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.
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
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
EAWA members Stan W1BOY and Marion W1GRL were interviewed by Kevin Thomas, W1DED, for his World Wide Ham Radio YouTube Channel. Kevin interviews a wide variety of amateur radio operators, including contesters, DXpeditioners, youth, and others with an interesting story to tell.
Stan and Marion discuss their journey with ham radio, and speak specifically about the Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association beginning at 23 min, 30 sec into the video.
Do you have a bug in your radio you can’t figure out? Do you need some guidance with entering repeater info in your hand-held? Maybe you need something soldered but you don’t have the equipment or some help getting logging software configured. Whether you have something to bring, want to be there to help, or just want to hang out with other radio folks — Sunday Sessions are the place for you. Each session is a bit different, depending on what people bring in to work on or just show off.
Sunday Sessions begin at noon at the Meadow View Phase 4 Community Room at 25 Tweedie Lane in Ellsworth (map here). Sessions typically last a couple of hours, and people come and go during that time. People also come to socialize, hang out, and see what others are doing. There will be a voluntary donation can and all money goes to the facility. The 2024-2025 days are: September 8, 22 October 6, 20 November 3, 17 December 1, 15, 29 January 12, 26 February 9, 23 March 9, 23 April 6, 19 (yes, we will have a Sunday Session on a Saturday!)
