Category Archives: Activities

Nashua Area Radio Society activities. Included is Field Day, our Annual Picnic, Tech Nights, On The Air Activations and much more.

Activities, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter

Ham Bootcamp is Going Online

Are you a newly licensed Technician, or a General or Extra and have never been on the air or built a station?  Are you a prospective ham but would like to learn more about Amateur Radio activities?  Ham Bootcamp is the program for you and this year Ham Bootcamp is Going Online!

Registration is open for the Nashua Area Radio Society’s Fall Ham Bootcamp.  This year, Ham Bootcamp is going online using Zoom web conferencing. Going online will allow us to help new Hams get on the air, in a safe way during the Coronavirus Pandemic.  This will also let us reach out to new Hams across the country.

Jamey, AC1DC, elmers Randall, KC1KSY as he makes an HF Contact
Jamey, AC1DC, Elmers Randall, N1KRB as he makes an HF Contact

The ARRL has published an article about our Ham Bootcamp program.  It is the cover story in the October 2020 QST, which is just reaching mailboxes this week.  If you haven’t received your copy yet, you can access the article online at This Month in QST.  If you like the article, you can vote for it to receive the Cover Plaque award at http://www.arrl.org/cover-plaque-poll

Dan and Kenzie Satellite Intro at Bootcamp
Dan and Kenzie Satellite Intro at Bootcamp

Our fall Ham Bootcamp will be held on Saturday, November 7th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern Time.  The morning session will focus on Technician level activities and the afternoon session will focus on HF activities for General and above licensees.  Here is the agenda:

Repeaters and VHF/UHF Session Activities

  • Putting together a Station for Repeaters – How to pick an HT or  Mobile Radio and an Antenna
  • Radio Programming Tutorial
  • Getting started with EchoLink
  • Making Contacts and Joining a Repeater Net
  • Getting Started with Amateur Radio Satellites
  • Getting started with Fox Hunting
Jamey Explains HF Station Building
Jamey Explains HF Station Building

HF Session Activities

  • Putting together an HF Station for SSB, CW, and Digital
  • Picking and putting up an HF Antenna, Feedline, and Ground
  • Operating on the HF bands using SSB Voice
  • Software and setup for Logging Contacts via your computer
  • Getting started with WSJT-X and FT8 Digital
  • Finding DX and QSL’ing – Getting them in the log and confirmed

… and more!

Ham Bootcamp is Going Online on November 7th

Registration is now open for the November 7th session.  You can get more information about Ham Bootcamp at https://www.n1fd.org/ham-bootcamp/.

Each attendee should register separately using this link.   After registering, you will be sent a link that will allow you to register for the Zoom meeting.  Following the Zoom meeting registration, you will receive a personal Zoom link via email.

Any questions about Bootcamp?  Contact me at [email protected]

Activities, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter

September Membership Renewals

September is the month when over 40% of our members are due for renewal.  Thank you to all of the members who have renewed to date since my first call for September membership renewals.

The following members still need to renew before the end of September :

Call SignLast NameFirst NameMember Class
NJ1HBordyBillSENIOR
KC1EMJBrandIraSENIOR
KC1HUJCallahanRobertFULL
KI1MCantaraPeterFULL
KG1RYCutbillR GaryFULL
N1CMDDudeCurtisFULL
KC1JEBEyceozAyaSTUDENT
KC1GQNHamiltonCharlesFULL
K1VLBHopkinsMikeFULL
K4BRMacdonaldJohnSENIOR
KC1FOZManchesterAlfredFULL
AB1UYMaxwellJimFULL
W1BPMcCaffreyBrianFULL
N1RFMichaelsDavidFULL
AB1ZNPentedemosCharlesSENIOR
KC1BNGPerichLouFULL
KC1HDJSchrothMichaelSENIOR
K9AENYurcakJohnSENIOR

How to Renew Your Membership

To renew your membership, the first step is to log in to N1FD.org.  Once you are logged in, you can fill out the membership renewal form on the following page:  https://www.n1fd.org/renew-your-membership/.  At the end of the form, you will be asked to pay your membership fee using PayPal.

We have multiple membership renewal options to choose from if you qualify, with the following yearly fees.  Make sure you take advantage of a discounted rate if you qualify:

  • Regular Membership:  $31
  • Senior Membership (Age 65 or over): $26
  • Full-Time Student: $26
  • Family Membership: $46
Members at a SOTA at the Mt. Washington Summit
Members at a SOTA at the Mt. Washington Summit

Membership Benefits

Your membership allows you to participate in all of our activities including:

Technician License Class
Technician License Class

Your membership in the Nashua Area Radio Society also supports our education and youth outreach work including:

  • Amateur Radio Licensing class delivery and scholarships for students, teachers, and young people
  • STEM Education for school students through Amateur Radio (ex. our High-Altitude Balloon program)
  • Activities to introduce young people and new Hams to Amateur Radio such as ARRL Kids Day, ARRL Rookie Roundup, and other youth outreach activities

If you are up for a September Membership Renewal, please go online to https://www.n1fd.org/renew-your-membership  and renew your membership soon!  If you have any questions, contact Anita, AB1QB, our membership chairperson at [email protected].

Activities, Featured, General, On The Air

NARS QSO Party September 26-27

The Nashua Area Radio Society is sponsoring a QSO party on September 26 and 27. The goal is to get more people on the air. The Sporadic E season is winding down but the sun is starting to wake from its slumber. With added solar activity we have the possibility of an increase in propagation so definitely give 10 meters a try!

Thanks to feedback from a club member there will be two categories to help even the playing field for those that don’t have an HF station.  VHF and up and All band. please see the rules below for a full explanation.

We feel this contest has something for everyone. You can earn points using any mode (except repeaters) you like using any bands you like (except the WARC bands). If your new to contesting that’s great too. I urge you to give it a try. The exchange is short and this should be an easy and low-stress introduction to contesting.

I’d also like to welcome the student-teacher contesters. The NARS QSO Party is now on their schedule. you can learn more about our student-teacher contest here.https://www.n1fd.org/2020/07/19/student-teacher-contest-update/

A note on digital modes. CQ Worldwide RTTY is held the same weekend. If RTTY is your thing or you want to try it out this is a great opportunity!

Ryan K1RMW field day 2019

The rules can be found below.

NARS QSO Party

Object: To contact as many amateur radio operators in as many states, provinces and dx entities as possible

Who: You don’t have to be a Nashua Area Radio Society Member. Everyone is invited to participate!

Date: September 26 0000z to 2359z September 27 2020

Categories:  there are two categories to choose from VHF only for 6 meters on up and All band. Power categories are accounted for in the multiplier section of the rules. Multi not permitted

Exchange: W/VE: RST+State/Province
DX: RST+ DX

Valid Contacts: Work each station once per band and mode.

QSO Points: phone QSO=1pt, digital and cw=2pts.

Multipliers: Each US State, Canadian Province, and every Dx Entity is a multiplier.

Power Multiplier: Stations not indicating power level within their log will be scored as operating with greater than 100 watts (>100 watts). Greater than 100 watts (> 100 watts) , total score x 1, 100 or less (<=100), total score x2, 5 watts or less (<=5 watts), total score x3.

Scoring: Final score= total QSO points x power multiplier.

Electronic entries only and should include a complete Cabrillo format log and claimed score. If your software does not provide that option, include a summary file in plain text format. This QSO party was designed for ease of scoring. If you choose Deleware QSO Party in N1MM or your favorite contest software it will compute your score for you. Logs should indicate time in UTC, bands, modes, calls, and complete exchange.

Certificates will be awarded to the top 3 stations and the top score will also receive a 2020 ARRL Handbook. Good Luck I hope to get you in my log!

Jim,  K1BRM

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide