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Operating / POTA / PRA

PRA & POTA’s Support Your Parks weekend

- by Nancy Austin
Intrepid Dave Steussie, W3DRE mentoring during last weekend’s POTA Support Your Parks.

The Providence Radio Association’s Dave Steussie, W3DRE is hooked on POTA and last weekend’s bitter cold didn’t stop him from offering his monthly Providence Radio Association POTA (Parks on the Air) Meet-Up. Indeed, when I joined the group near the RI-CT border at Pulaski State Park (K-7508), he and Dom Mallozzi,  N1DM were toasty in their heated tent and almost sweating as they racked up QSOs. As we look ahead to Winter Field Day, it was impressive to see the care Dave had taken to make portable operating enjoyable – in a park, or on a summit.  I’d be interested to hear more about a talk Dave, W3DRE gave on this topic to his club, the Providence Radio Association (PRA). Meanwhile, he shared stories about how visitors enjoy seeing the worldwide map of the QSOs he logs in real time using HAMRS.  His tent is warmed with a portable propane heater, but he also makes sure to have a carbon monoxide monitor to be safe. For this activation, W3DRE set up an EndFedz wire off of a 40′ telescoping Spiderbeam mast. But he is also prepared to do quick activations from his truck if that makes more sense.

The park was a winter wonderland with people cross-country skiing, dog walking, and active outdoors. Dave’s Eskimo tent and antenna drew curious visitors, and became an impromptu GOTA station. It’s a fabulous way to strike up a conversation with an inactive ham who suddenly thinks – wait! I want to get active on the air again so I can join in. Thank you, Dave, for your welcoming leadership on a chilly weekend.

Your inspiring example made a difference.

73, Nancy, KC1NEK

Awards / BVARC / Clubs

BVARC honors Marc Caouette, W1MCX

- by Nancy Austin

This weekend the Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club (BVARC) held its annual Holiday Party in northern RI, with good cheer all around. BVARC club president Ken Trudel, N1RGK recounted a few club highlights from the year, including news of BVARC’s steadily growing membership to now around 70. Amateur radio is alive and well in Rhode Island!

An Awards plaque was presented to Marc Caouette, W1MCX for his years of service as BVARC Vice President and ARRL Assistant Section Manager to Bob Beaudet, W1YRC.

Marc is a working IT professional looking forward to a new chapter of adventures in amateur radio.  Can’t wait to see where your journey takes you!

Marc Caouette, W1MCX (center) with his service award from BVARC.  Shown with TeriDiIorio, W1PUP – BVARC/RI ARES  and John Brewer, N1SXB – ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator. (2Dec2023)

 

Clubs

Providence RA Adds Storage Space

- by Phil Temples

PRA W1OP logoFrom nediv.arrl.org:

Kudos to members of the Providence Radio Association in Johnston, RI, Wrapping up 2023, the PRA completed a challenging project: providing additional long term storage at the W1OP clubhouse.

A foundation was carefully measured and constructed by volunteers. Then a multi-purpose container and was delivered to the site and installed on the foundation.

Writes PRA President Dave “Tess” Tessitore, K1DT, “Thanks to all who worked on this project for several weeks, especially our House Chair [Bob Hart], KC1NAB!”

(via Facebook, photos by Gil Brown, N1BBM)

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Clubs / Fox hunting / Ham Outreach

Foxhunt this Saturday November 18, 2023

- by Nancy Austin

Sheldon, K1KOS (BCRA) writes: The Bristol County Repeater Association (BCRA) is hosting a Foxhunt this upcoming Saturday November 18, 2023 from 10am-1pm.  Check-in starts at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. The organizer is Skip Denault [email protected]

There will be TWO foxes within a 5-mile radius of 25 Church St., Swansea MA. Each operating with a 5 watt signal, each will transmit 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence.

FOX1 will activate at 10:00 a.m. on 146.565 MHz FM and will be manned by K1KOS, Sheldon, in a Green Jeep Gladiator, plate K1KOS

FOX2 will activate at 10:02:30 a.m. on 146.430 MHz FM and will be manned by K1NDU, Tom, in a Red Chevy Blazer, plate FF4332

Communications with “Fox Control” can all be done over the BCRA repeater, including
checking in when you have found the fox. You may also speak with us in the Fox
vehicle using physical distancing if you wish. Chat and help on the repeater also.
When you have found the fox, your time and order of arrival will be recorded, and a
personalized certificate will be emailed to each participant.

Join us and have some good amateur radio fun!

 

Clubs / Ham Outreach / Operating / POTA

POTA – Activate All RI wildly successful

- by Nancy Austin

Parks on the Air (POTA) is one of the most popular ways to get on the air and practice portable operations. 

What can we say now that two weeks have passed since Rhode Island hosted the first and wildly successful Parks on the Air (POTA) – Activate All RI?  This community building initiative was proposed and led by Jim Garman, KC1QDZ. It was hosted by the Newport County Radio Club and aligned to wrap-up at Colt State Park with the club’s annual “Outdoor Adventure” picnic. 

Here’s a preliminary review of the available POTA – Activate All RI data with some first lessons learned. 

Over the five days of Wednesday to Sunday September 6 – 10, 2023 every one of Rhode Island’s 53 POTA parks was activated at least 4 times for a total of at least 262 POTA activations; at least 11,000 QSOs were made by at least 35 radio amateur activators exploring every part of our state during splendid New England fall weather. 

Over 50% of these POTA activations happened because of the generous outpouring of support by nationally-known POTA operators in solidarity with Jim Garman, KC1QDZ and his vision of all that the first-ever Activate All RI could be. Adding in the regional POTA community networking Jim, KC1QDZ had built as he grew from POTA newbie to a passionate POTA leader, and the outcome stands as an unforgettable reminder of what’s possible when we reach out and come together to flexibly deliver on a shared mission led by a next-generation leader.

Here are preliminary data take-aways:

1) POTA National Ambassadors

Five top POTA operators traveled to RI at their own expense to inspire and support this first-ever POTA: Activate All RI outdoor adventure. Thank you! 

Their phenomenal passion and dedication set a memorable high bar for all of us to aspire towards in the years ahead. It was frankly astonishing to watch these disciplined radio amateur operators, all of whom have made 10,000 to 200,000 QSOs activating hundreds or thousands of POTA parks. 

With patience and unflappable commitment, they pretty much activated from sunrise to past sunset for our five day marathon, calmly logging 132 POTA activations and over 5000 QSOs. 

Thank you to these unforgettable POTA radio amateurs who delivered an average of over 1000 QSOs per operator:

  • Kerri Wright, KB3WAV from Maryland; currently #2 on the POTA Top Activator Leaderboard 
  • Brian Duddy, N2BTD from New York; he was a comet of QSOs for his few days available
  • Lou Nickles, WZ3J from Maryland 
  • Scott Major, K3SDM from Kentucky
  • Curtis Turner, KB3CMT from Pittsburgh 

2) RI & Regional POTA Heroes 

Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association (Taunton, MA)

Another group of activators had been mentoring Jim, KC1QDZ since he was a new POTA operator; they had all become close friends along the journey. These hams rallied around his vision for a welcoming and collaborative Activate All RI, and stepped up to the fun. Special thanks to these three top operators from PAWA, an Eastern Massachusetts radio club in nearby Taunton, MA. All very active in POTA, these hams brought camaraderie and the experience of each having completed between 10-40,000 POTA QSOs. 

  • Fran Kelly, KC1NDQ
  • Rob, WC1N
  • Mike, N1NTM

Rhode Island POTA Heroes – a remarkable collaboration 

POTA – Activate All RI was remarkable for a new spirit of collaboration across RI radio clubs and operators. 

Providence Radio Association (W1OP)

  • Between September 6-10, 2023, this dynamic large club contributed six activations and over 500 QSOs to POTA – Activate All RI. This is in addition to the club’s already impressive commitment to activate Beavertail Lighthouse with over 30,000 QSOs already logged. 
  • PRA club member Dave, W3DRE went further and stepped up to activate at least eight other parks during the September 6-10, 2023 special event window, contributing 584 QSOs. Pre and post-event, Dave continues to actively get on the air via POTA, and has completed his POTA certificate for Activated all US – RI. Congrats! 

