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  • Re-Up, Re-Up, Wherever You Are.

    Our 2012/2013 season started on September 1st and thanks go out to all of you who renewed your membership for another year. However some of you have yet to take that quick moment to get your own renewals taken care of. It’s fast, it’s easy, and can be done by mail or in person at the upcoming October 5th meeting.

    Your dues are what help to make HCRA events such as Field Day and the Holiday Party possible. It assists members without email access by offsetting our mailing costs. In addition there’s liability insurance expenses, IRLP node maintenance and of course our web hosting fees and all the little things that go into making a club run.

    So please, while it’s on your mind and at your fingertips, won’t you download the application form found on our membership page and take care of renewing right now?

  • SOTA jerks are on the road again

    (In a deep loud voice) SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY September 30th 2012 the jerks are heading out to a place unactivated.  That’s right,  We are heading to Burley Hill W1/MR-002.  Showtime will be 1600Z.  Modes CW, FM, SSB, and new to this activation PSK31.  Frequencies 7.034, 14.061 CW 7.190, 21.333, 14.3425 SSB depending on propagation, look for us on 10 meters also 146.52 – FM.

    All Hams are invited to make contacts FREE of charge

    There will be no tickets at Ticketmaster or the box office.

  • Privileges Has Its Membership

    I’m sure you’re all familiar with the American Express Company’s saying “Membership has its privileges”, and while this is true, its chiasmus “Privileges has its membership” is equally true.

    As a new Technician Class license holder, you’ve worked hard earning your Amateur Radio Operating privileges to work these bands: 33 Centimeters, 70 Centimeters, 1.25 Meters, 2 Meters, 6 Meters, 10 Meters, 15 Meters, 40 Meters, and 80 Meters. You’ve made it, you’re in the club…or are you? You keep hearing Hams talking about how they’re looking forward to getting together and having a face-to-face over coffee at next month’s meeting. Well, now’s your chance to really join the club; an opportunity to put a face on, and get a hand shake from the people whose voices come out of your radio.

    If you’re a newly licensed Ham, the Hampden County Radio Association would like to extend to you, a hearty welcome to the hobby and a year’s free membership in the HCRA. It’s easy to take advantage of this offer and there are two simple ways to do it.

    • Attend the next HCRA meeting and bring your CSCE, or a copy of your Amateur Radio license.
    • Download a membership application from the website, fill it out and send it in along with a copy of your CSCE, or Amateur Radio license to the club’s mailing address.

    That’s it, simple, quick and easy. So if you, or someone you know just got their ticket, we’d love to have you join our club, because after all Privileges Has Its Membership!

  • Board Meeting Minutes 9/18/2012

    Hampden County Radio Association

    Board of Directors Meeting 9/18/2012, Holyoke Hospital Boardroom

    Officer Reports
    Vice President – 35 Raffle Tickets Sold for KX3 Raffle

    Treasurer’s Report – AA1YW

    Current Financial report – Income From Meeting

    KX3 Raffle – $310.00
    Membership – $615.00
    Donation – $110.00

    Income Total – $1035.00

    Expenses – $120.00 (Welcome Back Refreshments)

    Starting Balance – $6017.81
    Ending Balance – $6932.81

    Technical Report – W1MSW

    Help Dave Cayen and Dave Henderson K3 Setup

    Zero Beat Update – N1FJ
    Cutoff Date for October ZB is Sept. 27th.
    Discussion of future of Zero Beat

    Membership report –

    Renewals – 41
    Donations – $110.00

    New Membership Rule proposed extending New Memberships March 1st or later until the following
    August 31st. Seconded by N1KXR and all in favor.

    Discussed Free Memberships given at VE Sessions.

    At Large – W1MJB

    Nothing to report

    Program report – KX1X – absent

    Discussed Encouraging participation in the meetings and for content on website
    Discussed Future Programming
    Discussed Joint HCRA/MTARA Holiday Party. Marty, W1MJB volunteered to coordinate

    Old Business

    Motion to suspend November Auctions, seconded and approved
    Discussed the parsing of duties for the holiday party planning.
    Decided to drop putting letters on the club trailer.

    New Business

    Publishing of Articles to website
    January 8th will be the first date of a trial of teleconferencing for the board meetings.

    Club Meeting minutes respectively submitted by Dave Scarpa, club Secretary.

  • Who’d like an TYT TH-F5 Dual Band HT?

