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N1DQ: “PSK Reporter” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, October 17, 2024

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Nashoba Valley ARC logoBruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s October meeting is TOMORROW, Thursday, October 17th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts.

For October, our guest speaker will be Phil Gladstone, N1DQ, author of PSK Reporter. PSK Reporter is an amateur radio signal reporting and spotting network which allows hams to see where their radio signals are being received. The platform works by collecting digital signal reports from software clients like WSJT and FLDIGI, then mapping them to show which stations are being heard by other clients.

I personally can’t wait to hear this presentation!

Come and join the fun!

Need directions? 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

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

 

Clubs

K3DRE: “Lessons Learned as a Ham for Broadcast RF and vice versa” at Sci-Tech ARS, Natick, October 8, 2024

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New England Sci Tech logoThe Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 7 PM and feature: “Lessons Learned as a Ham for Broadcast RF and vice versa” by Doug Evans, K3DRE.  

Description: From broadcast radio into ham radio and back. Doug will share with us lessons learned in professional radio and how they led him into ham radio. From there, he’ll move to the things he learned as a ham that helped his career. Doug’s been to a lot of places and has seen some very interesting things, but found that the basics of RF always apply. Today’s modern digital broadcasting owes a lot to early hams.

Bio: Doug received his first FCC license (a third class radiotelephone operator, with broadcast endorsement) after he graduated from high school. The day after he graduated, he started working with his first rig, a 3000 watt FM transmitter, at the now defunct WMSP FM. After several years in commercial radio, Doug went to work for Public Broadcasting in Hershey, PA. After 23 years there, Doug left as a Producer/Director, having done a number of other roles as well. He then took a job doing HD wireless cameras and support communication and control for broadcast networks, and remained in that role for a number of years. Since Doug retired, he volunteers at ultra marathon special events and is a ham radio operator for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. 

Clubs / Operating

PART Group-Club POTA US-2435, Carlisle, October 14, 2024

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PART of Westford logoAdam Smith, AA1N, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:Hi PART’ers – 
 

I took some time to read through the POTA web site again.  Under the rules we can either do multiple individual activations, or a club/group activation. 

As a group, all activity from a single callsign from the same park in the same (UTC) day would count toward the activation (but it’s possible to log the operator for each QSO under a shared call – and ops get some credit).   If we wanted to do this (for this or future ops) then we’d want to register a group call with POTA – not sure if WB1GOF is registered, or if there’s a protocol for approving use of the club call for events?

 
If acting as individuals:
* each individual calling CQ POTA will need to have a POTA.app account, and to submit their own log of contacts after the event.
* each individual in this case could have a successful activation (10 contacts), or not
* we can share radios and “pass the mic”, or run separate radios (technical & interference concerns notwithstanding)
 
References:
General POTA Rules: 

   https://docs.pota.app/docs/rules.html

   See in particular rules #4 and #5 under Logging Requirements, and the “Clubs and Multiple Operators” section under “Guidelines, Interpretation, and Intent”.
The latter section refers to another doc, Guide for Clubs/Groups: 
   https://docs.pota.app/docs/activator_reference/activator_guide_clubs.html
 
Hope to see folks in a week, I’m planning to be there with an HF radio, probably to run primarily voice/SSB.  The area they asked us to operate in has some good open space – finding decent shade may be more of an issue.   From what Neice said, we should park at the lot off of Lowell Road (set GPS for Great Brook Ski Touring Center), rather than the lot off of North Road nearer the ice cream / dairy farm.  See attached pic from Google Maps – the lot at the left and field toward the Park HQ marker.  Carlisle center is south on Lowell Road from this view.  I went by this weekend, it’s a large lot and the field to the south is fairly flat and very open.  Bring your own antenna support, and maybe sun cover.
 
73,
Adam / AA1N
 
All / Clubs

K6KJN: “Twenty Things I’ve Learned While Curating the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications” at Framingham ARA Meeting, October 3, 2024

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John Iwuc, KB1VXY, writes on the Framingham ARA mailing list:
 
Please register for our October 3 meeting. We will forgo our usual business meeting and start promptly at 7 pm at the McAuliffe Library and on Zoom.
  1. Tom Frenaye, K1KI, who is one of the contenders for the New England Division Director of the ARRL, will talk for the first 10 minutes or so.
  2. After that Kay Savetz, K6KJN, will talk about  “Twenty Things I’ve Learned While Curating the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications”
  3. We are planning on having Fred Kemmerrer, AB1OC, current New England Director of the ARRL, talk about his work at a special meeting probably on 10/10/24, stay tuned.
Please register whether or not you will attend on Zoom.
 
John
Clubs

K9TAD: “Sunspots and Radio Propagation” at Billerica ARS Meeting, October 2, 2024

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Billerica ARS logoBillerica ARS President Doug Bruce, N1WRN, writes:

We are pleased to announce that Terry Dennison, K9TAD, will be our Guest Speaker via Zoom on Wednesday Night, October 2, 2024. Terry will give a talk on Sunspot and Radio Propagation.

Here are some biographical details about Terry:

  • FCC Extra Class Amateur Radio License (2010), First Licensed in 2007 Callsign: K9TAD.
  • Memberships: American Radio Relay League (ARRL); Volunteer Examiner (VE) – authorized to participate in Amateur Radio License Examinations, Accredited to the Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group (GLAARG) VEC, VE # 3208E.
  • Associated with: the AD4VE team Southern California DX Club; Southern California Contest Club; PAPA System (Southern California FM/DMR/D-Star Repeater Club); AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation); G-QRP Club (UK Low-Power QRP Club).

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 there on Wednesday 10/2 at 1900.

Clubs

AB1OC: “ARRL” at the Boston Amateur Radio Club, September 19, 2024

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Boston ARC logoThe Boston Amateur Radio Club will have its regular General Meeting Thursday, September 19, at both Artisans Asylum and Zoom. We will begin with a period of socializing at 7:00 and the meeting proper will begin at 7:30.

Our speaker will be Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, the Director for the New England Division of the American Radio Relay League.

A Zoom link will be posted on the www.barc.org website on the day of the meeting.

73,

Joseph Chapman, NV1W

Secretary, Boston Amateur Radio Club

Clubs / Technical / Youth

Northeastern Wireless Club “Yagi Build” a “Fantastic Success”

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Jonah Lefkoff writes on the Northeastern Wireless mailing list:

Yesterday’s workshop was a fantastic success. We built a ton of awesome tape measure yagi antennas, and learned a bit about impedance matching and soldering along the way. This Thursday we’ll be using them in a fox hunt around campus. I look forward to a fun night of searching for hidden transmitters!

Next week we begin our adventure towards developing a full PCB. It all starts with schematic capture, a critical component of the electrical design process. I hope to see you all there. 

Cheers,
Jonah Lefkoff, KFØINONWC members showing their constructed yagisKF0INO

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Youth

StratoScience Lab Balloon Launches, New England Sci-Tech, Natick, August 14, 2024

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StratoScience banner
 
Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on the New England Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:
 
Hey everyone,
 
Just wanted to let you all know we are aiming to launch two separate StratoScience Lab balloons THIS WEDNESDAY 8/14 from NEST.  That means we’ll actually be filling up and releasing the balloon from the NEST parking lot.  Exact time is not nailed down yet, but release will most likely be sometime between 10am and 2pm.  We’ll update here the night before or morning of.  Since it is taking place at NEST, we also may be able to run the STARS Zoom meeting and have flight prep and the releases going live on Zoom.  We will update on that as well.  We will have a HamXposition presentation detailing all the projects, and maybe we can do a version of this at a STARS meeting, but just to give you a preview of what will be flown this week:
 
StratLab 2024 A:
  • Solar Tracking Rotator (Roy Y.)
  • Spectroscopy Sensor (Timmy B.)
  • Servo Heating System (Elias D.)
  • IMU Recorder and Downward Camera (Ewoud V.)
  • BFCCPS Humidity Sensor Experiment (NEWBS / BFCCPS School)
  • RunCam Split 4 Selfie Camera (Seth K. / NEWBS)
  • Tiny4FSK (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.620 MHz
  • RS41 (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.625 MHz
  • [maybe] Test version of altitude-based rocket igniter board (Dawid F.)
 
