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Clubs / Operating / Public Information

Whitman ARC 2007 Plimoth Plantation Special Issue Newsletter

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Whitman ARC Plimoth Plantation Operation 2007The Whitman Amateur Radio Club has produced a special edition of its newsletter, The Spectrum, highlighting the club’s special event operation from the Plimoth Plantation November 24-25, 2007.

According to WARC President Paul Burbine N1VTI, “There were twenty-six Whitman ARC members and five area hams who helped set up and operate three HF base stations, one Echolink station and two 2-meter base stations, along with portable antennas at the recreation of the 17th century Pilgrim Settlement and Wampanoag Indian Homesite.”

“The weather was great but – with the temperature in the low 30s – the gloves were on.”

The Whitman Times carried an excellent article on the event: Thanksgiving transmitted all around the world.

[See also: Plimoth Plantation Special Event, 11/24-11/25/07]
Clubs / Operating

QRA Fox Hunt, Oct. 10, 2007

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fox photoTom Charbonneau, NZ1X writes on the QRA mailing list:

[The Quannapowitt Radio Assocation] will have a 2 meter fox hunt on next Wednesday, October 10, starting from the Senior Center in Reading at 7:00 PM. It usually takes about 15 minutes to line people up in cars, so that we should get rolling by 7:15. That means that if you arrive later than that time the parking lot may be empty, so please try to get there by 7:00.

(If you don’t have a radio and/or directional antenna, you’ll want to go in a car with someone who does.)

We will use the frequency of 146.500 as usual (simplex of course). A compass and a map of the area will help. My cell phone number is 781-258-0625 if you need to call me. Also, I’ll be monitoring the 145.290 repeater prior to the fox hunt.

Clubs / Operating

QRA Fox Hunt, June 21, 2007

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Quannapowitt Radio Association logoThe Quannapowitt Radio Assocation will hold a 2-meter fox hunt on June 21, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Participants are invited to meet in the parking lot of the Reading Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, MA.

“Even if you do not have a directional antenna, you can still participate and have a good time,” writes QRA’s Tom Charbonneau, NZ1X. “Some of us have built a popular 3-element tape measure beam that stows easily in the trunk or back seat and can take a beating. It costs less than $10 to build and works well. I urge you all to build one.”

According to Charbonneau, QRA plans to hold fox hunts on a regular basis.

[See also: QRA Members Go On A Fox Hunt–And A Fabulous Feast!]
Clubs / Operating

QRA Members Go On A Fox Hunt–And A Fabulous Feast!

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Quannapowitt Radio Association logoMembers and guests of the Quannapowitt Radio Assocation participated in a radio direction-finding “fox hunt” and also, were treated to an exceptional meal at the home of Tom Charbonneau, NZ1X on May 29, 2007.

According to QRA’s Bob Reiser, AA1M, he and Ron Draper, WA1QZK hid on a hill near the Stoneham-Reading town line near Route 28. “There was a small problem with the leads on the power supply in the repeater Ron set up, but this was bypassed and the hunt began.”

According to Reiser, the “foxes” were first found by WA1RHN, then a bit later by N1PRW and KB1OZS. All participants finally surrounded the target by 9:45 p.m.

“This was the first fox hunt held by the members of QRA in quite a while,” reports AA1M. “Everyone had a great time and Tom, NZ1X mentioned that maybe next time we will do it on a weekend day so all the participants can get home at a reasonable time.”

–Thanks, QRA News, June 2007

All / Operating / Public Information

International Marconi Day – April 28, 2007

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\"KM1CCAttention Radio Operators – Cape Cod National Seashore to Participate in International Marconi Day April 28th

Date: March 19, 2007
Contact: Barbara Dougan, (508) 255 – 3421 x16

International Marconi Day – April 28, 2007 UTC

FCC licensed radio operators are invited to operate with KM1CC at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham to celebrate International Marconi Day. International Marconi Day honors the birthday of the “Wizard of Wireless,” Guglielmo Marconi, on the Saturday closest to his birth date, April 25, 1874. Operators are needed from Friday April 27 at 8 PM (EDT) through Saturday April 28 6 PM (EDT).

