What a wonderful compliment to be featured in a Facebook post from the Heart of Ellsworth, and to be hosted each week by Flexit Cafe! One of the primary functions of the radio club is to offer ways for hams to get together to discuss all things radio. We are a lively bunch!
We meet every Wednesday around 9:30am, at Flexit Cafe, 142 Main Street, Ellsworth
Perhaps you will stop by? Ask us about ham radio, find out more about the club, or learn how the radio connects amateur radio operators around the world, 24/7. The ham radio community is a wonderful community! Written by Marion W1GRL
Saturday, August 2, was a beautiful day for EAWA members and friends to make their way to the Augusta Civic Center for the ARRL Maine State Convention and Hamfest. It was great to see our friends from other parts of the state and other clubs, as well as hear the presentations and browse items on the vendors tables.
Our Maine ARRL Section Manager, Phil N1EP, was on hand to share literature and answer questions.
As is usually the case, many people closely studied the vendor tables throughout the morning. Others were in and out of presentations and group meetings.
How many EAWA members and friends can you spot in these two photos?
Among these presentations given were Parks on the Air, with Kevin W1DED, the ARRL Forum, with the New England Director and Vice Director, Tom K1KI and Phil K9HI respectively, an ARRL ARES Meet & Greet, with Maine Section Emergency Coordinator, Derrick KW1A, and a Quarter Century Wireless Association Chapter Meeting.
Kevin W1DED gave a “how to get started in POTA” presentation, inviting the audience to share experiences and tips. Tom K1KI shared some of the current issues and concerns facing the ARRL Board of Directors.
As part of the ARRL Forum, Phil N1EP presented two awards. Phil recognized Jim KY2D for his continued passion and commitment to the National Traffic System. Jim routinely handles a large number of messages along with offering frequent traffic handling training sessions. Phil also presented the Maine Ham Radio Operator of the Year to yours truly, Marion, W1GRL.
Congratulations to Jim KY2D! Marion W1GRL will be featured in an EAWA story to come. In the meantime, Congratulations to Marion W1GRL for being named the Maine Ham Radio Operator of the Year!
Even with the activities, there was time to hang out with friends and, for some, start some shenanigans! In the photos below, Mark W1ABY and Stan W1BOY share vendor notes, while Joan W1DLC, Marion W1GRL, and Barbara KC1SSY share the morning’s news. Marion and Stan were happy to catch up with their friend, Kevin W1DED. There’s something fishy about the bottom right photo…
About the bottom right photo, have you ever felt like someone was staring at you from behind (Matt, KC1VLH)?The morning ended with some chats around the Women Operators of Maine table and the final prize drawings.
What a pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning! Many thanks to Cory KU1U and the Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club for organizing this time honored event! Written by Marion, W1GRL
Hams find a way to do radio-related things, no matter how busy the summer gets. As we approach August, it seems like a good time to share how some hams have stayed busy with the hobby, and perhaps inspire some readers to turn on that radio more often! Here are a few examples of EAWA members and friends hamming it up.
One of the most common activities is to join in the radio chats at our weekly Clandestine Coffee gathering. Topics often include radios, antennas, logging software, DX chasing, POTAs & SOTAs, ARRL items, learning CW, and more. People come and go during the 2 hours or so we spend at Flexit. As Bill KC2NMK is fond of saying, “There is a wealth of knowledge around this table.” We are a mix of from new hams and long-time operators. Come join in the conversation!
You never know who will show up to the coffee gathering, but it’s often 10 to 15 EAWA members and friends. The record attendance is 23! The bottom right photo features Dick W1KRP, the founder and primary energy behind Clandestine Coffee.
Another common activity is to check in to the nets on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, run by EAWA members. (Details here.) This is a great place to learn names and call signs, and to catch up on ham activities. Recently, Joshua KO6CNF, who was visiting Maine, decided to join in the net. Barbara KC1SSY was the net controller that night. She chatted further with Joshua after the net and they exchanged QSL cards. Exchanges like this are, as Barbara wrote, “why I love ham radio!”
Barbara KC1SSY is a regular net controller, along with Joan W1DLC, Mel W1MEB, Chuck AC1BS, and Sean KC1SSW.
Perhaps the most popular summer activity is participating in POTA (Parks On The Air) and SOTA (Summits On The Air). There are too many POTA/SOTA activators and hunters in the EAWA to start listing everyone. One particularly special recent POTA day was when new ham Matt KC1VLH achieved his first successful POTA activation. Matt wrote, “I have really enjoyed getting together with other club members to do POTA. It has encouraged me to research Maine state parks and gets me to the place I love – the outdoors.” Matt has continued successfully activating parks with Joan W1DLC and Barbara KC1SSY.
