Month: August 2021

NZ1J: POTA Operation from Sleeping Giant, Wharton Brook State Parks, August 14, 2021

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Dave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the Meriden (CT) ARC Facebook group:

We had a [Parks On The Air] activation at Sleeping Giant [K-1717] and Wharton Brook [K-1728]  simultaneously today.

Rob, K1RCT, hunted both activations from the EOC. The parks are only two miles apart and the EOC is four miles from each park. At these short distances, even with portable antennas, we were able to work every band from 160 meters to 70cm on each of the three paths. That, along with QSOs with quite a few club members, resulted in about 200 total QSOs. For anyone who wants to get on the air more, Parks on the Air is a very good way to do it. 

map of POTA operations

YCCC Meeting Agenda Announced at HamXposition

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Yankee Clipper Contest Club logoThe Yankee Clipper Contest Club has announced its meeting agenda for the YCCC Forum at the Northeast HamXposition (a.k.a. New England ARRL Division Convention) on September 11, 2021:

Hosts: Charlie – N1RR and Ken – WO1N
1:00 – 1:10 Intro and greeting by WO1N
1:10 – 1:20 Club Business as required by N1RR

– Secretaries Report
– Treasurer Report
– New Members
o Intro
o Vote
– Other Club Business

1:20 – 1:25 Transition

1:30 – 2:55 Contesting Activities for Young People, Helping to Create the Next Generation of Contesters

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
Fred will share some contesting activities he has employed that have helped to get young people to begin participating in Amateur Radio Contests. He will share activities that have proven successful and use this forum and panel discussion as a place to exchange ideas to encourage young hams to try contesting, have fun, build their skills and beat the old timers at their game. The panel of youth contesters will be available for questions and answers and offer their opinions on what has worked for them to improve their contesting skill and the future of contesting as they see it.

Youth Contesters Panel
Moderator: Marty Sullaway, NN1C
Contesters: Abby Finchum, AB1BY, Brayden Ebare, KC1KUG

2:55 – 3:00 Transition

3:05 – 3:50 Building an entry level, multi radio contest station

Jeff Demers, N1SNB
Jeff describes his quest to build a HF contesting station that is stealthy and capable. Jeff’s station goals included SO2R capability, mode flexibility, high power capable and covering all HF bands. Join Jeff’s talk to hear of some of the lessons from his journey and how this effort enhanced his enjoyment of the hobby.

4:00 – 4:50 Why Join the YCCC?

Ken Caruso, WO1N
Ken will talk to the YCCC value proposition. What does joining the YCCC have to offer? Ken will review its community presence, activities and history. Membership applications will be entertained during the entire meeting. Stop by and join up!

4:50 – 5:00 Wrap up

Following Earthquake in Haiti, Radio Amateurs Asked to Keep Frequencies Clear

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From ARRL Web:

08/14/2021 – In a statement received by ARRL on August 14, 2021, Region 2 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU-R2) has requested that radio amateurs in the Americas keep the following frequencies clear to support emergency communications in Haiti following an earthquake this morning: 3750 kHz, 7150 kHz and 14330 kHz. The statement came from IARU-R2 Emergency Coordinator (EMCOR) Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC.

According to preliminary information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on August 14, 2021 at 1229 UTC, about 12 kilometers northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 33 kilometers to the east-northeast of Les Cayes, Haiti; 18.352 degrees north and 73.4801 degrees west at a depth of 10 km.

Mr. Jean-Robert Gaillard, HH2JR, President of the Radio Club of Haiti, reported significant structural damage.

International news reports fear high casualties.

ARRL Headquarters Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Connecticut Firefighter, KB1YYG/SK

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ARRL logoARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, writes on August 12, 2021:

It is tough when we lose young hams.  

An historic building in nearby New Hartford went to a 3-alarm fire on Tuesday morning.

As a result of risking his life to fight the fire, 26-year-old Burlington firefighter, Colin J. Mcfadden, KB1YYG, from Bristol, Connecticut has died from an injury he sustained.

Colin was an ARRL member.

We are flying the ARRL HQ flags at half-staff in acknowledgement and appreciation of his bravery and membership.

David Minster, NA2AA, CEO

Franklin Co. (MA) Members To Provide Public Service Communications for Two Events

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From wma.arrl.org:

Aaron Addison, KF1G, writes:

The Franklin County Amateur Radio Club will provide communications for two events soon to take place in our area. We welcome licensed amateurs who would like to join us.