The public is invited to observe operations at the visitor center from 9 AM to 4 PM. Between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM (EDT) weather permitting, KM1CC will use a kite antenna at the Marconi Site in South Wellfleet to operate on 20 Meters, a HF frequency.

For more information contact Barbara Dougan, KB1GSO. Barbara_Dougan@nps.gov . For park information, and maps visit: http://www.nps.gov/caco.

CW and voice operations: 17 Meters, 20 Meters, 40 Meters, and 80 Meters.

17M 18.160 SSB 18.080 CW

20M 14.260 SSB 14.030 CW

40M 7.260 SSB 7.030 CW

80M 3.860 SSB 3.530 CW

Note that there is a change in location this year-operations will be from the Salt Pond Visitor\’s Center on Route 6 in Eastham, not from the usual Coast Guard Building location.

Operating / Youth

Chelmsford HS ARC Kicks Off School Year With Outdoor Demo

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KB1NAY announcement at Chelmsford HS ARCBryce Salmi, KB1LQC writes on the New England QRP Club web site:

“The Chelmsford High School Amateur Radio Club had its early kickoff today. We set up under an outdoor gazebo two stations. Both running Yaesu FT-897D’s (One the schools and one ours) connected to computers and running ham radio deluxe for logging. One radio was connected to the dipole the other to the 6M beam and 2M vertical. We started around 12 PM and really started operating at about 1, after lunch which was a cookout…yes it was raining out but you can’t extinguish that desire to operate! We made a few contacts on 20M voice and 6M voice, however both bands were dead…

We ended up building a 2M J-pole antenna for use at the high school this year for monitoring the ISS SSTV (Yeah its good enough for the ISS SSTV, though not circularly polarized). Many of the members got to help out and cut the copper pipe and solder it together. In the picture it is on a bench right in the center… its hard to see but its there! We came back operated a little and then played some CHSARC Football with my little brother HIHI, we were soaked by the end of it, but it was so fun!

Then we jumped back on the radio and started PSK31 on 40M. That was when we made a few more contacts, actually most of out contacts! We got Matt, one of the unlicensed members very interested in PSK and talked to someone using Flex Radio which was right up his ally since Matt is very good with computers. Gillian talked to Belgium and a few of us talked around the US. [more]

All / Clubs / Operating

Intro To Radiosporting–YCCC-Style!

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YCCC logoBoxboro convention logo

Attention all Northeast Area hams!

Did you know . . .
– You can work 100 countries or all 50 states in a single weekend?
– There’s a way you can compete with other hams locally or on a global scale?
– You can quickly gain new knowledge about radio, antennas and many other exciting technologies?
– You can easily meet and interact with some of the best and brightest technicians and operators in amateur radio?

The Yankee Clipper Contest Club invites you to attend it’s first “Introduction to Radiosporting – Amateur Radio Contesting” seminar at this year’s New England Division Convention in Boxboro, MA.

All are welcome to enjoy a taste of radio contesting. Get the scoop on what contesting is all about. Learn how you can get started and enjoy your first contest. Mingle with others who are just getting started. Hobnob with winners of the biggest international competitions. Learn about the simple and inexpensive equipment, antennas and software that will get you started in contesting.

What: Introduction to Radiosporting – Amateur Radio Contesting
Where: Holiday Inn, Boxboro, MA in the Federal Room
When: Saturday, August 26, 2006 1:00-3:30PM

Additional information about the convention, the seminar and YCCC can be found at www.boxboro.org and www.yccc.org

There’s plenty of room for all who wish to attend. Come alone or bring a friend! Experienced contesters welcome, too. No need to pre-register, but let us know if you think you’ll be there. RSVP to contestingintro@yccc.org You are also invited to join us for a YCCC general meeting at 3:30pm in the Federal Room following the seminar.

73 and we’ll look forward to seeing you at “Introduction to Radiosporting – Amateur Radio Contesting” in Boxboro!

Mark Pride, K1RX
President
Y C C C – The Yankee Clipper Contest Club

PS Questions or comments? Please email contestingintro@yccc.org

Operating

Special Fessenden Commemorative Operation, August 4, 2006

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W1AA/Fessenden QSL cardAmateurs will help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Reginald A. Fessenden’s first voice and music broadcast with a special events operation from the Governor Winslow House in Marshfield, MA on August 4, 2006 from 1500-2100 UTC.

W1AA will operate on 7225-7270, above 14310, and on 17 meters, above 18150. The station will operate on cw 40 khz up from the bottom of the bands, plus or minus QRM.

Stations contacting W1AA will receive a special commemorative QSL card. Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Watch the DX Summit for W1AA Spots, at http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/hfdx25.html.

For further information, contact Dave Riley, AA1A at nmf.marshfield@verizon.net.

[See also: http://www.959watd.com/fessenden.asp]
Field Day / Operating

Braintree EMA Field Day Press Release

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Town of Braintree sealBraintree, MA –- Thousands of Ham Radio operators will be showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend. Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies world-wide. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham radio” – was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, ham radio people are often the first to provide critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 24-25, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with these ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called “Field Day” is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week” sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, “Ham radio works when other systems don’t! ” is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.

“We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather’s radio anymore,” said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. “The communications networks that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives in the past months when other systems failed or were overloaded.”

At Braintree Sunset Lake, the Braintree Emergency Management Agency will be demonstrating Amateur Radio at BEMA Annex @ Sunset Lake on June 24th and 25th. They invite the public to come and see ham radio’s capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.

There are 660,000 Amateur Radio operators in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL, ham volunteers provide emergency communications for the DHS Citizens’ Corps, Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA and thousands of state and local agencies, all for free.

To learn more about Amateur Radio, go to http://www.hello-radio.org. The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. See what modern Amateur Radio can do. They can even help you get on the air!

Operating / Public Information

International Marconi Day

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KM1CC QSL card
International Marconi Day
April 22, 2006 UTC

FCC licensed radio operators are invited to operate with KM1CC at the Coast Guard Station, Coast Guard Beach, Eastham to celebrate International Marconi Day. International Marconi Day honors the birthday of the “Wizard of Wireless,” Guglielmo Marconi, on the Saturday closest to his birth date, April 25, 1874. The public is invited to observe operations from10 am- 3 pm; operators are needed from Friday April 21 at 8 pm ET through Saturday April 22 8 pm ET. For more information contact Barbara Dougan, KB1GSO at Barbara_Dougan@nps.gov . For park information, and maps visit: http://www.nps.gov/caco.

CW and voice operations: local 2 Meter repeaters, 17 Meter, 20 Meter, 40 Meters, and 80 Meters.

17M 18.160 SSB 18.080 CW
20M 14.260 SSB 14.035 CW
40M 7.260 SSB 7.035 CW
80M 3.860 SSB 3.535 CW

Marconi’s South Wellfleet Station site is located in Cape Cod National Seashore and is open to the public. The station was built on a coastal bluff in 1901. Due to erosion, little remains of the original site. However, a model and a few remnants of the tower bases can still be seen.

Cape Cod National Seashore has a free Marconi: Beyond the Horizon lesson plan on its website:  http://www.nps.gov:80/archive/caco/education/Marconi.pdf. This lesson plan includes activities that meet Massachusetts’ history, physical science, and technology/engineering learning standards.

For more information about historic Marconi Stations around the world and International Marconi Day visit: http://gx4crc.com/gb4imd/.

Operating / Youth

KB1NAY School Club Round-Up Schedule

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I am here to tell you that the CHSARC (KB1NAY) will be operating in the ARRL School Club Round-up! Our schedule is:

Monday 2/13/06 – 2:00-3:30 pm
Tuesday 2/14/06 – 2:00-3:00 pm
Wenesday 2/15/06 – 2:00-3:00 pm
thurday 2/16/06 – 2:00-3:00 pm
Friday 2/17/06 – 2:00-3:30 pm

We are mainly on 20M SSB around 14.249 MHz + or – but look for us elseware if you cannot find us since we may be elsewhere. During school at around 10am I will usually get on CW during lunch on 20M and around 11:30 am. Brent (KB1LQD) will as well. All of us will operate under the KB1NAY club call sign. We do have the possibility of moving to 40M but have not done it so far.
We are using a Kenwood TS-440S, 100 Watts into a Hamstick dipole up about 20 feet on a homebrew PVC telescopic mast. For the contest we can only use one radio so we decided to use this rig owned personally by us (KB1LQC, KB1LQD, KB1MGI).

After the first day today (Monday, we made about 39 or 40 contacts, the first contact was with Russia! We have talked to about 15 different states, four countries including Russia, Germany, Croatia, and Canada. We have also talked to four other schools and hope to talk to many more. Mr. Steeves (KB1MKW) did get one of his physics classes on, all of which had never even heard of Amateur Radio and they were very enthused. They made a total of five contacts in their operating time–one of which was DX! All of them were very excited to get on the radio and asked if they could do it tomorrow! I even had a few kids from that class come up to me later in the day expressing how much fun it was to talk on the radio!

Well, we hope to talk to you soon and have many kids talk on the air as well. Thanks for the excuse to get as many kids on the are as we can (especially during school, hi hi!). We hope to get more students involved with amateur radio, and this seems to be one of the ticket for the ride!

Thanks es 73’s
Bryce Salmi
KB1LQC
Co-Founder KB1NAY
KB1LQC@ARRL.NET

Operating

W1AA To Activate Conimicut, Nayatt Point Lighthouses

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W1AA/Conimicut LighthouseW1AA/Nayatt Point LighthouseN1DT and K1VV plan to activate Conimicut and Nayatt Point Lighthouses (ARLHS USA 188, 532) under the call W1AA on Saturday, January 28, 2006 from 11:30 UTC (7:30 AM EST) until 19:00 UTC (2:00 PM EST).

“For the first time, early on, we will to try to work the close in W and VE 1, 2 and 3 operators using 75 SSB,” writes Robert “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV. He notes that the phone frequencies are: 475 SSB 3990 – 3998 , 40 meters- 7209, 7223, 7248, 7281, 7287 plus or minus interference. Operation on 20 meters will be above 14300; 17 meters, above 18150. CW contacts will occur on the half hour on 7.035, 14.035, and 18075.

Doherty notes that they’ll have a packet station in the truck and can spot themselves on the worldwide DX packet cluster.

DX QSLs are via the W1 Bureau and stateside are via W1AA please with an SASE. A color photo QSL of the lightship will be furnished.

Located on Nayatt Point in Barrington, Nayatt Point Lighthouse marks the eastern side of the entrance to the Providence River from Narrangansett Bay. Conimicut Lighthouse was initially a wooden daymark built in 1858 to mark dangerous Conimicut Point Shoal in the middle of the entrance to the Providence River.

All / Operating / Public Information

W1P Special Event Operation Commemorates Steamship Portland Sinking

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KM1CC QSL cardMembers of the Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club (KM1CC) will operate special event station W1P commemorating the 107th anniversary of the sinking of the Steamship Portland on November 25, 2005 from 1400 until 2200 UTC. Look for W1P on the following frequencies (Mhz): 7.050, 14.050, 7.260, 14.260.

The station will be located in the Province Lands Visitor’s Center, in Provincetown, MA. The operation is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the National Park Service. Visitors are welcome.

Stations who contact W1P may QSL with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club KM1CC
Cape Cod National Seashore
99 Marconi Site Road
Wellfleet, MA 02667

While on a regularly scheduled overnight trip from Boston to her namesake city, in Maine, the Portland sank in the waters between Cape Ann and Cape Cod during a fierce November northeaster. Over 190 people lost their lives in the greatest tragedy of the storm, which came to be known as the Portland Gale. Debris from the Portland washed up on Cape Cod beaches, and some items may still be found in local homes and museums. Today, the shipwreck lies within the boundary of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

For further information, contact Henry Brown, K1WCC at 508-540-0753 or email k1wcc@arrl.net.

Operating

W1AA To Activate Boston Light, Graves Light, June 18

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W1AA/Boston LightN1DT and K1VV will activate two historic lighthouses–Boston Light and Graves Light–as W1AA on Saturday, June 18, 2005 from 11:00 UTC (7:00 AM EDT) until 19:00 UTC (3:00 PM EDT), according to Robert “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV.

Look for W1AA on 40 and 20 meters CW and SSB on:

CW 7035.0 14035.0
SSB 7270.0 14270.0

Frequencies are kHz, plus or minus QRM. CW will commence on the half hour.

“We will be operating from Fort Revere in Hull, Massachusetts–elevation 120 feet above sea level–overlooking Boston Harbor and the islands,” writes K1VV.

Doherty invites interested parties to “drop by and take a turn at the key or mike.” They will be operating a mobile packet station so they can “spot” themselves on the worldwide DX packet cluster.

DX QSLs are via the W1 bureau, while stateside are via W1AA callbook address; self-addressed, stamped envelopes are requested. A color photo QSL of both of the light houses will be furnished.

For more information about Amateur Radio Lighthouse operations, visit the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society’s web site at http://arlhs.com.

Operating

Historic LST Museum Ship Arrives in Boston

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LST-325 with amateur station WW2LST, photo #1 by N1VUXLST-325 with amateur station WW2LST, photo #2 by N1VUXThe museum ship LST-325 arrived yesterday in Charlestown Navy Yard, saluted by tugboats (photo, left) and accompanied by a Coast Guard vessel (right).

The ship–a 327-foot World War II vessel designed to transport and deploy tanks and troops during coastal beach landings–is equipped with an Amateur Radio station, WW2LST. She will be in port for four days at the Yard before sailing to New York City.

Photos courtesy N1VUX

See also:
“LST-325 On Historic Cruise To Massachusetts”
“USS LST Ship Memorial – 2005 Voyage”

Operating

K1USN National Military Appreciation Special Event, May 28, 2005

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K1USN Military Appreciation Month QSL cardThe USS Salem Radio Club (K1USN) will operate on the air to celebrate National Military Appreciation Month on Saturday, May 28, 2005 from 1100 UTC to 2200 UTC.

 

According to Bob “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV, the event “recognizes and honors the United States Armed Forces and the dedicated service of its members.”

 

K1USN will use the following frequencies (kHz) and modes:

SSB: 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960, 28360, 50160
CW: 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18079, 21039, 24899, 28039, 50109

 

Look for K1USN also on IRLP Node 4320, 145.39 Mhz Scituate, MA repeater and Echolink node NS1N-R 443.600 Mhz. (Note: The Scituate repeater may be connected to the New England Network so try connecting to reflector 9877.)

 

DX stations may QSL via the W1 Bureau; stateside QSL is via K1USN at the QRZ.com or callbook address. Stations are requested to use a self-addressed, stamped envelope. For further information, contact Pi, K1RV, at k1rv@arrl.net.

 

[See also: Congressional Resolution #328 and Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day.]
All / Operating / Public Information

KM1CC To Participate In International Marconi Day

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KM1CC QSL cardThe Marconi Cape Cod Memorial Radio Club, KM1CC, will operate in the International Marconi Day festivities on April 23, 2005 from 0001 until 2359 UTC. (See also “W1AA/MSC QRV For Int’l Marconi Day, April 23, 2005”)

Barbara Dougan, KB1GSO, a National Park Service employee and the club’s QSL Manager, will activate KM1CC. She needs additional operators, according to Robert “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV.

Doherty encourages interested parties to email Barbara at badougan54@aol.com and notify her of times and availability. “There are bunks to sleep over Friday night,” writes Doherty. “Bring your own sleeping bag and chow.”

Dougan has two complete stations set up. She needs both CW and phone operators for the event.

The station is situated at the National Park Service at Cape Cod National Seashore, on the former site of the U.S. Coast Guard station at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, Massachusetts.