    Did you say, me?! Well it could be you.

    TYT TH-F5

    That’s right, you could add a brand new, right-out-of-the-box TYT TH-F5 Dual Band HT to your radio collection. What’s the catch you ask? No catch, it’s something you were going to do anyway. And what might that be, you next ask. Simple, come to the next HCRA meeting on Friday, October 5, 2012, enjoy the company of your fellow Hams and learn a thing or two about RTTY from Tom Homewood – W1TO, Western Mass. Area Manager for the Yankee Clipper Contest Club . At the end of the meeting, a door prize drawing will be held with one person in attendance going home the proud recipient of a TYT TH-F5 Dual Band HT.

    The only way it could be you, is for you to join us at the Holyoke Medical Center’s Auxiliary Conference Center located at 575 Beech Street Holyoke Mass, 01040-2223 on Friday, October 5, 2012 at 7:30pm (doors open at 7:00pm).

  • Member Profile – October 2012

    Who is this guy who has been developing the new HCRA website?  Well here is your chance to find out.  Our October member profile is on HCRA member and webmaster extraordinaire Jeff – NT1K.

    Name: Jeffrey Bail

    Town: West Springfield

    Callsign: NT1K

    Previous Callsigns: N1BMX, KB1GJQ

    License Class: Extra

    Main station equipment: Yaesu FT-950 HF+6M All mode, Yaesu FT-736R 2M 1.25m and 70cm All mode , Yaesu FT-1900R 2M FM, Motorola Maxtrac for 70CM FM. I have a homebrew 5el 2m Yagi, Diamond X-510 Dualband vert, 10M Dipole, G5RV and a ButterNut HF9V that still needs to be installed. I also have a Heathkit SB-200 500W Amp for a little help here and there

    Mobile station equipment: Motorola MCS2000 UHF Only

    Favorite Band(s): 20M SSB and 75M SSB

    Favorite Mode(s): SSB, PSK31, JT65 and RTTY

    What year were you first licensed and what license class? 2001 with the call KB1GJQ. I hated the call so much that I’ve changed to N1BMX within weeks. You might not see it now but I used to really be into BMX (Bicycle Motocross). Changed the call when I obtained extra class because it’s obvious I don’t do BMX anymore and I had extra class…. Why not!

    How did you become interested in amateur radio? I’ve been into radio ever since I could understand the Radio Shack catalog in the early 90’s. Started off with CB radio in the mid 90’s and when my uncle Don (N1JOI, SK) noticed I was spending more than I should on CB’s he started bringing me to MTARA meetings at the soldiers home in Holyoke and some HCRA auctions. I Participated in Field Day in 1995 at Mount Tom where I got to play on 40M which got me hooked and I was more determined to get my license. I’ve tried a couple times in the mid 90’s to get my license but my brother had to one up me (he got N1XSA) so I gave up until my senior year in High School.

    What are some of your favorite aspects of the hobby? I enjoy almost all aspects of the hobby to a certain extent. That’s what is so great about Amateur Radio; there is something to always keep you busy. If I were to pick a favorite, It would have to be contesting followed by DIY/Kit building.

    What is your most memorable experience in the hobby? At this point in time, passing my General class license. After getting initially licensed in 2001, I was in and out of the hobby. The only time I was active was around field day when I knew I could operate outside of my license privileges. Over time other hobbies took over and Amateur Radio was put on the back burner. After getting married, purchasing a home and having kids, I’ve found myself home more and more, which caused Amateur radio to come back. However, I wanted to do more than VHF/UHF so I made sure to get my General to take advantage of HF.

    If different from the above question, what was your most memorable contact on the radio? Making my first JA (Japan) contact on 10M using 50W into a dipole that is located in my attic in 2011. Was really impressed because I thought I would never hit Japan.

    What do you feel ham radio operators must do to help ensure the future of the hobby?  I feel that ALL operators should put aside their differences and embrace any changes or new technology that could attract new and younger operators and make them  stay active in the hobby. It may not be your particular cup of tea, but don’t dismiss it because of your personal beliefs. Things like SDR, “Digital Modes”, Digital Communications (e.g., D-Star P25, C4FM) and “No-Code” licenses are what attracts some of those new people to keep our hobby going.

  • CONTESTS 26 September through 9 October

     

    CONTESTS

    26 September through 9 October

    An expanded, downloadable version of QST’s Contest Corral in PDF format is available. Check the sponsor’s Web site for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions.

