Category Archives: Breaking News

Rotor Replaced!

Today, a small crew from GNARC replaced the failed rotor on the tower. Mike N1PLH and Paul WB2JVB climbed the tower with ground crew support from Tom K1TA, Curt W1FSM and Dee N1ZD.  Charles N1LLL was the safety officer.  Please see one of the tech committee for training on how to use the new rotor system.

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”47″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”240″ thumbnail_height=”160″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

Wednesday night projects!

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”46″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”240″ thumbnail_height=”160″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]For those who never come to the comm center, you are missing out on the fun! Last night we worked on RDF antennas, installed FLDIGI and got it working with the IC-7200 for digital modes and had a generally good tech time!

 

Portable Ops at Ambler Farm

Today a bunch of GNARC members showed up to operate portable at Ambler Farm in Wilton CT.  The excuse to operate was that today is “Fall Out” day, started by the 100 Watts and a Wire Group.

We had two antennas, a G5RV about 35 feet up and an end-fed wire about 30 feet up at one end. Rigs were Icom IC-706 and IC-718.

KC1YL and WB2JVB got the antennas up during the week.  Thanks to the following hams who showed up today and helped, or just shot the breeze:  K1TA, N1PLH, KC1GFO, AB1QK, N1ALF, KB1YLQ, KC1EAA, KC1YL and WB2JVB.

Contacts were made on 20m SSB and 40m SSB and CW. We even had a rare DX contact into the next county in NY, our previous president NE2Q! A few DX contacts in Europe and many US contacts. Lots of donuts and coffee were consumed.

A group of kids who apprentice at the farm heard our presentation on ham radio, and a couple were definitely interested.  We also had a fox transmitter setup a couple of miles away and played with the tape measure antenna to try and point at it.

An excellent time had by all!

Update: Antennas for Fox Hunt made!

Getting ready for the upcoming GNARC fox hunt (date TBD), a few hams got together and made some tape measure antennas. If you don’t have one, better get on board! They were super easy to make.

This is the link for the instructions we used: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Tape-Measure-Antenna/

We tested the SWR and it is 1.1 to 1.4 across the band. Make one!

 

 

 

GNARC trailer locked and loaded for field day

We may not score high, but darned if we don’t look sharp doing it!!

jeep_gnarc jeep_gnarc2

Volunteers are Needed

There are four events coming up that need radio operators: Cranbury Park Tree Festival, Bloomin’ Metric Bike Ride, MS Bike Ride, and the American Legion Thank you to our Veterans Day.

Remember, we have to earn our right to get the airwaves the FCC gives us. Give back to the community and volunteer. Its fun and rewarding. Don’t be shy, we will put you in a role you are comfortable with.

The City of Norwalk gives us our space at 100 Fairfield ave. It is important to give back to the city!

Contact: Sam NV1P for the Tree Festival on 5/21 and the MS Bike Ride on 6/12.

Contact: Jon, WB2RYV for the Bloomin’ Metric on 5/22.

Contact George, AB1QK for the American Legion event on 6/4. Click here for more details about that event.

Email addresses are in the member directory.

PLEASE sign up, it is important.

Paul WB2JVB ARES DEC for Region 1

Slides from 5/11 Arduino/Pi Presentation

Slides are attached in PPTX format.

Computers are Free