Phil Temples

Commercial Interests Petition FCC for High Power Allocation on Shortwave Spectrum

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FCC logoFrom ARRL News, 07/11/2023:

The ad hoc group “Shortwave Modernization Coalition” petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow data communications on multiple bands within the HF 2 – 25 MHz range with up to 20 KW, including in bands immediately adjacent to spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service. This group appears to represent high-speed stock trading interests. The FCC has assigned it RM-11953. Comments are due by July 31, 2023, and reply comments by August 15. While the petitioners exclude the amateur bands, high power operations on immediately adjacent bands are proposed. ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® is reviewing the petition. A copy of the petition is at: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1042840187330/1 (PDF).

2023 Vermont 100 Event Canceled

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Steve Goldsmith, W1HS, writes on the Twin State Radio Club and Connecticut Valley FM Association mailing lists:

JULY 11, 2023

After this week’s devastating weather in Vermont, here is a difficult update from our wonderful Race Director Amy Rusiecki and the Vermont 100 Race Committee. The below message was also communicated in email to all participants.

Shared 7/11/23
“It breaks my heart to write this, but due to the devastating flooding that hit the race course yesterday and the lasting damage due to this weather event, the race committee has reached the unfortunate decision that this year’s event must be canceled. The second worst thing a race committee wants to do is cancel an incredible event. However, the worst thing a race committee wants to do is to conduct an unsafe race for the runners, volunteers, and communities. Our highest priority is the safety of every runner, volunteer, trail, and road that this event impacts.

To understand the current situation in the area of the event – Vermont is still under a State of Emergency, and it is currently declared a Federal Disaster area (https://www.fema.gov/locations/vermont). Woodstock Vermont had devastating flooding, including Lincoln Covered Bridge (approx. mile 39 of the course) which is currently covered in a foot of mud from flooding. The Taftsville Bridge (approx. mile 14) is also currently closed and yesterday was under feet of water. The roads by Margaritaville (approx. mile 59) have been washed out and are impassible to runners or vehicles. Many of the east-west routes in Vermont are currently closed with washouts, including Rt. 131 and Rt. 106, which cuts off our access to restocking aid stations, marking the route, crew vehicle access, and even your access to get to the start/finish area. Lastly, emergency services in all these communities are straight out and are unable to support our event at this time. We have included a few photos of the route below, so y’all understand the impact of this weather.

We know that some of you may not agree with our decision, but we hope that you can understand our reasoning. Please understand this is not a decision that came easy, as we are all committed to putting on an awesome event for each of you.

So, what options did we as a race committee consider?

Trying to reschedule the event within a few weeks is logistically impossible and beyond a few weeks we run into the VT50 and numerous other incredible local fall events. Turning the event into an entirely virtual event is not very appealing – that’s just not the VT100! As stated in our Liability Waiver, that you signed when you registered, entry fees are non-refundable if the event is canceled due to public safety concerns, which is the situation that we have unfortunately encountered. We sincerely apologize for this.

While we aren’t strongly encouraging folks to come to the area during this time of disaster, we understand that some with non-refundable travel and lodging may choose to do so. We are working on information regarding local opportunities to contribute to the clean-up efforts. If you are interested in this, please let us know here and we will follow up with you regarding where and when you can pitch in!

Financially, much of the expenses of this event have been spent at this time and are non refundable to us and we are sincerely sorry for that. Please know that the Friday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday post-race food (which has already been purchased and prepped) will be used to host community dinners this weekend for local residents who have been displaced by the flooding and who have lost their homes in this event. The aid station food will be donated to local food shelters and survival centers. If you are in the area, there are opportunities to help with serving food to those displaced, or to get our aid station food to local food shelters. You can sign up here.

At this time, you have three options regarding your registration:

We are offering to roll the VT100 registration from anyone who is interested into this year’s Vermont 50 on September 24, 2023.

We are able to defer entry into the 2024 VT100 for anyone who is interested, however entry fees unfortunately will not be able to be rolled over. We will offer a 25% discount to next year’s entry for anyone who takes this option. We regret that we can not offer a deeper discount to those who roll into the 2024 event, however due to this natural disaster this is the best we can offer in the way of partial entry fee deferral.

You can donate your entry fee to the communities impacted by this disaster and Vermont Adaptive.

Please let us know which option you select by August 1st at this link here. If we don’t hear from you by August 1st, we will assume that you have chosen to have your entry fee donated to the local communities impacted by this disaster and Vermont Adaptive.

On a personal note, I understand that this is heartbreaking to hear. Trust me, this is equally devastating to share. I know that many of you have trained for months and years to have your opportunity to run at this incredible event. I get it, and I am nearly as upset as you are about this decision. My favorite day of the year is the 15+ hours I spend greeting each of you across the finish line – and I am completely devastated that I will miss that in 2023.

