W1DAN: “FCC RF Exposure Rules and Compliance” at Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, May 11, 2021

New England Sci Tech logoJoin the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:30 PM for a presentation on “FCC RF Exposure Rules and Compliance” by Dan Brown, W1DAN.
 
Updated FCC Radio Frequency Exposure Rules went into effect on May 3, 2021. Dan will explain what this means. After May 3 of this year, any new station, including SOTA, POTA, and Field Day stations, or any existing station modified in a way that’s likely to change its radio frequency emission profile — such as different antenna or placement or greater power — will need to conduct an evaluation by the date of activation or change.
 

Born and raised in New Orleans, W1DAN caught the shortwave bug in the early 1970s as he discovered listening to shortwave broadcast stations, but soon discovered ham radio. Dan obtained his license in 1978 and got on the air on CW with a Heath Apache and Hallicrafters SX-101A – and modified them. Since that time he has enjoyed not only the vintage gear and the AM mode, but modern Software Defined Radios with DSP, Class E RF amplification as well as digital modes such as PSK-31. While he does not claim to know everything about radio he is happy to assist fellow hams with technical questions, promote STEM education and citizen science. W1DAN is also the president of the Wellesley Amateur radio Society, works as a broadcast engineer in Boston and lives in Natick, MA.

[For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.]
 

K9LA: “Solar Cycle 25, Space Weather, and Practical High Band HF Antennas” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, May 20, 2021

Nashoba Valley ARC logoPhil Erickson, W1PJE, writes on the NVARC mailing list:

We’re pleased to announce that the May [20, 2021 Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club] meeting will feature Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, speaking on the topic “Cycle 25 Update and Understanding Space Weather”.  NVARC is very fortunate to have K9LA, who is in demand nationally and is a regular at Dayton Hamvention’s forum talks.  He also made presentations in 2021 both at K3LR’s Virtual Contest University and 4Z1UG’s QSO Today Virtual Expo.

Summary: Carl K9LA will discuss the predictions for and the progress of Solar Cycle 25, including what to expect in terms of propagation throughout 2021 and as Cycle 25 ascends. He will also review simple antennas for 15m, 12m and 10m as Cycle 25 ramps up. He will then briefly review websites with space weather data and how to tie this important data to HF propagation conditions. Finally, he will highlight real-time propagation websites that allow us to assess what’s happening right now.

Biography: Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA started his radio career as a short wave listener in the late 1950s. He received his Novice license (WN9AVT) in October 1961, and selected K9LA in 1977. Carl is a graduate of Purdue University and was an RF design engineer until his retirement in 2013. Carl enjoys propagation, DXing (he’s at the Top of the Honor Roll), contesting (he was NCJ Editor from 2002-2007), experimenting with antennas and restoring/using vintage equipment.

He and his wife Vicky AE9YL enjoy traveling, which has included DXpeditions to Syria (YK9A in 2001), to Market Reef (OJ0/AE9YL and OJ0/K9LA in 2002) and numerous trips to ZF (Vicky is ZF2YL and Carl is ZF2LA). Carl is currently the ARRL Central Division Vice Director. He has received the Bill Orr W6SAI Technical Writing Award, the YASME Foundation Excellence Award and the Indiana Radio Club Council Technical Excellence Award.

[W1PJE: Carl maintains an extensive website at https://k9la.us with selected articles and presentations about propagation and solar topics, grouped into categories – Monthly Feature, Timely Topics, Basic Concepts, Tutorials, General, 160m, HF, VHF and Contesting.  It’s well worth your time.]

73

Phil W1PJE

 

W1VU: CQ Magazine at K1USN Radio Club Online Meeting, May 11, 2021

CQ Magazine Cover“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes in K1USN Happenings, 5/7/21:
 
Our next K1USN Radio Club Zoom session will take place on Tuesday, May 11th @ 7:30 PM. We are happy to announce that our featured speaker will be Rich Moseson, W2VU, editor of CQ Magazine.
 
CQ Magazine has been in circulation since 1945 and is still considered THE magazine for active Hams!
 
FYI, if you have already been receiving our bi-weekly Zoom invitations then you will receive one on Sunday for this upcoming Tuesday session. If you would like to be added to our separate K1USN Zoom invitation list then send me a request (k1rv@arrl.net) and I’ll add you to that growing list.
 
As always, I ask that you pass along the news about this upcoming session, but do not share the Zoom invitation info. Instead, have your friends send me a request to be added to the list. We do this to reduce the possibility of any “Zoom bombing” – tnx.

