Month: August 2022

ARRL Foundation Grants $270,000 to Amateur Radio Clubs

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From ARRL News:

08/31/2022 – The new ARRL Foundation Club Grant Program, funded by a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), has awarded $270,000 to radio clubs that participated in the first round of applications.

The Club Grant Program, introduced earlier this year, includes $500,000 to be awarded to radio clubs with projects that will have the most impact on amateur radio, the community, and the future of radio technology. The grants will fund transformative projects that encourage the growth of active amateur radio operators and training opportunities, education programs for student groups and schools, and club revitalization. A second round of applications to award the program’s remaining funding will open on September 7, 2022.

Twenty-four clubs were notified on Monday, August 29, that they are receiving grants. The ARRL Foundation received 128 applications in the first round, with requests totaling $1.74 million. The selection committee noted that it was difficult work deciding from many high-quality grant proposals considering the finite available funds. Radio clubs that did not receive grants in the first round may revise and resubmit applications in the second round.

An informational webinar will serve as an orientation to the program, providing information on how to apply. The webinar will take place on September 7 at 7 PM Eastern Time. Please register in advance to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar:

Webinar: ARRL Club Grant Program | Round Two Kickoff
When: September 7, 2022 at 7 PM Eastern Time
Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PezTqPKCTzuwy58FWWgJ3A

The ARRL Foundation, established in 1973 by ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®, administers the Club Grant Program. ARRL has long recognized that it is in the best interests of amateur radio to encourage and support amateur radio clubs. Clubs historically have recruited, licensed, and trained new radio amateurs and have provided the community setting for them to continue their education and training.

The new Club Grant Program will help clubs more easily provide and expand their important services. More information about the program can be found on the ARRL Foundation website at www.arrl.org/club-grant-program.

Ham Assistance Requested: 2022 Surftown Half Marathon – September 11 – Westerly, RI

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Jim Creamer writes:

Westerly Amateur Radio Support

Date:

Sunday, 11 September 2022

Events:

13.1 mile run from Misquamicut West to Watch Hill and back thru Misquamicut to Weekapaug and back to Misquamicut.
5K run from Misquamicut to Weekapaug Breachway and back Misquamicut

Location:

Start – Westerly Wuskenau Town Beach, Atlantic Ave. Misquamicut, RI
Finish – Westerly Wuskenau Town Beach, Atlantic Ave. Misquamicut, RI
Net Control – TBD
Meet – Net Control

Schedule:

0530 – Net Control set up
0630 – Team Briefing (Staging Area at Net Control)
0710 – Atlantic Ave. and other roads Closed to vehicles
0715 – Race Line Up
0730 – Half Race Start (first wave)
0745 – 5K Race Start (first wave)
1100 – Race over (approximately)

Frequency:

147.315, + .6 MHz offset (CTCSS 110.9) (primary)
147.315 simplex (CTCSS 110.9) (secondary) (Repeater Output)
(Program your radios ahead of time and test if possible.)

Equipment:

Mobile radio or a good HT with a good antenna or mag mount antenna for those on the course,
Cell Phone, Course Map and Information Sheet, ICS 214 Log, Notebook & pen/pencil, Safety Vest,
Clothing appropriate for the weather.

Our Primary concern is safety on the course, ours and the competitors. We need to wear safety vests on
or near the road. If we are injured, we will not be of use to anyone. We will report injuries or illness to
911 if appropriate and then Net Control. Net control will report the information to the event
coordinator and if needed contact 911. Bib numbers only on the radio.

NOTE: There will be road closures. You need to arrive at the staging area early to avoid them

Newport County Radio Club Experimental Microwave Group Meets

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The experimental microwave group of the Newport County (RI) Radio Club (NCRC) gathered to test their AREDN mesh network radios before a site test on Prudence Island in Narragansett Bay.  Two local island women (and club members) recently studied and passed their Technician license specifically to pioneer resilient radio communication on their small island. The NCRC has been experimenting with AREDN (Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network) since 2015, over distances of up to three miles. Today’s gathering was testing the equipment at a local park on 2397 MHz, a super high frequency ham channel below the 2.4GHz WiFi band.

Participants included Paul Fredette, K1YBE; Rob White, KB1ZZU; Mike Cullen, K1NPT; Keith Henry, KC1LPV; and Nancy Austin, KC1NEK. 

QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, September 17-18, 2022

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QSO Today logoEric Guth, 4Z1UG, writes:

Here is an update for the upcoming QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, opening in two weeks, September 17th and 18th, 2022.

Over 50 Amateur Radio Presentations Scheduled.

We now have over 50 Expo presentations scheduled for the weekend. The times are in UTC and PDT (Pacific Daylight Time). We have included an ICS download under Add to Calendar and instructions for adding these specific presentations to your Google or Outlook calendar.

If a presentation includes downloadable slides or white paper, then it will appear in the presentation summary under “Collateral or Slides:”

Beginner and Intermediate tracks  are in parallel and one after the other to allow the best user experience for new hams getting started. Expert presentations are scattered throughout the two days of the Expo. FlexRadio, our Platinum Sponsor, has their own presentation track.

All presentations will have live question and answer periods after the presentation itself. Of course, all of the presentations will be available for the on-demand period following their scheduled time slot for ticket holders.

Click on this link to view the presentation list

Click on this link to see the presentations broken out by time slot

Click on this link to buy your ticket

Click on this link if you need a youth or student scholarship

Q&A with Raymond Lajoie, AA1SE, Technical Coordinator for The BIG E Space Chat

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We caught up with Ray Lajoie, AA1SE, who is heavily involved with “Project Big E,” the ham radio display booth showcasing modern Amateur Radio in West Springfield, Massachusetts from September 16 to October 2, 2022; and the related “BIG E Space Chat,” an ARISS contact scheduled to take place from The BIG E Exhibition/Fair sometime between September 26 and 29.

 

Q: What is your involvement with Project Big E and BIG E Space Chat?

AA1SE:

I’m currently supporting Larry Krainson, W1AST, with the booth setup as well as constructing equipment for displays. I’m also working with Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, to help coordinate the technical aspects of the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) contact. Finally, I’ll fill in and staff the booth in the event someone is unable to work their shift.

Q: What are some of the technical aspects you’re working on?

AA1SE:

I’m making sure that our pre-contact audio-video and live presentation is choreographed and well-timed. I’m also ensuring that all the connections—telebridge, telephone, and internet, and sound—are tested ahead of time and that there won’t be any failures in the arena or the booth.

Q:  What happens if there is inclement weather?

AA1SE:

ARISS requires that we have contingency plans in place. In the event of inclement weather, we will move the BIG E Space Chat inside to the booth area in the Better Living Center.

Q: How did you get involved in this project?

AA1SE:

I was volunteered! Seriously though—I am the Western Massachusetts Section Manager, and I feel a responsibility to help out in any way since it involves my section. Larry, W1AST, and the Hampden County Radio Association took on a huge challenge and I want to make sure that he and the club have my full support.

Q:  With whom are you working?

AA1SE:

The project involves a number of collaborative partners. I’m working with Bob Phinney, K5TEC, of New England Sci-Tech in Natick, Massachusetts. Also, the ARISS program. Black Helicopter Creative are our media partners. They are donating their services to help produce the pre-contact show. I’m also working with the Mellowship camera and production crew for Eastern States Exposition.

Q: Have you done anything like this before?

AA1SE:

No. While I have experience with audio/video working for Comcast, I’ve never done anything on such a large scale. The choreography will provide a unique challenge for me.

Q: What do you hope will come from this experience?

AA1SE:

It’s my hope that Project BIG E and The BIG E Space Chat will provide entertaining and informative content which will inform the general public about Amateur Radio and have a positive impact on youth and STEM education.

Southeast Connecticut Amateur Radio Society Foxhunt, Preston CT, September 4, 2022

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Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list: 

SECARS will be sponsoring a foxhunt Sunday, September 4 at 1 PM – with a rain date of Monday, September 5 at 1 PM.  We will be at the Preston Community Park –  (10 Lincoln Park Rd Ext, Preston, CT 06365 – Hike the Trail — Tri Town Trail Association).

This will be an on-foot foxhunt. We will have 6 fox boxes running. Frequencies are listed on the SECARS website – we will be running foxes C, H, I, J, K at https://secars.org/foxhunting/.  The additional fox frequency for the 6th box will be added later this week, so look for another announcement with the parameters for Fox L.  Please let me know if you need any additional information.  Talk in will be available on 146.730 MHz PL 156.7 Hz.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Many thanks,

Mark Noe KE1IU

RAO to Launch New Amateur Radio Learning Program for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Students with Support from ARDC

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From ema.arrl.org:

Nico Bezzerides, KC1PNP, writes on the STARS-radio mailing list:

I just saw this (https://public.nrao.edu/news/nrao-receives-ardc-ham-radio-grant/) and I thought this was really cool. There may even be an opportunity for us to partner with this project in order to fulfill their “connection with amateur radio clubs” requirement.

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“Following a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the National Science Foundation‘s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will soon launch a two-year project to engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students in learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and the excitement of amateur— also called ham— radio. The new project, Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS), is expected to offer its first student-facing trainings in January 2023.

ARDC selected EMS because of NRAO’s proven track record in supporting underrepresented minority students in the sciences by combining mentoring and instruction from content experts with best practices in equity.

As a part of NRAO’s broader impacts-focused SuperKnova learning platform, EMS will combine the expertise of NRAO staff, amateur radio enthusiasts, and other subject matter experts to develop a scalable and shareable curriculum, introduce students to EMS and radio technologies through hands-on activities, and support students in attaining technical and general class licenses in amateur radio.

Amateur radio provides a hands-on entry point to understanding the radio spectrum and its practical uses, including communications, astronomy, and community emergency infrastructure and response. Early support and engagement with amateur radio has the potential to create pathways for students to a future career or lifelong hobby in the sciences. The $315,123 ARDC grant will allow NRAO to develop and execute the program for two cohorts of students. It will also result in the development of a nine-month EMS curriculum that will be freely available to school groups, community clubs, and educational institutions.

NRAO Director Tony Beasley said, “Amateur radio continues to be incredibly important to the nation and global communications, and NRAO is excited to be working with ARDC to bring a new generation and diverse communities to the field.”

73

Nico, KC1PNP

Ham Assistance Requested: Cystic Fibrosis for Life – October 1, 2022 – Holliston, MA

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Dave Gilman K1DDH writes:

The 2022 Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for Life is coming up on Saturday October 1st, 2022 and I am in need of Amateur Radio Operators to volunteer for SAG (Support & Gear) operations and if there is sufficient quantity of volunteers we will also be staffing the rest stops.
For those who have not worked this event before, it is a charity bicycle ride starting and finishing in Holliston Massachusetts. Funds raised benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in their quest for a cure.
There are 3 routes. A 12 mile, 30 mile and 62 mile loop and 4 rest stops traversing several towns around Holliston.
If you are available to help out please fill out this form and I will be in touch with more details as the date gets closer.
Thank You,

Dave Gilman KC1DDH
Course Safety & Communications Coordinator

Greater Bridgeport ARC Fox Hunt, August 21, 2022

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Greater Bridgeport ARC loogoShawn Takatsu, NR1T, writes on the Greater Bridgeport ARC mailing list:

Tomorrow [August 21, 2022] at 10 am we’re hosting our monthly fox hunt by Shawn, NR1T.

As always, all are welcome to join in the fox hunt, both members and non-members as well as non-licensed operators as you don’t need to transmit to direction find.

The recommended starting areas are the park and ride off route 15, exit 46 and the Stop and Shop in Newtown on route 25.

Details can be found here: Foxhunt Details

If you have never ‘hunted a fox’ before and would like to team up, please reach out to me and I’ll find someone you can team with.

We look forward to seeing you at the fox!