The Maine Ham Radio Society will meet on Zoom on Friday, February 5, 2021 and on the agenda are a FLMSG demonstration, Elmer Session, and possibly a session with Maine's new ARRL section manager, Bob Gould N1WJO. If you would like to join us, send n1ep an email and he will send you a link to the meeting...(n1ep@yahoo.com)
ARRL International DX Phone Contest!
MHRS members and other interested hams: Consider operating in this annual contest March 6-7, 2021. It is offered to help American and Canadian hams to expand their knowledge of propagation, and dx operating skills. This is a great opportunity to improve one or two aspects of your station in advance of the contest. Get your antenna up higher or put up a more efficient 20 meter antenna. Replace that old coax with some new low loss cable. Either way, join in the fun of DXing and participate, even if only for a few hours. Rules and details are available on the ARRL web site HERE.
Try The FM Birds!
Phil, N1EP, gave a presentation on working the amateur radio FM satellites during the November MHRS meeting in Machias. He specifically talked about AO-91, AO-92, and SO-50. Since then a couple club members have been programming their radios and listening to selected passes. Brian KC1FXF recently noted during a weekly simplex net that he was ready to jump in and get his feet wet. Good luck Brian!
You can find more information about the fm birds at amsat.org There are several web pages and apps that help ou track satellites. Heavens-Above website is one of my favorites. If you have a Linux computer, the Gpredeict program also works well.
Jonesport Antenna Farm
Ham radio operators driving through Downeast Maine should take a side trip down RT-187 in Jonesport and check out the humungus amateur radio antenna farm that was recently erected. K1LZ remote operates the many stacked yagis and phased arrays from his QTH in Massachusetts. He reportedly recently won a 160 meter contest using the impressive system.
Jerry N1QLL, suggests looking up K1LZ on QRZ.COM to check out the avid contester/DXer and his many impressive achievements!
Maine Bicentennial Special Event
Maine's 200th birthday is approching and the Wireless Society of Southern Maine is sponsoring a special event in March to commemmorate the milestone. Operators are needed in the nine original counties, including Washington County.
Phil, N1EP will be forward a sign up schedule to MHRS members who want to operate as W1W using voice, cw, or digital during the event period. More information is coming soon!
Tim KB1HNZ wrote in an email, "You'll be able to operate anywhere from 160-10 meters, plus 6m, 2m, and 70cm, and the modes include phone, CW, and digital. We recommend that you use electronic logging and send the logs in ADIF format to this address when you're done. Use the signup sheet to select which band slots you'd like to operate, and we just ask that if band conditions require you to change, which is possible, just check the signup sheet before jumping bands to make sure no one else is operating in the band slot.
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MHRS members wishing to participate and operate as W1W should contact Phil N1EP and he will forward the signup link.
