Category: Club News

As the season for Weekend Sessions winds down, EAWA members and friends gathered to work on items and share radio stories from the week. At the previous Weekend Session we had a new ham join us, and this week we had a returning ham join us.

Among the conversations heard this week were:
Congratulating Jeff on his completion of 5 band DXCC
Contacting DX, including Kuwait and Nepal
Hunting POTA activators
Exploring local Packet radio network
Creating filters for QRZ logbook entries
Plotting contacts on a map using Grid Tracker
Trying a QRP CW rig on the club’s HF antenna

As mentioned, the calendar of events is shifting to the summer schedule. Coming soon we have the annual Ham Radio Symposium on Saturday, April 5th, noon to 4:00, and the last Weekend Session scheduled for April 19th. Weekend sessions will start back up in the fall.
Written by Marion W1GRL

The March meeting started with introductions and the question, “Do you use any digital modes?” The question brought many laughs, and responses from “all the time” to “only as a last resort” to a tongue-in-cheek “never heard of it.” The meeting was packed with information. Among the highlights was further discussion of the Emergency Communications plan for the Sea of Blue Autism Awareness Walk & Run, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, in Northeast Harbor. There are slots for more operators if you would like to volunteer. Contact Barbara KC1SSY via QRZ or the Contact Us on this webpage.

Also coming soon is the EAWA Ham Radio Symposium scheduled for Saturday, April 5, from noon to 4:00. You will find a story about the symposium on this blog from February 21st. Updates and the final schedule will be posted here and many other ham radio websites and Facebook groups. 

Maine-wide POTA Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 17th. As many of the EAWA members enjoy POTA, last year the consensus was that each member would participate individually. If there is interest, there may be a club gathering for POTA on that day. If you are new to POTA, a club event would be a great way to get acquainted with this popular radio activity.

For the featured website, Marion W1GRL showed the ARRL Learning Center (https://learn.arrl.org). This is a free service for all ARRL members. There are many courses available for studying for your first or next license, learning about emergency communications (both introductory and intermediate), designing lesson plans for classrooms, and understanding basic electronics. 

Following the business meeting, the program was a presentation on the CQ DX Marathon Program (https://dxmarathon.com), given by the Program Administrator, Mark WC3W. This is the current version of a long-standing contest once promoted by CQ Magazine. While this a program with many categories and awards, the program is also a way to track how you are doing in terms of contacting DX entities and CQ Zones. Mark emphasized fairness in terms of the creating level playing field categories, such as competing with those who have similar antennas and power outputs, and also in terms of honesty in reporting. Club competitions, including the most improved club score over the previous year, are gaining popularity.

Last fall, Marion W1GRL and Stan W1BOY gifted the sponsorship of the winner’s plaque in a new category in the name of the EAWA. The new Formula Unlimited category is for those of us with more modest antennas who want to use our amplifiers. Mark thanked the club for sponsoring this new winner’s plaque.

The March meeting was full of information and motivation to remain or get active with our diverse hobby. From emergency communications to POTA to DXing, there is always another avenue of ham radio to explore.
Written by Marion W1GRL

A break in the snow-every-three-days cycle and sunny skies made for an inviting day to get together with other hams. EAWA members and friends met up to share radio stories, knowledge, and gear. Among the topics and projects were:
**A home-brew touch-sensitive CW paddle
**Setting up APRS on a hand-held
**Troubleshooting a radio glitch
**Packet radio
**A QSL card from Antarctica
**Interviews for upcoming website articles
**Upcoming YL POTA day (March 8)

There are three Weekend Sessions left for this season – March 9, 23, and April 19. These hands-on sessions provide mentoring opportunities, trouble-shooting opportunities, and time to chat about all things radio. Perhaps you will join us next time?
Written by Marion W1GRL

Once again, heavy snow changed club plans, moving the February meeting to Zoom. Even so, the meeting was enjoyable and informative as we tend to be lively bunch! The opening question asked us to share the longest amount of time spent on a QSO. While most shared stories of relatively brief QSOs, with some stretching 15 or 20 minutes, there were couple of reports of QSOs lasting a couple of hours.

Here are a few friendly announcements and reminders from the meeting:
*Dues for 2025 should be turned in if you haven’t done so;
*Please get your survey to Clinton Spaulding if you haven’t yet;
*Next Sunday Session is February 23;
*Bring those Lend and Learn Library items to the March meeting;
*Keep an eye out for more information about the Symposium, “ Technology & Preparedness,” to be held on April 5 from noon to 4:00.

The highlighted website was Wireless Society of Southern Maine (ws1sm.com). John KQ1P highlighted several sections of the website, including their own awards and a projects page. These items sparked some thoughts as to how the EAWA website might grow in the future.

Following the business meeting, the program focused on EmComm and volunteer needs for the Sea of Blue Autism Awareness Walk/5K/10K. The presenter, Matt KC1VLH, is an EAWA member and the director of the event. Matt shared an overview of the event which takes place April 26 in Northeast Harbor. He then shared a map of the various race routes and descriptions of the services needed. Several EAWA members expressed interest in volunteering. Barbara KC1SSY, Joan W1DLC, and Jeff KA1DBE, will work closely with Matt to coordinate Emergency Communications for the event.

Thanks, John KQ1P, for a well-run meeting under difficult circumstances! It’s unfortunate that the frequent snow storms have interrupted so many club events. Let’s hope the trend ends soon!
Written by Marion W1GRL

The well-attended January meeting began with introductions and a question, “Will you be participating in Winter Field Day?” One of the highlights from the business meeting was special recognition given by Andrew W1AXS, the Director of the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency, given to Evie KA1BRA for her decades of reporting data from the Hancock County EmComm Net and the EAWA Communication Net. Andrew also recognized Joan W1DLC for diligently continuing the data reporting tradition.

Another special recognition was given to Phil N1EP by the outgoing president, Jeff KA1DBE. Jeff shared some of the many ways Phil has contributed to the EAWA through his position as Maine Section Manager and long-time operator in Downeast Maine. Phil provides a wealth of knowledge and history, and most of all, energy and laughter to every event he attends. 

The meeting moved in a different direction as Clinton Spaulding, an instructor at Husson University and doctoral student in the Communications Department at The University of Maine, addressed the attendees with a special request. Clint’s dissertation research is focused on the ways learning and teaching occur in the ham radio community. He brought small test packets for all those willing to fill out on their own time and send back to him. Not wanting to say anything that would influence how we may respond to the test packet items, Clint was limited in what he shared about the study. We hope to hear more about his findings when his research project is completed.

The last, and certainly not the least part of the meeting, was the vote and subsequent welcoming in of new officers. Serving from January 2025 through January 2026 are John KQ1P as President, Chuck AC1BS as Vice President, and Joan W1DLC as Secretary/Treasurer. The officers compose the Board of Directors, along with three additional members who are Evie KA1BRA (term ending January 2026), Stan W1BOY (term ending January 2027), and Greg KC1RID (term ending January 2028). Many, many thanks to Jeff KA1DBE who served as president for many years, and to Chris K1WJY who served three years on the board. 

As the current president, John KQ1P expressed his gratitude to all who work so diligently to keep the club functioning and thriving. He, along with the rest of us, are looking forward to the events and activities we engage in every year, such as a large Field Day operation and providing EmComms for the MDI Marathon. In addition, John challenged us to consider new avenues we might explore to grow the club and to introduce younger people to amateur radio. He also asked us to send him any ideas we may have for a special events station and topics for upcoming programs following the monthly business meetings. (His email is good on QRZ.)
Written by Marion W1GRL