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, Antennas, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter

Tower Climbing Demo and Open House at AB1OC/AB1QB

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Several folks have suggested that it would be interesting to see a tower climbing demonstration. It turns out that we need to climb our tower to do some routine maintenance before winter comes. This seems like a good opportunity for folks who are interested in learning how to climb a tower and work on it safely.

A View From Our Tower
A View From Our Tower as Anita, AB1QB Looks On

Ever wonder what’s involved in safely climbing and working on an Amateur Radio tower? Here’s your chance. On Sunday, October 15th at 1 pm we will be holding an open house and tower climbing demonstration at our station.

Climbing Safety Gear
Climbing Safety Gear

We have two sets of climbing safety gear and we’ll provide the opportunity for those who want to try it on to do so. I am going to climb our tower to the 45-foot level to do some maintenance on our weather station. Anita and I will be explaining how to safely climb and work on an Amateur Radio tower.

Invitation to Operate Our Station

AB1OC-AB1QB Shack
AB1OC-AB1QB Shack

We will also provide an opportunity for folks to get on the air at our station and make some contacts as part of our open house. Our station will be configured for you to try SSB Phone, CW, and digital modes including the new FT8 mode. You can try any or all of these modes. We’ll be QRV on all bands from 160m – 70 cm. Power levels will be from QRP up to the legal limit.

We hope that our club members and friends will join us for our open house. It should be fun!

Fred, AB1OC

Activities, Digital, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

SOTA Activation on Mt. Wachusett

Antenna Farm on Mt. Wachusett
Antenna Farm on Mt. Wachusett

On Saturday September 24, we held our last SOTA activation of this season at Mt. Wachusett in Massachusetts.   We had great weather, great scenery, and a great time operating from the summit.

Getting to the Summit

Brian, W1BP and son hiked to the summit
Brian, W1BP and son hiked to the summit

Fred, AB1OC, Anita, AB1QB and Jamey, KC1ENX took the mountain road to the summit, while Brian, W1BP hiked to the top.

6 meter beam
6 meter beam

Operating from the Summit

Fred and Anita brought their 6m beam and portable station.  This time we were set up for digital operation and made SSB as well as FT4 QSOs.  We made a total of 24 QSOs and were heard on FT8 as far away as Nova Scotia and North Carolina.

PSK Reporter map shows where we were heard on 6m FT8
PSK Reporter map shows where we were heard on 6m FT8
Jamey works Europe with his new KX2
Jamey works Europe with his new KX2

Jamey brought his new KX2 and worked many countries in Europe QRP on 20m with his Buddipole vertical.

Fred, AB1OC working 6m FT8 using Solar Power
Fred, AB1OC working 6m FT8 using Solar Power

We had a warm sunny day – perfect for the first weekend of Fall.  We had plenty of solar power to run both Fred’s and Brian’s stations.

Activities, Featured, On The Air

Join us for Mt Wachusett SOTA Activation on Saturday September 23rd

On Saturday, September 23rd we’ll head to Mt Wachusett SOTA (W1/CR-001) in Princeton, MA.  It is only about an hour drive from Nashua.

The Address is: 345 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA.

There is a road to the summit and hiking trails to the top. If you haven’t gotten in on the SOTA action yet, come and join us and get in on the fun!  We’ll try to arrive around 10:00 am and operate until you’re too cold or have worked everyone on the bands.

6-meter Beam and Team at Mt Washington SOTA Activation

Fred, AB1OC will be bringing the same 6-meter setup that he brought to Mt. Washington.  You can bring your own setup or operate from our portable station.  Rumor has it he also has FT8 and Meteor Scatter setup so you can try your hand at these digital modes!

Contact Jamey Finchum, KC1ENX, if you plan on coming or if you have any questions.

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