Who's getting it done for you?

Assistant Section Managers
Jim Ritterbusch, KD1YV
8B Kayview Ave.
Bethel, CT 
06801-1527
(203) 837-0143
kd1yv@arrl.net

Larry Buck, K1HEJ
262 Winthrop St
New Britain, CT 06052-1623
k1hej.buck@gmail.com

Official Observer Coordinator

Public Information Coordinator
Dana Borgman, KA1WPM
72 Wetmore Ave
Winsted, CT 06098

Assistant Public Information Coordinator
Albert E Petrunti, KA1TCH
77 White Pine Rd
Torrington, CT 06790-2354
(860) 626-8572
a@petrunti.com

Section Emergency Coordinator

State Government Liaison
Michael J Keane, K1MK
360 Cherry Ave
Watertown, CT 06795-2818
(203) 797-5154, (860) 274-9307
k1mk@arrl.net

Section Traffic Manager

Anne M West, K1STM
42 Academy St. Apt. 102
Southington, CT 06489-3259
(860) 628-6454
annejon1@allbraille.com

Section News 

from Betsey Doane, K1EIC

Section Leadership: K1EIC SM

ASMs W1FXQ – Emeritus; KD1YV, K1HEJ

OOC K1DFS PIC KA1WPM

SEC N1CLV ASECs N1FNE, K1BRF, AF1HS, K1VSC, W1GTT

SGL K1MK STM K1STM TC N1KHB.

This just in. I am deeply saddened to report that George Hart, W1NJM is a silent key. He passed away Sunday at age 99 at Avery Heights. A memorial service is planned late April. George founded The National Traffic System and managed theCommunications Department at ARRL for many years. We’ll share many memories in another letter. May he rest in peace.

I must also report that Emil KB1KMW is a silent key. I remember him so well; he was just licensed right before TopOff and spent his time doing whatever he could to participate at the staging area which was at the Colchester Firehouse. I saw him at other hamfests and at the Region 4 leadership meeting. He will be missed.

It’s holiday time again so let me first wish all of you a happy Easter/Passover season.

The annual Southington Hamfest is just a couple of weeks away. April 7 is the date so come on out and say hello. Place: Southington High School, 720 Pleasant St. 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Reserve tables early—6ft $15 in advance; $20 on the day of the flea market. If you bring your own table, there will be a discount of $5. Those helping you are responsible for the general admission fee. Admission $5. There is no charge for children under 12. Exams for all classes will be given at 10:00. The ARES forum is scheduled which I think is at 11:00. See http://www.chetbacon.com/flea2013.pdf.

The 39th annual Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference will be held April 26-28 at the Baymont Inn and Suites, 20 Taylor Street, Manchester CT. Advance room rates start at $69.99. The meeting is sponsored by the North East Weak Signal Group (NEWS). The program will include presentations, a banquet, swap ‘n sell, auction, test lab and more. For further info go to http://www.newsvhf.com or contact K1MAP map1@mapinternet.com.

The Members of Region 4 ARES supported the 2013 O”Niantic 5K race in mid March coordinated by ASEC Bill W1GTT.

Tom WA2RYV is holding hands-on mentoring sessions for new hams at Waterford Red Cross. They are going well—between 11 and 15 participants come monthly to learn about procedures on 2 meters, practice message traffic handling, antenna building and more. Tom is having a good time too! Contact tscottwa2ryv@gmail.comfor info.

DEC Douglas WA1SFH gave two digital workshops—one on packet configuration and operation and another on Airmail, RMS Express and Winmore. The more versatile an operator you are, the more fun you’ll have and your ability to respond in an emergency will be greatly enhanced.

In club news, Jon WB2RYV gave a presentation to the Greater Bridgeport ARC on NBEMS and its use in emcomm. March 30 is the date for The Stamford Digital Boot camp which will be attended by members of Stamford and Norwalk clubs.

