Tag Archives: On The Air

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

Listen In On The Council Rock ARISS Contact on Thursday!

Students at Council Rock High School South in Southampton, PA will be talking with Astronaut Drew Morgan, KI5AAA aboard the ISS on Thursday. The ISS will be over our area here in the Northeastern Unit States beginning at about 12:55 pm eastern time on Thursday, December 5th. Council Rock’s ARISS Contact is made possible by the ARISS Program.

Astronaut Drew Morgan, KI5AAA
Astronaut Drew Morgan, KI5AAA

You should be able to hear Drew on the ISS voice downlink at 145.800 MHz FM. The ISS pass will be a high one over our area. As a result, we should be able to hear the downlink using a good vertical antenna and perhaps even using an HT.

ARISS Contact Preparations

Council Rock High School South ARISS Contact
Council Rock H.S. ARC and Warminster ARC Members

The Council Rock H.S. South Amateur Radio Club partnered with the Warminster Amateur Radio Club to prepare for the school’s ISS contact.

Council Rock High School South ARISS Contact
Council Rock H.S. Students Test Their ISS Ground Station

Students, Teachers, and their Warminster ARC partners have assembled and tested their ISS Ground Station in preparation for their contact. Several of the students used their station to make their very first Amateur Radio Contacts.

Council Rock High School South ARISS Contact
Ground Station Antennas at Council Rock H.S. South

Plans for Contact Day

Here’s some more information about the plans for the contact from Andy Vavra – KD3RF, a Warminster ARC member, who has been working with the Students and Faculty at Council Rock H.S. South to prepare for their contact:

I’m Andy Vavra – KD3RF, and one of several mentors from the Warminster Amateur Radio Club (WARC) who are helping students from Council Rock High School South in Southampton, PA make contact with the International Space Station on Thursday, December 5th as part of NASA and AMSAT’s ARISS program…

Several Warminster Amateur Radio Club members including Michael Shanblatt (W3MAS,) Irwin Darack (KD3TB,) Joe Horanzy (AA3JH,) as well as myself (KD3RF) and ARISS advisor Fred Kemmerer (AB1OC) have been mentoring the teachers and students to help them set-up and operate a permanent satellite station at the school which they will use to engage in a conversation with the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) this coming Thursday, December 5th at 17:56 UTC (12:56 pm Eastern Time.)…

Council Rock South has an active Ham Radio club (KC3NNG) with more than 30 student members in grades 9 – 12 who are getting started on their Ham Radio journeys. The club is under the sponsorship and guidance of four teacher/advisors from the school’s STEM program; Gerald Fetter (K3OHI,) Joe Warwick (KB3ZED,) and Jeff Warmkassel and Fred Bauer who are working on getting licensed.

The student members represent all segments of Council Rock’s diverse community and are interested in continuing their education in fields such as engineering, science, technology, marketing and business.

Join In On Council Rock’s ISS Contact

You can join the Council Rock Facebook Group for updates and watch a live stream of the contact on Thursday between 12:30 – 1:30 pm.

  • Facebook Page & link for live stream video of the contact:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/crsouthradio/posts
  • Council Rock South Amateur Radio Club Homepage:  https://www.crsd.org/Page/57298
  • Council Rock South Amateur Radio Club Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/crsouthradio/

I am serving as the ARRIS Mentor for Council Rock H.S. South’s ISS Contact. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be at their school on Thursday to be part of what I am sure will be a very memorable event.

You can learn more about the ARISS Program and how to secure an ISS contact for your school here.

Fred, AB1OC

Antennas, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter

Ham Bootcamp Session 1 Recap

We held our first session of Fall 2019 Ham Bootcamp on Saturday October 26th.  Ham Bootcamp is a series of programs to help new or inactive Hams to gain the skills to get on the air.  This session was held at Fred, AB1OC’s and Anita, AB1QB’s QTH.  We  focused on activities for amateurs with Technician Licenses.

Our first activity was HT Programming.  A few attendees brought their HTs and Fred, AB1OC programmed them with local repeaters.

We did a practice repeater net, similar to the Nashua Area Radio Society weekly repeater net that we hold on Sunday evenings.

Bootcampers on Antenna Farm Tour
Bootcampers on Antenna Farm

 

Next, Fred, AB1OC gave the Boot-campers a tour of his Antenna farm . Fred spoke about  the design of his antenna farm including HF, VHF and Satellite antennas, grounding and shack entries.

Bootcamp Operating Satellite
Bootcamp Operating Satellites

After the antenna tour, we went inside and toured Fred and Anita’s shack.  We had  a pizza lunch followed by operating satellites.

Our next ham bootcamp session will be held on Saturday November 9th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

We will focus on General class activities;

    • How to set up your 1st HF station
    • HF Operating
    • Digital Operating
    • Ground Plane Antenna Kit

See the club calendar for more details.  Please RSVP to Anita, AB1QB at [email protected] if you would like to attend.

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

Ham Radio Bootcamp – Sign up for Fall Session

The Nashua Area Radio Society will be holding a Ham Radio Bootcamp this Fall.  This is a program to help new or inactive hams to gain the skills they need to get on the air.   You are invited to join us for the first session, which will be held on Saturday, October 26th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  A light lunch will be provided.

Ham Radio Bootcamp First HF Contact
First HF Contact at Bootcamp

Here is the planned schedule for the Fall Ham Radio Bootcamp.  Mark these dates on your calendar!

  • Session 1: October 26th
  • Session 2: November 9th
      • How to set up your 1st HF station
      • HF Operating
      • Digital Operating
      • Ground Plane Antenna Kit
  • Session 3: November 16th
      • Building and tuning up HF Wire Antennas

We will also be scheduling a 4th Ham Radio Bootcamp session, which will be a trip to Ham Radio Outlet in Salem.  Stay tuned to the forums for details.

HamXposition
Dan and Kenzie Satellite Intro at Bootcamp

 

For more information on Ham Radio Bootcamp, see the articles from previous sessions held locally and at Boxboro.

If you are interested in attending, RSVP to Anita, AB1QB at [email protected].  If you would like to participate in the HT programming session, please send your HT make and model.

Hope to see you on October 26th!

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide