Month: April 2022

Handiham QSO Party, April 29, 2022

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Handiham 55th anniversary logoStarting on Friday:  April 29 at 1900 Z (3 PM Eastern Time), the Handiham organization will be holding a QSO Party to recognize the program’s 55th anniversary.  The QSO party will run through Sunday:  May 1 at 1900 Z.

The goal of this event is to make contacts with as many hams as possible, including Handiham members, and to publicize the work of the Handiham organization as it tries to make ham radio available to people with disabilities.

 All bands and modes will be used.

 The QSO party exchange will simply be callsign, name, and state.

If interested, you can receive a commemorative QSL card from Handihams, confirming your contact.

So, please look for participating Handiham members if you are interested.

ARRL Club Grant Program Informational Webinar, May 4, 2022

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ARRL Foundation logoARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY, writes:

 An informational webinar about the ARRL Foundation Club Grant Program will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 8PM EST.

 Please register in advance for this webinar at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4lhqvUdzS1S34tT1u8ZC4Q

 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

 The website has been created that will be used to convey info on the program at: http://www.arrl.org/club-grant-program

A new mailbox here at ARRL has also been created for correspondence concerning the program:  clubgrants@arrl.org

The official launch of the program is Wednesday, May 4th and clubs can apply after that date.

Thanks,

Mike

Mike Walters, W8ZY
Field Services Manager

ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111-1400
860-594-0305

mwalters@arrl.org
www.arrl.org

Spectrum Protection and Utilization Working Group Holds Third (zoom) Meeting

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The group held its third meeting at 7 P.M. on Monday, April 25, 2022.  The agenda included:

  • A demonstration of the web-based RFI hunting process additions including remediation and training pages
  • RFI team formation progress
  • Mesh network coordination and integration issues including tunneling between different networks.
  • Creation of a new iogroup for Mesh networking information exchange and coordination

The meeting minutes are found on the Spectrum Protection and Use Page.

It was agreed that two working groups would be formed, a new one, nemesh, for Mesh network coordination and the existing iogroup, spectrum-protection-and-use for RFI team work.  Meetings would be held each month, alternating between the two teams.

ME and NH Become the 1st Mesh Networks to Connect in New England

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Bill Richardson, NG1P, in Maine and Jay Taft, K1EHZ in New Hampshire, successfully “tunneled” through the internet to connect their 5 GHz Mesh networks on April 27, 2022.  This achievement is an important first step towards the interconnection of New England Mesh networks over RF links.  Their work demonstrates that it is possible to define an address space across various Mesh networks that will allow them to be interconnected by tunneling between two points.  The next actions include finding the right RF “backhaul” devices and frequencies, siting the locations for tunneling nodes, including power and maintenance needs and coordinating the tunneling addresses.  A great deal of work remains but the New England Division has taken a step closer to its goal thanks to Bill and Jay.

ARRL Forum, Other Events Scheduled for NEAR-Fest in Deerfield, NH, April 29-30, 2022

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NEAR-Fest logoA full schedule of events and activities for NEAR-Fest XXXI has been posted at <http://www.hamclass.net/nears22.html>.

ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, will host the ARRL Forum on Friday, April 29 at 11:00 AM. Fred will present an update of ARRL actions including: the ARRLClub Grant Program; and news about potential legislation in New England that could adversely affect amateur radio. Bring all your questions to this fast-paced forum!

All forums will be held in the Arts & Crafts Building, opposite the Administration Building. Look for the flag pole. This is near the main entrance, which is not used for NEAR-Fest.

The VE Session will be conducted in the back of this Arts & Crafts building, in the basement.

Project “Big E” Receives Approval for Hosting an ARISS Contact!

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Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes on the Project Big E list:

I just received word that the Big E Booth’s application for an ARISS [Amateur Radio on the International Space Station] contact has been APPROVED! 

We’re working closely with New England Sci-Tech President Bob Phinney, K5TEC, and our New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, to make this happen.

We’re very excited as you all should be too!

There is still much to plan and put in place.

But a great way to start your Sunday!

[For more information about the Amateur Radio presence at the Big E, and to get involved, see <https://nediv.arrl.org/2021/01/10/amateur-radio-booth-proposed-for-the-big-e-in-2022/>.]

Fox Hunt in Wallingford, CT, April 24, 2022

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Shawn Warren, KC1NQE, writes on the ctfoxhunter list:
 
FIAB Sunday will start at 09:30 from Wallingford.
 
1FIAB, a 1W beacon on 145.7
3FIAB beacon, 12mW on 145.3
 
4FIAB will be available on 145.2 1W DTMF-1 as backup.
 
All will be shut down at 11:00 unless
 
Shawn Warren
203-509-2399
KC1NQE – Keep Creating 1 New Quality Experience

Amateur Radio Activities at CONNJAM, May 14, 2022

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Connecticut Section Youth Coordinator Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes:

CONNJAM 2022 is less than  3 Weeks Out. Saturday – May 14, 2022 7 am – 4 pm

Ham Radio Volunteers Wanted to “Share the Magic”

Here is a great opportunity for you to be part of a team effort that will showcase a variety of Amateur Radio Activities to Scouts of all levels at their BIG Camporee in Orange.

CONNJAM happens only once every 3 or 4 years, and is sponsored by the BSA Connecticut Yankee Council. They are expecting about 2,500 scouts to attend, and we need your help to run a variety of Amateur Radio Activities for them. In fact, for most scouts, this will be their first time being exposed to Amateur Radio.

SHARE THE MAGIC

2 Ways to Volunteer:  On-Site + Off-Site

On-Site Volunteer Activities

  • Amateur Radio Direction Finding (aka: Fox hunting).
  • Teach scouts the basics and send them off to find the Lost Patrol (Fox hunting experience required)
  • Morse Code
  • Teach scouts how to send their name in CW
  • Very Easy. If you can say “DIT” and “DAH”, demonstrate the CW Practice Key (provided), and have a Beginner / “Novice” level knowledge of Morse Code, then you qualify.
  • 2 VHF/UHF GOTA Stations
  • Need Hams to help scouts have an ON THE AIR conversation with other stations.

Off-site Volunteer Activity (VHF/UHF FM and DMR)

  • Operate from Home/Mobile/Portable
  • Sign up to take a 1 hour Shift
  • Monitor local Repeaters from Norwalk to Killingworth and have short conversations with scouts.

Available 1 Hour Slots

Morning:    9 am, 10 am, 11 am     Afternoon: 1 pm,  2 pm,  3 pm
Let me know which time slot works best for you. (ConnJamHam@gmail.com)

Having Amateur Radio activities at CONNJAM 2022 is going to be a lot of fun!
Whether you are On-Site or Off-Site, you will have the opportunity to “Share The Magic” of Amateur Radio and “Excite” the imagination of many Scouts… possibly planting the seed for them getting their license.

To JOIN US, please contact me at my Event Email Address:
ConnJamHam@gmail.com

Thank you.

—
73, Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH

Amateur Radio Coordinator – CONNJAM 2022

ConnJamHam@gmail.com