Dec132017

2017 CQ WW DX Contest Summary

Radio Events • SEMARA Announcements Comment

SSB: October 28 and 29, 2017

Assisted Low-Power All-Bands – W1AEC

Rank Score OP
World 40 of 931 504,060 WA1BXY
Continent 8 of 298 504,060 WA1BXY
Country (W) 5 of 251 504,060 WA1BXY

Antennas: the LPA and my inverted L.

Rig: my K3; at that time the club’s radios were not up and running.

Software: N3FJP contest logging.

CW: November 25 and 26, 2017

Multi-OP Two-Transmitter – W1AEC

Rank Score OPs
World  61 of 73 770,148  WA1BXY, WA1ESO
Continent 24 of 25  770,148  WA1BXY, WA1ESO
Country (W) 18 of 19  770,148  WA1BXY, WA1ESO

Assisted: I only spotted 2 stations but that is enough. And the spotting was done thru the logging program

Transmitters: (2); Both were K3s.  The club’s was donated by Ed Duclos’ wife after his passing.  The other was my personal K3.

Antennas: (3); LPA, inv L and this was the first go-around for the 43-ft vertical, which also was Ed’s antenna.

Software: N3FJP contest logging.

As of now, the vertical is still not 100% completed to my standards.  It needs some work to be completed, but is operational from 20-6m.  I plan to have it completed in next few weeks if the weather holds up.

Thanks to John, WA1ESO for coming in and making some contacts in the CQ WW DX CW Contest.  We made 864 contacts.  We had a total of 320 multipliers!  Worked a solid 100 countries.

“Just about 200 more QSOs for the CQ WW DX CW Contest than CQ WW DX SSB Contest.”

“CW rocks!”

Submitted By: Don, WA1BXY

Dec72017

Kids Day – Saturday, January 6, 2018

Radio Events Comment

Twice a year, ARRL offers an event designed to promote Amateur Radio to our youth.  Share the excitement with your kids or grand-kids, a Scout troop, a church or the general public!  Kids Day aruns from 1800 UTC (2:00 PM EST) through 2359 UTC (11:59 PM EST).  Operate as much or as little as you like.

Suggested initial exchange is name, age, location and favorite color.  You can work the same station again if an operator has changed.  To draw attention, call CQ Kids Day.

Suggested Frequencies:

  • 10 Meters: 28.350 to 28.400 MHz
  • 12 Meters: 24.960 to 24.980 MHz
  • 15 Meters: 21.360 to 21.400 MHz
  • 17 Meters: 18.140 to 18.145 MHz
  • 20 Meters: 14.270 to 14.300 MHz
  • 40 Meters: 7.270 to 7.290 MHz
  • 80 Meters: 3.740 to 3.940 MHz

Be sure to observe third-party restrictions when making DX QSOs.  You may also use your favorite repeater (with permission of the repeater’s sponsor).

Kids Day Certificate of Participation:

All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. You can download this certificate and complete it with the participant’s name and date of the contact.

Kids Day Survey:

Fill out the survey to share your Kids Day experience.

All the details and forms on the ARRL Kids Day page.

Dec42017

New Linux Software Available

General Interest Comment

New Linux software available from KB1OIQ.  Andy’s Ham Radio Linux, version 21, is a remastered version of Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS.  This software collection consists of the Linux operating system and a wide selection of ham radio programs.  32-bit and 64-bit versions are available.  The previous version was downloaded just over 12,000 times.  More information can be found at Andy’s Ham Radio Linux site.

Credit: ARRL Eastern MA Section News – November 2017

Dec42017

Angelo “Charlie” Puzo, W1VPB, SK

SEMARA Announcements • Silent Keys Comment

Angelo “Charlie” Puzo died suddenly on November 26, 2017 after a short illness.  He was born January 23, 1933 and grew up in Worcester.  He is survived by his wife Michele (Joseph) Puzo, son John Puzo and significant other Nancy Moscato, daughter Maria Buhl and husband John, son Jared Wall and wife Kendra, four grandchildren Daniel & Jacob Buhl, Jackson & Everleigh Wall.  He leaves behind his sister Barbara Puzo Apholt of Hubbardston, MA.  He was predeceased by his son Joseph, 1982, and brother Richard Puzo, 2013.

He passed the Novice Class License exam as a teen.  Since then he has held the call letters W1VPB and has been active in the Barnstable, Provincetown and Orleans Amateur Radio Clubs.  At the age of 82, he passed the Extra Class exam and was a volunteer examiner.  Charlie joined SEMARA in October 2016.

Donations can be made to the Family Pantry of Cape Cod.

Condolences to his family.

Nov162017

International Grid Chase 2018

Radio Events Comment

ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ says the new 630 and 2200-meter bands will be fair territory in the ARRL International Grid Chase.  The year-long operating event begins on January 1, 2018 at 0000 UTC (New Year’s Eve in US time zones).  The object is to work stations in as many Maidenhead grid squares as possible, and radio amateurs around the world are encouraged to take part.  Contacts made on the 60-meter band will not be eligible for award credit, however.

US radio amateurs are advised, however, that the use of 630 and 2200-meters requires advance notification to the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) of their intention to operate on one or both bands.  If UTC does not respond within 30 days or specifically denies access, these stations may commence operation there.

Once approved to use either 630-meters, 2200-meters or both, US radio amateurs must adhere to the FCC rules regarding the use of those bands.

Highlights:

  • Amateurs operating on 472-479 kHz (630 meters) may run up to 5 W equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP), except in parts of Alaska within 800 kilometers of Russia, where the maximum would be 1 W EIRP.
  • Amateurs operating in the 135.7-137.8 kHz band (2200-meters) may run up to 1 W EIRP.
  • The FCC has placed a 60-meter (approximately 197 feet) above-ground-level (AGL) height limit on transmitting antennas used on 630-meters and 2200-meters.
  • The bands are available to General class and higher licensees, using CW, RTTY, data, phone, and image.

Any contact you make in 2018, with the exception of contacts on 60-meters, can count toward your International Grid Chase score, and contacts do not have to include an exchange of grid squares.  Participants may upload their logs to Logbook of The World (LoTW), and as long as the other operators worked use LoTW, they get credit automatically once they upload their logs.  This means that contest contacts will also count, as will contacts with special event stations, or other on-air activities that use LoTW to confirm contacts.

Email the ARRL Contest Branch for more information – contests [at] arrl [dot] org.

Credit: The ARRL Letter – November 16, 2017

Nov152017

Hints and Sounds

General Interest Comment

From The ARES E-Letter for November 15, 2017

  • Hint: With appropriate guying, an extension ladder can be used to hold up a Yagi under Field Day or DXpedition conditions.  In this picture a SteppIR 2-Element Yagi for the current VK9MA DXpedition has been mounted and is being tested. It can be turned manually.
     
  • Sounds: Here are some sounds you don’t want to hear: RFI.  The ARRL “sound library” contains known RFI sources and some that have not yet been identified.  If you have a potential RFI problem, compare your noise to these to help eliminate it.

Nov152017

SKYWARN Recognition Day – December 2, 2017

ARES/RACES/SKYWARN • Radio Events Comment

SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) will take place this year on Saturday, December 2 from 0000Z until 2400Z (starts on the evening of Friday, December 1, in US time zones).  During the SKYWARN Special Event, hams will set up stations at National Weather Service (NWS) offices and contact other radio amateurs around the world.

Participating Amateur Radio stations will exchange a brief description of their current weather (rainy, windy, partially cloudy, etc.) with as many NWS-based stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meters plus 70 centimeters.  Contacts via repeaters are permitted.

Credit: The ARES E-Letter – November 15, 2017