HamXposition is Less Than 30 Days Away!

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HamXposition logo

HamXposition 2023 (a.k.a. ARRL New England Division Convention) is coming August 25-26-27 – less than 30 days away. 

Our forum schedule is now available!    Come visit our website to browse over 100 forums, seminars, and workshops available at the convention.

Two new additions on Friday – an AREDN mesh networking workshop where you will be building your own working MESH node and a NanoVNA seminar – learn to use this small but powerful device to analyze antennas and other RF devices.

Our Friday  DXCC dinner will feature Don Greenbaum, N1DG. Don will present “DXpeditioning with a RIB”. Don will describe the genesis of the “Rig in a Box” (RIB) from the 2018 Baker Island expedition to implementation on C6AGU, FO/N1DG and the recently completed VP6A DXpedition to Ducie Island.

Our Saturday grand banquet features special guest “Chip” Cohen, W1YW, an inventor, scientist, and retired professor. Chip will talk about his amusing background, ‘ham-genuity’, and some the pitfalls and pleasures along that tortuous path of invention.

Come meet some old or new friends and maybe learn something new about our hobby!

Do you know someone who really should get their license?  Bill, WZ1L is back this year with his “Tech-in-a-Day” study course, and as always, VE exams are available.

If you wish to stay overnight, discounted hotel rates are available through August 1st – so there are only a few days left to grab the discounted rate.

Visit our website for all details and to purchase tickets in advance:

https://hamxposition.org

Dinner ticket purchasing closes August 20th.

All online ticketing closes August 23rd.

73,

Bob – K1IW
HamXposition 2023

Forums Fri-Sat-Sun
Flea Market Hours: Fri 12-5, Sat 9-5, Sun 9-1
Exhibit Hall Hours: Sat 9-5, Sun 9-1

Rhode Island W1AW/1 VOTA Week, July 26-August 1, 2023

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VOTA logoRhode Island’s W1AW/1 VOTA (Volunteers On The Air) is now active the week of July 26-August 1 (UTC).

Twelve amateurs will be QRV on all bands on multiple modes operating as W1AW/1. Per VOTA rules, each contact will be worth 5 points. The team operators who have field or other volunteer positions may also make an additional contact using their own call signs alongside W1AW/1 for additional points. For example, Rhode Island Section Manager KC1NEK, an authorized W1AW/1 operator, is worth 175 points.  (See <https://www.arrl.org/files/file/VOTA%20-%20Volunteers%20On%20The%20Air/VOTA_2023_Points_v5_3.pdf> for the points table.)

All the points are calculated via Logbook Of The World (LOTW) submissions. There are no paper logs and no physical QSL cards; it’s all done via LOTW.

Watch for the spots being posted for W1AW/1 . We hope that you contact W1AW/1 Rhode Island on the air!

VE Session Announcement, Gardner MA, August 5, 2023

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WMA Section logoFrom Western MA ARRL Members List:

The Western Mass Train and Test Team will be having a VE session on Saturday August 5 at 10 AM at the Gardner Police Station, 200 Main St. Please have positive ID, 15 dollars, and FRN number from the FCC. Bring copy of license if upgrading. Please pass this along to those interested in taking the test.

Any questions contact aa1se@arrl.org. Thanks.

——————————————————————–
ARRL Western Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Raymond P Lajoie, AA1SE
aa1se@arrl.org
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HABGab and StratoScience Balloon Launch, Natick MA, July 2023

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Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on July 22, 2023 at 6:27 AM:

HABGab 2023 is officially on for today.  We will be launching from:

Tantasqua Vocational Regional High School

319 Brookfield Rd, Fiskdale, MA 01518

Frequencies, tracking information, updated countdown, etc:
https://nescitech.org/habgab

We will be starting on site set up at 9am.  Launch scheduled for 1pm.  We’d love to see you there or hear you on the air!

 
 
HABGab banner
 
 
From ema.arrl.org:
 
Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes:
 
Enjoy making rare contacts and participating in experimental projects?  The New England Weather Balloon Society, in partnership with the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society, is launching a special event high altitude balloon (HAB) repeater this July in Eastern Massachusetts. 
 
We would like to welcome all amateur radio operators in New England to participate in this experimental flight by calling into the repeater as it flies over 30 km high.  We will be issuing QSL cards to all confirmed contacts.
 
This flight will also be transmitting live video from the payload on 1.2 GHz, and live streaming to YouTube from our ground station at New England Sci-Tech.
 

Also traveling onboard will be a number of student projects by members of the StratoScience Lab class at New England Sci-Tech and BFCCPS school in Franklin, MA.

Please be aware that the date of the event is highly dependent on weather and readiness, so make sure to regularly check the HABGab Launch Page for up to date information about the date and instructions for making contact: https://nescitech.org/habgab.

 

W1DED YouTube Video Interview with David Minster, NA2AA

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W1DED YouTube interview with NA2AAPopular YouTube vlogger Kevin Thomas, W1DED, has posted an hour-long interview on July 16, 2023, with ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, at <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-ltELsO9gE>. 
 
According to W1DED: “David Minster, NA2AA, has been leading the world’s largest ham radio organization, the ARRL, for nearly 3 years. He brought decades of experience as a Software Engineer, Chief Information Officer and Chief Executive Officer in corporations such as Unilever and David Yurman into the C-suite at the ARRL in Newington. David generously opened up his schedule for our free-wheeling conversation about the culture he encountered when he started his new job, creating an environment filled with possibility (yes rather than no), and the necessity of being responsive to everyone in the hobby regardless of age or interest. David also talks specifically about the recent member survey and the lessons that are being applied to future planning. Watch this episode of W1DED in Maine for a glimpse inside the ARRL and the mind of CEO David Minster.”
 

Call for Volunteers, Maine State Hamfest & Convention

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Cory Golob, KU1U, writes on the Androscoggin (ME) ARC mailing list:

Looking for volunteers who are interested in being a part of the State Hamfest & Committee.

Such tasks include, but are not limited to, planning for:

  • Venue location
  • Vendors
  • Speakers/Talks
  • Giveaways

Operational (non-committee) roles include:

  • Registration Booth
  • Setup/Take Down
  • Vendor Assistance
  • Speaker/Talk Assistance
  • 50/50 Raffle

If you are interested in Committee and/ or Operational roles, please reach out to me.

73 DE KU1U
Cory

Cape Cod Ham Clubs Team Up At MA Maritime Summer Camp

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The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) and the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) teamed up to present an overview of amateur radio to 200 junior high school boys and girls at a two week summer camp held at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne on Monday, July 17.  The two hour evening program included a demonstration of HF and VHF operation, a cube sat demonstrator, a discussion of the use of amateur radio for public service and emergency operation and an opportunity for the participants to get on the air themselves.  The benefit of  amateur radio for anyone pursuing an engineering career was highlighted.  Local opportunities to get their technician license were offered including mentoring and donations of equipment to get started.  Antennas and other on-air club members were  pre-staged to provide the attendees with an enjoyable on-air experience.

Presenters Norm, WA1NLG (BARC President), Bruce, WA3SWJ and Chris, WA1CMR (FARA President) with support by club members Ralph, N1YHS, Rob K1UI and Lem, W1LEM (taking photo) answered questions following the presentation and helped get some of the attendees on the air. 

Many of the attendees expressed an interest in learning more about amateur radio and obtaining a license. 

The evening continues an initiative being pursued by the clubs to work together on projects that benefit amateur radio on the Cape and especially EmComm.  The two clubs together have a membership of 300 hams.  Cape District Emergency Coordinator, Frank, WQ1O, has recognized the need for the Cape to be self-sufficient for an extended period of time following a natural or man-made disaster.  This makes this cooperation between clubs essential to support emergency operations anywhere on the Cape, regardless of any club affiliation.

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Port City (NH) ARC Amateur Extra Study Group Begins July 19, 2023

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Kirby Francis, KC1RWR, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

Amateur Extra Study Group

Where:  Piscataqua Fish & Game Club
When: Wednesday, July 19th, 6:30pm (plan for about an hour and a quarter duration).

Reading Assignment:  ARRL Extra Class License Manual, Pages 1-1 through 2-12
(Note that Chapter 1 is an introduction, and Chapter 2 starts exam elements E2.  Read both of these, although only Chapter 2 has questions to worry about).
Class Assignment: Please come to class with 1-2 prepared questions for the group, preferably a concept or idea with which you struggled during your reading.

Each class will begin a a brief discussion of the Subelements we’ll be reviewing each week (E2A through E2E this week).  For those in the club who have expertise, or feel qualified to teach certain subelements of material – please let me know, and we will give you 5-10 minutes to present.  Please note that you will be scheduled during a week that this material is being covered.

We will then progress to students’ questions, and end each evening with a group trivia challenge taken directly from the exam questions on that week’s subelement!  Bring your cell phone to participate in the Trivia game.

The goal of this class is to:
i) Reinforce habits of regular, applied engagement with the information you need to know for your Amateur Extra Exam
ii) Explain and apply this information using real-world examples, and the assistance of our club’s Subject Matter Experts
iii) Remove the apprehension and fear that may be preventing you from moving forward with your Ham Radio licensing, replacing it with a sense of community, fun, and self-confidence!

It’s so fun to move through this material with a group, and we look forward to seeing you all next Wednesday evening!

YCCC in NCJ

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Yankee Clipper Contest Club logoKen Caruso, WO1N, writes on the Yankee Clipper Contest Club mailing list:

Check out the July/August issue of [National Contest Journal]. In there you will find an article written by John, NN1SS, on how to keep Murphy out of your contest operations and an NCJ Profile on John, K1ESE, written by John himself.

Congrats guys!

73,

Ken, WO1N