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NJ1Q: “ARRL Headquarters W1AW Station Tour,” Billerica ARS Online Meeting, November 4, 2020

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W1AW buildingAndy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes on the Billerica Amateur Radio Society website:

All, I am extremely excited to announce our next Zoom meeting will be a tour of the W1AW station at ARRL HQ in Newington CT!

Some of you have been lucky enough to work W1AW on the bands – some even in the A.M. mode. Even QSLed it. Even luckier BARS members have been on a field trip down to tour the station! I have not – and like many of you will find this a great first time experience!

Courtesy of BARS’s Doug Bruce, KC1MJK – who worked W1AW recently and got us in touch – we have arranged a virtual tour of W1AW for our November meeting. Thanks, Doug, and especially thank you, Joe! He has done other virtual tours so helping BARS in this way should go well. As a bonus our meeting time coincides with W1AW actually being on the air so we will see it in operation.

W1AW is the “voice” of the American Radio Relay League and as an ARRL affiliated club BARS has a stake in their heritage. Joe will field questions and it sounds like this tour will be “the next best thing to being there” as they say.

We will have  a bit of club business – our club election in fact – at the beginning of our meeting, and Joe’s tour will commence thereafter.

Let’s show a great turnout for this! Thank you Doug and Joe.

We will announce the link to join the Zoom meeting before the meeting, but it will be posted to the BARS email list and should not be shared outside our Club. 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 Wednesday 11/4/20.

Andy

KA1GTT

President, Billerica Amateur Radio Society

Clubs / Operating

Sci-Tech ARS, Wellesley ARS Members Participate in Summits On The Air Event from Mt. Wachusett, October 10, 2020

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Members of the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society and the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society activated Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts for Summits On The Air on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

Fourteen STARS and WARS members and friends hiked or drove up the mountain. They logged more than 48 QSOs on 20 meters and several more on 2 meters making contacts from California to France to the base of Wachusett Mountain. The group plans to get the two clubs outdoors and operating once a month.

STARS and WARS members posed atop Wachusett Mountain for Summits On The Air

Clubs

W1SEX: “History of the Heath Company” at Quannapowitt RA Online Meeting, October 15, 2020

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photo of Heathkit stationThe October meeting of the Quannapowitt Radio Association will feature Paul Topolski, W1SEX. Paul will speak about the interesting and colorful “History of the Heath Company,” the company founder, and the subsequent owners of Heath and how the Company’s rapid growth was bolstered by numerous economic factors that came to fruition at the close of World War II.

The meeting is this Thursday, October 15th at 7 PM. For Zoom information, email Bruce Bain, K1BG, at bruce.blain@charter.net.

Clubs

Zola ARC Meets Online, October 24, 2020

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Dear all:

Everyone is invited to our October Zola meeting.

Location: Online only, no in-person component
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020
Time: 11:00 AM Eastern

Meeting format:

11:00 AM
Introductions and call to order

11:15 AM
Announcements, questions and answers

11:30 AM
Previously we asked ourselves as to what type of topics everyone would be interested in hearing about while we are having remote meetings. One of the subjects that was asked for was information about AMSAT. This month we are privileged to have Leandra, AF1R with us. She will have a presentation about AMSAT and will answer our questions afterwards.

 [Contact Frank Ventura, N1FMV,  at frank -at- littlebreezes -dot- com for Zoom conference details.]

Thanks

Frank, N1FMV

Clubs / Youth

Sci-Tech ARS Online Meeting, October 6, 2020

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Olin students at New England Sci-Tech

ONLINE Meeting: Tuesday, Oct 6, 7:00 PM.

 
To join the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society Meeting at 7:00 pm link your computer to [… contact Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney@nescitech.com for Zoom conference details]
 
6:30 Moore’s Code Corner
Learn your call sign or first name in Morse code. Join Rusty Moore for a beginner’s intro to code. Same Zoom link as STARS.
 
7:00 MEETING
– Around the room updates and general chat
– Latest about New England Ham Convention
– Update on Parks on the Air
– Other old business and new business.
 
8:00 RADIO SHOP TALK
Open forum – all topics welcome! Each Tuesday after the regular meeting, join us for Ham Radio Shop Talk begins after the meeting, approx. 8:00 pm, on the same Zoom link. Hang out and join us.
Clubs

Norfolk County Radio Association Meeting Online, October 14, 2020

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Dick Bean, K1HC, writes:

The NCRA conduct its Wednesday, October 14, 2020 meeting at 8 PM using Zoom in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Jim, WJ1R, will be our Zoom host.  Thank you to Jim for agreeing to take on this role!

It will be a good opportunity to see and hear our members!  We have a few business items to cover, but we will let everyone have a chance to speak.

Please note that we do need to end the Zoom session shortly after the meeting ends so please be mindful of our host asking us to end our discussion after the meeting closes.  Thanks in advance for your cooperation and understanding!   

73,

Dick, K1HC

Clubs

K1NDF: “Radio Propagation” at Framingham ARA Online Meeting, October 1, 2020

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Framingham ARA logoTopic: Framingham Amateur Radio Association Oct.1 Zoom Meeting

Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, is inviting you to a scheduled Framingham Amateur Radio Association Zoom meeting.

Our speaker this Thursday evening will be Neal Lipson, K1NDF, of Framingham, an extremely active ham who has been blind since birth. He will speak on the subject of Radio Propagation, and on what an excellent location we live in for getting out.  During the talk, I will screen share pictures of Neal with his various radios, as well as his tower and antennas.

Special Request:  Your name will appear under your picture on Zoom.  Please change it so that it provides your name and call letters.  Just right click on your name, and you will be able to change it.  Thank you.

Time: Oct 1, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

If you are not on the Internet, you can join by phone. 

[For conference information, email Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, at w1viv.radio -at- gmail -dot- com]

Clubs / Operating

Wellesley ARS Parks On The Air Activation, K-2427, September 26, 2020

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Dan Brown W1DAN, writes:

[Wellesley Amateur Radio Society members] Steve Ciavarini, NQ1F, along with Rob Jaczko, WA1UMU, and Leandra Mac Lennan, AF1R, operated  Parks On The Air as K-2427 on Saturday September 26, 2020 at Cochituate State Park in Natick, MA.

After guidance from park rangers, Leandra set up her VHF Moxon beam antenna for 2m and a 20m Hamstick vertical; Rob set up his new Wolf River vertical with twelve 40-foot radials that Steve made, and Steve set up his home brew 6m beam he presented to WARS last week. Started operating around 3:30PM.

All in all, Rob and Leandra made around 60 contacts on 40M, 20M, and 2M, and one contact on 6M, which was absolutely dead.

The gang said it was good fun. Leandra wanted to do a POTA sometime, and when Rob invited she jumped at the chance. Leandra brought her Yaesu FT991 40AH battery, mini masts for the Hamstick and 2-meter Moxon antenna. Rob brought his Icom 7300, 20AH battery, and a Wolf River Coils antenna (https://www.wolfrivercoils.com). However there was a set of 50-foot radials with this antenna, which were all tangled up like a ball of twine. This took a frustrating hour to untangle, but once set up, the antenna was excellent on 40M.

Steve’s new 6-meter beam seemed to work, but the band was pretty dead as he found only one station in Manchester NH. The new beam was found to be directional–a good sign. In the meantime, Leandra worked Bill, N1WEN on 146.52.

On 20M, AF1R found another POTA station in CO, Rob said that that station later told them they were the strongest POTA station with the Wolf River antenna. Rob had a lot of success on 40M SSB with the antenna, which was stronger than the Hamstick.

