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Newsletter of the Binghamton Amateur Radio Association
Local Amateur Radio Operator
Inducted into the Binghamton Broadcasters Hall of Fame
We are pleased to announce that
long-time broadcaster, engineer, instructor, and amateur radio operator
Don Perkins, N2IVW, has been inducted
into the Binghamton Broadcasters Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor
recognizes individuals who made significant and lasting contributions to
broadcasting in the Binghamton area.
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Don began his
broadcast career as an announcer at WEBO and WWWT in Owego. Over the years,
he has worked as an engineer for nearly every local radio station in the
region, as well as WMGC-TV. In addition to overseeing day-to-day broadcast
operations, Don has been responsible for the maintenance and technical
upkeep of numerous radio studios and transmitter sites, earning a
reputation for both technical excellence and reliability.
Beyond his professional broadcast work, Don has dedicated many years to
education as a long-time adjunct professor at Tompkins-Cortland Community
College in Dryden, where he teaches broadcasting, journalism, and audio
production. His commitment to service also extends into the community, including
volunteer work with Scouting America, and providing audio support for the
BC Pops and the Binghamton Symphony.
Don has served as Vice Chairman of Chapter #1 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) in Binghamton. Don has always been
regarded as one of the "go-to" guys for other engineers when an
extra hand or expert guidance is
needed.
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We
extend our sincere congratulations to Don Perkins, N2IVW, on this
well-deserved induction into the
Binghamton Broadcasters Hall of Fame. For
more information: www.binghamtonbroadcastersreunion.com
W1AW/2 Portable in New York
Held on Saturday, January 10 and
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY
James KB2FMH’s Operation at Ten
Mile River Scout Camp
Participation
provides significant value to the club beyond the number of contacts logged.
Operating with
the W1AW/2 call sign gives the club national visibility by placing it on the
air in association with one of the
most recognized call signs in amateur radio and drawing attention from
operators across the country.
The following report summarizes operating activity by club members, during
which a wide range of phone
and digital contacts were logged. A particularly noteworthy operation was
conducted by James, KB2FMH,
who achieved an exceptional number of contacts while operating portable at
Ten Mile River Scout Camp
in Narrowsburg, New York, where he serves as trustee of station W2TMR.
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Operator
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Call Sign
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Location or Event
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Operating Mode
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Number of QSOs
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Notes
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John
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WM2R
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Home
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Phone
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29
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Steve
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KA2YRA
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Home
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Digital
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36
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Steve
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KA2YRA
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Hickories Park
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Phone
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11
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POTA activation
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Greg
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KE2CAV
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Home
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Phone
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32
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Drew and Steve
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KA1M and KA2YRA
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Kopernik Observatory
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Phone and
Digital
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116
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Joint operation
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James
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KB2FMH
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Ten Mile River
Scout Camp
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Phone (SSB)
75 - 10 Meters
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684
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44 states;
321 counties;
50 DX;
6 continents;
15 zones
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The event also offers valuable contest-style operating
experience, allowing members to refine operating techniques, logging
accuracy, band and mode selection, and station coordination in a fast-paced
but supportive environment.
In addition, these
special operations strengthen member engagement and teamwork, as operators
work together
to plan, operate, and
represent the club as a cohesive group. Collectively, participation in W1AW/2
operations
reinforces the club's
technical skills, public presence, and shared sense of accomplishment.
BARA’s next opportunity to activate W1AW/2 Portable NY
will take place in August.
For more info: www.arrl.org/files/file/Awards/America250.pdf
Winter Field Day 2026
Held on Saturday, January 24, 2026
Kopernik Observatory Science, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY
Winter Field Day 2026 was a great success, with a total of 20
volunteers participating and contributing their time and effort to station
setup, operating, logging, greeting visitors, and, of course, keeping
everyone well fed. Due to safety concerns related to an impending winter
storm warning—which ultimately proved accurate—operations at
Kopernik Observatory were concluded at midnight on Saturday.
Activities began on Friday with the installation of coaxial
cable from the antennas to the new breezeway connector. On Saturday morning
at 8:30 a.m., indoor setup continued with coax, radios, and laptops. Stations
went on the air at 11:00 a.m. and operated continuously for 13 hours,
concluding at midnight. During the event, four stations were active across
six bands, operating both phone and CW. Our 12 W2OW operators logged 565
QSO's for 645 points, and completed 50% of the objectives for a 16
multiplier, earning a score of 10,302 points. We contacted 49
states/provinces/countries and 68 out of 87 ARRL sections.
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This
video captures the sights and sounds of BARA in action throughout the
event. Winter Field Day once again proved to be another opportunity to
highlight the importance of amateur radio in emergency preparedness, and
team building.
Many thanks to everyone
who participated and supported the operation.
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2026 ARRL Year of the Club
The ARRL has designated 2026 as the
“Year of the Club,” recognizing the vital role that amateur radio
clubs play in education, public service, technical advancement, and community
building within the Amateur Radio Service.
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Throughout
the year, ARRL will be highlighting club activities, sharing best
practices, and encouraging greater participation at the local level. This
designation serves as a reminder that strong, active clubs are the
foundation of amateur radio—providing mentorship for new operators,
opportunities for operating and public service, and a place for experienced
amateurs to share their knowledge. BARA’s ongoing activities,
operating events, educational efforts, and community involvement exemplify
the spirit of the Year of the Club, and encourage everyone to take part,
contribute ideas, and help highlight what an active amateur radio club can
accomplish.
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For
more information throughout the year, please visit: www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club
Volunteer Exam (VE) Test
Session
Wednesday, February 18,
2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY
For
more information, please visit: larc-vec.org/displayteam.php?team=BARA.
BARA Monthly Club Meeting
Wednesday, February 18,
2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY
At our next monthly meeting, we are pleased to feature one of
our own members, Allen Lutins, KC2KLC,
as the guest speaker.
Allen will be presenting “Solar Activity and Its Effects Here on
Earth,” a topic that is
especially relevant to
amateur radio operators.
Solar storms and sunspots follow a well-known 11-year cycle,
and scientists believe the most recent solar
maximum likely occurred
in 2025. When solar activity is high, the effects can be felt much closer to
home
than many people realize.
In his presentation, Allen will discuss how solar activity
influences radio communications, including amateur
radio, as well as cell
phones and GPS systems. He will also touch on the impacts to satellites, the
power grid,
and other critical
technologies, and what heightened solar activity can mean for us as
operators.
This talk should be informative, approachable, and of
particular interest to hams who want a better
understanding of
propagation and space weather. We encourage all members to attend and support
Allen
as he shares his
knowledge with the club. All licensed amateurs, prospective hams and interested
guests are
welcome to attend.
Unable to
attend in person? Click here to Join the Meeting via Zoom.
BARA Breakfast at Blue Dolphin
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 9:00 am - 10:30 am
7670 Vestal Parkway West,
Apalachin, NY
Continuing on the third Saturday of each month, we gather for
Breakfast at the Blue Dolphin Restaurant in Apalachin.
Breakfast will begin around
9:00 am and continue informally until everyone has finished their meal and
conversation.
This gathering provides the
opportunity for fellowship, discussion of our shared interests and strengthening
the
camaraderie that defines
our amateur radio community. We look forward to seeing you there as we revive
this long
standing tradition and
enjoy good food, good company and great conversation.
Upstate New York YL POTA Party
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Pineway Ponds Park - Owens
Lodge, 1 Park Road, Spencerport, NY
On Saturday, March 7, women interested in amateur radio are
invited to spend the day together at Owens Lodge along the Erie Canal in
Spencerport for a relaxed YL POTA Party.
