POTA Birthday Party a Great Success
Held on Sunday, August 9th

Tween Lakes Pavilion at Chenango Valley State Park

 

Pictures from Haley’s POTA Birthday Party

Four HF stations were set up and operating as part of the activation of Chenango Valley State Park, POTA designation US-2032, using the W2OW club callsign.
 

Operator

Call Sign

Operating Mode

Number of QSOs

Notes

John

WM2R

Phone

 

 

Steve

KU2O

Digital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

KA2YRA

Phone

 

 

Greg

KE2CAV

Phone

 

 

Drew and Steve

KA1M and KA2YRA

Phone and
Digital

 

 

James

KB2FMH

CW 75 - 10 Meters

 

 

 

A good number of club members attended, filling the parking lot and coming together for an afternoon of visiting, talking about amateur radio, sharing ideas, and enjoying one another's company. There was also an abundance of food and refreshments, including three large sheet pizzas with a wide variety of toppings, along with drinks and other refreshments..
 

The large turnout, perfect weather, active POTA operation, great food, and excellent fellowship made Haley's birthday gathering a memorable and highly successful BARA event.
 

BARA thanks Haley, KE2EVX, and her family for inviting the club to be part of her birthday celebration and for providing such an enjoyable opportunity for members to get together.  

THIS PREVIEW IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

AND STILL NEEDS WORK


Pictures from Our Annual BARA Picnic
Held on Wednesday, August 19th
Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Road, Vestal, NY
 

Annual 2026 BARA August Picnic

We enjoyed good food, easy conversation and time with fellow hams while we hold a brief club meeting and share updates on upcoming activities.   


W1AW/2 Portable in New York
Held on the Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30th
Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Rd, Vestal, NY

 

W1AW/2 Portable in New York Part Two

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.
 

Operator

Call Sign

Location or Event

Operating Mode

Number of QSOs

Notes

John

WM2R

Home

Phone

 

 

Steve

KA2YRA

Home

Digital

 

 

Steve

KA2YRA

Hickories Park

Phone

 

POTA activation

Greg

KE2CAV

Home

Phone

 

 

Drew and Steve

KA1M and KA2YRA

Kopernik Observatory

Phone and
Digital

 

Joint operation

James

KB2FMH

Ten Mile River
Scout Camp

Phone (SSB)
75 - 10 Meters

 

44 states;
321 counties;
50 DX;
6 continents;
15 zones

 

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.        


Upstate New York POTA Weekend & Meetup
Saturday, September 5th  thru  Sunday, September 6th
Keuka Park State Park, 3560 Pepper Road, Keuka, NY

 

Special invite from the Upstate New York POTA (Parks on the Air) group!

Join us the weekend of September 5-6 at Keuka Lake State Park (US-2089) for the 2026 Upstate New York POTA Weekend and Meetup. After the success of last year’s format, we’ve again reserved the pavilion for Sunday’s meetup, leaving Saturday open for exploring the park, enjoying the lake, and roving between nearby POTA entities.

The drive is about two hours from our area. Many operators are camping at Keuka Lake State Park this year planning to arrive Friday, September 4th by 3PM and depart Monday, September 7th by 11AM.

Details and reservations are available at the park website:

     parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/keuka-lake-state-park.

Several of us attended last year’s POTA meetup at Watkins Glen and had a fantastic time with both new friends and familiar faces. The region is packed with POTA opportunities on the way there and back and it’s right near US-6532, the Erie Canalway Corridor National Heritage Area, offering plenty of 2-fer’s and more!     For more information:   nycanalmap.com    


Kopernik Race to the Stars
Saturday, September 12th • 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Road, Vestal, NY

 

The Kopernik Race to the Stars 5K is an annual fundraiser supporting the Observatory. The course winds through the hills surrounding Kopernik, offering a scenic challenge for runners. Volunteers are needed for radio communications.

Contact Ford Drake AB2HS if you would like to help.


Volunteer Exam (VE) Test Session
Wednesday, September 16th • 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Road, Vestal, NY

Please create an FCC account if you do not already have an FRN number.   fcc.gov/coresWeb/regEntityType.do

Bring your FRN number, photo ID and (for upgrades) a photocopy of your current license.  

