Operating

Technician Parks On The Air Event, Blue Hills Reservation (MA), November 20, 2021

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Parks On The Air logoThe Boston Amateur Radio Club is hosting a Technician Class POTA day on November 20th at Chickatawbut Hill. Included is a press release for you to include in your club newsletter should you see fit.  All hams are welcome to attend. 
 
After the event Join us at the 110 Grill in Braintree afterwards for some food and drinks! Please include in your email if you will be joining us at 110 Grill so we can make a proper reservation.
 
 
Brendan Baldonado
President 
Boston Amateur Radio Club
 
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Boston Amateur Radio Club Announces a Technician POTA Day, November 20th 10:30 am.

The Boston Amateur Radio Club will host a Parks On The Air (POTA) event with a special invitation to Technician license holders and new hams on November 20th, 2021. The event will take place in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton at the Mount Chickatawbut summit. We will attempt to “activate” the park according to POTA rules using VHF, UHF, and the Technician
segments of the HF bands.

Bring your handheld and any other radio you want to try out on the summit. The club will provide some power sources and a few different antennas for you to experiment with.

You will also have an opportunity to operate on six and ten meters. Brendan, NW1S, and Joe, NV1W, will be on hand to answer questions and help introduce you to amateur radio in the great outdoors. There will even be prizes for accomplishments things like most contacts made, farthest contact, and most Technician bands used. Afterwards there will be a social event of food and drinks. You may park at a lower parking lot and hike the short path to the summit. The Boston Amateur Radio club is attempting to organize a car to bring those who cannot or wish to not walk the distance to the summit. Further information on the Blue Hills can be found at https://friendsofthebluehills.org.

Please email Brendan, NW1S at nw1s.brendan@gmail.com if you’re planning to attend.

Join us at the 110 Grill in Braintree afterwards for some food and drinks! Please include in your email if you will be joining us at 110 Grill so we can make a proper reservation.

We look forward to seeing you at the summit! Updates on the Tech POTA Day can be found at BARC.org, and @W1BOS on Facebook and Twitter.

Do you want to participate without making the trek up Mount Chickatawbut? You can hunt our operators on Saturday. Look for us on the POTA.app spot page, the @W1BOS Twitter or on the National Calling Frequencies. We invite your club to get on the Air with our Technicians and test out your VHF and UHF Equipment.

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Greater Bridgeport (CT) ARC Fox Hunt, November 7, 2021

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cartoon turkey operating ham radio stationPeter Cimino, K1PCN, writes on the Greater Bridgeport ARC wiki:

It is the season for pumpkin pie, apple cider and of course our monthly Turkey hunt. I, K1PCN-Peter, will be with the turkey at his roost somewhere in the greater Fairfield-Easton Region. The hunt will begin at 10AM. All GBARC and non-GBARC members are welcome to participate. The hunt will start at the park and ride at Exit 44 off the Merritt Highway (intersection of rt 58 and Merritt). The turkey will allow me to give hints every 15 minute or so. They will be radio and science based clues. One will be given in morse code-so be prepared.

The hints will be vague in the beginning and more specific to the end. Hot cider and donuts will await you at the roost. The purpose of the turkey hunt is to find a hidden radio transmitter. The turkey will not be harmed.

Recommended Starting Location:  Park & Ride Exit 44 off Merritt Parkway

Starting Time: 10:00 AM Local 

Fox Frequency:  147.485 MHz Simplex

Fox Power:  5W into a 1/4 wave antenna dropping to 1W at 11:30

Sponsor:  Peter K1PCN

Check in on:  441.700 or 146.445 Repeaters or Echolink (recommended)

En-Route Communications:  Contact K1PCN on the above repeaters or call 203-767-5888

GBARC fox hunt map

RASON Fox Hunt, Norwich CT, November 6, 2021

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Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list:
 
A fox hunt will be held at Mohegan Park in Norwich, CT (https://norwichct.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/122).  The hunt will run on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.  Find as many foxes as you can in 2 hours.  We will have multiple fox boxes hidden around the park.  The frequencies of the boxes are listed below:

Fox H: 146.335 MHz; 1 mW output; Tx ON 100%, 300ft. range + CW ID.

Fox I:145.910 MHz; 25 mW; Tx ON 100%, 1 mile range.

Fox J:146.585 MHz; 0.5 W; Tx ON one min, 5 sec. OFF, Range 2 miles, CW ID.

Fox C – K1DCT: 147.455 MHz; 81 mW; 3 seconds on, 3 seconds off continuous

Fox B – NA1CN: 146.550 MHz; 1 Watt; PL 114.8; DTMF 1 to activate; 50 seconds of tones + CW ID

More foxes may be added, and if so I will send the frequencies out before the weekend.  Beginners are welcome, and if you meet me in the Upper Parking Lot, I will be happy to show you how to hunt.  Talk in on 146.730 MHz  (PL of 156.7).  If you are unlicensed and would like to get in contact with me, send me an e-mail at KE1IUMark@gmail.com and I will give you my cell number.

Many thanks,

-Mark

Mark Noe

CQWW SSB Contest, October 30-31, 2021

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CQ logoJohn Dorr, K1AR, writes on the cq-contest list:

Good morning contesters!

What is the world’s largest radio contest that takes place during the last weekend of October, attracting more than 40,000 participants? You guessed it — the CQ WW! As you may have noticed, band conditions are rapidly improving. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the current solar bounty will last through the weekend.

I also want to remind you of two new additions to this year’s contest.

First, there is the new YOUTH overlay. If you’re 25 or under, you will have a special place in the CQ WW contest, including the opportunity to receive one of 14 new plaques that have been sponsored just for you. Whether you’re 25 or 85, spread the word. Let’s show the world that the Youth movement in contesting is alive and well!

Finally, we also have created a new EXPLORER category designed to allow experimenters to be creative in their technical approach to the CQ WW with relaxed rules and a sandbox to compete against others with similar interests. For more information, check out: <https://cqww.com/explorer.htm>.

No matter what category you enter, be sure to have fun! I hope to hear many of you this coming weekend!

73, John, K1AR
CQ WW Contest Director

[See rules at <http://www.cqww.com/rules.htm>]

Hampden County (MA) RA Halloween Fox Hunt, October 31, 2021

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Hampden Co RA logoLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes on ctfoxhunter:
 
W1TRK (Chris) will be the Halloween Fox for this Sunday’s FoxHunt. He will be within 10 air miles of the starting point.
 
Starting Point: The back parking lot at the Holyoke Mall near where Whitney Ave turns left and right.
 
Time: 10:00 am
 
Hunting on the input to the KB1AEV 146.715 (PL100.0) repeater which is 146.115
 
This is a live and in person Fox Hunt.
 
Base stations are invited to give bearings and signal reports.
 
Time Limit: 2 hours
 
Everyone invited to join in the fun!
 
I hope to see you at the starting point!
 

Larry, W1AST

​HCRA​ President

Greater Bridgeport (CT) ARC Combined SET, JOTA & POTA for Fun-Filled Weekend

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Greater Bridgeport ARC loogo

Members of the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club combined the best of a Simulated Emergency Test (SET), Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), and Parks On The Air (POTA), while operating from three state parks on October 16, 2021: 

  • Sherwood Island SP (Park K-1715)
  • Silver Sands SP (Park K-1716)
  • West Rock SP (Park K-1727) (2 stations)

“Our goal [was] to provide community outreach for ham radio, and to help train our new operators,” explained GBARC president Emily Clarke, N1DID.   

During the POTA Event the groups also participated in the CT ARES SET using simplex VHF/UHF as well as DMR.

“I wanted to do the SET from a distance away from our ARES region (Region 1)  so we could simulate simplex communications outside our region.   I was in Region 2, and all our other stations were in CT State Parks in Region 1 or were mobile enroute.  After the SET we turned our attention to our main reason for being in the park, our POTA event,” says Clarke.
 
According to N1DID, the JOTA contact wasn’t actually planned. 
 
“We were doing HF communications for POTA when a huge troop of Scouts walked by.  We asked, ‘Does anyone want to learn about ham radio?’ and they all ran and formed a very disciplined semi-circle around us.  I gave them an explanation about HF communications, then gave a short talk explaining how we and other radio amateurs were active on the air promoting our beautiful state parks.”
 
“We gave additional information about emergency communications. how parents and even scouts can get their technician licenses, and about how they can reach out to local clubs for help with their radio merit badge.  
 
Clarke and her group took  questions from the kids and parents and got a big thank you.  Clarke encouraged them to reach out to the club in the future. “Afterwards the Scout leader came up and took my email address and said ‘I always wanted to do this.’”
 
Although N1DID and the other GBARC members got to interact with the public at the other parks “The 40+ Scouts and parents we met  was the icing on the cake of a wonderful day in the park.”
 
Scouts at GBARC POTA event
Scouts visiting Greater Bridgeport ARC Parks On The Air event

K1PCN To Activate Sherwood Island State Park, K-1715, Westport CT, October 17, 2021

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Google map of Sherwood I. State Park POTA activationPeter Cimino, K1PCN, writes on the Greater Bridgeport ARC mailing list:

I will be setting up in a clump of tress just north of the West Beach Parking Area. It is flat and shady. Also, you can drive right up to the activation spot. I will be setting up an OCF Dipole for 20, 40 and 80m. Please bring a chair and lunch. I will have water and soft drinks available. Unfortunately it seems that all the restrooms are closed for the fall. I will be monitoring 146.58, the GBARC repeater and DMR talkgroup CT TAC1. If there is enough people, I can set up a second station and if you have a radio but need a battery or antenna to operate, contact me.

I look forward to anyone who would like to try HF. This is a two person job; running the station and logging. I am happy to log and let any of you take control of the station under supervision if needed.

Directions: Sherwood Island State Park is just off Exit 18 off I95. Once you enter the park, proceed straight into the roundabout. Take the first right (west) in the roundabout towards WEST BEACH. Continue straight through the first intersection and take a right (North) at the second intersection (just before the West Beach Parking Area). Continue 100 yards and I will be on the right. Look for my red Toyota Tundra Pick up truck.

GPS N41.114729° -73.334621°. We are 100 yards North of the West Beach Parking area

Any questions, please contact me. Peter K1PCN 203-767-5888

YCCC Qualifications for 2022 WRTC

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Yankee Clipper Contest Club logoDave Malley, W1VEM, writes on the YCCC mailing list:

Congratulations to Bob, WA1Z, and Randy, K5ZD, for qualifying as Team Leaders for the 2022 Italia WRTC championship!

Congratulations also to Dave, K1ZZ; Paul, K1XM; Ed, N1UR; Marty, NN1C; Dennis,W1UE; Gene,W3UA and Robert, WA1FCN.

Nine YCCC members is terrific & my apologies if I missed anyone!