Radio and Amelia Earhart

Speaker: John Howard, W2JLH

Abstract: This talk will focus on the role that radio played during Amelia Earhart’s last flight—and how radio may have helped us “find” her.

About our speaker: By training, John is a biologist with over 40 years experience working as a biomedical researcher. His first Master’s degree is in Virology (useful in today’s pandemic). Through his mother, he became interested (some say obsessed) with two historical events on which he has become an expert: first, the Lincoln Assassination (why?- because his great grandmother saw Lincoln’s body in NYC City Hall in 1865), and second, the Lindbergh kidnapping (because his mother listened to the NYC-Paris fight of 1927 on a crystal set).

For the past 10 years, until the pandemic, John led tours of all existing sites related to the escape of Lincoln’s assassin John Wilkes Booth through So. Maryland and Va. He has also led discussion groups and tours of sites related to the Lindbergh kidnapping in NJ and the Bronx.

Regarding ham radio, John’s dad wanted to get his ticket around 1964, so he purchased a used Lafayette KT200. They put up a wire antenna and started listening. Because of the sudden death of his father in January, 1965, John, then a teen, never followed through. Then at age 67 he got his license (KD2NRS). He upgraded to General about a year later and got his current call (which includes his initials). He joined FLARC right after his Tech was issued and has been active ever since. The hams who have elmered him (and still do) are Fred W2AAB ( a real cw maven) and Van W2DLT (avid contester). John enjoys DX and contesting and plans to try to master code this year to expand his repertoire. The main limitation to his on air time is that he teaches HS biology and works evenings full time as a Pathologist Assistant and is on call for autopsies at another local hospital (he has assistant at or performed over 1000 post mortems).

The Broughton Family and Their Contributions to Radio

Speaker: Chris Hunter

Abstract: William Broughton and his father Henry made significant contributions to radio, both through amateur radio: Henry’s work with Tesla and William’s work as an engineer at GE. The Broughton family played a large role in the development of amateur radio locally and will be featured in a communications exhibit at miSci in 2022.

Chris Hunter oversees exhibition development and the technology history collections at miSci. He is a leading authority on the history of electrical and electronic technologies and has curated numerous exhibitions. In 2022 miSci plans a major exhibition, “Connected: The Evolution of Communication Technology,” in honor of the centennial of broadcast radio in the Capital Region.

An Evening with Bob Heil

Speaker: Bob Heil, K9EID

Abstract: For starters, Bob will discuss topics including microphone design, designing and operating phased array antennas, and designing and maintaining tube gear. Bob has a wide scope of topics to draw from, and has a unique ability to explain things in an understandable manner!

Since Bob Heil was first licensed as a ham in 1957, he has become a legend in the field of audio acoustics. He founded Heil Sound, a manufacturer of a variety of microphones for professional use, including the HC series for amateur radio communication. Since 2011, Bob has been a host on Ham Nation, a weekly live broadcast on This Week in Tech (https://twit.tv/shows/ham-nation).

An introduction to HF Digital Modes and Hardware…

Speaker: James MacMurray, N2UZQ

Abstract: We will be discussing some of the various types of hardware needed to operate HF Digital modes, how to setup the hardware, where to find the software, and how to set it up. This will include a real-time demonstration (on the air) of some of the more popular digital modes.

James MacMurray was born in 1972 and grew up in Scotia. James was licensed in 1993 and received his Extra while going to college for Data Communications. He is past president of SARA, current treasurer for SMARA, Emergency Coordinator for Schenectady County ARES, and Assistant Section Manager for Eastern NY. He has served as a Director for SARA for the past 6 years and served SMARA as a past President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Currently James is a full time Employee Retirement Examiner 3 for the State of New York Office of the State Comptroller. James has interests in VHF/UHF weak signal, HF phone, and HF Digital contesting.

“The DX Engineering Story…and a Few Words about Contesting”

Speaker: Tim Duffy, K3LR

Abstract: Tim will describe his world-famous contest station and antenna farm. He will discuss his equipment and antennas, as well as what it takes to keep a station like his running.

Tim has been an active amateur radio operator for 47 years, and has hosted 132 different operators from around the world as part of the K3LR Multi-Multi DX radio sport contest efforts since 1992. He was the ARRL Atlantic Division Technical Achievement award winner in 1998.

Tim has been the moderator of the Hamvention Antenna forum for 34 years, and serves as chairman of Contest University (13 years), the Dayton Contest Dinner (27 years), chairman of the Top Band Dinner – as well as coordinator of the Contest Super Suite (34 years) in Dayton during the yearly Hamvention. He is founder and moderator of the popular RFI Reflector (RFI@contesting.com) since 1999. Tim serves on the board of directors of the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) as Chairman and is President Emeritus of the Radio Club of America (RCA).

Tim is President of the Mercer County Amateur Radio Club (W3LIF). Tim was elected to the CQ Contest Hall of Fame in 2006. He was honored with the prestigious Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio service award by the RCA in 2010. K3LR was honored as Hamvention Amateur of the Year in 2015 by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association.

Tim is the Chief Executive Officer at DX Engineering, and is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University.

“Introduction to and Tutorial on the NanoVNA”

Speaker: Alan Wolke, W2AEW

Abstract: The presentation begins with a general introduction to what a Vector Network Analyzer is and what it is used for. This is followed by an introduction to the NanoVNA – focusing on its features, operation, calibration, applications and some of its limitations.

Alan Wolke (W2AEW) has been a ham since about 1980, and is a life- time member of the ARRL. He currently serves as the Technical Coordinator of the Northern NJ Section of the Hudson Division of the ARRL Field Organization. Favorite ham radio activities are ragchewing on the HF bands, mainly CW/SSB. He maintains a popular YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/w2aew) that features over 300 videos on basic electronics, ham radio, test & measurement, troubleshooting & repair, and other related topics. The channel has over 130,000 subscribers and nearly 17 million views. Professionally, Alan is employed by Tektronix as a Senior Field Applications Engineer, focusing on RF applications.

The Member Spotlight in the May, 2020 edition of QST Magazine featured Alan Wolke. Check page 13 of that issue for a more extensive look at how Alan developed his YouTube channel.

“DXing with modern Software Defined Radios”

Speaker: Ria Jairam

Abstract: DXing is one of the more popular activities in amateur radio. Whether casually for fun or for a serious DXCC chase, hams have found many new ways to get that elusive “new one” into the log. Today, software defined radios (SDRs) make DXing easier than ever. Also, combined with the internet, SDRs provide more insight into where and how far our signals go. We will discuss tips and techniques, working within award program rules, and how SDRs are used in innovative ways as DX chasing aids.

Ria was licensed in 1997 in Trinidad and Tobago after gaining interest in amateur radio during secondary school. She’s currently at 325 confirmed on DXCC, with Challenge 1500, 5 bands plus 30, 17, 12 and 160 meters (9 bands total). Ria has also served as the Director of the ARRL Hudson Division since 2019. Her interests are primarily DXing, contesting, portable operations, and digital VHF/UHF modes such as DMR and DSTAR. She runs a YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/RiaJairam and also occasionally writes articles about DXing in several ham publications, including CQ Japan.

Field Day 2020 and Annual Business Meeting

DATE: Monday, June 1, 2020

TIME: 7:00 PM

Speaker: Tim Long W2UI and James MacMurray N2UZQ

Tim Long got his start in amateur radio in 1961 when he passed his Novice exam given by his scoutmaster WA2FFJ and received call WN2KHQ. That call sign became WB2KHQ, then WA4DXR, then WB2SPN, and now W2UI. Tim has served SARA in various positions including many years as Secretary, two stints as Vice President, two tours as President, and countless years as Treasurer (dues cheerfully accepted). Tim holds BSEE and MSCS degrees and is now retired after a career with Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp. in West Milton. Besides ham ra- dio antenna work and Field Day, Tim enjoys golf.

James MacMurray was born in 1972 and grew up in Scotia. James was licensed in 1993 and received his Extra while going to college for Data Communications. He is past president of SARA, current treasurer for SMARA, Emergency Coordinator for Schenectady County ARES, and Assistant Section Manager for Eastern NY. He has served as a Director for SARA for the past 6 years and served SMARA as a past President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Currently James is a full time Employee Retirement Examiner 3 for the State of New York Office of the State Comptroller. James has interests in VHF/UHF weak signal, HF phone, and HF Digital contesting.

The June meeting is also our annual business meeting, including our annual election of Board Members and Officers. Officers and Board of Directors Nominations for 2020-2021 are as follows:

President: JR Hotaling N2PEQ
Vice President: Jim Silva KC2ZVK
Secretary: Jim Stewart K2PK
Treasurer: Tim Long W2UI
Board Member: Bob Saltzman WB2ARK
Board Member: Skip Evans W2YJL
Board Member: James MacMurray N2UZQ
Board Member: Terry Saunders N1KIN

Please plan to attend this meeting.