W1TU

Back to school … Summer’s over … Fall back, spring ahead (Nov 1)

As the seasons shift from summer to autumn we hear these familiar phrases. Perhaps it’s also time to “fall back” into ham radio! Whether you are a new or returning ham, licensed or not, and no matter whether you are a member of the Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association (EAWA) or not, there are several easy, relaxed events coming up that offer people in the area a way to learn about this amazing hobby. Most of these events can be found on the Regular Events page (here) on our website.

If you can make room in your schedule for Wednesday coffee gatherings, that would be one of the easiest ways to learn about ham radio and get to know some club members. Anywhere from ten to twenty EAWA members and friends meet at the Flexit Cafe in Ellsworth (142 Maine Street), from around 9:30am to 11:30am. When you walk in, we are at the long table to your right.

If you have your Technician license or higher, you can join us for our club’s weekly net Wednesday evenings at 7pm. More specifically, it is the W1TU repeater, 147.030 MHz, 100 Hz tone. Many of the EAWA members and friends join in the Hancock County EmComm Net on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. This is the KB1NEB repeater, 146.910 MHz, 151.4 Hz tone. 

Our next club meeting will be held Thursday, September 10, 7pm, at Meadow View Apartments. You can find a detailed map with a link for directions on our Regular Events page (here). We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. The first 30-45 minutes are given to a business meeting, followed by a brief break and a program. 

The upcoming meeting also has a Lend and Learn Library feature. This is not the program, but a side activity that happens prior to and after the meeting. Twice a year we encourage those attending to look around for any books or items they would like to give away or lend out (no selling). This includes tools, equipment, books, and anything else ham radio related. We have found this to be a successful way to make another ham’s journey a little better.

During the fall and winter months we have Weekend Sessions. These occur twice a month, starting Sunday, September 13, in the same location at Meadow View Apartments. These are informal sessions, starting at noon and usually going until around 2pm, during which hams bring in items to work on, fix, get help with ideas or troubleshooting, or just show off something new. Often hams will arrange to meet at a weekend session for tutoring on some specialized software, help setting up a hand-held, with something from their radio workbench, or with something they found at a hamfest. EAWA members and friends also stop by just for the conversation (and they are curious as to what came through the door!). You can find the schedule for all the sessions by scrolling down the Regular Events page (here).

If you are waiting for an invitation — here it is! To all new hams, returning hams, current and previous members of the EAWA, and especially to anyone with a budding interest in ham radio, we invite you to join us! We are eager to see you!
Written by Marion W1GRL

Seven EAWA members made their way to Marlborough, MA, for the 43rd Northeast HamXposition. Since its origin in 1924, the event has evolved, changing organizers and locations. This year there were over 115 different presentations, a keynote address, two banquets, two vendor halls, and rows of flea market sellers in the parking lot. That’s a lot to take in, and doesn’t account for the many conversations in the halls and in the restaurant. 

Although we met up each morning for breakfast and each evening for a shared meal, we followed our own agendas for each day. Stan W1BOY and Marion W1GRL attended the mini Contest University on Friday. They learned some new techniques and gained a new level of inspiration for radio sport. A real highlight was meeting the individuals behind admired callsigns, particularly the recent youth winner at the World Radio Team Championship (WRTC), Connor W4PIC, recent Bouvet activator Max N4ML, and the creator of the POTA/Contesting app Ham2K Polo, Sebastian KI2D. Marion won “The One-Shot Wire Antenna Slingshot” in the prize drawings at the end of the sessions. 

While we will remember the information learned during the sessions, it is often the unexpected conversations that stand out as a integral part of the experience. For Marion, part of the fun of the revolved the many times W1GRL, W1BOY, K1MOM, and W1DAD were in the same sessions. They had worked each other on POTAs, so it was great to meet in person. Some presenters started their workshops with something similar to, “This is a family presentation. We have Mom, Dad, a boy and girl with us today.”

For Matt KC1VLH and his wife Susan, this was their first visit to a radio gathering of this size. Matt took in several sessions, and throughly browsed the vendors and flea market tables. Outstanding for Matt was the Keynote Address by Everton Henriques KD2ZZT. Everton is a teacher at Staten Island Technical High School. He shared the way ham radio energized and transformed both himself and his students in their robotics and solar car projects. He emphasized repeatedly the ways his students took charge in design, execution, and troubleshooting. Everton’s pride and don’t-give-up attitude were contagious! 

An unexpected encounter for Matt and Stan occurred when a man accepted the invitation to take an empty seat at the Downeast Maine table for the Saturday night banquet. As it turns out, the man shared a passion for railroads that would rival that of Matt and his son Chris. Stan shared that he worked on the railroad for a while. Our new friend then revealed that he went to college in Stan’s hometown, and knew the line and location where Stan had worked.

