Western MA ARISS School Contact Draws ARRL Staffers, State, Local Officials

ARISS logoARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology alumnus Mariusz Zielinski, KB1MDS, invited ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC, Lifelong Learning Administrator Ally Riedel, KM3ALF, and ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, to witness an exciting November 2 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, Massachusetts, where Zielinski teaches. [Full story]

Falmouth ARA QRV for JOTA

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationThe Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will participate in the 61st annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The JOTA event will occur at Falmouth’s Gus Canty Recreation Center at 790 Main Street, from 10 AM-5 PM.

FARA members hope to show all attendees (specifically any Scout–boy or girl) what ham radio has to offer and get them on the air.

Volunteers are needed to operate several stations as demos and to get folks on the air:

  • CW station
  • HF voice (SSB)
  • Digital (likely PSK31) with a big screen
  • 2m HT and/or mobile

For more information, visit http://www.falara.org/announcements/jamboreeontheairjotaoctober20.

New England Sci-Tech Technician Course, Natick, October 13-14, 2018

New England Sci Tech 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 to noon., followed by the FCC Technician 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-technician-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

New England Sci-Tech General-Class Course, Natick, December 8-9, 2018

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 noon, 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.

 

Mass Jam Volunteers Needed, Falmouth, October 6-9, 2018

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationGlen Dowden, KC1GKT writes:

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association is looking for volunteers on October 6 through October 9, 2018 for Mass Jam.

Mass Jam is held at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds in East Falmouth. The event brings Scouts from all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island for a weekend of activities. Mass Jam provides the scouts the opportunity to participate in fellowship and activities throughout the weekend. We would be providing an opportunity for Scouts to learn more about Amateur Radio and the opportunity to get on the air. Falmouth Amateur Radio Association can provide the necessary equipment (Radio equipment and antennas), but we will need operators. All operators at the event will have to be registered as volunteers at the event and will have to take the Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Training (this is available at http://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/).

If you are available or are already planning on attending the event with your local Scout Troop/Post/Ship and are interested in assisting with operating, please reach out to Glen.dowden@gmail.com and indicate dates and times you are available. This is a great opportunity to reach Scouts from your local area.

Thank you,
Glen KC1GKT
Falmouth Amateur Radio Association

Harvard Wireless Club Table at Student Involvement Fair, September 7, 2018

Harvard Wireless Club official shieldThe Harvard Wireless Club will participate in the Harvard Student Involvement Fair on Friday, September 7, 2018 at Tercentenary Theater in Harvard Yard, Cambridge.

“We will be at Table 719. Just look for the Alex Loop antenna on the 19-foot tripod, which is usually the tallest thing at the fair,” remarks W1AF station manager Bill Collins, W1PL.  Bill is requesting HWC members come by and help recruit new people. The crew will conduct talk-in on the MIT repeater, 449.725/444.725 -, PL 114.8. 

The first meeting of the Harvard Wireless Club will be held on Tuesday, September 11 at 6 PM. Adds W1PL, “We will have free pizza. Hopefully,  new recruits will be there.”

Boxboro Convention to Feature Amateur Radio Exposition For Young People

Nashua Area Radio Society High Altitude Balloon DisplayThe 2018 Boxboro! ARRL New England  Division is pleased to announce that the Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS) will be presenting an Amateur Radio Exposition for Young People on September 8-9, 2018. This exposition will include many hands-on activities, videos, and displays about amateur radio and wireless communications, including:

  • Software Defined Radios
  • High-Altitude Balloons
  • Portable and Mobile stations
  • Emergency Communications
  • Fox-hunting

In addition to the displays, the exposition will also feature a kit building activity. For a small cost ($20), you can purchase a kit and build it using NARS’s equipment and help from their mentors. The kit is a fully functional Morse code touch keyer and practice oscillator. It is available on a walk-up basis anytime on Saturday or Sunday that the Exhibitor hall is open.

The exposition will also include a computer-controlled satellite ground station. Using this satellite ground station, folks can communicate with other amateur radio operators using satellites in space.

For more information, please visit https://www.boxboro.org/exposition-for-young-people.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy ARC Granted ARRL Affiliation Status

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy Radio Club has been granted ARRL Affiliation status. 

In a letter dated July 31, 2018  from ARRL’s Norm Fusaro, W3IZ,  Field Services and Radiosport Department Manager to MMAARC club trustee Andrew Perron, AB1YN, Fusaro writes: “It gives me great pleasure to advise you that the ARRL has approved your club’s application for affiliation with the ARRL.  The Massachusetts Maritime Academy Radio Club is hereby declared a duly affiliated society.” 

The League will generate a “handsome” charter and send to the club in the near future. 

Fusaro added, “Your club is now eligible for the benefits of ARRL affiliation; we hope you will make full use of our services. ”

Congratulations to the officers and members of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Amateur Radio Club for this important milestone!

 

Falmouth ARA Planning for October Jamboree On The Air

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationThe Falmouth Amateur Radio Association plans to sponsor a Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) event in the fall. This is the largest scouting event in the world and is held annually on the third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link scouts and hams around the world, around the nation, and in local communities.

The club plans to set up at the Falmouth Recreation Center “probably in the large room with a lot of windows.” Interested club members should contact Glen, KC1GKT at glen.dowden@gmail.com. More information to follow.

Natick HS High Altitude Balloon Group Project a Success

wa3itr-7 aprs trackCharlie Bures, WA3ITR writes:

On Wednesday, June 20, the Natick HS High-Altitude-Balloon Group launched their platform at 4:07pm from the Hatfield Elementary School, near Northampton in the middle of Massachusetts. The APRS tracking device used Charlie’s callsign (WA3ITR) with a dash-7.

From the APRS track shown below, the HAB was up to 45,000 feet over Worcester traveling east at over 85 pmh! It circled over South Natick &amp; Framingham, reaching up to 91,953 feet before it burst. It continued toward the Atlantic as it parachuted back to the ground. Although the plan from the simulations was to land in the Natick area, that wasn’t going to happen as it sped to the east.

The chase team couldn’t go that fast ! The last APRS point was in East Weymouth at about 500 feet above the ground (AGL) at 6:38pm . The Natick group hoped to find it, since the 3 GoPro cameras were only recording photos to their internal micro-disks. Luckily, they spotted it around 7:10pm in a farmer’s field in Hingham and he gave them permission to recover it. Now, we will be checking the 3 cameras to see if there are any photos and, if so, making a short video or photo album.

Weekend General License Course Offered, Natick, July 13-15, 2018

New England Sci Tech logoFor high school 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 Friday, July 13, 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 14, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by theFCC General examat 3:00 p.m., at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. The $85 course fee covers exam fee, cold cuts and salad lunch, coffee and snacks, and printed materials. Advance registration and payment required.

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

Natick High School High Altitude Balloon Launch, Florence, MA, June 20, 2018

WA3ITR APRS trackDan Brown, W1DAN writes on the Wellesley ARS mailing list:

Charlie’s (WA3ITR) High Altitude Balloon project is currently hoping to launch on 6/20/2018 from Florence, MA around 1-2 PM.  It is hoped that the platform will be recovered in the Natick area around 6 PM or so.

Follow it on APRS!
 
See also: 

Natick High Altitude Balloon–Successful Tethered Test

Natick HS High Altitude Balloon tethered testDon Clements writes:
 
Successful tethered test! We didn’t launch (due to the cloud cover), but the test was great. With the large tank, the balloon filled quickly and easily. You can have pretty much any lift you want. We filled the balloon too much, and went off the 2 kg scale for lift. The last aspect we need to control is the amount of lift, and that’s pretty straightforward. At this point we’re ready to launch(!)
If you look at the picture full size you can see the parachute and instrument package up there. We had it 150ft up, and got good satellite and APRS data. 
 
To the Stars, and Beyond!
 
 

Natick High School Balloon Launch Carrying Amateur Radio

WA3ITR APRS track

Charlie Bures, WA3ITR reports he is involved with a Natick High School High Altitude Balloon (HAB) launch carrying an Amateur Radio Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) package. The project is funded by the AeroClub of New England via the David Frawley Foundation.  

“The launch will be soon,” said Charlie. “I’m working with the science teacher at Natick High School. We are currently doing tethered dry-run integration tests in preparation for our actual launch.  We are also monitoring the jet streams so that our balloon platform doesn’t go into the Atlantic but, hopefully, lands around the Natick area, or at least outside Route 128 away from congestion and major highways.” Charlie adds the launch will hopefully occur either “later this week or next.”

The balloon activity can be followed via http://aprs.fi. Charlie will use the call sign WA3ITR-7. 

Updated: June 14, 2018

ARRL Kids Day, June 16, 2018

tin can toy phonesTwice per year in January and June for five hours, ARRL Kids Day promotes Amateur Radio to our youth.  Kids Day is designed to give the on-the-air experience to young people and foster interest in getting a license of their own.  It is also intended to give older hams a chance to share their station and love for Amateur Radio with their children.  Share the excitement with your kids, grand-kids, a scout troop, a church or the general public.  Suggested initial exchange is name, age, location and favorite color.  You can work the same station again if an operator has changed.  To draw attention, call “CQ Kids Day.”  All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate and feedback on your experiences are also welcome at the ARRL Kids Day page.

High Altitude Balloon Launch, Nashua, New Hampshire, June 3, 2018

Nashua Area Radio Society high altitude balloon launch screenshotAnita Kemmerer, AB1QB writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:
 
The Nashua Area Radio Society will be launching a high altitude balloon tomorrow morning, June 3rd, from Hollis Brookline High School.  We are working with students from World Academy in Nashua, NH and Hudson Memorial School in Hudson, NH.  
 
Here is some information on how to track our flight:  https://www.n1fd.org/2018/06/01/hab-3-launch/

Amateur Radio Technician License in a Weekend Course, Natick, June 29-30, 2018

NE1AR logo“For high school students and adults, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the 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 approximately a week before the course. The TECHNICIAN level course runs Friday, June 29, 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 30, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.”

[More information]

Week-long Beginner Level Amateur Radio Course for Youth and Families, Natick, June 25-29, 2018

NE1AR logo“The Clay Center Amateur Radio Club (CC-ARC) is a Youth Club, and as such strives to provide educational opportunities for students as well as parents.  We have teamed up with New England Amateur Radio Inc to offer a radio Technician Class course for adults, children, and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test.  Children who pass the test receive a free membership in the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club, the largest youth-oriented radio club in New England.  Yes, this course is geared toward children!”  (Ages 11 and up.) ” 

[More information]