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, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

SOTA/POTA Activation on Mt. Washington

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On August 26, a group of members did a SOTA/POTA Activation from the top of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6288 ft.  Members reached the summit by different means.  Abby, AB1BY and Mike AB1YK hiked to the summit.  Patrick, KC1HDN and his XYL Dorothy took the Cog Railway and others took the Mount Washington Auto Road.

Entrance to the Mount Washington Auto Road
Entrance to the Mount Washington Auto Road

Driving up the Auto Road

Fred, AB1OC, Tony, KC1DLX, and Anita, AB1QB, road up the Auto Road.  It was an 8-mile drive to the top with breathtaking views along the way.

A Stop along the Auto Road
A Stop along the Auto Road

We had great weather on the mountain.  Clouds sometimes passed overhead but it was sunny most of the time which provided for great views of the surrounding White Mountains.

View from the Summit
View from the Summit

Operating at the Summit

When we reached the summit, we set up a 6-meter station with an Icom IC-7300 and an M2 6 meter beam at 22 ft.

6 meter beam antenna at the Summit
6-meter beam antenna at the Summit

The station was powered by batteries and solar panels.

Fred, AB1OC, Mike, AB1YK, and Tony, KC1DLX setting up the solar panels
Fred, AB1OC, Mike, AB1YK, and Tony, KC1DLX setting up the solar panels

Fred, Tony, and I had a great time operating the station, completing over 50 QSOs all over the Northeast.

Anita, AB1QB, operating on 6 meters from the summit of Mt. Washington
Anita, AB1QB, operating on 6 meters from the summit of Mt. Washington

Several other members joined us at the summit, including Al, KC1FOZ and Tom, KC1GGP.

Al, KC1FOZ and Tom, KC1GGP operating from the summit
Al, KC1FOZ and Tom, KC1GGP operating from the summit

After the Activation

Thanks to Tony, KC1DXL, and his XYL Josephine, who hosted us for a delicious dinner at their nearby condo after the activation.

Thanks to Jamey, KC1ENX, for planning a great day for club members!  This was our 3rd SOTA/POTA activation this year and each one has been better than the previous one!  We’re looking forward to the next summit!

Here are more pictures from Mount Washington:

Activities, Antennas, Featured, General, Newsletter

A “Tech Night” To Remember – Our Visit To KC1XX

Our August “Tech Night” featured a Saturday visit to the Matt Strelow, KC1XX’s superstation. Matt’s station sits on top of a mountain in Mason, NH.

KC1XX QTH
Matt Strelow, KC1XX’s QTH

Our visit began with a tour of Matt’s antenna farm. Matt has a total of 13 towers and each one has a unique story and purpose.

300 ft Tower at KC1XX
300 ft Tower at KC1XX

Matt’s tallest tower is used for 80m as well as other bands. It is painted red and white and has a light on top!

Antennas and Towers 5
Base of Rotating Tower at KC1XX

Several of Matt’s towers are rotating ones with some serious tower turning hardware at the base.

Antennas and Towers 2
Rotating Tower Guy Rigging

Rotating towers use a special type of guy attachment ring which allows the tower to turn while being supported via guy wires.

Coax Feedlines
Coax Feed Lines at KC1XX

Matt has built an extensive infrastructure which supports all of the antennas at his QTH. The picture above is a small building where all of the feed lines from Matt’s antennas enter his station.

Dennis, K1LGQ Operating at KC1XX
Dennis, K1LGQ Operating at KC1XX

After the tour of the antenna farm, we saw the KC1XX “shack”. Several of us had a chance to operate Matt’s station. How’s this for QRP Dennis?

Abby, AB1BY Operating at KC1XX
Abby, AB1BY Operating at KC1XX

Abby wasted no time in building her usual pile up. It easy to see why KC1XX has a pile up whenever they are on the air after just a short time spent operating from there.

After a great day of fun and lots of picture taking, See the gallery above for more pictures. Matt treated us to refreshments and some more conversation about his Amateur Radio experiences.

Nashua Area Radio Club "Tech Night" Group
Nashua Area Radio Club “Tech Night” Group

All of the members who made this memorable “Tech Night” had a great time and we’d all like to thank Matt for his gracious hospitality. We learned a lot!

Fred, AB1OC

Activities, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY – The Results are in!

The ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY contest results are in!  The N1FD multi-op team placed 1st in the Multi-Op Area 1 category.  We had the highest score in the contest by a landslide!   The contest was held on Sunday, August 20.  The final scores were just posted on the ARRL Website.

Rookie Roundup RTTY Scores

2017 ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY Scores
2017 ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY Scores

Congratulations to Aron, W1AKI, Tom, AB1NS, and Jim, K1BRM. They operated from AB1QB’s QTH in the ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY on Sunday, August 20.  The rules for the contest now allow any licensed Ham who had never made a QSO in the RTTY mode to participate.

Jim, K1BRM operating in the Rookie Roundup RTTY
Jim, K1BRM operating in the Rookie Roundup RTTY

With coaching from Aron, W1AKI a veteran of several previous Rookie Roundups, all team members quickly picked up RTTY operating.  The team made a total of 66 contacts to 30 states and 1 DX, including one with club member Mike, AB1YK.

Next Rookie Roundup is CW

The next Rookie Roundup will be held on December 17 and the mode will be CW.  Rookies licensed in 2015, 2016 or 2017 are invited to participate.  Also, anyone who has not made a CW QSO can join us as well.

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