Author: k9hi

Operating

15-meter QRP FT8 Activity Night, Westford Vicinity

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Greg Troxel, N1DAM, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

Without any claim to authority, I’m declaring QRP 15m FT8 activity night tonight (October 21, 2019), from 2000 to 2100 local.

I have worked a bunch of stations, including DX, but am puzzled at the relationship of sent to received signal strengths — I receive usually 20 dB worse reports than I send.  So I am guessing that if a few of us are on, with a closed band, and all with the same TX power, perhaps I can understand better.  And perhaps others can shake out their equipment.

To participate, just either answer people calling CQ, or call CQ yourself, somewhere in the 15m FT8 frequency.  It’s probably useful to upload to PSK reporter; someday someone might write code to analyze a group of people participating in an activity night like this.

If you participate, please send me (tonight)

  call, city/town, state, antenna type, tx power

(please try to use 5W if you can, but tell me what you actually used), and I’ll send a summary to the mailing list tomorrow.

I realize some of you can’t operate on 15m, and surely we can do this again on 10m, 6m, 80m, or someplace else on some other night, perhaps next Monday, or perhaps someone else can organize.

73 de N1DAM

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, November 16-17, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoFor junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum.  Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course.

The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick.

Included with course fee: printed handouts, lecture study guide, license fee if tested at our location, a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Room and radio club meetings for 2 months, and free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate during the course. Advance registration and payment required.

For more information and to register, visit <https://www.nescitech.org/product/weekend-general-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

 

All

Falmouth ARA FARA Fest, Bourne, November 2, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationFARA Fest is held annually at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational School in Bourne.  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.
 
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 are free. [Full story]
Operating / Youth

Harvard Wireless Club to Participate in the ARRL School Roundup, October 21-25, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Harvard Wireless Club official shieldAllen Liu writes on the Harvard Wireless Club mailing list:

As we mentioned in our previous meeting, we’re going to be participating in the ARRL school club roundup next week. For all you new technicians, you can operate on the global frequencies with one of us General or Extra licensees present, so you can get on the air at our next meeting Tuesday October 22 at 7:30 PM. Contesting is very cool and in this one everyone around the country will want to talk to us as a school club.  We should also have the promised radios ready for you by then.  Let us know if you want to operate at a different time from the 21-25th as well.

Organization

ARRL to Launch New On the Air Magazine in January

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL flagFrom ARRL Web:

ARRL is launching a new magazine, On the Air, in January 2020. To be published on a bimonthly basis, On the Air will offer new and beginner-to-intermediate-level radio amateurs a fresh approach to exploring radio communication. Each issue will include advice and insights on topics from the variety of Amateur Radio interests and activities: radio technology, operating, equipment, project building, and emergency communication. The goal of this new magazine is to be a vital resource in helping new and newer radio amateurs get active and involved in radio communications. [Full story]

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician License Course, November 2-3, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1AR logoFor junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio Technician license exam.

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course.

The Technician level course runs on Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM and Sunday, 9 AM-1 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 1:00, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. [Full description]

Operating / Youth

Several Eastern MA Stations QRV for JOTA, October 18-20, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Several Eastern MA individuals/groups have registered to operate in the Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) festivities October 18-20, 2019:

Mark Hofstra, KA1YQC, will conduct operations on behalf of the Mayflower Scout Council from Franklin for the full weekend.

The Spirit of Adventure Council will be represented using Ryan Bardsley’s call sign, KC1EIL, from Manchester-by-the-Sea from October 18-20.

Don Burke, KB1LXH, will activate KC1TAC on behalf of the Narragansett Council from Camp Norse in Kingston on Saturday, October 19, only.

We wish the best of luck to these groups (and others who might not have registered)!

Clubs

W1BOF: Apollo Spacecraft Communications at Nashoba Valley ARC, October 17, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s October meeting will be TOMORROW, Thursday, October 17th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell).