    HF CONTESTS

    SKCC Straight Key Sprint–CW from Sep 26, 0000Z to Sep 26, 0200Z. Monthly on the 4th Wednesday UTC. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, SKCC nr or power. Logs due: 5 days. Rules

    CQ WW RTTY Contest–Digital from Sep 29, 0000Z to Sep 30, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, CQ zone and State/VE area (US/VE). Logs due: Nov 1. Rules

    Texas QSO Party–Phone,CW,Digital from Sep 29, 1400Z (multiple operating periods, see website). Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, Frequencies (MHz): CW–20 to 50 kHz above band edge; Phone–25 kHz above edge of General segment. Exchange: RS(T), county or S/P/C. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules

    ARS Spartan Sprint–CW from Oct 2, 0200Z to Oct 2, 0400Z. Monthly on the first Monday evening local time. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and power. Logs due: 2 days. Rules

    OK1WC Memorial Contest–Phone,CW from Oct 2, 1600Z (see website). First through fourth Monday of each month. Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs due: 7 days. Rules http://www.hamradio.cz/ok1wc

    SNS and NS Weekly Sprints–CW,Digital from Oct 5, 0200Z to Oct 5, 0300Z. Weekly on Thursday evenings local time. Bands (MHz): 1.8-14. Exchange: Serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules

    DX/NA YLRL Anniversary Party–Phone,CW,Digital from Oct 5, 1400Z to Oct 7, 0200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Serial, RST, and section/province/country. Logs due: 30 days. Rules

    PSK Rumble – The Fall Classic–Digital from Oct 6, 0000Z to Oct 6, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and call area (see website). Logs due: Oct 31. Rules

    Worked All Provinces of China–Phone,CW from Oct 6, 0000Z to Oct 6, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T) and serial or province abbreviation. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules

    EPC Russia DX Contest–Digital from Oct 6, 0400Z to Oct 7, 0359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: EPC member nr or serial and grid square. Logs due: Oct 22. Rules

    Oceania DX Phone Contest–Phone from Oct 6, 0800Z to Oct 7, 0800Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS and serial. Logs due: Nov 7. Rules

    Worked All Britain HF Contest–Phone from Oct 6, 1200Z to Oct 7, 1200Z. Bands (MHz): 14-28. Exchange: RS, serial, DXCC entity or WAB area. Logs due: Oct 28. Rules

    California QSO Party–Phone,CW from Oct 6, 1600Z to Oct 7, 2200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial and state/prov/”DX” or CA county. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules

    EU Autumn Sprint–Phone from Oct 6, 1600Z to Oct 6, 1959Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: Both call signs, serial, name. Logs due: 15 days. Rules

    RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest–Phone,CW from Oct 7, 0700Z to Oct 7, 1900Z. Bands (MHz): 21,28. Exchange: Serial and UK district. Logs due: Oct 22. Rules

    VHF+ CONTESTS

    ARRL EME Contest–Phone,CW,Digital from Oct 6, 0000Z to Oct 7, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 2.3G+. Exchange: Call signs, sig rpt, acknowledgement. Logs due: Jan 1. Rules

    902 MHz Fall VHF Sprint–Phone,CW,Digital from Sep 29, 7 AM to Sep 29, 1 PM. Bands (MHz): 902+. Exchange: 6-character grid locator. Logs due: 4 weeks. Rules

    432 MHz Fall VHF Sprint–Phone,CW,Digital from Oct 3, 7 PM to Oct 3, 11 PM. Bands (MHz): 432. Exchange: 4-character grid square. Logs due: 4 weeks. Rules

    Texas QSO Party–Phone,CW,Digital from Sep 29, 1400Z (multiple operating periods, see website). Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, Frequencies (MHz): CW–20 to 50 kHz above band edge; Phone–25 kHz above edge of General segment. Exchange: RS(T), county or S/P/C. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules

    OK1WC Memorial Contest–Phone,CW from Oct 2, 1600Z (see website). First through fourth Monday of each month. Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs due: 7 days. Rules

    PSK Rumble – The Fall Classic–Digital from Oct 6, 0000Z to Oct 6, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and call area (see website). Logs due: Oct 31. Rules

    California QSO Party–Phone,CW from Oct 6, 1600Z to Oct 7, 2200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial and state/prov/”DX” or CA county. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules

    LOG DUE DATES

    26 September through 9 October

     

  • Whats New In The DX Zoo

    [table]
    Entity,Callsign,Date
    Cocos (Keeling),VK9CS,Sep. 21- 28 2012.

