Phil Temples

ARISS Radio Contact is Scheduled with Students at Norwich Free Academy, Norwich CT, January 30, 2023

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ARISS logoAmateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Norwich Free Academy located in Norwich, CT.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS. 

Founded in 1854, Norwich Free Academy (NFA) is a secondary school in eastern Connecticut, with a student population of more than 2,100, and serving local communities as well as international students from China, Canada, and Finland.  

Leading up to this ARISS contact, NFA integrated an array of topics into the science curriculums for all grades. Students investigated Newtonian gravitational laws and Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion using a hands-on lab, a PhET interactive simulation, and video lessons. Students learned about the systems in place to help keep astronauts alive while living and working on the ISS; one student used NASA resources for a research project to discover how basic human needs (air, water, sleep, exercise, etc.) are met on the ISS. The NFA Amateur Radio & Engineering Club (ham radio call sign W1HLO) members and advisors installed an amateur radio satellite ground station on campus last year, thanks to a generous ARDC grant. Students in the club now get hands-on learning at the ham station for how to communicate using amateur radio satellites and how to receive weather satellite images.  

Students will ask their questions of Astronaut Josh Cassada, amateur radio call sign KI5CRH, who will use ARISS’s ISS call sign NA1SS. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and audio may be heard by listeners within the ISS footprint that also encompasses the amateur radio ground station at NFA, call sign W1HLO. Club advisors and members will establish and maintain the amateur radio operations for this ARISS connection. 

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 30, 2023 at 1:55 pm EST (CT) (18:55:20UTC, 12:55 pm CST, 11:55 am MST, 10:55 am PST).  

The public is invited to watch the live stream at  https://youtu.be/pTkaCtam8m0.

New Hampshire Gears Up For Volunteers On The Air, W1AW/1 Special Event Operation

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As announced in the January 2023 issue of QST, ARRL is celebrating a year-long operating event honoring all ARRL volunteers: Volunteers On the Air.

A Special Event station in NH (W1AW/1 Portable) will run the weeks of April 26th and Sept 20th. Our team is looking for operators who can activate a W1AW Station.

You can operate from your home station or a portable location, e.g., beach, park, or public area. You can use digital, voice, or CW modes on several bands (with certain exceptions, see VOTA Homepage for
more details). We aim to work as many stations as possible anywhere in the world.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Eric Pfeifer (N1JUR) at n1jur.nh@gmail.com or Peter Stohrer (W1FEA) at pstohrer1@gmail.com for more information, or if you would like to sign up as an op, you can use our form <https://forms.gle/jnNHmyS9G11YWMsr9>. We’ll then add you to our mailing list.

Thanks,

Eric Pfeifer
N1JUR
n1jur.nh@gmail.com

Connecticut Volunteers On The Air, W1AW/1 Sign Up

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The week of May 10-16 and Sept 27-Oct 3, W1AW/1 comes to its home state, Connecticut!  Our team is looking for additional operators who can spend as much or as little time representing W1AW and the VOTA effort.  The operation is a DXpedition-like one where you will be working as many as possible.  The operation will take place from your station or a station in Connecticut, not W1AW itself.

Operating will be on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2, and satellite.  Modes include CW, Phone, or Digital.  Repeater contacts are not allowed as are WARC Band contacts.  Our goal is to work as many stations as possible anywhere in the world.

We have an email group to exchange information (only open to members) and we will use Slack for quick messaging.

If you would like to join our team, please fill out the form found here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrhdSMn2MiIv22DDAXwLassLkdzkArVpJ8qmR8GdTPRUhSVA/viewform

If you have any questions, please contact Pete Chamalian at W1RM@Comcast.net.

Pete Chamalian, W1RM

W1RM@Comcast.net

January 2023 RI Activity Report

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RI iconGreetings ARRL members and friends,

Please accept my sincere wishes for a healthy, happy and DX filled New Year. Hopefully, we shall avoid the latest medical issue, called the tripledemic. From what my doctor tells me, it’s very serious and makes those afflicted quite miserable. So, please remain extra vigilant and practice good health hygiene. We all want to avoid this one.

Band conditions are improving just as we were told they would. Earlier this week, the SFI hit 212 and 245. That’s the first time it has gone above 200 in years. We should see some very good band conditions now on 20 through 6 meters. Together with longer daylight periods every day, long distance openings may last well into evening hours and eventually 24 hours, even on 10 meters. Enjoy the DXing. We’ve all waited for these band conditions, so get on the air and enjoy.

For stateside operating, the Volunteers on The Air or VOTA program is off and running. It started on New Year’s Day and ends twelve months from now on New Year’s Eve, 2023. I’ve worked several stations so far who were calling CQ VOTA. Each of them earn 175 points per band for contacting a Section Manager. Full details of the VOTA program may be reviewed at https://vota.arrl.org/ . VOTA encourages stations to get on the air and make contacts. I hope you see fit to do so. I’d love to work you on any band or mode.

A long time friend, Fred Laun, K3ZO became a Silent Key on January 3rd. Fred was the driving force that facilitated getting Viet Nam back on the air in 1971. The XV5AC call was put into several thousand logs after folks from around the world contacted that station at the Saigon US Embassy. At the time, the country had not been legally active for many years. I served as their QSL Manager. After filling out over 25,000 QSL cards, the station was shut down in 1975 after the north took over Saigon.

