ARES / Ham Outreach / Public Service

RX on the Aviation Band

- by Nancy Austin

23 radio amateurs contributed 26 results during last weekend’s RI ARES MARS Airport Weather Practice Exercise. Thank you! 

It was open to all anytime from 10am Saturday to 10pm Sunday October 7-8, 2023. As noted, 23 hams joined in. Two of these reported hearing nothing and one of the 26 submissions was a landline verification report. These are not shown in the data summary charts below. 

Given this generous 36-hour window of time in which to submit results from home, 23 hams participated. Is this a large turnout, or less than expected? Too early to say. For comparison, the 2m RI ARES VHF Simplex net last night lasted about 45 minutes and had 15 check-ins from across 4 of the 5 RI counties. The month before, the RI ARES Simplex net had 20 check-ins across all 5 counties. Just FYI as we seek to understand baseline interest and commitment – and work to build aligned skill-development opportunities and continued outreach. 

Top Challenge: AM Aviation Band (108-137MHz) awareness & solutions for your FM radio, scanner, or SDR

The Practice Exercise asked hams to listen on their radios and report what, if anything, they heard when tuned to 5 specific frequencies between 120-135 MHz, on the AM Aviation Airband. 

Listed below are two of the FM radios used by this weekend’s practice exercise participants. These familiar ham radios do include the ability to receive on the aviation band. 

  • 5w Yaesu FT-60R (c. $190) w Diamond wide receive SRHF40A
  • 50w Icom 5100 base 

Add to the mix: reviewing how to program a new frequency, the benefits of a wideband receive antenna, and making time and effort to participate within the timeframe. 

Location still matters: Nancy, KC1NEK used the Yaesu HT to clearly hear 4-5 airport weather stations over the last week from Middletown, RI. But then heard nothing when testing from the grounds of the New England Wireless & Steam Museum in East Greenwich.

This Practice Exercise was also an opportunity to learn about FM modulation/demodulation and slope detection.  (Thank you, Steve, WA1GVM from Coventry!) Some people got creative with police scanners and planned SDR solutions. Yes, it was a good practice exercise. Stay tuned!

Join us tonight, Wednesday October 11, 2023 at 7:30pm on Zoom to share your experiences and tips. (For the Zoom link and more events, please see the RIARES.org calendar.)

What changes, if any, do you plan to put in place before the actual Simulated Emergency Test planned for Oct 21-22?

County [ham entries] TF Green Newport N. Central Block Island Westerly
Bristol* [0]
Kent [5] 5 1 1
Newport [9] 5 9 3 3 1
Providence* [2] 2 1
Washington [6] 1 1 2 4
Outside RI [1] 1

*Requesting ambassadors especially for Bristol and Providence Counties. ARES looks to the team-building leadership role of the DEC and ECs to build this prepared capacity. This is a great opportunity to encourage, mentor, and learn while supporting a state-wide shared mission. 

For more, see:

Join the RI ARES MARS Airport Weather Exercise starting this weekend

 

Youth

ARISS Contact With Covenant Christian Academy, West Peabody MA, October 13, 2023

- by Phil Temples

ARISS logoFrom ARISS.org:

October 9, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Covenant Christian Academy (CCA) in West Peabody, MA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

CCA is a private school that serves over 430 students, Pre-K through12th grade. To prepare for this ARISS contact CCA integrated space-themed aspects into its STEM program and STEM-related activities. The physics and chemistry students hosted “Space Week” where they put together interactive displays on everything from the physics of black holes, Doppler shift, life on the ISS, to the chemistry of astronaut cuisine. STEM-related activities engaged students in their newly instituted Rocketry Club, Women in STEM Club, and a robotics lab. Amateur radio activities, such as learning about ham radio and radio communications, are being provided during after-school programs by members of area amateur radio clubs.

This ARISS contact will allow students to ask their questions of Astronaut Loral O’Hara, amateur radio call sign KI5TOM. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners within the ISS footprint that encompasses the amateur radio ground station in West Peabody, MA.

