Category Archives: Operating

NCRC’s John King, WA1ABI, Places 1st in National FMT

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Congratulations to John King for having the best frequency measurements during the November 2013 Frequency Measurement Test (FMT).  This ARRL sponsored event pits FMTers, across the nation against each other in an attempt to accurately measure the frequency of several transmitters located in various parts of the country.  John was able to measure frequency to 7 parts in a billion.  That’s an average error of 0.05 Hertz on the 40 meter band.

Mother nature plays a very important roll in the perceived frequency as various propagation effects cause the signal to appear on a different frequency.  Adjusting for those effects separates the true experts from the pretenders.

Third Place Finish for NCRC Field Day 2013

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Newport County Radio Club/Sakonnet 49ers Placed 3rd Nationwide in Field Day 2013. Results of the top ten are posted below. Congratulations to all the operators and helpers!

This is the best finish and the highest score, along with the largest number of participants (back as far as the online records go). Prior to this the best finish was 7th place. Plus this marks the third time that we have finished in the top 10 nationwide.

# Call Score Category QSOs Power Mult GOTA Call Section Participants Club
1 K5UZ 20,696 2A 6,085 2 KD5J AR 10 Batesville ARC
2 W1NVT 13,876 2A 4,547 2 W1PU VT 30 Radio Amateurs of No VT
3 W1LY 11,130 2A 3,354 2 W1SYE RI 64 Newport Co RC / Sakonnet 49ers
4 N5KW 10,754 2A 2,685 2 NN5Q OK 16 Muskogee ARC
5 W5ZR 10,538 2A 3,171 2 W5RZY LA 30 LA Cane Field CC
6 WK5T 9,554 2A 2,631 2 NM 7
7 W8AL 9,424 2A 2,240 2 KD8XD OH 39 Canton ARC
8 W7R 9,306 2A 2,791 2 W7Y WWA 21 Pacific Co ARC
9 N3IC 9,278 2A 2,696 2 K3MZ MDC 17 Randallstown ARC
10 W6KB 9,254 2A 2,832 2 W6SG SF 42 REDXA & Marin ARS

The initial results reported by the ARRL indicated the club was in 4th place, but they have corrected their mistake.

Finding Wanders Quickly — Middletown FD finds hiding boy

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Middletown Fire Dept (MFD) demonstrated the SafetyNet tracker bracelet system on Sunday October 20th at Glen Park in Portsmouth.  Pictures can be viewed online here

Aided by MFD, a citizen volunteer (Rob White KB1ZZU)  used MFD’s  tracker equipment to find a well-hidden 10 year old Cub Scout in about five minutes. MFD fire fighters then let the 10 year old scout track down another 216 MHz radio tracker bracelet well-hidden up a distant tree.

It was pretty clear to all that this tracker technology could save hundreds of labor hours trying to find a wandering person before they fall into the water or die from exposure.

An estimated 24,000 Rhode Islanders fit into the wandering category.   Newport’s city council recently passed a resolution asking city staff to look at this tracking option. The tracker equipment and training is provided at no cost to the city. The tracking bracelet has a nominal monthly charge.

Portsmouth FD is also trained in the use of this equipment.

This demo was arranged by the Newport County Radio Club who hosted local Boy Scouts this last weekend at a Jamboree on the Air training event at Glen Park.