Barbara KC1SSY and Tracey AC1UN spent a good part of their time in sessions relating to MARS, ARES, SHARES, and FEMA. As a member of MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) and in her role as the Hancock County Emergency Coordinator, these sessions gave Barbara a chance to meet up with old friends, make new friends, and learn more about how these specialized groups operate in other areas of New England. Barbara also attended the meet-and-greet for the YLRL (Young Ladies Radio League). It was a great for Barbara, Susan, and Marion to meet YLRL officers and touch base with this important organization. 

An unexpected encounter for Barbara started when she got on the elevator with a man wearing an Acadia National Park t-shirt. She asked him about the shirt, and upon noticing her callsign, he realized he had worked her when he was vacationing in Acadia. Barbara remembered his callsign, thus leading to a lively conversation.

Perhaps the best part of the long weekend wasn’t any particular thing, but the fun we had together. Susan, whose name badge reads “XYL of KC1VLH,” was taken with how she was included in all the activities. We established a message group, keeping up with each other from the time we left our homes until we all returned. (Well, Phil N1EP took himself out of the group and then wanted to be back in … you can ask him about that). Whether it was raising a glass in the restaurant, waking each other up at breakfast, or making jokes as we traveled, Susan found this special bond to be “the most amazing aspect!” 

The weekend was wonderful, inspiring, and exhausting, just as it should be. The session presenters were well-prepared, covered a wide-range of topics, and presented current, useful information. The vendors and sellers had something for everyone. If you haven’t experienced a gathering of this size, we highly recommend it. There will be something of interest there for every ham radio operator. There will also be people who recognize your callsign, old friends, and new friends. It’s worth the time and effort to attend!
Written by Marion W1GRL

On Saturday, August 1, several EAWA members and friends made their way to the Augusta Civic Center for the annual state ARRL convention.

Along with EAWA members, attendees included many familiar faces from area clubs and regional events. In addition to the vendor area, there were programs and ‘meet & greet’ sessions. Some EAWA members attended an ARES session while others attended the ARRL Forum conducted by Tom K1KI, the New England Division Director.

It seems that EAWA members and friends have a good time wherever we go! It was beautiful day for a drive and the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning. Perhaps next year we’ll see you there?!
Written by Marion W1GRL

On Saturday afternoon, July 25, as part of the Southwest Harbor Historical Society’s annual summer programming, Barbara KC1SSY gave an inspiring presentation on WW1 heroes George Edwin Kirk, Eugene M. Norwood, Lester Lurvey, and Alessandro Fabbri. The first three men are memorialized by sharing their names with the American Legion Posts across Mount Desert Island, specifically the George Edwin Kirk American Legion Post 25 in Bar Harbor (Link), the Eugene M. Norwood American Legion Post 69 in Southwest Harbor, and the Lurvey-Wright American Legion Post 103 in Northeast Harbor.

The EAWA is connected to this presentation in several ways beyond the close geographic proximity. Alessandro Fabbri built one of the first wireless radio stations with impressive antennas, allowing his messages to reach Europe. When the U.S. government began issuing radio licenses in 1912, Fabbri was the 10th person to receive a callsign: 1AJ. Fabbri’s station was commissioned on August 28, 1917 by the U.S. Navy as the Otter Cliffs Radio Station (Link). Over the years the callsign of the station changed to AA2, K2B, and finally NBD. The EAWA’s namesake, Charlie Ellsworth, was assigned to the station as the Chief Radioman (Link). The station expanded to include a remote transmitter station at Seawall. In 1933 the station was moved to Schoodic Peninsula to make way for Acadia National Park.

During WW1 the Otter Cliffs station was the Navy’s best transatlantic radio receiver because of its remote location, unobstructed ocean path from Europe, and the outstanding, cutting edge receiver technology. Today visitors to Acadia National Park may be familiar wth the Fabbri Picnic Area, and perhaps noticed the plaque placed between the picnic area and the cove. Few visitors may know that the station located there received many important transmissions, including a message on October 6, 1918, in which Germany requested to meet with the President of the United States to discuss peace. This was the first message that prompted talks that eventually lead to the Armistice of November 11, 1918.

Barbara’s talk was thought-provoking and powerful. While the focus was, as it should be, on these heroes, the radio operators in the room also reflected on the important role an amateur radio operator, then a summer resident in Bar Harbor, played in shaping history. In many ways Fabbri set the stage for the role of emergency communications in modern radio operations. Perhaps this rich history of amateur radio should be shared more often.
Written by Marion, W1GRL