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.
Do you know someone who is interested in getting a Ham Radio license? Are you thinking of getting an upgrade? If so, consider taking one of our license classes. Our first Spring 2019 License Class is only 1 month away. Here is the schedule:
Technician License Class – Saturday, February 23rd and Sunday, February 24th
General License Class – Saturday, March 23rd and Sunday, March 24th
Extra License Class – Friday, April 26th, Saturday, April 27th, and Sunday, April 28th
During our class, we go over every question in the pool two times. We have plenty of demos, including a working radio station, to help you remember the information and give you some knowledge to get started once you have your license. Our instructors are passionate about Amateur Radio and will pass their enthusiasm on to you. We have a success rate of over 90%.
In order to maximize your ability to pass the exam that is held at the end of the class, there is some pre-work. You will need to read the Gordon West License Class book for the level and complete an open book “fill in the blanks” assignment that you will receive when you register.
Dan had been to Space Camp where he heard about an ARISS Crew Contact from a faculty member at another school. He asked if the Nashua Area Radio Society would consider supporting Hudson Memorial School (HMS) in their bid to secure and hold an ISS Crew Contact. Of course, I said YES and this was the beginning of what I am sure is one of the most memorable experiences in Anita’s and my lives. We talked about other possible projects that we could do around Amateur Radio and STEM learning and we agreed to look into those as well.
It is very difficult to secure an ISS Crew Contact. Only about 26 are awarded to US schools each year so we were cautiously optimistic about our chance. Dan and I had decided to do a High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) Project at HMS. We felt that this would provide a good STEM learning opportunity built on Amateur Radio if we did not secure a Crew Contact.
Dave Jordan AA4KN – Our ARISS Mentor
The first good signs appeared in January of 2018 when we were invited to a briefing about the ISS Crew Contact process. We also met Dave Jordan, AA4KN early on. Dave helped us to navigate the ARISS Crew Contact process and patiently answered Dan’s and my questions. These early events gave us a pretty good indication that we had made it through the initial cut of what must have been a long list of applicants.
HAB And Other Programs at HMS
HAB Programs at HMS
Dan, Adam, Rachel, and other faculty members at HMS and I were very focused on our HAB program at HMS in the Spring of 2018. This led us additional activities including holding our Field Day and a Special License class at HMS during the late spring and summer.
HMS Students at their ISS Contact Who Earned Their Licenses With NARS
We did a second HAB Program again in the fall as well and we continued our work to spark interest in Amateur Radio among the students and get some of them licensed. Dan, AC1EN and his daughter Mackenzie, KE1NZY both earned their Extra Class Licenses along the way. Kenzie became the youngest NARS member yet to earn an Extra Class License – she is only 10 years old!
Looking Good For A Contact – Time To Build Stations and Excite Our Students
In March of 2018, we received a strong indication that we were going to be selected for an ISS Crew Contact! This was tremendous news and it kicked many of our preparation activities into high-gear.
Building Space Comm Antennas
An ARISS Crew Contact requires two very capable Space Communications Ground Stations to be built – a primary and a backup. We already had a station that would meet most of the backup requirements. Because of this, the station building work for our contact focused on a new, primary station. An ISS Crew Contact only requires simplex communications on the 2m. Since we had a keen interest in satellite operations and the desire to include space comms demos in our license classes, we decided to construct both stations for both Satellite and ISS contacts.
Building Space Comm Ground Stations
Both stations are fully computer controlled and we tested them extensively at Field Day, License Classes, local Ham Fests, and at our QTH making over 900 satellite contacts in the process. All of this work provided a great learning opportunity for us and for NARS members who helped so much to build and test the stations. You can read more about the design and construction of our ground stations here.
In July, we hit a pretty major speed bump. Due to ISS scheduling problems, we were asked to switch from a Direct Contact via an Amateur Radio station at HMS to a Telebridge Contact using a Ham station somewhere else in the world. This was a tremendous disappointment to all of us.
After discussing the situation with Dan, we decided to ask the ARISS folks to reschedule our contact and keep it as a Direct one. We took a big risk in doing this. Our decision could have resulted in our losing our Crew Contact all together. In the end, Dan and I both felt that Amateur Radio was an integral part of the STEM learning experience at HMS and we wanted to take the risk. Dave Jordan, our ARISS mentor, understood the situation. I believe that he helped a great deal to get our contact rescheduled to December when we could hold our contact using radio equipment at HMS.
Final Countdown – We Are GO For A Contact!
Our Contact with Serena Aunon-Chancellor is a GO!
The way the ARISS Crew Contact Process works, one is never certain that one has an actual contact until a list of ISS pass dates and times is received to be prioritized. This finally happened on October 30th. We were presented with seven candidate ISS passes, to prioritize, all of which occurred during the first week in December. We were obviously ecstatic when we received this information!
Final Station Testing
With our contact now a certainty, our final preparations kicked into high gear. While we had tested both the primary and the backup stations individually, we had never had the chance to test both together. We also wanted to add a professional grade Audio-Visual system which included Livestream and other video cameras to capture our contact. Dave Merchant, K1DLM and I got together and laid out plans for putting all of the gear together. We got together several times at our QTH in November to set up all of the gear at once and test it. The tests uncovered some problems which we were able to successfully resolve. We were very glad that we had taken the time to test the full set up well in advance of our contact.
It Takes A Great Team
The NARS team began weekly calls to plan out all of the details of our contact during this time. We had a large team of members who helped us with the final preparations and with our contact. I cannot thank all of these folks enough for all that they did:
Final preparations and station setup began on Monday of our contact week. We transported the antennas and all of our gear to the school and began setting up our gear and testing our stations.
Setup at HMS – Radios and Support Gear
By the end of the first day, we had most of our equipment working. We made a few satellite contacts using it as a way to check things out. We also connected our equipment to the sound and projection systems in the gym at HMS and tested with them.
Setup at HMS – A-V System
We did run into some pretty serious problems with the acoustics in the gym at HMS. The room was very live and we had problems with feedback and echo to the point where we felt it would be difficult for the students and visitors to hear what was going on during our contact.
Adaptive Room Equalization Curves
Fortunately, Dave was able to secure an adaptive room equalizer just two days before our contact. We used it to solve the audio problems in the gym. With this step complete, we were ready for our contact!
Contact Day – It’s Finally Here!
The Day Finally Arrives…
The NARS setup team arrived at the school early on Friday to begin final setup for our contact in the afternoon. Our coax and control cable ran across the driveways at the school. We began our day by putting our cables out and connecting them to our antennas. We also set up our sound and projection links. Thanks to all of our preparations, there was very little drama on Contact Day!
The Crowd File In
We had quite a crowd of visitors at our contact. I would estimate that we had about 700 people in the room with us. There were another 300 or so in other schools in the district watching the contact via Livestream video through the N1FD Facebook Page.
The BGHS STEM Club Joins The Experience
We worked with several other schools on HAB projects during the time that we were preparing for our contact. The Bishop-Guertin H.S. STEM club was one of our partners during this time. They joined us to experience our ISS Crew Contact and got a tour of the equipment that we used. World Academy, another HAB school, watched the contact via Livestream Video as well.
The HMS students that would ask questions during the contact took their seats on stage as the time for our contact approached.
A Memorable Introduction by Keith Bowen
Keith Bowen, the Principal at HMS gave a nice introduction to the event and thanked everyone involved in making our contact happen.
Dan and Fred Set the Stage
Dan with some help from myself gave the audience an overview of what went into our contact and what would happen while it took place. You can view the presentation here.
Our Contact Begins and Students Ask Their Questions
With all of the preliminaries complete, we began to call the ISS. After a minute or so, Serena answered our call and our ISS Crew Contact began! The students took turns asking their questions and Serena answered them over the air. It was an experience that everyone involved will never forget!
Finally, our contact came to the end and we said goodbye to Serena and signed off. All of us on stage were elated about the experience that we had.
ISS Crew Contact QSL Card
The folks at ARISS have provided us with a QSL card to commemorate our contact. This will be one of my most special QSLs for sure!
Students and the NARS Operator Team
Thinking back about all that happened over the last year and a half leading up to our contact, I now, more than ever understand the following quote:
“It’s not about the destination, it’s all about the Journey”
I can only hope that I have the chance to walk this path again sometime.
Thank You Cards from Students and Faculty Members at HMS
The students and Faculty Members at HMS created a personal set of Thank You cards which contain many, many cherished words and memories associated with our experience. I really enjoy reading these time and time again.
A Chance to Inspire Young People
Several people have asked me “What part of the whole contact experience was most memorable for you Fred?”There are so many memories, friendships, and experiences that occurred along the way that created lasting memories. For me, there is really only one real answer – It’s all about the chance to inspire young people to pursue an exciting career related to Science and Technology.
Again, there are many, many folks who contributed greatly to our successful ISS Crew Contact. Thanks to some great work by Charlie, W1CBD, Bob, W1OLD, and Jamey, AC1DC, we have some great photo and video memories from our contact. You can view the photos from our contact here and the video is viewable above.
2018 has been a great year for Youth in NARS. As of December 31st, we have 16 licensed members under the age of 18, including two amazing Extra Class YLs – Abby, AB1BY and Kenzie, KE1NZY!
The year started off with ARRL Kids Day on January 6th. We hosted the event at AB1OC/AB1QB’s QTH. We had many activities to introduce kids to Amateur Radio. The event was a big success
HAB-3 Students and Teachers – Ready to Launch
High Altitude Balloon Launches
This year, we held our HAB-3 and HAB-4 Program. We provided programs for students from Hudson Memorial School, World Academy, Merrimack High School, and Bishop Guertin High School. These sessions included kit builds, instruction on science and technology behind the High Altitude Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio, GOTA sessions, Morse Code Activities, and many more educational activities. This culminated with the successful launch of the HAB-3 from Hollis Brookline High School. We are looking forward to the launch of HAB-4 in the Spring.
Student Teacher License Class
License Classes
In July, we held a Technician License Class for Students and Teachers from our HAB programs. The class was held at Hudson Memorial School. We helped 9 students and teachers to get their Technician Class License. We also helped additional students get licensed during our regular Spring and Fall License Classes.
WMUR Field Day TV Coverage of KC1IMK and KC1EMJ
Field Day
Over the past year, we have established a great relationship with the Hudson Memorial School. They welcomed us to hold 2018 Field Day on their grounds. It was a memorable Field Day with visits from students and teachers at HMS and a visit from WMUR, who included a feature from our Field Day on their 6:00 pm News.
Boxboro 2018 – Kit Building Mentor Mike W1WVO Helping Mackenzie KE1NZY
Youth Expos
In 2018, we have done Youth Expos at several major events as well as at local youth programs. We held these at Spring and Fall NEAR-Fest, the Boxboro Hamvention as well as at a summer program at the Westford Library. Our Youth Expos have been quite a success and have included HF, Repeater and Satellite GOTA Stations, Kit Builds, Hands on Morse Code Activities and Displays of Fox Hunting, Field Day, Raspberry Pi and Homebrewing and more! We created a great partnership with Steve, K1EL, who developed the Morse Tutor kit, especially for our youth kit builds.
Students and the NARS Operator Team
ARISS Crew Contact
The highlight of our year was the ISS Crew Contact with Astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor and students from the Hudson Memorial School. This was a huge effort over the past 1.5 years in preparation and the results were a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the students as well as the teachers, parents and club members involved.
Fund Raising
We established a fundraising campaign this year to help fund our NARS STEM Learning and Training including these Youth Activities. We are already over 75% of the way toward our goal! You can visit our home page, https://www.n1fd.org/ if you would like to help us.
Part of our mission as an organization is to Spark Interest among Young People in STEM Education and Careers through Ham Radio
This year we have had much success in our mission. We couldn’t have done it without the help of our members, donors and the faculty and students of our partner schools. We are grateful to all of you for helping us to spark interest among Young People in STEM Careers and helping to keep this wonderful hobby alive!