The bottom left photo shows Matt KC1VLH at this first successful POTA activation, July 8th. These photos were taken at Thompson Island in Acadia National Park and at a later activation at Moose Point State Park in Searsport.
Greg KC1RID is an avid SOTA activator, often in areas that count both as SOTA and POTA. Recently, in Donnell Pond State Preserve, he hiked a mile up Caribou Mountain, achieving 12 SSB contacts including one in France. He also hiked about 5 miles up Black Mountain, achieving 11 SSB contacts.
Greg’s log reveals that he contacted a few EAWA members on these recent SOTA activations. What a view in Donnell Pond State Preserve!
Special events stations are always fun, and for EAWA members, the 13 Colonies Special Event reigns supreme! Whether in the EAWA Facebook group or at the coffee gathering, many hams will share how they are progressing on a clean sweep, which is getting all the colonies and special sites within a one week window. For example, Joan W1DLC posted, “Finally worked NJ for the sweep.” Some will complete the sweep with a mix of modes while others try to get them all in a particular mode. You can find the ongoing list of special events stations in QST Magazine or at the ARRL website. (Note: You can do a general search, such as filling in just “USA” in the form.)
Jeff KA1DBE shared the first of his the 13 Colonies QSL cards. Also, Joan W1DLC, who is always encouraging women radio operators to get on and stay active, shared her log on the Women Operators of Maine Facebook group.
While contests are not as numerous in the summer, there are plenty of opportunities to join in for a few hours or get those competitive juices going and see what you can do! In June, Marion W1GRL participated in the ARRL International Digital (FT8/FT4) contest. Stan W1BOY recently spent over 6 hours with North American QSO Party RTTY contest. The NA QSO Party CW is set for August 2, and the NA QSO Party SSB is scheduled for August 16. State QSO parties are starting up again as well. You can find these and more at the Contest Calendar website.
Marion W1GRL said, “I’m always trying to get one more QSO than I did the last time,” as she prepared to start the ARRL contest. Stan, W1BOY shares a similar love of ‘casual contesting.’ The map of his RTTY contacts shows his signal was getting out in this North American contest.
Summertime is also a good time to work on equipment repairs, modifications, and new installations. Jeff KA1DBE, for example, refurbished a Heathkit Cantenna earlier and is now cleaning up two Alinco DR-110 2 meter mobile rigs. Jeff wrote, “Not terribly exciting but I love the work.”
Jeff KA1DBE refurbished the Heathkit Cantenna for EAWA member Matt W1MRH’s vintage station. In particular, he needed to repair a pin hole in the bottom of the can.
Stan W1BOY has been busy with POTA upgrades, making lapboards to hold his radio and CW key, and installing an easier-to-use power pole conversion kit on his Yaesu FT-891. Also, EAWA friends of Rob W8HAP recently gathered to help repair and raise his tower which had been down for some time. It was a group effort that resulted in success!
For Stan, W1BOY, these creations will make POTA activations easier when a picnic table isn’t available. Cords hold the radio and magnets hold the key in place. The power pole conversation makes radio set up easier. The bottom left shows Rob W8HAP’s antenna in the air and ready for action.
And the list goes on. Jeff KA1DBE was downloading satellite images from the International Space Station. Some have been studying and passing exams, such as Matt KC1VLH who recently upgraded to General. Some have been chasing DX, such as Mark W1ABY who recently worked Qatar, Vietnam, and Benin, and some have achieved new milestones, such as Matt W1MRH who just completed DXCC QRP. Some have taken on new roles, such as Sean KC1SSW recently volunteered to serve as an additional net control operator. And, yours truly, has been bragging about the EAWA both on this site and on a couple of ham radio YouTube shows. We are a busy bunch!
While the ISS special transmissions are over, there is always SSTV (slow speed television) transmissions to be found. The top right photo shows Mel W1MEB and Mark W1ABY discussing DX. The bottom right photo is Marion W1GRL preparing for her second guest appearance on the European Ham Radio Show.
Before reading this you may have thought that all we do this time of year is Field Day. Clearly that’s not the case. How can you stay informed? Most of the day-to-day radio chat happens on our group Facebook page (EAWA) and at Clandestine Coffee. You can also find out what’s happening by joining in the weekly nets, keeping up with this website, attending club meetings (in person or on Zoom), and receiving the club meeting minutes. My apologies to anyone who wishes they were mentioned in the article. Most of the information came from a “call for contributions” on the Facebook group and chats at Clandestine Coffee. The good news is you don’t need to feel left out – come join in the fun. Written by Marion W1GRL
The ARRL describes Field Day as bringing together “public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event.” The EAWA members and friends did that and more in challenging weather conditions. Our success on Field Day was a combination of planning, the kind-hearted sharing of shelters and equipment from local hams, the help of all those who supported the operations with food and fuel of all sorts, and the sharing of operating time such that all who wanted to get on the air in any capacity had time to do so.
The photos in this piece were taken by several people – THANK YOU! We usually list the name and call sign of everyone in a photo, but in this case there’s a good chance someone would be left out as many EAWA members and friends were involved (whether pictured or standing just out of camera view).
On Friday, June 27, we spent the afternoon surveying the site at Trenton Elementary School, inventorying all the equipment boxes, and setting up shelters and antennas. We were thankful for the good weather … we knew the forecast for Saturday was less than ideal.
The event began with a pep talk from our Maine ARRL Section Manager, Phil N1EP, and a quick round of “how are you doing” conversations. Then it was time to get to work. Much of Friday was spent setting up the Phone tent (top left), the hex beam antenna for the Phone station (top right), the CrankIR antenna for the CW station (bottom left) and the satellite antenna (bottom right). Not shown are atennas for the Digital station, the Get-On-The-Air station, and a second antenna for the Phone station.Saturday morning activities included final checks of the antennas, setup the Get-On-The-Air station (tent and canopy), and hanging the welcome sign. Saturday also brought rain … lots of rain.Prior to the operating start-time (2pm), we listened to a briefing from our Safety Officer, Barbara KC1SSY, had lunch, provided by Bernie KI4VCR, and enjoyed an educational, interactive presentation from our club president, John KQ1P. We also gathered up the materials to give to visitors.Our Field Day Captain, Jeff KA1DBE, built a LAN for logging QSOs. It was great to see who was operating at each station, what band they were on, and how many QSOs each station had completed.
There were many photos taken during the non-operating times. Once the event started however, it was all hands on the radios and not on cameras! Even though it rained much of the time, we had several visitors from the public stop by to learn more about amateur radio. We also had visits from many EAWA members and friends.
The Get-On-The-Air station, organized and run by Captain Joan W1DLC, was visited by several new hams and interested people from the public. Matt KC1VLH (pictured) and Matt KC1WYF spent many hours learning and practicing phone QSOs.The Phone (SSB) station was a busy place! The Captain, Bob AB1EP (top right), helped organize, set up, and get operations started. Mark W1ABY and Mel W1MEB spent many hours there, along with Marion W1GRL. Other EAWA members took turns working SSB as well.The Digital and Satellite Station, led by Captain Jeff KA1DBE (top left), was also busy. Bill KC2NMK and Barbara KC1SSY, along with some guests, kept the digital QSOs flowing. Jeff kept up with satellite passes, ARRL messages, networking, and filling-in as needed.The most modest (in terms of photos) and most productive station, the CW station, was led by Captain Rob W8HAP (top photos). Two members of the group of CW operators, Stan W1BOY and Howard K2AAU (bottom left), were on board for the entire experience.
Sunday, June 28, brought dryer weather conditions, sleepy eyes, the last big push for QSOs, and the site clean-up. Most people stayed the full 30+ hours, napping in their car or the elementary school gym when needed.
Sunday daybreak brought a wonderful, warm breakfast cooked by Matt KC1VLH. We continued to operate until noon, and then it was time to break everything down, pack up, and clean up the site.
Was it a perfect Field Day experience? Yes! In its own rustic, home-grown way, it was perfect. We made several new friends, met new hams and possibly recruited some folks to join the club, and best of all, we may have introduced ham radio to some who will follow up and get their license. We further solidified the bonds in our radio community by working together, sharing food and radio time, trouble-shooting, and managing to keep each other awake for hours to make sure the radios were active as much as possible. We left the grounds better than we found them, and left the event with pride and sense of accomplishment. Yes, it was perfect. And Field Day 2026 will be perfect too. Written by Marion, W1GRL
ARRL Field Day events are open the public, and Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association (EAWA) hopes to see you at our Field Day exercise! Join us at the Trenton Elementary School, across from the Bar Harbor Airport on Route 3, for demonstrations of how amateur radio works. The nation-wide event starts at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 28, and runs until around noon on Sunday, June 29.
We will have a Get-On-The-Air station for anyone who wants to experience talking with another radio operator. The helpers at this station will be with you every step of the way, explaining how the process works. We also have many handouts with information.
In addition, you can stop by several stations where operators will be making radio contacts with voice communications, Morse Code, satellite communications, and computer-over-the-airwaves communications. You will also see multiple types of antennas and radios in action.
Amateur radio is a hobby of a thousand hobbies. Stop by during the Field Day activities, or any other EAWA event, to find out more about this compelling and useful hobby.
Look for the banner at the Trenton Elementary School, 51 School Road in Trenton, across from the Bar Harbor Airport on Route 3.
