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“BarbeQRPcon” is Happening, Manchester NH, January 15, 2022

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From the NEQRP mailing list:

“BarbeQRPcon” (pronounced: Bar-Be-QRP-Con) is coming up this SATURDAY, JANUARY 15th, 2022. It’s ALWAYS ON THE 3rd SATURDAY IN JANUARY, ANNUALLY!

This annual event has been on-going for many, Many, MANY years and is a TRADITION in the NEQRP yearly activities/events. It’s THEE BEST WINTER BBQ in New England, … possibly the World!!! 🙂

Are you suffering from the Winter doldrums/blues?
Need to get out-of-the-house and take a break from the COLD WINTER days??
Want to get together with like-minded friends for a fantastic day of: BBQ LUNCH, Stops at, ‘HAM Radio Outlet’ to check out the latest new gear and supplies, ‘Harbor Freight’ for needed tools for that next home-built project/kit???
Well, YOU’RE IN LUCK!!!

That’s what BarbeQRPcon is all about. A day of, camaraderie, eating together, and, hitting a few local hangouts for a great break from WINTER with like-minded friends in the Amateur Radio Community. What could be better than a BBQ in the middle of WINTER?

It starts-off this year (2022) at a *** NEW LOCATION ***:

#1.) “KC’s Rib Shack”, 837 2nd St, Manchester, NH at 12-NOON.
There’ll be: Meet-‘N-Greet, Show-‘N-Tell, Lunch, and, more socializing from 12-noon to approximately 2PM.
https://www.ribshack.net
https://www.ribshack.net/menus/#sandwiches

#2.) Then it’s a caravan over to: “HAM Radio Outlet” in Salem (NH) for checking out: rigs, books, antennas, parts, and other gear, from 2:30 to 3:30PM.
https://www.hamradio.com/locations.cfm?storeid=9

#3.) From there it’s down the street to “Harbor Freight” for tools and other well-needed items for that next home-brew project/kit, from 3:30 to 4:30PM.
https://go.harborfreight.com/store/harbor-freight-tools-in-salem-nh-03079
https://www.harborfreight.com/?utm_source=go&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toplogo&_gl=1*1ldbnyj*_ga*YW1wLXdMSWRaS18zOXZfVENoQnlGcHFiZlE.

#4.) AND if that’s not enough for YOU, there’s our Traditional Farewell Dinner/Supper at the Famous Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant also in Salem, approximately 4:30 through ~6PM+.
https://locations.bertuccis.com/us/nh/salem/275-rockingham-park-blvd
https://www.bertuccis.com/menu

Need directions? – Here you go! Just re-enter your starting point in the “A” Window in the link below:
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=1c8afc7f-5a52-4428-8c12-0ffb47742243&cp=43.096686~-72.556538&lvl=8&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027

Hopefully the WEATHER (check it out in the link below) will cooperate with us on this fantastic day of tradition known as “BarbeQRPcon”.
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.8258&lon=-71.2322#.Ydx-TkxOmM8

Questions? Just ask.

Yes, the locations and various stops/times, over the years, have changed through the decades, but, this is an ALL NEW SCHEDULE for *** BarbeQRPcon 2022 ***.

*** IT’S THE BEST BARBECUE OF THE YEAR, AND, IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER TO BOOT!!! ***

Come join us and see what this Winter TRADITION is all about.

* “THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING …” ***

See YOU this coming SATURDAY the 15th at 12-NOON.

Stay healthy and safe, es 7 3 . .

** NOTE: All Communications will be on “THEE NATIONAL SIMPLEX FREQUENCY” (146.52 direct). Bring your H/T or join us on “52 direct” via your mobile rig. – CUL

*** P.S. – Join-in on whatever fits into YOUR schedule. Only one of the stops, a few, or, all of them, it’s up to YOU. ENJOY!
______________________________________________________________

ARRL Vermont State Convention, “HAM-CON” February 26, 2022

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Ham-Con logoThe ARRL Vermont State Convention, known at HAM-CON is Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the Hampton Inn Convention Center in Colchester, Vermont. The Convention will use a hybrid format and many activities will also be available at ham-con.org. HAM-CON is the only New England ARRL Convention held in the first quarter of 2022.

HAM-CON will feature 8 forums running throughout the morning hours. There will also be a vendor flea market. For the first time, we will include an outdoor segment of the flea market, weather permitting. The on-line site will feature several video chat rooms where attendees can meet up with friends in a more private setting.

Admission to HAM-CON is only $6 if you purchase an advance sale ticket before February 20. This admission is good for either live or on-line access. Please go to our Web Site, http://www.ham-con.org for other prices, travel details and program information.

For specific questions or program ideas, contact Mitch at w1sj@arrl.net or 802-879-6589.

73, Mitch

AB1OC Assists Scouts in Australia with ISS Contact via Amateur Radio

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Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, writes on Station Project Blog:

January 10, 2022–I once again had the pleasure to help a group of young people make contact with an Astronaut on the International Space Station this past week. The Scouts were participating in a Jamboree in Victoria, Australia. You can learn more about the event, called VicJam, here.

The Scouts made contact with Astronaut Mark VandeHei, KG5GNP this past Tuesday, January 4th, 2022. You can watch and listen to the contact on YouTube by clicking below. The actual contact begins at about 8:25 into the video.

 

The Scout’s contact lasted for approximately 10 minutes. The Scouts asked and Mark answered all of their questions and there was time at the end on the contact for “Thank You’s” and “Good Wishes”. Here are the questions that the Scouts asked:

  1. What 3 things do you miss from Earth? My Mum worked on a ship and missed; sleeping with the window open, the smell of cut grass, and the sound of rain on the roof.
  2. What do you have to do to become an astronaut?
  3. What would happen if someone were seriously ill on the ISS, and what would you do?
  4. How do you prepare and eat your meals while up in the space station?
  5. What is it like to float around in no gravity without friction?
  6. How does it feel going from zero gravity in space back to earth’s gravity? Does it hurt??
  7. What is the scariest thing to happen to you whilst you have been in space?
  8. How do you shower and go to the toilet in space?
  9. After being in the space station for so many months, how does it feel to experience planet Earth and nature again with all your senses, especially smell?
  10. How do the seasons affect the veggie production system on the ISS? How often do you get to eat fresh food?
  11. Did you always want to be an astronaut and how did you make it happen?
  12. Why do people go into space and how long is an average mission?
  13. How did you feel when you first learned of your selection to go to space and has this been a life-long ambition for you?
  14. Can you share some of the science that was worked on in space that we can now see on earth?
  15. Is there sound or much noise in space?
  16. Multiple nations have had space stations each bestowed with a specific name – Russia had Mir, NASA had Skylab, and China Tiangong-1. As a truly international effort and the largest man-made object in space, does the ISS have a Nickname, or is there a name that the astronauts use for the individual components?
  17. What energy supply do you use to power the station. If nuclear, what type of reactor do you use? If solar, how many solar panels do you use, and what is their power density?
AB1OC ARISS groundstationThis contact was made in a Telebridge format using my Ground Station here in New Hampshire, USA. The linkup with the Scouts in Australia was via a telephone connection using a phone patch in my shack. You can learn more about our ground station here.
 
Helping young people make contact with astronauts on the ISS using Amateur Radio is great fun. My work with ARISS is near the top of my list in terms of the most rewarding work that I do with Amateur Radio.

Best and 73,

Fred, AB1OC

 

New England Division 2022-1Q Cabinet Meeting, January 8, 2022

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ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, held the first quarterly division cabinet meeting of the new year on January 8, 2022 via Zoom. Approximately 50 amateurs representing ARRL-affiliated clubs and field organization leaders from all seven sections attended the morning meeting, along with two ARRL Headquarters staffers.  

[Full story]

Maine Mesh Networking Group Meeting, January 25, 2022

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Assistant Director Cory Golob, KU1U, writes:
 
After a Fall hiatus we are going to start resuming the Maine Mesh Network Group meetings.
 
Next Zoom meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 6:00 PM Eastern. This time worked out the best for most people according to the survey.
 
These meetings are held to discuss expanding MESH networking on 2.4 GHz/5.8 GHz in Maine to benefit the amateur radio community.
 
[Contact Cory, KU1U, for Zoom details at ku1u@nediv.arrl.org]
 
 
 
 

ARRL Welcomes New Director of Emergency Management

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From ARRL:

01/04/2022 – ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to announce the hiring of Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, into the role of Director of Emergency Management. Johnston is from Ozone, Arkansas, and comes to ARRL with 16 years of experience as the Director of Johnson County (Arkansas) Department of Emergency Management. He holds an Extra class Amateur Radio license as well as being an ARES® Emergency Coordinator, Volunteer Examiner, and ARRL-registered Instructor. Johnston is also certified in FEMA NIMS as well as CISA AUXCOMM Communications Unit Leader (COML). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Administration and Management from Arkansas Tech University.

“I am happy to welcome Josh to the ARRL staff and to add his talent and knowledge to our team,” said ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA. “His contribution will help ARRL continue to support our dedicated volunteers of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, improve opportunities for training, and advance our relationships throughout the EmComm community.” With extensive experience in inter-agency cooperation and planning, Johnston is well versed in the different aspects of emergency management and leading both professional and volunteer operators. He has experience in communications planning and execution in the field and at the local and state level. As an Arkansas Master Certified Emergency Manager and past Board Member of Arkansas Emergency Management Association, where he served as president for 2 years, Johnston has experience working with government and agency representatives as well as being boots-on-the-ground in the field.

Johnston will be based at ARRL’s headquarters in Newington, Connecticut and will be working with staff and member-volunteers, and coordinating with the ARRL Board’s new Emergency Communications and Field Services Committee (EC-FSC).

Boston Marathon Volunteer Registration Opens on January 5, 2022

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From wma.arrl.org:

After a successful 2021 marathon this past October, we’re right back into planning mode for the 126th running of the Boston Marathon at our more traditional time frame on Monday, April 18, 2022.

Volunteer registration will open for the Marathon on January 5th, 2022. Please make sure to whitelist volunteer@baa.org to make sure you receive all BAA communications.

How to Volunteer

For returning volunteers, you will receive an email from the BAA with a direct link to register via the BAA Athlete’s Village.

If you haven’t previously volunteered, or have a friend who would like to volunteer, please go directly to the Volunteer Registration page on January 5th and follow the instructions for new volunteers.

Guidance on the Sign Up Process

  • On Step 3 – Select “General”
  • On Step 4 – Select “Yes, I am an Amateur Radio Operator”
  • Provide your call sign and what your equipment is in the appropriate boxes.
  • On Step 5 – Select “Apply as an Individual”
  • On Step 6
  • Select “Amateur Radio” as the Job Type regardless of what segment you wish to volunteer for.
  • On the next page you will be able to select the race segment.
  • If you want to add additional ARO assignment preferences select “Yes” to select another job and then an assignment type.  You can choose up to 3 job type requests.
  • On Step 7 – Confirm all selections are correct.

A few notes for volunteers:

  • Almost all ARO positions are single person assignments.  We are not able to group people on a single assignment, but we will try to accommodate which segment you are assigned to to allow for similar start/end times.
  • All volunteers must be fully vaccinated this year.  Details on how to provide proof of vaccination will be provided when assignments are given out.  Medical exemptions may be requested and will be reviewed by the BAA individually.

Don’t delay! Volunteer registration closes on Friday, February 18. Help us get the word out by forwarding this email to your club and other amateur radio operators who wish to volunteer. Most volunteers first learn about the event through word of mouth. If you know new licensees who might like to join us, please make sure to let them know about it. Even just a quick mention at your club meeting can be a big help.

If you have any questions about the upcoming volunteer registration period, or the 2022 Marathon generally, please get in touch anytime. Volunteering at the Marathon is a big job and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts into it. We’re happy to do what we can to make your work fun, comfortable, and effective.

We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Thank you, and 73,

Boston Marathon Communications Committee

Guest Operator Opportunities at W1AW

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W1AW buildingEmily Clarke, N1DID, writes on the Greater Bridgeport ARC mailing list:

W1AW is open and you can be a guest operator.  Even if you are technician, you can operate W1AW with supervision.  I’d like to schedule a trip there, so please email if you are interested, what days of the week you can come, and if you want to drive or carpool.  W1AW gets on the air from 10am to 4pm weekdays only.

I will tell you that this is a great experience that you will never forget.

Cheers,

Emily/N1DID

WMA Section Manager’s Report, January 2022

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WMA Section logoHello Western Mass and Happy New Year The latest report is now online at <https://wma.arrl.org/blog/2022/01/01/section-managers-report-jan-2022/>. Take a moment to have a look. Any club needing content for their newsletters are welcome to copy it.  I do ask for for continued efforts to get the word out about the reports and especially the website. Also consider 2022 a year to try something new, or volunteer in a club or section function. Much to choose from.

Have a great New Year!
73
Ray- AA1SE

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ARRL Western Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Raymond P Lajoie, AA1SE
aa1se@arrl.org
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