“FCC Wants to Bolster Amateur Radio”

FCC logoFrom Radio World, October 27, 2023:

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel says the FCC plans to “incentivize innovation and experimentation in the amateur radio bands” by getting rid of outdated restrictions and providing licensees with the flexibility to use modern digital emissions.

The commission at its November meeting is expected to take action on a Report and Order that would eliminate the baud rate limitation and establish a bandwidth limitation in the amateur radio bands below 29.7 MHz.

[Full story]

K5UR: “What’s New at ARRL” at Billerica ARS Meeting Online, November 1, 2023

Billerica ARS logoDoug Bruce, N1WRN, writes in the Billerica ARS November newsletter:

I am pleased to announce that our guest speaker for the November 1, 2023, club meeting via Zoom will be none other than Rick Roderick, K5UR, the current President of the ARRL!

Rick will give a talk on what’s new at the ARRL and will share valuable insights on our great hobby. You will definitely want to make sure and attend this Zoom Presentation to be given by a true pioneer in ham radio!

[For Zoom conference details, email Bruce Anderson, W1LUS, at w1lus -at- hotmail -dot- com.]

K5UR photoBruce Anderson, W1LUS, writes:
 
For those that missed last night’s meeting, here is a link to the recording of the presentation by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR:
 

FARA Fest, Bourne, November 4, 2023

Photo of FARA FestThe Falmouth ARA FARA Fest is held annually at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational School. The Fest provides and opportunity for local hams to buy, sell, or swap items of interest to amateur radio operators. VE license exam sessions are also held as part of the Fest. Flyers are distributed and available on this site prior to each annual FARA Fest.

The Board of Directors has set the following official guidelines for FARA FEST.

Outside Spaces are $10.00 per space. All vendors will be given a placard to display, bring your own table.

Indoor spaces are $10.00 per TABLE, we supply the table. All vendors will be given a placard to display.

General admission is $5.00, children under 14 free

[Full Details]

K1USN QRV for Veterans Day, November 11, 2023

K1USN Watson Museum signFrom K1USN Radio Club Happenings, October 27, 2023:

The K1USN Radio Club will once again be on the air Saturday, November 11, 2023, to celebrate Veterans Day to show their appreciation for those who have served. This year we plan to activate K1USN from our club station on the HF bands using SSB, CW and FT8 beginning at 1300 UTC, Nov 11 and ending at 2100 UTC. Our Club station is located at the Watson Museum & Research Library, 85 Quincy Avenue in Braintree.

K1USN QSL cards will be available for all contacts with K1USN. Send # 10 SASE to K1RV or DX stations QSL via bureau.

QSL via K1RV
URL: http://www.k1usn.com Contact: Pi, K1RV
Email: k1rv@arrl.net

Anyone working K1USN on Veterans day can use this link to request a certificate:  https://forms.gle/eUkWe4QviHV1qBRx8

[We expect to operate up to four HF stations simultaneously and will be needing operators. Let me know if you would like to operate.
-Pi k1rv@arrl.net]

Wellesley ARS First POTA Operating Event, Elm Bank Reservation, Wellesley/Natick, October 29, 2023

Wellesley ARS logoJoin us at Elm Bank Reservation off of Route 16 at the Wellesley/Natick line on Sunday, October 29, 2023 for our first Parks on the air (POTA) operating event! Mindy KM1NDY will get us started along this path of fun and radio adventure.

We will start at 11:00 A.M. and go to 2:00 P.M. Bring your rig, antennas, tables, and chairs and whatever else you may want.

We will be using the W1TKZ 2-meter repeater for talk-in (147.030MHz, +600 split, PL123Hz). Once you enter the park, look for our WARS “Field Day” sandwich boards to find where we are. Also, we can monitor 146.52MHz simplex at the park.

A final weather NO-GO decision will be made Saturday night by 10pm by Charlie. If necessary to cancel, Dan will email a blast to club members on Sunday morning.

Elm Bank Reservation address:

900 Washington Street Wellesley MA

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.276642,-71.3139296,15z?entry=ttu

CQ POTA!

Charlie WA3ITR

60m Band Proposed Changes—File Your Comments with FCC!

Recently, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which effects Amateur Radio use of the 60m band.  The FCC proposes to allocate 15 kHz of contiguous bandwidth between 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz on a secondary basis with a maximum power of 15 W EIRP (equivalent to 9.15 W ERP). This allocation was adopted at the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15).

The NPRM leaves open the question of whether the existing five 60m channels can still be used for Amateur Radio operation as well as if the 100w power level may still be used.

The FCC has requested comments relative to existing channel and power issue.

In 2017, the ARRL petitioned the FCC to keep the four 60-meter channels that fall outside the new band, as well as the current operating rules, including the 100 W ERP limit.

We need as many amateurs as possible to comment on this NPRM and urge the FCC to keep 1) the four existing channels and 2) the 100 w power limit.

Comments are due by October 30th, 2023 – ET Docket No. 23-120.

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/standard

60m band chart, current and proposed allocation

W1MJ Fox is Out, Belmont, October 22, 2023

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 2:50 PM on October 22, 2023:

W1MJ fox now available on 147.450 MHz, in same On Demand mode as K1MJC fox; just ask it to please transmit.  This one will transmit for 1 hour, then you have to ask again.

From Mike’s fox, take trail in left rear corner of Rock Meadow.  It goes to Beaver Brook North, and the direct route to my fox is no more than 15 minutes from there.

Good luck finding both foxes.

Eliot
W1MJ

K1MJC Fox is Radio Active, Belmont, October 22, 2023

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 10:27 AM on October 22, 2023:

Well, the new K1MJC fox is out!
 
It was designed by Eliot W1MJ, and this one has an on-demand feature.
 
All you have to do, is transmit on the fox frequency for about two seconds (Say anything, but should include your callsign), and the fox will begin transmitting various messages for 30 minutes. 
 
When the 30 minutes has expired, the last message will encourage you to make a voice request for more.  (just repeat what you did to get it started in the beginning).

 
I don’t know how long the battery will last on this fox, so I plan on leaving it out for quite a while. it’s transmitting on the fox frequency of 147.540MHz 
 
It’s in a conservation area in Belmont, the RockMeadow conservation area.
 
There is a log with it, I would appreciate if you would sign it, however if you just want to send a reply to this I/O group that’s fine as well.
 
NOTE:
 
Eliot W1MJ, will be placing his out later today in the beaver book reservation. He will be on a different frequency which he will announce and they won’t be too far apart in physical distance so you can hunt both foxes if you wish. 
 
His foxes the same as mine, it has the on-demand feature just as mine does and his however should transmit for about an hour before it requests you to restart it. I’ll let him tell you all about it when he makes his announcement.
 
 

 

 

RadioCraft a Big Hit at “Geek is Glam” Girl Scout Event

Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, shared on the New England Sci-Tech mailing list:

Mike Radz writes:

Dear Colleagues:

I have attached seven pictures from the “Geek is Glam” Girl Scout event held at WPI this past Saturday. My IQP team staffed a booth and offered the girls two STEM/HAM related activities: Morse code and Minecraft.

The former activity utilized Morse code kits from NEST as well as some circuitry built by the students that enabled the Girl Scouts to see the letters associated with the dots and dashes they tapped show up on a computer screen (this shown in the pics).

The later activity utilized a new “mod” that has been created for Minecraft that enables a player to build a HAM radio communication network within the game. It is in beta testing mode right now, but the WPI kids contacted the creator and arranged to get a copy to showcase at the event.

Finally, the kids created a QR code that took each Girl Scout to a survey instrument at which they could specify which activity they preferred. I have not yet seen the survey results, but the WPI kids will develop a “curriculum” based on the most popular activity and test to see whether or not it statistically influences youngsters to re-evaluate their views on STEM in a positive way.

Cheers.

Mike Radz

[The Minecraft radio mod “RadioCraft” made its official debut at the 2023 Northeast HamXposition. -K9HI]

New England Sci-Tech Starts Wireless Engineering Club

New England Sci-Tech Wireless Engineering Club logoSeth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on the stars-radio mailing list:

We are looking for mentors/volunteers to help out with the new Wireless Engineering Club on Saturday mornings 10:00-11:30am.  Please let us know if you have any interest in participating!

