Our Portable Satellite Station antenna system uses a pair of Advanced Receiver Research Remote preamplifiers at the antennas to boost weak signals. These preamps have RF sensing and switching to protect…
PTT Router Front Panel
Our Portable Satellite Station 3.0 is coming together and has been tested thanks to help from several NARS members. Part of the project is to improve the sequencing system which manages antenna mounted preamplifiers. These improvements involved the design and construction of a simple Push To Talk (PTT) router. The article above explains the design, construction, and integration of this PTT Routing devices. It was a great homebrew addition to our Portable Satellite Station setup.
We have started our HAB-3 program and we are working with 4 schools who will be part of the launch. Two of the schools, Bishop Guertin High School and Merrimack High School have been through the preparation sessions before. To expand their involvement with STEM activities, the Nashua Area Radio Society has hosted kits builds at both schools.
Fred, AB1OC Elmers the BGHS Kit Builders
The first kit build was held earlier this month with 6 students from Bishop Guertin High School. They built the 40 meter Pixie Kit QRP radio, the same one the NARS built a year or so ago.
Pixie Kit
The students did a great job once they learned to solder and enjoyed the kit build.
Bishop Guertin Students Build the Pixie Kit
The students are also learning morse code and there will be a morse competition in future sessions at both schools, using the Pixie kits built by the students.
Merrimack High School Students build the Pixie kit
Last Friday, 5 club members were Elmers to 18 students at Merrimack High School, who also built the PIXIE kit. Thanks to Bill, AB1AV, Niece, KA1ULN, Mike, K1WVO, Jamey, AC1DC , Tom, AB1NS, and Fred, AB1OC for helping the kids to have a successful kit build.
Merrimack High School Students Building the Pixie Kit
All of the teachers and students had a great time and learned a lot during the kit build. They are looking forward to the morse code competition.
We held our first license class of 2018 this past weekend. It was a Technician License Class and it was a huge success. We had a total of 16 students in the class, including 3 high school students from Bishop Guertin High School and Merrimack High School – the two schools who participated in our High Altitude Balloon projects. There was also a teacher in the class from Hudson Memorial School, who will be participating in HAB-3.
We had a great set of students – they all were well prepared and did great on their exams. All 16 students earned their Tech Licenses and one of the students also earned his General!
AB1BY teaching the Tech Class
Thanks to all of our instructors and VEs who made this possible. The Tech Class instructors were Abby, AB1BY, Jamey, AC1DC, Fred, AB1OC, Brian AB1ZO, Wayne, AG1A, and Burns, WB1FJ.
In addition to classroom study, we provided many demos and gave the students an opportunity to get on the air and make Satellite contacts using the station above. Students also had the opportunity to make HF Contacts using a FlexMaestro, which connected over the internet to the station at the AB1OC/AB1QB QTH.
HF Station with Flex Maestro
Our next license class will be the General Class, which will be held on March 24th and 25th. We will hold the Extra Class on April 27 – 29. To register, visit our Class Information Page.
Many of our students also joined the Nashua Area Radio Society after they passed their exams. Please say hello to the new members and congratulate them at our next meeting.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