StratoSoar 2024 A:
  • Autonomous Glider (Charlie N.)
    • Planned separation at ~1600m
    • Also contains a Tiny4FSK (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.630 MHz
  • RS41 (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.635 MHz
  • RunCam Split 4 Downward Camera (Seth K. / NEWBS)
 
This means we will also have 3 separate recovery sites, so if anyone would be interested in helping to recover a payload, please let us know!  We could use all the help we can get.  Even if you’re only available after work hours.  All 3 trackers should hopefully be trackable on https://amateur.sondehub.org/
 
Best,
Seth KC1PZY and Max W0MXX
 
Clubs / Operating

Boston ARC POTA Event, Medford, August 10, 2024

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Parks On The Air logoBrendan Baldonado, NW1S, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:
 
Following the great success of our POTA event in July we’re hosting another in August. 
 
We are planning August 10th at the Mystic Lakes Playground area. It is a little out of the city but there are a few Purple line stations nearby for those that are public transport dependent. We are also hoping to coordinate carpools with anyone that may need that too. 
 
So Shannon Beach at Mystic lakes has a large parking lot, although I imagine on weekends it gets very busy. (Satellite pictures included below) There are two more lots south of the main lot, and they may expand the parking I’m not sure. Mystic Lakes is between Arlington and Winchester just east of route 3. The parking lot is off of the Mystic Valley Parkway which can have terrible traffic at all times of the day. 
 
This is our first time going to this location so it’s going to be a bit scrappier than normal. As always we will use the .23 BARC repeater for coordinating onsite. There are only a few tables so bringing a table and chairs will be useful. 
 
So Bring a radio, and an antenna and power, if you need one you can borrow someones radio usually and we can all take turns. Bring your own lunch and snacks as you see fit. The plus side of this location is that if you want to bring family or kids there is a playground and a beach for swimming. 
 
If we get enough interest maybe we can bring a propane grill and have a cookout. So make your interest known now! 
 
Important information:
 
What: BARC Summer POTA 2!
 
Where: Shannon Beach Playground, Mystic Lakes State Park 
481 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford, MA 02155
 
When: August 10th, at 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
 
Who: Anyone that wants to join.
 
Bring: Food, Water, Sunscreen, and your portable operating station. (Radio, Antenna, Coax, Power)
 
 
 
 
 
Clubs / Foxhunting

Cape Ann Fox Hunt, July 27, 2024

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CAARA logoBrandon Hockle, NQ1W, writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:

On Saturday, July 27,/2024, Jim Barber, K1TT, will host Cape Ann Radioactive FB Group’s first fox hunt by car.

Participants will meet at 668 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA, at 11 AM, rain or shine.

The fox will be in Jim’s car (everyone will see it at the start) parked on a public road or parking area viewable from the road.

The fox will be on Cape Ann proper, Gloucester and Rockport, no need to cross the bridges over the Annisquam River.

The fox will transmit on 146.565 MHz at 0.5 watts. With such low transmitting power the fox may not be heard at all until the hunter is within a quarter mile. The fox will play tones followed by my call sign in CW for 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off.

We will have a two hour time limit on finding the fox. If everyone does so quickly we will attempt a second hunt. Sorry, no prizes, just bragging rights, as this is our first hunt. At sometime in the near future we will also have a hunt on foot.

