Newport County (RI) Radio Club POTA Activation, Black Farm K-6989, November 27, 2020

Parks On The Air logoNancy Austin, KC1NEK, writes:
 
For my second [Parks On The Air] at Black Farm this morning, I was able to easily set up my 20m ham stick per Bob’s [Newport County Radio Club] presentation and make contacts with hams from Devon, England to Calgary and all in between. GREAT FUN!!! Definitely still learning how to hear the call sign as second nature plus jot down all the contact info for the logs. (Logs?? Next learning curve.) But it’s clearly easy to get going and learn, especially with such an enthusiastic and supportive NCRC community. Really a fun way to learn HF skills and get out & about this Covid winter. 
 
Thanks so much to John [K1JSM], Wily [W1LY] and Bob [WB4SON] for making this happen and welcoming new hams. You guys are the best.
 

W1A Contacts, 2020 HamXposition

Dennis Egan, W1UE, writes on the HamXposition.org list:

Below is a recap of the W1A operation by band and mode for the virtual convention on November 6-8, 2020:

W1A QSO Breakdown

For the Northeast HamExposition Virtual Convention this year, W1A was set up to be operated by various operators using their own stations. Seven operators volunteered to operate: W1RM, AJ1DM, W2NR, K1EIC, AI1G, W1FJ, KB1TBU, and KC2LSD.

Dennis W1UE,

W1A Coordinator

2020 K1USN Veterans Day Special Event Wrap-Up

2020 K1USN Veterans Day CertificateFrom K1USN [Radio Club, Braintree, Massachusetts] Happenings, November 19, 2020:

I want to extend my thanks to everyone who helped us make this a success. Obviously we would not be able to conduct our usual in-person activation at K1USN on November 11th due to the pandemic. We had some discussions back and forth and decided that a 31 hour operating event might just work providing we could get commitments from enough operators to get on the HF bands and give us coverage on SSB, CW and FT8/4. As things evolved we even had our first contacts on the 630 meter band using WSPR thanks to Dave – AA1A.

As I said, there were quite a few people who made this a success. We thought that a downloadable certificate commemorating Veterans Day would be a cool idea. Yes it is, but it meant that we had to create one (Tnx WA1MAD, N1VH & W1VP) and then create the ability for stations to submit an online certificate request (Tnx W1VP).

Oh, yeah, what if we make a certificate but nobody even works us? Well, we really had a good turnout of operators, some who covered multiple shifts!

Thanks to this crew of operators:

AA1A – Dave
K1EBY – Frank
K1RV – Pi
K1VUT – Dave
K1WCC – Henry
KC1G – Mike
N1DC – Rick
W1TJL – Tom
W1XD – Lou
WA1MAD – Mike

We need to give a special thanks to Rick – N1DC for the outstanding job he did compiling all our log data. This was quite a task, but the results are attached below and show the great results.

I’ve already received approximately 75 QSL requests via snail mail so far and Larry – W1VP said that we have at least 180 downloadable certificate requests so far. BTW, Randy – KB3IFH is updating our K1USN QSL card and I hope to receive our new order for 500 more cards soon.

If you managed to work K1USN during the 2020 Veterans Day event I urge you to at least submit a certificate request.

If you make contact with K1USN during Veterans Day and would like a certificate emailed to you, please fill out the request form here.

Here is Rick’s summary:

Rick Pendleton
Nov 16, 2020, 11:32 AM (4 days ago)

Hi,

Thanks to everyone that participated in this event. The K1USN team did an outstanding job this year. We had operators using CW, SSB, FT8, FT4 and WSPR. For the first time we had QSO’s on 630M using WSPR thanks to Dave AA1A.

After working through some issues with the logs, I was able to create a master log in N1MM+ that combined CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4. Thanks to Mike KC1G and Lou W1XD for the extra effort sorting out some adif issues. The WSPR log could not be imported since it wasn’t in ADIF format. However, the QSO data was included in the summary.

I will investigate WSPR log file conversions further.

There were a LOT of QSO’s completed using FT8, FT4 and WSPR providing many with QSO’s that might not have happened otherwise.

Overall results : 1,690 QSO’s , 53 DXCC countries, 20 CQ Zones
The were 500 FT8, FT4 and WSPR QSO’s accounting for 30% of the total.

