saturday August 6, 2022, the South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10AM. We realize that the usual locations for some individuals and groups are still unavailable due to ongoing COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net.

We will use the following repeaters and NEDECN DMR system in the order listed.

1. Sharon Repeater 146.865 tone 103.5
2. W. Bridgewater Repeater 146.775 DCS 224
3. DMR – EMHN Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot 1 on select NEDECN repeaters:
Boston 449.175 CC1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC1, Bourne 145.200 CC10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC11, and Martha’s Vineyard145.180 CC10 repeaters
4. Return to Sharon Repeater for Net closing.

NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check-in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.

We extend an invitation to any health care facility, EOC of any city or town as well as RACES or ARES members to check in during the NET.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand at Net Control please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com or replying to this message. The goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many individuals and groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct these monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. We hope to hear you Saturday.

Jeff N1SOM, Secretary, and the SSH group
N1SOM – W1SSH

South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group
55 Fogg Rd. Mail-Stop 42
South Weymouth, MA 02190

We Need YOU at the Amateur Radio Booth at The BIG E!

From nediv.arrl.org:

Amateur Radio will be on public display like never before at The BIG E in West Springfield, MA from September 16 – October 2, 2022. Over a million people will visit the Fair over the 17-day period. We need ham radio “Goodwill Ambassadors” to staff the booth and promote our hobby-service to the public and potential licensees.

Who: Amateurs like you who enjoy interacting with the public

What: You’ll be demonstrating ham radio contacts and sharing Amateur Radio information with the public (talking points will be provided)

When:

Two shifts per day, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (first session) and 3:30 PM -10:00 PM (second session) on some days

Dates/times available:

  • September 16 (Military Appreciation Day), second session, 1-2 more people needed
  • September 17 (Maine Day), second session, 2 more
  • September 19, first session, 2 more
  • September 20 (Rhode Island Day), first and second sessions, 3-4 more
  • September 22 (Massachusetts Day), second session, 2 more
  • September 24 (Vermont Day), first and second sessions
  • September 25, second session
  • September 26, first and second sessions
  • September 28, first and second sessions
  • September 29, first and second sessions
  • September 30, first and second sessions
  • October 1, first and second sessions
  • October 2, first and second sessions

Where: Booth #103 inside Door 6 of the Better Living Center

How:—Sign up via the following link, which will list currently-available sessions:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9_iH1ZucHuCFCNwreEuVPWnmLOT5D_s92vHPuEUASS78Tew/viewform

SEE YOU THERE!

KC1PBG: “Ham Radio as it Pertains to Drones” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, August 9, 2022

New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on August 9, 2022 at 7 PM and feature: “Ham Radio as it Pertains to Drones” by Richard Bruce, KC1PBG.
 
This presentation will dive into the days of crystal transmitters and receivers and then fast forward to the cutting-edge technology we use today. It will touch on subjects that directly connect HAM radio to drones, but also on how HAM radio is connected to numerous things we take for granted in our daily lives. 
 
Richard Bruce is a veteran and is a retired nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological weapons specialist, a retired wild land firefighter for the State of Massachusetts, and a retired security contractor. He has expertise as an FAA part 107A sUAS Commercial Pilot, as well as in search and rescue, fugitive apprehension, wild land firefighting, FEMA-trained incident command and disaster relief, and many other areas. Richard was disabled in 2018 as a result of a medical procedure gone wrong and found a new meaning to life when he got into the commercial drone community and became a ham radio technician.

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday August 1st, 2022 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all…

The August Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday August 1st, 2022 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system.

For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. Our main announcements will be regarding the Saturday August 6th, 2022 Eastern Massachusetts ARES exercise and upcoming plans for Northeast HamXposition – Friday August 26th-28th, 2022. The information on the 8/6/22 Eastern Massachusetts ARES exercise can be seen here:

Eastern_Mass_ARES_Operation_Whirlwind_Drill_with_CCARES

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box

Reminder: August 1st, 2022 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

Michael “Sparky” Leger-N1YLQ-MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer and ARES Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator writes:

Hello to all,

      This email is a reminder that this evening, Augist 1st, 2022 is the first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, is our RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. We will be holding our sector nets on the normally assigned frequencies.

      As always, I am looking for Net Control stations to staff our sector nets for the evening. This month I will be able to run the Sector 2A net, but if anyone is interested in trying it out, please let me know.  I am looking for NCS operators to lead the Sector 2B (Plymouth County) nets. Sector 2D has already arranged for an NCS operator for this month’s net and Sector 2C is now a Winlink only net on a monthly basis.

              For any operators interested in performing the duties of Net Control Station (NCS), there are materials available to make the task fairly simple and straight forward. The net pre-amble and role call lists are available at http://wc1mab.org/RACES_R2_Interim_Preamble.pdf and http://wc1mab.org/Month.php with the role call lists on the left column near the bottom. If anyone is worried that they mess up running a net, please remember that, in many cases, a less than perfect net is WAY better than no net at all! At the conclusion of any net, any operator that acted as Net Control Operator should send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com letting me know who ran the net and who checked in so that the proper numbers can be reported to our served agencies. We can not always count on our normal net control operators to be available in the event of a large scale emergency, so every RACES operator should be prepared to act as NCO if needed when disaster and emergency strikes!

 Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph: 

*Winlink Net*

To participate:

– create a checkin form using the Winlink standard checkin form

– send via winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. Aug 1st  and before midnight EST Aug 2nd (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to AB1PH and KF1D

    I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to check into sector nets from near-by sections. This will allow our Net Control Operators to practice fielding nets with a strong check-in count and will also serve to help practice with relays or modified sector assignments in the event that a single repeater is out of service. 

   For those operators who serve as Net Control Operators, please try to remember to send me a list of the stations and communities that check into your nets. The numbers are reported to MEMA to show them our level of participation. I am continuing to work on a graphical map based report to show which parts of our section have strong coverage and which areas may need a more targeted recruitment campaign to improve our ability to provide back-up communications in an emergency.

The Region #2 and State Net Schedule for this evening is as follows:

Net Frequency/Offset Time
Sector 2A 147.00 /+0.60  PL 19:30 Local
Sector 2B 145.39/-0.60  PL 67.0 20:00 Local
Sector 2C Winlink Net Check-In 6AM-Midnight Local Time
Sector 2D 146.865/-0.60  PL 103.5 19:30 Local
6-Meter State Net 53.31 / -1.0  PL 71.9  

 

Note: 53.31 has been reported to be having difficulties lately.

The appropriate people are aware and working to remedy any issues.

19:00 Local
MA RACES HF Net 3930 KHz LSB moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency 18:45 Local
MA MEMA NBEMS Net Frequency:  3584.5 MHx, Center Frequency: 1500 Hz, Initial mode: THOR22 19:00 Local

    I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain prepared. Thank you all for helping us keep things on track and prove that we remain a consistent source of communication capability to the Commonwealth. This net provides a monthly reminder to our communities and served agencies that we stand ready with a quiet professionalism prepared to serve as a voice to whomever needs one to get help and resources to where they need to be.

 If you know someone who would benefit from being on this list, please have them contact me at   WC1MAB@gmail.com and I will add them to this distribution. Thank you all!

      If anyone has any questions or comments I can be reached by e-mail or cell phone. Thanks for being a part of our team and I look forward to hearing back on who can participate this month.

Sincerely,

Michael Leger (N1YLQ)

MEMA Region #2 RACES Officer

C: 386-566-7666