The “Wireless Engineering Club” is a new club at New England Sci-Tech meant to attract youth and prospective hams into the hobby of Ham Radio.  The club will meet every other Saturday morning, a time that tends to work well for families, and will be focused around build workshops and practical, hands-on radio activities.  We’d like to use this club to bring in new hams, especially youth, and further grow the amateur radio community here at NEST.  

We are interested in three kinds of volunteers:

  • Helpers
  • Workshop Leaders
  • Outreach

For Helpers: Pick one or more workshops to come in and help out for.  If we get lots of members, we’ll need lots of Elmers to help people troubleshoot, experiment, and have fun.  

For Workshop Leaders: Pick one of the topics from our brainstorm list and volunteer to lead a 90 minute workshop on that topic.  The more hands on, the better.  We’re looking for activities over lectures.  Even better, volunteer your own workshop.  We need content, so anyone who’d like to put together one or more activities/workshops, please let us know.   They’re meant to be beginner level.  This is an ideal chance to help grow the ham radio community and bring in youth, but it’ll only work with participation from us in the community. 

Outreach: Know any recently licensed youth or youth with a general interest in electronics and science?  Spread the word about the club to communities you know!  Adults are welcome and encouraged to join in the workshops and builds as well.  Many of them could be of broad interest.  I’m attaching a flyer.  It looks like this, but if you download the attachment, it will be print resolution.

If you’d like to volunteer, you an either post here or send me an email at sethlkendall@gmail.com.  Thanks all.

Jamboree On The Air Event, October 21, 2023

  1. JOTA symbolTom Ulrich, KC1OCY, writes on the Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:

During the weekend of October 21, Scouts from around the world will take part in the 2023 Jamboree on the Air, Scouting’s largest radio event promoting friendship and global citizenship. Scouts from eastern Massachusetts will be on the air on Saturday, October 21, from at least four locations in the area; this spreadsheet has information about units’ station callsigns and operating frequencies. Learn more about JOTA, and see which frequencies are popular with JOTA stations. Help our hobby grow by talking to Scouts on the air!

73,
Tom Ulrich
KC1OCY

JOTA information: https://k2bsa.net/jota/

Scouting/JOTA frequencies: https://k2bsa.net/scout-frequencies/

Eastern Mass unit station information for 2024 JOTA: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o9kHhJd1mnMHh3RXN9npBNoHxYEDGJ46_MS-_zbI9GY/edit?usp=sharing

ARISS Contact With Covenant Christian Academy, West Peabody, October 13, 2023

ARISS logoFrom ARISS.org:

October 9, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Covenant Christian Academy (CCA) in West Peabody, MA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

CCA is a private school that serves over 430 students, Pre-K through12th grade. To prepare for this ARISS contact CCA integrated space-themed aspects into its STEM program and STEM-related activities. The physics and chemistry students hosted “Space Week” where they put together interactive displays on everything from the physics of black holes, Doppler shift, life on the ISS, to the chemistry of astronaut cuisine. STEM-related activities engaged students in their newly instituted Rocketry Club, Women in STEM Club, and a robotics lab. Amateur radio activities, such as learning about ham radio and radio communications, are being provided during after-school programs by members of area amateur radio clubs.

This ARISS contact will allow students to ask their questions of Astronaut Loral O’Hara, amateur radio call sign KI5TOM. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners within the ISS footprint that encompasses the amateur radio ground station in West Peabody, MA.

Amateur radio operators using call sign N1DQF will operate this radio station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 13, 2023 at 9:47 am EDT (MA) (13:47 UTC, 9:47 am EDT, 8:47 am CDT, 6:47 am PDT). The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://vimeo.com/event/3761617.
_______________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What happens with all the trash on the ISS?
2. What is the best part and worst part about living in space?
3. Is the wifi and internet connection better in space?
4. How do you get your supplies delivered to the space station?
5. Do you play games in space? If so, how are they different from the games you play on earth?
6. What is your favorite workout to do for two hours each day to keep your muscles in shape?
7. What has been one of your hardest or scariest moments on the ISS?
8. How do you train your bodies to fall asleep on the ISS since your circadian rhythm can’t be regulated to the earth’s rotation on its axis?
9. Does time feel different on the ISS?
10. Is there any research that you are currently involved in? If so, how does it benefit the earth?
11. What is your favorite meal or snack to eat in outer space?
12. What types of jobs do you do while on the International Space Station?
13. How do you fix the solar panels on the space station?
14. Do you have any animals on the ISS right now? What are they?
15. What happens when someone gets sick on board the ISS?
16. When you come back to earth from space, do you feel the pressure of gravity, and if so, how much does this affect you?
17. What was the most challenging part of your training that prepared you to work on the International
Space Station?
18. What’s the most amazing thing you have seen from space?
19. Has living on the ISS changed any of your perspectives on life?
20. Is all the training, preparation, and hardship you endure to be an astronaut on the ISS worth it?

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers.

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR

Find us on social media at:

X: ARISS_Intl
Facebook: facebook.com/ARISSIntl
Instagram: ariss_intl
Mastodon: ariss_intl@mastodon.hams.social

K1MJC Fox is QRV, Waltham, October 7, 2023

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 1:50 PM on October 7, 2023:

The new K1MJC fox is out, designed by Eliot, W1MJ, it has an on-demand feature.

All you have to do, is transmit on the fox frequency for about two seconds (should include your callsign), and the fox will begin transmitting various messages for 30 minutes.

When the 30 minutes has expired, the last message will encourage you to make a voice request for more. (just repeat what you did to get it started in the beginning).

I don’t know how long the battery will last on this fox, so I plan on leaving it out for quite a while. it’s transmitting on the fox frequency of 147.540MHz.

It’s in a conservation area right next to the old Waltham high school off of Lexington Street.

There is a log with it, I would appreciate if you would sign it, however if you just want to send a reply to this I/O group that’s fine as well.

73,

Mike C, K1MJC

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 5:06 PM on October 8, 2023:

 

Unfortunate news, decided to check on the K1MJC fox and discovered that someone had tried to steal it. However, the safety restraints saved it.

 

I will have to take it home and perhaps make some repairs and I’m not sure whether I’ll be putting it out again for the holiday tomorrow; sorry to all those who had plans to go look for it tomorrow.

 

Mike C , K1MJC, …… 73!

W5DX: “ARRL Public Relations and Outreach” at Billerica ARS Monthly Meeting, October 4, 2023

Billerica ARS logoPlease join us at the Billerica Amateur Radio Society meeting on October 4, 2023 at 7:00 PM.  Sierra G. Harrop, W5DX, from ARRL Headquarters, will present on ARRL Public Relations and Outreach.
 

Speaker: Sierra G. Harrop, W5DX, Public Relations and Outreach Manager for the ARRL.

Bio:

I spent a 20-year career as a TV storyteller, and now I work full-time to grow amateur radio! I started on January 16, 2023, as the Public Relations and Outreach Manager for ARRL. It is a tremendous honor to be a part of this organization. I have lofty goals for my work for our league. I want to increase public understanding and appreciation of ham radio to levels never before seen.”

Both my parents were hams. My dad, Paul, was W5DX from 1996 until he passed in 2019 and had been WB5NDN before that. My mom, Carolyn, was KB5IDV until she passed away in 2008. My younger brother, Seth, is KK4MYZ. I grew up with a tower next to my swing set, and a ham shack down the hall from my bedroom. I’ve never known a world without amateur radio being a significant part of my life.

I was first licensed as KD5IUT in 1999 at the age of 15. I changed call signs to WX5USA in 2006, when I was employed as a storm chaser for a TV station in Oklahoma. I upgraded to General in 2013 and Extra in 2020. In July of 2020, I filed for my dad’s old call sign, W5DX. If there’s one callsign I liked more than my vanity, it was his.

[For Zoom conference details, email Bruce Anderson, W1LUS, at w1lus -at- hotmail -dot- com.]

NEAR-Fest, Deerfield NH, October 13-14, 2023

NEAR-Fest logoThe New England Amateur Radio Festival (NEAR-Fest) will be held Friday October 13 and Saturday, October 14 at the Deerfield, New Hampshire, Fairgrounds. Besides the flea market, we will have a full slate of forums during the day on Friday. While we encourage everyone to attend the show, the forums will also be available to view on-line for those who cannot be present. The schedule (subject to change) can be viewed at: http://hamclass.net/nearf23.html. Details for viewing on line will appear the day before.

Further details on NEAR-Fest can be found at: https://near-fest.com/.

Emergency Alert System Test Message, October 4, 2023

EAS logoAnyone with a cellphone in the United States will hear an alarm go off on their device on October 4. 

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time, a national test will be conducted of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts.

The message on all consumer phones will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

Those whose device is set to Spanish will receive a message that says “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”

FEMA says the purpose of the test “is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.

“Where is Quincy Granite?” Special Event Station, October 7, 2023

From K1USN Happenings, September 29, 2023:

“Where Is Quincy Granite?”

Quincy Radio Club Special Event “Where Is Quincy Granite?” is scheduled for Saturday, October 7 from 1400 – 1900 UTC. We will be transmitting from the Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum located in Quincy, Massachusetts. Our SES is in honor and remembrance to the once vibrant granite quarry industry in Quincy during the 19th and early 20th century.

Granite from the numerous quarries was used in construction and monument bases all over the eastern US. We hope to make contacts with stations that have Quincy granite in their communities. New York, Maryland, Illinois, Rhode Island and many other places are where you can find “Quincy Granite” Our members will be on the HF bands SSB/FT8/CW as well as WiresX—Quincy Room #63826. We hope to have an APRS station up as well—KW1NZE-7.

Certificate for Special Event

Where is Quincy Granite? Special Event Station sample certificate

A Certificate for working our Special Event Station (SES) can be obtained in 2 ways.

1. Send a NTS radiogram with QSO info. A certificate will be emailed to you at the email listed on your QRZ page or email indicated in your radiogram signature. If you send a radiogram and a SASE you will also qualify to receive a collectible wooden nickel for your efforts and commitment to NTS.

Where is Quincy Granite? sample radiogram

 

Where is Quincy Granite wooden nickels

 

2. Send an email to KW1NZE@hotmail.com with QSO information and the club will email you a certificate.

We hope to get you in the log!!

73,

Peter, KC1HHO

W1IS, KC1DSQ: “Why and How of Simple Antennas That Work” at Framingham ARA Hybrid Meeting, October 5, 2023

Framingham ARA logo“Why and How of Simple Antennas That Work” by Bob Glorioso, W1IS and Bob Rose, KC1DSQ, October 5, 2023

Bob and Bob will introduce some basic concepts that are applied to antennas that don’t cost a King’s ransom to build and work well. Topics covered include, resonance, Voltage and Current distributions, RF Feedback, End Effect, Dipoles, Verticals, C-poles, Wire Beams and Stacked Dipoles.

Meeting will start at 7 pm. This meeting is hybrid, meaning on Zoom and in person, and will be held at the Framingham McAuliffe branch library. Members will receive a zoom invitation. Area hams and those not yet licensed but interested in amateur radio are welcome to attend. Non-members may request an invitation by sending an email to John president@w1fy.org.

Amateur License Exams Offered at Northeastern Universitiy

Marty Sullaway, NN1C, writes on the Northeastern University Wireless Club mailing list:

I am also excited to announce our upcoming series of amateur radio licensing exams. Each exam session is free for Northeastern Students, and getting your ham radio license looks great on your resume, and is a great proxy for learning electrical engineering skills. Our first exam will be on Oct 2, 2023 followed by another on Oct 16, 2023. Learn more on our website, and please sign up there if you wish to attend. Each will be held at 7:00 PM in 503 Hayden. 

“W1MJ Fox Design” at Waltham ARA Hybrid Meeting, September 27, 2023

W1MJ FoxRich Comer, K1RBC, writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list:

Hope you all had a great summer! The next meeting of the Waltham Amateur Radio Association will be this Wednesday at 7:00 pm via Zoom. (Zoom opens at 6:30 pm.)

After a short business meeting, Eliot, W1MJ, will give a presentation on the complete redesign of his “fox” and we will have a quick recap of Field Day.

Hope to see you there.

[Contact Rich Comer, K1RBC, at <rich.comer@live.com> for Zoom information.]