On a beautiful autumn morning EAWA members and friends gathered at Lamoine State Park (US-2393) for a Parks-On-The-Air activation. Across the morning, six stations were active, each with its own unique radio equipment and antennas. Several members stopped by, and six visitors came to learn more about ham radio.
While the event was scheduled for three hours, there were hams set up well before the starting time and several who stayed long after. John KQ1P (top left) set up a CW station, as did Jeff KA1DBE. Both stations were solar powered. In the top right, Joan W1DLC is learning about Jeff’s radio from the 1980s.Matt KC1VLH set up an SSB station (top left), which became a frequently visited site. Rob W8HAP and Joan W1DLC spent some time there (top right). Joan also set up an SSB station, as seen in the bottom left. She was joined by Elias who is studying for his Technician license. In the bottom right photo, Matt was describing his equipment go-boxes to a visitor and Bob AB1EP.In the top photos, Stan W1BOY set up the smallest CW station. In the bottom photos, a friend of the EAWA, Douglas K1GC, also operated CW on several radios.It was great to have time to operate and time to chat! Rob W8HAP (top left) and Chuck AC1BS (bottom left) moved from station to station with words of encouragement. In the top right Stan introduced visitors to the world of ham radio. As seen in the bottom right photo, conversations were plentiful!
The club POTA is slowly becoming a fall tradition. It’s a great way to spend some time together, learn about different equipment, and introduce visitors to ham radio. Perhaps we’ll see you next year?
The October club meeting started, as they always do, with a question: Is anyone else in your family a ham? The responses showed that about 1/3 of those attending had hams in their family. Following a brief business meeting, the heart of the club meeting focused on several upcoming events: **Club POTA, Saturday the 11th (details here) **Weekend Session, Sunday the 12th (details here) **Em Comms for the MDI Marathon, Sunday the 19th (details below) **Maine Simulated Emergency Test, Saturday the 25th (details below)
There are always conversations buzzing before the club meeting starts.
Barbara KC1SSY is not only an active member of the EAWA, she is also the Emergency Coordinator for Hancock County. She shared details of the Maine Simulated Emergency Test scheduled for October 25th. There are two major components: the VHF/UHF/Voice Test and the WinLink Test. The first component involves both within and across county nets, guided by EMA administrators. The WinLink component involves messages sent out and returned by hams to test the emergency response network. The incoming message will ask a question, and hams will return their responses. Barbara is looking for volunteers who have, or will install, WinLink to participate. She has instructions for installing WinLink. If you are interested, contact Barbara KC1SSY (see QRZ) or respond to the Contact Us on this website.
Barbara explains one of the forms used to send information via WinLink.
Most of the meeting was focused on finalizing details for the race communications for the upcoming MDI Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, October 19. Whereas most EAWA events are open to anyone to join in, the race communications take a great deal of preparation and planning. While the race team is primarily EAWA members, we also have members of other clubs in the area joining us. Barbara reviewed the locations along the route where each of 25 hams will be stationed.
Greg KC1RID and Barbara have worked on an interactive map app of the race course use CAL ToPo.
It’s important for everyone involved to make sure they know their location, have checked their equipment, have redundancy plans in place for equipment, have food and drinks, and are prepared for any weather (both for themselves and their equipment). There was discussions of net protocol, plans for emergencies of varying levels, and navigating particularly difficult sections of the race route.
The marathon discussion ended with a summary of the tasks for the coming week and, of course, the distribution of the coveted sweatshirt!
October is a busy month for EAWA activities! It was great to have members of area clubs join us. It was a lively meeting with productive discussions. The next meeting is Thursday, November 13th. Perhaps we’ll see you then? Written by Marion W1GRL
EAWA members and friends will share in a club Parks On The Air (POTA) activity on Saturday, October 11th, from 10am to 1pm, at Lamoine State Park. There will likely be several stations set up using different modes, such as SSB (voice), FT8 (digital), and CW (Morse code). Everyone is invited to stop by and participate as they choose: **Come hang out with other hams **Check out what equipment hams brought **Get on the air, even if you don’t have a license **Bring your go bag and set up!
Parks On The Air, usually referred to as POTA, is one of the biggest programs in all of ham radio, spreading around the world. Several members and friends of the EAWA will tell you that POTA is one of their most favorite ham radio activities! For many hams in this region, being outdoors in the natural beauty of Maine and operating the radio at the same time is Win-Win!
From the POTA website you can find the parks in your area along with many useful details for planning an activation. The yellow dots represent parks in or near Maine.
Even if you have never operated from a park, you probably have QSOs on the Parks On The Air website. Why? Because as a hunter (operating from home or mobile but not in a park) you don’t need to submit anything to any log. The park activators send in the logs. You can go to the Parks On The Air website, make a free account, and then check your stats. You may have won some awards!
This is one of the first awards hams receive for hunting POTAs. Awards are given for activating, hunting, and contacts other parks while activating, called Park-2-Park. As you move up, the awards become much more colorful and elaborate.
Once on the website you can find the parks in your area, and see who has activated them. Chances are, you’ll see some EAWA members and friends’ call signs there.
In the right-hand column, you can see that Matt KC1VLH, Joan W1DLC, and Barbara KC1SSY, have recently activated Fort Knox State Historic Site in Bucksport. If you scroll down on the live page, you’ll see that Joan and Matt are tied in 3rd place for the most activations, and Matt is in 3rd place for the most activator QSOs.
There is a chance of rain for October 11th, so check on this website if you think there’s a chance the event has been cancelled. With this drought, who can argue with some much needed rain? Either way, with rain or POTA, the day will be a success. Chances are that we’ll be there, and we hope to see you there too! Written by Marion W1GRL
Several EAWA members, both on site and off, contributed to the activities at the Tremont First Responders Day, held on Saturday, September 13, from 9am to 1pm. This community event, sparked by the anniversary of 9/11, was hosted by the Tremont Fire Department, Southwest Harbor/Tremont Ambulance Service, A Climate to Thrive, and Healthy Acadia. Many people stopped by to ask about ham radio, our equipment, and the skills and capabilities we may provide in an emergency.
Stan W1BOY, Joan W1DLC, Rob W8HAP, Jeff KA1DBE, Barbara KC1SSY, Matt KC1VLH, and behind the camera, Marion W1GRL, were there to kick off the event.Rob W8HAP and Barbara KC1SSY organized the radios in the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency trailer for making contacts via the 91 repeater, while Joan W1DLC organized the Welcome Table and greeted visitors.Most of the equipment displays and antennas were set-up by Jeff KA1DBE and Matt KC1VHL.During the 10am repeater demonstration, Dick W1KRP, set up his portable operations at the site of the new facilities for the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency to call in to the Tremont event. Others who checked include Andrew KB1NEB, Mel W1MEB, Chuck AC1BS, Matt KC1VLH, and Joan W1DLC.
Thanks to Jeff KA1DBE and Barbara KC1SSY for organizing this special event. As Jeff said, “From planning to execution to engagement, all went really well.” The EAWA is proud to be able to share the many facets of amateur radio with the broader community. Written by Marion W1GRL
As the EAWA grows in membership and energy, the list of fun opportunities and activities grows as well. While every EAWA member has their favorite radio activities, as a club we tend to focus on ways to share our own radio skills with the others in the club and the wider community. At the September meeting we had both important announcements of ways to share with the community and examples of ways we mentor each other.
The Lend & Learn Library, which also includes free items, is always worthy of browsing. Several hams left with books and various bits of equipment.
First, here are some opportunities you may want to join in:
Tremont First Responders Day, Saturday, September 13, 9am-1pm Listed among the many presentations and demonstrations (click here) is “On the Air: Amateur Radio with Hancock County Emergency Management.” That’s us! EAWA members and friends will be on hand to share the world of amateur radio to all who stop by. In addition to go-kits and an information table, the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency trailer and tables will be set up with radios and antennas to use in the way a special events station would operate, using W1TU. There are several ways you can participate. **If you would like to join several EAWA members as part of the demonstration team, please arrive at 7am for set-up and a brief organizational meeting. **Stop by, encourage those working the station, perhaps get on the air, and maybe chat with visitors who want to know more about ham radio. **Bring a go-kit for display. **If you are not on site, you can help by checking in on the 146.91 repeater at 10am for a net demonstration, or any other time to show activity. **If you are not on site, send a WinLink message to the server that will be set up on site. **Stop by at 1pm to help folks who have been there since 7am pack things up.
Weekend Sessions, Sundays Sept 14 and 28, Noon-2pm, at Meadow View Apts (map here) Bring your gear to show off, learn to use new gear, or repair equipment. Bring your laptop for help with software, such as setting up WinLink, programming your handheld, or logging software. Come hang out to see what everyone else is doing. Weekend sessions are free-flowing, hands-on, radio workshop events.
Amateur Radio Demonstration, Sunday October 5, Camp Beech Cliff Matt W1HRM asked for volunteers to present amateur radio to a group during the Camp’s Fall Outdoor Skills Day. Please contact Matt W1MRH (contact via QRZ) if you are interested.
Race Communications for the MDI Marathon, October club meeting, Thursday October 9 Unlike other EAWA activities, race communications requires participation in planning meetings. If you would like to participate but cannot attend the next club meeting, please contact Barbara KC1SSY (contact via QRZ).
EAWA Parks on the Air (POTA), Saturday October 11, 10am-1pm, Lamoine State Park You can participate in this as you like. Bring your equipment and operate, check out the many radios and antennas, listen to others operate and get to know POTA better, or just hang out with some really cool people!
Simulated Emergency Test, October 25, 8am-noon Barbara asked for volunteers to participate in a networking exercise, using standard equipment most of us have. Basically volunteers need to be available to receive a message and send back a response to it. Although it sounds simple, it is critical that lines of communication are practiced, reliable, and working smoothly. Contact Barbara KC1SSY if you would like to volunteer.
Even though the evening’s agenda was full, there’s always time for chatting with friends.
Second, after the brief business meeting, Jeff KA1DBE shared an informative presentation on Introduction to WinLink 2000. While WinLink started back in the 1980s as a way for sailors to send email to the mainland, today it’s also used extensively as a way to send data via the airwaves. It was first used widely in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, sending data out from devastated areas. Jeff shared how WinLink has developed to support many standard templates and forms used in emergency situations. For those not familiar with the process, it resembles sending email or filling out a digital form. He also showed how easy it is to set up an account, fill out a message, and select the routing path for that message. In an emergency, when there is no internet or cell service, operators can send precise information, such as someone’s medication needs, through a portable WinLink set-up.
Many thanks to Jeff KA1DBE, for sharing his knowledge of WinLink. For those who haven’t used it, he explained it well and made it seem easy.
We packed a tremendous amount of information, announcements, useful knowledge, and sharing via the Lend & Learn Library in that 90 minute meeting! If you are a not a regular attender, perhaps you will join us at our next club meeting, Thursday, October 9, at 7pm. If you are newly licensed, your club membership is free for the first year! That said, you don’t need to be a club member to attend. We hope to see you at some of these many events. Written by Marion W1GRL
W1TU 