All posts by Anita Kemmerer

I am a DX'er and digital contesting op. I am the current membership chairperson for the Nashua Area Radio Society.
Activities, Antennas, Education and Training, Field Day, General, On The Air, Station Equipment

NARS Winter Field Day Plans

Brian, W1XMM, has opened up his station for NARS members to operate Winter Field Day  (WFD) on Saturday and Sunday January 27th and 28th so that members can operate WFD with the club callsign, N1FD.  Brian’s station is in a great location, in Antrim, NH and should provide for some great operating.

What is Winter Field Day?

Winter Field Day is an annual event, sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association on the last full weekend in January to encourage development of emergency operating skills.  It is open to frequencies on the HF, VHF and UHF bands.  Here is a summary of the rules. The full rules can be found here.

  • All stations are limited to a maximum of 100 Watts PEP
  • QRP CW limit of 5 watts multiplier of 2
  • QRP Phone limit of 10 watts multiplier of 2
  • Each mode worked on each band counts as 1 multiplier
SteppIR DB18
SteppIR DB18 at W1XMM

W1XMM Station

The following stations and associated bands will be available at W1XMM:

  • SteppIR DB18 40/20/15/10/6m with an Elecraft K3S
  • SteppIR Vertical 80/40/20/15/10/6m with a Yaesu FT991a
  • Log Periodic 50MHz -1.2GHz
  • Inverted V: 80M and 160M (one cable out to both)
Log Periodic Antenna at W1XMM
Log Periodic Antenna at W1XMM

Great Opportunity for New and Experienced Hams!

This is a great opportunity for newly licensed or inactive amateurs to get some operating experience and a top-notch station.  Brian and other members will be available to coach those who are new to HF and VHF operating.

W1XMM Operating Equipment
W1XMM Operating Equipment

Emergency Communications

NARS member Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, who is also the ARRL New England Division Assistant Director for Emergency Communications and Public Service, is encouraging amateurs throughout New England to operate Winter Field Day to developer emergency operating skills.   

We have been challenged by the ARES group to also set up an NVIS antenna and communicate with other ARES operators at set times.  This would be both VHF/UHF and HF.  The ARES is going to use this opportunity to test their communication skills here in New England.

SteppIR Vertical Antenna at W1XMM
SteppIR Vertical Antenna at W1XMM

Join Us

Interested in joining us for Winter Field Day?  Please sign up by Thursday January 25th at 7:00 pm.  Here’s what you can do:

  • Sign up for operating times – See this Forum Post for the link to the sign-up sheet.
  • Join us on Thursday, January 25th  at 7:00 pm for our final Winter Field Day meeting.  See this Forum Post for the Zoom link.  Or contact Brian at [email protected] to get the details if you cannot make the meeting.
  • Show up at Brian’s QTH in Antrim before your operating slot.

 

Activities, Featured, General

Bob Heil to Speak to Nashua Area Radio Society on March 7th

Our March Membership Meeting will feature Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID.  Bob will speak to us about Antennas and Installation Techniques and Radio Settings .

Ham Nation
Ham Nation

Dr. Bob Heil is well know to amateurs as the former host of Ham Nation and the founder of Heil Sound.

Heil Sound makes world class Ham Radio and Professional audio equipment including headphones, microphones, and related equipment.

Heil Talk Box
Heil Talk Box

But did you know that Bob has made a name for himself in the world of Rock and Roll? He has created touring sound systems for several rock and roll bands such as the Grateful Dead and the Who.  Bob invented the Heil Talk Box, which was used by many rock and roll musicians.  He even has a display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Bob Heil Organist
Bob Heil at the Organ

An accomplished organist, Bob played for us at the end of meeting the last time he visited us.  You can see the recording on our Videos page – look for the March 2022 Membership Meeting.

Bob Heil is a great storyteller and his previous visits to the Nashua Area Radio Society were truly memorable.  Don’t miss Tuesday’s meeting.

To learn more about Bob Heil and his incredible accomplishments, visit his QRZ and Wikipedia pages.

The membership meeting will take place on Tuesday March 7th starting at 7:00 pm. It will be a hybrid meeting, at the Nashua Library in the NPL Theater as well as on Zoom.  For more information, including the Zoom link, see our main page and scroll down to the section titled Plans for Online Meetings and Tech Nights.

Education and Training, Featured, General, Homebrewing

Project Night – An N1FD Tradition

Our next meeting, to be held on Tuesday, January 3rd will be project night.  Project night has been a Nashua Area Radio Society (and Club) tradition, held every January as far back as I can remember.

Charlie, AB1ZN Showing A Vintage Rig - Project Night Tradition
Charlie, AB1ZN Showing A Vintage Rig

Project night gives each of our members a chance to share a project they are working on with the rest of our members.   These are short presentations – we’d like to have 5-6 presentations for our next project night on January 3rd.

Dave K1DHP - VLF Detector - Project Night Tradition
Dave K1DHP – VLF Detector

This gives members a chance to show off their projects and others a chance to learn from the members presenting.

DX Alarm 1 - Project Night Tradition

You don’t need to be a long time amateur to present.   If you are a new ham, you can talk about how you set up your first station, your first home-brew project, etc.   I have found that teaching or presenting is the best way to learn.  You may even get some suggestions from the group.  Members and Internet Subscribers are encouraged to present.

Here are some articles and videos about previous project nights:

The tradition continues – we hope to see you on Tuesday on Zoom for Project Night!  Please drop me an email at [email protected] to let me know what project you would like to present.

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide