AB1OC ARISS Contact With Suffolk County, NY Boy Scout Group Can Be Heard Across New England, June 4, 2022

AB1OC ARISS groundstationFrom ARISS:

June 2, 2022—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the Matinecock District Boy Scouts in Centerport, New York.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS

The Boy Scouts of Matinecock District of Suffolk County Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA), is located in New York on Long Island, and composed of about 52 units made up of youth ages 5-18 years. In addition to teaching youth outdoor skills, the BSA also puts a strong focus on STEM initiatives in several Cub Scout and Scouts BSA activities dealing with the sciences, robotics, engineering, and exploring all aspects of life. The venue provided for this ARISS contact is the Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium in Centerport, New York, which has hosted events during the previous year in order to foster interest in space and space exploration for the scouts. During the year leading up to this contact, the scouts have been learning through STEM-based projects about the ISS missions, and amateur radio (including morse code practice).

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Kjell Lindgren, amateur radio call sign KO5MOS. Local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Hollis, New Hampshire, U.S.. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign AB1OC, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June 4, 2022 at 1:56 pm EDT (New York) (17:56 UTC, 12:56 pm CDT, 11:56 am MDT, 10:56 am PDT).

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

  1. What do you have to study after HS in order to have a career as an Astronaut?
  2. Could the ISS ever be self-sustaining and not need care-packages of food/water/oxygen from Earth?
  3. Are ISS teams only picked based on skills, or does NASA try to match personalities as well?
  4. How does the ISS stay safe from all the “space junk” floating around the Earth?
  5. Do you only do experiments in your field of expertise on the ISS or because of limited resources do you find yourself assisting others doing things you’re not as comfortable with?
  6. Is automated piloting better than manual piloting in terms of flight controls and docking?
  7. What one thing did you do as a young adult that you felt was your first significant step to becoming an astronaut?
  8. I’ve heard being in space can change you taste buds. Have you created any interesting or creative recipes to make space food taste better?
  9. How do they supply the ISS with constant oxygen?
  10. We saw a video of a gorilla suit prank on the ISS a few month ago. Has there been any other funny pranks?
  11. What jobs do you have to do on the ship?
  12. Do the astronauts get to bring something from home with them to space?
  13. I’ve heard astronauts from different countries will trade food. What country has the most popular dish on the ISS?
  14. In your personal opinion, what is the best and least best thing about being on the ISS?
  15. Can you swim in space when you’re floating?
  16. Can you feel the affects being in space has on your body? If so, what’s it like?
  17. Can you yo-yo upside down in space?
  18. Does the ISS have technology installed that could capture Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)like the US Navy has recently? Have you seen anything up there that you can’t explain?
  19. What does it feel like to go to space?
  20. I read that there was once water on Mars. Where did all the water go?

ARISS logoAbout ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) and NASA’s Space communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org

Second New England Division Town Hall, June 15, 2022

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC Speaking at the Dayton HamventionFred Kemmerer, AB1OC, writes on the New England ARRL Members list:

Hello Everyone,

We are planning our second New England Division Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, June 15th at 7:30 pm ET. All ARRL members in the New England Division are invited to attend. Our planned topics for this meeting include:

+ An ARRL Update – Fred AB1OC and Phil K9HI
+ Updates from our Assistant Directors – Anita AB1QB, Cory KU1U, Dan N0HF, and Rob K1UI
+ Q&A

We are planning 90 minutes for this meeting. Please register via the following link and we’ll send you a link to join our Town Hall Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zfiGGX_CTIK7xvq9vmuXzw

This is the second of our planned three Town Hall Meetings in 2022. You can view the recording from our last meeting here –

https://nediv.arrl.org/2022/02/17/new-england-division-town-hall-meeting-deemed-a-success/

We hope that you will join us on June 15th!

Best and 73,

——————————————————————–
ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
ab1oc@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Fox Hunt in Wallingford (CT), May 29, 2022

Dave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on May 28, 2022:
 

We’ll have a live Fox Hunt on Sunday in Wallingford from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

We’ll be using these three frequencies:  

There will be a 1 watt signal continuously on 146.565 MHz.  It will make a short beep every three seconds and will ID in Morse code every minute.

The 10 mW transmitter is on 147.475 MHz and will beep every three seconds and will ID in Morse Code every minute.

The 1 mW transmitter is on 146.290 MHz and beeps every three seconds.

There is no central starting location.  Other Fox Hunters can be contacted on the W1NRG repeater 147.360 with PL 162.2
 

Good luck.

Dave, NZ1J

Last Call for K2H Operators

Ray LaJoie, AA1SE, writes on the Western MA ARRL Members list:

Hello.

Larry, W1AST the Mass. manager of the 13 Colonies event is making last call for anyone wishing to operate the event. His message is below:

This is the last call for any hams in Massachusetts that may want to be a 13 Colonies Team K2H Massachusetts operator.

The Special Event runs from July 1 through July 7.

We currently have 28 K2H ops and if you would like to join the team, please contact me before June 1 at W1AST@arrl.net

Operators will spot themselves and wait for the pileups to start. It’s a heck of a lot of fun.

Contact Larry, W1AST  at W1AST@arrl.net if interested before June 1.

Thanks very much
Ray- AA1SE

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

KM3T Inducted into CQ Contest Hall of Fame

K9CT and KM3T receive 2022 CQ Contest Hall of Fame awards
Inductees K9CT (left) and KM3T 2022 CQ Contest Hall of Fame. -K8CX photo

Accomplished contester David Poscoe, KM3T, of Amherst, New Hampshire, has been inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame which “honors those contesters who not only excel in personal performance but who also give back to the hobby in outstanding ways.”  [Full story]

NH Gov. Sununu Proclaims June “Amateur Radio Month”

NH Amateur Radio Proclamation of Amateur Radio MonthARRL New Hampshire Section Manager Pete Stohrer, W1FEA, announced today that Governor Christopher T. Sununu has proclaimed June as “Amateur Radio Month” in the State of New Hampshire.

The proclamation describes Amateur Radio as “an organized, volunteer communications service asset.” It also mentions the Memorandum of Understanding between the New Hampshire ARRL Section and New Hampshire’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management, “to provide backup communications capabilities in times of disaster.”

ARRL Field Day, held on the weekend of June 25-26, 2022, is highlighted. “New Hampshire Amateur Radio operators will join thousands of other amateurs throughout the United States and the world in sharpening their operating skills under emergency conditions.”

Congratulations to all of the New Hampshire ARRL field organization leaders for making this proclamation possible!

Vermont and Maine Section Managers Return for New Terms; ARRL Section Manager Spring Election Results

ARRL logo[Congratulations and a big thanks to returning Section Managers Paul Gayet, AA1SU, of Vermont and Phil Duggan, N1EP, of Maine for their service to the ARRL field organization. Paul and Phil begin their new terms in office on July 1, 2022.]

ARRL Bulletin 16  ARLB016
From ARRL Headquarters 
Newington CT  May 27, 2022
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB016
ARLB016 Section Manager Spring Election Results

The results of two Spring Section Manager (SM) elections were determined when the ballots were counted at ARRL Headquarters on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

Because no nominations were received by the original nomination deadline of September 10, 2021, it was necessary to re-solicit nominations for Delaware SM. Joseph Grib, KI3B, a resident of Bear, Delaware was appointed Interim Delaware SM in January 2022 until the election could be held. John Ferguson, K3PFW, a resident of Georgetown, received 162 votes and Grib received 96 votes. Ferguson will begin his 18-month term (instead of a 2-year term) as SM on July 1.

In Indiana, Bob Burns, AK9R, received 625 votes, and incumbent Section Manager Jimmy Merry, KC9RPX, received 344 votes. Burns, a resident of Brownsville, will begin his 2-year term on July 1. Merry, a resident of Ellettsville, has served as SM for the past 4 years.

Wisconsin will have a new SM on July 1. Jason Spetz, KC9FXE, a resident of Menomonie, was the sole nominee. Spetz will take the reins of the Section’s Field Organization from Patrick Moretti, KA1RB. Moretti, a resident of Dousman, decided not to run for a new term of office after serving as SM since 2016.

Scott Roberts, KK4ECR, the only nominee for the Northern Florida Section, will become SM on July 1. He has been serving as the Assistant Section Manager and Public Information Coordinator for the Section. He’ll succeed Kevin Bess, KK4BFN, who decided not to run for a new term. Bess, a resident of Edgewater, has been SM since 2018.

The following incumbent Section Managers, who did not face opposition, were declared re-elected and will begin new terms on July 1: Thomas Beebe, W9RY (Illinois); Philip Duggan, N1EP (Maine); David Kidd, KA7OZO (Oregon); James Armstrong, NV6W (Santa Clara Valley), and Paul Gayet, AA1SU (Vermont).

ARRL extends its thanks to all incumbent SMs for their past valued service and congratulations to those who will take office on July 1.

Special Event W1FEA to Commemorate 90th Anniversary of WFEA, Merrimack, NH, June 10-11, 2022

photo of WFEA towerNew Hampshire Section Manager Pete Stohrer, W1FEA, (formerly K1PJS) is organizing a 90th anniversary commemoration of radio station WFEA with a special event operation using his call sign. The station will operate on June 10 and 11, 2022 from the WFEA transmitter site in Merrimack, New Hampshire.  Special QSL cards and certificates will be available for all contacts.

“Like many hams, Amateur Radio has provided a gateway to the field of electronics and ultimately to an occupation in broadcast engineering, employed by Saga Communications Inc, as Director of Engineering for stations WZID, WMLL and historic WFEA in Manchester. I also serve as Technical Director of NH Gospel Radio Inc. with stations WVNH in Concord and WANH in Meredith,” writes Stohrer on his QRZ.com page. 

WFEA operates on 1370 kHz. It was first licensed and on the air in 1932. The original Blaw Knox tower continues to radiate 90 years after installation.

For a complete decade by decade history of WFEA see Ed Brouder’s excellent web site, WFEA History  For more on the Blaw Knox Towers click on Jim Hawkings fine site Jim Hawkins Blaw Knox Towers.

Fox Hunt in Gales Ferry (CT), May 28, 2022

Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the SECARS mailing list:
 
It’s Memorial Day weekend, which is a perfect time for a foxhunt!  As such, SECARS will be sponsoring its first foxhunt, which will occur on Saturday May 28 at 1 PM.  This will be an on-foot foxhunt at the Thompson Brook Preserve in Gales Ferry (765 Long Cove Road in Gales Ferry, https://avalonia.org/preserves/atkinson-family-preserve-thompson-brook-preserve).  We will have 7 fox boxes out.  These will be on the following frequencies:
 
146.335 – 1 mW – continuous transmitter – Fox H on our website
145.910 – 25 mW – continuous transmitter – Fox I on our website
146.585 – 0.5 W – nearly continuous transmitter – Fox J on our website
146.565 – 1 W – nearly continuous transmitter – Fox K on our website
147.455, on 3 seconds, off 3 seconds, Carrier only – Fox C on our website
147.42, no pl, touch tone 1 to activate – Tones and CW ID, 1 minute on time – new fox born recently.
 
I will be hunting for the last two foxes, which will be placed by Dave, K1DCT.  I will place the other foxes shortly before the hunt.  Bring your foxhunting gear for what will be a great time.  If you do not have gear and would like to learn, you can meet me at 757 Long Cove Rd. at 1 PM and hunt with me.  I will have a tape-measure Yagi and an attenuator.  Send me an e-mail at KE1IUMark@gmail.com if you would like to meet and hunt as a team.
 
Many thanks,
 
-Mark