Second Hands-On Radio Event, Saturday October 20th

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Our second Hands-on Radio Event will be Saturday October 20th at Glen Park.  We will be operating a satellite station, so this is an opportunity to see one in action and make a contact of your own.

This is going on during our Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) event.  Because we have to wait for satellites to be available to work though, this event is spread out through the day, with activity going on from 10 AM until 8 PM.  Because this is happening over such a long time period, we will not be providing refreshments as we have no way to keep things cool/hot over that period of time, and no registration is required.

Please Note, while mist is OK, if it is raining hard, the satellite station will be off the air (the antenna system is not waterproof).  Too early to be sure, but at this point it looks like rain in the morning, but clear from noon on.  Keep an eye on the weather and plan your trip accordingly.

More details can be found on the Hands-On Radio tab.

Calling NCRC Volunteers for JOTA, Sat Oct 20th

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At least nine NRC volunteers to meet with scouts to determine that Radio Merit Badge requirements have been fulfilled. This is not difficult because:

  • The material is well within the Technician License level of radio knowledge.
  • The intent is that the review is an easy-going conversation
  • The worse case is that a requirement is not yet completed, so advise the scout to keep working on it.

We are asking for four and a half hours, 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, of your Saturday morning, October 20th.  Please sign on soon by contacting:
Jim Sammons, KA1ZOU.
(401) 295-5506
editor@w1sye.org

Maine Island Activations Underway

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The NCRC Activation crew (Pete W1LAB, John K1JSM, Willy W1LY, and Jim KA1ZOU) was at it again, this time in Maine.  They activated three never before on the air islands on Wednesday Oct 3 and Thursday October 4.

Pete W1LAB supplied many of the photos below and is the boat operator (RIB Goblin).  He hosted the crew in Cundy’s Harbor.  Willy W1LY supplied the stunning photo below:

 

Update Oct 5:  Bad weather is preventing any additional activations on this trip.  Thanks to all that participated on Wed & Thu and helped to complete three new island activations.

Update: Oct 4 15:56Z  The Crew has changed to 14.283 MHz, still on Snow Island – Bad weather is moving in so this may be the only activation today.

Update: Oct 4 15:16Z The activation crew is setting up on Snow Island in Quahog Bay and should be on the air shortly. They are currently on 7.266 and later near 14.252.

Operators on Snow Island: Willy W1LY, Jim KA1ZOU, and John K1JSM (left to right)

Jim KA1ZOU logging and Pete W1LAB on the air. Sonw Island is the home of around the world sailor Dodge Morgan

Antenna can be seen by the dock at Snow Island

A closer view of the antenna.

Update:  Oct 3 As of 18:50Z Flash Island has been qualified and the crew is packing to return to home base (Cundy’s Harbor) for a debriefing.

Update: As of 18:15Z Flash Island is being qualified. On 14.252 (Note the US Islands # has not been allocated for this island yet)

John and Willy at the operating desk on Flash Island Maine

A view from the North on Flash Island.  Antenna and Goblin Support boat in view

 

Update: As of 23:45Z Bush Island was qualified and the crew packing the station up for today.

UPDATE: As of 23:00Z they are at Bush Island on 14.251 MHz (Note the US Islands # has not been allocated for this island yet).  They were on 40 meters prior to that, and had no luck making contacts.

Islands are often privately owned and require special permission. This is Nat Pulsifer, the owner of Bush Island

Here is the “shack” in the woods just to the right of the dock. The antenna can be seen to the right

What the operators see looking out from Bush island — Note antenna to the left

A close up of the “Shack”. John K1JSM logging and Willy W1LY on the air

Pell Space Chat A Success!

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RI’s Third Space Chat, the first for a public elementary school, was completed successfully today, October 2nd, at about 1:55 PM.

The live stream has completed. You can watch the entire 30+ minute program here (the kid’s questions begin at the 26 minute mark):

 

WLNE News Story on Pell Space Chat Oct 2 at 6 PM

WPRI News Story on Pell Space Chat Oct 2 at 6 PM

 

NCRC member Mike Cullen, K1NPT, is the moderator of this his third ARISS event.  Paul Fredette K1YBE, is handling the telebridge audio details.

The contact was handled on the ground by Jan ON4ISS in Belgium.  Fifteen questions were successfully asked/answered, including two by Governor Gina Raimondo.

Congratulations to Mike and all those that worked for 11 months on this successful contact.