KD1D Fox is Out and About in Westford

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 7, 2021 at 10:23 AM: 
 

The KD1D Fox is out and about as of 0900 EDT on Friday May 7. The transmitter is on 146.565 MHz FM and begins a 30-second message every 60 seconds. 

Begin your search near the intersection of North Street and Groton Road (Rt, 40),  and you should be able to locate it  easily on nearby Westford Conservation Land. For maps and guides, check out https://westfordconservationtrust.org/trails/ and check out the main page https://westfordconservationtrust.org for an overview of Westford’s extensive program of public lands and trails.

Just one clue this time:   Herpetology and Horses – mind your step!

If you need additional help locating the trail, email me at kd1d@arrl.net.

73 and Happy Hunting de KD1D, Alan

RF Exposure Rules Presentation Video Recording

screen grab from RF Exposure PresentationMany amateurs have requested a recording of the RF Exposure Rules presentation featuring Eastern MA Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN on May 4, 2021.  ARRL Laboratory Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI also participated in the call, fielding questions from the audience.

The presentation can be viewed at: <https://youtu.be/7dSieKF3rm0>. 

[See also: Additional RF Exposure Rules Presentation, May 4, 2021]

BCRA POTA Operation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI, June 5, 2021

Parks On The Air logoFran Kelly, KC1NDQ, writes on the Bristol County Repeater Association mailing list:

I have registered with POTA and scheduled a park activation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI for June 5 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Colt Park is park K-2872.

I will set up my Yaesu Ft-450d with Shark hamsticks for 20- and 40 meters on my vehicle.

Anyone interested come on by and bring whatever gear you like. I have a 10 ft x 10 ft pop up tent for shade or rain cover. I will stop by the park soon to map out a good spot and will let everyone know where that might be.

Talk to you soon.

Fran, KC1NDQ

Congrats to PART QST Authors

 

PART of Westford logoGeorge Allison, K1IG, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

Congratulations to PART of Westford member Bob, W1IS, who, along with Bob, KC1DSQ, have the lead article in the June 2021 issue of QST! Their article, “A Portable Two-Element 40-Meter Wire Beam,” describes an antenna that PART has used successfully in several Field Days.

ARRL members can cast their vote for the QST Cover Plaque award by visiting this site starting May 10.

 

NN1C: “Contesting” at New England Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, May 4, 2021

NN1C QSL cardNew England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society Online Meeting: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 7:00 pm – “Contesting” by Marty Sullaway, NN1C

The presentation is an introduction to contesting, a discussion of serious competition, including the world radiosport team championship, contest DXpeditioning, and some highlights of nearby contest stations. We’ll cover everything from what to do to get involved, to a fun drone video of some of the largest stations in the world, and audio recordings of the highest level of competition. 
 

Marty Sullaway is a 19-year-old radio aficionado living in Eastern Massachusetts. A lover of all things technical, his time in amateur radio has been spent designing and selling station automation hardware, teaching licensing classes, and pushing the limits in remote contesting. Marty has been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to pilot many larger contest stations, both as a single operator and as part of multi-operator teams. Marty will be a competitor at the World Radiosport Team Championship in Italy in 2022, and frequently operates from the Cayman Islands where he is a partner in maintaining a contest station there. Marty is a frequent digital content producer in amateur radio, acting as a frequent amateur radio club speaker, podcast guest, and has been published in The National Contest Journal as well as CQ Magazine, and various other media channels. Marty is currently a student at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is pursuing a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and works in mmWave radar systems and image processing. 

[For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.]

KA8SCP: “D-STAR Digital Mode” at Billerica ARS Meeting, May 5, 2021

Billerica ARS logoThe next [Billerica Amateur Radio Society] Zoom Meeting will be Wednesday,  May 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

Our guest speaker will be Terry Stader, KA8SCP. Terry will give a presentation on the D-STAR digital mode which has been, and will be, a popular digital mode. I am sure Terry’s presentation will be interesting and informative, so please join us!

We will announce the link to join the Zoom meeting before the meeting, but it will be posted to the BARS email list .  Are you on the email list? If not, please send an email to bars-subscribe@w1hh.org and then simply reply to the robot response from the server and you will be subscribed.

Observing our Zoom meeting requires only a web browser and headphones/speakers. You do not need a webcam or microphone unless you want to speak or be seen.

Before our meeting date, please go to https://zoom.us/test and see if it will function for you. If you have problems, we can try to assist – feel free to ask questions on the BARS email list.

I am looking forward to “seeing” many of you on Wednesday 5/5 here at 1900.

Doug, N1WRN
President, Billerica Amateur Radio Society

Parks On The Air Activation, Blue Hills, Milton, MA K-8402, May 15, 2021

Parks On The Air logoFellow WARS members and friends:

Mindy KM1MDY has organized a new POTA Saturday may 15 at Blue Hill in Milton, MA. Her notice is below.
 
Dan
W1DAN

 

Hello Radio Friends! Here is the OFFICIAL invite to the Blue Hills POTA activation. We will start out playing radio in a field at Houghton’s Pond, and then if we feel like it, some of us will hike to the top of Great Blue. As always, these are come if and when you want, and are meant to be very relaxed free-flowing get-togethers. Bring any equipment you want to test out, or just use ours. With band pass filters we can get several HF bands on the air simultaneously. If you get a preferred parking spot (see below), you will be able to operate with your car close by.  We are starting out on the early side to try to secure good parking. Restrooms are closed, so keep this in mind. You will get one more confirmatory email from me the week before (mostly watching the weather). 
 

WHO: Anyone interested in Ham Radio. No need to be a licensed ham operator. No need to be a hiker. 

WHAT: Parks-On-The-Air (POTA) activation of Blue Hills Reservation
 
WHEN: Saturday May 15th, beginning at 10am until you go home.  
WHY: Just because darnit! And you can get a POTA point…
 
WHERE: Houghton’s Pond in the Blue Hills Reservation (in the field near Picnic Site 5 on the Houghton’s Pond Brochure). 
 
PARKING: Preferred Parking is across from the intersection of Blue Hill River Road and Eileen Road (42.207692, -71.100664).
Additional parking along Blue Hill River Road toward the ball fields and Hillside Street. See Maps.
 
HIKING: If there is interest, some of us will hike up Great Blue (from the Reservation Headquarters to the Eliot Tower/ Blue Hills Observatory). Great Blue is the tallest hill in the blue hills. We will take the Racoon Hollow Path which starts across from Houghton’s Pond. See map. We will see who is interested the day of, and decide how/when to proceed then. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO GO! Flatlanders can stay in the field and keep activating POTA!  There is no road to the top of Great Blue that is open to the public to my knowledge. 
 
Notes: 
 
1) The Blue Hills is tremendously popular. People are constantly coming and going. There is a ton of parking, but it still may fill up. Just be patient and you’ll get a spot. We are going to try to get there on the early side though. I of course have an unmistakable green van…look for it! 
 
2) Bring your own radio equipment or use ours!
 
3) No ham radio license necessary to enjoy this outing. 
 
4) Bring a handi-talkie.  Set it to the STARS W1UQ repeater (see #4).   We will have a Radio Adventure NET on the W1UQ (i.e. STARS) Repeater at noon. (146.985 Output, 146.385 Input, PL In 88.5, PL Out 88.5). We will monitor the repeater. I’ll try to monitor 146.52 as well. 
 
Yours Truly, 
KM1NDY

KD1D Fox Hiding in Westford, May 1, 2021

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 1, 2021 at 12:50 PM:
 
The KD1D Fox is now transmitting from an undisclosed location in Westford.
 
It is in a Conservation Area near a body of water with the name of a famous Massachusetts political family.
The area has two official parking areas:
 

One has an obvious name referring to a trail.  The other is on a road named after a particularly large State.

Another access point is at the end of a road named after what grapes grow on and a mini river, often thought of as “babbling.”

This entry way is graced with “No Trespassing” and “Private Property”  signs, but if you walk to the left of the gate, you will actually be on Town land.  Just be sure to park up the street.  I mention this alternate entry for those wishing to avoid a long walk.

If you need additional clues, email me at my callsign @arrl.org

The Fox has a new voice message.  It contains some unwarranted braggadocio, which I will change next time.  Meanwhile, enjoy the area!

73 de KD1D

Additional RF Exposure Rules Presentation, May 4, 2021

Dan Brown, W1DANEastern MA Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN, will hold another presentation addressing the new FCC RF exposure rules on May 4 at 7:30 PM using the ARRL GoToWebinar platform. 

His April 27 talk was a hugely successful–a maximum number of 100 connections for the call was reached just as the discussion started. The GoToWebinar has a much higher limit and should accommodate all who are interested.  ARRL Laboratory Manger Ed Hare, W1RFI, will serve as Technical Moderator on the call.

To sign up for the presentation, visit:

Tech Support: (833) 851-8340
 

N8HM: “Ham Satellites and AMSAT” at Barnstable ARC Meeting Online, May 3, 2021

Barnstable ARC logoNorm Cantin, WA1NLG, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:
 
This month our guest speaker for [the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club‘s May General Meeting on May 3, 2021 at 7 PM] is  Paul Stoetzer (N8HM), AMSAT Exec. VP, who will present an Introduction to Ham Satellites and AMSAT. 
 

[For Zoom conference details, contact Rich Cady, N1IXF, at recady -at- att -dot- net.]

 

RF Exposure Rules Discussion Video Posted to Internet

Dan Brown, W1DANThe April 27, 2021 RF Exposure Rules Zoom Discussion by Eastern MA Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN, has been posted to the Eastern MA ARRL website at: <https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_qIGZhHyMrha-axJt87Dcu0UZuJO0t8F>. 

The discussion was a huge hit. The maximum number of 100 connections for the call was reached just as the discussion started; many late arrivals were disappointed to be turned away, but W1DAN plans to hold at least one additional online discussion before the May 3 deadline using a larger “Zoom room.” 

Watch this space for details. 

Falmouth CERT Team Assists at Local Vaccination Clinics, April 26, 2021

CERT logoHenry Brown K1WCC, Falmouth CERT Communications Officer, writes:

Falmouth (MA) CERT Team has so far assisted Barnstable County with operations at six vaccination clinics set up at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds in East Falmouth.

The clinics usually run from 1000 to 1600 local time, with over 500 people being vaccinated in most cases.

Falmouth CERT Team has been given the use of a retired Town of Falmouth ambulance as a Responder vehicle. The Responder is equipped with Falmouth Fire/Police communications gear as well as a 2 meter amateur transceiver and handheld radios. CERT members supervise incoming and outgoing vaccine patient vehicles, since the clinic is “drive through”, patients getting their shots in their cars.

Having the Responder on-site is a great advantage, as it gives the Team a place to take a quick break as well as holding the necessary comms and safety gear.

In addition to unlicensed CERT members, Falmouth CERT consists of nine licensed hams, including Henry, K1WCC; Mel, KC1ELB; Dan, KC1MUA,;Andy, K7ADA; Bob, K1MJJ; Lauren,W1LKF; Gene, KX1C; George, K1GRH and Jean, KC1JLO. During shelter activations on Cape Cod, Falmouth CERT is responsible for operating the shelter as well as setting up shelter communications with Falmouth ARES.

 

AK1WI: “Adventures in Home Brew SDR Design” at New England Sci-Tech ARS, April 27, 2021

AK1WI homebrew SDR radioAK1WI will present “Adventures in Home Brew SDR Design” at the New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society on April 27, 2021 at 7:00 PM. 

In this talk, Derek will describe his multi-year project to develop the hardware and software for a stand-alone SDR system using the “Teensy” family of microcontrollers from PJRC.  In particular, it uses the Teensy Audio Library structure, hence its name “AudioSDR.”   The software is now freely available from GitHub.

Derek will describe the origins of the project from a graduate course he was teaching in 2010, and how it was not initially intended for ham radio, but rather as an exercise in applied DSP (digital signal processing).   He will describe in very broad terms the structure and operation of the system.    Math will be kept at a minimum. 

The talk will also cover the associated hardware for the RF front-end and the LCD display, as well as how the system is controlled, and the software structure for the Teensy Audio Library coding.   We will look at (extremely) over-simplified seudo-code to demonstrate concepts of real-time software.  We will write such code for an SDR version of the humble crystal-set – the simplest of all radios.

Derek will also discuss current developments and future enhancements for AudioSDR, including the addition of a transmit function to make it a true transceiver. 

If feasible we will have a demonstration of the operation, or at a minimum, pre-recorded sound clips of the output.

New FCC RF Exposure Rules Discussion via Zoom, April 27, 2021

FCC logoEastern MA Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN, writes:

QST!

The new FCC RF exposure rules become effective May 3, but do not fret! I will explain what we should do. Please forward this invite to anyone you may think is interested.

Dan
W1DAN
EMA-ARRL Technical Coordinator

Dan Brown is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: RF Exposure
Time: Apr 27, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98941600273?pwd=TDc2Mjd4NldWdjBtdzlwY0JGRjhkZz09

Meeting ID: 989 4160 0273
Passcode: 134832
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Tape Measure Antenna Build at Bristol County RA, May 1, 2021

Fall River ARC bannerThe Bristol County Repeater Association  / Fall River ARC will conduct a tape measure antenna build party on May 1, 2021 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the South Swansea Baptist Church in Swansea.  The club asks for $20.00 to cover materials. They will supply the tape measures, 1/2″ PVC pipe and fittings, clamps, and a connection for your radio.

For more information visit the club web site at <https://bcra.club/bcrawprel/2021/04/06/fox-hunting-antenna-build/>.