Because fox hunts do not require transmissions by the hunters, an amateur radio license is not required to participate. we have a few handheld radios we can lend out to unlicensed folks who wish to play. 

Questions?

Contact Jim Barber, K1TT, by checking out Radio Active Cape Ann or email: capeann@hotmail.com.

Cheers de K1TT

Clubs / Public Information / Youth

Amateur Radio Presentation to Middle Schoolers, Mass Maritime, July 15, 2024

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Barnstable ARC logoLem Skidmore, W1LEM, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:

[Barnstable Amateur Radio Club] members will be presenting to  approximately 200 seventh and eighth graders at Mass Maritime on Monday, July 15, 2024.  This is a two-week program for “very smart” junior high schoolers. Evening programs are presentations o a variety of topics–ours will be Amateur Radio.

We will present from 6 PM to about 7 PM, then do Q&A and demonstration. We will be on 2m (both the BARC 146.955 repeater, and the FARA 147.375 repeater as well as HF on 10m on 28.300 and upwards, depending on band activity, and 20m 14.225 and upwards. We should be on from about 7 PM to about 8 PM .

Please look for W1MA on the air. We did this last year and the students loved it. In particular, the female students enjoyed talking with Shannon, K1WIT, on VHF, so it would be great if some of our women members could join us.

Clubs / Public Information

Harwich Brooks Park Craft Fair, Harwich, July 13-14, 2024

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Barnstable ARC logoLem Skidmore, W1LEM, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:

We will be setting up HF and VHF stations for GOTA and general contacts. 

The objectives are: public awareness of BARC and Amateur Radio, operating practice, team building, and fellowship.

We will need [Barnstable ARC] members to set up Saturday AM and teardown Sunday PM, as well 4-hour shifts all all day Saturday and Sunday to operate, and to meet and greet the public.

Please contact Mark, K4LFL, the event leader.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Cape Ann ARA Tech-In-A-Day Review, Middleton, June 1, 2024

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Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association members held a Tech-In-A-Day Review and Volunteer Exam Session on June 1, 2024, at the North Shore 911 Dispatch Center in Middleton, MA. Fourteen students attended from various 911 dispatch centers around the Boston metropolitan area.
 
“I am happy to report 12 out of 14 students passed their licenses,” reported Bill Poulin, WZ1L. 
 
Volunteer examiners included:  Bill Poulin, WZ1L; Larry Beaulieu, AJ1Z; and David Suuronen, KB1KR.
 
Kudos to the CAARA gang for a job well done!
 
CAARA Tech In A Day June 1, 2024
Shown here: CAARA Tech In A Day attendees
 
 
Clubs / Youth

W1HUD Hudson High School Updates

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W1HUD Update: April 2024

  • The Hudson High School Facilities installed a Diamond Vertical on the roof to complement the 18 ft tall Hy-Gain 5-band vertical antenna. Collectively we now have HF/VHF/UHF coverage. – Thank you to Facilities!  A special thanks to W1TF for his generosity for needed parts and  N1CNG for testing.
  • AARC – Kicked offed the Technician License Prep course. We have have a very excited group taking part and look forward to taking the test at the end of the year.
  • Spring – Fox Hunt Equipment – Special thanks to KV1J for organizing the equipment list and Hudson Home and School Association for purchasing the materials. 
  • Reminder W1HUD is on the Marlborough Repeater 446.675 every Friday 9:40-10:15. We typically discuss weekly topics and jump on around 10am. – Join us!

