Welcome to your RI Section Newsletter for February 29, 2024
February Club Talk Highlights
The Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard & DX
On February 22, 2024 the W1AQ-Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England (an ARRL affiliated club since 1931 with their own clubhouse in Rumford, RI) gathered hams from across RI clubs to hear avid DXer and contester Charlie Morrison, N1RR to hear his deep dive on the NOAA Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard. N1RR walked us through this free on-line tool, introducing how to use on-line, real-time data to figure out what bands are best for where you want to work. From the Solar Lasco C3 panel to the Solar Wind panel, on to the Aurora forecast and the Ionosphere panel’s D-region absorption prediction tool to leverage real-time information as you become a better operator. Charlie Morrison, N1RR reminded us of the ancient awareness of sunspots, as well as reviewing the scientific understanding of sunspots after Galileo’s telescope experiments began in 1609 (with public demonstration from the Janiculum in Rome, 1611). https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/sunspots1.asp
Reach out too W1AQ Club Officer for more information: Doug Troughton, N2RDF, via [email protected]
Great to see this outreach across RI and Division clubs for combined remote and in-person knowledge sharing. Thanks to W1AQ-Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England and the Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) for putting this together.
See also:
Portable Operation Power, Off Grid POTA HF Operation
by Bob Beatty, WB4SON, Newport County Radio Club (NCRC), February 2024
On February 12, 2024 the W1SYE-Newport County Radio Club (an ARRL affiliated club since 1949) presented a very-well received presentation on batteries and off-grid portable power by excellent educator and operator, Bob WB4SON. His presentation would be of interest to many and is available on the NCRC website: https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Portable-Operation-Power.pdf
- the Power Requirements of typical HF rigs
- Battery Technology and Sizing
- Solar Panels
- Charge Controllers
Reach out to Bob, WB4SON with questions or comments: WB4SON at gmail.com
Please also know Bob WB4SON will be running a free Zoom Technician class series from April 23 until June, with the opportunity to take your exam June 8th, 2024. I recommend his class highly!
Please sign up as soon as possible for either here:
Bob’s Technician classes begin April 23, 2024 at 6 PM.
https://w1sye.org/?page_id=151
The NCRC June 8, 2024 digital VE Session details are here:
https://hamstudy.org/sessions/65b17598f51b305159bae0ff/1
ARRL School Club Roundup, Feb & Oct 2024
Intro
Rhode Island’s participation in the February 2024 ARRL School Club Roundup (SCR) was a great demonstration of why these twice a year SCR weeks should be on more ham calendars. FYI – the next ARRL School Roundup is scheduled for M-F October 21-25, 2024. You do NOT need to be an official school club to participate. Join in as a School or make QSOs as an individual operator. Find out more about Special Event Callsigns here: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service/special-event-call-signs
For backstory on this unfolding story in Rhode Island, please see:
- https://ri-arrl.org/arrl-school-roundup-updates15feb2024/
- https://ri-arrl.org/school-roundup-feb2024/
It’s SO simple, easy, and fun.
In 2023, only 1 New England university participated (Northeastern) and only 1 New England individual operator (from NH) turned in logs. As the ham community seeks to engage next gen hams, this SCR seems like a ready-made solution to leverage and support.
Rhode Island is now well-positioned to have this winter’s SCR be a marker for revitalizing both the URI and Brown Amateur Radio Clubs. This is important for many reasons, especially as we continue to prioritize communicating why the ham radio community can deliver value building RI’s next gen workforce skills.
With minimal effort, we can all reach out and make QSOs across the country with young operators, as we support K-12 amateur radio educator outreach, and mentor the revitalization of Amateur Radio collegiate clubs in Rhode Island. These are important initiatives for so many reasons, from joining a growth-mindset mentoring community, to future workforce development skill building, to raising awareness of the many radio amateur related college scholarships available: https://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions
N1ASA – STEM Charter School
Mike Cullen’s middle school students had a blast and reported this: 25 QSOs to 12 States and 10 Schools for a score of 1,600. Time operating: about 40 min a day for 3 days, after school 3-4:30. Success was clear hearing the student’s enthusiasm.
Brown University 2024 pilot participation as K1D
School QSOs getting started: KC1NEK operating as Brown, K1D only on Th, Fri. With Digital QSOs from results thanks to team Jose, Jeremy, Adam. (They had some tech challenges and both Jeremy and Adam were sick and/or out of work with sick children.
Brown University K1D first entry score for Feb 2024: 4,972
School to School QSOs: 18, including Purdue (W9YB); U of North Dakota (K0UND); (WA4AUG) in Augusta (GA) University.
W1KMV, University of Rhode Island (URI) Amateur Radio Club
Thanks again to URI Faculty Brian Maynard, K1NW, for helping launch the W1KMV URI ARC revitalization project during this recent ARRL School Roundup. I can’t wait to see the impact of this momentum by next October’s School Roundup. His 75 minutes of dedicated operating put the URI club on the map this year with a respectable score of 3,131. I look forward to seeing how many other New England Universities participated in Feb 2024 because in 2023 the only one was Northeastern. In any case, this first mission-driven effort was amazing with proof that even a little more than an hour of operating as a URI School call was noted far and wide. Huge thanks to all who helped get this revitalization campaign started.
Individuals can also log in support of the ARRL School Roundup.
KC1NEK was a first time Individual operator M-W operating for only about an hour over 3 days M-W. max time per session about 30 min. (Not a big ask.): Individual score 1,184
16 QSOS, all with Schools (13 unique across 4 bands 2m Simplex, 20m, 40m, 15m PH)
9 US States: CO, GA, IN, MI, OK, RI, SC, TX, WI
13 unique schools: 4 University clubs – URI (W1KMV), Purdue (W9YB), Michigan State (W8SH), U of Wisconsin (W9YT)
3 High Schools in CO, OK, IN and six Middle Schools in RI, SC, GA, TX
Standby: RI Collegiate Clubs Joint Technical Talks & the upcoming local Citizen Science Eclipse projects
Meanwhile, hope to see the Brown and URI Collegiate Clubs doing well, with hams stepping up to help. Stay tuned for planned SME technical talks in the works for Spring 2024, and open to all.
(RWU) Roger Williams University’s Adria Updike, KC1LOK & Physics Dept plans for the Solar Eclipse Monday April 8th
Adria Updike KC1LOK, Physics has enthusiastically agreed to do what she can to promote an Amateur Radio Club at RWU. (Possibly joining the Astronomy Club, for now.) Adria, KC1LOK previously had her students build and launch a weather balloon. One idea is to do outreach for an RWU Amateur Radio Club on Monday April 8th 1-5pm when she is already set for a campus demo around during the solar eclipse. Her teaching/outreach includes workshops on: build your own sensors, APRS tracking for gathering balloon data, Arduinos, SDR, electronics, etc. Let’s see how we can collaborate to help build out a robust RWU amateur radio club. Want to get involved? Reach out to Dr. Updike, KC1LOK.
Fall ARRL School Roundup & JOTA synergy?
The next ARRL School Roundup is scheduled for M-F October 21-25, 2024 (The third full school week of October2024.) This would seem like a synergistic follow-up to the weekend of amateur radio upskilling planned for the annual Scouting Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), taking place “the third full weekend in October” – or Sat/Sun October 19-20, 2024.
Get on the Air!
Welcome FIVE (5) New RI Technician-licensed hams!
From the ARRL “New License Report” for 2024-02-05
- Herbert Peterson, KC1TZK – Barrington
- Patrick Foster, KC1TYM – Newport
- Ruben Morawicki, KC1UBS – Warwick
- Geovanny Maldonado, KC1UBF – Warwick
- Shana Saunders, KC1UBA – Westerly
If you hear a “KC1″x3 call sign with a suffix starting with a “T” or “U”, ask if the caller is a newly licensed ham and send CONGRATS! WELCOME!!!
Continuing Kudos to these RI hams from the ARRL From the ARRL “New License Report” for 2024-01-10 & 2023-12-05 (11)
- John Macvittie, KC1TVX – Coventry
- David Walker, KC1TVM – East Greenwich
- Richard Tucker, AC1QR – Lincoln
- John Flanders, KC1TVQ – Saunderstown
- Edward Dufresne, KC1TVR – Warren
- Michael O’Neil, KC1TUR – Warwick
- Darrell Wood, KC1TXB – Woonsocket
- Jose Sandoval, KC1TWM – Providence
- Frank Saccoccio, KC1TWB – Johnston
- Scott Vigneau, KC1TTH – Warwick
- Aaron Sucov, KC1TRG – Cranston
Congrats to the LATEST RI License Upgrades
From the ARRL “New License Upgrade Report” for 2024-02-05
- Mark W Beezer, W1NZR – Jamestown
- Stephen Crawford, AI1IA – Westerly
- Michael Vincent, KB1EVH – Chepachet
Continuing Kudos to these 3 RI hams from the ARRL “New License Upgrade Report”: for 2024-01-10 & 2023-12-05 (3)
- Dennis Hobert, KC1OYW – Harrisville
- Matthew Sarasin, KB1HEG – Warren
- Alfred J Watterson, KC1TGV – Warwick
Get licensed! Upgrade? Upcoming RI In-person VE Sessions
Many thanks to these 3 RI Clubs for consistently offering publicly-announced, in-person VE sessions. Here’s what they are offering March 2024.. https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session
- W1AQ (Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England) on Saturdays at 9:30am on March 2, 2024 (Rumford, RI) (walk-ins allowed)
- Blackstone Valley ARC (BVARC) on Saturdays at 9am March 9, 2024 (Woonsocket, RI) Location: Our Saviour’s Parish (Pre-registration via email preferred; Walk-ins allowed)
- Newport County Radio Club (NCRC | W1SYE.org) on Saturday at 10AM March 9,2024 in Middletown, RI at the (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
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.
Prefer to study with a class? Check out the ARRL listing for classes here, and check back often as 2024 classes get posted: https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class
OR: check out the respected WEEKEND ZOOM License Class boot camps being offered all-remote this winter/spring by The Nashua Area Radio Society (N1FD) https://www.n1fd.org/amateur-radio-license-class/
Upcoming Regional Remote Amateur Radio License Class Weekend Bootcamps
- General License Class – March 16th and 17th, 2024
- Extra License Class – April 19th, 20th, and 21st, 202
For more information see: https://www.n1fd.org/amateur-radio-license-class/
Get on the Air!
- Showcase your GOTA station at Field Day, June 22-23, 2024
- THANK YOU! TO W1OP for sponsoring the GOTA station at the upcoming New England Division HamXposition August 22-25, 2024 in nearby Marlborough, MA
Did you know: “This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first ARRL New England Division Convention, and Northeast HamXposition committee members are discussing ways to commemorate the milestone….” https://hamxposition.org/2024/02/21/new-england-division-convention-to-celebrate-100th-anniversary/
RI ARES Updates
Net Control Training rescheduled
The new RI ARES Net Control Manager is Jim Ferrantes, N1ZJI. Reach out if you are interested in joining the Net Control Training via Zoom that he has rescheduled for this Monday, March 4, 2024 at 7pm.
ARES Net Schedule
An updated RI ARES Practice and Training Net Schedule can be found here: https://riares.org/nets
ARES Practice and Training Nets are normally held at 19:30 local time and are open to all licensed operators. These are Directed Nets, the Net Control Station will control all communication on the net.
1st Tuesday of the month – Repeater Net
2nd Tuesday of the month – Simplex Net
3rd Tuesday of the month – Repeater Net
4th Tuesday of the month – Repeater & Digital Net
5th Tuesday of the month (when there is one) – TBA
Every Wednesday at 7:30pm – RI ARES SKYWARN Training Net
Winlink & the Local Weather Template EXERCISES
The February 27, 2024 RI ARES net included a rapid test exercise where members were asked to fill out the Local Weather Template with the requested information and send it to the RI EMA, with the flag EXERCISE. This was a successful small scale test exercise as the RI SEC, Jeremy Taylor, K1JST continues positive collaborations with the RI EMA and WA1USA to plan a Spring Simulated Emergency Test for RI ARES members. Great to see the people making time to participate here and on the Wednesday night Skywarn nets as we develop best practices and mutual support
FEMA Region One continues to send out an unannounced monthly Winlink test that interested hams must self-monitor. The February exercise required the time sensitive Winlink Local Weather template to be filled out and sent as requested. Across New England, 50 Amateurs responded, with only 5 from RI this month. (CT reponse 25 and MA 19). Many thanks to these NCRC radio amateurs who responded: John Brewer N1SXB; Corry Thibault KE1AK; Mike Rousseau KC1NEJ; Mike Cullen K1NPT; and myself, Nancy Austin KC1NEK. The next unannounced test will occur sometime in March 2024.
Andrew Staub, KC1OKI appointed ARRL Rhode Island Section Government Liaison (SGL)
I am thrilled to announce attorney Andrew Staub KC1OKI is now available to serve in this role. Further, Andrew’s RI Section Government Liaison team will include the remarkable North Kingstown High school student and blind ham, Ryan Lukowicz, KC1KUF. Ryan previously served in the RI State House as the youngest Page ever. https://ri-arrl.org/youth/
Andrew Staub, KC1OKI of Barrington, is a results-driven litigation attorney with a strong background in managing complex cases and a passion for applied technology, particularly unmanned aerial systems involving first person view and analog radio transmission.
He is a skilled communicator adept at distilling concepts and unifying people around practical concepts. At the present time he is transitioning from a successful career in civil litigation and pursuing opportunities in developing technology advocacy by leveraging knowledge in both legal and technological domains.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
- Rhode Island State Bar
Andrew is a drone advocate who builds and flies his own drones. He became a ham to comply with the Technician-class requirements of flying FPV drones. His public service includes presentations on drones to the Newport County Radio Club, and discussing drone technical capabilities with Ray Perry, KC1IPC and the Portsmouth, RI EMA Communications team.
For more on this emerging technology, please bookmark this RI Section tab: https://ri-arrl.org/drones/
At this week’s New England Division Mesh Networking group, Andrew was right at home discussing open-source software with John Jobin McAuliffe, KD2ZWN, the new Digital RF Engineer at the ARRL. Conversation with Andrew is always dynamic as he raises awareness about the many ways a Technician Amateur Radio license is a key to understanding emerging aspects of the microwave bands and wireless communications. There is an urgent need for informed conversation as we shape viable regulation and legislation to leverage future business and education opportunities in this rapidly developing technology space.
Until next month: https://youtu.be/9pEqyr_uT-k?feature=shared
73, Nancy Austin, KC1NEK – RI Section Manager