The Western Mass Train and Test Team will be having a VE session on Saturday August 5 at 10 AM at the Gardner Police Station, 200 Main St. Please have positive ID, 15 dollars, and FRN number from the FCC. Bring copy of license if upgrading. Please pass this along to those interested in taking the test.
We will be starting on site set up at 9am. Launch scheduled for 1pm. We’d love to see you there or hear you on the air!
From ema.arrl.org:
Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes:
Enjoy making rare contacts and participating in experimental projects? The New England Weather Balloon Society, in partnership with the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society, is launching a special event high altitude balloon (HAB) repeater this July in Eastern Massachusetts.
We would like to welcome all amateur radio operators in New England to participate in this experimental flight by calling into the repeater as it flies over 30 km high. We will be issuing QSL cards to all confirmed contacts.
This flight will also be transmitting live video from the payload on 1.2 GHz, and live streaming to YouTube from our ground station at New England Sci-Tech.
Also traveling onboard will be a number of student projects by members of the StratoScience Lab class at New England Sci-Tech and BFCCPS school in Franklin, MA.
Please be aware that the date of the event is highly dependent on weather and readiness, so make sure to regularly check the HABGab Launch Page for up to date information about the date and instructions for making contact: https://nescitech.org/habgab.
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!
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.
The following is updated SKYWARN Training information with a couple additional classes for the month of June in Acushnet and Walpole MA.
Additional SKYWARN Training classes are in planning. This includes the following locations:
Northeast HamXposition in Marlborough, Mass (Late August 2023)
Gardner MA
Tolland CT
The following is the latest 2023 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training Class Schedule for the early Summer season. Please distribute widely to anyone interested in becoming a SKYWARN Spotter and we will update as additional classes are confirmed!
Saturday June 10th, 2023 – 1000 AM-1230 PM:
Acushnet Council on Aging
59 1/2 South Main Street
Acushnet, MA 02743
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Co-sponsored by: Acushnet Office of Emergency Management
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-618421905567
Tuesday June 13th, 2023 – 630 PM-830 PM:
Walpole Town Hall – Select Board Meeting Room
135 School Street
Walpole, MA 02081
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Co-sponsored by: Walpole Emergency Management Agency
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-645313117907
Again, we will provide updates when new SKYWARN training classes are added to the schedule. Also, if specific groups are interested in a live or virtual class, the Amateur Radio Coordinator team would be able to support those groups as needed. Thanks to all for their support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!
David McGaw, N1HAC (photo courtesy Dartmouth College)
HamSCI will be playing a major role at the 2023 Dayton Hamvention to be held in Xenia, Ohio May 19-21, 2023 at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Booth talks, social hours and demonstrations will be given by ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), HamSCI and YOTA (Youth on the Air).
Among the HamSCI booth talks at Hamvention, David McGaw, N1HAC, Canaan, New Hampshire, will present “Tracking Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Using AM Broadcast Signals.”
A physicist and electronics engineer, David McGaw has been connected with the Dartmouth Department of Physics and Astronomy since taking courses when he was a student at Hanover High School. McGaw is involved in designing and building scientific instruments for the study of the Earth’s ionosphere, aurora and radiation belts. He holds an Amateur Extra class license and is a member of the Twin State Radio Club.
The first quarter of 2023 has kept me busy on a variety of fronts. The following are a few things that I hope you’ll be interested in hearing and learning more about.
January 2023 Board Meeting
The January ARRL Board Meeting was one of the most productive in recent memory. In addition to approving the 2023 ARRL budget, the board passed over 15 motions many of which initiated programs and activities to benefit ARRL members. The following two slides summarize the actions taken by the board in January –
January 2023 ARRL Board Meeting HighlightsJanuary 2023 ARRL Board Meeting Highlights Continued
The ARRL is fortunate to be supported by over 7,000 volunteers! The ARRL has designated 2023 as The Year of the Volunteers. In addition to QST articles and other publications that highlight the many contributions that volunteers make to the ARRL, the league is sponsoring a year-long operating event to recognize ARRL volunteers (and to have some fun). Here’s some information about the event –
Jerry Burns K1GUP Recognized by the ARRL at the Maine State Convention for his 50 years+ of service as Net Manager for the Maine Seagull Net
I am continuing to attend Hamfests and Club Meetings around our Division. This is one of the areas of my work as an ARRL Director that I enjoy the most! Here are our plans for attending additional conventions and hamfests in 2023 –
Plans for NE Division Hamfests
We are headed off to Dayton and I am looking forward to seeing and talking with folks from New England there. We are working on our plans for visiting folks during Field Day 2023. If you like us to try to include you in our 2023 Field Day visits, please email Anita at ab1qb@arrl.net and we’ll try to get you onto our schedule.
