Past Meetings

On March 7, 2024:  Bruce Rusch, W1HNZ spoke about receiving antennas for 160/80 m: The  Bidirectional Beverage at W1HNZ.
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On February 1, 2024: Peter Morrison AC1KY, spoke about “Aircraft Tracking Using SDR”
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ADSB Slides

On January 4, 2024:  We had a show and tell, QLF CW foot pedal contest, and viewed 3B7M Saint Brandon DXpedition video.

On December 7, 2023: “What should we do with our meetings?”

On November 2, 2023: Harlan Doliner, NE1HD, spoke about the  Coast Guard Auxiliary.
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On October 5, 2023: Bob Glorioso W1IS and Bob Rose KC1DSQ spoke about why and how of simple antennas that work.

Topics covered include, resonance, Voltage and Current distributions, RF Feedback, End Effect, Dipoles, Verticals, C-poles, Wire Beams and Stacked Dipoles. Further information can be found at ocfmasters.com

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On September 7, 2023, Paul Topolski, W1SEX, spoke about oscilloscopes and their use in amateur radio.

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On June 1, 2023, Voting of officers, Field Day Planning, and an award was presented.

On May 4, 2023, Terry M Stader, KA8SCP, spoke on Emcomm

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On March 2, 2023, Larry Banks, W1DYJ, spoke about Antenna Modelling using TLW (Transmission Line Program for Windows), YW (Yagi for Windows), and HFTA (High Frequency Terrain Assessment). These are  applications from the ARRL Antenna Book.

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On Feb 2, 2023: Ron Evett, N1QY, spoke about understanding SWR. The video of the presentation is below.

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On January 5, 2023, Dave Hoaglin K1HT Presented 2 Dxpedition videos. We also had a show and tell.

The links for the videos are shown below.
D60AE Comoros 2022.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vjxmz6fBfQ  (runs about 22 minutes)
TK0C expedition to Corsica for the 2019 CQWW DX CW contest. https://vimeo.com/379807649  (running time 15:23)

 

On November 3, 2022, Don Rolph, AB1PH, spoke about and demonstrated Winlink. The video of the presentation is below.

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On October 6, 2022,  Ron Rothman, WO1E, spoke about and demonstrated Digital Contesting with FT4 and FT8. The video of the presentation is below.

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On September 1, 2022 Adrian Zeffert, AB2IX, spoke about the test bench. The video of the presentation is below.
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June 2, 2022:  Field Day preps. Officer elections.

May 5, 2022: Officer Nominations and Preliminary Field Day Discussions

On April 23, 2022, Sumner, W1VIV, spoke about installation, operation, and submission of the free N1MM+ contest logging software.  The recording is below.  It covered:

  • Installing the software

  • Setting up for a contest (specifically NEQP)

  • Operating the contest, including other area QSO Parties on the same log.

  • Creating the required Cabrillo Files and sending them in for your scores.

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On April 7, 2022: Tom Frenaye, K1KI, gave a presentation on the New England QSO Party (NEQP) today and yesterday.
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On March 3, 2022 Edison Fong, WB6IQN gave a presentation on his dual band, VHF/UHF, J-pole antenna design.
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On February 3, 2022 two interesting ham radio videos were shown.

The first was “The Storied History of the Ham Radio Callsign” by Mike Ritz W7VO. The second was “Learn and Have Fun with Morse Code” from the Long Island CW Club.

On January 6, 2022: K4M Midway Island DXpedition Video was shown with commentary from Dave Hoaglan K1HT. 

SSTV demo was presented by Sumner W1VIV and Steve N1MH.

On December 2, 2021  Art Lipatov, W1JAR spoke about Digital Voice Modes.

His slides are available here and the video is below.

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On November 4, 2021 Greg Algieri, WA1JXR, spoke about the NanoVNA instrument.
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On October 7, 2021 Leandra MacLennon AF1R gave a presentation “On The Road With AF1R”.

She spoke about operating and successfully contesting VHF and HF as a mobile. She included some of her Parks on the Air experiences.

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On September 2, 2021 Fred Kemmerer AB1OC gave a presentation on “Bringing New People Into Amateur Radio”.

He also talked briefly about his candidacy for ARRL New England Director. The video of the presentation is below. Meeting was on zoom.

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On August 5, 2021 Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, spoke about the FramingHAM Tower Case.

The video of the presentation is below. Meeting was on zoom.

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June 3, 2021:  Elections of officers.  Field Day discussion.

On May 6, 2021: Grounding and Bonding for Home HF Stations.

This ARRL video featuring Ward Silver, N0AX, was shown.

On April 1, 2021  Alan Thompson, W6WN spoke about Neighborhood Radio Watch program.

This is a partnership between Hams and non-Hams using Ham, GMRS and FRS radios to help keep our communities safer in the event of an emergency or disaster. The NRW Program had it origin in the ashes of the Camp Fire, and has been a tremendous boost for the El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club.  The video of the presentation is below. Meeting was on zoom.

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On March 4, 2021 Bob Hess, W1RH spoke about his work at WBZ.

Meeting was on zoom.

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February 4, 2021: Lew Nyman, K1AZE, spoke about the past history of FARA.

Lew is the past FARA President (1976-1982).

Meeting was on zoom.

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January 9, 2021: Board Meeting

Discussed Proposed By-Laws Changes. Interested members who want to work on the bylaw subcommittee can email John at president@w1fy.org

January 7, 2021:

We were shown some Dxpedition videos presented  by Dave Coaglin K1HT . The information & hyperlinks are:

KH1/KH7Z, Baker Island, 2018 by 9V1YC (2:36) https://vimeo.com/281933500 .

VP6D, Ducie Island, 2018 (12:57) It’s on YouTube and can be found by going to https://www.vp6d.com and scrolling down to VP6D Video 5X3C and 5X5E.

Uganda, 2019 Go to https://www.i2ysb.com/idt/ and look under Movies.

SHACK PRESENTATIONS:

KC1DMM – Andy focused on SDR (Flex & Anon) in his attic shack. W1VIV – Sumner by contrast focused on analog – old school – hardware for communications.

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December 3, 2020: Brian Loverro, K1BML, spoke about some of his favorite HTs.

Brian is a collector of handheld radios with over 200 of them in his shack in Oxford, MA that he uses out in the field for various purposes. With these transceivers are the accessories like extra extended life batteries, antennas et al. His favorite is the Yaesu FT60, though he has HTs from just about every manufacturer. Our interest was very solid based on the questions and discussion after Brian’s formal presentation.

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On November 5, Bob DeMattia, K1IW, presented on “Computer Assisted Ham Radio”.

Like almost everything else, computers have touched many aspects of ham radio. From station logging, to the modes we operate-many things have changed. This presentation went through a brief timeline of the merging of technologies, and discuss how computers are used in ham radio today.

Meeting was on Zoom.

On October 1, 2020: Neal Lipson, K1NDF spoke on “General Amateur Radio Solar Cycle Propagation and Why Framingham, MA is Nearly a Paradise for Amateur Radio.”

Meeting was on Zoom.

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September 3, 2020: Tom Walsh, K1TW, ARRL Eastern MA Section Manager.“Discover the ARRL Universe.”

He discussed some of the lesser known ARRL services. Meeting was on Zoom.

June 4, 2020: Field day prep, Navy Ham Radio in the Korean War Era

On June 4, 2020: Sumner Weisman W1VIV spoke about Navy Ham Radio in the Korean War Era. Meeting was on Zoom.

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May 7, 2020 meeting was on Zoom.

April 2, 2020 meeting was held on the repeater

March 5, 2020: Brian Gudzevich, WO1VES, Introduction to Digital Radio with Hotspots.

Brian is a repeater operator, self employed technology specialist, and an avid fan of the digital radio modes.  In his business, “The Shameless Wolf”, he spends time helping people with their computers, Network, Home Theater, and anything else Technology.  He operates three repeaters in Stoneham, MA, one Fusion, one D-Star, and one Analog and also operates the hub of an Internet linked repeater system called “The Wolf Pack Network”.  This has repeaters starting in Northeastern Massachusetts and going as far north as Ossipee New Hampshire.

February 6, 2020:  Adrian AB2IX on 3d printing.

January 2, 2020: Show and tell, cw with left foot. Video – VP8ORK The DXpedition to The South Orkney Islands.

Dec 5, 2019: FARA Holiday Dinner at Carbone’s Restaurant in Hopkinton, MA.

November 7, 2019: Bob Phinney, K5TEC. “Ideas for attracting youth and families to amateur radio.”

This meeting to discussed what sparks kids’ interests in wireless technology these days and how we might apply that knowledge to get more youth and families into amateur radio and hopefully interested in joining FARA. The presentation was followed by a discussion where group participation is expected.

Quick Bio:  Bob Phinney K5TEC got his amateur radio license from FARA by taking the “License in a weekend” course in 2004 in the basement of the Danforth Library. But he was involved in public service CB communications since the early 1970’s, and was president of a REACT team working with Brookline Police during the Blizzard of ’78.  As a science teacher in Brookline for 38 years and mentoring the youth-run Clay Center Amateur Radio Club for 14 years, Bob has helped nearly two hundred youth achieve ham radio licenses over the years. He now runs a non-profit STEM education center in Natick which has two radio rooms and offers regular license classes in Tech, General, AE, VE, and Morse Code, as well as workshops in a wide variety of STEM and maker-space ​_topics.

October 3, 2019: Dave Miscia KB1YXL.  “Fun Things To Do With The International Space Station”.

Dave Miscia, KB1YXL, has over 25 years of experience working with satellites.  From his first job in broadcast television receiving news feeds, to running mobile uplink vehicles, to designing those same vehicles, he’s worked with everything from Ku Band high-power transmitters to portable Inmarsat terminals.  Since leaving the broadcast business in 2018, he has continued following the things in the sky, especially the International Space Station.

September 5, 2019: Adrian Zeffert, AB2IX, Estate Planning For Amateur Radio Operators.

****What happens when a family member contacts your Club saying, “W1XYSK has passed away, and we don’t know what to do with 3 rooms full of radio and electronics equipment”****

June 6, 2019: Elections and Field Day Preparations.

May 2, 2019: Pizza party

Annual Post Flea Pizza Party was held at Papa Ginos, 104 Boston Post Road Sudbury, MA.

April 4, 2019:  Ted Robinson, K1QAR , Mag Loop Antennas

He gave a talk on mag loop antennas. He demonstrated one at the Marlboro Flea.

March 7, 2019:  Rob Macedo, KD1CY on Update on ARES

He is the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Boston/Norton. See https://ema.arrl.org/ares/ for more information on ARES.

February 7, 2019:  Tom Kinahan, N1CPE, on MARS: Military Auxiliary Radio System

MARS or Military Auxiliary Radio System has changed dramatically from it’s creation in 1925. ARMY and AIR FORCE MARS members support a very different mission than you may have heard of before 2010. Every day, MARS members are operating mixed mode voice/data nets using encrypted communications in support of a DoD Mission to provide situational awareness to DoD planners, in the event of a “Very Bad Day” scenario.  Learn about MARS, and how all Amateurs can support this mission, without joining MARS, and learn how to join MARS, if you have the capability and interest.

http://www.usarmymars.org/

Bio:  Tom Kinahan N1CPE has been a ham for 38 years, with experience participating in Boston Marathon communications for over 30 of those years, Past experience volunteering with the Red Cross as a Disaster Action Team member and leader, and former Massachusetts State RACES officer, currently US ARMY MARS Member/Leader since 2010.

February 7, 2019: Fred Beihold, NV1N,  presents an interesting idea coming out of the Shack Search Committee.

Promoting Awards as a Catalyst

January 3, 2019:  Video “Nine DXpeditions to DXCC Ten Most Wanted” from the collection of David Hoaglin K1HT. We also had our “Show and Tell”.

His source for the DVD that we viewed (Nine DXpeditions to DXCC “Ten Most Wanted”) was k4uee.com/dvd .  Bob lists several videos besides that one.

December 6, 2018:  FARA Holiday Dinner at Carbone’s Restaurant in Hopkinton, MA.

November 1, 2018: BITX40 and uBITX QRP radio kit – Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ

Andy Stewart spoke about the BITX40 and uBITX QRP kit radios from India.  These very popular transceivers are openly specified for both hardware and software, and have thus encouraged a lot of tinkering.  Andy discussed many of the common modifications, as well as his extensive modifications to the Arduino software.  Andy has also modified the kit to make it accessible to visually impaired hams.  There was a demonstration of Andy’s version of both of these transceivers.

October 4, 2018:  6-Meter Sporadic E and Weather Systems – Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW

Joe’s presentation will use Amateur Radio to explore possible correlations between weather systems and sporadic E clouds to see if they are collocated.

The presentation slides are available for download.

6-Meter Sporadic E and Weather Systems

September 6, 2018: Tom Walsh K1TW, Eastern Mass. ARRL section manager.

“What’s New and Exciting in the Eastern Massachusetts (EMA) ARRL Section”

 There are major changes occurring in the hobby.  How should the section and clubs like FARA stay on top of all of this?  First off, let’s understand exactly what a section manager does and why clubs like FARA are important to the section.

Then driven by FARA’s interests, Tom will discuss some of many new initiatives in the Eastern Massachusetts section.  Here are some possible topics, time permitting.

  • The Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS)
  • The New Eastern Massachusetts Section Website.
  • The New Eastern Massachusetts Facebook page
  • What is new about Eastern Massachusetts ARES?
  • What is ARES Connect?
  • Changes to the ARRL Official Observer Program
  • What can FARA do going forward?
  • Time for Questions

Tom will wrap up the  with the donation of an ARRL book.

June 7, 2018:  Fred, NV1N

Fred, NV1N on traffic passing practice, Field Day discussions, elections of officers, scholarship awards.

May 3, 2018: Pizza Party

Pizza Party Thursday May 3, 7:30 pm, Papa Ginos on Rt. 30, 341 Cochituate Road Framingham.

April 5, 2018: Larry Banks, W1DYJ

Larry Banks, W1DYJ  “One Ham’s Journey with Antennas” (It’s sort of a historical survey of the antennas I’ve built/used/etc., ending with a quick look at FT8 and 160. )

March 1, 2018: Dan Pedtke, KW2T

Dan Pedtke, KW2T, on Impedence Matching
http://www.danstechnight.com/index.html

Feb 1, 2018: Bob De Mattia, K1IW

Bob De Mattia, K1IW, on Repeater Coordination

November 2, 2017:  Andy Boughton, KC1DMM

Andy Boughton, SDR radios. slides

Andy’s Slides

Framingham Amateur Radio Association