Stay tuned for more information.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Jim/KK1W
Category: Meetings
Posts related to upcoming or past meetings
-
Shhhhh! – Something exciting is returning to the January meeting!
-
Ham Radio Classes For Tech General and Extra
Are you or do you know someone that wants to get into Amateur Radio? Do you currently hold a Technician or General license and want to upgrade?
This is the perfect chance to get your license or upgrade your current license. No reservations are required. Details are below, but if you have questions, please fill out the form at the bottom of this post
-=-
DATES:Two Tuesday nights (January 15th and 22nd) from 7 to 9PM
and all day Saturday (January 26th) 9 AM to 6:PM, including VE exam.
-=-
LOCATION:
Auxiliary Conference Center
Holyoke Medical Center
575 Beech Street
Holyoke Mass, 01040-2223
-=-
COST:
$0 (Zero Dollars)
ARRL Manuals (optional, but highly recommended) available for sale at the class.
-=-
VE EXAM:
Time: After 3:00 PM on Saturday January 26.
Cost: $15.00 USDPlease Check Back For Any Changes/Cancellations
[google-map-v3 width=”500″ height=”350″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”roadmap” mapalign=”center” directionhint=”true” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”true” scrollwheelcontrol=”true” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”575 Beech St. Holyoke MA, 01040{}university.png{}Ham Radio Classes” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”][contact-form to=’Kx1x@arrl.net’ subject=’Jan 2012 Ham Radio Classes (Contact VIA Website)’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Callsign (If any)’ type=’text’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]
-
Fred Hopengarten, K1VR to speak on antenna zoning at FCARC meeting Monday night
Posted on by N1FJAntenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur
Is there a tower and antenna in your future? Applying for a Permit? On November 19 the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC) speaker will be Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, telecommunications lawyer. Fred is author of the definitive book,Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur. Fred has represented many amateurs in conflicts with local zoning authorities about antennas and towers, including in Franklin County. His book is published in cooperation with the ARRL and he will probably have a few copies on hand.
This is a not-to-be-missed meeting !
The meeting will be at the usual time and place, Greenfield High School, Lenox Ave (off Silver St.) at 7:15 p.m. (coffee at 7:00).
Directions to Greenfield High School: From the center of Greenfield go north on Federal St. (Rtes 5 and 10) about 1.5 miles, at Silver St. (stop light) turn left. From North or South on I-91, take Exit 27, Route 2 East, then the first exit, Bernardston Rd (Routes 5 and 10 South). The Silver St. intersection is about 0.3 mile south of Rte 2, turn right at the stop light. On Silver St. look for a sign for the High School on the left, about 0.3 mile from Federal St. (Click here for a Google map.)
-
Holiday Party December 10, 2012
There will be no HCRA meeting Friday, December 7, 2012. Our annual Holiday Party will be at the Steaming Tender in Palmer on Monday, December 10, 2012. See below:
-
More links from the November 2nd meeting
Here are the sources for antenna supports I use for portable operation. Usable height is usually less than claimed height. We have found that anything over 20 feet or so works well on a summit activation.
28′ carbon fiber pole, about $100 including shipping, strong and light and compact:
http://www.allfishingbuy.com/Fishing-Pole/Pole-A1-65-2-8615.htm
31′ Jackite fiberglass pole, $68.95 including shipping, strong and heavy and big:
– Frandy, N1FJ
-
Links from the November 2nd meeting
This is why we go to the summits! Here’s some links that will give you additional information discussed at our November 2nd meeting (SOTA and portable operation). Thanks everyone for attending, I hope you enjoyed the meeting and the refreshments. Don’t forget to purchase your Holiday Party ticket!
The photo on the left is from this summer’s activation of Mt. Mansfield by Frandy and me. You couldn’t ask for a more spectacular day. Don’t you wish you were with us? You can be, just ask! We’re always willing to help out with advice, equipment loans or if you want to tag along on our next activation – it’s more fun when you get to share!
SOTA – Main website and SOTA information
SOTAwatch – See current and upcoming activations.
HobbyKing – Good source for Lipo batteries and chargers. Great prices, I’ve had good results with them so far. They have a USA warehouse, be sure to look there first (faster)
Batteryspace – Source for LiFePO4 batteries and chargers.
Elecraft – USA manufacturer of fine transceivers, including the KX3
Jackite – Good quality kite poles for antenna supports’73…
Jim/KK1W -
Fred Hopengarten, K1VR to speak on antenna zoning at FCARC meeting
Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur
Is there a tower and antenna in your future? Applying for a Permit? On November 19 the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC) speaker will be Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, telecommunications lawyer. Fred is author of the definitive book, Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur. Fred has represented many amateurs in conflicts with local zoning authorities about antennas and towers, including right here in Franklin County. His book is published in cooperation with the ARRL and he will probably have a few copies on hand.
This is a not-to-be-missed meeting !
The meeting will be at the usual time and place, Greenfield High School, Lenox Ave (off Silver St.) at 7:15 p.m. (coffee at 7:00).
Directions to Greenfield High School: From the center of Greenfield go north on Federal St. (Rtes 5 and 10) about 1.5 miles, at Silver St. (stop light) turn left. From North or South on I-91, take Exit 27, Route 2 East, then the first exit, Bernardston Rd (Routes 5 and 10 South). The Silver St. intersection is about 0.3 mile south of Rte 2, turn right at the stop light. On Silver St. look for a sign for the High School on the left, about 0.3 mile from Federal St. (Click here for a Google map.)
-
This KX3 could be YOURS!
We’re talking about the EXACT Elecraft KX3 in the photograph, serial # 2261. It arrived safely and is in our hands. So how do you get it? Easy, purchase a KX3 raffle ticket at the next HCRA meeting, that’s how!
For a mere $10 donation to HCRA you get a chance to win this exciting new HF transceiver valued at $1000. Just recently it topped Sherwood’s list for best receiver performance but now has slipped to second place behind a $20,000 rig. Twelve watts, all HF bands and runs on 8 AA batteries – how cool is that? Only 250 tickets will be sold and the drawing will be held March 1st, 2013 (or earlier if we sell all the tickets). Tickets are selling quickly – don’t miss out on a golden opportunity to own a world class, ultra portable, HF transceiver..
A few of our members own a KX3 and they are indeed a nice toy. Rumor has it there will be one set up and operating at our November 2nd meeting. Of course #2261 will be on display (if you can get it out of Ed’s hands) at the raffle table. Can’t make it to the meeting, then drop me an email and I’ll be sure you get your ticket(s).
Thanks as always for your support of HCRA, our raffles and our events!
Jim/KK1W
-
Jamboree on the Air – 2012
The Hampden County Radio Association sponsors BSA Venture Crew 510 and this Venture Crew specializes in Amateur Radio. Put Boy Scouts and Amateur Radio together and you get not only learning and fun. You get Jamboree on the Air!Held on the third full weekend of October each year, Jamboree on the Air, or JOTA as it’s known, is the largest Scouting event in the world. In 2011 nearly 750,000 Scouts participated with over 6,000 stations in operation from 150 countries around the world.
This year the 55th Jamboree-on-the-Air is October 20–21, 2012. The official hours are from Saturday at 00:00 hours local time (right at midnight Friday) to Sunday 24:00 (midnight Sunday evening). So you’ve got the whole weekend to make JOTA contacts!
This worldwide jamboree requires no travel on your part, well, other than going to your Ham shack. Scouts from around the globe, and perhaps as close as across town, will be looking for Amateur Radio Operators just like you to make contact with. So hopefully you’ll take part in this worthwhile event and work some of these Scouts. By the way, while you enjoy a good QSO, many of these Scouts are working on earning their Radio Merit Badge, and for some Scouts, this is their first time on the air!
For more information, please use the below links:
- BSA: Jamboree-on-the-Air Introduction – http://www.scouting.org/jota.aspx
- ARRL: Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) – http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota
- World Scout Bureau Inc.: The 55th JOTA 2012 – http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/events/jota/the_55th_jota_2012
-
Ham Radio License Plates
Looking out over the pool of cars at the local Ham Club’s meeting, or across the ocean of cars at a regional Ham-fest, one can’t help but notice one thing. “Antennas!” you call out. Well yeah, you’re right there. So, let me back up and say there are two things one can’t help but notice as you check out the cars, and yes the first one being the wheat-field of antennas. The second is…Ham (call-sign) license plates.
Did you know that Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to issue vehicle license plates beginning in June of 1903, but the first Mass. Amateur Radio license plate wasn’t issued until 1964? While Hams are not required by law to display a call-sign plate on their vehicle, many Amateur Radio operators elect to get and proudly display them. After all, no one else may attach this style of plate to their vehicle, and only you have your call-sign!
What do I need to do to get a set for my vehicle you ask? It’s easy, simply download Form 21584-0911 “Application For Ham Radio Operators Plates” from the Registry of Motor Vehicles website at: http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/forms/21584.pdf, or pick one up at your local Mass. Registry office. Once you have it, fill it out, then send it in along with a copy of your current and valid FCC license plus a check for $20 payable to MassDOT. And before you know it, your vehicle will be sporting its own set of Ham license plates.