ISS Contacts
I have continued to remain active in the ARISS program which helps schools to make contact with astronauts on the International Space Station via Amateur Radio.
Council Rock South High School ISS Contact
My work with ARISS includes acting as a Ground Station to provide radio links for school contacts as well as working with schools to help them to prepare for their contacts. Most recently, I had the pleasure to work with Council Rock South H.S. in Pennsylvania to help them with their contact. It was amazing! You can watch a video of the contact here.
License Training and Mentoring
Anita and I continue to support license training and the Ham Bootcamp program which helps Hams to learn to utilize their licenses and get active in Amateur Radio. We’ve taught Technician, General, and Extra licenses classes this spring where we helped over 20 people to get licensed or upgrade to General and Extra class licenses. We are hoping to transfer these programs and more to the ARRL so that they can benefit more Hams.
6m Antennas and Operations
6m Antennas at AB1OC-AB1QB
I have been able to find a little time to upgrade our station in here New Hampshire. I’ve been working on our 6m weak signal antenna systems. We’ve installed 14 new 6m antennas including three stacks and two 7-element LFA antennas. You can read more about our 6m antenna project here. We are really looking forward to the 6m Es season this year. I only need 3 more countries for DXCC on the 6m band and I am hoping to work these during the Es season. I hope to work many folks in our division on the HF bands and 6m this summer!
I hope that folks have a chance to enjoy Amateur Radio this spring and summer. Stay safe and have fun!
The PRA Foundation, the educational outreach arm of the Providence Radio Association, W1OP, presented a Boy Scouts of America RADIO Merit Badge class for members of Troop 2, Central Falls, RI. Over the course of 5 weeks, Foundation Director Dom Mallozzi, N1DM, and President Dave Tessitore, K1DT, taught in-person classes at the PRA Clubhouse / W1OP station following the K2BSA Amateur Radio curriculum. Instruction was augmented with lab demonstrations, on-the-air experiences using HF and VHF, as well as CW and several OSCAR Satellite and ISS repeater contacts. The Scouts were thrilled and encouraged when, by sheer coincidence, we worked a young Ham on 20M SSB who had just become an Eagle Scout! Upon earning their Merit Badges, the Scouts and Scoutmaster were each presented with FRS handheld radios courtesy of the Foundation, along with an invitation to return for a Technician License Class.
Coming up in May, Dom and Dave will be joined by PRA Secretary Dave, W3DRE, and member Thomas, KC1QYD, as they present an Introduction to Amateur Radio, the Ionosphere, and Orbital Mechanics to an assembly of 360 eighth-grade science students at the Alan S. Feinstein Middle School in Coventry RI. KC1QYD happens to be a member of that class, as well as being the youngest member of the PRA. His classmates are aware of Thomas’ many contacts via the International Space Station’s crossband repeater. The lecture will be accompanied by an OSCAR demonstration as well as a live “Parks On The Air” ® station operating from the school grounds.
Three smiling Scouts from Troop 2 Central Falls RI pose with Dave Tessitore, K1DT (L) and Dom Mallozzi, N1DM (R) after just earning their BSA Radio Merit Badge.
Rob Leiden K1UI, the New England Division ARRL Assistant Director for Spectrum Protection and RFI, leads Radio Frequency Interference Team Training at Near-Fest in Deerfield. [ARRL Maine Section Manager Phil Duggan] N1EP picked up Maine’s RFI equipment and Toolkit, including IC-705 and some handy RFI-sniffing antennas. The New England Division is leading the nation in helping hams who may be experiencing annoying RFI.
Maine training and policy, planning will follow in the coming weeks.
From Western MA ARRL Members List:
Kirby Francis, KC1RWR, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes:
The PRA Foundation, the educational outreach arm of the Providence Radio Association, W1OP, presented a Boy Scouts of America RADIO Merit Badge class for members of Troop 2, Central Falls, RI. Over the course of 5 weeks, Foundation Director Dom Mallozzi, N1DM, and President Dave Tessitore, K1DT, taught in-person classes at the PRA Clubhouse / W1OP station following the K2BSA Amateur Radio curriculum. Instruction was augmented with lab demonstrations, on-the-air experiences using HF and VHF, as well as CW and several OSCAR Satellite and ISS repeater contacts. The Scouts were thrilled and encouraged when, by sheer coincidence, we worked a young Ham on 20M SSB who had just become an Eagle Scout! Upon earning their Merit Badges, the Scouts and Scoutmaster were each presented with FRS handheld radios courtesy of the Foundation, along with an invitation to return for a Technician License Class.
