Field Day PR: “Bopping Through the Wild Blue, Amateur Radio Field Day Makes a Connection”

The Kennebunk (ME) Press Herald carried a story on June 9 entitled, “Bopping Through the Wild Blue, Amateur Radio Field Day Makes a Connection.”

KENNEBUNK – Interest in amateur, often called “ham” radio began at the turn of the 20th century. It was a way people could talk to each other, across town or across the world.

And although cell phones and other means of communication are very much in use, ham radio remains a popular pastime and a valuable resource.

“It can provide communications when all other systems fail – that has been proven many times during events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, etc.,” said Alex Mendelsohn of the New England Radio Discussion Society. The society will host its annual field day later this month. [Full story]

Field Day Promoted on WOON Radio in Woonsocket, RI

Blackstone Valley ARCBob Jones, WB1P, writes on the Blackstone Valley ARC (RI) list:

For those who did not catch it,  Ron Blais, KB1RYT, made a fantastic presentation earlier today [June 11, 2021] promoting Field Day on Woonsocket’s WOON radio.  He covered all the aspects of the event and stressed the Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club‘s involvement in the activity including its purpose and  schedule.

Thank you Ron!!

“20 Towns in 20 Days: Newington is Home to the American Radio Relay League”

NEWINGTON, CT (WFSB) – Newington is home to the American Radio Relay League, thee ARRL, and a destination from Ham Radio operators from all over the world.

The organization’s headquarters is in Newington.

“Really, the purposed of Newington in 1938 was to overcome the flooded station at Brainard field. The founder of the organization, Hiram Percy Maxim, found a great piece of property here in Newington and we’ve been here ever since,” said Bob Interbitzen, Product Development Manager at ARRL.

The National Organization for Amateur Radio, or ham operators, has been around for more than 100 years. It was founded on the premise that this budding radio community of amateurs from all over the United States would relay messages wirelessly from location to locations.

“An in the beginning, it was like, ‘let’s get a message from Hartford to Springfield,’ and then all of a sudden, it’s Hartford to Cleveland, and before you know it, we’re all across the country. And then this network of radio amateurs is around the world communicating with each other,” Interbitzen said. [Full story]

“Connecting With Strangers Over Ham Radio Cleared My Family’s Static”

SU1CR QSL Card imageBoston Globe reporter Gabriella Gage writes this nice human interest story in the May 22, 2012 issue of The Boston Globe:

“On a rainy October night during the pandemic, my husband, David, searches for a faint voice in the distance. He doesn’t know who’s calling, but he knows he wants to speak to them. David adjusts the tuning knob on the decades-old transceiver ever so slightly, as if cracking a safe. Outside, a homemade antenna bobs in the wind. On his computer, pulsating lines tell him the voice is one of hundreds calling out on this busy night. The voice gets clearer: ‘CQ,’ the magic letters he’s been awaiting — the amateur radio operators’ invitation for a response — followed by a call sign. David jumps on his mic, repeating the stranger’s call sign and adds: “This is KB1TOY, Kilo-Bravo-1-Tango-Oscar-Yankee. You’re light but I can hear you!”  [Full story]

 

 

“Saving the MIT Radome”

Green Bldg rooftop MIT campusFrom ema.arrl.org:

Perched atop the MIT Cecil and Ida Green Building (Building 54), MIT’s tallest academic building, a large, golf ball-like structure protrudes from the roof, holding its own in the iconic MIT campus skyline. This radar dome — or “radome” for short — is a fiberglass shell that encases a large parabolic dish, shielding it from the elements while allowing radio waves to penetrate. First installed in 1966, it was used initially to pioneer weather radar research. As the years passed and technology evolved, the radome eventually fell out of use for this purpose and was subsequently slated for removal as MIT began a major renovation and capital improvement project for the building. That’s when the student-led MIT Radio Society, who had found creative new uses for the radome, sprang into action to save it — and succeeded. [Full story]

W1DAN Featured on Pittsfield Community TV, WTBR-FM, May 19, 2021

Dan Brown, W1DAN, will be the featured guest on Ham On!, simulcast on Pittsfield (MA) Community Television and WTBR-FM 89.7 on May 19, 2021. Dan will speak about the new RF Exposure rules that went into effect on May 3, 2021. 

The early morning program is produced and moderated by Western MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Peter Mattice, KD2JKV.  

New England Wireless and Steam Museum featured on Rhode Island PBS, April 16, 2021

Massie Wireless Station “PJ”
Massie Wireless Station “PJ”

PBS’ “Treasures Inside the Museum,” April 16 at 8:30 PM EDT

 
This episode features the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, home to a vast collection of working stationary steam engines that once powered New England through the industrial age. The museum also collects relics from the dawn of wireless communication, including the Massie Wireless Station – once used by the Providence Journal to send news back and forth from Point Judith to Block Island.
 
WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air in high definition on digital 36.1; Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD in MA; DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.
 

N1DM Featured on Pittsfield Community TV, WTBR-FM, March 25, 2021

Dom Mallozzi, N1DM, was the featured guest on Ham On!, simulcast on Pittsfield (MA) Community Television and WTBR-FM 89.7 on March 25, 2021. Dom spoke about amateur satellites. The early morning program is produced and moderated by Western MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Peter Mattice, KD2JKV.  A recording of the show can be heard at <https://anchor.fm/peter0190/episodes/working-amatuer-sats-etgl31>.

N1DM is active on HF CW , FT8, FT4, satellites, DMR, emergency communications  and contesting. He serves as secretary for the Providence (RI) Radio Association, W1OP.

Maine Ham Radio Society YouTube Channel Features Quality Ham Radio Podcasts

Maine Ham Radio Society logoA Maine amateur has created some excellent video podcasts for the Maine Ham Radio Society’s YouTube channel.

Phil Duggan, N1EP, of Milbridge, Maine, has produced four episodes so far: “Soldering & Kit Building is Fun!”, “Morse Code, Straight Keys, Portable Ops & More!”, “The Maine Seagull Net,” and “MHRS RadioActive.”

N1EP is the District 3 Assistant Section Manager in Maine. He serves as president and secretary of the Maine Ham Radio Society.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

K9HI to be Featured on Pittsfield Community TV, WTBR-FM, March 10, 2021

ARRL New England Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, will be the featured guest on Ham On!, simulcast on Pittsfield (MA) Community Television and WTBR-FM 89.7 on March 10, 2021 at 9 AM. The early morning program is produced and moderated by Western MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Peter Mattice, KD2JKV. Phil will speak on ARRL matters and other wide-ranging topics.