Welcome to my home page, a launching pad to many fascinating ham radio activities in Maine and around the world.
N1EP Running For Maine ARRL Section Manager
Yes, you read correct, I submitted my ARRL Section Manger nomination package a couple weeks ago. Bob Gould, N1WJO, is not seeking re-election. Some of my goals and objectives if I am elected include:
Recruitment of more hams, especially youth, into our hobby. This will be one of my top priorities.
Create and maintain a statewide Elmer/Mentor listing of hams who are willing to advise and assist both new or prospective hams and seasoned hams who need help for whatever reason. We need to follow up after VE sessions to help new hams get on the air and learn the ropes. I will appoint a Youth Coordinator who will work with myself, Assistant SMs and clubs to find ways to make ham radio attractive to new people, and to offer help when it is needed. Follow up is KEY! It will not only benefit ham radio, but club memberships as well.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Maine needs vital improvement and participation. I will work with the Section Emergency Coordinator to try and make sure all 16 Maine counties have effective ARES teams.
YL Inclusion. We all know that the vast percentage of operators on the air and at clubs is male. I want to find out why more of the licensed YL hams are not participating, and also reach out to YLs in recruitment drives. I would like to appont a "YL Champion" to assist me in this endeavor.
Space Comms and Technology. I will task my Youth Coordinator to help clubs and others to learn and become efficient in the latest amateur radio technolgies and space communications. The Youth Coordinator will seek out and find success stories and resources and share these within the Maine section. Kids are more apt to get interested in these categories, as well as kit-building, portable operations and other fun events. If every club gave demonstrations at schools, scouts troops, 4H groups, and other youth organizations, the amateur radio community could inspire a whole lot of kids in how much fun ham radio can be.
I will maintain regular communications with ARRL leadership and with Maine ARRL members via the amateur radio bands, newsletters, and email. One of the duties of a section manager is to listen and get feedback from ARRL members, and I will do that.
The Washington County Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Maine has launched a web site. Check it out at WCARES - WN1EOC
MHRS YouTube Channel
Do not miss out on any Maine Ham Radio Society MHRS RadioActive YouTube videos. The channel is available here: MHRS RadioActive YouTube Channel
The latest video features Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and his Engaging Young People and New Hams presentation. Do not miss this video. It is really inspiring!
Summer Portable Ops
Warmer temps are here and it is time to get outside for some portable operations fun, whether it be QRP or 100 watts. My portable ops will be mostly at campsites when I take the RV out, but I will also be doing some out in the yard here in Milbridge, as well as in the back 80 acres. I want to take my KX3 and a wire out there and see how many qrp contacts I can make.
Another fun thing to do is bring the qrp gear out to local parks and other scenic areas and put those locations on the air!
Optimize!
Get More Signal For Your Buck
Amateur radio is an awesome hobby and public service. We all love to get on the air and chat using a multitude of modes and frequencies. But sometimes we wish the signals we are hearing were stronger, and that our own transmissions could reach out farther to get the attention of that rare DX or contest station.
A nifty tiny but powerful device that can complement any ham shack is the Raspberry Pi mico computer. The new Raspberry Pi 4 is quite an upgrade from the previous model and can run all the open source office suites, browse the Internet, and run many ham radio applications.These include packet/APRS, NBEMS/FLDIGI and associated programs, logging and rig control, echolink, and much more!
My winter projects relating to the Raspberry Pi include the fllowing:
TNC Pi Kit for APRS
Maintain Several Web Sites With Pi
Interface Pi With HF Rig for Digital Comms
Track Satellites with Gpredict
I'll post my progress on this web site. 73 de N1EP
Sundays Sweepstakes Social Was Fun!
Joan N1NUA and Brian KC1FXF made a great team during the Sweepstakes!
Check out the sweepstakes social article under the NEWS section!
