Month: March 2022

Volunteers Sought for Clamdigger Road Race, Westerly, RI, April 24, 2022

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Jim Creamer, KB1MAO writes on the RI-ARES mailing list:

Attached is the information for our first event of the year down here in Westerly.  Due to Deaths, moves and job changes it looks like I could use a few more hams.  <…>  It is a short event, so, I understand many not wanting to travel any long distance with the price of gas what it is.

Attached is the information on this year’s Clamdigger Road Race.  Please reserve the date, Sunday 24 April 2022, to help with the event.  Last  year’s turnout left us  wanting for help on the course.

Please let me know your availability at your earliest convenience.

Thank you,

Jim Creamer, KB1MAO
Westerly Amateur Radio Team
Washington County District Emergency Coordinator
Assistant RI Section Emergency Coordinator

 

Amateur Extra “Continuous” License Classes Online, March-November, 2022 at New England Sci-Tech in Natick, MA

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From ema.arrl.org:

    From nescitech.org:New England Sci Tech logo

ONLINE COURSE – ADVANCED LEVEL – AE LICENSE

This ONLINE ham radio license course will get you ready to take the Ham Radio AMATEUR EXTRA license exam, the THIRD of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and home-school students. Yes, we give online ham radio exams, too! (See below)

This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn much more than just watching a video or buying a book. You get a full 24 hours of instruction over eight 3-hour classes. Take the course from anywhere – it’s ONLINE!

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Recommended text: ARRL Extra Class License Manual, 12th edition, for exams through June 30, 2024, (purchase on ARRL website). Regular practice and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.

[Full story]

Statement From IARU

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IARU LogoJoel Harrison, W5ZN, IARU Secretary writes:

In response to recent world events, the International Amateur Radio Union has issued the following statement:

“IARU is an apolitical organization focused on promoting and defending amateur radio and the amateur radio services. The amateur radio service is about self-instruction in communications and friendship between people.”

Mesh Nodes Start to Grow in New England

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From Newport County (RI) Radio Club Facebook page:

Thanks are due to Rob, KB1ZZU, Eagle Scout (and Wentworth Institute student) and David Streets, his dad, for spending seven hours atop a roof on a windy Tuesday doing heavy maintenance and system hardening on three ARDEN mesh nodes in Cranston, Rhode Island. The 2 GHz and 5 GHz nodes are back online and are ready for action. The work party was organized by Mike, K1NPT.

Eagle Scout Rob, KB1ZZU, and his dad readied three mesh nodes for service in Cranston, RI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[You can learn more about New England spectrum usage and mesh networks at <https://nediv.arrl.org/spectrum-protection-utilization/>.]

 

March 2022 Maine SM eNews

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Maine SM Phil Duggan, N1EP, writes on the Maine ARRL Members list:

It was great seeing many of you at the Augusta Boat Anchor Hamfest in February. It was an honor to present Certificates of Merit to three amazing Maine hams who have made huge contributions to our ham radio community: Bill Mann, W1KX; Al Sirois, N1MHC; and Jose Douglas, KB1TCD.

As you know, I was appointed interim section manager for Maine December 1, 2021.  I also ran for the coming 2-year term starting July 1, 2022.  No one else was nominated to run for Maine SM by the deadline, so the ARRL has informed me that I have been declared the winner. I look forward to continuing to serve you as section manager. Here are some newsworthy events I thought you should know about. 73 de Phil Duggan, N1EP.

Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club Hamfest & Convention
April 1 through April 2, 2022
Ramada Inn Conference Center, Lewiston

There will be some presentations Friday evening. Saturday morning is the hamfest and more presentations and meetings, including the New England Division ARRL Forum. Amateur radio examinations are also planned. (See below) Details and more info available here: http://www.w1npp.org/pages/MEConvention2022.html

The Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge

The Wireless Society of Southern Maine sponsors the 4-hour Maine 2-Meter FM Simplex Challenge scheduled for March 26, 2022. Details and rules are listed here: http://www.ws1sm.com/2-Meter-Challenge.html

Ham Radio Test Sessions

Saturday, March 19th 9:00 AM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Location: Calvary Chapel 154 River Road Orrington
Sponsor: Pine State ARC Contact: Peter Bither, redbeard104@aol.com, 944-2616

Saturday April 2nd  Ramada Inn Conference Center 490 Pleasant Street Lewiston 12:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Sponsor: Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club Contact: Donald Wakeman 751-1166 ka1wal.dsw@gmail.com
 

Amateur Radio on the International Space
ARISS News Release No.  22-09
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Message to US Educators: 

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity

Call for Proposals

New Proposal Window is February 21, 2022 to March 31, 2022

February 16, 2022 — The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS.  ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.

The deadline to submit a proposal is March 31, 2022  Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at https://ariss-usa.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-usa/. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on March 3, 2022, at 8 PM ET.  The Eventbrite link to sign up is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2022.eventbrite.com

The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.

An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.  Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio.

Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education@gmail.com.

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ARRL Maine Section
Section Manager: Philip W Duggan, N1EP
n1ep@arrl.org
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Twelfth Annual Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, March 26, 2022

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Maine 2-meter Simplex Challenge logoFrom the WS1SM ham radio blog:

The 12th Annual Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge takes place Saturday, March 26th, from 12PM – 4PM!

The Maine 2 meter FM Simplex Challenge is a ham radio contest primarily designed to give 2 meter operators a chance to compete on an even basis, and have fun doing it.

Saturday, March 26, 2022, and runs for 4 hours, beginning at 12:00 PM local time.

Contacts are limited to FM Simplex on the 2 meter band.

Participants may be entered as either fixed or mobile, (but not as both).

Exchange – Exchange items include your call sign, the name of the city, village, town, or township you are operating from, and your power level. Rovers and mobiles must be within the city limits of whatever city they claim to be operating from. If you are operating from a served agency station, you should also include this with your exchange. Specify which agency you serve, for example, “SKYWARN,” “EOC,” or “Red Cross.” On the log sheets, however, there will only be a place to notate whether or not the station is operating from a served agency.

City or Town – This is simply the name of the city or town you are operating from. If you do not live within the city limits, use the name of the town or municipality to which mail or a package would be addressed.

For mobile entries, use the name of the city or town you are in, or the closest city or town.

Power levels are defined as follows:
• QRP – 5 watts or less
• Medium Power – greater than 5 watts, but less than 100
• High Power – 100 watts or more

Enter as either Fixed (either at home or portable) or Mobile (roving).

Visit http://www.ws1sm.com/2-Meter-Challenge.html for complete rules and details, including Entry Forms and Log Sheets, for the 2022 Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge.

The Overall winner of the 2021 Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge was Dick Bean K1HC, from Westwood, Massachusetts, who made a total of 95 QSOs, in 41 different towns, for a total of 3,895 points. Congratulations on a job well done! K1HC operated as Fixed Medium from his vacation home in Haprswell, Maine, using an Icom IC-9700 into a Diamond X50 at 295′ above sea level, during the contest. Visit http://www.ws1sm.com/2-Meter-Challenge-2021.html to see all the 2021 category winners.

 

 
 

Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine

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QRZ.com Chief Executive Officer Jaime Jeffries, KF7WIS, writes:

As we watch the unfolding situation in Ukraine, we at QRZ have been searching for ways to help. We are horrified by actions that directly harm the Ukrainian people and want to be of service in any way possible. The New York Times published a list this morning of four organizations that have been offering aid in Ukraine for many years and who are best situated to meet humanitarian needs on the ground. The first of those organizations is Direct Relief.

“Direct Relief has supplied Ukraine with $26 million in medical aid over the past six months. Last weekend, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health sent Direct Relief a list of needed medical supplies, which the group is working to acquire and deliver.” They spend no money on advertising and are top-ranked by Charity Navigator, the nonprofit transparency site.

Another organization of which I have direct knowledge and which is listed by The New York Times in their article, is Save The Children. The passage below is from their website.

“Save the Children is concerned for children caught in the middle of armed conflict, forced from their homes in freezing temperatures, and exposed to injury, hunger and cold. Your donation to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund can help provide children and families with immediate aid, such as food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support and cash assistance. Together, we can protect children in crisis.

I hope that this information is helpful to some of you, as it was to me.

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Maine State Convention, Lewiston, April 1-2, 2022

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The Maine State Convention will be held Friday, April 1st and Saturday April 2nd, 2022 at the Ramada Inn & Convention Center, 490 Pleasant St, Lewiston, ME, just off I-95, Exit 80. Talks are free, admission into the vendor area is $10 at the door.

Friday Night Talk Schedule:

7:00 PM: ARDEN MESH Networking Talk & Demonstration Bill Richardson (NG1P)
8:00 PM: Soldering Class, Build a Monitor for Keeping Track of Battery Voltage Joel Curneal (N1JEO) – $10 cost to cover kit
8:00 PM: 6-Meter Magic Lefty Clement (K1TOL)

Saturday Morning Talk Schedule:

10:00 AM: ARDEN MESH Networking Talk & Demonstration Bill Richardson (NG1P)
10:00 AM: Quarter Century Wireless Club (QCWA) Chapter Meeting
11:00 AM: ARRL Forum Fred Kemmerer (AB1OC) New England Director & Phil Temples (K9HI) Vice Director

If you would like to reserve a room at the Ramada Inn for the special rate, please call 207-784-2331 and mention Maine Hamfest Convention.