I hope to see many of you in 2024, at this year’s VT50, or otherwise out on the trails.

With huge (sometimes sweaty) hugs,

Amy and the VT100 Race Committee

HamXposition 2023: Call for Volunteers!

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HamXposition logo

HamXposition 2023 is coming to the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Marlborough, Mass on August 25, 26 and 27. We are actively looking for volunteers to help keep the convention running smoothly. Among the duties –

  • Setup on August 24 Ticketing,
  • Flea Market and Forum Speaker Help on 25, 26, and 27
  • Take Down on August 27

All volunteers are scheduled into two-hour shifts. Those that work two or more shift receive free admission. If you are interested in helping, please visit: https://hamxposition.org/volunteer.html to register.

KH6HTV: “ATV and Public Service” at NE-ECAPS Meeting, July 13, 2023

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ATVJoin us for the next NE-ECAPS (New England EmComm And Public Service) meeting this Thursday, July 13 at 8:00 PM, hosted by Jack Ciaccia, WMØG, Assistant Director for Emergency Communication and Public Service.

One of the most critical functions that ARES provides is situational awareness. And one of the tools to provide this vital information that we can use is Amateur Television (ATV)/Digital Television (DTV). Tonight’s presentation will be “ATV and Public Service.” Our guest speaker will be Jim Andrews, KH6HTV. Jim is one of the most knowledgeable persons on the subject, both as an ATV/DTV equipment developer and an experienced ARES member.

  • What: next NE-ECAPS meeting Thursday July 13, 2023 at 8pm
  • Topic: ATV and Public Service, presentation by Jim Andrews, KH6HTV 
  • Zoom link contact: NE-ECAPS@groups.io

HamXposition to Offer Tech-In-A-Day, August 26, 2023

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HamXposition logo

Do you have a friend or family member who needs that extra little “push” to obtain their Tech ticket?

The Northeast HamXposition is holding Technician Study course at the convention on Saturday, August 26, 2023. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Convention in Marlboro, MA.

The course includes: (6) 45-minute “Study” segments, with 15 minute breaks between sessions and also includes an hour and 15 minute Lunch Break. (9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)

The examination for Technician Class will be conducted 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cost and Requirements: ($30.00)

  • Fees: $15 (Includes materials and snacks)
  • Test Cost: $15 (Required by FCC) Students under age 18 $5.00
  • Bring Photo ID & Federal Registration Number (FRN) (Obtained by registration at fcc.gov/CORES) https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

Contact Bill Poulin, WZ1L, techinaday@hamxposition.org, to register of if you have any questions about the Tech-In-A-Day study course.

Yankee Clipper Contest Club Well-Represented in World Radio Team Championship in Italy, July 8-9, 2023

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Yankee Clipper Contest Club logoYankee Clipper Contest Club President Ken Caruso, WO1N, writes:

The YCCC has several member competitors and other members as referees participating in the WRTC event, July 8th – July 9th.

Specifically:

                K1XM and W1UE              NA1

                K5ZD and W2SC               NA1

                JH1GHM and WA1Z         AS7

                KO8SCA and S55M          DT1

                W1VE and WC1M            Referees

 

We wish them the best of luck and we can best show our appreciation by getting on the air and working the event.

You might be aware of the WRTC awards program described here: https://www.wrtc2022.it/en/wrtc-2022-competition!-award-39.asp

Basically, after achieving certain goals you are eligible to download a certificate and earned endorsements.

The Club will be offering a small enhancement to the WRTC Awards program. Here are the rules:

  • Your dues must be up-to-date.
  • Your log must be submitted to the WRTC committee within 6 hours of the contest end: https://contest-log-submission.arrl.org/index.php?eid=4
  • Your result summary must be posted on 3830scores.
  • We will use the total WRTC stations worked as published by the WRTC committee here: www.wrtc2022.it/awardOperating Periods:
  • Operating Periods:
    • 12 – 19.99 Hours Operating Class: YCCC mouse pad for the operator with the highest total of WRTC stations worked
    • 20 – 24 Hours Operating Class: Insulated YCCC mug for the operator with the highest total of WRTC stations worked
  • Multiple awards will be issued in case of ties regardless of number of hours operated within the operating classes defined above.
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The winners will be announced a few days after the contest is over.

All our best to the competitors and referees!

73,

Ken – WO1N

 

RI Section Manager Welcome Email to Members

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RI ARRL bannerJuly 4, 2023

Hello Rhode Island radio amateurs and Happy Fourth of July!

