Curiosity is the Constant

                 

I spoke to a remarkable number of young software engineers at the successful Vintage Amateur Radio/Gear Tune-Up flea market held today at the hidden gem New England Wireless & Steam Museum

Robert Jacobson was one. 

A PhD mathematician and computer scientist, this Bristol County, Rhode Island resident spent his Covid lock-down time teaching himself how to restore a vintage 1940s television. A former Roger Williams University math professor, he points out we are living in a golden age of DIY learning and mentoring opportunities – something to celebrate. When he needed help learning to solder, he turned to his wife’s skills learned in fine arts metalwork. His successful hands-on adventure in electronics restoration led him to give a second life to some of the instrumentation he was showcasing at the flea market today. Inexplicably NYAH (Not Yet a Ham), I look forward to following Robert Jacobson’s professional and avocational interests as they weave through math, electronics, computer science, new ways to learn and be mentored, and on to AI. Curiosity is the constant. 

I also spoke with probably five other software engineers today at the Vintage Amateur Radio flea market event.

And all of these working professionals were also active radio amateurs. Busy with careers, raising families, participating with their radio clubs to the best of their abilities. Doing passion side radio projects as best they can. (Have a project you want to share an update on? Post it here!) Imagining that day when they retire and can devote more time to the radio hobby they love. Until then, thank you for everything you are doing and let the larger RI radio community know what you need help with between now and then.

HAM radio Enigma Machine crypto challenge this Saturday

Caesar cipher
An example of a simple shift or Caesar cipher

Thanks to SANS for sharing info on this Ham Radio Enigma Machine Challenge happening this Saturday at 4pm EDT / 2000Z.

For those of you with a HAM radio (receiver) setup and an interest in crypto, the MRHS (Maritime Radio Historical Society) and the Cipher History Museum have an Enigma challenge this Saturday (July 22, 2023)

The Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) crypto challenge Saturday 4pm

“in cooperation with our good friends at the Cipher History Museum [we] will send a coded message in 5-letter groups via the facilities of coast stations KPH on Saturday July 22, 2023 Pacific time. The message will be encrypted using the famous Enigma code machine and is an authentic message sent by a U-boat in the North Atlantic in 1942.” 

Event details are here, including how to use a web-based Enigma simulator, learn about the two keys needed: both Day and Message, and brush up on your 15 wpm CW and RTTY skills:  https://www.radiomarine.org/mrhs-events

Tune-Up Flea Market In-person at the  Wireless Museum Saturday 9am – 3pm

This timely MRHS Crypto Challenge is being broadcast Saturday beginning at 4pm. …

 

Just after Rhode Island radio enthusiasts wrap up the 9am – 3pm Tune-Up Flea Market at the historic New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich, RI.

 

For more info, see the earlier post here:  https://ri-arrl.org/tune-up-flea-mar…3-east-greenwich/  

All are welcome to join the Tune-Up Flea Market at the Wireless Museum in East Greenwich. Please do share advice on how to take part in the MRHS challenge.

Engima Machine History

For more on Enigma machines, be sure to watch the recorded February 2023 presentation by Tom Perera, W1TP for the Newport County Radio Club on “SPY” Radio Operations and Enigmas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fjEdlDPZpk

As many know, “Mr. Enigma” Tom Perera, W1TP  is a brilliant retired professor of neuroscience. He has been an active ham for over 69 years while collecting, researching, lecturing and writing about WW-II radios, telegraph keys and German Enigma cipher machines. 

His website: https://w1tp.com shows and describes over 3000 telegraph keys and radios and his online Enigma museum: https://EnigmaMuseum.com shows Enigma history. Not to miss!

Meanwhile, MRHS is collecting Coastal Station History 

https://www.radiomarine.org/historic-coast-stations

“But what did these stations actually look like?  We here at the MRHS have collected as many photos of these historic stations as we could find and posted them here for your enjoyment.  They range from many photos showing the big, well documented to a single photo for a small station that was in operation for only a few years.

Do you have photos like these you’d like to share?  Please let us know.  We’d be honored to post them.”

What about Rhode Island’s Coastal Stations?!

For more on Rhode Island’s coastal installations, ask W1OP – The Providence Radio Association president Dave, K1DT about their club’s ‘s incredible antenna history.  A glimpse of that coastal history is here: 

“Rhode Island’s Radio Legacy Continues”

Small State, Big Pileup for K2C – 13 Colonies Special Event RI Results

Mark your calendars for next year.  Following on Field Day every year is the popular and patriotic 13 Colonies Special Event. For the week around the United States July 4th holiday, teams of dedicated radio operators in each of the original thirteen colonies field QSO pileups with thousands of stations looking to make contact with as many of the event stations as possible, in as many modes as possible. But since this is a Special Event (and not a “Contest“)  every participant can be a winner and eligible for a 13 Colonies certificate by making even just one QSOs with a colony state or bonus station. 

Since 2013, the Rhode Island State Team of about a dozen K2C event operators has been led by Chris, W1KMA. He writes that although conditions were not great this year, the RI K2C team logged over 14,500 QSOs, up about 10% from last year. Congrats!

Chris, K1KMA writes:

  • Conditions were not that great at times but we did 14,534 Q’s    +1351 from 2022. [WOW!]
  • It has been a lot of fun getting hams into our logs. Many are looking for that “rare” RI contact for WAS (Worked All States).
  • The greatest joy about this event is working people who are so happy to make contacts with all 13 colonies to get a clean sweep and they tell you that you were their last one.
  • The tough part is being on this side of a pile-up.
  • If anyone would like to give it a try and help, we are happy to welcome you aboard. Just send me an email, so we can  connect with each other. CW ops are always in demand, but any mode you like to work is fine. [The K2C team offers : SSB, CW, Digital & Satellite]
  • New hams should not be afraid to try either, you will have a good time for sure. Everyone works at their own pace, this way you have fun and share fun at the same time. This year we had two brothers from upstate new camp out in Exeter working K2C QRP.

The French bonus station (TM13COL) in 2023 was hosted by the Clipperton DX club (CDXC) and the réseau des émetteurs français (REF). 

Rhode Island still accords special honors to the French for their pivotal support during the Revolutionary War, as witnessed by, for example, a monument to Rochambeau at King’s Park in Newport and ongoing historical commemoration. We tend to forget that the British occupied Aquidneck Island for three years from December 1776 to October 1779, with devastating consequences. For more on this history, see for example: https://battleofrhodeisland.org/learn-battle-of-rhode-island-timeline-and-maps/

Congrats again to the Rhode Island K2C 13 Colonies Team for their commitment to this Special Event and their dedication to make over 14,534 QSOs in 2023. 

PS – POTA people – Did you know the multi-state POTA Park K-4582 is the Washington Rochambeau Trail that crosses Rhode Island? An interactive map is here: https://w3r-us.org/trail-map/

 

Amateur TeleVision and ARESⓇ Public Service

Have you ever wondered if Amateur Radio TV is really a thing? Who uses it in 2023 and why? 

Well, here is your chance to learn from experienced Boulder County ARES member Jim Andrews, KH6HTV. He has been a pioneer in Amateur TeleVision (ATV/DTV) equipment development and field deployment for decades and is a Fellow of the IEEE. 

Did you know that as far back as 2010 Amateur TeleVision (ATV) provided video coverage situational awareness for a week during the coordinated effort to contain the FourMile Canyon fire that destroyed over 7,000 acres of forest and 160 homes. The technical side of Amateur TeleVision has advanced continually since then, driven by hams with the ongoing mission to provide real-time Public Service situational awareness using video.  

RI Section radio amateurs  interested in ARESⓇ, situational awareness, or technical innovations are encouraged to attend the next NE-ECAPS Meeting this upcoming Thursday July 13th at 8:00 pm. If you haven’t already done so, join [email protected] for more information and the Zoom link for the upcoming meeting Thursday July 13, 2023 at 8:00 pm. 

This meeting will also offer RI hams a chance to consider what best practices RI might learn from the innovative ARES training programs developed in Boulder County, Colorado (BCARES). 

We are fortunate that Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, the new ARRL New England Division Assistant Director for Emergency Communication and Public Service was one of the leaders building this Boulder County ARES program. How can his experience help inform RI ARES at this time? 

Jack WM0G will be hosting Thursday’s NE-ECAP Zoom meeting. The RI Section in particular looks forward to welcoming Providence-native WM0G back to the region. 

  • What: next NE-ECAPS meeting Thursday July 13, 2023 at 8pm
  • Topic: ATV and Public Service, presentation by Jim Andrews, KH6HTV 
  • Zoom link contact: [email protected]

HamXposition “Be a Speaker” + RI Forum planned

It’s not too late to submit a proposal and be a Speaker at the upcoming Northeast HamXposition (Marlborough, MA) to be held August 25, 26, 27.

Best to try and submit a Speaker Proposal by this Saturday Noon here: https://hamxposition.org/speaker.html

Meanwhile, a Rhode Island Section Town Hall Listening Forum is planned for RI hams to gather at HamXposition for a meet and greet . It’s an opportunity for your new Section Manager and leadership team to hear what’s on your mind.  (Stay tuned for time and details.)

Tune-Up Flea Market Saturday July 22, 2023 East Greenwich

Thanks to Fidelity Amateur Radio Club president Dave Nelson, WV1H for sending along this Event Reminder. Hope to see many RI Section hams there.

Upcoming event at the non-profit New England Wireless and Steam Museum – an electrical and mechanical engineering museum at 1300 Frenchtown Road in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, with working steam engines and an early wireless station and technology archives. Admission is $15 per adult, $7 per child (age 6 to 17), $50 blanket family admission. NARM/ Museum Members free. Food & Drink options available for purchase or Tailgate option.