RI / CT  Individual + Other Club Contributor Heroes 

  • Brian, N1BS – a highly active POTA operator offered over ten activations in less-frequently activated rural RI parks. Activated All US – RI.
  • Kathy, KA1THY – thank you for an  impressive contribution of at least ten activations and over 500 QSOs logged during September 6-10, 2023.
  • John, K9JFB – another highly active reliable operator for difficult parks, delivering at least seven activations and 566 QSOs.  Activated All US – RI.
  • Glen, W1GHD – thank you for spending your weekend in RI helping activate four parks and offering hunters a hundred QSOs.
  • Matt, NA1Q – thank you for joining in from MA to contribute three activations and 45 QSOs as inspiration to keep activating RI POTA parks. 
  • Peter, K1AV (BVARC – former club president) – great to meet you at the recent HamXpo,  and thank you for activating two parks with Dave, W3DRE from W1OP. Positive cross-club collaboration, for sure! 
  • Jason, AA1VV (Fidelity Amateur Radio Club) – thank you for contributing three activations and at least 185 QSOs. Can’t wait to see how your POTA journey unfolds!
  • John, AJ1DM (Westerly Amateur Radio Team and ARRL RI Section NTS CW Traffic Handler) – Great to see your contribution joining POTA for a first activation. Thank you!

Plus, thanks to the four visitors to Rhode Island who jumped in while traveling to activate a park or two:

  • Ray, K1RAH 
  • Dimitris, NE1D
  • Michael, KC1OCA 
  • William, K2HVN 

3) Newport County Radio Club (NCRC)

About fourteen NCRC members helped activate parks during Activate All RI. Going into the event, only two club members were in that “passionate about POTA” camp – with over 10,000 logged activator QSOs. For the rest of us, POTA is probably more like a prompt to have fun getting on the air quickly with a flexible portable set-up. Many hams new to POTA expressed an interest in making that first activation, and more needs to be done to understand what kind of resources would deliver a bias toward action. 

Jim, KC1QDZ assigned those who signed up to specific parks they were to activate – and everyone delivered on their commitment. This happened without the use of a master daily schedule of who would be where at what time each day and on what band (as some felt would have delivered better results). 

There is no getting around the reality that this first Activate All RI was unique and special because of the outpouring of support among the larger national and regional POTA community for Jim, KC1QDZ and his enthusiasm to make this happen as a gift for RI and those seeking to hunt RI parks. Were a club plan to rely only on in-club activators, it would require significant prep getting new operators trained and ready to deliver and log the kind of QSO rate found in this premier POTA – Activate All RI, 2023. 

Stay tuned for Jim’s ongoing commitment to lead POTA – Activate All RI in a 2024 variation.

  • NCRC Accomplished POTA Activators (Activator QSOs: 10,000-20,000; both already completed Activated All US – RI. Both accomplished contesters and top Field Day contributors.) Both actively and selflessly supported others to achieve their goals during this ambitious venture.. 
    • POTA Lead – Jim KC1QDZ – more than 7 activations during Activate All RI
    • Willy Maclean, W1LY – 12 park activations during Activate All RI, including helping a club member achieve a goal of activating Block Island; contributed 654 QSOs, including from parks difficult to activate.
  • NCRC Advanced Beginner Activators (QSOs: 50-1500) Thank you!
    • Mike, AA1XQ > 6 activations / 179 QSOs
    • Randy, K8ZFJ > 5 activations / 75  QSOs
    • Bob, WB4SON > 4 activations / 143 QSOs
    • Rob, KB1ZZU > 3 activations / 104 QSOs
    • Scott, N1SWT > 3 activations / 102 QSOs
    • John, K1JSM > 3 activations / 83 QSOs
    • Nancy, KC1NEK > 2 activations / 81 QSOs
    • Jim, KA1ZOU >  2 activations / 31 QSOs
    • Corry KE1AK > 1 activations / 41 QSOs
  • NCRC First time as POTA Activators – Congrats!
    • Greg Bonaguide, WA1VUG
    • Bruce Braga, W1UQN (CW)
    • Paul K1YBE: no logs uploaded – first POTA (pending) (microwave band)

Summary Finding 2 weeks out*

*Best estimate based on POTA log data as of 23 Sep 2023

POTA – Activate All RI parks (September 6-10, 2023) 
Project Lead: Jim Garman, KC1QDZ 
Club Host: Newport County Radio Club (NCRC)
Sept 6-10, 2023 POTA Activate RI 5-day Total Natl POTA

Ambassadors

 RI & Region Heroes Newport County Radio Club host Travelers
Activations 262 132 (50%) 75 (29%) 55 (21%)
QSOs 11,104 5,182 (47%) 4,082 (37%) 1,840 (17%)
Activators 36 5  13 14 4
QSO/Op avg 308/op  1,036/op 314 /op 131 / op
Activations/op 26 avg 6 avg 4 avg

 

Congrats to at least 4 new POTA Activators: K1YBE, WA1VUG, W1UQN, AJ1DM

PLOA Wrap-up Picnic 

Thank you for making this a successful collaboration. It was wonderful to meet so many of you and your families at the Outdoor Adventure wrap-up picnic at Colt State Park on Sunday September 10, 2023 hosted by the Newport County Radio Club.  

Thank you for making this year’s picnic so remarkable.

 

ARRL National, Division, and RI Section Leadership: 

Kevin Beal, K8EAL (CT); Phil Temples, K9HI (Boston)

ARRL RI Section Cabinet: Mike Corey, KI1U; Dave Neal, W2DAN

 

NCRC Officers: Nancy Austin, KC1NEK; Paul Fredette, K1YBE; Rob White, KB1ZZU

NCRC Executive Committee: Bob Beatty, WB4SON; Willy Maclean, W1LY; John Vecoli, KC1KOO; Dick Bianco, KC1IPJ

POTA – Activate All RI project lead: Jim Garman, KC1QDZ

PLOA – picnic project leads: John Mills, K1JSM; Willy Maclean, W1LY; Jim Sendrak, KC1YG

PLOA 2023 – Honoring Silent Key Jack Garforth, N1JK

POTA National Activators:

  • Lou Nickles, WZ3J from Maryland 
  • Scott Majors, K3SDM from Kentucky
  • Curtis Turner, KB3CMT from Pittsburgh 

POTA RI & Regional Hero Activators:

  • Fran Kelly, KC1NDQ (Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association – PAWA)
  • Rob, WC1N (PAWA)
  • Mike, N1NTM (PAWA)
  • Dave, W3DRE (Providence Radio Association – W1OP)
  • John, K9JFB 
  • Glen, W1GHD  (CT)
  • Jason, AA1VV (Fidelity Amateur Radio Club)

NCRC POTA Activators (not mentioned earlier)

  • Mike Seil, AA1XQ
  • Randy Jones, K8ZFJ
  • Scott Toner, N1SWT
  • Greg Bonaguide, WA1VUG 

NCRC Members at the wrap-up PLOA picnic (not mentioned earlier)

Alan, KB1DJ

AnnaLivia, KC1SWJ

Bill, W3CJK

Bob, KC1RFM

Bob, NE1E

Brian, N1TBT

Crystal, KE1KAT

Dave, KC1IPA

Ed, W1NQH

Hayden, KC1IPM

Jacqueline, KC1SWT

Jeff, N1CSE

Jim, KJ6YKT

John, N1SXB

Keith, KC1LPV

Keith, W1KJR

Linda, KC1SWV

Mark, KB1RYX

Mike, WA1KSN

Nolan, K1PRU

Patricia, K2PRU

Rich, N1ZSR

Scott, WX1X

Sean, K1SDM

Steve, KC1AQQ

Steve, N3VHI

Teri, W1PUP

 

Thank you to everyone for making this experience so unforgettable.

73, Nancy Austin, KC1NEK

NCRC club president (2022-2023)

RI Section Manager 

For more on POTA, see: https://ri-arrl.org/pota/

Clubs / Licensing, Education & Training / RI History

Providence-area Amateur Radio License Exam Options continue at Historic 1920s Club house; walk-ins welcome.

- by Nancy Austin

VE Session near Providence this Saturday September 9, 2023

Would you like to take your VE session license exam this fall near Providence, RI at W1AQ’s historic 1920s radio club house? The address is 54 Kelley Ave, Rumford 02916 and the building is hard to miss with its 50′ railroad signal tower mast out front. The ARASNE club’s scheduled VE Session dates are this Saturday September 9, and also October 7, November 11, and December 2, 2023 at 9:30am. Walk-ins are welcome, too. 

Recently I enjoyed a welcoming visit with the Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England (ARASNE | W1AQ) at their club house, and encourage everyone to reach out and say hello to this vigorous club actively seeking new members, both remote and local. 

Here are some of the interesting things I’m learning about the club:

 

 

 

W1AQ (1926) is a historic call sign.

Last weekend on the ARRL Audio News I heard that the ARRL HQ historic callsign, W1AW, of the Maxim Memorial Station in Newington, Connecticut, was celebrating its 85th Anniversary; it was dedicated September 2, 1938. 

If you are interested to learn more about the history of Amateur Radio call signs, I can recommend:

Sure enough, W1AQ is listed in the Amateur Radio Stations of the United States (June 30, 1928) running 500 watts from their East Providence club house. 