George Whitehead, W1BOF, will be Ocober’s guest speaker. George worked at North American Aviation in Downey, CA from 1962 to 1967. This was the prime contractor for the Apollo Command and Service module. He worked in the Apollo Communications Subsystem Group mainly on the telemetry part of the radio system, the part that sent spacecraft status and astronaut medical information back to mission command. But sitting next to him was the rest of the designers of the radio who did the other parts of the design. He got to know the system quite well.  George recently spoke at both Boxboro and Dan’t Tech Night, but I’m told that this will be a little bit different and it will definitely be worth attending (even if you were at one of the previous speaking engagements). 

Need directions to the meeting? Click here and put your own address in box “A”.

Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG

bruce.blain@charter.net

Clubs / Operating / Youth

Northeastern Wireless Club to Participate in ARRL School Roundup, October 21-25, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

 

 

“The Northeastern University Wireless Club will be participating in the ARRL School Club Roundup next week. Come by the club space anytime next week to see us make contacts with other amateur radio school organizations around the world! Even if you don’t have a license, you can still participate under the supervision of one of our licensed members.” -via NEU mailing list

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Public Information

Nashoba Valley ARC Members Participate in “Massasoit Fall Camporee,” October 4-5, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) participated in Eastern Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s “Massasoit Fall Camporee” at Camp Collier, near Gardner on October 4-5, 2019. The camp is situated deep in the woods on a 500-acre tract of land owned by a preservation trust and leased to the Boy Scouts. Participating were: Bruce Blain, K1BG; Stan Pozerski, KD1LE; Jim Wilber, AB1WQ; Owen Salter, KC1KZT; Skip Youngberg, K1NKR; Phil Erikson, W1PJE; Dan Pedtke, KW2T; Dennis Marandos, K1LGQ; and George Kavanagh, KB1HFT. 

A 130-foot long wire and a vertical were erected for HF contacts, thanks to the efforts of AB1WQ, K1BG, and K1NKR. Bruce, K1BG, along with Phil, W1PJE, and George, KB1HFT, showed the Scouts several facets of Amateur Radio. Bruce, K1BG, made numerous contacts and allowed the scouts to talk with people thousands of miles away. 

Phil, W1PJE, brought “a very cool demonstration of the capabilities of an RTL-SDR dongle combined with a simple Raspberry-Pi and software setup.” Using his rig, Phil showed an application that decodes telemetry data sent by all aircraft, and displays the data on a map: flight number, heading, airspeed, etc . Another dongle application tuned the RF spectrum. Phil explained that by using such a setup “one can easily become a shortwave listener without being licensed.”

Stan, KD1LE, coordinated a series of fox hunts using NVARC FoxFinder™ rigs.  “Using a small patch of woods on the edge of the field, I put the fox out in three different spots during the day as the Scouts moved through the events. They came by in groups of three or four. I started by giving some examples of applications for radio direction finding. Then I had them draw a sketch of the area using some landmarks such as buildings, the path, the lake, and some others that I provided (plastic buckets). Then we worked our way around the area with the Scouts taking bearings using a FoxFinder and plotting them on the sketch.” Stan led a total of eight groups in direction finding for the fox. 

George, KB1HFT, demonstrated PSK31, PSK63, and WSPR modes of digital radio using a simple wire vertical tuned to 14.070 MHz.

Dennis, K1LGQ, contributed his Xiegu G90 QRP radio, an all band 160-10 XVCR with AM, SSB, and CW. It was powered using a 35amp gel-cell battery. “Conditions were not in my favor and I was competing with kilowatt stations on 40-meter phone. The antenna is a home brew vertical with spare parts from everywhere,” reports Dennis. 

Far fewer Scouts turned out for the Camporee than were expected. However, those that did show up had a full day of Scout activities expertly managed by Rob Kosman of Pepperell Troop 13.  One 17-year-old who had seen the radio demonstrations was overheard saying, “Dad, this is cool stuff; let’s find out more about it.”

The NVARC members plan to follow up with the Scouts to “both assist any that are interested in delving deeper, and to demonstrate to ourselves that our participation is having the desired result.”

–Tnx, Nashoba Valley ARC “Signal,” October, 2019 newsletter 

All

POPs Local Area Ham Breakfast, Hanson, October 12, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Jack Buckley, W1AKN, writes:

The Bridgewater University has changed management for the 2019 / 2020 Academic year.  Translation: POPs ARS has lost access to the café in the Tillinghast Hall building of the Bridgewater University campus.

We will now resume our monthly Local Area Ham Breakfast (2nd Saturday and last Saturday mornings of each month) POPs ARS [Local Area Ham Breakfast] at the Mo’s in Hanson near the Hanson Commuter Rail Station.

The POPs Local Area Ham Breakfast (LAHB) is this Sat. morning 9AM – 8:30 for the early birds.

LAHBs are held every 2nd and last Sat of the month.

Bring a rig (show and tell) and soak up some of that incredible food and knowledge found only at a POPs ARS LAHB.

Hope to see you there this Sat. morning 9AM, 8:30 for the early birds.

73 de
Jack W1AKN
POPs ARS President
Genesis ARS V P
PAWA
WARC
ARRL
N1EME Trustee
Locator: FN41

Public Service

Request for Operators, YuKanRun Around Cape Ann Half-Marathon, October 20, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT, <K1TAT@outlook.com> writes:

YuKanRun Around Cape Ann Half Marathon on October 20th.

CAARA has a great public service team. We have loaner radios if you need one. Come out and join the event. Just contact us and we will set you up with a radio.

Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event  so I can plan staffing positions for the event.

While CAARA’s repeater performance has greatly improved the we may still experience some difficulty with communications especially with low-powered HTs, so we’ll be looking for higher powered equipment to staff those areas.

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use (mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; rubber duck, etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

The course will be open and supported by CAARA for four hours. Runner safety is everyone’s top priority.  Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help. Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help

Thank you in advance for your participation!

YuKanRun Around Cape Ann Communications Team.  
Gloucester, Mass  
Last Updated: 10/11/2019 9:02 AM  
Event date: Sunday, October,20, 2019  
On Location: 8:30 AM  
Starts: Half Marathon Run = 9:00 AM  
Freq: W1GLO Repeater 145.130 – PL:107.2 Back up W1GLO 443.700+PL:107.2

 

All

New England Area Flea Markets, October 4, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Area   Ham – Electronic Flea Market  ***  DATES ***   2019 P 1 of 2

All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except “____”

*******************************************************************************     
2019                                                    Contact          Source     
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6 Oct Queens NY HOSARC @HOS                     Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599   

11,12 Oct Deerfield NH NEARfest XXVI @FG             Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235  +

13 Oct Meriden CT Nutmeg @Sheradon             John Bee N1GNV : 203 440-4973 A

20 October Cambridge MA          Flea at MIT              Mitch 617 253 3776
                          Third Sunday April thru October

26 Oct  Gales Ferry CT TCARC @FireCo auction         Tom WA2RYV 860 464 6555  +

27 Oct Hicksvile NY LIMARC @LevitHall$6@9+$22/T@7 Richard K2KNB 516 694 4937 A

2 Nov Bourne MA FARA  @CC Voc Sch                   Ralph N1YHS 508 548 0422 A+

7 Dec Windsor CT VR+CMus @8 Antique                        John 860 803 5530 

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LAST UPDATE 10-4-19 de W1GSL         http://swapfest.us               P 2 of 2   
List is normally updated twice a month – look for the latest version
Source    F+= Flyer  T= tentative early info     + = new info this month         
A= ARRL R= RAC list  W= web         WR NV CQ QST = Mags
This list has been compiled from many sources. 
While we believe the info to be accurate the author can not be responsible for
changes or errors. Check with the sponsoring organizations for more details.   
This list will be posted monthly to USENET.     
Mailed copies are sent when additions are made.
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<FF>

New England Area  Ham – Electronic  Flea Market  ***  DATES  *** 2020 -> ***
Page 3 Electronic distribution only.  This page has the overflow if any
from the paper version.

*******************************************************************************
2020                                                    Contact        Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

18 Jan Whitman MA WARC @KoC Rt18 $5@8:30 $15/T@7    Chris N1CFB 508 224 8528  +

15 Feb Marlboro MA AARC @MidSch $20/T@6:30 $5@9       Tim KA1OS 508 919 6136 F+

7 Mar Chicopee MA MtTARA @Castle $5@8:30 S@6:30     Brian N1FI 508 478 6790   +

29 Mar Southigton CT  @HS@8                         Bruce WA1RR 203 704 7073  +

10,11 April Lewiston ME AARC  @ Ramada               Ivan N1OXA 207 577 5152  +

26 April Thompson CT ECARC @Raceway $3@8 $15/T       Jon KA1MPG 508 943 4467  +

******************************************************************************
LAST UPDATE 10-4-19  de W1GSL                                               P 2
   List is normally updated twice a month – look for the latest version
Additions/ Corrections via Internet  w1gsl@mit.edu
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(c)2019 W1GSL   http://www.swapfest.us        SASE for updated copy as issued.
unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety
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  List is normally updated twice a month – look for the latest version

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* You can have the list e-mailed directly to you as it is updated.          *
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                                W1GSL
<FF>
New England Area  Ham – Electronic  Flea Market  ***  DATES  ***     P4
Links to New England Hamfest Web Sites                (c) 2016 W1GSL
***********************************************************************
This section is only included in the electronic distribution.

Cambridge MA    Flea at MIT     http://www.swapfest.us

Hopkinton NH    Hosstraders   RIP 🙁    http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg/

Boxborough MA   NE ARRL Conv    http://www.hamxposition.org/        +

Adams MA        N BerkshireARC  http://www.nobarc.org/hamfest.htm

Chicopee MA     MTARA           http://www.mtara.org/               

Falmouth MA     FARA            http://www.falara.org/

Framingham MA   FARA            http://www.fara.org/
                                http://www.n1em.org             

Marlboro MA     AARC            http://www.qsl.net/n1em/                 

Newton MA       Waltham ARA Auction    http://www.wara64.org/auction/

Rockport MA     CAARA           www.caara.net

S Dartmouth MA  SEMARA          http://www.semara.org/

Wakefield MA    Photographica   http://www.phsne.org/

Westford MA     NEAntiqueRC     http://www.nearc.net/
moved to Nashua NH                                                       

Whately MA      FranklinCARC    http://www.fcarc.org/news.htm

Whitman MA      WARC            http://www.wa1npo.org                     

Worcester MA    WPI ACM         http://acm.wpi.edu/swapmeet/

Dayville CT     ECARA           http://www.qsl.net/k1muj/

Gales Ferry CT  RASON           http://www.rason.org/

Gales Ferry CT  TCARC           http://www.qsl.net/tricityarc/               

Goshen CT       SBARC           http://www.sberk.org                     +

Hartford CT     ARRL 100th      http://www.arrl.org/convention-volunteers 

Manchester CT   VHF/UHF Conf    http://www.newsvhf.com/             
         was Enfield

Manchester CT   PVRA            http://www.pvra.net                 

Meriden CT      Nutmeg CT Conv  http://www.nutmeghamfest.com
        was Wallingford

Newington CT    NARL            http://www.narlhamfest.org/

Newtown CT      CARA            http://www.cararadioclub.org/             

North Haven CT                  http://www.yankeehamfest.com

Southington CT  SARA            http://www.chetbacon.com/sara.htm

Vernon CT       NARC            http://hamfest.na1rc.org/

Wallingford CT  Nutmeg CT Conv  http://www.nutmeghamfest.com
         moved to Meriden CT

Windsor CT      Vintage R Mus   http://vrcmct.org/

Agusta ME       AARA            http://www.w1tlc.com/

Alexander ME    StCVARC          http://stcroixvalleyamateurradioclub.org

Hermon ME       PSARC           http://n1me.org/index.php?pr=Hamfest

Lewiston ME     AARC            http://www.w1npp.org                         +

S. Portland ME  PAWA            http://www.qsl.net/pawa/hamfest.html

St. Albans ME   PARC            http://www.qsl.net/parc/hamfest/hamfest.html

Thomaston ME    PBARC           http://penbayarc.org/

Windsor ME      AARA            http://www.w1tlc.com/

Brookline NH    NEAntiqueRC     http://www.nearc.net/

Deerfield NH    NEAR-Fest       http://www.near-fest.com/

Hampton NH      PCARC           http://www.w1wqm.org         

Henniker NH     CVRC            http://k1bke.org/

Londonderry NH  IRS             www.irs.nhradio.org/

Manchester NH   NEAntiqueRC     http://www.nearc.net/
        Moved to Westford MA
        Moved to Brookline NH

N Conway NH     WMARC           http://www.w1mwv.com

Nashua NH       NEARC           www.nearc.net                   
was Westford MA

Rochester NH    GBRA            http://www.w1fz.org/

Bergen NJ       BARA            http://www.bara.org/

Sussex NJ       SCARC    http://www.scarcnj.org/www.scarcnj.org/flyer_2007.htm

Ballston Spa NY SCRACES         http://k2dll.net/

E Greenbush NY  E Greenbush ARA http://www.w2egb.org/           

Fishkill NY     MtBARC          http://www.wr2abb.org/         
   was LaGrangeville

Lake Placid NY  NNY ARA  http://www.northnet.org/nnyham/hamfest_flyer2004.htm

Lindenhurst NY  ToB ARES        http://www.tobares.org/hamfest.html

Lindenhurst NY  GSB ARA         http://www.gsbarc.org/Hamfest.htm

Long Island NY  LIMARC          http://www.limarc.org/fest.htm

Middletown NY   OCARC           http://www.ocarc-ny.org/

Queens NY       Hall of Science http://www.hosarc.org/

Rochester NY    AWA             http://www.antiquewireless.org/

Rochester NY    RARA            http://www.rochesterham.org/hamfest.htm

Staten Island NY CPARA          http://www.wa2cp.org   + 

Wallkill NY     OCARC           http://www.ocarc-ny.org/

Greenwich RI    Fidelity ARC    http://users.ids.net/~newsm/dates.html

Forestdale RI   RIFMRS          http://www.qsl.net/riafmrs/Auction.html

Woonsocket RI   BVARC           www.w1ddd.org

Colchester VT   HAM-CON VT Conv  http://www.ranv.org/hamcon.html
   Moved to S Burlington

St. Albans VT   STARC           http://www.starc.org/

Springfield VT  CVFMA           http://www.cvfma.org/

Moncton NB      TCARC           http://www.ve9tca.org/

Quispamsis NB   LCARC           http://www.lcarc.ca/

Greenwood NS    GARC            http://www.greenwoodarc.org/

Drummondville PQ  leCRdeD       http://www.raqi.ca/ve2crd/hamfest/index.html

Greenwood PQ    GARC            www.greenwoodarc.org

Laval PQ        CRALL           http://www.ve2crl.qc.ca/

Montreal PQ     MARC            http://www.marc.qc.ca/fest/fest.html

Montreal PQ     WIARC           http://www.wiarc.ca/

Montreal PQ     MS-SARC         http://www.ve2clm.ca/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=120

Montreal PQ     UMS             http://www.ve2ums.ca/agenda/pub_2007_hamf.pdf

Sorel-Tracy PQ  CRAS-T          http://www.hamfest.qc.ca/

St Romuald PQ   ARESdQ          http://raqi.ca/ve2csq/

St Therese PQ   CRALL           http://www.ve2crl.qc.ca/hamfest2002.htm

Summerside PEI  SPARC      http://www.summersidearc.com/fleamarket2009.htm

Greenwood NS    GARC            http://www.greenwoodarc.org/

Halifax NS      HARC            http://www.halifax-arc.org/

Timonium MD     GBHC            http://www.gbhc.org/

Montreal Area   MARC List       http://www.marc.qc.ca/fest/festcal.html

Canada          RAC List        http://rac.eton.ca/events/upcoming.php

Phila. Area     VARA List       http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/hamfest.html

USA             ARRL List       http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html

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P4 LAST UPDATE 7-17-19 de W1GSL                                          P 4
Additions/ Corrections via Internet  w1gsl@mit.edu
                           US Mail  W1GSL POB 397082 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139
(c)2017 W1GSL   http://www.swapfest.us        SASE for updated copy as issued.
unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety
*******************************************************************************

Clubs

K1IR: “Tower Safety” at Billerica ARS, November 6, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Jim Idelson, K1IR, will present on “Tower Safety” at the November 6, 2019 meeting of the Billerica Amateur Radio Society at 7 PM at the Chelmsford Bible Church, 128 Gorham Street (Route 3A), Chelmsford, MA 01824. 

“Recent tragic events including the loss of our local friend, Joe K1JGA, and the serious injuries sustained by K1EEE drove Jim K1IR to do a full investigation of amateur radio tower fatalities in the US over the past 20 years. The results of the research are revealing and disturbing. But, they are also compelling. Come learn about the seriousness of this issue and the three simple things every ham must do to get it under control.”

[Full story]
Licensing Education & Training

“Beyond Tech-In-A-Day” License Prep & Refresher Course, Ipswich, Starts November 5, 2019

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Beyond Tech-In-A-Day

Amateur Radio Technician (Element 2)

License Preparation and Refresher Course

Sponsored by: Ipswich Emergency Management.

Dates:  Five Tuesdays, November 5 / December 3

Times:  18:30 – 20:30 (6:30 – 8:30 PM).  Help will be available a half hour before and after each session.

Location:  Ipswich Town Hall, Downstairs Training Room / EOC.

25 Green Street
Ipswich, MA. 01938

Preregistration:  Recommended

Course Fee:  Free

Prerequisites:   No pre-study is required but we recommend you skim through the material.  Morse Code is no longer required for any Amateur Radio license. 

Required Class Textbook:  Gordon West’s 2018-2022 Technician Class Book (see below)

Exam sessions:  Offered at CAARA, Dec 8th or at NSRA, Dec 28th.  Exam costs: $15.  More information on request.

Contact:  Gardi Winchester II, KA1BTK

Phone: (978) 290-1720

Email: gardiw2@gmail.com

Additional Information:  IEM recommends that its members are licensed Amateur Radio Operators.  This course is intended to help prepare students to pass the Technician level (Element 2) exam to qualify for the license, and as a refresher course for currently licensed operators; to explore the concepts and privileges of the license grade.

The course will follow the Gordon West 2018-2022 Technician Class study manual available through the W5YI Group website:  https://www.w5yi.org/catalog_details.php?pid=79&sort=5

The course will be run as a combination “study group” with instruction by an experienced instructor.  Some homework; reading and studying may be necessary to get the best results from this course.  Printed handouts, presentations, and study materials will be provided.

Clubs / Technical

W1BOF: Apollo Spacecraft Communications at Dan’s Tech Night, October 10, 2019

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Dan Pedtke, KW2T, writes:

TechNight is tomorrow night, Thursday, October 10, at the usual time and place; 7:00PM at the Grady Research Building in Ayer.  See www.danstechnight.com for details and directions.

We have an unusually interesting program this month, with a rare guest speaker visiting us to discuss the technical aspects of the NASA Apollo spacecraft radio link.  George Whitehead, W1BOF, is one of the few remaining radio engineers who worked on the design of the Apollo mission communications radios. This the radio hardware that did the communications between earth and the spacecraft, including the video of man’s first step onto the moon.

George worked at North American Aviation in Downey, CA from 1962 to 1967. This was the prime contractor for the Apollo Command and Service module. He worked in the Apollo Communications Subsystem Group mainly on the telemetry part of the radio system, the part that sent spacecraft status and astronaut medical information back to mission command. But sitting next to him was the rest of the designers of the radio who did the other parts of the design. He got to know the system quite well. 

George will have some technical information for the projector, but it will be a technical discussion between George and I, where I’ll be asking him questions about the system.

And if you miss him here, he will be speaking at the [Nashoba Valley ARC] meeting one week later.

We’ll also talk a little about some progress on the radio.

Hope to see a good crowd for this one.

 

Public Service

Volunteers Needed for Halloween Watch, Marlborough, October 31, 2019

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Joe Reynolds, KA1GDQ, writes on the Algonquin ARC list:
 
As you know, Halloween Watch is around the corner.  I am going to need 15 volunteers (including a Net Control). 
 
 
 
School Minimum
Hihgh School 4
Middle School 3
Hildreth School * 2
Kane School 1
Richer School 1
Jaworek School 1
Bigalow School 1
Senior Center 1
NET CONTROL 1
MINIMUM NEEDED 15
 
If you are available, school watch is from 7pm – 11pm. We do this to help the school system out, who donates the cafes at the middle school for the Flea Market and the Library for our meetings.  The club saves a couple of grand a year or more by volunteering every year.  
 
Please email me with what school you would like to volunteer for.  If you want to be teamed up with another club member I will do my best to keep you and your buddy assigned at the same school if possible.  I need 4 for the High School, 3 for the Middle School and AT LEAST 1 for each of the others.  The Hildreth School should have 2 but we can bring it to one.  
 
Note:  The minimum means Locations at the school  have 3 in one vehicle can’t help.  However if your spouse wants to join you to keep you company, please have them come. 
 
Thank you very much 
 
V/R
 
Joe Reynolds
KA1GDQ
774-222-2542
ka1gdq@arrl.net
 
Organization

Important Correction to Eastern MA September 2019 Section News

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Bruce D. Budinger, AB3BB, of Groton MA was incorrectly listed as a silent key in this month’s EMA section news. Apology to Bruce and his family for the error.

I am very sad to report that it was Brian Budinger, his brother who passed away. 

I will shortly distribute a corrected version of the September news. Any club or individual who has posted or distributed the September section news is requested to please post or re-distribute the corrected version in its place. 

Thank-you.

——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Clubs / Public Information

Barnstable ARC Exhibition at Harwich Cranberry Festival, September 14-15, 2019

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The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) conducted a highly successful public information effort at the Harwich Cranberry Festival September 14-15 in Harwich. The annual festival drew 150 exhibitors and over 7,000 participants. It featured crafts, music, and food.

BARC set up a special event station K1PBO at the festival entrance to promote Amateur Radio to greet festival attendees.  A large-screen television displayed locations contacted around the world. Magazines and other items were handed out to the public.

Many BARC members helped to make the event a success.  Al Ryan, WW1RF, served as event liaison while Mark Avery, N1ZPO, provided technical coordination. (Mark’s son, Charlie, and puppy Remi roped in many passers-by). Russ Apgar, K1RTA, provided the tower trailer while Mark Petruzzi, WA1EXA, Norm Cantin, WA1NLG, and Rob, Leiden, K1UI, handled the on-the-air communications.  WA1NLG and Mike Lobay, W1MLL, along with the on-the-air crew helped with the setup and tear down of the station.  The crew completed several hundred contacts, including over eighty in the WAE contest.  –Thanks, K1UI