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.
The Yankee Clipper Contest Club support of the Northeast HamXposition ranges from solid talks to enthralling hands-on experiences.
Check out the talks by the Club’s senior membership that appeal to new and potential contesters and those looking to take advantage of a wonderful grant program.
The talks begin at 2:00 on Saturday kicking off with CQ Contest Hall of Fame speaker Doug Grant, K1DG. He will tune up your on-air operating style making you the envy of your entire club during Field Day operations.
Next up is YCCC member John Vogel, N1PGA showing how he has deployed a competitive contest station without the need for tall towers. What’s the secret ingredient? Show up and find out!
Finally, YCCC member and past-President, Jim Idelson, K1IR will educate us on Amateur Radio|Digital Communications (ARDC). ARDC helps communications enthusiasts bring their dreams of innovation to life. Jim will share his recent experience as a member of the ARDC Grants Advisory Committee.
Stop by the W1A station run by Yankee Clipper Contest Club member W1VE. Gerry has secured the use of the YCCC member K1LZ Superstation located in Jonesboro, Me. Experience the thrills of massive pileups if you dare!
Finally, enjoy the superb hotel hospitality at the DX Dinner featuring YCCC member Don Greenbaum, N1DG and his talk on the “DXpeditioning with a RIB”. Don will describe the genesis of the “Rig in a Box (RIB) from the 2018 Baker Island expedition to implement on C6AGU, FO/N1DG and the recently completed VP6A Dxpedition to Ducie Island. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Barry Hutchinson (on left), KB1TLR, of Brewster, MA recently received the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) Volunteer of the Year Award from BARC President Norm Cantin, WA1NLG, at the club’s August meeting. Barry has held many club leadership and ARES positions including president of both the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) and BARC at various times. Barry also is the amateur radio coordinator for both the Falmouth Road Race and the Cape Cod Marathon, a member of the Cape ARES team and is a leader for the BARC Field Day effort. Barry also is a frequent participant at club outreach events, such as the Harwich Brooks Park and Cranberry Festivals. He has been a Technician class and merit badge instructor during the club’s JOTA activities. Barry was recently nominated for the Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award due to his contributions to club’s outreach efforts to the public.
Kirby Francis, KC1RWR, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:
Amateur Extra Study Group
Where: Piscataqua Fish & Game Club
When: Wednesday, July 19th, 6:30pm (plan for about an hour and a quarter duration).
Reading Assignment: ARRL Extra Class License Manual, Pages 1-1 through 2-12
(Note that Chapter 1 is an introduction, and Chapter 2 starts exam elements E2. Read both of these, although only Chapter 2 has questions to worry about).
Class Assignment: Please come to class with 1-2 prepared questions for the group, preferably a concept or idea with which you struggled during your reading.
Each class will begin a a brief discussion of the Subelements we’ll be reviewing each week (E2A through E2E this week). For those in the club who have expertise, or feel qualified to teach certain subelements of material – please let me know, and we will give you 5-10 minutes to present. Please note that you will be scheduled during a week that this material is being covered.
We will then progress to students’ questions, and end each evening with a group trivia challenge taken directly from the exam questions on that week’s subelement! Bring your cell phone to participate in the Trivia game.
The goal of this class is to:
i) Reinforce habits of regular, applied engagement with the information you need to know for your Amateur Extra Exam
ii) Explain and apply this information using real-world examples, and the assistance of our club’s Subject Matter Experts
iii) Remove the apprehension and fear that may be preventing you from moving forward with your Ham Radio licensing, replacing it with a sense of community, fun, and self-confidence!
It’s so fun to move through this material with a group, and we look forward to seeing you all next Wednesday evening!
Ken Caruso, WO1N, writes on the Yankee Clipper Contest Club mailing list:
Check out the July/August issue of [National Contest Journal]. In there you will find an article written by John, NN1SS, on how to keep Murphy out of your contest operations and an NCJ Profile on John, K1ESE, written by John himself.
Providence Radio Association’s historic Collins antenna used during the recent MARS Armed Forces Day Crossband Test, with PRA Club President Dave Tessitore, K1DT, and Vice President John Good, W1GS
Contributed by Nancy Austin KC1NEK, NCRC and Dave Tessitore, K1DT, PRA
Rhode Island is a small state with a rich history. The Providence Radio Association invests in RI’s radio legacy by maintaining a historic Collins 237B-1 rotatable 13 element log periodic antenna originally installed as part of NAVCOMMSTA Newport’s impressive transmit antenna farm on Beavertail Point, Jamestown RI from c.1964-1975. On Saturday 13 May 2023, the Providence Radio Association again participated in the MARS Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test using their historic antenna and the equally historic call sign, NAF.
NAF began operation from the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, RI c. 1900, and was among the first US Naval Radio shore stations. Eventually, several naval radio stations were consolidated as NAVCOMMSTA Newport. NAF transmitted from c.1900 until 1975 at various coastal Narragansett Bay locations, including NAVRADSTA (T) Beavertail Point (Jamestown).
The Providence Radio Association shares the next chapter in this rich Rhode Island radio history: “The drastic curtailment of naval operations on Narragansett Bay in 1975 closed all naval activities at Sachuest Point and Beavertail Point. In 1975 the Navy allowed the Providence Radio Association to hold its annual Field Day exercises at the Beavertail Station. Following the decommissioning of the facility and turn over to land of the State, in 1983 the PRA acquired one of the Collins 237B-1 rotatable log periodic antennas used by NAF and erected it at our club facility in Johnston, RI. It has been utilized since then under the Amateur call sign W1OP. Once a year, we either operate from the original NAVRADSTA (T) location at Beavertail Pt, or we use this antenna from our clubhouse in Johnston to participate in the Armed Forces Day Crossband Test, using its original naval call sign NAF.”
Providence Radio Association club president “Tess,” K1DT
For this year’s AFD Crossband Test, the Providence Radio Association again got permission to operate as NAF and transmit on their restored original Collins antenna. The W1OP clubhouse on Neutaconkanut Hill (on the Providence/Johnston border) opened its impressive radio station to members and Amateur Radio guests, including: Dom, N1DM; David, W3DRE; Doug, K3DRE; Andy, AJ1S; John, W1GS; Dave, K1DT; Teri, W1PUP; Jeremy, K1JST; Adam, KC1KCC; and Nancy, KC1NEK. Hundreds of phone QSOs were logged on mostly 20m and 40m.
As the ARRL notes: “The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS), as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise scenario. Military stations will transmit on selected frequencies and will announce the specific ARS frequencies monitored. All of the times are Zulu (Z), and all frequencies are Upper Side Band (USB) unless otherwise noted.”
For more on the history of call sign NAF and their restored Collins antenna, reach out to Providence Radio Association club president Dave Tessitore “Tess”, K1DT, at k1dt@verizon.net.
Radio communication has a long history in Rhode Island. By 1900, Newport’s naval officers were given instruction in wireless technology. Newport’s Torpedo Station was one of the first of a network of U.S. Navy shore radio stations, along with an adjacent site at the Naval Training Center used to train radio operators for the Navy. From c.1964 until 1975, Sachuest Point on Aquidneck Island and Beavertail on Jamestown served as key receive and transmit stations. Today, Amateur Radio offers an experiential learning gateway to 21st century workforce development opportunities in electronics and wireless radio communication, both analog and digital. This highly relevant mission is at the heart of many ARRL-affiliated RI radio clubs.
NCRC Digital VE Session Lead Mike Seil, AA1XQ (standing left) April 22, 2023
The Newport County (RI) Radio Club offered its first digital VE session a little over a year ago on March 12, 2022. That session was held outside in a parking lot because of the lingering pandemic, and relied on inexpensive Android tablets (with a cramped keypad) connected via a hotspot. It was the team’s first official use of ExamTools and despite multiple practice runs, there remained learning curves.
Fast forward to our most recent VE session given last Saturday April 22, 2023. It was a successful milestone for lessons learned around people, processes and tools implementing digital exams. In particular, the NCRC benefited from a roughly $2000 ARRL Foundation Club Grant that allowed us to now offer applicants easy to use Wi-Fi enabled 64GB/ 10.2″ iPads with folder-style covers, and the option to use stylus pens. The main benefits include much more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, a large screen, and well-designed consumer user interface. With the “best tool” problem solved, another concern was upskilling VE examiners on the ExamTools.org platform and software. This took time. Over this year, the digital VE session lead, Mike Seil, AA1XQ, has successfully recruited and trained a team of prepared VE examiners who are able to confidently address whatever issues come up.