 

W1HUD Update: May 2024

  • AARC – Is wrapping up the very first Technician License Prep Course.  We have three students looking forward to taking their test some time this Summer.
  • The First W1HUD Fox Hunt – Special thanks to AARC for organizing a successful Fox Hunt. The students had a great time working with AARC and HHS Volunteers to learn about the technology and techniques needed to find a low frequency transmitter on the HHS campus.
  • The club will get together will get together one last time for the 23-24 school year on Friday 6/7 – Reminder W1HUD will likely be on the Marlborough Repeater 446.675 around 10am. – Join us!
Hudson High School W1HUD group photo
SPRING 2024: Some of the W1HUD crew. Thanks to AARC Members: KV1J, N1CNG, KA1PON, KA1GFN, N1NVJ, K1NKR and HHS Technology Staff for making it happen.
Clubs

N1DM: “OSCAR Program” at Wellesley ARS Hybrid Meeting, May 21, 2024

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General Meeting, May 21, 7:30 PM

Topic: The OSCAR Satellite Program, presented by Dom N1DM

Warren Recreation Center, 90 Washington St., Wellesley, near the intersection of Route 16 and Walnut St.
https://wellesleyma.gov/720/Warren-Recreation-Center

Parking is in the rear of the building and folks can enter at the basement level double doors, through the light tan wood doors, then take a left and up an ADA ramp. We will be in Room 008 on the right near the end of the hallway. If entering through the main front doors, one simply takes the elevator or stairs down to the basement.

This meeting will also be available on Zoom. [Contact danbrownw1dan (at) gmail -dot- com for details]

Clubs

KD1CY: “SKYWARN” at PART of Westford Hybrid Meeting, May 21, 2024

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PART of Westford logoThe May [PART of Westford] meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, beginning at 7:30 PM at the Cameron Senior Center, 20 Pleasant Street, Westford, MA, and via Webex video conference.  For those attending via video conference, a meeting link is below; just click on the green button to join in.  You can join the conference any time after 7:00 PM to check out your gear or just rag chew until the meeting starts. Bear in mind that internet connectivity from the senior center may be unreliable.
 
The meeting agenda includes 
  • A presentation on SKYWARN by Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator. Rob has also served as the ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Boston/Norton (formerly Taunton) since 1996 and has been an avid SKYWARN Spotter since he got his Ham license in 1988.
  • Field Day plans.
 
All attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food for the Westford Food Pantry.
 
See you Tuesday!
 
73,
George, K1IG

President, PART of Westford 

[Contact George Allison, K1IG, at geogeall@me.com for WebEx meeting invite]

Clubs

NA1T: “Emergency Management and American Red Cross,” Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, May 16, 2024

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Nashoba Valley ARC logoThe Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s May meeting is Thursday, May 16th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts.

May’s guest speaker will be Steve Davidson, NA1T. Steve is heavily involved with emergency management and the Red Cross in the New Hampshire amateur radio community. Steve will be describing and demonstrating some of the equipment he uses in emergency deployments, as well as what he and his ARC cronies were up to during the recent Solar Eclipse.

I’m looking forward to Steve’s presentation!

Need directions? 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

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

Clubs

WO1VES: “Fusion, C4FM, and Wires X Yaesu Digital Mode Echosystem” at Cape Ann ARA Meeting, May 11, 2024

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CAARA logoCape Ann ARA Presidenet Brandon Hockle, NQ1W, writes on the CAARA mailing list:

Hello Members and Friends of Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association,

Just a quick reminder that Brian Gudzevich, WO1VES, will be giving a talk on Yaesu System Fusion / C4FM / Wires X and the Yaesu digital mode radio ecosystem up at the CAARA Stanwood Clubhouse this weekend Saturday 5/11 @ noon.
 
Lunch will be available for a small donation to our repeater maintenance fund, which will help CAARA in its mission to replace the damaged 2m antenna system at Blackburn Circle with a new commercial grade antenna setup.
 
This should be another fun time for the club, as our tech talk series during the members meeting have all been really well attended. I think you’ll agree that this year’s speakers have been excellent, each bringing  some fresh new insights on well traveled paths of our hobby as well completely new topics for us to learn. All levels of operator should find value in these great presentations on radio!
 
I hope to see you all there!
 
Regards,
Brandon Hockle NQ1W