Category Archives: Education and Training

Education and Training information is for folks looking for help to earn or upgrade their license, learn about Amateur Radio, and get help with Ham Radio questions.

Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter

Training Resources for Internet Subscribers and Members!

We’d like to welcome our Internet Subscribers to the Nashua Area Radio Society:

    • Bill, KM6BYD – Santa Rosa, CA
    • Stephen, KH6VK – Kailua Kona, HI
    • Bill, K8TE – Rio Rancho, NM
    • Gary, N1RNJ – Williamstown, VT
    • William, W3WTD – Easton, MD
    • Mark, N5CBF – Benbrook, TX
    • Gary, KD2PYB – Binghamton, NY
    • Susan, AI4VV – Huntsville, AL
    • Bill, KD8WMJ – North Kingstown, RI
    • Tatiana, KM6UVK – San Francisco, CA
    • Maximillian, KM6VDK – San Francisco, CA
    • Bryce, N4ZJW – Darien, GA
    • ​Joel, W6JKW – Crescent City, CA
    • Mark, W8EWH – Novi, MI
    • James, K3YMI – Columbia, MD
    • Bill, WD9GIU – Peru, IN
    • David, KJ7AKG – Puyallup, WA
    • Joe, K1VDZ – Cheshire, CT
    • Kevin, W9KEG – Peru, IN
    • Samuel, KG5FP – Georgetown, TX
    • Mike, KI8R – Lancaster, OH
    • Daniel, KA1BNO – West Warwick, RI
    • Tim, K5TGS – Roanoke, TX
    • Dennis, KL7HRO, Two Rivers, AK
    • Keith, KI7KEH, Clinton, UT
    • Paul, N1HOB, Newalla, OK
    • Chris, KC3QFN, Dover, DE
    • Barb, KD2UVG, Queens, NY
    • Jim, KN4UJW, Fernandina Beach, FL
    • Vincent, KD2TMJ, Sandyston, NJ
    • Paul, N5SJQ, Everett, WA
    • Joe, W2BCC, Cornwall, NH
    • Mark KL3MR, Anchorage, AK
    • John, KC3QHW, Swoyersville, PA
    • Walter, KB0URZ, Washington, DC
    • Chuck, KB3JIN, Newtown, PA
    • Robert, KN6CPT, San Diego, CA

Thank you for supporting our work to create materials to assist Hams in building their skills and learning new things. We hope that you are enjoying the Amateur Radio learning materials here on our website.

We’d also like to welcome a new partner club, the Barry Amateur Radio Association in Barry County, Michigan. BARA is partnering with us to use our training resources at their meetings.

I wanted to take a moment to highlight the material that is available to you, as an Internet Subscriber, here on n1fd.org. Don’t forget to log in to our website before trying to access these training resources.

Tech Night Training Materials

Scott, NE1RD at Tech Night
Scott, NE1RD at Tech Night

Our Tech Night Library contains over 100 hours of high-quality training materials on a variety of topics including:

2020 Tech Nights

  • Simple HF Wire Antennas by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • Mountain Topping and Portable Operations by Jamey Finchum, AC1DC
  • All About Antennas II by Spencer Webb, W2SW.
  • VHF+ Weak Signal Stations Part 1 – Overview and 6 Meters by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • How To Post on n1fd.org by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • Field Day From Home by Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC,  Sterling Eanes, AK1K, Jamey Finchum, AC1DC, and Jon Turner, AC1EV
  • Getting Started with Amateur Satellites (and Progressing to Linear Birds by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC (a special How-To Session for CWA and Friends)
  • N1MM+ Logger by Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • Getting Started in EME Communications by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • 2020 Project Night by NARS Members
  • Getting Started in Contesting by Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

2019 Tech Nights

  • All About Winter Field Day 2020 by our Winter Field Day Planning Team
  • Almost Everything You Need to Know About Antenna Fundamentals Part 1 by Spencer Webb, W2SW and Steve Golson, W1SEG
  • Raspberry Pi for Portable Digital Communications by Jamey Finchum, AC1DC
  • HFTA, Feedline Design and Busting Pileups by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • QSL’ing and Awards by Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB
  • Fox Hunting: Radio Direction Finding for Beginners including a Tape Measure Yagi Build by Jamey Finchum, AC1DC
  • Surface Mount Technology by Hamilton Stewart, K1HMS
  • RF Design with Smith Charts, Building a First HF Station, and Begining with CW – Hamilton Stewart, K1HMS; Anthony Rizzolo, KC1DXL; and Jerry Doty, K1OKD
  • All About Field Day 2019 by our Field Day Planning Team
  • Putting up a Tower by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

2018 Tech Nights

  • Operating Your Station Remotely by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • Transceiver Frequency Measurement and Calibration by George Allison, K1IG.
  • DMR Radios and Programming by Bill Barber, NE1B
  • WSJT-X: FT8, WSPR, MSK144 and More by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • Getting Started with Raspberry Pi Computers by Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB, Jamey Finchum, AC1DC,  Brian McCaffrey, W1BP, Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and Craig Bailey, N1SFT
  • All About Field Day 2018 by our Field Day Planning Team
  • Portable Operating Gear – demonstrations by Nashua Area Radio Society Members
  • K1EL Kits by Steve Elliott, K1EL
  • Antenna Modeling I by Scott Andersen, NE1RD.
  • Building and Operating a Mobile HF Station by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

2017 Tech Nights

  • High-Altitude Balloons: Amateur Radio at the Edge of Space and was presented by our HAB Team.
  • Getting On The Air 2.0 by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and B. Scott Andersen, NE1RD
  • All About n1fd.org – Getting the most from our Website by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC.
  • Digital Modes: RTTY, PSK, and WSJT-X by Mike Struzik AB1YK, Anita Kemmerer AB1QB, and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • Bonding and Grounding by Jeff Millar, WA1HCO and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC.
  • All About Field Day 2017  by Dave Merchant, K1DLM, and our Field Day Planning Team.
  • Building and Operating a Satellite Ground Station by Burns Fisher, W2BFJ, and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC.
  • DXing and QSLing by Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB; Bill Barber, NE1B; Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC; and Dick Powell, WK1J.
  • Weak Signal VHF and UHF Stations by Jeff Millar, WA1HCO and Bill Barber, NE1B.
  • Getting the Most from your HF Transceiver and More by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and Dave Michaels, N1RF.

2016 Tech Nights

  • Popular Loggers – Ham Radio Deluxe and DXLab Suite by Dave Merchant, K1DLM, and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC.
  • Low-Band Antennas by Dennis Marandos, K1LGQ; Hamilton Stewart, K1HMS; Brian McCaffrey, W1BP; and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC.
  • RF Simulation and Matching by Jeff Millar, WA1HCO
  • Directional Antennas by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC; Dave Michaels, N1RF; Brian Smigielski, AB1ZO; and Greg Fuller, W1TEN
  • All About Field Day 2016  by our Field Day Planning Team.
  • Surface Mount Soldering and Desoldering, a Hands-On Presentation by Jeff Millar, WA1HCO
  • Building Your First Station and Getting On The Air by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and Dave Michaels N1RF
  • Software-Defined Radios by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC and Skip Youngberg, K1NKR
  • Advanced Repeaters (DMR, EchoLink, DMR, and D-STAR) by Anita Kemmerer; AB1QB, Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC; and Bill Barber, NE1B
  • Antenna Modeling with EZNEC by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

Sample Tech Night Video – Putting Up A Tower

Each Tech Night session is recorded and edited in HD video to produce a quality learning experience. The slide presentations that are used as part of our Tech Night sessions are also stored in online archives for your reference.

Online Q&A Forums

Nashua Area Radio SocieryNember Forums

As Internet Subscribers, you also have posting access to our most popular Forums to ask questions and receive advice from other Nashua Area Radio Society members. These forums include:

What’s Coming Next?

We have a great lineup of new Tech Night programs coming. You can see what we are planning on our Tech Night Page. We welcome ideas for new Tech Night programs from our Members, Internet Subscribers, and Partner Clubs. Please email us with your suggestions at [email protected].

Interested In Becoming An Internet Subscriber?

We created our Internet Subscription program so that Hams who live outside of New Hampshire and Massachusetts can share in our growing library of training materials and resources. You can learn more about becoming a Nashua Area Radio Society Internet Subscriber here.

Do You Live in New Hampshire or Massachusetts?

If you are local to us, you can become a Member of the Nashua Area Radio Society! In addition to all of the programs and training resources that are described here, you can also participate in our local events (ex. Field Days) and meetings. You can learn more about becoming a regular member of the Nashua Area Radio Society here.

Interested In Becoming A Partner Club?

The Nashua Area Radio Society’s mission includes helping Amateurs Worldwide to develop their skills and have fun with Amateur Radio. We have invested a great deal of effort in creating high-quality Amateur Radio Training material that can be used on-line. We’ve also begun working with clubs outside of our area to help them to provide world-class training using the content described here.

We also work with partner clubs on ideas and the development of new program projects that have helped us to grow. If your club is interested in partnering with us on training, membership growth, and/or Ham development, please contact us at [email protected].

Anita, AB1QB
Membership Chairperson

Activities, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, Youth Activities

Ham Bootcamp

Ham Bootcamp includes a series of demonstrations and tutorials designed to help prospective and newly licensed Technician, General, and Extra class license holders get on the air and use their amateur radio license. It is also a great opportunity for prospective hams who are interested in seeing what the hobby has to offer.Our Bootcamp activities are provided online via a series of sessions geared towards Technicians and prospective Hams and General class licenses and higher Hams. Bootcamp participants will find all of this material interesting and fun no matter what their focus or license level.

We are continuing to provide our Bootcamp program during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are providing Ham Bootcamp in an online format using Zoom. Our online Ham Bootcamp program is available to all licensed and prospective Hams in North America. Please contact us to sign up for our next online Ham Bootcamp via email to [email protected].

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

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!

Virtual Ham Radio Shopping Trip

  • Join us for a guided tour of all of the gear and goodies that are available to build or expand your station.
  • Ask questions and get answers from NARS experts on what gear might be best for your situation.
  • We provide the Virtual Shopping Trip via a follow-on Zoom session shortly after Bootcamp. Information on how to join us for this event will be shared at our next Bootcamp session.

Articles About Ham Bootcamp

Are you interested in learning more about our Ham Bootcamp program? We’ve written quite a few articles about Bootcamp here on our Blog. You can read them via this link. Also, check out the article about a  recent Ham Bootcamp at the New England HamXposition.

Bootcamp has also been featured in the October 2020 edition of QST Magazine. You can view the article here.

Sign Up for Ham Bootcamp

Don’t miss this twice a year opportunity to learn more about Amateur Radio, improve your station, expand your skills, and get on the air.

Our Fall 2020 Ham Bootcamp session will be held online via Zoom on Saturday, November 7th from 10 am – 6 pm Eastern Time.

See you at Ham Bootcamp! You can contact us to sign up for our next Bootcamp via email to [email protected].

Support Ham Bootcamp

The Nashua Area Radio Society provides many training and skills development activities for new Hams and Young People. We also have many programs to enable folks young and old alike to join the Amateur Radio service. Please consider supporting our programs and our work by making a donation via the GoFundMe campaign which follows.

The Nashua Area Radio Society is a 501c(3) non-profit charity.

Fred, AB1OC

Activities, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air, Youth Activities

Interest and Excitement Around HamXposition Is Building

Interest and Excitement around HamXposition @ Boxboro are building! The event will take place on September 6th – 8th in Boxboro, Massachusettes. You can learn more about HamXposition here.

The Nashua Area Radio Society will be hosting several activities and displays at HamXposition this year. Our planned activities include:

  • NEW! Ham Bootcamp Program – a hands-on activity to help folks get on the air and build their stations
  • Our Ham Expo Display featuring information and hands-on activities you can do with Amateur Radio
  • A Kit Building Activity featuring a choice of two different kits
  • Multiple Get On The Air Stations including an HF Remote GOTA station and an on-site Satellite GOTA station
  • A Special Event Station using the N1T Callsign
  • NEW! Radio Programming Station – Get your FM HT programmed with a custom repeater list for your location
  • Two Forum Presentations by Nashua Area Radio Society Members

The ARRL and the HamXposition team have been helping us to promote our activities. You can see what the ARRL is saying about our plans in their recent posting – Dayton Hamvention Radio Club of the Year to Hold Ham Bootcamp at New England Convention.

You can learn more about HamXposition and our activities there at the HamXpostion website.

Ham Bootcamp

A First HF Contact at Ham Bootcamp

We have created a program that we call Ham Bootcamp to help recently licensed and upgraded hams to get on the air. We are making this program available to up to 100 HamXpostion attendees on a first-come-first-served basis.

Our Bootcamp program will run from 9 am to noon on Saturday, September 7th in the Federal Room. Bootcamp will feature tracks for both Technician and General class license holders. It is also a great place for folks who are not yet licensed to learn more about Amateur Radio and how to get on the air.

Our Bootcamp program will include:

  • How to make a contact and join a repeater net
  • Putting together an HF station
  • Radio, antenna, and feed line choices
  • Getting started with FT8 and digital modes
  • Exchanging QSL cards
  • Learning Morse code
  • Tips on upgrading
  • Introduction to ham radio kit building
  • Handheld radio programming tutorials

Ham Bootcamp is free.  Participants will receive discount certificates for a kit build at the show and for purchase of Ham Radio Gear from Ham Radio Outlet.

You can learn more about Ham Bootcamp on the HamXposition website and on our website.

Ham Expo Display and Kit Building Activity

HamXposition - High Altitude Balloon Display
High Altitude Balloon Display

Our Ham Radio Expo will feature a total of 10 hands-on exhibits about activities that you can do with Amateur Radio. Our display will include:

  • Information on Licensing and Ham Radio Skill-Building Activities
  • Ham Radio Communications via Satellites and the ISS
  • High-Altitude Balloons carrying Amateur Radio
  • Radio Direction Finding (Fox Hunting)
  • DXing and HF Station Construction
  • Portable Operating
  • Field Day and Emergency Communications
  • Ham Radio Kits and Computers
  • Learning and using Morse Code
  • and more!
70 cm Ground Plan Antenna
70 cm Ground Plan Antenna

Our kit building activity will feature a choice of two kits that you can build at HamXposition. In addition to the popular Morse Tutor kit, will also have a 70 cm Ground Plane Antenna kit available at the show.

HamXposition Kit Builderand Mentor
Kit Builder and Mentor at HamXposition

We will have tools and mentors available to help you build your kit at HamXposition.

You can learn more about our Ham Expo Display on the HamXposition website and on our website.

GOTA Stations and N1T Special Event

HamXposition - HF GOTA Station N1T
HF Remote GOTA Station – Visitor Operating the N1T Special Event Station

Our Remote HF GOTA Station will be back again this year. Visitors can use it to make HF contacts around the world. You can also help to operate our N1T Special Event Station. This is a great way to learn about DXing and speak with other Hams in the USA and around the world!

HamXposition - Satellite Station Operated by Burns WB1FJ
Computer Controlled Satellite Station at HamXposition

We will also have a Computer-Controlled Satellite Station on-site.  The station will feature the new Icom IC-9700! It will also use an automated antenna system to track satellites in space. Visitors can use the station to learn about satellite communications and to talk to other Hams through a satellite in space.

Get Your HT Programmed At HamXposition

Kenwood TH-D74 HT
Kenwood TH-D74 HT

We will be offering an HT programming service at HamXposition. Programming software and cables will be available to program the following popular FM HTs:

  • Icom – ID-31A and ID-51 Models
  • Kenwood – TH-D72 and TH-D74
  • Yaesu – FT60, FT65, and FT70
  • BaoFeng – UV-5R and BF-F8HP
  • TDXOne – TD-Q8

We will help you to create and load a custom list of repeaters into your HT that are available near your home QTH.

HamXposition Forum Presentations

HamXposition - Forum Presentation by Dan AC1EN
NARS Forum Presentation, Dan AC1EN Presenting

It has been a very active year for the Nashua Area Radio Society. We will be sharing some of the fun in two Forum Presentations at HamXposition:

A Recent Local School ISS Crew Contact
Time/Place: 1 pm in the Cotillion Room

The Nashua Area Radio Society worked with the Hudson (NH) Memorial School to plan for and execute and ISS crew contact this past year. Join us for an overview of this project including information about what goes into planning, preparation, and execution. The presentation will feature a video of the students talking with astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor abroad the ISS. The talk will highlight the STEM learning aspects of the project.

The Journey to 2019 Club of the Year
Time/Place: 2 pm in the Cotillion Room

The Nashua Area Radio Society was recently honored as the Dayton Hamvention (R) 2019 Club of the Year for its work in bringing new people into the Amateur Radio service and providing mentoring and STEM learning opportunities for young and old. Members will discuss some of the programs that NARS has created to help folks enter the Amateur Radio service, build their skills, and have fun with Amateur Radio.

Reaching Out To Hams Across New England

HamXposition Program Info - Training and Skills Development
HamXpostion Program Info – Amateur Radio Licensing and Skills Development Opportunities

The Nashua Area Radio Society is continuing to expand the reach of our Licensing and Training programs to as many Hams as possible. Our hands-on weekend License Training classes for Technician, General, and Extra class licenses are already quite popular with folks outside of our area.

We are also making our training video content and our popular Q&A forums available to Hams outside of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. These materials are available via our Internet Subscriptions. Look for more information about what we can provide in the HamXposition program and visit us at www.n1fd.org/hamradiofun to learn more as well.

We hope to see you at HamXpostion!

Fred, AB1OC

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide