The Rhode Island NTS Traffic Network - Home Page
The Rhode Island ARES Tactical Training
Net
Net Control calls the RI ARES Tactical
training
net on the 2nd and 4th Mondays
of every month at 7:00 PM on the KA1RCI Repeater
Network.
Johnston, RI *
145.190 - offset with PL of 67.0 for access
Exeter, RI * 146.985 - offset with PL of 67.0 for access
Portsmouth, RI * 147.075 + offset with PL
of 67.0 for access
Westerly, RI * 147.390 + offset with PL of 67.0 for access
This is a formal directed training net for
ARES activities in the Rhode Island area.
All amateur radio operators are encouraged
to join the net.
Check back often for more updates as they
become available.
ARRL Contacting ARRLARES
News last updated: Sun, November 15, 2009 at 5:18 PM ET
Greetings fellow Rhode Islanders:
This is a light month for news so this report will probably not be as long as usual. It's a good time to remind everyone that if you don't report your activities to me, I cannot include them in my summary report to the members. So, please let me know what your groups are doing in public service and club activities.
Last month, I was questioned because in my October report, I hadn't promoted the new digital repeater in Portsmouth put together by the Newport Radio Club. Of course, as I reminded the person who questioned me, I had announced it in the previous month's report, just after it was first put on the air. I don't plan to give it a monthly plug but since it is a new D Star repeater in RI and the only one I am aware of in our state, I shall once again report that the W1ADD D Star Repeater is on 145.300 MHz with a 600 kHz negative offset. All digital radio users are welcome to use it. The Newport club has taken on a considerable obligation to create and maintain this new technology repeater for everyone to use and enjoy, so please make an effort to use it. .
The RI EMass Traffic Net held 14 sessions in October and handled 73 pieces of traffic with 68 stations participating. Nice work folks! They are going to shift their schedule to Wednesday and Friday evenings on the KA1RCI repeater network at 9PM. Drop in and say hello to these good folks.
HF band conditions have gotten a little better lately. Of course, many will remind me that they couldn't have gotten an awful lot worse. It seems that we've been foraging along the bottom of the sunspot cycle for a couple of years with no improvement at all. Many new hams don't believe the old timers who talk about working the world on 10 meters with 25 watts. If sunspots become numerous and our ionosphere sees plenty of solar wind, those amazing 10 and 6 meter conditions could once again light up our HF activity. Some scientists are suggesting that new Cycle 24 which has just started may never reach the level of previous cycles. They suggest that Cycle 24 may simply roll up a little and then go flat. Some of us may not be around for many more sunspot cycles after this one, so we're hoping that the scientists are wrong.
Some members may be curious why I haven't recruited a new Section Emergency Coordinator to fill the vacancy left in our leadership team after Rick, K3OQH resigned to assume his new job for the state of Massachusetts. Frankly, I haven't tried very hard to fill the post because it is a section level appointment and whoever accepts it would have a nearly impossible job at the section or state level trying to create a viable emergency communications network involving or serving the current EMA. The leadership at EMA will not accept Amateur radio as a service, despite it being demonstrated as their most reliable and dependable means of statewide communications. Trying to set up a working unit with RI EMA would not produce any benefit and being a pragmatic sort of person, I have instead encouraged the active local EmComm teams in RI to work to expand within their own communities and not be concerned with state level work for the present until conditions change at the EMA.
I was a staffing manager for more than 25 years and never believed in filling empty chairs simply for the sake of having them occupied. They must be real jobs with real duties and be necessary to the program.
I am aware that at least four RI hams have been contacted for schedules to provide a RI contact to someone seeking to complete their WAS or Triple Play Award (http://www.arrl.org/awards/). For the benefit of new hams or those who don't spend a great deal of time on HF bands, a contact with RI is considered somewhat rare and often, someone in the world is sitting at 48 or 49 and lacking a contact and confirmation with RI. I'd like to urge you to try to accommodate our brethren with a contact from our state. There are 2,000 Amateurs here but most of them are not active at all. The remaining ones don't fill the need, it seems. As I said, at least four different hams were contacted in only the last week for contacts. I was one of them. If you are unable to provide a contact, let someone know about it who has an active station and can operate in the mode requested. Remember, the Triple play requires three confirmed contacts in Logbook of The World in each of CW, SSB and RTTY modes.
Some Amateurs justifiably feel that asking for or responding to a request for a scheduled contact is against the spirit of the competition. They have a point which I fully appreciate. I have never gained a new entity or state through making a schedule, but the DXCC, WAS or Triple Play rules do not prohibit using schedules, nets, etc to make a necessary contact. Therefore, do what you feel is appropriate.
For those who want to have some fun and improve their operating skills, next weekend Nov 21 and 22 is the Phone weekend of the annual Sweepstakes. See http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/12/11194/?nc=1 for full details. The exchange is similar to a message preamble. Managing the logistics of this process for a few hours will surely give you all the action you can handle. Remember, we are in RI, a rare state and sections/states are a contest multiplier in the SS. Above all and anything else, go have fun.
That's all for this month. Very Happy Thanksgiving to all and please get those last antenna projects finished before you have to do them in a blizzard at 10 degrees. BRRRR!
73,
Bob Beaudet, W1YRC
Ted Perry, W1WFZ, couldn't be distracted at Field Day by the camera guy's shout, "Hey Ted, steaks are ready."
ARRL Section Manager, Bob W1YRC is shown presenting a specially designed trophy to our CERT Chief Instructor, Dr. Bill Ewan W1VH, on behalf of many grateful CERT and ARRL members in RI.
It was a complete surprise to Bill and was presented at the conclusion of a routine planning meeting held in W1YRC's home on May 24th. The picture was taken in the shack, adjacent to the family room meeting place. Picture taken by Bob Jones, WB1P.
Members of The Southern RI DX and Propagation Society (Field Day 1964) left to right: Howard Allen W1BFB,
Walter Tefft W1WAN, Roy Fuller W1CJH, Raymond Hurlbut W1LWA, Robert Merriam W1NTE and a Leroi 10kw gas generator.
It probably took all of them to carry the generator.
The young man on the right, W1NTE is now (42 years later) the curator of our amazing New England Wireless and Steam Museum on Frenchtown Road in East Greenwich.
The Providence Radio Association (PRA) braved truly horrible weather conditions in Field Day 2006 to participate from their Beavertail location. Left to right: John Good W1GS, Nick DePetrillo N1CKD, Nick's Dad Paul W1PRA, Kathi Bacon (no call) watching Dave Tessitore K1DT operate W1OP.
Bob Jones, WB1P and Norm, W1AUT (l-r) as shown in Valley Breeze, January 4th. BVARC recently joined the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society and launched its program by activating the Point Judith Lighthouse back in November. Nice PR story for the public to see that Amateurs really enjoy their hobby.
Field Day site of the Narragansett Bay ARC, the s/v Bellerophon, owned by club member Brad Shipp, KA1SVW.
Note the ARRL flag flying proudly.
BVARC Lighthouse activation of Beavertail light on Jamestown, June 3, 2007. Club member Bernie KD5QHV took a turn operating the rig and worked fellow BVARC and El Paso club member Clay K5TRW. Clay was in El Paso. Bernie is also President of the El Paso ARC. Bernie flew up to RI to take part in the club lighthouse event. Now, that's what I call really supporting your club!
One of hundreds of visitors, on left, listening to the answer to his question. The August 18-19 International Lighthouse weekend activation of the Beavertail Lighthouse, ARLHS #048 on Jamestown Island was a great success. The weather was perfect and Allen, W1PX, dressed as an 1896 Lighthouse 2nd assistant Lighthouse Keeper. See the 2 on Allen's uniform?
Ernie N1SW's 30 ft sloop Destiny, NB1RI CW "tent" at Field Day.
The NB1RI Field Day crew 2008 afloat near Prudence Island - Steve, KA1RCI (center rear), Bruce, KD1BE (right), Ernie, N1SW (left) and Brad, KA1SVW (front)
Westerly ARES team does a great job of promoting Amateur Radio in the 2009 Westerly Memorial Day Parade. Thanks to N1ELK and KB1MAO for leading this effort.
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