RI ARRL (American Radio Relay League)
A field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
Licensing, Education & Training
Long-time RI Section Manager Bob Beaudet, W1YRC wrote:
Greetings:
The next Consortium is Monday at 7:00 PM. Jim will present a summary of the function controls on an IC-7300 and how to use them.
73,
John, N1SXB writes:
One of the best resources for new hams is the ARRL website at www.arrl.org. There is a wealth of information available to all hams whether you are an ARRL member or not.
A resource on the site that I found extremely valuable when it was time for me to upgrade my General Class license was the ARRL Exam Review for Ham Radio section that can be found
at https://www.arrl.org/examreview.
This section is available to both non-members and members, and simply requires you to create an account which is free. The section covers all three license classes, Technician, General and Extra, and setting up your personal account allows you to track your progress.
Once you indicate the license grade you wish to review for, the section has three options:
If you use the ARRL license manuals to study for the test, the Review for Exam option allows
you to review exam questions by chapter, following the same topics that are laid out in the
manual. This was the feature I found most helpful – after I read a section in the Extra Class
manual, I would review the questions in that section until I could answer all of the questions.
You can also review by subelement if you want to review by following the FCC topics.
Once I was done with all of the chapters, I took practice exams to gauge how well I knew the
material, and once I was able to obtain passing grades on the practice exams, I signed up for
a VEC session and passed the exam.
Congrats to John, N1SXB!
From ema.arrl.org:
Brandon Hockle, NQ1W, writes:
Amateur radio enthusiasts at Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association (CAARA) opened their refurbished training space in Gloucester to a group of eager Navy Sea Cadets. This event, made possible by CAARA (an Eastern MA Special Service Club operating since 1977 ) and a grant from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), aimed to provide the Sea Cadets with comprehensive education for their Technician Class amateur radio license.
Navy Sea Cadets are young men and women aged 10 through the end of high school who train in a disciplined environment and advance through ranks that mirror the Navy and Merchant Marines. They participate in a wide variety of training opportunities to introduce them to the maritime services and a variety of career fields.
CAARA has a long-standing relationship with the Sea Cadet program in Gloucester, and was ready to provide a day of hands-on experience in its new education center. The space, reimagined and modernized thanks to the ARRL grant, provided an optimal environment for this large group’s session.
On December 3rd, 2023, the training room buzzed with excitement as nearly two dozen Sea Cadets, donned in their uniforms, arrived ready to delve into the world of ham radio. The training covered essential topics, including radio operation, regulations, and practical skills necessary for obtaining their Technician Class licenses.
Paul Krueger N1JDH, a seasoned ham radio operator and instructor, led the Sea Cadets through the intricacies of radio communication. His wealth of knowledge and passion for amateur radio were evident as he engaged the cadets in a dynamic learning experience.
The refurbished training space, a result of the ARRL grant, offered modern amenities and up-to-date equipment, enhancing the learning experience for both the Sea Cadets and CAARA members. The collaboration between the ARRL and CAARA showcased the dedication to fostering education and community within the amateur radio sphere.
Throughout the day, Sea Cadets had the opportunity to practice their new skills under the guidance of experienced CAARA members. The camaraderie and mentorship displayed during the event reflected the heart of the amateur radio community – sharing knowledge and fostering the next generation of radio enthusiasts.
As the event concluded, the Sea Cadets left with not only a deeper understanding of amateur radio but also a sense of accomplishment. The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association, supported by the ARRL grant, succeeded in creating a vibrant space for learning and collaboration, ensuring the continued growth of amateur radio in the community.
The success of this training session highlights the positive impact that collaboration between organizations like the ARRL and local radio clubs can have on fostering education and enthusiasm for amateur radio. The waves of knowledge continue to ripple through CAARA, leaving a lasting impact on the Sea Cadets and the amateur radio community at large.
Teri Diiorio, W1PUP, writes on the RI-ARES mailing list:
The Consortium is a monthly free class run by Jim Johnson, K1GND, and Bob Beaudet, W1YRC. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other hams, find information and get recommendations of all things ham related!
The Consortium has been operating for over 19 years, and everyone is welcome.
The topic on November 6, 2023, will be “The Importance of Grounding.” The location is the Sportsmen’s Club at 250 High Street, Manville at 7:00 PM.
More details at http://www.w1ddd.org/consortium.html.
Jim, K1GND and Bob W1YRC support the Consortium.
This is a separate program from BVARC, supported by a few members who thought it was a good idea.
See you at the Consortium.
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:
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:
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.
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]
