Serving ARRL members who reside in the New England sections
Skip Youngberg, K1NKR, writes on the Algonquin (MA) ARA mailing list:
The New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich, Rhode Island is having a Yankee Tune-Up on July 22, 2023. Come trade and sell your antique radios, vintage electronics and ham gear.
The entire museum will be open as well for your viewing pleasure.
Come join HamSCI at its sixth annual hybrid in-person and virtual workshop March 17-18, 2023 at The University of Scranton. The primary objective of the HamSCI workshop is to bring together the amateur radio community and professional scientists. The theme of the 2023 HamSCI Workshop is Forging Amateur-Professional Bonds.
This workshop will also serve as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station project, a NSF-funded project to develop a citizen science instrument for studying space weather from your backyard. The PSWS is led by the University of Scranton, and includes participation from TAPR, Case Western Reserve University/W8EDU, the University of Alabama, the New Jersey Institute of Technology CSTR, MIT Haystack Observatory, Dartmouth College, and the amateur radio community at large.
The 2023 HamSCI workshop is organized by The University of Scranton with generous financial support provided by the United States National Science Foundation and ARDC. HamSCI is an officially recognized NASA Citizen Science project. [More]
From New England Sci-Tech ARS News, March 14, 2023:
New England Sci-Tech/Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) [in Natick, MA] has been invited to run a STEM activity table at [Minor League Worcester Red Sox (“WooSox”) games in Worcester, MA] both pre-game and during the game on July 26, Aug 9, and Aug 16. This is a great opportunity to showcase radio as a STEM activity. Bob, K5TEC, can help organize but cannot attend. Looking for two volunteers per game. Your travel, parking, and snacks allowance will be reimbursed.
Here are the details given to us:
“As far as placement in the ballpark, we have a decent amount of flexibility based on the types of activities and requirements you have.
“We could place activities in more heavily trafficked areas of the concourse with people constantly coming through and stopping by for a few minutes; or we could place activities on Plymouth and Summit St., which fall within the ballpark on game days but provide more space and calm from the hustle and bustle of the concourse for a more in-depth showcase. And we would be able to provide tables and electricity if needed.
“I think ideally we would love to provide both pregame and in-game activities if possible. I could easily imagine us planning a pregame showcase for a larger group of kids, and then perhaps some smaller tabling activations in a couple of places throughout the ballpark.
“All of this is to say that we are very flexible, and open to the ideas and expertise that you could provide!”
From the Meriden ARC March 2023 newsletter “Key Klix:”
The [Meriden Amateur Radio Club] currently has two balloon projects in the works. On Saturday, 25 February, John, KB1MFU tested his balloon to see if it would meet specifications. The balloons were supposed to inflate to 3 feet in diameter which would hold a specific amount of helium allowing him to calculate the amount of lift it would have.
For the test, John used nitrogen gas to save on the more expensive helium. He set up the test in one of the garage bays at the firehouse and began to slowly inflate the balloon. The homebrew inflation nozzle that he made fit perfectly into the balloon allowing the gas tank to be connected. The Balloon filled to 1 foot in diameter then on to 2 feet. At about 2 1/2 feet the balloon burst. Not good for a 3 foot rated balloon.
Undaunted, John said that he would get replacement balloons, probably rated 3 1/2 to 4 foot diameter. Another test is in the works. They like to say that failure is not an option but having this test balloon fail now is better than having it fail on launch day. Without testing, failure is always an option.
Once the balloon itself passes the test, other components will be tested as well. Carry on, John. You have no where to go but up! Ted KC1DOY
Maine Section Manager eNews March 2023
Maine ARRL Convention & Hamfest
Don’t miss the Maine State ARRL Convention and Androscoggin Hamfest March 24-25! There are some great forums Friday evening and Saturday morning, in addition to the Saturday morning hamfest, VE exam session (12:30PM Sat) and much more. The event will be at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in Lewiston. Here is a link to the hamfest for more information:
https://www.w1npp.org/convention
Ellsworth Ham Radio Symposium
Get your geek on and come on down to Ellsworth for the April 22 Ham Radio Symposium. From noon until 4pm featured presentations include Satellite Communications, Node Red Programming for Amateur Radio Applications, Re-purposing Old Computers For The Shack, QRP, and more. Admission by donation. The event will take place at Meadow View Apartments Phase IV Dining Hall, 25 Tweedie Lane, Ellsworth. Talk-in will be on the 146.910- (PL 151.4) repeater.
Amateur Extra Course
Looking for an on-line course to help you upgrade to Amateur Extra Class? Western Massachusetts Section Manager Ray Lajoie, AA1SE is teaching a course on-line starting March 28, so register NOW to get in on it! Here is the link: https://nediv.arrl.org/2023/03/05/western-ma-train-test-group-amateur-extra-class-begins-march-28-2023/
NEARFEST
The NEAR-Fest is a week early this spring. The dates are April 28-29. Check out the website https://near-fest.com/
VE Sessions
VE Teams, please send your scheduled VE exam dates and info to N1EP and they will be included on the official Maine ARRL web site. Also, an applicant only needs to show a single legal photo ID at the session. Two alternate forms of authorized ID are only required if the applicant has no legal photo ID. Also, note that the general class pool changes as of July 1. The ARRL VEC is $15. Applicants bring your FRN number (FCC Registration Number) available for free at fcc.gov.
* March 18 VE Session at 10am at Meadow View Apartments Phase IV Dining Hall, 25 Tweedie Ln, Ellsworth. Pre-register with n1ep@yahoo.com. 207-598-5397.
* March 18 Sponsored by the Pine State ARC, 9AM (No walk-ins) must register or call ahead to Peter Bither, 207-944-2616 or email redbeard104@aol.com. Location:Â Calvary Chapel, 154 River Rd, Orrington ME 04470
A Centennial Milestone
We are all familiar with the 1901 trans-Atlantic radio communication by the great Marconi, but did you know this November is another centennial which Marconi paved the way for? That is the very first trans-Atlantic 2-way communication between ham radio operators. The Maine Ham Radio Society, at the suggestion of one of their Facebook Page members, has scheduled a Transatlantic 2-Way Centennial special event with the 1X1 call sign N1A for November 25 – 28 to commemorate the milestone. All clubs are encouraged to do the same. Let’s mark this 100-year anniversary with gusto!
CW Traffic Nets
Want to practice your Morse code, make friends with other hams, and contribute to public service and the National Traffic System? There are two such nets in Maine that you can support. The Maine Slow Speed Net meets Monday through Friday at 6:00PM on 3585 kHz. Average speed is about 10-12 wpm but net controls will gladly adjust to whatever speed in which you check in. The Pine Tree Net is held seven days a week at 7:00pm on 3596 kHz. The speed is usually around 20 wpm, but, again, net control welcomes all, no matter the speed.
New England QSO Party!
The NEQP is May 6-7 this year! This is a great opportunity to get you Worked All States award and to also give other stations outside New England your section. Details are at https://neqp.org/.
RFI Trouble Shooting Guide
Experiencing radio frequency interference from some unidentified source? Check out this logical RFI trouble shooting guide at: https://nediv.arrl.org/rfi-troubleshooting-guide/
Clubs Webinar Series (Club Secretary Edition)
From ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY:
Below you will find the invitation for the first of what we plan to be many webinars on club development. The idea is to take a look at the different positions in the club and how we can provide training for those positions. The first webinar is on the club secretary. As we move forward more positions will be targeted. Feel free to distribute this invitation to your section. All of these webinars will be recorded and the recordings and Power Point slides will be available in the ARRL Learning Center. We hope this will be of interest to many of the club members and the webinar is open to anyone that wishes to attend. They will use the link below to register and the link will be sent to them.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Mar 30, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: ARRL Club Development Series: Secretary
Register in advance for this webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AzCmCTdORruOmPu5gm2W_g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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ARRL Maine Section
Section Manager: Philip W Duggan, N1EP
n1ep@arrl.org
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ARRL’s Learning Network is a webinar series to help introduce members to the variety of activities and opportunities enjoyed by radio amateurs. These live presentations will be given by member-volunteers, for all members. Like hamfest forums and radio club presentations, the webinars are intended to help participants get more active, involved, and engaged in amateur radio. Presentations are 30-minutes each to accommodate attendee’s busy schedules, followed by a 15-minute period for questions-and-answers.
The ARRL ARRL Club Development Series: “Secretary” will be held on March 30, 2023 at 07:00 PM ET. You may register for the webinar at <https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AzCmCTdORruOmPu5gm2W_g>.
Dave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on March 11, 2023 at 4:17 PM:
There will be a 1 watt signal continuously on 146.565 MHz. It will make a short beep every three seconds and will ID in Morse Code every minute.
The 10mW transmitter is on 147.475 MHz and will beep every three seconds and will ID in Morse Code every minute.
The 1mW transmitter is on 146.315 MHz and beeps every three seconds and ID as W1NRG in Morse Code every minute. Expect a range of only about 1/10 mile on this transmitter.
Dave NZ1J
The slide deck from the Q1 March 11, 2023 New England Division Cabinet meeting is available for download and viewing.
The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) received a grant from the ARRL to establish a ham radio station for scouts at Camp Greenough in Yarmouth on Cape Cod. The camp hosts scouts from all over New England and BARC participates in Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) events at the camp as well as, most recently, Winter Field Day. Donations from local businesses have amplified the value of the grant many times. These included building materials for both walls and operating desks, volunteer professional labor and even fiber-optic connectivity from Comcast. Following removal of 18 trees, Eversource installed three poles with pulleys to suspend wire antennas on March 8. Heavy equipment arrived in the morning with a full crew. The poles were rigged and lifted into position once the holes were dug. They are now ready to lift wire antennas into position, once the station build is completed and the equipment is in place. The station itself has been framed on three sides and old wiring removed. An ADA-compliant door will be installed for station access prior to completion of the framing.
Two operating positions , some furniture and a workbench are planned and some equipment donations have been offered, in addition to that funded by the grant. The station will be capable of remote operation to allow on-site classroom facilities to be used for amateur radio instruction including that for the radio merit badge using live demonstrations. BARC will relocate its satellite antenna array to the new station that will be fully HF, VHF and UHF capable.
BARC is targeting this summer for project completion.
