Winter Field Day 2023

 

After a successful annual meeting with many in attendance and election of a new slate of officers and directors, some FARA members proceeded to Marine Park in Falmouth to set up for Winter Field Day. We had our FARA communications trailer on-site next to the bandshell, and were able to access street power from there. This meant not only power for the radios, but heating and lighting inside the trailer as well.

Using a spud gun, we set up an OCF dipole between the top of the bandshell and a tree in the northwest corner of the park. We also set up a PAR end fed 20 meter antenna as a vertical, using a Spyder pole for support. Then we went to lunch.

After lunch, we got the K3 and an Icom 746 up and running at two operating stations. Our CW operator had contracted COVID and was unable to attend, so we decided to run two phone stations. The 746, which had just had its tuner rebuilt, decided to quit on us and stopped RF output. We replaced it with another club radio, a Kenwood TS-570. At 2 PM we started running contacts, as K1RK. Mel, KC1ELB, a born contester, took over the K3 on the PAR antenna on 20 and started his pileup. Henry, K1WCC, was on the TS-570 and noticed a lot of signals starting to appear on 40 meters, mostly locals in CT, RI and Mass participating in WFD. Listening was one thing, making the QSO was another. Our OCF dipole, although about 130 ft. long, would not tune on 40 meters. Power output was halved and signal reports from even local stations were abysmal. So we switched to 10 meters, where the antenna really performed. 10 meters was in good shape and contacts were made into California and the Pacific Northwest.

We knocked off at 1830, since we had to move the comms trailer from the site that night. Within 30 minutes everything was wrapped up, the trailer ready to go, and all parties went home, some to continue operating at home stations. This was one of many times in the past two years when we proved the worth of our comms trailer-it was comfortable, bright inside with plenty of operating room. We were able to set up and knock down quickly, which would be required in an emergency situation.

Some highlights of the day: Many club members visiting the site after the meeting, our new club VP Jeremy WA1JRC making his first HF contact, some members from our recent Tech Class stopping by for a ragchew and observing the operation, a visit from Enterprise photographer Brenda Sharp and a beautiful, warm day (with a little wind to harass the spud shoot!).

Thanks to Ralph, N1YHS, Andy, N1SYM and Larry W1IZZ for their assistance with the trailer and hardware. There are only 143 days till summer Field Day at Morse Pond School!

Henry K1WCC

Algonquin ARC Ham Flea Market--18 Feb 2023

Algonquin ARC Ham Flea Market information:

UPDATE: FARA Field Day Container Break-In

UPDATE:

Alan, WM1N, welded up the handle which was cutoff and fixed the "lock protector", so that the lock fits into it.   Thanks, Alan.

The FARA Field Day container stored at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds was recently broken into.  Ralph, N1YHS, discovered the break-in when getting items for the upcoming Winter Field Day event.  He reported the break-in to the Falmouth Police Department.

All of the orange jacketed Belden 89880 coax cable was taken (about 1000 feet), along with the wire  dipole antennas (Looks like 4 in all) and one of the 8 foot, orange fiberglass step ladders.  Nothing else appear to have been taken, but an inventory will be taken soon.

Please be on the look out for orange jacketed coaxial cable for sale.  The cable is unusual, due to the jacket color and the weight/stiffness of the cable.  

If you know of a welder who could weld the cutoff handle back into position, please contact Ralph, N1YHS.

FARA Calendar Update

The 2023 FARA Calendar has been updated.  Some FARA meeting dates have been changed from Thursday evening to Saturday morning.

Please be sure to update any personal calendars with the new meeting dates/times.

2023 First Day Breakfast

Continuing the tradition originally started by Jim Bradbury (sk) of the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club, FARA's held a 2023 First Day breakfast at Persey's Restaurant in Falmouth.  Several FARA members and guests enjoyed the good food and good company.  

Put this event on your calendar for next year.

(Images courtesy of Charlie, K1CB)

FARA First Day Breakfast

Continuing the tradition originally started by Jim Bradbury (sk) of the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club, we will have our FARA First Day Breakfast at Persey's Restaurant in Falmouth at 0830 on January 1st, 2023.  Persey's is located on 40 North Main Street, Falmouth.

I have arranged for 20 guests, but there are usually additional seats available in the restaurant. Parking is behind the hotel, or across the street.  Contact Henry on k1wcc@comcast.net if you are going to attend.

Hope to see you there to wish you a Happy New Year!
Henry K1WCC

December 15 Meeting "Show and Tell" Presentations

Members were invited to show an item or tell a story about how they became interested in Amateur Radio. The following 8 members participated: Ralph N1YHS, Peter W1UU, Jim WA1GPO, Jay KB4KYW, Bill Kramer, Henry K1WCC, Chris WA1CMR and Barry KB1TLER.

Two of the participants shared descriptions of their presentation and images for the FARA website:

Peter Butler, W1UU:

I briefly showed QSL cards I was receiving as a 15 year old Sophomore in High School. The Russians liked to send post cards with a rubber stamp of their call sign of "everyday life". The VR6TC operator was a relative of the original Tom Christian from the novel Mutiny of the Bounty. We had to read that story in high school! I was first licensed as WN1BPW in 1953 at the age of 13.

Ralph Swenson, N1YHS:

Knightkit Space Spanner

My first shortwave radio kit was Knightkit "Space Spanner". I built this when I was around 12 years old and it was a Christmas gift from my grandmother. I enjoyed countless hours of listening for those distant and foreign stations. I graduated up to another Knightkit radio, the "Star Roamer", few years later, around the age of 14, with money I earned mowing lawns that summer. Had lots of fun with that as well.

Popular Mechanics tube radio

I also built a one tube radio during the COVID shutdown, built around a 6J5 tube. This radio was from a 1956 Popular Mechanics, Do It Yourself Encyclopedia volume. It uses AC power to run the filament transformer for the tube and a 45V battery for the plate circuit. I used a 48V battery pack made of 8 LR44 6V batteries as a substitute for the old 45V "B" batteries used back in the day.  Had fun making it, and it actually works quite well!