Amateur radio operators using call sign N1DQF will operate this radio station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 13, 2023 at 9:47 am EDT (MA) (13:47 UTC, 9:47 am EDT, 8:47 am CDT, 6:47 am PDT). The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://vimeo.com/event/3761617.
_______________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What happens with all the trash on the ISS?
2. What is the best part and worst part about living in space?
3. Is the wifi and internet connection better in space?
4. How do you get your supplies delivered to the space station?
5. Do you play games in space? If so, how are they different from the games you play on earth?
6. What is your favorite workout to do for two hours each day to keep your muscles in shape?
7. What has been one of your hardest or scariest moments on the ISS?
8. How do you train your bodies to fall asleep on the ISS since your circadian rhythm can’t be regulated to the earth’s rotation on its axis?
9. Does time feel different on the ISS?
10. Is there any research that you are currently involved in? If so, how does it benefit the earth?
11. What is your favorite meal or snack to eat in outer space?
12. What types of jobs do you do while on the International Space Station?
13. How do you fix the solar panels on the space station?
14. Do you have any animals on the ISS right now? What are they?
15. What happens when someone gets sick on board the ISS?
16. When you come back to earth from space, do you feel the pressure of gravity, and if so, how much does this affect you?
17. What was the most challenging part of your training that prepared you to work on the International
Space Station?
18. What’s the most amazing thing you have seen from space?
19. Has living on the ISS changed any of your perspectives on life?
20. Is all the training, preparation, and hardship you endure to be an astronaut on the ISS worth it?

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers.

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR

Find us on social media at:

X: ARISS_Intl
Facebook: facebook.com/ARISSIntl
Instagram: ariss_intl
Mastodon: [email protected]

ARES / Ham Outreach / Public Service

Join the RI ARES MARS Airport Weather Exercise starting this weekend

- by Nancy Austin

All interested RI licensed radio amateurs are welcome to join RI ARES Members for a MARS situational awareness practice exercise this weekend.  We will be discussing this further on the RI ARES 1st & 3rd Tuesday night repeater NB1RI network nets, and in a Zoom meeting. (Details below.)  This marks the beginning of RI ARES  training exercises and monthly Zoom meetings scheduled for the rest of 2023. We welcome your participation.

Introduction

The following is the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for the Rhode Island Section for the calendar year 2023.  

We appreciate the leadership and support provided by Chuck Chandler, WS1L, the Western Massachusetts (WMA) Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) and Tom Kinahan, N1CPE, US Army MARS Region One Director as your new RI Section and ARES leadership put together a SET/Practice Exercise in time for ARRL’s SET. 

 We will run: 

1) a Practice Exercise open to all interested RI licensed radio amateurs 

from Saturday, October 7, 2023 beginning at 10:00 local (14:00 UTC), through
Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 22:00 local (10/9/23 02:00 UTC).

2) the RI ARES Simulated Emergency Test will be held two weeks later: 

from Saturday, October 21, 2023 beginning at 10:00 local (14:00 UTC), through
Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 22:00 local (10/23/23 02:00 UTC).

Separate Instructions will be sent for the Simulated Emergency Test.

Rhode Island’s five Airport Surface Weather Observation Stations (ASOS/AWOS)

SITUATION

Repeated patterns of wet weather have been experienced throughout New England, leaving soils saturated and incapable of absorbing additional rainfall. Several instances of flooding have already led to road washouts impacting the transportation sector. 

The first arctic cold front of the season approaches with a large pressure differential producing a sudden onset of high winds. With root systems already weakened in soft soil, large numbers of trees are felled throughout the region. Multiple roads become impassable.  Wire and cable damage has led to degradation of the Public Switched Telephone, internet and cellular networks. Calls placed without GETS/WPS are taking up to one hour to complete. Limited internet access is available in some areas, with other areas suffering extended outages. High demand has made VoIP communications impossible.