Parks On The Air (POTA) is
an amateur radio activity that encourages operators to set up portable
stations in parks and make contacts. The YL POTA Party is an exciting way for
women of all ages to experience portable operating, learn by doing, and enjoy
time on the air together. You do not need to be licensed to participate. For more info: upstatenypota.com
Please RSVP to Angela N3ARB and Matt K2EAG by email at: [email protected]
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Calendars
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Analog and Digital Voice Nets
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Ham Radio Calendars
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Upcoming Local Events
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Local Amateur Radio Nets
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Radio Net
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Schedule
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Frequencies
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Morning
Net
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Weekdays
& Saturday at 8:00 am
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146.865
-.600 MHz PL 146.2 Ingraham Hill
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BARA Net
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Wednesday
at 8:00 pm
except for Club Meeting Wednesdays
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BRAT Net
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Binghamton
Amateur Radio Technical Net
Sunday at 8:00 pm
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Early
Bird Net
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Weekdays
at 5:30 am
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146.730
-.600 MHz PL 100.0 Binghamton
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STAR Net
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Southern
Tier Amateur Radio Net
Daily at 6:30 pm
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Six Meter
Net
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Wednesdays
at 9:00 pm
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50.200 MHz
USB
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NYS RACES
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Sunday at
9:00 am
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3.993 or
7.281 MHz LSB
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STNYDV Net
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Southern
Tier Digital Voice Net
Sunday at 7:00 pm
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BM TG
31367, Wires-X 83721 & On Zoom
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Southern Tier Fusion Net
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Sunday at 8:00
pm
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Requires a
Yaesu C4FM Digital Radio
Click Here for Connection
Entry Points
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TTDTN
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Third
Tuesday of the Month
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Twin Tiers
Digital Training Net on Zoom
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Amateur Radio Licensing
Interested in obtaining or upgrading your Amateur
Radio License? Learn about the
different license classes, the requirements and how
to get started on your journey.
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ARRL Membership for Students
Full-time students aged 21 years or younger have the
opportunity for a no-cost,
student membership. As an ARRL member, you will learn
skills and make connections
that may advance your education and future career
goals.
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BARA Brochures
The club has printed out about 100 BARA Brochures
to help spread the word about our organization.
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BARA Discord Server
Discord is a platform that lets you communicate
through voice and video calls, text messaging and media sharing. You can
chat privately or join virtual communities called 'servers,' made up of
chat rooms and voice channels.
Join us on the BARA Discord Server and be part of the conversation.
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BARA Logbooks
We have a special offer for our members. Each member
can receive a FREE Logbook
as a gift from BARA. This offer is limited to one
logbook per member, not annually.
Families get one for each licensed member. See Steve,
KA2YRA to claim your copy.
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BARA Stickers
Show your support for BARA with our exclusive BARA
Stickers.
Priced at just $3.50 each or 3 for $10.
See our Treasurer to get yours.
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Broome County Live Scanner
Feed
Stay connected to Broome County’s emergency
services with ScannerNerds.com.
Listen to live Motorola P25 transmissions from local
police, fire departments and emergency services, delivering real-time,
accurate and timely audio directly from
the first responders who protect our community.
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Callsign Light Displays
Discover these beautifully engraved and colorful
callsign light displays crafted by
our very own Bill Jakaitis, KB2SIN and other
fantastic ham radio-related gifts.
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New Ham Cheatsheet
Alongside the QRZ Jumpstart Program, Frank Heaney
W2FJH has developed a
“New Ham Cheatsheet.” This handy guide is
designed to help newly licensed hams
get started on their amateur radio journey with ease.
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New Ham Jumpstart Program
Are you a new ham who obtained your amateur radio
license within the last 6 months?
Apply now for the QRZ Jumpstart Program and receive a
fantastic welcome package.
You will get an Explorer QRZ-1 5W VHF/UHF handheld
transceiver, RT Systems software
and programming cable for just $17.99 (plus tax and
shipping).
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Seven 3 Dot Net
A social network for hams by hams started in the
Southern Tier of New York as a means for hams to spread the word about anything
and everything ham radio related without the need to locate a club or site
administrator.
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Swap and Shop
Here, you can buy, sell or trade ham radio equipment
with fellow enthusiasts.
Discover the latest listings and snag some fantastic
deals.
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