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Newsletter of the Binghamton Amateur Radio Association
Antenna Activity Day
Saturday, June 6th • 10:00 am
– 1:00 pm • Weather Permitting
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY
Plans are underway for a “Hands-On Antenna Day”,
and all members are encouraged to stop by, lend a hand,
or simply enjoy the
opportunity to learn something new. Whether you are building your first
antenna, tuning
an existing design,
troubleshooting a problem, or comparing notes with fellow operators, this
will be a relaxed
and collaborative event
focused on practical skills and real-world experimentation.
The day is not intended to be a formal antenna course or
large-scale antenna fabrication workshop. Instead,
the emphasis will be on
practical solutions, demonstrations, troubleshooting, and operating
experience.
Mobile installation SWR
checks may also be available, depending on equipment and volunteer availability.
Organizers are looking for input from club members to help
shape the event and ensure it best meets the
needs and interests of
the membership. A short planning questionnaire is available, and member
feedback
will help determine which
topics, demonstrations, and activity stations are included.
Planning questionnaire: https://forms.gle/T6Kdttrab5Qz7dmT9 closes May
15, 2026
International Marconi Day
Planned for Saturday, April 25th at The Marconi
Tower, 45 Lewis Street, Binghamton, NY
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This year’s International
Marconi Day operation ended up being cancelled and
wisely so due to a forecast calling for cold temperatures and an
all-day rain.
Safety has to come
first especially when it comes to electrical equipment in wet
conditions. Thank you to everyone who helped plan, get things
ready and take
things down for this year's activation. Your time and efforts are
appreciated.
As it turned out, stations that did end up operating on Saturday
reported
very poor propagation and had a difficult time making any contacts,
so the
decision to stand down turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
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Greater
Binghamton Bridge Run
Held on Sunday, May 3rd at Mirabito Stadium, 211 Henry Street in Binghamton, NY
Several BARA members provided valuable communications support
during the Greater Binghamton Bridge Run. This popular annual race, organized
by the Triple Cities Runners Club, relies on amateur radio operators to help
ensure smooth coordination and runner safety. Under the direction of Ford
Drake, AB2HS, our volunteers were stationed at key locations along the
course, including water stations, to provide reliable communication
throughout the event. Thank you to all who participated and contributed
their time, equipment, and expertise. Your involvement not only demonstrated
the capabilities of amateur radio to the public but also reinforced our
commitment to public service.
North / South Group Amateur Radio Net
Thursdays at 7:00 PM Eastern • 3900 KHz.
Looking for a friendly voice on the air?
The North/South Group Amateur Radio Net brings together
operators of all ages and experience levels.
Whether you are newly
licensed, returning to the hobby, or have been active for decades, you will
find
a welcoming group
enjoying good conversation and shared experience.
Questions? Contact Lee Savidge, W3EFE
at: [email protected]
Free Amateur Radio Operating Course
Live on Zoom • Thursdays at 6:30
pm • Now through June 18th
This
free online course offers a welcoming way to explore amateur radio from the
comfort of your home.
Weekly Zoom sessions cover DXing, digital modes, satellites, emergency
communications, and more.
Whether you are brand new or looking to sharpen your skills, you will
learn from experienced instructors
in a friendly, community-oriented setting.
To
register, contact Roland Anders, K3RA, at: [email protected]
Breakfast Get Together
Saturday, May 16th • 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Blue Dolphin Diner, 7670 NYS
Route 434, Apalachin, NY
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Join us for good food
and great company at the
Blue Dolphin, a long-standing BARA tradition.
We meet on the third
Saturday of each month,
beginning around 9:00 AM for breakfast at the
Blue Dolphin Restaurant in Apalachin and
continuing until the last conversation wraps up.
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Volunteer Exam (VE) Test
Session
Wednesday, May 20th • 6:00
pm – 7:00 pm • Walk-ins are welcome.
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY
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While our exams are offered free of charge,
the FCC requires a $35
fee for new licenses,
license renewals, and
vanity call sign requests.
This fee is not collected at the VE test session
and must be paid
directly to the FCC.
After passing
your exam and your application is
processed, the FCC will
send you an email with
instructions for
submitting the required payment.
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Held one hour before our monthly meetings, these sessions are
an excellent opportunity to earn or
upgrade their existing privileges.
For More
info: https://larc-vec.org/displayteam.php?team=BARA
BARA Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, May 20th • 7:00
pm – 8:30 pm
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY
All are welcome to attend our monthly meetings. Whether you
are licensed, studying, or simply curious,
you are encouraged to
join us. Meetings offer a chance to connect with local operators, exchange
ideas,
learn from others, and
stay informed about club activities.
Unable to
attend in person? Join via Zoom https://qsl.net/bara/zoom
Cortland
Hamfest & Technology Fair
Saturday, June 13th • 7:00 am – Noon
Cortland County Fairgrounds, 4301 Fairgrounds Drive, Cortland, NY
Admission is $6.00 (children under 12 free). Your ticket includes
access to the outdoor flea market
featuring radio
equipment, electronics, and components for sale or trade.
For more information or to register for VE testing, please visit
skylinehamradioclub.org
https://hamdash.com is a quick way to see what is happening on the
bands? HamDash is a free, privacy
first online dashboard that brings together many of the tools amateur
radio operators check before
getting on the air. Whether you are contesting, ragchewing, chasing
DX, or experimenting in the shack,
HamDash helps keep you connected to the pulse of amateur radio. It
provides live HF band conditions,
space weather, DX cluster spots, POTA and SOTA activity, grey line
maps, upcoming contests, and even
includes a simple Morse code trainer and basic QSO logging tools. Think
of it as a Swiss Army knife for
hams, all running directly in your web browser with no account
required. It is a fast and reliable way to
monitor band activity, track propagation, and plan your next operating
session.
https://haminfo.tetranz.com/map is an online tool that lets you visually
locate licensed amateur radio
operators throughout the United States. Whether you are curious about
nearby hams, planning a contact,
or just exploring the radio community, this interactive map makes it
easy.
https://hearham.com is an online repeater directory created to give
amateur radio operators a simple,
centralized way to locate repeater information. The site compiles
listings in an easy-to-navigate format,
making it convenient to search for repeaters by location and review
key operating details at a glance.
Each
listing typically includes frequency information, offset, operating mode
(analog FM and various
digital formats where applicable), and other relevant system details.
This makes it a practical reference
whether you are programming a mobile rig, setting up a handheld,
traveling through a new area, or
simply exploring activity beyond your usual coverage footprint.
The
directory can be accessed from both desktop and mobile devices, which makes
it particularly useful
while on the road. It can serve as a supplemental tool alongside
traditional repeater coordination lists,
club websites, and printed directories. For operators involved in
maintaining or coordinating repeaters,
it also offers an opportunity to broaden visibility so that more users
can find and utilize available systems.
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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 Greg KE2CAV 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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Radio Station World
Your gateway to discovering radio stations from every
corner of the globe.
Whether you're exploring local broadcasters, streaming
stations, or specialized
radio services, this directory brings the world of
radio together in one place.
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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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