Resource requests for high priority items are ready to transport via air to local airports but with no ability to receive local weather conditions at those airports ARES has been tasked with reporting local airport weather information.

MISSION

RI Radio Amateurs interested in participating will attempt to receive local airport weather broadcasts in the VHF-AM Aviation Band from 119-136 MHz.  A list of local airport weather frequencies will be provided. Any weather reports received will be transcribed for later reporting.

For the Practice Exercise, participants will report their information via a Google Form located at: 

https://forms.gle/rnEGgsEWhqvYhJfdA

EXECUTION

A Simulated Emergency Test is a structured excercise.  RI Radio Amateurs will attempt to receive local airport weather broadcasts in the VHF-AM Aviation Band from 119-136 MHz.  A list of local airport weather frequencies in scope will be provided. Participants may elect to establish a temporary station at an advantageous position in order to improve their chances of receiving one or more airports.

For the Practice Exercise, participants who are able to receive these reports will transcribe the weather reports so that they may be reported to US Army MARS via the Google Form.  

Participants who are unable to receive airport weather reports are requested to report that fact, along with their location, in order to alert authorities to any airports that may not be operational, or may have degraded weather reporting capabilities. Participating in this exercise also helps to build baseline awareness about who can hear what Rhode Island airport weather stations under good conditions. For the Practice Exercise, this should all be reported via the Google Form.

Two weeks later, the Simulated Emergency Test will involve passing this airport weather traffic over the air via one or more radio nets, or via WinLink. 

ADMINISTRATIVE & LOGISTICS

This SET will require the following ICS forms:

  • ICS-202 Incident Objectives (summarizing this operations plan)
  • ICS-217 Communications Availability Worksheet (listing the five Rhode Island airport weather channels in scope)
  • ICS-213 General Message (printable Information Gathering Template) 

The Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator will notify ARES members of this exercise in advance and solicit their participation. Any licensed amateur who expresses an interest is encouraged to take part.  

An after-action review will be conducted soon after the conclusion of the Practice Exercise.  Lessons learned will be implemented for the SET planned for two weeks later, October 21-22, 2023.

COMMAND & SIGNAL

The Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator has submitted this SET + Practice Exercise Operations Order to the Section Manager for their approval. Once approved, it will be disseminated to RI ARES members and those who have expressed interest in RI ARES for whom we have email addresses on file. It will also be announced on the RI ARES Repeater Net and posted to the RI section website: https:ri-arrl.org

The actual SET is anticipated to run for a 36-hour period from 1000 local on Saturday 21 October 2023 until 2200 local on Sunday 22 October 2023.  This will allow participants to have sufficient time to monitor airport weather broadcasts and to report them. Participants may submit their Google Form at any time during the exercise period. 

Participating in the Basic Practice Exercise is an important first step designed to be accessible for any interested radio amateur.  All are welcome to give this a try. 

Additional challenges and MARS crossband exercises are possible. The ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book for Level 2 presumes annual participation in a Simulated Emergency Test, such as RI ARES is offering this October 2023. Please join in!

VFRmap.com of Rhode Island airports.

NOTES

You are invited to review additional documents at:

https://riares.org

Please join the RI ARES 2m repeater nets on Tuesdays Oct 3rd and 17th at 7:30pm on the NB1RI repeater network, ie Exeter 146.985 (-0.6 MHz) PL 67 Hz

Please join a scheduled RI ARES Zoom meeting to discuss this other 2023 ARES training opportunities further. 

RI ARES General Meeting, Wednesday October 4, 2023, 19:30 Local

ZOOM Meeting Link: https://ewg.zoom.us/j/81260554381?pwd=NGlyVFQ1d1ZaQmdEZnVUSGplU1EyQT09

For the Practice Exercise, participants will report their information via this Google Form: https://forms.gle/rnEGgsEWhqvYhJfdA

(The form will be available for practice before hand, but only data reported during the exercise will be utilized.)