The timing was right for this all to come together since our data suggests the second quarter is the busiest period for testing VE Session applicants. Indeed, our April session was busy, with more planning to sit for the Technician or an upgrade in June before Field Day. If it turns out that the number of applicants outnumbers our suite of iPads, we hold two sessions back to back.
Bob Beatty, WB4SON (right) wrote the grant
Our club owes many thanks to Bob Beatty, WB4SON, for totally revising his Technician class content to reflect the new pool of questions; all applicants who sat for the new Technician exam this April were well-prepared and passed. (A number of hams shared that they had decided to try the General exam in April before the test content changes by June.)
What other things help any VE Session go well? In our experience, it is important to be mindful of the need for all test takers to have quiet maintained throughout their VE session. We now have one VE stationed outside the building to both greet and debrief applicants. Folks appreciated being welcomed before the exam and also having their enthusiastic post exam questions answered. Meanwhile, the remaining test takers in the hall could continue to concentrate without distraction. These test takers might include those who choose to sit for all three exams and thus potentially be there for an hour plus. It includes determined folks who want to take the exam again, or those who just need lots of peace and quiet to give the exam their best.
Clubs considering the change to digital VE sessions might plan for a one year process. Getting the volunteer people, processes and tools in place to see this through took teamwork, leadership, and commitment. Many thanks to Bob Beatty, WB4SON, for stepping up to write the ARRL Foundation Club Grant as the Newport County Radio Club embarked on this digital transformation. Our successful ARRL grant allowed us to buy the right tools for the job.
Offering a well-run digital VE session is a transformational opportunity and providing the best user experience for your applicants will matter.
NCRC VE examiners who upskilled on the ExamTools platform
From the Meriden ARC March 2023 newsletter “Key Klix:”
The [Meriden Amateur Radio Club] currently has two balloon projects in the works. On Saturday, 25 February, John, KB1MFU tested his balloon to see if it would meet specifications. The balloons were supposed to inflate to 3 feet in diameter which would hold a specific amount of helium allowing him to calculate the amount of lift it would have.
For the test, John used nitrogen gas to save on the more expensive helium. He set up the test in one of the garage bays at the firehouse and began to slowly inflate the balloon. The homebrew inflation nozzle that he made fit perfectly into the balloon allowing the gas tank to be connected. The Balloon filled to 1 foot in diameter then on to 2 feet. At about 2 1/2 feet the balloon burst. Not good for a 3 foot rated balloon.
Undaunted, John said that he would get replacement balloons, probably rated 3 1/2 to 4 foot diameter. Another test is in the works. They like to say that failure is not an option but having this test balloon fail now is better than having it fail on launch day. Without testing, failure is always an option.
Once the balloon itself passes the test, other components will be tested as well. Carry on, John. You have no where to go but up! Ted KC1DOY
The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) received a grant from the ARRL to establish a ham radio station for scouts at Camp Greenough in Yarmouth on Cape Cod. The camp hosts scouts from all over New England and BARC participates in Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) events at the camp as well as, most recently, Winter Field Day. Donations from local businesses have amplified the value of the grant many times. These included building materials for both walls and operating desks, volunteer professional labor and even fiber-optic connectivity from Comcast. Following removal of 18 trees, Eversource installed three poles with pulleys to suspend wire antennas on March 8. Heavy equipment arrived in the morning with a full crew. The poles were rigged and lifted into position once the holes were dug. They are now ready to lift wire antennas into position, once the station build is completed and the equipment is in place. The station itself has been framed on three sides and old wiring removed. An ADA-compliant door will be installed for station access prior to completion of the framing.
Two operating positions , some furniture and a workbench are planned and some equipment donations have been offered, in addition to that funded by the grant. The station will be capable of remote operation to allow on-site classroom facilities to be used for amateur radio instruction including that for the radio merit badge using live demonstrations. BARC will relocate its satellite antenna array to the new station that will be fully HF, VHF and UHF capable.
BARC is targeting this summer for project completion.
The talks begin at 2:00 on Saturday kicking off with CQ Contest Hall of Fame speaker Doug Grant, K1DG. He will tune up your on-air operating style making you the envy of your entire club during Field Day operations.
Kirby Francis, KC1RWR, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:
