   
March /
April 2013
Volume
3, Issue 2 |
2013 2 Meter FM
Simplex Challenge
Results
3rd
Annual
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
GORHAM,
ME - The 2013 Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge took place on the 10th
of February, only a day after the Northeast was struck by one of the
biggest blizzards in recent memory. The contest saw an upswing in
partcipation, especially around the Bangor area, and despite the
challenging road conditions, a considerable amount of mobile
activity.
WSSM Members to Teach Course for O.O.B. / Saco Adult Education
Intro to Ham Radio
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
One May 5th, WSSM members will teach a
3 hour course introducing Amateur Radio, designed to launch students on
the path toward earning their first ham radio license. The course will
be held from 6-9PM at the Old Orchard Beach High School, located at 40
E. Emerson Cummings Blvd., in Old Orchard Beach, ME. Pre registration
is required. For more information, or to sign up online, please click here.
QSL
Corner
Here's
an interesting QSL card from the Republic of Togo. (by KB1HNZ on 15 meters SSB).
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Project Update: CW With Your HT Oscillator Kits
Project Night at Gorham Recreation Department
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
GORHAM,
ME - At
February's club meeting,
we continued our latest project, which is a simple device that can be
used
with any handheld or mobile transciever to send modulated CW. It's
basically an audio oscillator and keying circuit which acts as an
interface between a CW key and a radio. As members have begun to finish
their projects, we've had a chance to see some of them completed. Click
on the link below to see pictures of the construction process, and for
more information on how you can build one yourself.
SOTA Expedition to Mt. Agamenticus
York, ME
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
The WS1SM team is ready to
kick off the season with an expedition to Mt. Agamenticus, in York, ME,
to activate the mountain for Summits on the Air (SOTA). The event will
take place on Sunday, April 28th, and will include operations on both
VHF and HF. Frequencies will be announced on the SOTA Watch website as
well as via Twitter. Member Profile
Charles Sheppard, W1CPSby Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
For this issue, we're introducing a
new regular feature, which will profile different WSSM members,
interview style, by asking questions about their involvement in the
hobby and some other things you might not know about them. For the
first feature, we've chosen Charles Sheppard, W1CPS.
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April
11th - from 7PM-9PM at the Gorham Recreation
Department April 25th - from 7PM-9PM SKYWARN Training at Gorham Recreation Department May 9th -
from 7PM-9PM at the Gorham Recreation Department |

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Check out the ads on page 2 to view items for
sale, upcoming
hamfests, announcements, and wanted items.
The
Wireless Society of Southern Maine would like to welcome new members:
Bert Dumont, KB1ZLV, of Greene, ME, and Dana Littlefield, KB1ZLU, of
Strong, ME.
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From
the Editor's Desk
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A Call to Action
In
recent years, across the country, there have been a number of laws
proposed that could have been detrimental to Amateur Radio, if not
addressed. A lot of times this happens out of shear ignorance on the
behalf of lawmakers. The ARRL and its lobbying force are good at
keeping a watchful eye on what is taking place in Washington - for
example, opposing such bills as H.R. 607, which aims at “addressing
certain spectrum management issues including the creation and
maintenance of a nationwide Public Safety broadband network.” But it’s
on the state and local levels, that clubs like ours need to take a more
active role in monitoring what's being presented.
The most
recent bill to come up is one proposed by State Representative
Beaudoin, of Biddeford, which aims to criminalize the use of mobile
phones while operating a motor vehicle. At first glance, it may seem
like a good idea to keep phones out of the hands of drivers, but how
does this effect Amateur Radio? Looking at the bill, (LD68), it does
appear to specifically imply the use of “mobile phones,” but as club
member, Frank Krizan, KR1ZAN, points out, “the wording of the Bill is
subject to interpretation by an officer of the law, who would be in
his/her right to issue a citation to a Ham, requiring the Ham to
justify to a judge that he/she was not using a cellphone, but, rather
an amateur radio communications system.”
The bill goes on to
specifically exempt operators of emergency vehicles, physicians,
holders of commercial driver’s licenses, and select municipal employees
from any penalty - which begs the question as to why commercial drivers
especially, who have the potential of being the most lethal since they
operate vehicles containing passengers, hazardous materials, and not to
mention, considerable weight, would be exempt.
I think
all of us would feel more comfortable with LD68 if it contained
language which specifically made an exception for the use of radios by
licensed Amateur Radio operators. Amateur Radio plays a vital role as a
support communications service during emergencies, volunteer
activities, and for personal communications. We need to protect this
freedom so that we can continue to apply our communications skills
where needed. Please take a moment to contact your local
Representatives and State Senators to make them aware of this concern.
To find contact information for elected officials, by state district,
please click here.
73,
Tim Watson
KB1HNZ
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