Winter Field Day is scheduled for January 28-29. I recall what a local said to me when I was working in Texas. He observed that whoever created Field Day didn’t live in Texas. Late June in Texas is very hot and Winter Field Day serves as his reply to the June Field Day. End of January in Texas is usually like our September in Rhode Island, very pleasant. But here in RI, we might be wearing woolen caps, heavy coats and gloves, even plowing through the snow. Operating a code key of any kind while wearing gloves can be a challenge. This winter has been very mild so far, so maybe we’ll be lucky.

While we’re thinking about Field Day, it’s not too early to be planning for the traditional Field Day in June. Lining up operators and schedules for each station can be developed now, using the Winter FD to show conflicts, mutual interference and other technical issues. Good luck and above all, please be sure that you remember to have fun.

The DXers in RI are aware but the rest you may not know that a dozen world class operators are enroute to Bouvet Island as of the time I am writing this report. The team should reach the island by February 1st. If sea conditions will allow, they should set up and be on the air soon after. Bouvet is the second most wanted DX entity in the world, second only to North Korea. Pile-ups will be colossal. Operator skill will largely determine whether you work them and get into their log. They will be on all bands and modes using the call 3Y0J. Good luck to all.

73,

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ARRL Rhode Island Section
Section Manager: Robert G Beaudet, W1YRC
w1yrc@arrl.org
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POTA Winter Park Appreciation Weekend, January 20-22, 2023

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Parks On The Air logoPeter Cimino, K1PCN, writes on the Greater Bridgeport (CT) ARC mailing list:

This weekend is the POTA Winter Park Appreciation Weekend.  It is open for all hunters and activators. It start Friday, January 20 7 pm (00:00 UTC) and ends Sunday 7 pm (00:00 UTC). Special award is added to activators.

I will be activating Silver Sands State Park on Saturday, January 21, 2023  from 9 am until noon. If anyone would like to come down and activate using my equipment, please join me.

Peter K1PCN 

Algonquin ARC Flea Market, Marlborough MA, February 18, 2023

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AARC logoFrom ema.arrl.org:

The Algonquin Amateur Radio Club will hold its Marlborough Flea Market on February 18, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the 1Lt Charles W. Whitcomb School, 25 Union St., Marlborough, MA. Talk-in is on N1EM/R 446.675 – (PL 88.5). Any COVID-related updates will be carried on the AARC website at http://n1em.org.

A VE session will be held beginning at 9:00 AM. General admission is $5. Vendor tables are $15 before February 10, 2023, or $20 at the door if space is available. Each table includes one admission.

For more information, email fleamarket@n1em.org or visit https://www.qsl.net/n1em/AARC_Flea_Market_Flyer_2023.pdf.

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BAA MarathonFrom K1USN Happenings, January 12, 2023 (via ema.arrl.org):

Planning is well underway for the 2023 Boston Marathon! The BAA opened volunteer registration today and it will close on Friday, February 10, 2023. Returning volunteers should have received an email from the BAA with details about how to register.

New volunteers can sign up via http://register.hamradioboston.org/. We have also provided a step by step guide on how to select Amateur Radio volunteer positions during the registration process:  <https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002389087-2023-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide>.

Massachusetts Volunteers On The Air, W1AW/1 Sign Up

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From ema.arrl.org:

This year, the ARRL is honoring volunteers with its Volunteers On The Air (VOTA) operating event. The event starts January 1 and ends December 31, 2023

Twice a year, for one week, each state will be activated as W1AW/1 (for call area 1 Massachusetts, for example). To make this happen, we need ops to get Massachusetts on the air.

Would you like to be an W1AW/1 activator for the first session this spring? The first MA session is Wednesday, April 12 through Tuesday, April 18.

Would you like to know more? Contact Larry, W1AST, at W1AST@arrl.net.

ARRL Vermont State Convention “HAM-CON,” February 25, 2023

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Ham-Con logoThe ARRL Vermont State Convention, known at HAM-CON is Saturday, February 25, 2023 at the Hampton Inn Convention Center in Colchester, Vermont. 

HAM-CON will feature eight forums running all morning between 9 AM-1 PM. Details are in the Forums section.

The Vendor Room will run from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Vendors must arrive no later than 7:30 AM to avoid crowds during setup. There are scores of tables chock filled with goodies. The offerings range from new to boat anchors and we can never know what jewels will show up.

Please go to our Web Site, http://www.ham-con.org for other prices, travel details and program information.

For information, phone: (802)879-6589, afternoons and evenings, before hamfest day. Or, via email w1sj@arrl.net. Talk-in on the WB1GQR repeater on 145.15 MHz (-600). This repeater is monitored all the time.

KM1CC On the Air for 120th Anniversary of Marconi’s Transatlantic Message

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From ema.arrl.org:

KM1CC towers
Built 1901- Marconi’s South Wellfleet Wireless Station, Wellfleet MA USA Grid FN51
(second set of towers shown in this picture, taken about 1910)

Station KM1CC will be on the air on January 18, 2023 from 1800 UTC – 2300 UTC.  

Wednesday January 18, 2023 marks the 120th anniversary of Marconi’s first transatlantic message from the USA to the UK. KM1CC will be on the air to commemorate this achievement.

“We plan to operate HF 20 M, 40 M, and other bands as conditions allow. Check dxsummit.fi for frequencies.”

The Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club is a special event club.  The club has several on the air events a year to keep the accomplishments and story of Marconi and his South Wellfleet Wireless Station alive.  This station is listed as a National Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places (1975) and is now part of Cape Cod National Seashore, a unit of the National Park Service.   When possible, KM1CC sets up a temporary radio station inside the park. 

Please follow us on our Facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/KM1CC/ .