Congratulations to Jeremy Taylor, K1JST for stepping up to put much of this together on short notice. Many thanks for contributing additional capacity to take on the new role as your volunteer RI Division Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator.

RI Section Manager Newsletter

RI Section September Newsletter (September 30, 2023)

- by Nancy Austin

Welcome to your September 2023 RI Section Newsletter  

Outreach and the spirit of collaboration remain my top take-aways after three months as your new RI Section Manager. Thank you for contributing!

Contesting

Avid Rhode Island contesters who are more often competing against one another than collaborating, teamed up recently to conquer together the CQ World Wide WPX Contest – chasing “thousands of unique callsign prefixes from hundreds of DX entities in the world’s largest everyone-works-everyone radio contests.”

The collaborating team results were impressive: FIRST in the US, SECOND in North America, and THIRD in the World during the recent “immensely popular” global CQ World Wide WPX Contest. 

Congrats to the RI Section Technical Coordinator and YCCC RI organizer, Dave Neal, W2DAN who combined forces with Don Rosinha, WA1BXY – using his club call sign NC1CC. Along with RI operators Melissa Rosinha, KC1BXY and Amanda Carr, KB1OHC and nearby MA contester, Charles Morrison, N1RR from Seekonk.

Way to go, NC1CC – Newport County Contest Club!

Parks on the Air (POTA) – Activate All RI 2023

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.

Read more: POTA – Activate All RI wildly successful

https://ri-arrl.org/pota-activate-all-ri-wildly-successful/

The Providence Radio Association’s 102nd Annual Awards Dinner

This annual PRA tradition began in 1921 to recognize the club’s new affiliation with the ARRL. The Providence Radio Association (W1OP) remains one of the oldest amateur radio clubs in the United States. http://w1op.com/

Under the leadership of Dave Tessitore, K1DT, the club has embarked on a remarkable revitalization mission – welcoming 30 new members to join long standing ones. His recent 2023 HamXpo talk on Club Revitalization is one that I often hear about from hams across the region who found it particularly timely and memorable. 

Here are some of the delightful Awards from the PRA’s 102nd Awards dinner held September 16, 2023 in Johnston, RI:

The following Awards were handed out by PRA President, Dave Tessitore, K1DT:

  • Jim Meltzer – K1TNX: “Mobile Antenna Award”, Limited Space DXing
  • Bob Hart – KC1NAB: “Volunteer of the Year”, Always There to Help
  • Neville Bedford, Esq. – W1ESQ: “Jolt Award”, Fueling Progress
  • Andy Stenberg – AJ1S: “The Lad” Award, Antenna Experimentation
  • Domenic Mallozzi – N1DM: “Wizard Award”, Technical Guidance
  • Dave Smith – WA1UWU: “FBOM Award”, Unwavering Dedication
  • Ron Cameron – WA1FOS: “I Got That Award”, Most Helpful Member
  • John Good – W1GS, “Old Buzzard Award,” 67 Years of Contribution
  • Frank DePetrillo – W1EYH: “Godfather Award”, Longest Continuous Member – since 1955!

Fidelity Amateur Radio Club and area team Fox Hunting

Newly-elected Fidelity ARC Officer Jim Ferranti, N1ZJI, encourages area hams to participate in the follow-up Fox Hunt offered by the Bristol County Repeater Association and scheduled for November 18th, 2023 from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Jim, N1ZJI writes:

On Saturday, September 23rd, 2023, the Bristol County Repeater Association held a Fox Hunt from 10:00am to 1:00pm EST within a 5 mile radius of 120 President Avenue, Fall River, MA. To make the challenge more exciting, the hunt consisted of two foxes to be found within the allotted time frame.  Both foxes operated with a 5-watt signal and transmitted 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence.

Fox 1 activated at 10:00am on 146.565 MHz FM, manned by Sheldon, K1KOS, located in a Jeep Gladiator Pickup Truck.

