On a day that truly felt like springtime, the EAWA members and friends gathered for the monthly meeting. The opening question to accompany the introduction was, “Do you operate portable?” Responses ranged from ‘no’ to ‘seldom’ to yes’ to ‘it’s my preferred.’ There was also a reminder of the upcoming Maine-wide POTA day, scheduled for Saturday, May 17.
Among the various reports and announcements, two topics received the most attention. The first was input for the After Action Report for the Sea of Blue Walk/5K/10K held April 26. There were many reports of things that went well. Clearly the club scored high marks for the event! There were also some suggestions of things that could be done better. The club studies these kinds of exercises in depth, looking for ways to improve our skills in case we are needed in a real emergency situation.
The second item was a summary of the recent Field Day Planning Meeting, which was held on April 19. Many detailed were shared and discussed. A few important informational items were a review of the set-up process, starting at 1:00pm on Friday, June 27, at Trenton Elementary School. Those operating in Field Day are encouraged to help set up equipment, and to be present on Saturday, June 28, at 9:00am. Several important meetings and informational programs take place prior to the actual start of Field Day operations at 2:00pm. The club plans to operate for 22 hours before packing up the equipment and cleaning the area. If you have any questions please contact:
*Field Day Coordinator, Jeff KA1DBE
*CW Captain, Rob W8HAP
*SSB Captain, Bob AB1EP
*Digital & Satellite Captain, Jeff KA1DBE
*GOTA Captain, Joan W1DLC
As an open and welcoming exercise, please feel free to stop by during the Field Day event. Also, a fresh pair of hands in the packing up and cleaning up phase is always greatly appreciated!
The program, presented by Jim W1JHG, was a brief history of the technical journey of WMEB-FM, the student radio station at UMaine. The radio station began in 1924 as WGBX, sending 100 watts on 1190 kHz. As the story unfolded, the theme was a series of alternating times of growth and motivation, followed by obstacles and retreat. For the station to blossom, the students (who are always rotating through), faculty (who are busy with many demands), the FCC, and the available funding and equipment all needed to coordinate and work together — a tough situation to achieve and maintain. By 1926 the station had grown to 500 watts on 1280 kHz, reaching 100+ miles. The success was short-lived, and the ups and downs continued into the 1950s. The station morphed into WORO, with some limited success. The year 1957 was a turning point as the technology, financial support, and curriculum designed to train students in broadcasting were coordinated and focused. On October 1, 1962, WMEB-FM went on the air with 375 watts at 91.9mHz. In 1997 the power was increased to 1kw, and in 1998 the transmitter and tower were moved off-campus to Witter Farm Hill. This provided wider coverage and resolved campus interference and harmonics issues. The quest to become a fully-functioning Class B FM station was finally fulfilled in 2009 as WMEB-FM rose to 10,000 watts, with a transmitter and tower at Witter Farm. It was certainly a long journey, but the story has a very happy ending!
The May club meeting was filled with important and interesting information. It was, as usual, also a great time to see friends and chat. As the club’s attention moves toward Field Day operations, the June meeting, scheduled for Thursday, June 12, will be an important one. Mark your calendars and save the date for the meeting and the big event, Field Day 2025, June 28-29!
Written by Marion W1GRL
W1TU 