RAGS- Field Day - Syracuse

 

More info at: https://ragsclub.org/

RAGS Syracuse Hamfest

 

More info at: https://ragsclub.org/

SkyWarn Training - Syracuse on 5/20/26

 

Register here: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachskywarntraining

Cortland Hamfest - Sat. June 13, 2026

 

More info at: https://skylinehamradioclub.org/

Museum Ship Weekend June 6-7, 2026

 OPERATE W2L WITH FRED AT THE LT-5 TUGBOAT

June 6th and 7th 2026 we will be operating at the World War II Army Tugboat LT-5 in Oswego, New York for the annual Museum Ship Weekend Event. The LT-5 was an instrumental part of Operation Overlord (The D-Day Invasion). She is moored at the H Lee White Museum in Oswego Harbor Oswego, New York.

  A few twists this year though … I have obtained a Special Event Call Sign, W2L, for the event. Oswego Waterfront Festival is also going on at the same time!! I am hoping many other hams want to come and enjoy the weekend and operate from their own portable set ups. My station will be set up inside the Derrick Boat which is moored next to the LT-5. I will be operating Saturday and Sunday, June 6 & 7 from about 8:00 am until 5:00pm. I will coordinate the log submission to the USS New Jerey Amateur Radio club which sponsors the event upon event completion. Please contact Fred Legawiec, W2LGA at W2LGA@Yahoo.com if you are planning to set up a portable station and participate. I have also verified that this is also a POTA location so it will be considered a POTA Activation also. June 6, 2026 is also the 82nd anniversary of Operation Overlord (D-Day). For event detail see the Battleship New Jersey ARS - Museum Weekend Event info: https://www.nj2bb.org/museum/

Fred Legawiec, W2LGA

Bouvet Island DXpedition updates (following Adrian KO8SCA)

 

15 March 2026 2100z - Ken LA7GIA (3Y0K Team lead):

 

We just finished a very successful expedition to Bouvetøya in the South Atlantic Ocean. What an incredible trip! Depsite all the challenges, the team overcome each of them. We made contact with 102.000 persons during our 15 day stay. We encountered harsh conditions, snow, and wind sometimes was so strong we could barely walk outdoor. Bouvetøya is a beautiful island, but is known for its remoteness and unpredictable weather. The team worked well together and we're proud of having made 100k contacts under these conditions. Today everyone is safely back on the vessel and we're bound for Cape Town this weekend. Thanks to everyone who supported us and who was in the pileup!

BOUVET ISLAND DX -  ATTENTION DX COMMUNITY:

14 March 2026 1600z  - 3Y0K is QRT.

6 persons remain on the island to take down the last tents and pack the rest of our supplies. 15 persons are back on vessel, included most of cargo. We anticipate full extraction tomorrow. Thanks for all the support, More info later.

13 March 2026 - LIVE DX Engineering interview with Adrian and the Team (Great team update!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UDm9W5ddkM

STATUS / OPERATIONAL UPDATE-  07 March 2026:

The team is doing well on Bouvet, we are all in good spirit as we see the camp build up take place and operation is now going well.

We have all tents and antennas installed at this point. We have 4 Yagis installed, WIMO monobanders on 15 and 20 + two dual banders on 17/12 and today a 5 element monobander on 10m. We have 18m top loaded spiderpole on 160m, full-size on 40m using Spiderbeam poles. We run in band operation on 40,20,17,15,12 and 10 using our ICOM radios and ACOM amplifiers also supported by DX Engineering hardware.

We also have a FLEX Aurora 500W radio setup. We have 6 stations and amplifiers with 500W to 1 kW + power output, and we have enough fuel to run high power throughout the operation.

On Top Band you should look for us as we are QRV every night through our sunrise. Propagation on some bands is challenging, and they close earlier than expected. All yagis have excellent take off towards EU/Asia and also NA. Our camp is located at the upper area where we planned to setup a NA camp. There is no camp in the lower area due to the wildlife. Since we visited Bouvet last time the global warming has made the glacier recede, so the seals and penguins now occupy a large area of Cape Fie even as much as 3-400 meter uphill. In some ten years from now, this area might be out of reach for any expedition!

The weather at Bouvet is windy and cold and it is challenging to keep the antenna farm up. While we have reached our max setup, we see increased maintenance, things that must be fixed and repaired.

We had several days with high wind, snow and rather cold days. Setting up antennas in this weather has been challenging, but fun! Today is an exceptional day with no wind and blue sky, a truly very nice day at the island that also allowed us to take a hike and do some sightseeing.

Our logs will be uploaded once a day and you can check the log at M0OXO website. We expect to run another 7-9 days at full setup before we start planning how to gradually extract from the island.

73, 3YØK

more info: https://www.upstateham.com/2026/01/3yok-bouvet-dxpedition-local-connection.html

Thanks to sources: DX Engineering, 4F1EBD, Charles Wilmott

Drumlins Hamfest - Sat 4/18/26

 *** Drumlins Hamfest 2026***

• Palmyra VFW Post 6778, 4306 Route 31, Palmyra, NY
• Vendors 7AM, Public 8AM-Till 1PM

Table Signup: Rich Hamill (315) 986-8589
Email: Hamfest@drumlinsarc.us

Tech License courses - Syracuse - Bearbait Radio Club

 Upcoming Ham Radio license classes in Syracuse NY:

more info at: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bear-Bait-Radio-Club-100071802871213/

Marathon Hamfest - 1/10/26 - Let the Hamfest season begin!

 First Upstate NY Hamfest of the year!

The Marathon Hamfest will be held on January 10 2026 at the Marathon NY Civic Center, Brink St in Marathon NY from 7 AM until Noon. Admission is $6.00 each, under 12 free. 

For hamfest (not VE) information check out skylinehamradioclub.org or e-mail Pat at pdunn5@gmail.com

 

Tables are available at $10.00 per 8' space. To reserve tables contact Pat at pdunn5@gmail.com.

 

VE tests will be given beginning at 9 AM. Pre-registration is recommended and may be done by clicking this link: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/689138b2503f62a1cfd8e393/1 You will receive a reply with basic information. The testing location is off-site, and requires a two minute walk. VE tests are provided by the TCARA VE team. For information on what to bring to the test click here: https://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session

 

Food will be provided by the Marathon Area Historical Society.

 

Travel Directions:

 

From Syracuse, Cortland and the North: Use I-81 South to Exit 39. Turn Left on to Route 11 South. At the light, turn right on to Route 221 West (East Main St). Immediately before the steel deck bridge, turn left on to Peck St. In one block the Civic Center is on your left. Parking for the Civic Center is in the rear of the maplefest buildings. Note: Parking next to the building is handicapped only.

 

From Binghamton, Whitney Point and points South: I-81 to Exit 38. Turn Left on to route Route 221 West (East Main St), go straight through the light. Immediately before the steel deck bridge, turn left on to Peck St. In one block the Civic Center is on your left. Parking for the Civic Center is in the rear of the maplefest buildings. Note: Parking next to the building is handicapped only.

 

From Ithaca: Route 13 North to Dryden. Take Route 38 South to Harford, then Route 221 East to Marathon. Turn right immediately after the steel deck bridge on to Peck St., the Civic Center is on your left. Parking for the Civic Center is in the rear of the maplefest buildings. Note:  Parking next to the building is handicapped only.

 

-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Andrew Slaugh KB2LUV

Secretary, Skyline Amateur Radio Club

Owner of the 145.490 PL 71.9 Repeater in Cortland, NY

Skywarn Training - Fall 2025

 Scheduling of NWS Binghamton Fall-Winter Skywarn Trainings are currently on hold due to a lapse in appropriations.  Sessions (virtual and/or in person) will get scheduled when and if possible. (11/2/25)

All-Season Skywarn Training - Cayuga County 

NWS Binghamton office is conducting an All-Season Skywarn training hosted by the Owasco Fire Dept., 7174 Owasco Rd, Auburn, NY, from 6-8 PM on Wednesday November 19th, 6-8 PM.

UPDATE: 11/20/25: With the ending of the Lapse of Appropriations, we will still be able to offer a few NWS Binghamton Winter Skywarn Trainings - virtual and/or in-person - though less than prior seasons. As they are scheduled, they will be placed here - check back for additional registrations.

Tuesday 12/9/25  6:30-8:00 PM:  Virtual Winter Skywarn - online

Thursday 12/11/25  6:30-8:00 PM: Tompkins Co Winter Skywarn, Airport Administration/CFR Building, 72 Brown Road, Ithaca NY   **registration limited to the first 30 due to space constraints**

Tue 12/16 630-800 PM: Virtual Winter Skywarn - online

Mon 12/22 630-800 PM: Bradford Co Winter Skywarn, 29 VanKuren Drive, Towanda PA

Sat 1/3 10-11:30AM: Virtual Winter Skywarn - online

Sign-up for the classes here: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

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Fall training Buffalo:

https://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn

What is SKYWARN?

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN

LARC - Fall VE Testing - Syracuse

 

More info at: https://www.w2cm.com/get-licensed/

International Lighthouse/Lightship event - Sat/Sun 8/16-17

 

Good Afternoon,

 Once again W2LGA will be set up inside the Derrick Boat at the H Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego New York for the International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend event. We will be there both Saturday and Sunday August 16th and 17th. This will mark the 18th year W2LGA has participated in this event. I will be operating on most Amateur Bands using CW, Phone, and some FT8. Time of operation will be from 9am until 5pm both days weather permitting! Please stop by and work the rig and make some contacts …. Almost 400 lighthouses and lightships world wide have already signed up to participate!! Details can be found at ILLW.net.

Fred Legawiec, W2LGA (w2lga@yahoo.com)

Learn more about the lighthouse museum at: https://hlwmm.org/

Event info at: https://illw.net/

Also - RARA will be at the Charlotte Lighthouse in Rochester.

(from the RARA Rag 8/25)       

ILLW at Charlotte - George Adams, K4GWA

Here is a great combination … Ham Radio and Lighthouses! Do you like both or

you may be interested in lighthouses? Do you want to join a global event that

celebrates the heritage and importance of these maritime beacons? If so, you

won't want to miss the annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend

(ILLW) on August 16th and 17th from 10AM-4PM, celebrated right here in Rochester in Charlotte, one of Rochester's great destinations! The ILLW is one of the

most popular international amateur radio events in existence, attracting over 500

lighthouse entries from over 40 countries every year. It is not a contest but a fun

and friendly way to make contact with other ham radio operators around the

world who share a passion, fondness, or interests in lighthouses.

Bearbait Tailgate Fest - 9/20/25

 

Utica Hamfest - 7/26/25

 Utica Amateur Radio Club's "RadioCom 2025", Utica NY Hamfest

more info at: https://www.arrl.org/hamfests/utica-amateur-radio-club-s-radiocom-2025-utica-ny-hamfest