All Saints Academy Selected to move on for ARISS Contact

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Admin Admin

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

FCC Eliminates Vanity Call Sign Fees

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Admin Admin

According to the ARRL, the FCC has notified congress that they intend to eliminate fees for processing vanity call sign requests (they were spending more money than they were collecting in fees). It will take at least 3 months for the change to be published and to take effect.

See the article here: http://www.arrl.org/news/view/fcc-eliminates-amateur-radio-vanity-call-sign-regulatory-fee

Congratulations to W2DAN on DXCC

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Admin Admin

NCRC extends its congratulations to Dave Neal, W2DAN, who just completed his Mixed DXCC certificate recently (DXCC is an ARRL award that recognizes hams who have received confirmation of working at least 100 different countries.). Congratulations Dave!

NCRC Road Trip for June Meeting!

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Admin Admin

The June meeting of NCRC will be held at the Museum of Wireless and Steam, on Monday June 8 at 7 PM. Carpooling is encouraged and folks interested in driving together should meet at the KVH parking lot by 6 PM for the 45 minute trip across the bridge.

There is a $10 entry fee (museum entry is usually $15) and a regular business meeting will be held at the Museum meeting hall, when Bob Marian will start things off.

There will be someone at the Frenchtown RD gate to collect the $10 fee.

Details of this even can be found here: https://w1sye.org/?tribe_events=museum-of-wireless-and-steam

A Successful J-Pole Fabrication Night

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Admin Admin

A dozen or more brave souls assembled dual-band J-poles tonight at KVH. The process involved fabricating a coax assembly with SMA connector and current balun, as well as an antenna assembly made from 300 ohm twin-lead cut to the appropriate dimensions. The two assemblies were then soldered together and finished off with some heat-shrink tubing for protection. Testing after the assembly process indicated a 1.5:1 or lower SWR.

The club wishes to thank Willy W1LY, and Jim KA1ZOU for working diligently to establish the correct dimensions, instructions, and assembly tools, as well as Bob WB4SON for obtaining the parts and kitting them plus installing the SMA connectors. Several other hams, Jim KC1SD, John WA1ABI, Pete W1LAB, and others were there to help guide the builders in their process. Finally, the club wishes to thank our host, KVH, which set up multiple assembly benches with solder stations and hand tools for the project.