Here are a few more pictures taken by Mike, KB6USJ, on his sojourn to Newington, CT. home of W1AW.
For the past several decades I have been an avid reader of QST and seen photos of W1AW, casually thinking someday I would visit the league. Because of the distance needed to travel , again the notion was at the bottom of my bucket list.
An invitation from a relative for a 50th wedding anniversary celebration plus my eldest son’s career being a pilot at Southwest Airlines, I found myself in Providence Rhode Island a mere 90 miles from Newington CT. I set my sights on a visit to HQ.
The staff at the league was gracious and accommodating as I proceeded to take a tour of several departments of ARRL. I viewed areas where the staff works to produce the monthly magazine plus meeting technicians in the radio lab where products are tested.
The finale was a short walk over to W1AW. I viewed banks of radios positioned in cabinets with the job of sending daily bulletins broadcasting from HQ. The staff asked for my radio license and then positioned me in front of a Yaesu-5000 rig and rotated the 20 meter 5 element mono band beam. With the Yaesu amp set at 800 watts my cue for my phone transmission was set.
If you would ask me “Mike, did you pinch yourself”? Yes, I was at awe I had operated W1AW. I worked a pile up of stations on 20 meters from North to Southern United States. A notable QSO was with a 97 year old ham from west of Green Bay, Wisconsin, his first QSO with W1AW. We both completed a check mark on the old bucket list. Thank You again to the whole staff of the American Radio Relay League for a very memorable day.
Mike G kb6usj
Here are two articles concerning the Sun’s cycles. Although not very encouraging for ham radio at least insightful about the nature of the beast.
New study corroborates the influence of planetary tidal forces on solar activity
https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=58444&pNid=0
Solar experts predict the Sun’s activity in Solar Cycle 25 to be below average, similar to Solar Cycle 24
https://www.weather.gov/news/190504-sun-activity-in-solar-cycle
Remember: HAVE RADIO, WILL TRANSMIT.
73
Mark, n6iv
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The club did not sponsor a Field Day this year so I thought I would share my personal experience this weekend with you. (Please send in your reports to share with the club)
Weekend began Friday morning with the 2.5 hr drive up through Markleeville to the campsite at Monitor Pass off highway 89, just south of Leviathan peak. Full blown aspen forest. I’ve wanted to camp here for 19 years. Sent my wife to visit a friend in Lemoore, Ca. with the dog, and I took off.
Arrived Fri at 11:30am, set up camp, tent, antenna( cf zepp), radio station, etc. A few casual qsos were made on cw fri pm to check equipment. Wow, really high qrn on 40m.. must be band condx.
Next morning 27degF… burr. FD start time 1800z. Wow, really high qrn, S7- S9. Fiddled with my Ft 857 for an hour, checking generator, antenna, equipment, etc. No go!. Pulled out my trusty 25yo. Ts570 and problem solved. Great band conditions. Weird. (Either the ft857 is not good for crowded bands or I am not fully adept at working that machine). Worked as 1B SV on 15, 20, and 40m casually hunting and pouncing all day into early evening. Nice. Made my 100 contacts.
Sunday morning, 30F, but warmed to 73F later. During 6:30 am breakfast I heard strange noise to my southeast. With coffee cup in hand went to investigate. BIG black bear raised it’s head over the brush looking at ME. Having read bear protocol I shouted and waved my arms. After the second time the bear did a 180, crashing through the forest and did not return :). Ate breakfast and FD continued. Made another 25 qsos and packed it up by 12pm. Home in one piece at 2pm. Overall, best FD ever!!.
Yes, lots of work and planning but this year I did not cook in Calaveras county. ( Alas, missed Fred, WB6QVI, my FD partner for many, many years who did not accompany me this time)
Will submit my score to ARRL. Hope not alot of dupes.
73
Mark, N6IV
CARS members Mike, WA6ZTA, and Mark, N6IV, attend the VHF contest with Harry, K6HS, near Blue Mtn on June 8-9. After leaving Arnold about 12pm we ascended the road from Hades (IMO) to a summit just N.E. of the Blue Mtn. lookout at about 6,000 ft on a rocky ridge. Here is Mike’s VHF refuge which requires 4 wheeled drive and a chain saw. After setting up camp, our station canopy, numerous antennas, transceivers, cables, power supply, etc, etc, we were ready to transmit at 11 am on Sat morning.
I , N6IV, am behind camera in charge of 432 usb, 927 usb, 223 fm, and 440 fm. To say I was confused was and understatement. HaHa
We contacted lots of stations on many bands over the weekend. Some were fixed locations, others were moving around in mobile units with antennas called “rovers”. The rovers would travel between grid squares giving everyone additional points. Mike says we did well in the event and I learned serious VHF contesting from a couple of seasoned hams. Thank you Mike and Harry .
Ready for Field Day.
Mark Godbout, N6IV
Last Monday during NET Ken, AE6LA, discussed a visit he and Mike, WA6ZTY, had to Mt. Oso where Mike had an antenna repair. Mt. Oso is a prominent location along the eastern Highway 5 corridor just east of Patterson. Many repeaters are located here due to the nice view it has of the San Joaquin Valley. Here are some pics that Ken sent along. Enjoy.
Here is a link to ALL of Ken’s great shots:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Kh1nKB2oB_IrrVy2NRxJuRgQ
Thanks for sharing Ken.
Just a reminder. Ken, AE6LA, is hosting a HAM CRAM on June 29, Saturday at the Ebbetts Pass Fire Station in Arnold. Please see the flyer for more info. Please tell your friends, associates, kids, whomever might like to get a ham ticket in one day!
Spring is on the way out and the hot summer days are around the corner. Come join us at the CARS SPRING meeting this thursday May 9 @ 6:30pm. Round Table Pizza, Hwys 4 and 49, Angels Camp, CA. Arrive early for food, drink, and friends. See you there. 73 Mark, n6iv
Tuolumne County Amateur Radio & Electronics Society presents a ham radio introduction and workshop Sat. 4/27 Sonora, CA 9am-3pm
bannerradio-class-april-27v3-copy