Our Seventh Hands-on Radio event will be held on October 21st, at All Saints STEAM Academy (915 W Main Rd, Middletown, RI 02842) beginning at 6:30 PM.
Nice Turnout at the Oct 7 Soldering Class
Paul K1YBE setup our Sixth Hands-On Radio Event last night and it was a great success. There were 21 people present and enough helpers on hand so that there were 1 to 2 students at each table with a mentor.
The objective of the class was to practice basic soldering skills by soldering some resistors and ICs onto a prototype PCB, then to test a series LED resistor circuit. That took about an hour to complete. The remainder of the class, which wrapped up about 9:30 PM, involved assembling a Offset Mixer Attenuation board used for RDFing. Most of these were completed and many were tested and found to be working. The students had an opportunity to desolder components as the PCB had a silk-screen error that lead to a LED being installed backward.
As one might expect the age of some of the soldering equipment, and the solder itself lead to some issues. Good, clean tools, and recognizing that solder has a shelf life (the rosin goes bad over time – 3 years per the manufacturer), was a valuable lesson.
Many thanks to All Saints STEAM Academy for allowing them to use their facilities and to their Science and Math teacher Dr Mike Thombs, W9DAD (also a NCRC member).
Soldering Class: Oct 7 @ 6 PM at All Saints
Our Sixth Hands-on Radio event will be held on October 7th, at All Saints STEAM Academy (915 W Main Rd, Middletown, RI 02842) beginning at 6:00 PM (helpers asked to arrive at 5:45 PM).
Paul K1YBE will be leading a class on soldering & de-soldering skills, followed by the assembly of an small attenuator board to be used for Radio Direction Finding (RDF – Fox Hunting). The soldering class should take about 30 minutes and assembly of the attenuator should take about 90 minutes.
Fox Hunt Offset Attenuator – 3rd Planet Solar / KC9ON
There is no fee for the soldering class, but there is a $5 fee to cover the cost of the attenuator (it sells for $8 plus shipping).
To help us plan, please register by filling in this short form
First Thursday (Oct 3): Breakfast at Rome Point Cafe
Maine Island Activations Sept 15-17
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1935 UTC ****
With a long drive ahead of them, and pooped from the six activations of the past two days, the crew decided to call it quits today. Thanks to everyone who helped them activate the islands on their adventure!
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pomham.jpg)
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was along as a mascot for this activation trip. Cloudy morning prior to departing Cundy’s Harbor (Photo by Willy W1LY)
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1935 UTC ****
They had success with all three islands today, and should be back for more tomorrow. Stay tuned!
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190916_183157-1024x768.jpg)
No activation in Maine would be complete without lobsta’s! (Left to right: Willy W1LY, Bonnie Knapp, John KiJSM, Pete W1LAB
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1750 UTC ****
They are on Center Island 14.280 MHz
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1730 UTC ****
The gang officially activated Little Snow Island, which is now ME-128S. They are packing up and heading off to Center island, ME-127
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1700 UTC ****
They are on the air, 14.271, from Little Snow Island ME-128
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1630 UTC ****
The crew completed the activation of Bear Island, so it is officially ME-116S.
They are underway to Little Snow Island ME-128. On air about 16:45 UTC
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1525 UTC ****
Have moved to 7.260 +/- on Bear Island Maine ME-116
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Willy.jpg)
Willy W1LY discovers that old saying “You don’t have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the slowest guy.” Looks lonely, was there a bear?
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1425 UTC ****
They are on Bear Island making contacts 14.260 MHz US Islands ME-116
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1425 UTC ****
It was a long slog out to Bear Island. They are accessing landing spots and will be ashore soon. Expect initial operation 14.260 MHz (both 20 and 40 seem pretty dead from RI). On air between 1445 and 1500 UTC.
**** UPDATE Monday Sept 16 @ 1330 UTC ****
Pete, John and Willy are on their way to Bear Island ME-116 this morning. Expect them to be on the air about 1400 UTC. They should be back to their usual frequencies 7.265/14.265 +/- QRM
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190916_081740-1024x768.jpg)
Traditional breakfast of Eggs Benedict (with lobster) prior to a long day of activating islands! (Left to Right: Pete W1LAB, Willy W1LY, and John K1JSM – Photo by Marshall)
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1800 UTC ****
Headed back to the dock for today. Congratulations on 3 successful activations today. More tomorrow. Expect first island (TBD) to be on the air about 1400 UTC
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1800 UTC ****
Now on 7.263 MHz
*** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1800 UTC ****
Now on Malaga Island, ME-129 . 14.328 MHz
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1720 UTC ****
They officially activated Yarmouth, now ME-121S, and are in route to Malaga, ME-129
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1555 UTC ****
Now on 14.328 MHz
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190915_114021-1024x768.jpg)
A closer view of the landing craft — lots of happy people (L to R: Bonny, Pete, John, Nat, and Willy – Photo by Marshall)
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1555 UTC ****
They are now activating Yarmouth Island ME-121. On 7.263 MHz
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1520 UTC ****
The Crew is back underway with the replacement radio on board. They expect to make Yarmouth Island in about 30 minutes and be on the air by about 1600 UTC (local noon).
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1435 UTC ****
The Raspberry Island Activation was successful, it is now ME-130S. Just in time, because their rig failed! Good news is they have a spare. Bad news is it is back at the dock in Cundy’s Harbor, so they are motoring back. They will return later for their next activation on Yarmouth Island ME-121. Stay tuned!!
**** UPDATE Sunday Sept 15 @ 1400 UTC ****
The 1st activation is underway – Raspberry Island ME130. They are on 7.247 MHz.
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/RaspberryIsland-1024x768.jpg)
Landing craft ramp sitting on Raspberry Island ME-130 John K1JSM on left, Willy W1LY on right. (Pete W1LAB taking photo)
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190915_095057-1024x768.jpg)
Boat with ramp down on Raspberry Island. Antenna to the right. From left to right: Bonnie Knapp, John K1JSM, Willy W1LY, Pete W1LAB, Nat Pulsifer (Photo by Marshall Lawson)
![](https://w1sye.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Underway-1024x768.jpg)
Activation Crew underway! What a glorious day to be on the water in Maine! John K1JSM seated, Bonnie Knapp seated, Willy W1LY standing. Raspberry Island dead ahead!
****************************************************************************************************
****************************************************************************************************
****************************************************************************************************
Da Boys in Da Boat (Lovingly referred to by Jim KA3UNQ) are at it again, this time in Maine. They will be activating a series of islands in Cumberland County, not far from Cundy’s Harbor, where they are staying. The proposed islands are:
- Bear Island ME116
- Bushy Island ME126
- Center Island ME127
- Little Snow I. ME128
- Malaga Island ME129
- Merrit Island ME117
- Pole Island ME118
- Ragged Island ME119
- Raspberry Island ME130
- Yarmouth Island ME121
As usual these islands have never been activated before. Only three operators this time; Pete W1LAB, John K1SJM, and Willy W1LY. The islands selected each day of the activation will be highly dependent on weather, tide levels and landing conditions. They have actually hired a landing craft to use this time that has a ramp in the front, but rocky shores may prevent that from being viable.
Their usual operating frequencies are 14.265 or 7.265 MHz +/- QRM, and as always they will be using the callsign W1SYE. Check the spotting networks for that call, and please spot them if you work them.
The operating schedule is currently unknown, but usually their first activation happens around 10 AM EDT (1400 UTC).
Check back here, at this post, for operating updates.