All posts by Jamey Finchum

First licensed in October of 2015, upgraded to general in November of 2015 and finally upgraded to Extra in May of 2016 all through the NARC classes - which are fantastic classes! I don't have any background in radios or electronics, so this is all new to me and I'm learning new things every day. I've recently started using PSK with Fred's (AB1OC) help and am slowly learning CW. My station: Icom IC-7100 Vertical Dipole (20 meters) LDG AT-100ProII Autotuner DX Lab Suite on Windows 10 73, Jamey (AC1DC)

Activities, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

SOTA/POTA Activation of Miller State Park/Mount Pack Monadnock

April 6, 2019 Jamey Finchum

The Nashua Area Radio Society will have our first Summits on the Air (SOTA)/Parks on the Air (POTA) activation of the year on Saturday, April 13th. This is great timing as it occurs just a few days after our Tech Night build of the Tape Measure Yagis!

AB1OC’s 6m Portable Antenna on Mount Pack Monadnock

Miller State Park is located at 13 Miller Park Road in Peterborough and is designated as K-2662 for POTA and W1/HA-041 (Pack Mount Monadnock) for SOTA. The park is open from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. There is a fee of $4/adult and $2/child (6-11 years old).

Al, KC1FOZ and Tom, KC1GGP Operating VHF-UHF Portable on Mount Pack Monadnock

This is a great opportunity for an introduction to both the SOTA and POTA program. Miller State Park is the oldest state park in New Hampshire and has a 1.3-mile paved road leading to the 2,290′ summit of Mount Pack Monadnock. There are two hiking trails from the parking area to the summit as well. The Wapack Trail and the Marion Davis Trail, both are 1.4 miles long. I would expect the trails to be wet and slightly muddy, but mainly clear of snow. Those that would like to hike up should meet in the parking lot around 10:00 am and dress for the weather and trail conditions.

Abby’s, AB1BY 1st SOTA on Mt. Pack Monadnock

Those that are driving up should plan on being at the top by 11:00 am. If you have a portable radio please bring it. If you only have an HT you will be surprised by how many contacts you can make up on the summit. I will have at least two radios as well as an HT and I am happy to share!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at [email protected].

Jamey, AC1DC

Activities, Antennas, Education and Training, Featured, Homebrewing, Newsletter, On The Air, Youth Activities

Tape Measure Yagi Build

March 23, 2019 Jamey Finchum 6 Comments

Our next Tech Night will be on Tuesday, April 9th and we’ll be talking about the basics of Radio Direction Finding (aka Fox Hunting). During this session, we’ll also be building a 2-meter tape measure yagi using Joe Leggio’s, WB2HOL plans. I have built 2 of these tape measure yagis and they are pretty easy to make and I have had very good success! You can use these antennas for fox hunting, summits on the air or just hitting a distant repeater.

Here is a list of equipment that you will need to bring to the class to build your very own 2-meter tape measure yagi!

Metal Tape Measure – 1″ wide and at least 10′ in length
6′ RG8x cable with a PL-259 connector attached to one side
- You can buy one cable with a PL-259 on each side and cut it in half if you would like to share with someone else to cut costs – You may want to go with 8′ – 10′ if you are going to make two cables
Pigtail for connecting RG-8x (PL-259 connector) to handheld (sma)(sma female)

Optional:

Sandpaper for sanding edges of the tape measure and removing coating to solder on coaxial cable
Wire strippers/cutters
Soldering iron
Shears or scissors for cutting tape measure
2 Meter SWR meter
Rubber Bands or Bulldog clips for securing the elements when folding up

I will bring all the PVC pipe pre-cut to the proper lengths along with the T and cross connectors.

After we all successful make our tape measure yagis we can celebrate the following Saturday as we have our first Summits on the Air (SOTA) and Parks on the Air (POTA) activation of Mount Pack Monadnock. This is a fairly easy summit and members can hike or drive up to the summit to test out the new yagis!

If you plan on attending or have any questions please let me know so I can plan for the right amount of equipment. You can reach me by email at [email protected].

Jamey, AC1DC

Activities, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter

Get Active!

March 1, 2019 Jamey Finchum

Whatever your fancy is with amateur radio our club seems to have something for you! We’ve got a very busy spring and summer scheduled with a variety of activities. I hope to see you at some of the activities we have scheduled and if you can’t find anything that suits your style please let me know and we’ll fix that!

This weekend is the ARRL International DX Contest and Fred, AB1OC and Anita, AB1QB opening up there first class station for members who would like to test their skill in contesting or if you’re just interested in getting going with contesting. This is a fantastic opportunity to work some DX and operate on a top notch station.

Maybe it’s an upgrade you’re looking for? We’ve got you covered! Our spring licensing classes will continue with the General class on the weekend of March 23-24. I went through all three classes, as did Abby, AB1BY and we thoroughly enjoyed them. They are very helpful in giving you that edge to get through the test. Interested people can sign up on our website.

You say you’re interested in building antennas, but haven’t done it before? Join us on Tuesday, April 9th! We’ll be holding a Tech night to discuss transmitter hunting and do a tape measure yagi build. Any of our new technicians that want to get into fox hunting or Summits on the Air (SOTA) should come and check this Tech Night out.

Now that you’ve got that tape measure yagi it only seems fitting to put it to use. That same weekend, April 13th well be holding a SOTA/POTA (Parks on the Air) activation of Mount Pack Monadnock and Miller State Park. You’ll be surprised how far you can reach with a tape measure yagi and a 5 watt HT. We will probably also put the foxes out that day as well!

Again, on April 14th, Fred, AB1OC and Anita, AB1QB will open their station for one of the best contest out there for new operators. The ARRL Rookie Round Up (SSB) will be taking place. This is open to all amateur operators that have been licensed for 3 years or less.

Also, for our “rookies” we’ll be starting a program called Amateur Radio Bootcamp with activities gear towards the new ham, but also some of our veterans may want to take part in as well.

Oh, and don’t forget our weekly repeater net on the N1IMO/N1IMN repeater system followed by our 10-meter net!

All that and were only through April! Some other activities we have scheduled are more POTAs and SOTAs. We’ll also be doing an IOTA (Islands on the Air) this year. We’ll be participating in the New England QSO Party, taking a trip to Hamvention in Xenia, participating in the ARRL’s Kids Day, 13 Colonies, Boxborough and much, much more.

Jamey, AC1DC

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide