Tag Archives: NARS Event

NARS QSO Party September 26-27

The Nashua Area Radio Society is sponsoring a QSO party on September 26 and 27. The goal is to get people on the air.  We feel this contest has something for everyone. You can earn points using any mode (except repeaters) you like using any bands you like (except the WARC bands). If your new to contesting that’s fine too. I urge you to give it a try. The exchange is easy and this should be an easy and low-stress introduction to contesting.

A note on digital modes. CQ Worldwide RTTY is held the same weekend. If RTTY is your thing or you want to try it out this is a great opportunity!

NARS QSO Party
Mackenzie KE1NZY operating DX SSB

The rules can be found below.

NARS QSO Party

Object: To contact as many amateur radio operators in as many states, provinces and dx entities as possible

Who: You don’t have to be a Nashua Area Radio Society Member. Everyone is invited to participate!

Date: September 26 0000z to 2359z September 27 2020

Categories: Multi-Multi not permitted. Power categories are accounted for in the multiplier section of the rules.

Exchange: W/VE: RST+State/Province
DX: RST+ DX

Valid Contacts: Work each station once per band and mode.

QSO Points: phone QSO=1pt, digital and cw=2pts.

Multipliers: Each US State, Canadian Province, and every Dx Entity is a multiplier.

Power Multiplier: Stations not indicating power level within their log will be scored as operating with greater than 100 watts (>100 watts). Greater than 100 watts (> 100 watts) , total score x 1, 100 or less (<=100), total score x2, 5 watts or less (<=5 watts), total score x3.

Scoring: Final score= total QSO points x power multiplier.

Electronic entries only and should include a complete Cabrillo format log and claimed score. If your software does not provide that option, include a summary file in plain text format. This QSO party was designed for ease of scoring. If you choose Deleware QSO Party in N1MM or your favorite contest software it will compute your score for you. Logs should indicate time in UTC, bands, modes, calls, and complete exchange.

Certificates will be awarded to the top 3 stations and the top score will also receive a 2020 ARRL Handbook. Good Luck I hope to get you in my log!

Jim,  K1BRM

NARS QSO Party Coming on September 26th and 27th

The Nashua Area Radio Society will be sponsoring a NARS QSO party on Sept 26th at 0000z to Sept27th 2359z.

Field Day is in the books, The 13 Colonies Special Event has finished up, and contest season doesn’t start up for a while yet so let’s get on the air and have a QSO party to take our mind off the Covid-19 Epidemic for a little while.   All amateurs are invited to participate.

Note; If the weather is favorable pick a SOTA peak or a park to operate from just make sure to follow all current Covid-19 guidelines.

Keith KC1IMK On 6m
Keith KC1IMK On 6m

NARS  QSO Party Rules

The full rules follow below.

Object: To contact as many amateur radio operators in as many states, provinces and DX entities as possible

Who:  You don’t have to be a Nashua Area Radio Society Member. Everyone is invited to participate!

Date: September 26 0000z to 2359z September 27, 2020

Categories: Multi-Multi not permitted. Power categories are accounted for in the multiplier section of the rules.

Exchange: W/VE: RST + State/Province

                    DX: RST + DX

Valid Contacts: Work each station once per band and mode.

QSO Points: phone QSO = 1pt, digital and CW = 2 pts.

Multipliers: Each US State, Canadian Province, and every DX Entity is a multiplier.

Power Multiplier: Stations not indicating power level within their log will be scored as operating with greater than 150 watts (>150 watts).

  • Greater than 150 watts (> 150 watts), total score X 1
  • 150 watts or less (<= 150), total score X 2
  • 5 watts or less (<= 5 watts), total score X 3

Scoring: Final score= total QSO points x power multiplier.

Electronic entries only and should include a complete Cabrillo format log. If your software does not provide that option, include a summary file in plain text format. Logs should indicate time in UTC, bands, modes, calls, and complete exchange.

 Entries should be emailed within 30 days to [email protected]. 

Sorry paper logs are not accepted.

NARS QSO Party Awards

2020 ARRL Handbook

Certificates will be awarded to the top 3 stations and the top overall score will also receive a 2020 ARRL Handbook. 

Thank you and I hope that everyone has some fun!

Jim K1BRM

Social Distancing Field Day at AB1QB-AB1OC

Anita, AB1QB, and I will be operating from our home station for the first time ever during 2020 ARRL Field Day. We are going to be a two transmitter station on emergency power.

We are going to invite a few additional operators (mostly those in the NARS Student-Teacher Contest) to operate our station remotely during Field Day as well.

We all will be operating using Anita’s callsign, AB1QB from our station.

AB1QB-AB1OC Field Day Station

AB1QB AB1OC Field Day 2020
AB1QB Operating in Our Shack

We are going to be operating Field Day using two transmitters on the air at the same time. The first will be one of the radios in our main shack.

AB1QB AB1OC Field Day 2020
Operating via the AB1OC-AB1QB Gateway

Our second transmitter will be our Flex 6700 SDR operated over the network in our home. We will locate the control point for the second transmitter in our dining room so that we won’t interfere with each other when we are both operating in SSB mode.

AB1QB AB1OC Field Day 2020
N1MM+ Setup for Digital Operating during Field Day

We will be using a dual-display dashboard setup to make operating Digital during Field Day easy to use.  We’ll be using our Flex Maestro to operate the SDR in our shack over our network.

AB1QB AB1OC Field Day 2020
Main Antenna Tower

Our HF antenna system for Field Day will be our main tower. We will be QRV on all Ham bands from 160m through 23cm.

AB1QB AB1OC Field Day 2020
New 6m Antenna

Anita is anxious to try out our new 6m antenna during Field Day. She hopes to make lots of contacts on 6m FT8/FT4 as well as on the other HF bands.

Emergency Power

AB1QB AB1OC Field Day 2020
Automatic Generator at AB1OC-AB1QB

The emergency power source for our station will be a 15 Kw whole house generator at our QTH. We will be operating off the power grid for the full Field Day period. The generator will also power the computers and everything else in our home during the Field Day operating period.

Planned Field Day Activities at Our Station

The Nashua Area Radio Society is planning lots of group activities in a Social Distancing format for our members during Field Day. Our plans include:

  • A messaging activity hosted by Sterling, AK1K
  • A public official and EMCOM official meeting via Zoom
  • A training session for the operators here at our Station prior to the start of Field Day on Saturday

Learning More About Field Day 2020…

We have done several Tech Nigh programs to help our members get ready for Field Day 2020 from their Home Stations. The Tech Night programs include:

  • Setting up and using the N1MM+ Logger
  • How-to Do Field Day At Home

Members who are logged in can view the videos and presentations for these Tech Nights on our Tech Night Page.

We are really looking forward to Field Day 2020 and operating from our home station for the first time during Field Day. We are also excited about the group activities that NARS is planning. To learn more about NARS’ Field Day plans, be sure to follow our Field Day Forum postings.

Fred, AB1OC