Phil Temples

“Ham Radio’s Technical Culture” by MIT Press

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Ham Radio's Technical Culture book front coverJim Idelson, K1IR, writes on the YCCC mailing list:

 
This is an article by author Kristen Haring to give her 2008 book, Ham Radio’s Technical Culture, a fresh marketing boost.
 
She focuses on the culture of ham radio from 1930 to the mid-70s – perhaps a period we could call the Golden Age of amateur radio. She has some interesting observations and commentary on ham radio in the context of society-at-large. There is precious little material about ham radio targeted towards general audiences, so the existence of this book is a good thing. That’s the good news.
 
Haring is not a ham. She builds her perspective primarily from what she’s been able to gather from a wide range of archived written materials, including large and small publications (magazines and newsletters). She does not include direct interviews with actual hams who ‘lived it’.
 
The excerpt has a lot of correct observations, but gets some things clearly wrong. Given the author’s lack of direct exposure to the topic, the book would have benefited greatly from conversations and editorial review with real hams.
 
Probably more important are the facts that a) the focus is on that quaint period 50 to 75 years ago and, b) the perspective is from 2008.
 
A lot has been learned since 2008, which probably makes the analysis less informed than it would be if written today. And, the focus on a period ending in the 1970s may create and reinforce some of the unhelpful stereotypes that hold us back in the 21st century.
 
At $19.95, I might still buy a copy!
 
—
73 Jim K1IR
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Upcoming Western MA Public Service Events

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Alan Dove, AB1XW, writes in the Hampden County Radio Association making list:

Our friends in the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC) are providing communication for several upcoming events. As I’ve mentioned, these types of events are ideal training for emergency communication.

If you have at least a Technician license and a 2-meter FM rig, you probably have everything you need to participate. Here are the dates and contacts:

1. Volunteers for the Greenfield Triathlon (Aug 4) (KB1AKU) (groy773@gmail.com)  only about 10 days away.

2. Volunteers for the D2R2 (Aug 17) (N1AW),  (aswoodhull@gmail.com)

3. Volunteers for the Green River Marathon (Aug 25) (KB1NEK), (camyers@protonmail.com)

4. Volunteers for the annual Food Bank’s Will Bike 4 Food event on Sept 22 (KB1AKU) (groy773@gmail.com)

Comments from Chuck, KC1CHA: “All are welcome to volunteer. Its a great time to see everyone and get some time on the air. Please give some time and help out, we have always made these events a success in the past. Thank you and hope to see you there.”

—
 –Alan
—
Alan Dove, AB1XW
President
Hampden County Radio Association
hcra.org

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K1W White Island Special Expedition, Rye NH, July 27, 2024

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White I., Rye NHMark Pride, K1RX, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list and K1W QRZ page:

Special Expedition by the Port City Amateur Radio Club (W1WQM) for 2024

White Island, Isle of Shoals, Rye, NH

Plan is to arrive Saturday, July 27, 2024 by 8AM, setup stations, operate until Evening. One Day event. Primarily IOTA contest plus POTA and 6 M.

IOTA NA-217

POTA US-8006 (White Island NH State Park & Historical Site)

Lighthouse ARLS USA 406

 NH022S White Island  US Islands Award Program

FN42qx

 

QSL via K1RX

ADIF upload to POTA and other sites as needed  

Parks On The Air “Code Buddy” Hunter Event, Manchester NH, July 21, 2024

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Parks On The Air logoTimothy Cates, KC1QDK, writes on the Granite State ARA mailing list:

SUPPORT YOUR PARKS POTA CODE BUDDY HUNTER EVENT

  • Sunday, July 21, 2024
  • 10:00 AM  4:00 PM
  • Manchester, NH, 03104United States (map)

Attention Code Buddies and friends:

Come join us at Derryfield park in Manchester for support your parks weekend POTA event Sunday July 21st 10am until 4 pm.  We will be code hunting park activators from the top of the hill. This is a great opportunity to make on-the-air contacts because there will be lots of people activating parks. Parks on the Air gives an activator award for activating this day and it would be fun to get one for activating CW.

You can bring your own gear and set it up in the park or you are welcome to use my rig and gear I will be setting up a portable station with a straight key. Lots of room for everyone. Hope to see you all there and all are welcome.  

Parking near the Gazebo at Derryfield Park in Manchester the park is near Hillside Junior High 112 Reservoir Ave, Manchester, NH 03104 off Bridge st.

Bring a comfy chair and enjoy some Sunday afternoon radio fun in the park. 

ARRL Systems Service Disruption Update, July 9, 2024

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ARRL logoFrom ARRL News:

Updated 07/09/2024

As previously reported, ARRL® Logbook of The World® (LoTW®) returned to service on Monday, July 1, 2024. As anticipated, there was a significant rise in use to catch up on processing logs following the outage. It took 4 days for normal processing times to return.

The ARRL Radiosport Department has resumed processing applications for most awards. The systems for Worked All States (WAS), VUCC, and issuing credits for CQ WAZ and CQ WPX awards have returned to service. These award applications are being processed on a “first in/first out” basis.

WAS applications submitted through July 4 and VUCC applications submitted through July 1 have been processed. CQ awards applications are processed by CQ and not ARRL.

While we can process these ARRL awards and update records, the ability to print and deliver certificates, endorsements, and other material has not yet returned.

The online DXCC® application is unavailable at this time and DXCC awards are not able to be processed. Work continues to return the DXCC systems to service. All DXCC data is secure.

This story will be updated with new developments.

New Connecticut Section Manager: Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH

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From ARRL News:
 

07/03/2024 — Nominations for 2024 ARRL Section Managers have been made. All nominees listed ran unopposed and returned their nomination forms by the June 7, 2024, deadline. They have been notified by mail and elected for new terms beginning October 1, 2024. 

Connecticut: Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH (new)

Idaho:  Dan Marler, K7REX

Minnesota:  Bill Mitchell, AEØEE

North Dakota:  Ralph Fettig, NØRDF

Ohio: Thomas Sly, WB8LCD

Oklahoma: Mark Kleine, N5HZR

Puerto Rico: Carmen N. Greene Rodriguez, KP4QVQ (new)

Southern Florida:  Barry Porter, KB1PA

Virgin Islands: Fred Kleber, K9VV

Western New York: Scott J. Bauer, W2LC (new)

In South Carolina, Matthew Crook, W1MRC is the new Section Manager as of July 1, 2024. Current Section Manger John Gendron, NJ4Z, is moving out of the section.

There are now two new Section Managers in both the San Joaquin Valley & San Diego Sections. In the San Joaquin Valley Section, Steven Hendricks, KK6JTB, is the new Section Manager as of April 24 ,2024, replacing outgoing Section Manager John Litz, NZ6Q. In the San Diego section, Bruce Kripton, AG6X, was appointed Section Manager on June 7, 2024, replacing Dave Kaltenborn, N8KBC, who became a Silent Key in late May.

ARRL Systems Service Disruption Update, July 1, 2024

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ARRL logoUpdated 7/1/24:

Effective 12:00pm ET / 16:00 UTC we will be returning Logbook of The World® (LoTW®) to service. 

As work progressed on the network, some users encountered LoTW opening briefly during which some 6600 logs were uploaded. The logs were not processed until this weekend as we tested that the interfaces to LoTW were functioning properly.

We are taking steps to help manage what will likely be a huge influx of logs. We are requesting that if you have large uploads, perhaps from contests or from a DXpedition, please wait a week or two before uploading to give LoTW a chance to catch up. We have also implemented a process to reject logs with excessive duplicates. Please do not upload your entire log to “ensure” your contacts are in LoTW as they will be rejected. Lastly, please do not call ARRL Headquarters to report issues you are having with LoTW. You can contact support at LoTW-help@arrl.org.

Through the end of the year, you may experience planned times when LoTW will be unavailable. We have been using this time to evaluate operational and infrastructure improvements we would like to make to LoTW. Those times will be announced.

We appreciate your patience as we worked through the challenges keeping LoTW from returning to service. We know the importance of LoTW to our members, and to the tens of thousands of LoTW users who are not ARRL members. LoTW, just behind QST, is our second most popular ARRL benefit.  

This story will be updated with new developments.

New England Stations Encouraged to Join the Ohio QSO Party, August 24, 2024

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Ohio State FlagEastern MA Section Manager Jon McCombie, N1ILZ, writes:
 
Tom Miller, W1PD, is sponsoring a special award this year in the Ohio QSO Party on August 24, 2024. An award/plaque will be presented to the highest scoring New England station during the contest. Although Tom’s QTH is now in Ohio, he is originally from New England (Connecticut). The award is being given in memory of Tom’s father, John Miller, W1PDI (SK), of Hamden, CT. Complete information may be found on the Ohio QSO Party website.