Roger NG1R gave a talk at CARA on various logging programs. Many present use more than one program so there was a good lively discussion about the various features of each. It was noted that most programs run under Windows but MacLogger runs under Macintosh and Ubuntu Xlog runs under Linux. There is lots of software out there so find the one you like and enjoy the technology. How nice it would have been many years ago when we were all required to log every contact! Anybody remember that?

The Valley Amateur Radio Association enjoyed a great presentation on tower safety presented by Steve W1SMS. He had real interesting pictures of antenna raisings. Since he does a lot of his own antenna work alone, he described some of the tricks he uses to accomplish it all! For those of you who are more recently licensed, putting up antennas is a real art in itself—get out to antenna raising parties and learn the tricks. I’m sure you will have memorable stories to tell because no two such events are alike!

Chuck K0BOG and Steve WV1X gave a presentation at the meeting of NARL on the Amateur Auxiliary program through which official observers are appointed. You can read about this appointment at http://www.arrl.org/official-observer-1If you are interested in this program contact our OOC Chuck K1DFS k1dfs@arrl.net. We especially need official observers in Fairfield County. Ed Hare W1RFI will be giving a presentation at the Newington Amateur Radio League entitled The ARRL Lab: Trials, Tribulations and (tall) Tales at the next meeting on Monday April 1 at 7:00 Newington Senior Center. Ed is a wonderful speaker so if you have the chance, come on out!

I will be speaking at the meeting of the Stamford Amateur Radio Association on Thursday April 4 8:00 PM Stamford Government Center. Members of Greater Norwalk ARC and Fairfield ARA will be attending as well. I will talk about the ARRL Field Organization and related topics.

WECA (Westchester Club) has announced that they are going to hold a General Class training course starting April 16. It will be a nine week course meeting every Tuesday night (except that the 4th class in the series will be Weds 5/7 instead of Tues 5/6). The class meets at the Westchester Fire Training Academy, 4 Dana Avenue in Valhalla, and meets from 7-9pm. WECA has been very successful with their classes. They just finished an Extra Class training session and wound up with seven new extra class hams (including our own W3EIC). If you're interested, please contact Larrie Sutliff, W2UL at W2UL@WECA.org.

Paul N1II is looking for volunteers to support the upcoming Norwalk Regional Tree Festival. Norwalk and the surrounding towns of Wilton, Westport and Darien are all participating. Hams (with handi-talkies) are needed to guide people where to go, point them to parking and most important - hams would be the first friendly face visitors see - families and kids when they enter. If you don't have a radiowe will supply you with one. The event is at Cranbury Park on May 11. Task briefing would be at approximately 9:30 and the event lasts till 3. For those not familiar with Cranbury Park, it is located about a mile east of the Wal-Mart on Main Avenue (old Route 7) near the Norwalk-Wilton border. Please reply to pdanzer@optonline.net or N1II@arrl.net (with your name, call and telephone number). He still needs a few more ops so do it today if interested.

After this winter, we all need something to invigorate us. Here’s a note about something new from Eric KB1EHE. “If there is one thing that is an absolute constant in ham radio is that we all like to tinker, create, and innovate. It was the combination of this build-it-from-scratch mentality, and the passion for community service, that inspired me to become a ham in the early 70's.

As a youngster, I had wonderful Elmers teaching me the ways. And now we're opening the doors to statewide Elmer-ship (I just made up that word) and tinkerer's paradise. It will be open nearly 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. It is the "Makerspace" in downtown Hartford.

If you are new to the Makerspace concept, it is a national (in fact, international) movement to build, create, explore, and invent -- just about anything you can imagine. It is an all-ages, all-genders participatory movement. As described at www.makerspace.com: "A Makerspace is a learning environment rich with possibilities. As new hardware and software tools for making, digital design, and fabrication are emerging, we’re working together -- with teachers and community leaders -- to place those tools into the hands of a wider audience. We’re building the infrastructure for more kids and adults to connect to a future in which they can personally change, modify or 'hack' the physical world, creating things that were nearly impossible to do on their own just a few years ago. Making is about getting hands-on, using these new technologies and basic tools, to do real and personally meaningful work."

I've been part of the working group to start a Makerspace in Hartford. The doors are about to open. And it will be located in one of the neatest places you can imagine: the lower floor of the historic City Steam building. The location was chosen because it is central to all residents of Connecticut, has easy highway access, has secure parking, and offers street-level 24/7 accessibility. (For historical reference, the building was designed by the architect H.H. Richardson, opened in 1877, and housed the largest department store in Connecticut: Brown Thomson and Company.)

The paperwork is currently being filed to make it a 501(c) "non profit" organization. It is designed as a public service for the citizens of the entire region.

If you want to play, engage, create -- or even just socialize -- with your fellow hams and creative citizens and artisans, I encourage you to keep up to date on developments via the recently launched Web site: www.makehartford.com. And, for the very latest developments, sign up on the home page for e-mail updates.

This is a ham radio operator's paradise. And, even more so, I believe it can be a great way to inspire a whole new generation of hams. (There's no better way to excite a young mind than to demonstrate -- hands-on -- the magic of radio.)

Be part of the community. And please help spread the word to our fellow hams!” Now here’s this month’s exam schedule. Good luck if you’re taking a test! See you next month.

Milford CT 06460-3308
 Sponsor: Coastline ARC         VEC: ARRL/VEC
Date: Apr 07 2013                       Time: 10:00 AM (No walk-ins)
Contact: Richard S. Williamson (203) 877-5020 wa1yqe@aol.com
  Location: CARA Clubhouse, Eels Hill Rd, Milford
Pre-registration required!

 Thomaston CT 06787-1744
 Sponsor: Northwest Amateurs    VEC: ARRL/VEC
Date: Apr 09 2013                       Time: 7:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Lawrence S. Polowy (860) 283-4089 lspolowy@snet.net
  Location: Thomaston Town Hall-Senior Citizen Center (Level 1), 158
Main St. 

Trumbull CT 06611-1944
 Sponsor: CT Regional Testing Center VEC: W5YI VEC
Date: Apr 11 2013                       Time: 7:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Kevin W. Cellini (203) 209-6495 kevin.cellini@gmail.com
  Location: http://441700.org/CRTC/crtc.htm
VE’s Residence
 49 Sunrise Ave., Trumbull CT 06611-1944

 Newington CT 06111-1400
 Sponsor: Newington Amateur Radio League        ARRL/VEC
 Date: Apr 13 2013                      Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Steven R. Ewald (860) 594-0265 sewald@arrl.org
  Location: ARRL Headquarters
 225 Main St, Newington

 Washington Depot CT 06794-1201
 Sponsor: Northville ARA                ARRL/VEC
 Date: Apr 13 2013                      Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)

 Contact: Gary Michael. Walters  (860) 938-2030 w8zy@outlook.com
Location: Washington Volunteer Fire Station, 109 Bee Brook Rd,
Washington DepotCT 

Portland CT 06480-1841
 Sponsor: Middlesex ARS         ARRL/VEC
 Date: Apr 16 2013                      Time: 7:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Paul Lux (860) 635-1742 k1pl@arrl.net
Location: Portland Senior Center-1st Bldg on Right
  Across Portland Bridge, Next Right After 3rd Light
7 Waverly Ave., Portland

 Milford CT 06460
 Sponsor: SCTG                   W5YI/VEC
 Date: Apr 17 2013                      Time: 7:00 PM (No walk-ins)
Contact: Peter J. Keyes n1goj@softhome.net
Location: CARA Clubhouse, Eels Hill, Milford; (repeater site)
  Pre-registration required

 Farmington CT 06032-1955
Sponsor:  unsponsored           ARRL/VEC
 Date: Apr 19 2013                      Time: 6:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Walter M. Styslo (860) 529-8474 k1wms@hotmail.com
Location: American Red Cross, 209 Farmington Ave., Farmington
===

ARRL Connecticut Section
Section Manager: Betsey M Doane, K1EIC
k1eic@arrl.org

CT Section Alert Ends
Posted 10 Feb 2013 at 20:25 EST

Greetings!

CT ARES is returned to Level 0 Inactive effective immediately.

My sincere thanx to all who supported our Level 2 Standby status during the Blizzard of 2013.

And in particular, thanx to all of the Skywarn spotters, net control stations, and coordinators who gathered "ground truth" observations for the National Weather Service.

Stay safe!

Wayne Gronlund N1CLV

CT ARES SEC / CT-IMT4 COML

Greetings!

A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for all of Connecticut. Snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet are predicted. 

Winds up to hurricane force are possible. Widespread power outages are likely.

I am raising the CT ARES activation status to Level 2 Standby effective at 2000 EST this evening.

Please continue to prepare to assist our Served Agencies should the need arise.

Above all, stay safe!

Thanx & 73, Wayne N1CLV

CT ARES SEC

On 7 Feb 2013, at 13:49 PM, n1clv@mac.com wrote:

Greetings!

Based on the increasing likelihood that Connecticut will be impacted by a significant winter storm, I am raising the CT ARES activation status to Level 1 Alert effective immediately.

Please maintain good situational awareness as the storm develops by watching/listening to your preferred weather forecast sources. 

Please be prepared to assist our Served Agencies if requested by ensuring your radio batteries are charged, vehicles and generators are fueled, etc.

The safety of you and your family should be your highest priority! Now is the time to make preparations to keep your family safe should you be asked to deploy.

I anticipate raising the activation status to Level 2 Standby later this evening. Remember, you should NOT deploy without direction from the appropriate ARES or local official.

Thanx & 73, Wayne N1CLV

CT ARES SEC

Governor Malloy Proclaims Amateur Radio Week

The Honorable Dannel Malloy has issued a proclamation declaring Amateur Radio Week in the State of Connecticut.  See the proclmation here (pdf).

CT Section Manager to receive George Hart Distinguished Service Award

The annual George Hart Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Betsey Doane, K1EIC, this Saturday, June 16 at 11:00 am. ARRL Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, will make the presentation at the Newington Amateur Radio League hamfest (NARLFEST).

The George Hart Distinguished Service Award is given to an ARRL member whose service to the League's Field Organization is of the most exemplary nature. It is named in honor of George Hart, W1NJM. Hart was a long-time Communications Manager at ARRL Headquarters and chief developer of the National Traffic System (NTS).

Selection criteria include:

• Operating record with the National Traffic System; or

• Participation within the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®); or

• Station appointments and/or leadership positions held within the ARRL Field Organization.

The NARLFEST is at St. Mary's School, 652 Willard Ave., in Newington, CT. It runs from 8 am to 2 pm. For directions and other information, see http://www.narlhamfest.org/ .

New Training Pages on CT ARRL Section

• Audio tutorial
• The ARRL Field Organization
  

• ARES Training

• Tactical & FCC Callsigns
  

Calendar of events

During the move of our internet host, we upgraded the Web Calendar to the most recent version.  It has some new features, but nothing daunting.  Give it a try - post your upcoming events for all CT hams to see.

The WebCalendar is designed so that club officials, section leadership and other hams may post events for public viewing.  Follow this link for instructions.

SM Betsey, K1EIC reports “Some of us have received emails from another Section about their work with mesh networking.  Rod has given me a link to a nice video intro. 

“And thanks Rod for the material.”

http://www.hsmm-mesh.org/documentation/133-ae5ib-intro-to-hsmm-mesh-2012-hamcomm.html

Here is another link. 

http://www.hsmm-mesh.org/hsmm-files.html

NTS Picnic Pictures on this Web Site

National Traffic System (NTS) Corner

NTS MONTHLY REPORTS

CT Section

Submitted by: Ann-Marie, K1STM

Month: February, 2013

Schedule of NTS Nets