Category Archives: Public Service

FD 2015 — It’s a wrap!

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Neither rain, nor wind, nor fear of dark kept the unflappable Field Day operators from completing about 3,200 QSOs this year.  Despite some nasty weather than began around 8 PM Saturday, so much water in the tents that that a hand key had to be used because the keyer became too waterlogged, tables with rigs blowing over, and the ever-infallible paper logs almost turning to paper mache, Newport County Radio Club carried on to the bitter end.

Things looked pretty rosy when the antennas were setup Friday afternoon.FD 2015 Panorama Resized

The GOTA Station was the held in a spacious BWT (Big White Tent — should be called a BFHT).FD 2015 GOTA Tent

Several members of the public saw and heard the action and stopped by to participate, including these young operators.RJ GOTA

 

But the weather wouldn’t hold — by 7 PM Saturday the skies were darkening, and it was lightly raining by 8 PM.  By 4 AM it was gusting around 55 MPH.FD 2015 Weather

By dawn things were still standing, but they had taken a beating.  The CW Beam was now pointing at Africa.  The GOTA Beam was a askew and pointing toward Alaska, and the GOTA tent was cattywampus.FD 2015 Bent

Despite the damp weather it was a great time.  Only 361 days to plan for Field Day 2016!!!

All Saints Academy Selected to move on for ARISS Contact

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All Saints Academy was one of fourteen schools and organizations that submitted proposals to host an Amateur Radio contact with the International Space Station (ARISS). They are moving into the final stage of the selection process. Schools or organizations ultimately selected will host a scheduled Amateur Radio contact with an ISS crew member during the first half of 2016.

Congratulations to Mike Cullen for writing a successful proposal, to Rob White for all his efforts with Mike in growing young ASA hams, and to KVH Industries, Newport County Radio Club, RIDOE, FabNewport, and ATC Tech for being event sponsors.

See the official ARRL announcement here:  http://www.arrl.org/news/fourteen-us-schools-groups-on-list-to-host-ham-contacts-with-space-station

Please Help with Amateur Radio Parity Act

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HR-1301

While NCRC is doing things to rectify this, sadly the demographic of our club is mostly aging hams.  As we get older, we find ourselves making changes to our lifestyle.  Often this involves moving to a townhouse, or into an area that has restrictive covenants that prevent the erection of antennas.

We don’t have to tell you that we are a national resource that is an essential part of our countries emergency response.  But more hams go of the air each year simply because antennas are forbidden where they live.

HR-1301 is an act before the House that would make provide some insulation between restrictive homeowner covenants and hams — it would ensure that accommodations could be made for antennas.

As we all look upon this last winter and dream of warmer locations, keep in mind that all of those popular retirement locations prevent the erection of antennas.  Florida hams have an almost impossible situation, for example.  Please go to www.arrl.org/hr-1301 for information on how you can help.  This isn’t a solicitation for donations, but a description of the simple steps you can take to help Congress so we can help the nation.

Next ECTTC Class Starts March 3

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John King, WA1ABI, has announced the next Emergency Communications Technician Training Course (ECCTC) will begin at 7 PM on Tuesday March 3rd.  This class will be held on seven consecutive Tuesdays at the Portsmouth EOC.  The course is open to all licensed Amateur radio operators. Preference is given to residents of Newport County, but enrollment is open to all Amateur operators on a space available basis.

This training course equips the student with the knowledge and skills needed to serve as an Emergency Communicator in an Emergency Operations Center, a Red Cross evacuation shelter, or a Medical Emergency Distribution System Point of Dispensing. These skills are applicable to operations in many other public safety emergency communications venues. No prior knowledge of public safety or emergency communications is assumed or required. See the course syllabus for information on the subject areas covered in this course.

More details can be found in this document

OSECA Net a Rousing Success!

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The OSECA net debuted this past Tuesday, December 2, at 1900 local time on the KA1RCI Network.  By any definition, it was a rousing success, with 32 check-ins in just over an hour.  John King, WA1ABI, had the honor of being the first Net Control station.

OSECA stands for Ocean State Emergency Communion Alliance.  It was formed with a goal of providing a forum for those hams involved in EmComm throughout the state.  Representatives from multiple EMAs checked in (Providence, Coventry, No. Smithfield, Wakefield, Narragansett, Westerly, and Portsmouth, to name a few), as well as other served agencies and non-emergency public service groups.

The OSECA net is held on the FIRST and THIRD Tuesday of each month at 1900 local time on the KA1RCI Network.  Despite its focus on EmComm, all hams, especially those who are looking for an agency to join, are encouraged to participate.