March Club Mtg: Ready, Set, Go!

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The March meeting started with introductions and the question, “Do you have a spring antenna project planned?” Responses varied between new projects and repairs stemming from a snowy Maine winter. As usual, there were many reminders and announcements. This year the EAWA will have club tee shirts for Field Day. Look for details in email regarding cost and payment. Please direct any tee shirt questions to Barbara KC1SSY. Also, there was a gentle reminder to those who have not paid their 2026 dues to get in touch with our treasurer, Joan W1DLC.

Even on a snowy evening, the core of the EAWA members and friends ventured out for the meeting.

Planning is well underway for two big annual events. First on the calendar, the symposium is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, from noon to 4pm. The theme for this year is Focused Communications: Choosing the Best Tools. Volunteers are needed for early set up and the clean up afterward. Please direct any symposium questions to Jeff, KA1DBE. The second event is the emergency communications for the Sea of Blue Race, happening Saturday, April 25. Communications volunteers should arrive at the Neighborhood House for an organizational meeting at 7:30am. Final details for both events will be discussed at the next club meeting, April 9. Please direct any Sea of Blue communications questions to Joan W1DLC.

The group congratulated Jeff KA1DBE on his ARRL Trident Award. This award signifies confirmed contacts with 100 countries (DXCC) on each of the three primary modes: Phone (voice), CW (Morse Code), and Digital (FTx, RTTY, PSK, etc.).

The program, presented by Marion W1GRL, was titled “CW Practice Tools for Beginners and Operators.” She began with a brief demonstration of learning techniques for those in the audience who had not yet tried leaning CW (aka Morse Code). She then highlighted several tools, focusing on the recordings at the Morse Code Ninja website, the app Morse Mania, the webpage Morsle.fun, and software program Morse Runner. All of these tools can be simplified for the beginner, or made more challenging and helpful to the most proficient of operators. She encouraged listeners to review the Morse Code Ninja Resources page for an exhaustive list of practice tools.

Marion W1GRL, has been practicing and developing her basic CW skills since the fall of 2023. She enjoys sharing what she has learned on her ham radio journey.

The meeting was well attended and peppered with lively conversation. EAWA members and friends, mark your calendars and plan to be a part of the many upcoming events. For those who are just getting to know us, the symposium is a great way to learn more about current ham radio topics and get to know the EAWA — we hope to see you there!
Written by Marion W1GRL

Celebrating Women Operators on YL POTA Party Day

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Across the two hours of operating, eight women (4 of whom are licensed) shared in the fun of the YL POTA Day. To be fair, four men also came by to cheer us on. We gathered at Fabbri Picnic Area in Acadia National Park. Although the set up started with drizzle, the weather cooperated for the event.

Moving from left to right, Bernie KI4VCR, Susan, Roberta, Marion W1GRL, Barbara KC1SSY, and Joan W1DLC

We made over 40 contacts, with the farthest QSOs in Texas, Canada, and Spain. Among the highlights were the Morse Code contacts Joan and Marion each made with Jeff KA1DBE. Another highlight was a hunter who said he needed Maine to complete his goal make a POTA contact in every state. We were proud to let him know that it was a YL POTA special event that completed his quest.

Joan and Barbara assembled the radio equipment and antennas, while Marion covered the table and set up logs.

Another highlight was an opportunity to share ham radio, and especially the work of women in ham radio, with a young girl. It was fun to share the Morse Code moments with her, along with some information about POTA spotting and QSO ettiquette.

Even though it was cold and damp, we had a great time!

This year’s YL POTA Party Day was a great success! Even with less-than-inviting weather, we honored women radio operators on this International Women’s Day. The ham community is built relationship-by-relationship, and today we shared our event with several non-licensed and newly-licensed hams. Here’s hoping for great weather in 2027!
Written by Marion W1GRL

YL POTA Party, March 8: Come Join in the Fun!

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The international ham radio community is coming together in March to celebrate YLs. Many groups around the world are planning YL POTA activations in honor of International Women’s Day. If you’re new to ham radio terms, “YL” comes from Young Lady, which now simply refers to females of any age.

Marion W1GRL, Joan W1DLC, and Barbara KC1SSY, operating on YL POTA Party day in 2024.

The YLs of the EAWA are planning to activate Acadia National Park on Sunday, March 8, from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Joan W1DLC, Barbara KC1SSY, and Marion W1GRL, will be there to greet and share the fun of ham radio. We hope EAWA members and friends will stop by to cheer us on! All women, whether licensed or not, can get on the air if they’d like to.

Look for us at a picnic table at Fabbri Picnic Area in Acadia National Park. You can reach Fabbri by turning from Route 3 on the Otter Cliff Road, or by taking Schooner Head Road to the Sand Beach Entrance Station, then following Ocean Drive to the picnic area. 

We hope you can join us, but if not, perhaps you can organize a YL POTA Party in your area or hunt YL POTA Parties from home.

It would be so confirming to all the EAWA YL members and friends to have a good turn out! If you have any questions please contact Marion W1GRL (good on QRZ) or use the “Contact Us” form for this website. We hope to see you!
Written by Marion W1GRL

Join Us for Radio Conversation & Support

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Every Wednesday, and twice a month on Sundays, EAWA members and friends gather for ham radio conversations and workshop-style support for kits, home-brew builds, and troubleshooting. Perhaps you will join us sometime?

“Clandestine Coffee” provides an easy, enjoyable way to get know ham radio operators in the Downeast area. We usually have 10 to 20 EAWA members and friends around the tables, some coming from as far away as Belfast and Millbridge. Conversations often touch on many radio topics, reflecting the diverse interests of EAWA members.

We meet around 9:30, at Flexit Cafe, 142 Main Street, in downtown Ellsworth. As you walk in, look for the “Reserved” tables to the right.

Like Clandestine Coffee, everyone is welcomed to join in the Weekend Sessions as well. These workshop-style sessions begin at noon at the Meadow View Phase 4 Community Room, 25 Tweedie Lane in Ellsworth (see map here). We regularly have hams come just to hang out and see what everyone else is working on. People often bring in items they are working on, both hardware and software, to share or assemble, and perhaps get advice. Lately there have been soldering activities, assistance with logging programs, and trouble-shooting older equipment.

In the top left photo, Dick W1KRP is working on a kit, Mark W1ABY is working on logging, and Phil N1EP, along with Barbara KC1SSY and Tracey AC1UN, are checking out the club station equipment. The top right shows Phil hunting for QSOS. In the lower left, while Dick is working, Mark, Barbara, and Phil are exploring LOTW. The lower right photo shows Stan W1BOY and Mel W1MEB examining an antenna tilt mount.

Unlike Clandestine Coffee, which happens every Wednesday, the Weekend Sessions are held only in the fall and winter months. We have 4 sessions left: March 8 and 22, and April 12 and 26. While you are thinking of what’s on your calendar, make a note that the EAWA’s Annual Ham Radio Symposium, held at the same location, is scheduled for Saturday, April 18. Check this website for more Symposium details as they are announced.

Chris K1WJY and Mark W1ABY, were sharing in Dick’s (W1KRP) build of a Meshtastic node. Dick shared how the Meshtastic network system works, much like texting on a phone.

The EAWA is an active group! Whether you are a member of the club or not, don’t be shy about joining us for any event, or get to know us through our EAWA Facebook group. Amateur radio is an awesome “hobby of a thousand hobbies,” and part of that is joy comes from sharing in a community. We hope to see you soon!
Written by Marion W1GRL