The September, 2023 Western MA Section Newsletter is now available at https://wma.arrl.org/blog/2023/09/07/section-manager-report-for-september-2023/.
Month: September 2023
Rhode Island QSO hunters – This is Your Week
From ri-arrl.org:
Starting today through Sunday (Sept 6-10, 2023) a collaborating team of about twenty POTA – Parks on the Air enthusiastic activators from across the country, region, and state are setting up their portable rigs across the 52 officially-recognized POTA parks.
Already this morning from just before 8 am until around Noon, I was able to hunt 12 unique parks across the SSB bands of 40m, 20m, 17m and 15m from my home QTH. I was logged by 11 unique operators, including Kerri Wright, KB3WAV (with over 170,000 POTA QSOs to her credit), as well as the NCRC organizer of this event, Jim Garman, KC1QDZ – taking a break from his farm between tomatoes and turnips.
POTA hunters, near and far, are encouraged to keep an eye on POTA Spotting and join the fun. It’s a great way to understand your band propagation and make progress on your POTA – Worked All RI award.
[Full story]Connecticut HF NVIS “Warm-Up” Event, September 16, 2023
Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes:
If you have General/Advanced/Extra Class HF privileges, you are invited to join us for this Connecticut STATEWIDE Radio Event.
WHAT: HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023
DATE: Saturday – September 16, 2023.
TIMES:
TEST #1: 75m phone @ 0800 hrs. on 3.965 MHz (+/-)
TEST #2: 40m phone @ 1100 hrs. on 7.280 MHz {+/-)
Information about HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023 at:
https://www.ctaresregion2.org/events/ct-ares-statewide-nvis-tests-75m-40m/9032/?filter_reset=1
YOUR Participation Matters.
Why? Great Question!
We are looking to see how well HF NVIS works across the State of Connecticut. And, we need a lot of stations participating (that’s YOU). With sufficient data (Signal Reports) from a bunch of stations across the state, we can get a better idea of how well this works and where the problems might be.
GET “READY” and STAY “RADIO ACTIVE!”
Have FUN with HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023
Good News
We now have about 1.5 weeks left to GET “READY” for this HF NVIS event.
Step 1
REGISTER to PARTICIPATE
This will help me immensely to prepare for the event.
Send an email to:
WA1SFH “aT” Optimum “diT” net
Step 2
Learn about NVIS and the types of antennas that work for HF NVIZ communications.
For more HF NVIS information
You will find HF NVIS related videos and articles at the link below that will help you learn about HF NVIS communications and present ideas for antennas to use and/or build.
LINK: https://www.ctaresregion2.org/forum/nvis
Step 3
Get your Gear “READY”
– HF Radio, NVIS Antenna/s, Coax, Antenna Supports, Etc.) for this event.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Douglas, WA1SFH doing to GET “READY”?
a) For this event, I am duplicating the simple dipole design for 75m and 40m antennas and installation as discussed in the video W0SV Club: NVIS Presentation (see link above).
BTW: I have obtained a working copy of the presenter’s Excel Spreadsheet.
With this Spreadsheet, you enter the Frequency you want to use, and it gives you a starting place with: key information about antenna lengths, heights about ground, and reflector lengths for that frequency.
– If you want it, please let me know and I will be happy to send it to you.
b) Got to scout around for a local Operating Site
Since my house does not have enough open land to run the 75m NVIS antenna and I have an S-7 noise level at home, I will need to “Go Portable”.
– I already have my eye on a local park where I can set up before 8 am.
YOU Make it Happen!
JOIN US for a FUN Time with HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023
SEE YOU “ON THE AIR”!
73,
Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH
District Emergency Coordinator,
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
Connecticut Section – Region 2
Cell: 203-494-3885
Granite State ARA POTA Activation, Bear Brook State Park, Allenstown NH, September 9, 2023
Timothy Cates, KC1QDK, writes:
The Granite State Amateur Radio Club is happy to announce our late summer Parks on The Air meet-up. The GSARA will be hosting a group activation in which all members of the public are welcome to come and join us at Bear Brook State Park K-2643.
Come join us for a fun afternoon of radio and nature bring your gear and activate the park, or come to see how amateur radio operators set up and run their stations in remote locations off the grid. We are looking forward to seeing you all there on September 9th 2023 from 1-4 in the afternoon. The park is very friendly to those who may have mobility issues and there is a tarred path leading to a Gazebo that will offer shelter if it rains.
This event is rain or shine and hope to see lots of folks getting out for the afternoon and enjoying the park some camaraderie and operating our radios.
Contact Timothy at ctimothy9@aol.com.
QSO Today Academy, September 9-10, 2023
Welcome to the Next Chapter: The QSO Today Academy
“Once upon a time, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we introduced the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. Six fantastic Expos later, it’s time for a shift. A shift towards learning, innovation, and connection in the world of amateur radio. Welcome to the QSO Today Academy!
“Mark your calendars for our first event on September 9th and 10th, 2023, where our journey towards a new era of amateur radio exploration begins.” [Full story]
Newport County (RI) RC Parks On The Air Demo Helps new Generals Get On the Air
From ri-arrl.org:
“I learned more from your POTA demo today than I learned as a new ham over the last year! Thank you!” –Mike, KC1NFG (visiting Newport and welcomed to join in and GOTA.)
Today’s Newport County Radio Club (NCRC) POTA demo at Brenton Point Park was well attended by club members as well as a ham just passing by. All were curious to jump in and learn how to quickly deploy a portable antenna and POTA setup to get on the HF bands quickly and make contacts. Jim Garman, KC1QDZ, and Randy Jones, K8ZFJ, were ideal mentors, helping some make their first POTA QSOs.
From September 6-10, 2023, the NCRC is hosting a collaborative effort to activate all 52 Rhode Island POTA parks. For more information on POTA—Activate All RI and resources for getting started with Parks on the Air, please bookmark: https://ri-arrl.org/pota/.
Project BIG E Needs More Volunteers
[For more information about Project BIG E, visit the Project BIG E page at https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e/.]
Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:
We still need 43 people to fill time slots for the Big E booth.
If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so ASAP. We need your help to make this a success this year.
Here are the dates, # of people needed and a “Y” for the session time frame.
Here is the sign up link: bit.ly/45Cv6mn
Or contact me direct at W1AST@arrl.net
We need more people to sign up to make this a success!
—
Larry Krainson – W1AST
- Project Big E Organizer
- ARRL WMA ACC
- HCRA President – HCRA.org
- 13 Colonies MA State Manager (K2H) – Ask to be an op!
- Proud Member of: ARRL, FCARC, BARS & YCCC
- w1ast@arrl.net
Live Fox Hunt in Wallingford CT, September 3, 2023
Dave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on September 2, 2023:
We’ll have a live Fox Hunt on Sunday from 9:30am until 11:00am. The Fox will be hidden somewhere in Wallingford.
We’ll be using these three frequencies:
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.
There is no central starting location. And, there will be no check-ins prior to the hunt. Hunters should be at a location of their own choosing and listening on 146.565 MHz at 9:30.
There may be a two second long test of the 146.565 transmitter at 9:25.
Other Fox Hunters can be contacted on the W1NRG repeater 147.360 with PL 162.2 Hunters with an extra radio available might do well to monitor 147.360 throughout the hunt.
Good luck,
Bob – WB1GYZ
Meriden ARC Balloon Launch, September 2, 2023
Ed Snyder, W1YSM, writes at 12:13 PM on September 2, 2023:
Balloon is at ~36,000 feet. Telemetry available on U4B.live. W1NRG balloon app.
We have some video of the launch and lots of stills and telemetry. Signal heard all over the globe (almost all over).-Ed W1YSM
Ray Cirmo, KC1QLS, writes on the Meriden ARC mailing list:
MARC members,
We are planning a third balloon launch this Saturday September 2, 2023 between 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM weather permitting. Weather permitting this time of year will mean no precipitation, low wind speeds on the ground, and no storms over the Atlantic moving up from the South. If all of those factors are in our favor we will plan to launch from Veterans Memorial Park in Wallingford, CT, with the W1NRG callsign.
Depending on the wind direction, we may set up in one of several places within the park. If you are free and can come out and join us we would love to have you onboard for this event. Just remember if conditions are not just right we reserve the right to scrub the mission.
Tracking for this balloon launch can be done at any of the following sites:
WSPRnet.org
WSPR.rock
U4B.live (This is the site that Brian N1BRI has developed for the club balloon launches. Go to the site and on the right side of your screen you will see a button labeled W1NRG. Simply click that button and you should be good to track our progress). This is our recommended site.
We have a great deal of time and testing under our belts and we are expecting a successful launch.
Ray,
KC1QLS