 

W1AW is also listed in the June 1928 Call Sign directory, but as the personal call sign for Hiram Percy Maxim (1869-1936), co-founder of the ARRL – American Radio Relay League (1914). 

At this point, I turned for a RI comparison to an excellent history of another RI historic club, the Providence Radio Association, W1OP, written by Dominic Mallozzi, N1DM in 2016. He covers the history of the PRA’s club’s W1OP call sign and club house (1955-58; p.7). The Providence Radio Association is one of the oldest ARRL-affiliated clubs in the country, founded in 1919. 

It’s remarkable that RI has two ARRL-affiliated clubs continuously active since the 1920s. Both owning clubhouses and organized as Associations. This all deserves a follow-up conversation to compare notes, further document this history, and consider insights relevant today. Our shared goal is collaboration and outreach to welcome and support radio amateurs, offering a range of robust and varied clubs across the state. 

W1AQ’s Historic Club House (1926)

The Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England set up shop in East Providence at the border of the industrial Phillipsdale and residential Rumford sections. The club located  their clubhouse just up the hill from the significant industrial wire, telecom cable, steel and other fabrication businesses already established in Phillipsdale on the banks of the Seekonk River and Omega Pond. 

Phillipsdale, off Roger Williams Ave, is an historically interesting but little known area of RI where, among other things, Roger Williams originally settled in 1636. The streets were platted out in the 1850s-1890s. After about 1900, this industrial, coastal neighborhood became known as Phillipsdale. See: Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission: East Providence (1976: 4,5,20,30-33,44,72-73) and Phillipsdale Historic District National Register Nomination (2011: 60)

Once you turn off Roger Williams Ave on to Wilson and then take the first left towards 54 Kelley Ave, it is easy to identify this Rumford clubhouse because of its two prominent railroad signal towers used as 50′ antenna masts. (See image above.)

The W1AQ club house has an elevated line of sight across the Seekonk River to downtown Providence and the contemporary Art Deco Industrial Trust or Superman Building (1925-27). The father of one of the club founders was an executive there. It’s worth remembering the Superman Building was built with an eye toward zeppelin airships tethering to the top of these early skyscrapers. It’s remarkable to imagine the boundless vision of the future that inspired this club’s founding. W1AQ’s current leadership remains deeply committed to the club and all it can bring to a new generation.

In the 21st century, Phillipsdale’s industrial buildings have gone through major adaptive reuse campaigns. In 2022, Phillipsdale Landing sold for over $8 million and is now home to a vibrant community of entrepreneurial innovator businesses and artisan studios. It would seem a natural fit to connect the Phillipsdale community to their nearby neighbors at the ARASNE clubhouse. 

RI’s centuries of industrial innovation relied on the skilled artisans working with other kinds of engineers, designers, and technical problem solvers. In 2023, it’s exciting to consider what’s possible connecting the W1AQ club’s deep bench of skilled radio/electronic maker/fabricators (who prefer to make everything themselves) with the sympatico industrial design and other studio neighbors down the street in Phillipsdale. Stay tuned to see what kind of continued mentoring and welcoming radio amateurs near and far is happening at 54 Kelley Ave, East Providence. 

W1AQ has an open door social meeting almost every Friday night from about 7-9pm to discuss radio building questions. In this time of remote work, it’s a welcome change to shift from talking to the world for work to unwind with your fellow local hams in person. Amateur Radio offers a wealth of neighborhoods, and clubs are one way to find your people in a new place and join in. A place to return to and know you will belong. 

Looking to get an amateur radio license this weekend? Saturday September 9, 2023 at 9:30am? Reach out with questions to the W1AQ club VP Martin Dean Chapman, W2FQ at [email protected]

Clubs / Hamfests, Flea Markets & Conventions

Rhode Island’s strong presence at HamXpo 2023 widely commented on

- by Nancy Austin

Last weekend’s HamXposition was a success. The technical programming rivaled Dayton alongside something for every interest with two or three options to choose from every hour.  At night, nationally-known keynote speakers shared their personal experiences and perspectives on the future of DXpeditioning (Friday) and fractal antennas (Saturday).

Rhode Island’s strong presence at HamXpo 2023 was widely commented on.  This in-person annual gathering brought together club members from at least ten RI amateur radio clubs. Many people were meeting the person behind a familiar call sign for the first time, unfolding new opportunities. Thank you to everyone who participated from the following RI clubs, radio infrastructure teams, and national supporters.

Please see the HamXpo 2023 photos posted under Clubs > Club News.

Please email additional suggestions to [email protected]