Thank you for this opportunity to serve as your RI Section Manager. I’m pleased to update you on these exciting initiatives underway:

  • Launch of a new RI Section website, July 5
  • Leadership team update
  • Club Outreach
  • Public Service & ARES® in RI
  • Contesting, Special Events and POTA

The RI Section’s first website: RI-ARRL.org

A team has been hard at work getting our section’s new website ready for release, with an anticipated Beta launch date of July 5th. Many thanks to ARRL New England Division Vice-Director, Phil Temples, K9HI for countless hours over the last busy month helping bring this communication platform to our state. It is a work-in-progress and the website will evolve with your contributed news, updates, and photos to come alive and best represent RI. Stay tuned!

Leadership team update

Several key cabinet positions have been filled, but we have more to match to the right folks. Our Section leadership team is focused on building relationships across the Amateur Radio community and with external partners, and empowering and encouraging the good work across the Section from individuals and clubs. Working together, I know we’ll get those positions filled in time. Here is the cabinet as it stands now:

Rhode Island Section Cabinet

Section Manager – Nancy Austin, KC1NEK

Assistant Section Manager/Public Information Coordinator – Mike Corey, KI1U

Technical Coordinator – Dave Neal, W2DAN

Section Government Liaison – Todd Manni, KB1PGR

Section Traffic Manager – Marcia Forde, KW1U

District Emergency Coordinator Kent County – Jeremy Taylor, K1JST

District Emergency Coordinator Providence County – Barry Noel, W1BSN

District Emergency Coordinator Washington County – Jim Creamer, KB1MAO

Assistant Section Government Liaisons

Two Rhode Island radio amateurs have been asked to assist the SGL in his duties: Ryan Lukowicz, KC1KUF and Andrew Staub, KC1OKI.

North Kingstown High School student Ryan Lukowicz, KC1KUF is a RI State House Page learning the mechanics and negotiation tactics required to get laws enacted. This experiential learning opportunity will prepare Ryan for a planned college major in policy, including laws that impact Amateur Radio and the future of communication and mobility.  Or maybe loop back into his interest in weather, SKYWARN® and meteorology?  All relevant ways to explore possible future career options in the Ocean State’s Blue Economy and our changing climate.

Andrew Staub, KC1OKI is an attorney in Rhode Island familiar with drone/UAV and technology law issues. There are emerging issues already tackled in neighboring Massachusetts, and it is exciting to get ahead of this topic here in Rhode Island with Andrew’s expertise. Andrew also supports the drone team at Portsmouth Emergency Management Agency.

Partner Agency Liaisons

We’re trying something new with the RI Cabinet, adding liaisons to partner agencies and organizations. Initially we’ve identified three liaison positions – RI EMA, RI VOAD, and NWS/SKYWARN. Their input is critical in understanding what is needed from our partners.

Positions still to be filled:

Section Emergency Coordinator – This is a critical position for the Rhode Island Section, and we are working on identifying the person who is the right fit for this role. The relationships built and fostered by the SEC help pave the way for our service back to our communities. Until the SEC position is filled, the DECs will serve on the Section Cabinet.

District Emergency Coordinators for Bristol and Newport Counties.

Section Youth Coordinator

Public Information Coordinator – This position will be filled by Mike Corey, KI1U, with a plan of identifying and recruiting a PIC within a year.

Section Traffic Manager – We are looking for an experienced traffic handler and RI resident to support Interim RI Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U. We will help her recruit and train RI skilled operators for the daily RI-MA Phone/CW NTS 2.0 traffic-handling nets.

This is an exciting time for Amateur Radio across Rhode Island! There is great opportunity, energy, and possibilities as your RI Section leadership team collaborates to forge new pathways and partnerships and lead positive change for the Amateur Radio community in Rhode Island.

And we look forward to including many of you as part of this team as we fill key Section level roles and local positions. If you feel called to step up and serve, please let me or one of the members of the leadership team know.

Biographical Statements and more about your new RI Section leadership team are posted on the RI-ARRL.org website. I’d like to again thank these volunteers for their willingness to serve and offer selfless leadership, guidance, and energy to better the whole ARRL Rhode Island Section.

Club Outreach

Congratulations to the growing ARRL-affiliated clubs in Rhode Island! It was inspiring to reach out and hear twelve clubs are active, despite the pandemic, with five general interest clubs having over 25 members and the largest RI club with almost 150 members. As it is, a number of RI hams already belong to more than one club, and better communication about what each club is like will only strengthen the overall radio ecosystem.

Two active regional contesting clubs are a big draw for many, while the clubs at Brown and the University of Rhode Island are germinating renewed possibilities. EMAs continue to support ARRL affiliated Amateur Radio Clubs among their membership – with positive possibilities for coordination around public safety missions and collaborative partnerships.

The RI-ARRL.org website will be a great place to post news, nets, etc. We look forward to hearing the history, current status and future vision each club has for the coming year.

Best of all will be the possibility in our small state to visit club gatherings in person and listen to all you are doing, need help with, and opportunities you see to collaborate with other RI hams.

Public Service & ARES in RI

Your Amateur Radio license is the doorway into a radio service that has much to offer and will challenge you to learn, grow, and engage in ways that are only limited by your desire and willingness. So, what next? The Public Service section of the RI Section website suggests pathways to learn, grow, engage – and how ARES fits in.

https://ri-arrl.org/public-service/ 

Your license got you in the door, but this house of Amateur Radio has many rooms….go explore!

Contesting, Special Events & POTA

The 13 Colonies Special Event is underway now from July 1 until midnight July 7th. This fun, patriotic get-on-the-air Special Event is a favorite for many. The RI Section thanks those dozen or so skilled hams who dedicate their time and skill to operate the RI event call sign, K2C, and brave the pile ups to give a small state a big presence in this event.

This year’s operators include: W1KMA – Chris – Warwick,  RI – QSL Manager – SSB & Digital; W2DAN – Dave – Tiverton, RI – SSB; W1WIU – Jim – North Scituate, RI – SSB & CW; WA1BXY – Don – Little Compton, RI – SSB, CW & Digital; KC1BXY – Melissa – Little Compton, RI – SSB & Digital; AJ1DM – John – Westerly, RI –  CW; N1KM – Mark – Bristol, RI – SSB, CW, Digital & Satellite; W1KDA – Ron – Warwick, RI – SSB & Digital; KI1U – Mike – Coventry, RI – CW & Digital; N1QDQ – Pete – Westerly, RI – Satellite; N6RFM – Robert – Bristol, RI – Satellite; N2FYA – John – Mystic, CT – (working Satellite in RI); KC2BNW – Jon – Mahopac, NY (camping in RI ) – QRP; KC2BNX – Michael- Mahopac, NY (camping in RI ) – QRP

W1AW/1 July 26 – August 1

Rhode Island will go on the air as W1AW/1 as part of the ARRL’s year long Volunteers on the Air event (VOTA). You are invited to be one of the operators that makes this happen. If you would like the chance to operate as W1AW/1 from your station, or would like some help being matched up with another station for the event, please contact Mike Corey, KI1U.

POTA – Activate All RI September 6-10 (NCRC)

Jim Garman, KC1QDZ has only been licensed a short while but fell in love with the popular Parks on the Air (POTA) program. He has brought together operators from across RI and nearby Massachusetts, along with POTA top operators to do a first of its kind, activate all 52 parks in RI over five days this September. This event is being hosted by the Newport County Radio Club and is only one example of new opportunities for cross-club networking and collaboration. Stay tuned!

Happy July 4th, 2023!

Twenty-first century amateur radio is so many things: an amazing and diverse hobby, a gateway for technology and twenty-first century upskilling, and a model collaborative community based on sharing the frequency and mentoring others. Between our new leadership team, ARRL members across Rhode Island, and our robust clubs we have a chance to collaborate on where our field organization and our programs may go, and how to help promote and grow this amazing Service in our state. Thank you for your support and stay tuned!

73, Nancy, KC1NEK

 

Nancy Austin, KC1NEK

Rhode Island Section Manager

KC1NEK@arrl.org

Amateur Radio Club of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut Awarded Grant from ARDC

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The Amateur Radio Club of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), a private foundation that supports and promotes amateur radio. The grant will allow the Amateur Radio Club to design and implement new antennas which cover frequency ranges available to U.S. radio amateurs and add earth-space capabilities to its “shack.”

New functionality will include a computer-controlled tracking, high gain antenna system and a new satellite transceiver. This will allow for communications through the International Space Station and several low earth orbit amateur satellites.

These improvements will allow our visitors to better engage with technologies which impact their everyday lives.

Bob Allison, WB1GCM, president of the amateur radio club commented “These new capabilities will allow club members to show the full range of technologies that make amateur radio the unique lifetime hobby it is. Over the years these demonstrations have encouraged more than a few visitors to pursue their amateur radio licenses.”

The Director of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut, John Ellsworth, emphasized the importance of the Amateur Radio Club as part of the story of communication “During our docent-led tours we discuss the history and development of radio and television. Having a working radio station available reinforces many of the topics discussed.”

About ARDC

Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is a California-based foundation with roots in amateur radio and the technology of internet communication. ARDC makes grants to projects and organizations that follow amateur radio’s practice and tradition of technical experimentation in both amateur radio and digital communication science. Such experimentation has led to broad advances for the benefit of the general public – such as the mobile phone and wireless internet technology. ARDC envisions a world where all such technology is available through open-source hardware and software, and where anyone has the ability to innovate upon it.

Learn more about ARDC at ampr.org.

About The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut

The radio station and museum are an all-volunteer organization located at 115 Pierson Lane, Windsor, CT. The museum is open all year, Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Closed for major holidays.)  We can be reached at (860) 683-2903. Please visit our web site at vrcmct.org for additional information.