Operating

Algonquin ARC (MA) “Lantern Battery Competition,” January 1-March 31, 2022

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Algonquin ARC logoSkip Youngberg, K1NKR, writes on the Algonquin ARC mailing list:

Last year’s Lantern Battery Challenge was a success.  So our Activities Chairman, Joe said, “Let’s do it again!”

The event can be a great way to beat the winter doldrums.  The entire goal is threefold:  to have fun, to get on the air, and to see just what battery power can do around the shack.

This year’s rules are below.  You’ll see that you don’t have to go out and find “lantern” batteries this time.  Your inventiveness will determine just how much you spend in time and money getting on the air.

73,

Skip

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AARC’s 2022 LANTERN BATTERY CHALLENGE

The intent of the AARC LBC is to foster camaraderie among members and find out—in a light-hearted fashion—just how many QSOs can be extracted from a stack of batteries before they are depleted beyond the point of usefulness.  We’re continuing to call this the “Lantern” Battery Challenge even though there is no need to actually use expensive lantern batteries.

Activity period

AARC’s LBC will commence at 0000Z on 1 January 2022 and conclude at 2400Z on 31 March 2022.  Participants can join at any time during the challenge period but must finish by the end of the challenge.

Bands, Modes

Consistent with the terms of the participant’s license, operation on any band, using any mode, is permitted.

Energy Source (Batteries)

Batteries must be assembled from the equivalent of “D” cells or smaller.  Any combination of cells stacked in series not exceeding 15 volts is acceptable, provided that no more than two cells are connected in parallel anywhere in the stack.

     (Note that each of the lantern batteries used last year was the equivalent of four 1‑1/2 volt “D” or “F” cells in series, so two lantern batteries stacked in series yielded 12 volts.  Most rigs like 12V or higher and mis-perform at voltages under 10V.  Current drain depletes the cells quickly and reduces their voltage.  This year’s “connected in parallel” rule allows for starting with twice as much energy, increases the available current, and slows voltage depletion.)

[Full story]

 

W2AN/1BCG Special Event, December 11, 2021

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1BCG special event2021 marks the 100th year anniversary of the historic Transatlantic Tests. On December 11, 2021 The 1BCG replica transmitter will be operating as W2AN/1BCG on 1.821 MHz, plus or minus, using CW, from The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut. Transmissions from W2AN/1BCG will be one-way, just like the original transatlantic tests in 1921. You can get a SWL certificate for this Special Event by sending a copy of the transmitted message to 1BCG@AntiqueWireless.org

Schedule: Transmissions start on December 11, 2021, on 1.821 MHz, +/-, at 1800 EST or 2300 UTC, then every 15 minutes thereafter for a total of five hours thusly; 1815, 1830, 1845, 1900, 1915, 1930, 1945, 2000, 2015, 2030, 2045, 2100, 2115, 2130, 2145, 2200, 2215, 2230 and the last transmission at 2245 EST.

This special event is your opportunity to relive a historic moment in amateur radio history.

For more information, visit <http://1bcg.org/1BCG/>.

Fox Hunt Near South Windsor CT, January 1, 2022

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Paul Gipson, N1TUP, writes on the ctfoxhunter list: 
 
Greetings Fox hunters,
 
Keeping with tradition, I will be hosting a Fox hunt on New Years Day at 1pm.
 
This hunt will be conducted in the same manner that we have previously conducted live fox hunts.  The hunters will assemble at the  91 Ayers Road in South Windsor, CT, home of the old Wapping Elementary School, be set up and ready to start by 1pm. The fox will take a roll call at 1pm on the BEARS repeater, 145.110 MHz, PL tone is 77.0 Hz.  This hunt will be conducted using the repeater for all communication and information sharing.  I encourage communication between participants and any base stations that can supply helpful information to the hunters.  Once you have spotted the fox you should stop all transmissions.  Pay attention, if someone says they are going to check an area and you never hear from them again, that might be a clue. 
 
Remember not to hunt the repeater output frequency as that will just lead you to the repeater.  I will not be there.  You will want to listen on the repeater input frequency, 144.510MHz.  That is the frequency the fox will be transmitting on.
 
The fox will be located within 20 air miles of the starting point and not within Hartford or Springfield. The fox will be on publicly accessible property that will not require anything other that a standard passenger car for access.  The fox will host a “tailgate” party at the end of the hunt at the “den”. 
 
If this is your first hunt, I would recommend riding along with someone who has done this before.  Dress warmly as you will be outside at the end for the party, the rest of the time you will be in and out of the car taking bearings etc.
 
Experience has shown that hunters will start arriving in the den about 1 hour after the start.  The event has a two hour time limit not including socializing in the den at the end.
 
Current information regarding this and other fox hunts in Connecticut are on groups.io. If you are not already a group member, you may want to consider signing up for the groups.io CTFOXHUNTER so that you do not miss any important foxhunt related news.
 
73,

Paul, N1TUP

Fox Hunting Video Conferences Over the Winter Months Proposed

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From ema.arrl.org:

George Allison, K1IG, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list:

As the snow season arrives, we’ll be taking a hiatus from our outdoor fox hunting events. To keep our expertise up, though, what is the interest in having one or more video conferences over the winter to show off equipment and techniques? I can host the conferences with a Webex account (very similar to Zoom).

Possible meeting agendas could include fox and fox-finding equipment demos, photos of memorable hunts, discussions of hunting techniques, and improvements or variations to our events.

Depending on interest, the first video conference could be held in December or January. 

Please reply to the group to let us know if you’re interested. Tell us your preferred day(s) of the week, suggested agenda items, and when you want the first meeting (specific date not required; preferred month is fine). When I get the info I can send out some date choices.

73,
George K1IG

KD1D Fox, Littleton, MA, November 27, 2021

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Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on November 27, 2021 at 11:33 AM:

The KD1D  RF Fox  is out for one last hunt before hibernation.  

The KD1D Fox operates on 146.565 MHz FM with an output power of about 50 milliwatts and is currently located somewhere in Littleton.  It can be heard in the area  on Route 119 /2A between Route 110 (Littleton Common) and Route 27 (where the rail trail crosses).  If you’re not familiar with the area, check out the expandable map on

https://littletonconservationtrust.org/trail-guide/

Clues:   A small three-leaved plant and one of the Disney chipmunks.

73 and good hunting de KD1D Alan

The trail may be a bit wet in spots.  Boots are advised.

Hidden Transmitter, Agawam/Feeding Hills, MA Vicinity, November 25, 2021

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Hampden Co RA logoChris Thornton, W1TRK, writes on the WMAFoxHunters list:
 
Attention All Foxhunters!
 
The [Hampden County Radio Association] foxbox #2 has escaped its den and has gone into hiding AGAIN!
 
FB #2 is transmitting on 147.550 Mhz with a PL of 151.4. You can activate FB #2 by depressing the DTMF key #1. A short depress will activate it if you are close enough. FB2 is transmitting at 1 watt into a tall ducky antenna.
 
The location is in a publicly accessible area with some nearby parking and can be heard along RT.57 in Agawam/Feeding Hills.
 
This is a good opportunity for base stations to get in on the fun. If you can hear the fox please give its signal strength and direction if possible.  Please do not reveal its location, just a location where you can hear it from, this then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use. It’s just as important for the hunters to know where it CANNOT be heard as well as where it CAN be heard!

WX1GYX QRV for 2021 SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 4, 2021

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SKYWARN Recognition Day logoFrom New England SKYWARN Net Facebook page, WS1SM Ham Radio Blog:

For 22 years, SKYWARN™ Recognition Day, developed jointly by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League, celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN™ radio operators make to the National Weather Service.

Similar to last year, because of COVID-19 restrictions, ham operators will not have access to the NWS Gray facility, but we encourage you to take turns activating the WX1GYX call sign, either from your home stations, portable, or mobile, during the event.

If you’d like to use the WX1GYX call sign during SRD, please click here to sign up for a time/band slot. We hope to have at least one operator from each of the counties in the NWS Gray, Maine Weather Forecast area, so spread the word!

Participants are asked to log contacts in an electronic logging program, such as N1MM, and submit to kb1hnz@yahoo.com in an ADIF format.

During the periods that you’re not using the WX1GYX call sign, operators may also use their personal call signs to exchange their name, SRD number (which can be obtained here) and current weather conditions with other participating stations.

The event website provides complete operating guidelines, including the suggested exchange. SRD is a fun on-air activity that feels very much like a contest, but its informal. There’s no rules or band limitations. You can even use repeaters!

73,

Tim Watson
KB1HNZ

RASON Fox Hunt, Norwich, CT, November 20, 2021

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Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list:

RASON will be sponsoring a foxhunt on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 at 1:30 PM.  Weather forecast is partly sunny and 50 degrees!  This foxhunt will follow our conventional format.  I will be hiding in a public location somewhere in the Norwich, CT area (see the map below).  

You can download a map that could be useful (for those wishing to use a paper map) at this link: https://d85bc6ea86296c327d7f-fc14fae93feb1cf1ff31873061ee8f7d.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/62/1641/Norwich2016Reduced.pdf.  Page 2 has a complete map of Norwich, which I think you will find helpful.

There will be three transmitters running – on the following frequencies:

146.335 MHz – 1 mW (KE1IU Fox H listed on our website)
145.910 MHz – 10 mW (KE1IU Fox I listed on our website)
146.585 MHz – 0.5 W (KE1IU Fox J listed on our website)

Our website is https://rason.org

These transmitters will be hidden on location, so you can hunt for them when you arrive.  

In addition, I will have a mobile rig tuned to the N1NW repeater (146.730 MHz, PL 156.7), so you can track me from the input.  Listen for me on 146.130.  I will transmit on request, and we will also use this frequency for hints.

All hunters should check in so that I can end the hunt when the last person has found me.  

Let me know if you have any questions.

Many thanks,

-Mark

New Winlink HF Node at W1AW

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Mike Walters, W8ZY, writes:

We finally have a CT based Winlink HF node to test. This is a duplex node so there are two frequencies available. It will only connect to one at a time so if it is connected you will not connect on the other frequency. If you have Winlink HF capability I would like to get a test and let me know how it works. It is capable up to Pactor 3. We have not turned on VARA yet but will soon. We want to get some preliminary tests first. Look for:

           W1AW-10
            3584.0 kHz

           W1AW
           7058.5 kHz

Use it and let me know if you can connect and if it seems to work ok. I appreciate the help.

Thanks,
Mike, W8ZY
W8zy@hotmail.com

Fox On the Loose, Manchester, CT Vicinity, November 10, 2021

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Paul Gipson, N1TUP, writes on ctfoxhunter list:
 

Greetings Fox Hunters,

 
Fox 91.5 has been deployed, as 4 pm yesterday, November 10, 2021. In keeping with Chuck’s naming convention I have changed the name of Fox Box #4 to 91.5. It makes sense to name the box with the PL tone frequency, thereby saving the need to lookup the PL tone. Nothing else has changed, just the name.
Fox 91.5
At its new location, the fox is running the usual 2 watts into a 18 inch antenna. Since their is no starting place for finding the hidden transmitter, all you can do is while going about your travels, periodically try to activate the hidden transmitter. Your first try may be from home. You do this by going on the 2 meter simplex frequency of 146.550 MHz (PL 91.5 MHz), key your transmitter, ID and then send a DTMF “1”. If the FoxBox can hear you and you can hear it, you will hear its very distinctive sound. It will transmit for 30 seconds, ID and then go back to sleep. You can make it transmit as often as necessary to find it.


Once someone has been able to bring it up and hear it, please report that information to the other fox hunters. Feel free to reply to the group. Do not reveal its location, just a location (and direction if possible) from which you are able to hear it. This then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use.

You do not actually have to touch the box to claim finding it. Eye ball contact is sufficient. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location.

Good luck,

Paul, N1TUP
 

Hint: try North Manchester