Newsletter November / December 2014, The Radiogram, page 2 - Official eNews of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine

WSSM Year in Review
2014 Events and Activities

by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

GORHAM, ME - In the beginning of 2014, we were just coming off a very successful year, which saw membership double, and impressive results in on air activities, including a first place in the CQWW VHF contest, but despite being pleased, we weren't quite satisfied.

2014 saw an environment emerge where members took pride in the details and shared an initiative to make things even better. This showed in the way we prepared for Field Day and accomplished 1st place in all categories for Maine. It showed in the courses we taught and the expeditions we set off on to mountaintops, islands, and lighthouses throughout the year. But more importantly, we had a lot of fun along the way. Below you'll find a picture collage of many of the memorable moments of 2014.

W1CJS and others operate from West Quoddy Head Light

Left: "Madam President," Cindy Shepard, W1CJS, operates from West Quoddy Head Light. Right: Winners of the Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge pose with their certificates.

Left: Members of the WS1SM IOTA team sort out the gear after it was unloaded on Seguin Island. Right: Sean Binette, W1GFD, operates 40m ssb during Field Day in June.

KR1ZAN

Left: Frank Kr1zan, KR1ZAN, tunes in a satellite during Field Day, as Sebastian KC1BMY, and Thom, W1WMG look on. Right: Bert, KB1ZLV, Dakota, KB1YYC, and Sean, W1GFD, operate 40 meters during the IOTA expedition to Seguin Island in July.

YO9GJY

Left: Making it a truly international team, Stefania, YO9GJY, joined us on our expedition to Seguin Island in July. Right: Rory, KB1PLY, operates 20 meters ssb during Field Day.

West Quoddy

Left: West Quoddy Head Light made for a beautiful setting to operate during this year's International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend in August. Right: Dakota, KB1YYC, operates during the early hours at Field Day.

Antenna farm

Left: HF antennas we used on Field Day, including the the tower-mounted 40m mono bander, and Spiderbeam. Right: Impromptu HF station setup on a picnic table during a summer meeting. Here's CJ, Dana, Dave, and Ryan.

Mt. Washington

Left: Dakota, KB1YYC and Emily operate 6 meters from the summit of Mt. Washington, during the CQWW VHF contest. Right: Dana, K1RQ, operates 40m CW from the trailer during Field Day.

WS1SM Number 1 in Maine for 2014 Field Day!

Scarborough, ME
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

SCARBOROUGH, ME - The 2014 Field Day results are in, and WS1SM is 1st place in Maine - all categories! In only our 4th year competing, this is a huge accomplishment! Thanks to everyone who put in such an amazing effort. WS1SM tallied 1052 QSOs, and 4910 points, operating in the 3A category.

Source: ARRL Results Database

SKYWARN Winter Spotter Training

Gorham Recreation Department
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

GORHAM, ME - The National Weather Service is offering SKYWARN Spotter training on Thursday, January 22nd at the Gorham Recreation Department. The class, which begins at 7pm, will focus on winter storms and spotting criteria that is important during the winter season. The class will be held in the Multi Purpose Room. No reservations are needed. For directions and more information, please contact Tim Watson KB1HNZ at [email protected]

Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge is February 15th!
Starting at 12 PM
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

GORHAM, ME - The 5th annual Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge takes place February 15th from 12-4 pm. Last year offered the most competitive challenge yet, with only 1 QSO separating first and second overall, and a dead heat in the Mobile QRP category. The Medium Fixed category was also very close, with only 2 multipliers separating the top two.

Taking part is easy and you don't have to have a high power contest station to compete. There's categories for mobile and fixed stations, as well as QRP (5 watts), Medium (5-99 watts) and High power (100 watts or more). The exchange is simple too - just give your call sign, the name of the town, city, or township that you're transmitting from, and your power. Click here to learn more. Then, choose a category, and get on the air! Best of luck!

WSSM Announces Technician Class Course and Exam
Starting January 14
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

GORHAM, ME - WSSM members will teach a Technician Class course and host an exam session Wednesday nights starting in January, at the National Weather Forecast Office, in Gray, ME. There will be three classes followed by a VE exam. Dates for the classes are: January 14, 21, & 28, with an exam session on February 4th. Classes begin at 7pm and last for about 2 hours. For more information, please contact Tim Watson KB1HNZ at: [email protected]

DX News
December 12 - February 2
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

The most notable DXpeditions of recent months were the FT4TA activation of Tromelin in late October, and the E30FB activation of Eritrea, but there are still some good ones to be had before the year is out. In recent news, there's the possibility that KH5, Palmyra and Jarvis Islands, which are 10th on the most wanted DXCC list, might be activated sometime in 2016, according to a report in the OPDX Bulletin. A plan is currently being worked out with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to accomodate up to 12 amateur radio operators in January-February 2016. The total estimated cost would be $176,000. We will let you know more if any firm plans are put in place to activate KH5.

The most exciting news of late has been the announcement of a major DXpedition in January 2014 to KP1, Navassa Island. Throughout 2014, Navassa has been ranked number 1 on the most wanted DXCC list. The K1N team, of 15 U.S. operators, will put Navassa on the air for a maximum of 14 days, with the exact dates yet to be specified. Keep an eye on the K1N website for further updates at: navassadx.com. Expect huge pile-ups when they come on the air! Also bear in mind that Navassa is in the Caribbean and should be quite workable from Maine.

From the Rockall DX Group, there has been news of a 10-member DXpedition to Iran from January 16-31, 2015. The team from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Greece are looking to operate from Kish Island (AS-166). Dates are tentative. See the EP6T website for the latest details.

As always, if you have a brag or know details about an upcoming DXpedition, please let us know, and we'll be sure to include it.

As we enter the holiday season, there should be plenty of vacationers with 1-2 day "Holiday-style" operations on the air as well, especially from the Caribbean and warmer climes. Have fun searching the bands and Good DX!

Click here for the latest 425 DX News

12/12 - 01/08
12/15 - 01/02
12/22 - 01/02
12/25 - 12/30
12/25 - 01/04
12/26 - 01/01
12/27 - 12/30
12/28 - 12/30
12/28 - 01/10
12/31 - 01/05
01/01 - 01/31
01/05 - 01/11
01/06 -01/13
01/07 - 01/12
01/07 - 01/15
01/09 - 01/17
01/10 - 01/18
01/10 - 02/05
01/11 - 02/03
01/15 - 01/23
01/15 - 01/26

D44TWO
XW4XR
JD1BON
V25A
T8CW
VK9N
AH2/AB2RF
3A/EA5IDQ
JD1BMH
VP9/K4KGG
C6A/9H5G
TX5W
V5/G3RWF
AH0CO/KH8
T88SM
XR0YJ
ZF2PG
6W7SK
HH5/KC0W
XW4XR
C5X

Cape Verde
Laos
Ogasawara
Antigua
Palau
Norfolk Island
Guam
Monaco
Ogasawara
Bermuda
Bahamas
Austral
Namibia
American Samoa
Palau
Easter Island
Cayman Islands
Senegal
Haiti
Laos
Gambia

By DF2WO from Praia Santiago Is. (AF-005); HF; CW, SSB
By 3W3B; HF
By JI1LET & JA1UII; from Chichijima (AS-031); 80-6m CW, SSB
By JJ1RJR; 40-10m; possibly 160-80m
By JH0IXE from Koror Is; 160-6m; CW, SSB, RTTY, JT65, PSK31
By G7VJR; High bands; mostly CW
By JJ2RCJ; WARC bands; mostly RTTY
By EA5IDQ; 40-10m, SSB, RTTY
By JG7PSJ; from Chichijima (AS-031); 40-10m, CW, SSB, RTTY
By K4KGG; HF
By 9H5G; from (NA-001, NA-113, NA-054, NA-048); 160-10m
By KK6BT; from Raivavae Is (OC-114); 40-10m; SSB
By G3RWF; HF; mostly CW
By JA0JHQ; 30,17,15m, SSB, some CW
By JA6EGL and others; 160-6m
By JA3ARJ and others; 80-6m; CW, SSB, and Digital
By K8PGJ; 20-10m; daytime SSB
By F6BLP; HF; mostly CW
By KC0W; 160-40; mostly CW
By 3W3B; HF
By G3VMW and others

Germany Nominated to Host WRTC 2018
World Radio Team Championship
by Tim Watson, KB1HNZ

On Sunday, October 5, 2014, the World Radio Team Championship (WRTC) Sanctioning Committee selected Germany as the host country for the WRTC 2018. This nomination followed an initiative of DARC, BCC, and RRDXA, initiated during the ham radio fair Friedrichshafen at the end of June 2014.

A small team, headed by Christian Janssen, DL1MGB, was setup in order to explore the option to hold this event in Germany. Since 1990, WRTC has been held regularly in different locations. For one week, it brings together some 60 teams from all over the world, who then compete in the IARU Team Championship under Field Day-like conditions.

The last WRTC was held in New England only a few months ago, and it ended with a Bronze medal for Germany. In the next several weeks, the team will launch an official organization to finance and conduct WRTC 2018 in Germany.

The team is recruiting volunteers, particularly in the fields, public relations, location scouting, accomodation, and social events. 3 geographic regions in Germany are currently being evaluated, and one of them will be selected as the venue for WRTC 2018. The area near Meunster/Westfalen, the area Maerkisches, Oderland (East of Berlin), and the area around Jessen/Wittenburg. A website has been setup to provide further details.

QSL Corner

On page 1, we feature a card received by Tim Watson for a 1999 SWL report of amateur radio communications from the Russian Space Station MIR. Sticking with our space theme, you'll find more QSLs below, including one of the final cards from MIR and two variations of QSLs from the International Space Station.

If you received an interesting QSL yourself that you'd like to show off, please send a digital image to [email protected] and we'll be sure to publish it in an upcoming issue.

	R0MIR - Here's a QSL card received by Thom Watson for an August 1999 SWL report of transmissions received from the MIR Space Station.
	RS0ISS - Here's a QSL card received by KB1HNZ for a 144 MHz voice QSO on 1 September 2002.

NA1SS - Here's a QSL card received by W1WMG for a 144 MHz voice QSO with NA1SS on 28 June 2014 (Field Day).