Fox 2 activated at 10:02:30 am on 146.430 MHz FM, unmanned, located in Kevin’s, N1KJS, blue Toyota Pickup Truck.  Once found, a picture of the truck, with the sign in the window, was to be sent to Kevin for verification.

The event, which is open to anyone who wishes to participate, proved to be very challenging despite its five mile radius.  There were a total of six teams who participated in this event and despite the weather, everyone seemed to have had a good time, utilizing their fox hunting skills to locate these foxes.  We look forward to the next fox hunt, which will be on November 18th, 2023 from 10:00am to 1:00pm EST.  All are welcome to take part in this Fox Hunting event.

For more information, go to https://bcra.club/bcrawprel/fox-hunting/.

73, Jim, N1ZJI – Fidelity Amateur Radio Club https://k1nqg.wordpress.com/

In other news from Fidelity Amateur Radio Club, the club has elected the following new officers:

  • President: Sal Caiozzo, WN1B
  • Vice President: Jim Ferranti, N1ZJI
  • Secretary: Nick Kettle, KC1DWH
  • Treasurer: Steve Williams, WA1GNB
  • Member at Large: Bob Berlyn, N1PWU

The Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England (ARASNE | W1AQ) continues to offer monthly walk-in VE Sessions at their historic club house in Rumford.

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. 

For more, please see: VE Session near Providence this Saturday September 9, 2023

https://ri-arrl.org/providence-area-amateur-radio-license-exam-options-continue-at-historic-1920s-club-house-walk-ins-welcome/

Big E & New England Division Volunteer Outreach at the Ham Radio Booth

For more, see the Project BIG E Coverage in The ARRL Letter!

https://nediv.arrl.org/2023/09/24/project-big-e-coverage-in-the-arrl-letter/

These photos capture some of my favorite moments sharing the excitement of amateur radio at the Big E in Springfield, MA this September 2023. 

New Section Manager Training at ARRL HQ & operating the historic W1AW station

The ARRL HQ staff did a phenomenal job orienting new Section Managers from across the country. We gathered in Newington, CT for a recent Friday-Sunday training and retreat, with presentations by leadership across all ARRL departments, tours of the buildings, operating from W1AW, and important opportunities to compares notes about ARES, club vitality, and prioritizing as volunteer new Section Managers on a mission to serve, and with lots to do. 

Here’s a humorous note: some Section Managers had to travel 5-7 hours to visit every club in their Section and foster collaboration. And that, of course, is a totally different scale of travel than what we face in RI – despite our state’s cultural resistance to drive an hour without, you know, needing to pack a suitcase! On-air connecting plus remote meetings make ongoing collaboration easier than ever, but there is still no substitute for opportunities to get together in person.

As new Section Managers, we were given tours of the Technical Lab, QRT editorial offices, and a comparison of the Ham Shack of the past and cord-free future. It was a valuable orientation and I look forward to leveraging this opportunity for the benefit of the RI Section. (I might note that I was the only Section Manager who came to the role through an election.)

Providence EOC tour offered by the Providence Radio Association (PRA)

Barry Noel, W1BSM, the RI-ARES Providence-County District Emergency Coordinator (DEC), PRA Club Member, and Sunday night RACES net control, arranged an insightful presentation and tour today of the Providence EMA. 

It was a pleasure to meet with PEMA Director DeCerbo and others critical to our state’s resilient communication readiness requirements. 

This is another example of positive, productive networking and outreach across clubs (PRA – plus also Brown University’s Michael Umbricht, W9GYR), ARRL RI-Section leadership (SM Nancy Austin, KC1NEK), and served agencies as we all work together for the shared goal of becoming better operators prepared to provide situational awareness. Or, for some, commit to more advanced training available via CERT, RACES, MARS, and/or ARES. Thank you to all for an important opportunity to build bridges and plan enhanced collaboration.

 

Upcoming VE Sessions & RI Classes

Many thanks to these RI Clubs who are offering in-person VE sessions during October 2023. https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

License Exam Prep via HamStudy.org. License prep has never been easier than with this transformational learning platform offering self-paced study and practice tests. Available on demand, for free. 

OR: Do you know someone who would prefer to set a goal and achieve their first Tech license studying with a weekly instructor-led class? 

Interested NYAH (Not Yet a Ham) folks can sign up now for the excellent Zoom Technician course led by long-time NCRC educator Bob Beatty, WB4SON. It will begin Tuesday October 17th at 6pm and wrap up with an exam session December 9th. For more information, please see: 

Congrats to these 29 new FCC licensed RI Radio Amateurs and 29 FCC License Upgrades over the last six months (April 7 – September 5, 2023)

A. Let’s welcome these 29 new/renewed RI hams and help them get active on the air in 2023:

April 5, 2023 report of 13 new RI hams 

Curt Moan, KC1SRM – Coventry (+upgrade listed below)

Arthur Dennis, KC1SQC now W1ACD – Newport

Maria Chytka, KC1SPI – Portsmouth

Jared Ladino, KC1SSS – Warwick

Stephen Sheriff, KC1SOX – Warwick

Jack Cole, K1JWC – Warwick

Chris Cinieri, KC1SRO – North Smithfield

Jared Niedzwiadek, KC1SQR – N Smithfield (+upgrade listed below)

William G Ranson, KC1SON – Providence

Patricia Gallagher, KC1SRT – Providence

Dante M Catoni, AC1OR – East Providence

John Greene, KC1SRK – Rumford

Michael Villella, KC1SOD – Johnston

May 8, 2023 report of 9 new RI hams 

Christopher Carman, W1CEC – Providence

Michael Viveiros, KC1SVQ – West Warwick (+2 upgrades listed below)

David Halford, KC1SWD – Westerly (+upgrade)

Annaliva Rayne, KC1SWJ – Charlestown (+upgrade)

Bjorn Wellenius, KC1SWK – North Kingstown (+upgrade)

Michael Crittenden, KC1SWL – Portsmouth

Nathaniel J Pakuris, KC1SWM – Saunderstown

Jacqueline Day, KC1SWT – Saunderstown

Linda Matthews, KC1SWV – East Greenwich

June 5, 2023 report of 2 new RI hams 

Joseph Paravisini, KC1SXY – Providence

Christopher Pilla, KC1SYY – Woonsocket

July 6, 2023 report of 1 new RI hams

Eric R Roderick, KC1TDS – Cumberland

August 8, 2023 report of 1 new RI hams

Andrew P Dunham, KC1TER – Coventry

September 5, 2023 report of 3 new RI hams

Alfred J Watterson, KC1TGV – Warwick

Steven Figella, KC1TJG – Warwick

Michelle A Dupuis, KC1TJH – Pawtucket

B. Congrats to these 29 FCC License Upgrades over the last six months (April 7 – September 5, 2023)

April 7, 2023 report of 4 RI ham FCC license-class upgrades

Jeremy Dennis, KC1SFF now N1JAD – Upgrade, Newport

Robert Matose, KC1RFM – Upgrade, Middletown

John Jackman, N1SMX – Upgrade, North Kingstown

Scott Toner, N1SWT – Upgrade, Tiverton

May 8, 2023 report of 5 RI ham FCC license-class upgrades

James Manahan, KC1NOP – Upgrade, Ashaway

David C Zaluski, KC1SHF – Upgrade, Barrington

Octavio Vieira, N1RHH – Upgrade, Bristol

Patricia Strong, K2PRU – Upgrade, Prudence Island

Thomas Anthony Viscione, KC1QIF – Upgrade, Warwick

June 5, 2023 report of 6 RI ham FCC license-class upgrades

Randy Parrott, N1OTG – Upgrade, Harrisville

Howard Welsh, W1HOW – Upgrade, Warwick

Michael Viveiros, KC1SV – Upgrade, West Warwick

Jared Niedzwiadek, KC1SQR – Upgrade, N Smithfield

Paul Fontana, KC1IEN – Upgrade, North Providence

Steven J Serapiglia, N1OSI – Upgrade, Smithfield

July 6, 2023 report of 7 RI ham FCC license-class upgrades

David Halford, KC1SWD – Upgrade, Westerly

Michael Viveiros, KC1SVQ – Upgrade, West Warwick

Scott Owen, KC1RQL – Upgrade, Riverside

Annalivia Rayne, KC1SWJ – Upgrade, Charlestown 

Sandra Velazquez,  KC1PUX – Upgrade, Middletown 

Jim Garman, KC1QDZ – Upgrade, Newport 

Nolan Bryne, K1PRU – Upgrade, Prudence Island 

August 8, 2023 report of 3 RI ham FCC license-class upgrades

Curt Moan, KC3CIL – Upgrade, Coventry

Andrew Dunham, KC1TER – Upgrade, Coventry

Chris Ertl, N3OEW – Upgrade, Rumford

September 5, 2023 report of 4 RI ham FCC license-class upgrades

Michael Cullen, K6MAC – Upgrade, Newport

John B Scungio, KC1KEJ – Upgrade, Lincoln

Christopher Alekna, N3UBU – Upgrade, West Kingston

Michael D Della Bitta, KC1PQA – Upgrade, Providence

CONGRATS!!!

General housekeeping note to RI resident hams who might have relocated to RI: For information on updating your FCC license address for free, see: 

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/knowledge-base/common-amateur-filing-tasks/common-amateur-filing-task-changing

There is no fee for “Filing a Request to Update Administrative Information on a License in ULS”: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/knowledge-base/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/updating-administrative

Thank you for being an ARRL member.  

Stay tuned for the launch next week of an October ARES-MARS entry-level Situational Awareness exercise open to all licensed amateurs. 

73, Nancy Austin, KC1NEK

RI Section Manager

[email protected]

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/

Public Information

Project BIG E—Urgent Request for Additional Volunteers, September 23, 2023

- by Phil Temples

Project BIG E logoLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

We need at least one extra person for the first session from 9:30 to 4:00 pm and the second session from 3:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Can you please help? Saturdays are very busy days and at least three people are needed in the booth.

You will be reimbursed for admission and parking after the Big E has ended.

Contact Larry Krainson, W1AST, at <[email protected]>.

[See https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e/ for details]
Public Service

Amateur Volunteers Sought for Grills Preserve Trail Run, October 28, 2023

- by Phil Temples

Jim Creamer, KB1MAO, writes on the RI-ARES list:

I am looking for hams to support the Grills Trail Run on the morning of Saturday 28 October 2023. This race is not your regular race we have supported in the past. This race is 2 courses, a 10 K and a 10mi, through the woods of the Grills Preserve in Bradford, RI. Both courses showcase Grills Preserve in Westerly, and the 10-Mile course also features beautiful trails, bridges, and riverfront in the Grills Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton. The course is a mix of about 80% single-track and 20% double-track. Last year was the first time we supported the race and found it was more challenging than the usual races on roads. Last year’s hams reported enjoying the new challenges and the race organizers and participants were happy to have the hams providing that additional piece of mind. Most supporting hams will need to be able to walk short distances and have good portable equipment including antennas. GPS is a plus even though the course is well marked. I will provide GPS files as we get closer to the event.

I am looking for hams that ride off road bicycles for this event to act as SAG. You may also ride to your post on a bicycle if you want, just let me know.

This is an excellent way to improve your emergency communicating skills as well as your equipment.

Please mark your calendars and save the date.

Share this with your clubs and friends.

Here is the link to the race web site: http://www.westerlytrackclub.org/grills.html?rand=2250

Jim Creamer
Westerly Amateur Radio Team
2 David Ave.
Westerly, RI 02891
P: 401-596-2720
C: 401-864-4510

Ham Outreach / Operating / POTA

RI QSO hunters – this is your week!

- by Nancy Austin

 

Scene at Block Island today, POTA -Activate All RI: Jim, KC1QDZ (RI) and Fran, KC1NDZ (MA) with Scott, K3SDM (KY).

RI QSO hunters – this is your week! 

Starting today through Sunday (Sept 6-10, 2023)  a collaborating team of about twenty POTA – Parks on the Air enthusiastic activators from across the country, region, and state are setting up their portable rigs across the 52 officially-recognized POTA parks. 

Already this morning from just before 8am until around Noon, I was able to hunt 12 unique parks across the SSB bands of 40m, 20m, 17m and 15m from my home QTH. I was logged by 11 unique operators, including Kerri Wright, KB3WAV (with over 170,000 POTA QSOs to her credit) as well as the NCRC organizer of this event, Jim Garman, KC1QDZ – taking a break from his farm between tomatoes and turnips. 

POTA hunters, near and far, are encouraged to keep an eye on POTA Spotting and join the fun. It’s a great way to understand your band propagation and make progress on your POTA – Worked All RI award.

Real time POTA spotting information here: https://pota.app/#/

The list of the 52 RI POTA parks can be found here: https://pota.app/#/parklist. Select United States, and then the drop down filter to select Rhode Island.

Eager to jump in and activate? Go for it! And maybe bring along a licensed operator who hasn’t been able to get on the air recently for whatever reason. Second and even third operators are always welcome.

Meanwhile, kudos to the team currently activating Block Island park K-0513: Jim Garman, KC1QDZ from Newport, RI. Shown here with Fran Kelly, KC1NDQ from nearby Swansea, MA and hosting event visitor Scott Majors, K3SDM from Kentucky. (Another NCRC team will be activating Block Island again tomorrow – so check back frequently. )

Huge shout out to the POTA RI Park Activators I spoke to already this morning,

  • Kerri, KB3WAV
  • Brian, N1BS
  • Kathy, KA1THY
  • Brian, N2BTD
  • Lou, WZ3J
  • Dave, W3DRE
  • Willy, W1LY
  • Jim, KC1QDZ
  • Fran, KC1NDQ
  • Scott, K3SDM
  • John, K9FDB
  • John, K1JSM

Thanks to so many for voluntarily traveling to RI to amplify everything we love about radio in RI. Thank you to the many Rhode Island hams activating and collaborating to show what’s possible with amateur radio today. 

With special thanks to the Newport County Radio Club for supporting new ham Jim Garman, KC1QDZ and his vision for POTA – Activate All RI. 

What’s not to love about the ham community? 

73, Nancy Austin, KC1NEK 

  • Newport County Radio Club outgoing club president
  • new RI Section Manager

Don’t miss POTA – Activate All RI (Sept 6-10, 2023) 

Remember, POTA Hunters do not need to submit logs.

Activators will need to keep and submit their log of at least 10 time- and frequency- marked QSOs for an official activation to be recognized by POTA.  QSO credit will then be awarded to both parties, almost instantly. 

Lots of activators – but still. Small State; Big Pile-up.

Have fun! Get on the Air! Meet new hams. 

For more on what’s possible with POTA, check out: 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]

Ham Outreach / Operating / POTA

NCRC POTA demo helps new Generals GOTA

- by Nancy Austin

 

 “I learned more from your POTA demo today than I learned as a new ham over the last year! Thank you!” – Mike, KC1NFG (visiting Newport and welcomed to join in and GOTA.)

Today’s Newport County Radio Club (NCRC) POTA demo at Brenton Point Park was well attended by club members as well as a ham just passing by.  All were curious to jump in and learn how to quickly deploy a portable antenna and POTA setup to get on the HF bands quickly and make contacts. Jim Garman, KC1QDZ and Randy Jones, K8ZFJ were ideal mentors, helping some make their first POTA QSOs. 

From September 6-10, 2023, the NCRC is hosting a collaborative effort to activate all 52 RI POTA parks. For more information on POTA – Activate All RI and resources for getting started with Parks on the Air, please bookmark: https://ri-arrl.org/pota/