Phil Temples

ARRL Forum at HAM-CON, VT State Convention

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Horace Clark, N1HC with Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
L-R: Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC with Horace Clark, N1HC at HAM-CON

New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC and Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI presented at the ARRL Forum at HAM-CON and the Vermont State Convention on February 26, 2022. Also attending the hybrid forum were Assistant Directors: Rob Leiden, K1UI; Cory Golob, KU1U; and Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB. 

The New England Division team provided an update on ARRL activities, introduced New England Assistant Directors and their planning activities, and shared plans for improving communications with the Division. Director Kemmerer attended the event in-person on Saturday and enjoyed the opportunity to meet with and speak with HAM-CON attendees.

Western MA March 2022 Section Managers Report

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WMA Section logoWestern MA Section Manager Ray Lajoie, AA1SE, writes on the WMA ARRL Members list:

Happy March everyone! Spring is almost here. My March report is now online at <https://wma.arrl.org/blog/2022/02/28/section-managers-report-march-2022/>.

Keep your clubs healthy, get involved! Volunteer, teach, mentor.

The Marlboro Convention web is now online. Ticket are on sale May 1st.

Hope to see you at the Mt. Tom Hamfest.

Have a great month

73, Ray AA1SE

——————————————————————–
ARRL Western Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Raymond P Lajoie, AA1SE
aa1se@arrl.org
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Joe Reisert, W1JR, Wins the February 2022 QST Cover Plaque Award

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Feb. 2022 QST coverFrom ARRL Web:

02/28/2022 – The winning article for the February 2022 QST Cover Plaque award is “12- and 17-Meter Antenna Design,” by Joe Reisert, W1JR [from Amherst, New Hampshire].

The QST Cover Plaque Award — given to the author or authors of the most popular article in each issue — is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article today!

W2NAF: “Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop,” RATPAC Zoom Presentation, March 2, 2022

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RATPAC logoWednesday, March 2, RATPAC Zoom Presentation 

Starts 10:00 PM AST / 9:00 PM EST / 8:00 PM CST / 7:00 PM MST / 6:00 PM PST / 5:00 PM AKST / 4:00 PM HST

TOPIC: Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop  https://hamsci.org/hamsci2022

Speaker/Presenter: Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF
                                 Assistant professor at the University of Scranton Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering

Be sure to check our future RATPAC scheduled presentation below.

  • This meeting will be recorded. By participating you consent to being recorded. 
  • Please change your display name to Your First Name, Call Sign (or organization) and Location, e.g. Dan K7REX Idaho. 
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  • You may ask questions in chat; Please precede any questions with a Q:

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Comment Period to be Re-Opened on Forest Service Fees

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David Siddall, K3ZJ, writes:

The Forest Service sent a Notice to the Federal Register yesterday announcing that they will re-open the window for comments on the proposed new $1400 annual administrative fee.  This means that amateurs that may have missed the earlier comment period, or who wish to file additional arguments and information,  can submit new filings between March 1 and March 31.   A copy of the Notice to be published on March 1 is here: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-04254.pdf.  (This is completely public information.)

I notice that in several of the amateur comments sent me that there appears some confusion.  The proposed fee is a new and separate fee, not an increase to fees (such as rent) already being paid.  If adopted, the existing fee(s) – which generally have been around $130-140 annually for amateur uses – would have to be paid in addition to the new proposed annual administrative fee of $1400.  IMHO, the fee would be so high because the proposal is to include amateur uses equally with those of commercial wireless entities such as broadcasters, cellular providers and broadband entities that require a much more significant presence and greater Forest Service support than amateurs.  

[ARRL’s filed comments can be viewed at <https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FS-2022-0001-0749>.]

[Note: Beginning March 1, 2022, comments can be filed at <https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2022-0001-0001>.]

See also: ARRL to Oppose Forest Service Administative Fees for Amateur Facilities

Greater Bridgeport ARC’s New “CARES” Program to Provide Continuous Training to its Members

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Greater Bridgeport ARC loogoThe Greater Bridgeport (CT) Amateur Radio Club has established a new program to provide continuous training to its members–both in the classroom and with on-air activities. 

“The program is called “CARES – Continuing Amateur Radio Education & Skills,” says GBARC Public Information Officer and Past President Emily Starbrook, N1DID. “It’s our commitment to our members to help them achieve their goals. CARES believes that no ham should be left behind. Once someone has made the commitment to become a ham, we will make sure they have the skills and technical access to make the most of ham radio.”

CARES will consist of two “tracks.” Track A will target new hams, while Track B will be for ham who are on the air:

 

Typical Track – Classroom Topics

Track A – Basic Skills

● Buying a handheld radio
● Programming your radio
● Power Supplies
● VHF/UHF Antennas
● How to make a tape measure
Yagi Antenna
● Introduction to Foxhunts
● DMR/D-Star/Fusion
● Q-Codes
● Moving on to your General
Class License

Track B – Skill Building

● HF Privileges for Technicians
● Intro to Soldering
● Make a Cable with PL-259s
● Baluns and Chokes
● How to make a J-Pole Antenna
● Building an arduino based
foxhunt transmitter
● CW keyers and decoders
● Operating digital modes
● Building a multi-band antenna
● APRS and Packet

 

Typical On-Air Track Activities

Track A – Basic Skills 

● Your first simplex contact
● Your first repeater contact
● New Ham Nets
● New Ham Ragchews
● Rookie Roundup Contests
● POTA/SOTA

Track B – Skill Building

● Simplex Nets
● Simulated Emergency Tests
● On-Air Group activities
● New England QSO Party
● Group POTA/LOTA
● Winter Field Day/Field Day
● Antenna Ranging

“The CARES program is for continuing education which doesn’t leave out the possibility of VE sessions,” says Starbrook. “But so much of what VEs do has moved online, so it is unlikely to become an in-person testing service anytime soon. Much self-paced training is available online that is highly effective for people who are motivated.” N1DID feels that GBARC will be much more effective in “offering help to people to navigate questions they have after they take advantage of those online resources.”