In addition, there were 157 QSO’s made during the 1300, 1900 and 0300 UTC CWops CWTs by K1VUT, N1DC and K1RV. This was not actually part of the event but K1USN was on the air using “Watson” and MA as the exchange.

Attached are pdf files showing the Results and supporting details.

The Master ADIF and LOG files have been sent to Pi and Larry.

73,
Rick N1DC

Propagation Data Collection During December 14 Eclipse

HamSCI (www.hamsci.org) is looking for amateur radio operators around the world to help collect propagation data during the December 14 eclipse across South America. Data collection requires an HF radio connected to a computer.
 
There will be 24-hour practice runs on November 21 and December 5. The main data recording will run from December 9-16, to ensure an abundance of control data.
 
Details of the experiment may be found here:
 
Instructions are also available in Spanish and Portuguese. 
 
Interested operators should sign up at this link (https://forms.gle/C9PFSTeLf7xvCQDYA) or directly contact Kristina Collins at kd8oxt@case.edu.

SKYWARN Recognition Day 2020 – Making Adjustments for COVID-19

image of tornado on doppler radarFrom The ARES Letter, November 18, 2020:

Each year, SKYWARN Recognition Day is the day where radio amateurs celebrate the long relationship between the amateur radio community and the National Weather Service SKYWARN™ program. The purpose of the event is to recognize amateur radio operators for the vital public service they perform during times of severe weather and to strengthen the bond between radio amateurs and their local National Weather Service office. The event is co-sponsored by ARRL and the National Weather Service.

Normally radio amateurs participate from home stations and from stations at National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices, and the goal is to make contact with as many NWS forecast offices as possible during the event. However, this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, participation from NWS forecast offices will be minimal at best. So, the focus will shift to contacting as many SKYWARN™ trained spotters as possible during the event. New for this year, SKYWARN™ Recognition Day will be open to all SKYWARN Spotters.

Additionally, a SKYWARN™ Recognition Day Facebook page has been created and will host a variety of live and recorded segments throughout the day. All SKYWARN™ Spotters who wish to participate may sign up for a SKYWARN™ Recognition Day number by completing the form found on the SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2020 website. During the event, amateur radio operators are encouraged to exchange their name, location, SRD number, and current weather conditions with other participating stations.

See the event website for the full operating guidelines. Additionally, all SKYWARN™ Spotters will be encouraged to participate by sending weather reports, images and attending various live stream events via social media. SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2020 will be held from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC December 5. To learn more, visit the SRD website.

New Wide Area DMR Repeater in Rhode Island

RI iconRhode Island Section Manager Bob Beaudet, W1YRC, writes:

The Providence Radio Association (PRA) has a new DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) repeater in service at its club headquarters. The repeater is operating on 447.725 MHz (-5 MHz split) from their site atop 253-foot tall  Neutaconkanut Hill. They should be heard in much of the state. For more information, visit the club’s website at http://w1op.com/

Greater Bridgeport (CT) ARC To Hold “Turkey Hunt,” November 14, 2020

Greater Bridgeport ARC loogoFrom gbarc.groups.io:

The [Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club] will hold a “Turkey” Fox Hunt on the 14th at 9 am.  All members and non-members are invited to attend.  The purpose of the fox hunt is to track down a hidden transmitter and find some information, then relay that information according to the instructions on a sign where the fox is located.  

This month there will be two hidden transmitters – one to get you in the neighborhood which will be 5W on a 5/8th wave antenna.  The other will be 1 watt on a stubby.

DO NOT CONGREGATE.  Please wear a mask and socially distance yourself by staying at least 6 feet away from others.   

The first person to locate the fox will be awarded 5 points for overall effort.  All other participants will receive 3 points for locating the fox and 1 point for participating.  Points will be tallied for the year, and at the end of the year prizes will be awarded to the top 3 hunters.

Recommended Starting Location:  Please meet at the Trumbull Library Parking Lot at 33 Quality Street in Trumbull.  The alternative start site is the parking lot of  Tambascios Restaurant at 1 Dodgingtown Road, Newtown.  See the map below (click for larger version).

Starting Time: 9:00 AM local 

High Power Fox Frequency:  147.485 MHz simplex

Low Power Fox Frequency:  147.585 MHz simplex

Host:   Shawn AC1KC

Check in on:  441.700 or 146.445 repeaters or by Echolink

GBARC turkey-fox hunt satellite map

Newport County (RI) Radio Club Kicks off “Get On The Air Challenge” Beginning January 1, 2021

Newport Co. RC logoThe Newport County Radio Club has created a innovative “Get On The Air Challenge” operating event beginning January 1, 2021.

From the NCRC website:

“Your club is offering a challenge to all members to get on the air on the high frequency bands. The Challenge will start Jan 1, 2021 and is open to all members. Its primary goal is to encourage newer members and members who have not been on the air regularly to get on the air on the HF bands in SSB/phone mode. A General or Extra license is required.

A certificate will be awarded to anyone making 25 contacts during the challenge. We will also post the QSO counts on the club website. We ask for an email message from participants at the end of each month with a count of the number of HF SSB QSO’s made during that month. One does not need to submit a log.

Help is available for anyone needing assistance with an antenna, an HF radio, with understanding how to make HF contacts, logging software or any other radio issue. The Challenge is intended to be a learning exercise and club veterans are very willing to help participants.

GOTA-C communications will be via email to gota@w1sye.org.  Please send a message indicating your interest in the Challenge. We do not want to bug members who are not interested with unnecessary email messages.

Summary:

1. Send us a message that you are all in for the challenge.

2. Send us a message if you have a question or if would like assistance getting ready.

3. Starting Jan 1, 2021, record your SSB/Phone QSO’s on any HF band. Digital modes, FT4 or 8, and CW do not count. Maximum power is 100 watts.

4. At the end of January, February, and March send an email message with the count of your QSO’s.

At the end of March we will evaluate the challenge, continue it, or modify it depending feedback and experience.

In the coming weeks we will be posting tips on how to easily find a QSO opportunity on the HF bands. For example, how to use the following: Parks-on-the-Air spots, DX Summit web site, Winter Field Day, SSB contests, and more.

Fox Deployed, Norwich, CT, November 7, 2020

Chuck Newman, NA1CN writes:

Greetings fellow fox hunters. Release the hounds!  This fox is running in the Norwich, CT area!  

Raise it on 146.550 with a TX/RX CTCSS of 118.8 as often as desired.  It was last seen within 500 feet of safe public parking, and an eyeball QSO is sufficient.

Happy hunting,
Chuck

K1USN Radio Club Veterans Day On Air Event, November 11, 2020

K1USN QSL card
From ema.arrl.org:
 
Wednesday, November 11, 2020, is Veterans Day and once again the K1USN Radio Club (Braintree, MA) plans to be on the air to honor those who have served our country.
 
As you might expect during these difficult times, we are looking for an alternative way to get K1USN on the air.
 
We have decided to announce a 31-hour operating event beginning at 0000 UTC Nov 11th and running through 0500 UTC Nov 12th. The format will consist of two hour shifts and you can use the K1USN call from your home QTH. We will have two hour operating slots available on CW, SSB as well as FT8. Depending on the amount of interest you may need to specify a particular band to operate.
 
Marty – N1VH is now creating a signup document which we hope to be able to post on the K1USN web page. We will need someone to step forward to offer to handle scheduling for us. They would be the contact person for anyone wishing to operate any shift. Operators would contact you via e-mail and/or text to verify the open shifts.
 
BTW, the reason for making this a 31-hour operating event is to give us as much opportunity to work DX stations as well as W/VE stations. Our Veterans Day observance on November 11 coincides with Armistice and Remembrance Day in many other countries.  
 
Ordinarily we have a very good turnout at K1USN for Veterans day and enjoy the operating as well the free Starbucks coffee. This year you will have to supply your own coffee at home!
 
The current list of operators is:
 
K1VUT – Dave
WA1MAD – Mike
K1RV – Pi
N1DC – Rick
 
Due to the uniqueness of the current situation it would great if many of you decided to give it a try operating as K1USN. Although we often generate some pretty busy pileups when operating at the K1USN club station, you can set the pace from the comfort of your home station.  –K1USN Happenings, November 6, 2020