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Let’s Build Something
As our curious minds continue to be under served, some hams are turning back to home brewing radios as a way to learn and find fulfillment in the hobby. When I say homebrew, I’m not talking about building kits either. These brave radicals actually solder components together on pieces of un-etched copper board, resulting in a unique piece of equipment that reflects their personal style. On the air I’ve encountered these folks, running anything from simple power oscillators and regen receivers all the way to digitally controlled super heterodyne transceivers. Some of these designs are actually quite pragmatic; it’s worth researching the original BITX, an SSB transceiver you can build for less than $50. I aspire to be one of these hams, and invite you to walk the path with me.
I propose that we organize an informal builders group in our club. As we’re all busy, we could take on, say, one project per year. We can decide what we want to build, work on it individually, and keep in touch with the rest of the group to share progress and do troubleshooting. Perhaps we can get together now and then on Zoom and in person for small “build-a-thons” to knock out difficult parts or even build smaller projects. I think we could have a lot of fun together, and raise the technical competency of our club as a whole!
For our first project, I recommend we build a classic QRP transmitter known as the Michigan Mighty Mite. I have constructed a couple of these and made contacts with them! With as few as seven components, you can make up to a half watt of CW. It’s a great project to practice your soldering skills, and it gives you plenty of opportunity to make changes and adjustments to optimize signal power and quality. I know that CW might not be everyone’s favorite mode, but it’s worth remembering that ALL license holders have CW privileges on 80 and 40 meters. The Mighty Mite may also be modulated for low power AM with the addition of an audio amplifier. I hope that this interests at least some of you. If you would like to try it and see how far we can take it, please email me so I can build a list of interested club members.
The club benefits from having members willing to get involved and help shape the future of BARA. If you are interested in serving, or would simply like to learn more about what is involved, please let us know before the election. Breakfast Get Together
New York QSO Party
The New York QSO Party is coming up again, and it’s one of the easiest ways to put both New York and Broome County on the map. Operators always turn out in force for this one, and this year we’re adding a new twist with a dedicated 2-meter simplex station courtesy of Dennis KE2CIO and Ford AB2HS. Everyone can contribute, whether you’re running HF, VHF, or just hopping on for a few quick contacts, and your individual score rolls right into the BARA club total. More details will follow as we get closer, but now’s a good time to mark your calendar and get ready for a fun day of on-air activity. Jamboree on the Air
Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in
the world. Autumn Support Your Parks Weekend
The autumn edition of Support Your Parks Weekend will take place on the third full weekend in October and is an official Parks on the Air (POTA) activity weekend. Held four times each year in winter, spring, summer, and autumn, these special weekends encourage amateur radio operators to get outdoors, visit a public park, set up a station, and enjoy making contacts. Operators can participate as an activator, operating from a park and giving other hams the opportunity to contact them, or as a hunter, staying home and working stations that are operating from parks. The easiest way to get involved is often as a hunter, simply by listening for POTA activators and making contacts. Participants can earn special Autumn Hunter or Activator participation badges and certificates, which are automatically awarded and added to their POTA profile after their logs are uploaded. Whether you head out to a nearby park or enjoy the activity from your home station, Support Your Parks Weekend is a great opportunity to combine amateur radio, the outdoors, and some friendly on-the-air fun. Citizen Preparedness Corps
Training Event
The Broome County Office
of Emergency Services is hosting a New York State Citizen’s
Preparedness Corps Training that is OPEN and FREE to the public. With
severe weather events becoming more frequent and more extreme, it is more
important than ever that New Yorkers are prepared for disasters. The NY
Citizen Preparedness Training Program teaches residents to have the tools and
resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and
recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. This training
course will provide an introduction to responding to a natural or man-made
disaster. Participants will be advised on how to properly prepare for any
disaster, including developing a family emergency plan and stocking up on
emergency supplies. Sign
up at: https://pspapps.dhses.ny.gov/.../registrant/add.xhtml.... Each family that registers will receive one Preparedness kit (pictured on the flyer) Volunteer Exam (VE) Test
Session
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
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
Whether you are exploring local broadcasters, streaming stations, or specialized radio services, this directory brings the world of radio together in one place.
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