Each station needs ten contacts to be “activated.” Leandra had nine with the hamstick, so she moved to the Wolf River antenna. Spotted on POTA website, then worked stations during a pileup that lasted for a half hour. During the last 30 minutes, Rob and Steve were taking gear down, as Leandra used the Wolf antenna, made 30 more contacts in 30 minutes. Leandra made about 40-50 contacts, while Rob made 32.

Rangers stopped by and said it was time to shut down as the park closes at 7 PM, so they ended operations about 6:30 PM.

Leandra noted they learned how to cooperate in making contacts more efficiently and that spotters on the POTA website helped.

This is a test run for a bigger WARS club COVID-safe event planned for this fall. Cochituate State Park closes on Columbus Day October 12 (https://www.mass.gov/locations/cochituate-state-park), so maybe we can do Callahan State Park in Framingham.

Photos courtesy Steve, NQ1F

A beautiful fall day at Cochituate State Park
COVID-Safe Operating Practice
First lesson learned from last POTA...never throw your radials in the car without first rolling them up. The three of us spent about an hour unknotting a tangled web of radials to get the Wolf River vertical deployed.
Leandra giving VHF a run on 2m & HF on 20m, but only made 9 contacts so Rob let her use the vertical--a pile-up on 40m!
Rob WA1UMU Burning up 40M

[Show slideshow]
Clubs

K1TH: “CQWW J3A YCCC Contest Operation” at K1USN Radio Club, September 29, 2020

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From K1USN Radio Club Happenings, September 25, 2020:
 
Mark your calendar for our next K1USN Zoom session this upcoming Tuesday, Sept 29th @ 7:30 PM.
 
This session will feature a presentation by Tom – K1TH from Plymouth. Tom will be talking about his experience as a participant in the 2000 CQWW contest as part of the YCCC (Yankee Clipper Contest Club) J3A Team in Grenada.
 
If you have already been receiving K1USN Zoom invitations, you will receive one this Sunday for the Tuesday session. We ask that you do not share the invitation details with others, but instead tell anyone who is interested in attending to send an e-mail request to me ( k1rv@arrl.net ) and I will add them to the K1USN Zoom list.
 
 
Clubs

W1PJE: “A History and an Inside Tour of NIST Station WWV,” Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting Online, September 17, 2020

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Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s September meeting is TOMORROW, Thursday, September 17th at 7:30 PM. This meeting will be conducted via WebEx. Meeting details are below. Thanks to Jim Hein N8VIM and Medtronics for the WebEx conference.

The September meeting will feature Phil, W1PJE, speaking on “A history, and an Inside Tour, of NIST Station WWV”. This is sure to be an interesting talk.

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

Bruce, K1BG 

978-772-2773 or bruce.blain@charter.net

[Contact Bruce, K1BG, for WebEx conference meeting details.]
Clubs

K1BG: “CW Academy” at Quannapowitt RA Meeting Online, September 17, 2020

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QRAQRA September online meeting:  “CW Academy” by Bruce Blain, K1BG, September 17, 2020 at 7 PM.

Bruce will talk about this very successful program and how it is introducing large numbers of hams to the joys of CW.  If you have wondered about getting into CW, thought “I can never do that!”, or know someone who might be interested in learning Morse code,  this presentation is for you!

Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, September through June. All are invited and holding an Amateur Radio license is not required.  [For Zoom meeting details, email Bob Reiser, AA1M at aa1m -at- yahoo -dot- com.]

Clubs

Boston ARC Business Meeting Online, September 17, 2020

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Boston ARC logoDoc Kinne, KE1ML, writes on the Boston Amateur Radio Club mailing list:
 
Here is the Zoom Meeting ID and Password for Thursday’s 7:30 PM Meeting. As mentioned, this will largely be a business meeting, and we hope to discuss future ideas and thoughts as to what we want to do as a club and how.
 
===========================================
 
Topic: Sept BARC Zoom Meeting
Time: Sep 17, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
 
[For Zoom meeting information, email Doc Kinne, KE1ML at ke1ml@arrl.net.]