    Holiday Edition 2015
Volume 5, Issue 3
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Field Day Results Are In!
2015 ARRL Field
Day
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
NEWINGTON, CT
- The 2015 ARRL Field Day results are in, and for the 2nd year in
a row, the WS1SM team takes the top spot in Maine!
SKYWARN
Recognition Day
NWS, Gray, ME
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
For the 2nd consecutive year, WSSM
members visited the National Weather Service Forecast Office, in Gray,
ME to take part in on-air activities for SKYWARN Recognition Day, as
well as the annual SKYWARN Strategy Meeting.
Maine QSO Party Winners Announced
Gorham, ME
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
GORHAM, ME - The Wireless Society of Southern Maine
is proud to announce the winners of the 2015 Maine QSO Party, which
took place September 26-27. Thanks to everyone who participated and
especially to those who helped promote the MEQP throughout the year!
QSL
Corner
We'll
explore some QSLs submitted by YO9GJY, and also talk about the one
above, received during an "eyeball QSO" with Adrian Sinitaru, YO3APJ.
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WSSM
Partners with Cumberland County EMA
Windham, ME
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
WINDHAM, ME - In September, the Wireless Society of Southern Maine
was approached by the directors of Cumberland County EMA to provide
communications support, and were quickly put to the test during the
statewide Simulated Emergency Test.
Operating
While Abroad
Baicoi, Romania
by Tim
Watson, YO/KB1HNZ
In mid October, Stefania YO9GJY, and myself had the opportunity to
operate from a contest station at Baicoi, Romania, as well as at her
home QTH in Valea Calugareasca.
WS1SM Team Activates Nubble
Lighthouse for ILLW
August 16, 2015
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
YORK,
ME - The WS1SM Team activated Cape Neddick "Nubble" Lighthouse for the 2015 International
Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW).
Wavelength
Maine Maritime Museum
by
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
After an exploratory visit to the Maine Maritime Museum in early
October, WSSM members went back to install a 40m dipole as part of a
new exhibit called Wavelength: The Story of Signals at Sea.
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January
14th - from
7PM-9PM at Gorham Recreation Department, 75 South Street, Gorham, ME.
February
11th - from
7PM-9PM at Gorham Recreation Department, 75 South Street, Gorham, ME.
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Check
out the ads on page 2 to view items for sale, upcoming hamfests,
announcements, and wanted items.
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From the Editor's Desk
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Looking back
It
seems like its been forever since the last issue went out, but that
only means there's a lot more to talk about. As I look back at the last
few weeks, and the year as a whole, we've accomplished a lot. Field Day
was a massive success, earning us the top rank in Maine for the second
consecutive year, and people are still talking about the W1V Anniversary Special Event, which took place in late July.
WS1SM
team members braved the wind and rain to participate in the CQWW VHF
contest from the summit of Mt. Washington, and in August, we
activated Nubble Lighthouse for International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
We've
been active in SKYWARN, helping to reorganize the program and
fascilitate the collection of reports during severe weather events
throughout the year, beginning with the blizzard that slammed New
England on January 26-27, and most recently with the flooding that
effected coastal Maine in September.
In December, we participated in SKYWARN Recognition Day,
operating on HF, VHF, Echolink, and DMR for nearly 24 hours, making
over 300 QSOs. We also made a good showing at the annual SKYWARN
Strategy Meeting, giving a 2-part presentation thatincluded a year in review and Net Control Operator Training.
Our contests continue to grow in popularity, with both the Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge and Maine QSO Party seeing record entries for 2015.
We continue to offer educational programs, including Intro to Ham Radio courses and multi-week programs to help increase awareness of the hobby, and attract new members.
The most recent challenge we accepted is to assist the Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency.
We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the fall, and are in
the beginning stages of organizing the program. We hope to prove that
Amateur Radio can become a viable communications support option for
their organization. So far it's been a fun project, and we anticipate
that it will be a good learning experience and an outlet for us tostrengthen our skills as radio operators as we become more involved.
Before
I close, I'd like to say thanks to everyone who offered good wishes and
came out to surprise Stefania and myself with a party shortly before
our wedding. It meant a lot to both of us to know we have such good
friends around us, and she especially appreciated the warm welcome to
the WSSM family.
Best wishes
and Happy Holidays,
73,
Tim Watson
KB1HNZ
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