Operating

K2K New Hampshire 2024 13 Colonies Special Event, Call for Operators

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2018 K2K QSL cardEugene Glukhov, W1UAA, writes:

I invite you to participate in the 13 Colonies special event in 2024 as K2K from New Hampshire. The call sign will be active this year from July 1st to July 7th.

I would appreciate your participation, even if you can only spend a few hours. It’s a good reason to represent the state in the air from different counties. We can use all modes on all bands. This year the team has a satellite operator.

If you are ready to be an operator, please write to: k2k@hamlog.online.

We are also organizing a cookout for K2K operators and other amateurs.
When:
June, 29, Saturday
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Where:
5 Pioneer Way, Merrimack, NH, 03054 (Clubhouse)
Link to Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hjgqQArs5LD5DoLQA

You can bring sweets and drinks; we will provide burgers and hot dogs.

RSVP before June, 27, 10 p.m.
RSVP and other requests to: k2k@hamlog.online

If your plans change after the RSVP deadline, don’t worry and feel free to come. We will have plenty of food.

If you won’t be a K2K operator this year, come anyway.

 
73! W1UAA
K2K manager

New England QSO Party, May 4-5, 2024

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New England state mapThe New England QSO Party on May 4th and 5th is a great time to check out antenna systems and offers a moderately paced opportunity to work new states and countries. You’ll find a wide variety of participants, from newcomers to experienced contesters, all interested in making contacts with New England stations.

Our goal is to get every one of the 68 counties in New England on the air so we hope you will encourage your friends to join in the fun! Even if you can only join us for a couple of hours, we’d appreciate it! Will you be QRV? Let us know with a message to info@neqp.org.

The New England QSO Party is 20 hours long overall, in two sections with a civilized break for sleep on Saturday night.  It runs from 4 pm Saturday until 1 am Sunday, then 9 am Sunday until 8 pm Sunday.  Operate on CW, SSB and/or digital modes on 80-40-20-15-10 meters.  For each QSO you’ll give your callsign, a signal report and your state/county.  Top scorers can earn a plaque and everyone who sends in a log with at least 25 QSOs will be sent a certificate.  The goal is to work stations anywhere in the world – and their goal is to work New England stations, so you’ll be very popular!

Last year we received logs from 784 stations from around the country and world.   There were 808 stations from New England on the air!

The full rules are here -> http://neqp.org/rules/

Results from the 2023 NEQP were posted a couple of weeks ago – https://neqp.org/2023-new-england-qso-party/

The 2024 NEQP will take place in three weeks.  Please get on and make some QSOs even if you don’t want to send in a log!

Thanks!

73 Tom/K1KI

https://neqp.org/

 

International Marconi Day, 2024

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KM1CC logoFrom ARRL News:

03/22/2024—This year, International Marconi Day (IMD) is on April 27. Italian inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi was born on April 25, 1874, and is credited for inventing the radiotelegraph system, creating Marconi’s law, and sending the first wireless transmission over the open sea.

IMD was created to honor Marconi and is hosted annually by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club, GX4CRC. The purpose of the day is for amateur radio enthusiasts around the world to contact historic Marconi sites using communication techniques similar to those that he would have used.  

The 24-hour event will operate from 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC, and registration is required. Participants can register at GX4CRC’s registration web page.  

Stations in the United States, including Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club, KM1CC, in Massachusetts, are already registering for the event. KM1CC hosts several on-air events each year to keep the accomplishments and story of Marconi and his wireless station site in South Wellfleet alive. In 1975, the Wellfleet station was listed as a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and is now part of Cape Cod National Seashore, a unit of the National Park Service. When possible, KM1CC sets up a temporary radio station inside the park. More information about KM1CC is available on their Facebook page.

Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, Featured on QSO Today

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Jonathan Taylor, K1RFDJonathan Taylor, K1RFD, Ridgefield, Connecticut, inventor of the highly popular program “EchoLink,” was featured as guest on the QSO Today podcast, episode #487. Taylor is also author of the NTS 2.0 Radiogram Portal web application. 

From QSO Today: “Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, has reached his 50th year has a ham radio operator, is the creator of Echolink, one of the first amateur radio Voice over Internet Service linking amateur radio stations, the receiver of technical innovation awards, and author of ‘VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs,’ now in its second edition. K1RFD checks all of the ham radio boxes for operating, homebrewing, software development, radio restoration, and is my QSO Today.”

Upcoming Changes to POTA Program

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Parks On The Air logoBob Beatty, WB4SON, writes on the Newport County (RI) Radio Association POTA list:
 
The POTA program has been in the process of changing all park prefixes from their original format to a new format that follows the ISO standard for naming entities.  On March 20, 2024, parks in the US will change from being listed as “K-xxxxx” to “US-xxxxx” (the K changes to US).
 
Changes for other countries have either already taken place or will take place soon. For example, The Bahamas used to begin with C6, and is now BS. 
 
Keep in mind that there never has been a requirement to transmit your park information, not even if you are doing a park-to-park contact.  All of that is automatically handled when logs are uploaded.  But you will certainly see these changes on the POTA spotting network, and will likely hear them on the air soon.  Just remember to send “US” starting March 20th.
 
See this URL for information:  https://docs.pota.app/docs/changes.html.
 

YLRL YL-OM Contest, February 17-18, 2024

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YLRL 85th anniversary logoThis weekend (Feb. 17-18) is the YL-OM Contest, sponsored by the YLRL (Young Ladies Relay League). It’s a fun event and you only need TEN valid contacts to be eligible for an award! YLs count only OMs and OMs count only YLs. Phone and CW are scored as separate contests. Digital contacts (RTTY, FT8, etc.) count as CW. It’s a simple exchange and you can download a template in N1MM. Submissions should be in cabrillo format. See full details at https://ylrl.net/contests/ or email Diane at vicepresident@ylrl.org. 73, Diane K2DO

33, Diane K2DO
Life Member ARRL
vicepresident@ylrl.com
hamyl@aol.com
Diane Ortiz – 917-364-9127
www.YLRL.net

Winter Field Day: “A Great Opportunity to Practice ARES Groups’ Emergency Preparedness”

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Winter Field Day Association logoJack Ciaccia, WMØG, Assistant Director, EmComm and Public Service writes on the NE-ECAPS mailing list:

This month, we have a great opportunity to practice our ARES groups’ Emergency Preparedness. The Winter Field Day Association promotes emergency operating preparedness, particularly in the challenging winter months characterized by freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and other hazards that pose unique operational obstacles. The primary objective of Winter Field Day, along with its fundamental principles, is addressing the unpredictability of natural disasters, which can occur unexpectedly. Your training and operational skills must extend beyond fair-weather scenarios, as preparedness is crucial for a professional and timely response to any event.

This event occurs from 19:00 UTC on Saturday, January 27 until Sunday, January 28th, at 18:59.

It’s important to note that Winter Field Day is an emergency communications (EmComm) exercise, so while the rules are significant, the total points accrued are not the primary focus. The knowledge gained during Winter Field Day and the ability to adapt and overcome unexpected obstacles will prove invaluable during emergencies. Participants should prioritize testing their abilities and equipment over chasing contacts or points. When you engage in signal report exchanges, provide accurate signal report information to help the other station assess the effectiveness of their setup. For those who share the commitment to emergency communications, Winter Field Day offers a challenging yet exciting and rewarding experience that aligns with your dedication to this critical aspect of amateur radio.

This year, you’ll observe a shift from “Bonus Points” to “Objectives;” your goal should be to achieve as many objectives as possible during the event.

The New England Division’s ARES group’s goals should include participating from your State EOC and making at least one contact with each New England State EOC via some mode and frequency. I will leave the frequency and modes to each section’s ARES SEC to coordinate.

    •   Any mode is usable during this exercise except FT8 and FT4 modes.
    •   All frequencies, except for the WARC bands, can be used.
    •   One hundred watts is the maximum power level for this event.
    •   Six hours of continuous operation from each participating station.
    •   Running your station at home or in the field from an emergency power source during the exercise.
    •   Operating from an outdoor location and perhaps doubling as a POTA/SOTA activation.

The rules are available at: https://winterfieldday.org/rules.php

Above all, enjoy the Winter Field Day experience. Discuss the temperature, forge new connections, and create lasting memories as you refine your skills as an amateur radio operator.

You must register your Winter FD operation at: winterfieldday.org/register-location.php.

73,
Jack Ciaccia WM0G
Asst Dir., NE EMCOMM and Public Services
303-587-0993

POTA Activation K-1728 Wharton Brook SP, North Haven CT, K2D, for Winter Field Day

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Winter Field Day Association logoShawn Warren, KC1NQE, writes on the CT-POTA mailing list:

Greetings, Connecticut POTA Activators,

I hope everyone is off to a great start of the year. It is amazing to see this group evolve and all the fun we are having.  For this Winter’24 SYP we are going to take our efforts to the next level.  

Main Event

  The weekend of January 19th-21st, we plan to activate as a group utilizing the K2D call. If you’d like to participate in this event, sign up HERE, and/or send an email to KC1NQE with your Call Sign, intended park if you plan to be in a park during the net, cell number, and if you will be joining us at Wharton.  We will assign rover numbers for K2D (ex K2D/r1), which you can use during the entire weekend.  This falls under the use of a club call rules, so K2D and your personal call will get credit for the contacts while activating K2D/r.  [Station Name: K2D | Operator: Your personal call].  More information will be given to those signing up.

Meet Up Details

   We will be hosting a gathering at  K-1728 Wharton Brook SP 675 US-5, North Haven, CT 06473 11a until about 2p. This is a family friendly event, all visitors are welcomed to join and operate the K2D station – this is a great opportunity for unlicensed friends and family, and newly licensed individuals to activate on HF.   Bring your pota gear and pota gear accessories for a tailgate show-and-tell, along with a mug for hot beverages.

P2P Net Details 

   We would also like to light up the spot page with K2D (pota admins are aware). With the success of the CT P2P net during the Fall’23 SYP, and the excellent suggestions to make it better, we are going to have another go at it.  Just before 11:30a on Saturday Jan 20th, a mass text with a frequency for the net will be sent out to those signed up and in a park. The frequency will be somewhere between 7.185 and 7.210, with the expectation of QRM.  K2D will act as a net control, utilizing the sign up list to start making calls- when called, treat it like any P2P contact – Call, Park, Sig.  This initial call up will act as a check in to the net – if you miss the first go around, opportunity will be granted at the end .  Make a list of the stations you hear on the check in or print the signup sheet to bring with you.  Once the check in is complete, Net Control (K2D) will give control to the next person on the list who will then make calls to those that checked in, then return the net to K2D.  Make a general ‘any missed stations call’ at the end before returning the net to K2D.  Other stations should take note of late check ins and add them to their list.  Those that have already gone and missed a QSO with the late check in can do so when the missed station call is made by the late check in.

Contingency Plan

   Connecticut winter has been kind to us so far, but we all know how that can go.  If snow prevents us from utilizing a safe, and within the rules, activation location at Wharton Brook, we will divert to K-1717 Sleeping Giant SP 200 Mt Carmel Ave, Hamden, CT 06518. If the gathering is canceled due to weather, the assigned rover calls are still usable for the weekend.