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 your exam is passed and your application is processed, the FCC will email you instructions for submitting the required payment. Walk-ins are Welcome


BARA Monthly Club Meeting
Wednesday, September 16th • 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Road, Vestal, NY

All are welcome to attend our monthly meetings. Whether you are licensed, studying, or simply curious about amateur radio, you are encouraged to join us. Each session offers a mix of technical insight and field-tested experience, creating a space where newcomers and long-time operators can learn from one another. Attendees can expect thoughtful discussion, practical advice and plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas with local hams. It is an excellent way to stay connected with the club, keep up with ongoing activities and be part of a community that enjoys learning, experimenting and sharing knowledge.   Unable to attend in person?   Click Here to Join via Zoom   


Doug's Fish Fry Fundraiser
Thursday, September 17th • 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tractor Supply Co., 154 Vestal Pkwy West, Vestal, NY

 

  

Support BARA at our Doug’s Fish Fry fundraiser by downloading a poster and help spread the word:   qsl.net/bara/dougsfishfry   


Elmira Hamfest and Computerfest
Saturday, September 26th • 6:00 am to 2:00 pm
Chemung County Fairgrounds, 170 Fairview Road., Horseheads, NY

 

The Hamfest Committee is seeking volunteers to make this upcoming event a success. Whether you have experience or are just eager to lend a hand, they welcome your participation. Volunteering is a fantastic way to get involved, meet fellow radio enthusiasts, and contribute to our vibrant community.

 

If you are interested in helping out please contact:  Ford Drake, AB2HS 

 

 

More  information  visit  www.arasth3.org


YouTube Channel Playlists

 

 

BARA Activities

Monthly Meetings

Monthly Programs

 

 

Marconi Day

NE2B POTA CW

News Stories

 

 

 

 

 

Calendars

 

 

Analog and Digital Voice Nets

Ham Radio Calendars

Upcoming Local Events

 

 

 

 

 

Local Amateur Radio Nets

 

 

Radio Net

Schedule

Frequencies

 

 

Morning Net

Weekdays and Saturdays
at 8:00 am

146.865 -.600 MHz

PL 146.2 Ingraham Hill

 

 

BARA Net

Wednesday at 8:00 pm
except for Club Meeting Wednesdays

 

 

BRAT Net

Sunday at 8:00 pm
Radio Amateur Technical Net

 

 

Early Bird Net

Weekdays at 5:30 am

146.730 -.600 MHz

PL 100.0 Binghamton

 

 

STAR Net

Southern Tier Amateur Radio Net
Daily at 6:30 pm

 

 

Six Meter Net

Wednesdays at 9:00 pm

50.200 MHz USB

 

 

North / South
Group

Thursdays at 7:00 pm

3.900 MHz LSB

 

 

NYS RACES

Sunday at 9:00 am

3.993 or 7.281 MHz LSB

 

 

STNYDV Net

Southern Tier Digital Voice Net
Sunday at 7:00 pm

BM TG 31367, Wires-X 83721,
Google Meet and YouTube.

 

 

Southern  Tier Fusion  Net

Sundays and Wednesdays
at 8:00 pm

Requires a Yaesu C4FM Digital Radio
Click for Connection Entry Points

 

 

TTDTN

Third Tuesday of the Month

Twin Tiers Digital Training Net
on Zoom

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

BARA Brochures

The club has printed out about 100 BARA Brochures to help spread the word about our organization.

 

BARA Discord Server

Discord lets you communicate through text messaging, voice and video calls. You can chat privately or join virtual communities called servers.
Join us on Discord and be part of the conversation.

 

BARA Logbooks

Each BARA 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.

 

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.

 

Broome County Live Scanner Feed

Stay connected to Broome County’s emergency services with ScannerNerds.com. Listen to live Motorola P25 transmissions delivering real-time, accurate and timely audio directly from the first responders who protect our community.

 

Calendar of Upcoming Events

We are excited to share the following reminders for upcoming events.

 

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.

 

Contest Calendar

Detailed information about amateur radio contests throughout the world, including their scheduled dates/times, rules summaries, log submission information and links to the official rules as published by the contest sponsors.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Pictures from Our Various Events

We are excited to share the following pictures from our various events.

 

Ham Radio Dashboard

A fast, privacy-first dashboard offering HF band conditions, space weather, DX spots, POTA/SOTA activity, grey line maps, contest calendars, a Morse trainer and simple logging tools, all in your browser with no account required.

 

Ham Info Map

An interactive map showing licensed amateur operators across the U.S. Useful for exploring nearby hams or planning contacts.

 

Hear Ham Repeater Directory

A centralized, easy-to-navigate repeater directory with frequency, offset, mode and system details.
Works on desktop and mobile.

 

Radio Station World

Your gateway to discovering radio stations from every corner of the globe.

Whether you are exploring local broadcasters, streaming stations, or specialized radio services, this directory brings the world of radio together in one place.

 

 

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.

 

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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