December Social Event

Happy Holidays from SARA

Today’s Kit Industry: Build Your Own Radios!

Speaker: Neil Goldstein, W2NDG

Abstract: Neil will take us on a tour of the radio kit market, and present some tips and tricks for acquiring and building old and new kits.

About our speaker: Neil Goldstein, W2NDG, has been tinkering with radios since the early seventies when he used to hang out in his uncle’s ham shack in CT (W1PVC sk). These days, he can be found in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains with a QRP radio, or sitting at his workbench amidst a cloud of solder smoke.

After first getting licensed in 2011 as KD2APZ, he started looking for ways to merge his two hobbies: computers and radio. Now, a holder of an Extra Class license, he experiments with SDR, rig control, digital modes, and still has a well-used soldering iron. Neil is active in the OMARC, and QSY Society clubs, has written for AmateurRadio.com as well as The Spectrum Monitor, and frequently presents at various club meetings on computer-related subjects.

Neil maintains radiokitguide.com, the complete list of radio kit sources on the Internet.

*Note: The meeting location is 309 Alplaus Ave, Alplaus, NY, and the building is at the corner of Alplaus Avenue and Bruce Drive. Please park in the paved lot adjacent to this building. Do not park in the restricted area in front of the building that houses the fire trucks. We will meet in the Multipurpose Room (entrance is on the North side of this building).

The Role Wireless Played During the Sinking of the Titanic

Speaker: Bryan Jackson, W2RBJ

Abstract: Bryan will highlight information from his forthcoming book, Why the Titanic Was Doomed, including missed opportunities that could have saved many more passengers or prevented the tragedy altogether. He will also touch on some of the many other aspects that doomed the famous ship on her maiden voyage.

About our speaker: In addition to writing, Bryan’s long career in communications includes serving as Press Officer to two New York Governors, State Capitol Correspondent for Albany’s WNYT-TV, and WOR Radio in New York City. In the early ‘90s, Bryan built, owned, and operated WCDA, 96.3 (now WJAZ), a 6 kW FM station covering the Capital District market.

Bryan holds an Amateur Extra license and serves as Public Information Officer for ARRL’s Hudson Division. In his spare time, he also serves as President of the East Greenbush Amateur Radio Association, writes and edits the club’s newsletter, Sidebands, and maintains its website at www.EGARA.club.

*Note: The meeting location is 309 Alplaus Ave, Alplaus, NY, and the building is at the corner of Alplaus Avenue and Bruce Drive. Please park in the paved lot adjacent to this building. Do not park in the restricted area in front of the building that houses the fire trucks. We will meet in the Multipurpose Room (entrance is on the North side of this building).

ARRL Update and Amateur Radio In Trinidad and Tobago

Speaker: Ria Jairam, N2RJ

Abstract: AMATEUR RADIO IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Trinidad and Tobago is a two-island nation that comprises the most southerly isles of the tropical Caribbean. It shares a rich history with European, Syrian, Lebanese, Chinese, African, and Indian ancestry. Amateur radio is a vibrant, yet niche activity in the country with heavy emphasis on emergency and disaster preparedness. This talk will describe about all aspects of amateur radio in Trinidad and Tobago, local hams and their activities, local customs, things to do and see, and a wrap-up of the recent 59th Independence Day radio celebrations including a special event station, 9Y59IND.

About our speaker: Ria Jairam, N2RJ, has been continuously licensed since 1997, having first obtained her amateur radio license in 1997 in her native Trinidad and Tobago. Ria has participated in many aspects of amateur radio including DXing, contesting, weak signal, FM simplex and repeater work, public service and emergency communications, home-brew and kit building. Ria was elected to serve as the ARRL’s Hudson Division Director since 2019 and also serves as district 2 chair of YLRL (Young Ladies Radio League). She is a member of several clubs including SCARC, NJDXA, NPARC and FLARC. She also runs a YouTube channel, “Ria’s Shack ham radio” where she talks about various educational topics. Professionally she does consulting for renewable energy startups, video and audio production for worship, and large scale IT automation for the financial services industry.

*Note: The meeting location is 309 Alplaus Ave, Alplaus, NY, and the building is at the corner of Alplaus Avenue and Bruce Drive. Please park in the paved lot adjacent to this building. Do not park in the restricted area in front of the building that houses the fire trucks. We will meet in the Multipurpose Room (entrance is on the North side of this building).

Field Day 2021 and Annual Business Meeting

Speakers: 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 radio 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 2021-2022 are as follows:

President: Paul Siemers WY2F
Vice President: Jim Silva KC2ZVK
Secretary: Jim Stewart K2PK
Treasurer: Tim Long W2UI
Board Member: JR Hotaling N2PEQ
Board Member: Bob Saltzman WB2ARK
Board Member: Skip Evans W2YJL
Board Member: Terry Saunders N1KIN

Please plan to attend this meeting.

A Million Watts of RF!

Speaker: Lauren Libby, WØLD, President and CEO, Trans World Radio

Abstract: What does a million watt transmitter look like? We’ll get an inside look at one of the largest shortwave broadcasters in the world as Trans World Radio International President Lauren Libby WØLD takes us on a global tour of their transmitters and broadcast and media operation that speaks to 175 countries in 230 languages daily.

About our speaker: GLauren has been a licensed Radio Amateur since age 12. He has held the amateur call signs WNØLSH, WAØLSH, KXØO, V31JO, CO2/KXØO, PJ4V and WØLD. He has been to over 90 countries visiting many other international amateur radio operators.

Lauren has been an active VHF/UHF amateur since he has been licensed and holds WAS/WAC on
2 meters and WAS on 6 meters, VUAC on 6 & 2 meters, 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz. He has served twice as president of the Central States VHF Society. He was awarded the Mel Wilson award for service to the VHF/UHF community. He was elected to membership in the Radio Club of America. Lauren chaired the VUAC committee of the ARRL in the 1990s and in the 2000s.

MAYDAY! EMERGENCY!

Speaker: Gordon West WB6NOA

Abstract: Gordon West presents an action packed Zoom session with the sounds of real distress calls over the ham bands. These are real recordings of hams in a jam! Earthquakes, fires, car crashes, tsunamis, a school bus accident, 9-1-1 first-on-the-scene radio calls, tornadoes, hurricanes—learn from these rapid-fire recordings how ARES members, and some brand new ham operators on scene, handle the reports and messages in an emergency.

About our speaker: Gordon (“Gordo”), the co-host of Ham Nation, has been teaching radio and electronics for more than 40 years. His fun approach to the material helps make learning a pleasure and easy to recall for testing. He is a convention speaker, Dx’er, teacher, and author.

Gordo obtained his first ticket at age 15 and has been involved in ham radio ever since. Those who have seen the Gordon West booth at major exhibits have seen first-hand the quality material offered in training as well as Gordo’s personal enthusiasm. West has received the Hamvention, “Man of the year” for 2006 and “Instructor of the Year” by the ARRL and is a Fellow of the Radio Club of America.

Gordo has earned substantial respect throughout the ham community for his clearly written study guides. His wife Suzy N6GLF…. is also well known in the commercial licensing field and marine venues.

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).