Author: Marion Mason

2024 Field Day Results Are In!

Marion MasonLeave a comment

The much anticipated December issue of QST Magazine is now available with all the Field Day scores. To be fair, Field Day activities differ among clubs, honoring the many facets of amateur radio and public outreach. Some clubs focus on a reunion and picnic, while others focus on an afternoon of testing equipment. For those who appreciate the nod to competitive 24-hour radio sports, the scores published each November are fun to browse.

This year the EAWA achieved 1,312 QSOs and 6,645 points. In terms of all the entries in our 3A level (club station with three transmitters, non-portable), there were 282 clubs with fewer points. Congratulations to all who participated in the EAWA Field Day!

In terms of Maine entries in our 3A category, we are in second place. The results are as follows:
Wireless Society of Southern Maine, 2,149 QSOs and 9,326 points
Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association, 1,312 QSOs and 6,645 points
Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club, 571 QSOs and 2,644 points
Merrymeeting Amateur Radio Club, 74 QSOs and 1,032 points

The overall winner of the 3A category was the North Fulton (GA) Amateur Radio Club with 3,905 QSOs and 16,234 points.

The MDI Marathon Emergency Communications and Field Day exercises are the most involved and intense activities on the EAWA calendar. With the 2024 marathon behind us, we are looking ahead to the 2025 Field Day, June 28 – 29.

Written by Marion W1GRL

EmComms & The MDI Marathon

Marion MasonLeave a comment

Last Sunday, October 20, brought the 21st running of the MDI Marathon and Half-Marathon. The previous blog post (below) highlighted the people and procedures set in place to provide emergency communications for this highly anticipated event. This post celebrates a successful day and job well done!

The local press is filled with photos and stories of the winners and interesting notes, such as the announcement that this year’s race had the largest number of registrants yet with over 2,400 runners planning to complete the course. Another bit of news was that three of the runners on Sunday were also runners in the very first race back in 2002. One of the three, Deb Shissler, is a ham (N1FQ) and former member of the EAWA who now lives in Texas. Chris K1WJY was fortunate to spot Deb as she ran by. Deb’s husband Kevin K1FQ was also in attendance to support his wife.

Chris K1WJY was stationed at mile 6.33 on the course.

What you didn’t read in the local coverage is anything about the EAWA EmComms — and that’s how it should be! As Joan W1DLC remarked, “Barbara’s (KC1SSY) marathon preparations and Jeff’s (KA1DBE) Net Etiquette program clearly prepared the team for its communication responsibilities.” Our goal is to do our part behind the scenes and allow the runners to shine.

Joan W1DLC and her sister Jean were stationed in Somesville.

The EAWA in conjunction with the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency has provided emergency communications for the marathon since the first race in 2002. In addition to many EAWA members strategically placed throughout the course, EAWA member Chris AB1PZ, the Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Hancock County, kept track of all information from the EMCOMM trailer positioned near the finish line. From this vantage point Chris was able to monitor the locations of the leader runners and the last runner. Had an emergency occurred, he would have been in place to pass along information to provide a quick response. 

This year Jeff KA1DBE and his wife Bernie KI4VCR experimented with DMR simplex for communications between them as one or the other was recording bib numbers as the runners passed by. Bernie remarked at the beautiful weather for race day. She and Jeff also met Deb N1FQ as she ran by.

Jeff KA1DBE and Bernie KI4VCR were stationed at the water fountain in Seal Harbor.

While Mark W1ABY and Mel W1MEB enjoyed the action from Mark’s jeep, Barbara KC1SSY and Bill KC2NMK were generally out cheering the runners over the top of the last hill before winding down to the finish line. 

Mark W1ABY and Mel W1MEB were positioned on Sargent Drive and Barbara KC1SSY and Bill KC2NMK were at the top of the last strenuous hill in Southwest Harbor.

Barbara KC1SSY did a great job planning and organizing the EAWA members for this important event. She worked closely with the team to make sure everyone had the knowledge needed to do their parts. Thanks Barbara and all the EAWA Team members! The next marathon is scheduled for October 19, 2025. As with every year of the MDI Marathon’s history, the EAWA will be ready to support the runners once again.
Written by Marion W1GRL

October Club Mtg: MDI Marathon & More

Marion MasonLeave a comment

Along with Field Day, providing amateur radio coverage for the MDI Marathon is among the most important exercises in the EAWA calendar year. While most of the meeting focused on the marathon event, there were other items on the agenda, such as a reminder that it’s time to consider running for an office in the EAWA leadership. Other items included an announcement that the next Maine Parks on the Air day will be held on May 17, 2025, and that representatives from the National Weather Service at Caribou will hold an in-person Skywarn training in our area in November (details will be shared when announced).

Among the first items of business for the Marathon event is the distribution of t-shirts. The first photo below shows EAWA members and friends who are participating. Moving along the back row, left to right, is Chris AB1PZ, Owen KC1IRK, Jim W1JHG, Jeff KA1DBE, Bill KC2NMK, Mark W1ABY, and Mel W1MEB. The women, left to right, are Bernie KI4VCR, Joan W1DLC, Evie KA1BRA, and Barbara KC1SSY. Other EAWA members participating include Chris K1WJY, and Rob W8HAP.

Joan W1DLC, Barbara KC1SSY, and Evie KA1BRA, shown above, have taken leadership roles in planning and preparing for the marathon event.

As the MDI Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 20th, the club meeting was probably the last time the group would be together. Barbara KC1SSY went over several key points and last-minute reminders. After going over the course and positions for each volunteer, Barbara emphasized: (1) make sure all your equipment works, particularly at your assigned location, (2) bring extra equipment and make sure you have batteries, antennas, etc. for the duration of the day, (3) bring snacks and water for the entire day, and (4) prepare yourself and your equipment for any kind of weather. Chris AB1PZ answered questions about the arrangements at the finish line and communications on the net.

The meeting concluded with club president Jeff KA1DBE giving a review of net etiquette as it applied to the marathon communications. He emphasized the need for one person to monitor all the communication, maintaining order and brevity on the network. Serving in this role for the marathon as Net Control is Chris AB1PZ. Jeff reviewed how to break into the net with routine information as well as with a medical emergency. There are also procedures for talking with another person on the net and how to let the Net Control know when you are leaving the net. The most important things are to listen before breaking in and to keep your comments brief, sharing only the necessary information.

Providing the MDI Marathon radio coverage is a major event in the EAWA calendar that many members look forward to. Here’s wishing all the runners and everyone who supports them a great performance!
Written by Marion W1GRL

POTA at Lamoine State Park

Marion MasonLeave a comment

On Friday morning, Sept 27, a group of ten EAWA members and friends gathered at Lamoine State Park for some shared Parks on the Air activations. There were three active stations operated primarily by Dick W1KRP, Barbara KC1SSSY, and Greg KC1RID. Marion W1GRL completed her activation using Greg’s station. Station 1 used Dick’s Xiegu G90 and home brew wire antenna, Station 2 employed Barbara’s Kenwood TS-50 and a Super Antenna MP1DXTR80, and Station 3 used Greg’s ICOM 7300 and a home brew linked dipole. Contacts were made as far away as deep into Europe and the western US, and as close as EAWA member W1BOY who contacted all three stations from across the bay in Bar Harbor.

Dick W1KRP set up and operated Station 1. It was a perfect day for POTA!
Barbara KC1SSY, with the encouragement of Mel W1MEB, completed more than the required ten QSOs needed to activate a park.
Gregg KC1RID quickly completed his ten contacts, and then Marion W1GRL completed her ten. Mark W1ABY worked diligently to set up FT8.
Not only did we have successful activations, we also had fun encouraging the operators and catching up on radio news. The Support Crew included Chuck AC1BS, Martin K2MH, Rob W8HAP, Mel W1MEB, and Ian KC1SZB.
Written by Marion W1GRL

Old & New Items at the Sunday Session

Marion MasonLeave a comment

The second Sunday Session, September 22nd, included an old antenna owned by Chris’s (K1WJY) grandfather and a new QRP Labs QMX transceiver with a small CW paddle brought in by Rob W8HAP. The ten hams who gathered enjoyed chatting while sharing projects and tinkering with items. Chris K1WJY set up the 20-year-old “Outbacker” antenna and was able to tune it for several bands. He then set up JS8Call and later WSJT-X.

Each tap (notch) in the antenna corresponds with a different band.

Jeff KA1DBE demonstrated how he is able to run FT8 on his phone, and even made a contact with Chris K1WJY! Jeff set up his kit-built QRP Labs QDX Transceiver and used the display on his phone, running FT8CN to work FT8 QSOs during the session.

The top photos shows W8HAP’s QMX and KA1DBE’s FT8 set up and the bottom photos show the set up for programming a Baofeng handheld radio.

Another table at the Sunday Session found Dick W1KRP setting up CHIRP software and then programming local repeater addresses into a new Baofeng HT. Rob W8HAP brought in a Tufteln N6ARA TinyPaddle that can be used on portable rigs as well as few other items. In addition to demonstrations and set-ups, there are always small jobs to take care of such as changing batteries.

CW Keyer and a tuner in need of new batteries.

Conversations ranged from new DX QSOs to the upcoming Maine State QSO Party. Mel W1MEB and Stan W1BOY spent time discussing the troubleshooting options on an occasionally erratic automatic antenna tuner. Sunday Sessions are always a grab bag, and always worth the trip!
Written by Marion W1GRL