    Conway Reef,3D2C,Sep. 26 – Oct. 5 2012.
    Tristan da Cunha,ZD9UW, Sep. 27 – Oct. 4 2012.
    Chad,TT8TT,Oct. 3-16 2012.
    Rodrigues Is,3B9SP,Oct. 16-23 2012.
    St. Peter & St. Paul Rocks,PT0S,Nov. 9-22 2012.
    Brunei,V84SMD,Nov. 11- 22 2012.
    Campbell Is.,ZL9HR,Nov. 17 – 30 2012.
    Mauritania,5T0SP,Nov. 24 – Dec. 10 2012.
    Banaba,T33A,March 25- April 10 2013.
    Clipperton Is.,TX5,March 2013
    [/table]

  • Subscribe to the New HCRA!

    Want up to date information on what is going on with the club without having to go to the website every day? There is a way where it can be bundled up and sent to your e-mail box!

    How is this possible you might ask. Well it’s very easy to do. Let me show you how.
    Scroll or navigate all the way to the bottom of the page. You’ll notice a box that is titled “SUBSCRIBE TO HCRA VIA EMAIL” with the text box on the bottom. Just enter your e-mail address and press the “Subscribe” button.

    If everything goes well you will see “An email was just sent to confirm your subscription. Please find the email now and click activate to start subscribing.” and there should be an email in your box within a couple of minutes.

    Upon opening you’ll see this

    This email is telling you that someone (you) tried  to subscribe to the HCRA using this email address. Just press the “Confirm Follow” button that I highlighted in red.

    Once you press the “Confirm Follow” button, it will bring you to a website and you’ll have to make one more choice

    Please choose how often you want e-mails. At this point in time you can get an email almost immediatly when something is posted or the start of every week. You can choose these options in the dropdown box that I highlighted in red. You can also fine tune how you get the updates. You can have it sent in HTML (Like how you would see it on the website) or in plain text.  After you made the choice(s), you will be all set!

    It’s encouraged that ALL members of the HCRA subscribe. That way you can stay in touch with what is happening in the club and also catch any important changes that might come up.
    I would also take a look at our Events page to see what is going on that is Amateur Radio related in the area.

     

  • NE1SJ & WA1J head to the ‘nocks’ for a ‘threefer’

    Saturday, September 22nd Frandy/N1FJ, Nick/K1MAZ and I will be heading the the Monadnocks in southern New Hampshire to activate two, maybe three summits. Look for us masquerading behind the calls of NE1SJ and WA1J starting around noon local time.

    The plan is still liquid and the final determination of which peak is first, do we split into two (or even three) teams won’t be finalized until we’re at the first summit. To tell the truth we’re not 100% sure of even the first summit but we do have a plan.

    The first summit to be activated will be Pack Monadnock, W1/HA-041 at noon (1600z). All three of us should be operating under both calls. CW on 40 and 20 meters, SSB on 20 and perhaps FM on 2 meters.Following our plan we will split the team up at the peak. Frandy and I will hike south to Holt Peak, W1/HA-181 and Nick will hike north to North Pack Monadnack, W1/HA-203. After activating  SOTA Pops and I will hike back down to the car, Nick continue north  to a road north of North Pack and will be hoping we get there about the same time with the car to pick him up.

    Let’s be honest, this is a pretty complex plan for a bunch of Jerks but we’re going to try to pull it off. Look for Frandy and Jim on Holt about 2:30 PM (1830z) on 40 CW and 20 phone and CW. Nick will be QRV on North Pack about the same time, on 20 SSB and 2 meter FM. Equipment will consist of KX3’s, FT-100 transceivers, dipoles and EFW (end fed wire) antennas At least one 2M HT running APRS rounds out the pack..

    Keep an eye on SOTAwatch2 for our spots and check the 1830 alerts for any changes. You can follow our progress on APRS! Click here and enter either KK1W-7 or K1MAZ-5 in the search box. If we’re up and squawking our position you will see us displayed on the map. Too lazy to find out where to point your beam? From the Springfield, MA area north east should put you in the ballpark. We’ll be looking for you to fill up our logs. Watch the website for updates on our trip.

    ’73…
    Jim/KK1W