Category: Club News

It was a hot, humid evening as members of the EAWA gathered for the business meeting, announcements, to preview some Fall and Winter club activities, and enjoy a short presentation.

Here is a quick preview of some of the Fall activities:

**Weekend Sessions are starting up again, with the first session on September 14. These sessions start at noon and usually last around 2 hours. These catch-all sessions often include mentoring and assisting with new equipment or equipment repairs, and discussions around club events and emergency communications activities. It’s common to hear at Clandestine Coffee, “Well, you bring that and I’ll bring my soldering iron and we’ll fix it at the next weekend session.” You can find directions to our meeting place and the dates of the sessions on the Regular Events page of this website.

**The September 11th club meeting will include the Lend and Learn Library project. Twice a year the club encourages members and friends to bring in books or other items they are willing to loan for educational purposes. It is the responsibility of each person who brings something to work out the process with the borrower. In the past EAWA members have brought in things to give away as well, such as radio magazines and study books for license upgrades. Exchanges will occur before and after the regular meeting as well as during the intermission between the business meeting and the program. Feel free to speak up if there is a resource you would like to borrow. Two good ways to get the word out are posting in the Facebook group or sharing at Clandestine Coffee.

**Planning will begin soon for the Emergency Communications activities for the MDI Marathon, October 19. Unlike other club activities, participating in this event requires involvement in the planning and training meetings. There are opportunities to shadow operators during the event. Contact Barbara KC1SSY or send a note through the Contact Us on this website for more information. 

**Plans are underway for a Club POTA gathering on a Saturday in October. Details will be announced at the September club meeting. Our goal is to have anyone who desires to bring their equipment out to set up and operate, while also offering a chance for those new to operating, operating portable, working POTA, or new to particular radios or antennas a chance to learn more. If you haven’t operated yet, even if you don’t have a license, you’ll have a chance to make a few contacts if you want to. We are likely to have Morse code and Digital stations going as well and voice (phone).

Following the business meeting and a short break, Phil N1EP gave a short program titled, “Radiograms & ICS-213’s: When & How To Use Them.” He gave some history and descriptions of Radiograms and the National Traffic System. He shared some of the built-in processes designed to lessen chances of errors and information is passed through NTS nets. Several message forms were presented and explained in terms of how to fill in the information and when to choose specific forms. The pros and cons of voice and digital message handling were also mentioned. Most importantly, Phil wanted to spread the word that Jim KY2D will offer an excellent training session on Sunday, September 14 at 5PM on the Maine emergency Communications Net, 3.940 MHz. Jim will be offering this training session on the second Sunday of September, October, November and December.

Written by Marion, W1GRL

The July club meeting started with a loaded question: How did you get interested in ham radio? The stories were unique, and yet demonstrated some common themes. Most attendees became interested in amateur radio when they were young, many were in and out of the hobby, and all were happy to be active today. There were several items of old and new business, including a quick recap of how we did with the 13 Colonies Special Event.

Rob W8HAP gave an informative, detailed summary of our Field Day performance. We were successful in achieving most of the bonus points available. Overall, we completed 1,155 QSOs spanning 22 hours of operation. We made contacts on four continents (NA, EU, OC, and AS) and in 10 CQ zones.

Other highlights included:
*Contacts with 48 states, missing Oregon and Alaska
*Most contacted states were Florida and Illinois
*Contacted 17 countries, including Ukraine, Turkey, and Tonga
*Most contacted countries were USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico
*GOTA station had several visitors, with 23 contacts

During the discussion of Field Day there were many views expressed regarding things that went well and areas where we could improve. Most of the discussion revealed that we are delighted with the amount of energy, dedication, and perseverance demonstrated by all involved. Considering the challenging weather conditions, most felt the stations ran well. Everyone enjoyed the networked logging, specifically the ability to see where other stations are operating and the number of QSOs each station had completed. We had at least 19 visitors, a reflection of an increased emphasis on advertising. The discussion of operations ended with an action plan for ways to improve next year.

As this was the first time many of us had been together since Field Day, stories of funny incidents, serious challenges, and good food were shared. The event is truly the highlight of our year, not only in terms of the size and length of the event, but also for community-building and creating shared memories. Field Day 2025 provided a strong foundation for moving into upcoming summer and fall radio events.
Written by Marion W1GRL

The June club meeting was mostly dedicated to final planning for the 2025 Field Day (June 28-29), punctuated with many stories from previous Field Day events..

A theme that ran through the various announcements and stories is that the EAWA community is at it’s best when all are involved — and there are many ways you can be involved. For example, there were two noteworthy announcements:

*We are in need of Net Control Operators. If you want some basic information about the two local nets, check out our recently published story, “The EAWA Weekly Net is 30 Years Old!”. Please contact Joan W1DLC if you are interested.

*An Emergency Communications Survey was sent out recently to determine how EAWA members may be involved should an emergency arise and the types of emergency-related training we may be interested in. There is still time to fill out the survey. There will be a presentation on the results at the July club meeting. Contact Barbara KC1SSY if you need the link to the online survey.

Most of the meeting centered on Field Day Planning. EAWA members and friends will gather on Friday, June 27, at 1:00, at Trenton Elementary School for an afternoon of prep work. On Saturday we will get started by 9am. We need to set up numerous antennas, position the Hancock County Emergency Management Trailer, set up all the shelters, equipment, literature, banners, and test everything. This year we are networking all the logging computers, so that will need to be tested as well. In addition, prior to 2:00pm, we have several presentations and lunch.

Once the event officially starts at 2:00pm, we hope to keep the CW, SSB and Digital stations going for 22-24 hours. The GOTA (Get-On-The-Air) station will be ready to go Saturday and Sunday should any guests want to experience talking on the radio. EAWA members and friends who are not active are also eligible to use the GOTA station and, in doing so, provide meaningful points to our overall score for the weekend. While it is easy to get focused on radio operations, a major part of this event is to share the hobby of ham radio with others. STOP BY! PARTICIPATE! BRING YOUR FRIENDS! 

If you have any specific 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

Finally, when things wind down Sunday afternoon, we need to take everything apart, pack up, and clean up the area. A fresh set of hands is always appreciated during the clean-up! It is a meaningful way to participate in Field Day as we all make sure we are leaving the grounds as good or better than how we found them.

The EAWA functions best when everyone comes together to share their skills and energy. Whether it is net control, filling out a survey, or helping in Field Day, it is the way we come together when needed that makes this group so special. See you at Field Day!
Written by Marion, W1GRL

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

It’s clear that the EAWA members and friends are ready to get into the spring radio activities! Many people arrived early, and attendance was great. The opening question centered on favorite contests, which morphed into favorite radio activities as not all of those attending participate in contests. The contests mentioned included phone, CW, and RTTY, and ranged from the big world-wide contests to smaller, more casual state QSO parties.

In the business part of the meeting, Barbara KC1SSY and Matt KC1VLH reviewed the final preparations for the communications tasks for the Sea of Blue Walk, 5K, & 10K. For the event, held on Saturday April 26, EAWA members and other experienced hams will provided real-time reports on participants progress during the race. Another point of business was a review of the recent symposium, given by Phil N1EP.  Looking forward, it was decided that the last Weekend Session, scheduled for Saturday, April 19, will be dedicated to planning for the club’s biggest event, Field Day. The ARRL Field Day is a nation-wide event, scheduled for June 28 – 29. Everyone is welcome to attend the session to learn more about Field Day and how they may participate. 

Following the meeting, the program focused on good manners and etiquette when on local repeaters. Dave N1DP shared a bit of the history of how amateur radio operators received the privileges of dedicated frequencies and the use of repeaters. He also reviewed the capabilities of the Franklin repeater. Most of his presentation reminded us of the best and expected behaviors while on a local repeater, what behaviors are not appropriate, and how to respond to those who are showing inappropriate behaviors. His words reinforced what we all know — any repeater transmission should be family friendly and display good citizenship. The evening ended as it started, with many conversations carrying on. Club meetings are the second Thursday of each month. All, no matter whether licensed or not, members or not, are welcome to attend.
Written by Marion W1GRL