On 20 August, the Franklin County Land Trust will host an off the beaten path bicycle tour, called the Deerfield Dirt Road Rondonee (D2R2). It is part of their fund raising efforts. As the name of the tour suggests, it is mostly over dirt roads, in rural towns of western Franklin County and up into southern Vermont. Radio communications are necessary for key points along the tour where cell phone service is not available. At those points, our communicators will be the only way the Franklin Land Trust staff can send or receive messages to and from the base for the race in Deerfield.

The tour consists of three routes: 100k, 160k, and 180k. The first group of riders start at 6 AM, and the last rider may return as late as 6 PM. We will not cover that entire time period. We will ask radio volunteers to work in shifts. Volunteers may occasionally be asked to bring equipment, water, or food to remote stops along the way

On 29 August, the Connecticut River Conservancy and the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club sponsor a traditional, 26 mile marathon. It starts at the campus of the former Marlboro Community College, in Marlboro, VT, and follows a path along the banks of the Green River, over mostly dirt roads. Our club members, with help from others, will help with the needs of the race staff, many positioned at water stops along the way. We are also there to call for help if needed by runners in distress.

For the D2R2, contact Al Woodhull, N1AW, at aswoodhull@yahoo.com, or 413-773-3522.
For the Green River Marathon, contact Chris Myers, KB1NEK, at camyers@protonmail.com, or 413-625-0344
More information on the Groups.IO site, at FCARC-MA, in the FILES section.

K1SSN Sub Base Radio Station Needs Help

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USS NautilusHarrison Solt, N1FAM, writes on the Radio Amateur Society of Norwich (CT) mailing list:

While the [U.S. Naval Submarine Base, located in Groton, Connecticut] station has been reestablished and their towers and antennas restored, they recently lost their callsign (K1SSN) custodian/trustee.  Bob, K1RJV, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, was the custodian for many years.  For the past couple of years Rich, NL9H, of Green, Rhode Island, was the custodian. 

Currently the station is maintained by Air Force MARS members led by Ted, K1YON of Hartland, Connecticut (NW corner of the state).  Ted and his team are about two hours from the base.  Ted is looking for help from a local ham or one of the local clubs to pick up the call and assist/manage the station.  The individual does not need to be military.  Access to the base is not an issue.  If help is not found, the callsign will be lost and the equipment surplussed.

This is an idea opportunity for one of the local clubs to partnership with the base and very likely grow both clubs (the local club and the base club).  If not one of the clubs, perhaps someone out there is interested in coming to the aid of this historic station.  There are many possibilities here.  Can you help?  If so please answer this post and contact Ted, K1YON at k1yon@juno.com.  This is an important issue that needs help.

Scouts, Newport Country RC Members Set Up Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network at Sites in Cranston and Warwick, RI

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The Newport County (RI) Radio Club writes on its Facebook page:

“Be Prepared” has been the Scout Motto for over 100 years. In our digitally-interconnected age, we’re now confronting new threats, new challenges like ransomware, other cyber threats, and electric grid outages.
 
Troop 7 Buttonwoods (Warwick, RI) spent much of Saturday in blazing heat testing a self-healing, radio-based “intranet” that could be used by responders during regional emergencies.
 
The tests at five different Cranston and Warwick sites were organized and managed by scout Brian C. who is completing requirements for the Eagle Scout rank.
 
Volunteers from the Newport County Radio Club helped prepare the key roof-top system and interpret the test results.
 

Maine MESH Network Meeting, August 11, 2021

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MESH topology symbolCory Golob, KU1U, writes:
 
As per our discussion at the last Mesh Network Meeting in July, we will be having a meeting tomorrow night (August 11 @ 6:30 PM Eastern/ 3:30 PM Pacific) via Zoom and will have a 45 minute presentation from Orv Beach, W6BI. The Topic is “Using AREDN Software to Create a Ham Radio Network.”
 
I am including all ASMs in Maine in case they are interested in attending this participation.
 
[Contact Cory Golob, KU1U, at ku1u -at- protonmail -dot- com for meeting details.]
 
This presentation will be recorded. Please bring any questions you may have that will contribute to the development and expansion of Mesh Networking in Maine.
 
73 DE KU1U