Falmouth Soldier Ride 2024 - June 7

Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) will provide communication support for the 2024 Falmouth Soldier Ride.  A group of wounded veterans will ride the Shining Sea Bikeway, starting in North Falmouth, riding to the Steamship parking lot in Woods Hole and returning to North Falmouth. 

There will be a refreshment stop in Woods Hole.

FARA volunteers, coordinated by Mel - KC1ELB, will staff positions along the path.

Mark your calendar and plan to come out and support our veterans.

CHIRP Radio Programming Class

Ralph, N1YHS and Chris, WA1CMR,  are offering a CHIRP radio programming class at 11:00am on Saturday, May 11 at the Falmouth Fire Headquarters on Main St. in Falmouth.

They will review downloading and setting up CHIRP, creating a channel file and programming your radio. They request that participants bring a laptop, their radio and a programming cord. 

They will have laptops, some cords and preset channel files available.  

Everyone is welcome. 

International Marconi Day Special Event

Date:   Saturday, April 27, 2024

What:  International Marconi Day  - Honoring Marconi on his 150th Birthday

Marconi’s 150th birthdate is April 25, 2024 (born 1874).  To celebrate his contributions to wireless, simply turn on a radio and give a nod and a smile to Marconi for his lifetime efforts in advancing wireless.

International Marconi Day is Saturday, April 27, 2024. Historic Marconi radio stations around the world go on the air to make two-way contacts with each other and other amateur radio operators. 

Where:  Marconi Station Site, Wellfleet, MA      Saturday April 27 from 10 AM-3 PM.  (The event will be held inside the Salt Pond Visitor Center, Eastham in case of inclement weather.) 

Who:  The Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club and the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club are partnering with Cape Cod National Seashore to serve as an official International Marconi Day Station.  

The public is invited to visit the site to learn about Marconi’s historic Wireless Station that is famous for sending the first wireless transatlantic message from the USA to Europe (1903) and its ship-to-shore messages.  High frequency radio operators will make live contacts around the world using Morse code and voice. A radio talk in station is planned for visitors to make local radio contacts and learn how to become amateur “ham” radio operators.  Weather permitting, a kite antenna will be used for some radio contacts.

For more information:
Barbara Dougan, trustee Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club-KM1CC
km1cc.capecod.fn51@gmail.com

Field Day 2024

Hard to believe, but there are less than 100 days to Field Day 2024.  We have the Morse Pond School field reserved, with a tentative plan of operating two stations and a GOTA (Get On The Air) station.

Field Day is the weekend of June 22 and 23.  Save the date and stay tuned for further updates.

Winter Field Day 2024

Winter Field Day set up started after the FARA member's meeting on Saturday, and only took a couple hours.  The R5 vertical and a newly acquired end fed half wave dipole were setup, allowing two operating stations.

Operation started at 2:00 pm local time, and stopped around 7:30 pm local, when the bands started to dry up. 

87 contacts were made on three bands (10,20, and 40), operating both stations, with the score of  261 points. Contacts were made throughout the USA and Canada, including 2 contacts with stations in Alaska.

WFD participants were as follows: Henry Brown-K1WCC, Ralph Swenson-N1YHS, Mel Trott-KC1ELB, Gene Bradeen-KX1C, Jay Sherlock-WB4KYW, Jeremy Cadrin-WA1JRC, Chris Ranney-WA1CMR, Steve Siegert-KC1TMJ, Chris Leger-KC1TMK, Matt Trott-KB1MLP, Glen Dowden-KC1GKT, Paul Godfrey-N1MZO, Larry Murphy- KC1TNX and Patrick McPherson-KC1SBO. 

As usual, a fun time was had by all!

Mel - KC1ELB

(Photos by Ralph, N1YHS and Steve, KC1TMJ)

Communications Trailer	R5 Vertical

2024 FARA First Day Breakfast

Henry K1WCC announced that there will be another “First Day Breakfast”.  This is an old FARA tradition where members and their guests gather together on January 1st for a New Year's Breakfast.  This year we will meet at Persey’s Restaurant at 8 AM.  Persey’s Restaurant is part of the “The Inn on the Square”, located near the corner of Depot Ave and Route 28. The address is 40 North Main St., Route 28, Falmouth, MA 02540. There is plenty of parking along the side of the hotel. If you plan to attend, please contact Henry at k1wcc@comcast.net. It is informal, just come if you can. If enough people show up, we might be able to get them to push some tables together again. Remember to RSVP. 

FARA Comm Trailer in 60th Falmouth Christmas Parade

The FARA Community Communications Support Vehicle was one of 77 "floats" or groups participating in the 60th Falmouth Christmas Parade.  

Great publicity for FARA and amateur radio, while supporting a wonderful Falmouth Christmas tradition.  

Thanks to Ralph--N1YHS, Jeremy--WA1JRC, and the other FARA members who assisted.