Fusion Repeater update - Upstate NY

Auburn now has a Yaesu System Fusion repeater. The 147.270; K2RSY repeater is now a System Fusion repeater. It is running in Auto/Auto mode and compatible with both FM analog and C4FM Fusion Digital radios. If you are using an analog FM radio, don't forget to set the decode for 71.9 so you don't have to hear that "buzz" when two digital radios are talking.

Syracuse and Cortland both have additional Fusion repeaters coming into service this summer. Stay tuned here for more updates.

Upstate NY System Fusion Repeater List:
K2RSY  147.27, Auburn NY, +0.600 PL 71.9, Cayuga County
K2ALS  146.700 pl 100hz Gloversville NY, Fulton County ARES EC (Auto Mode)
KC2VER 145.31, Syracuse NY, -0.600, Onondaga County (temp. Running low pwr. 9/1/15)
W2CM 147.21, Syracuse NY, +0.600, PL 103.5, Onondaga County
W2XRX  145.2900 Canadice NY,  -0.600 PL110.9, Ontario County
WN8Z 147.39 Fulton, NY  +0.600 PL103.5, Oswego County
W2IT 444.900, Rochester NY, PL=110.9, - on the air now? Monroe County
W2ES0 Lancaster, NY, 147.255,PL= 107.2 Hz., Erie County
WB2ELW/R2 Hamburg, NY, 147.090,PL= 151.4 Hz., Erie County
WA2EMO 444.750, Arcadia NY, PL 110.9, Wayne County

Let us know if other Fusion repeaters at Upstateham@gmail.com.

Syracuse VE Team Amateur License Exams on 7/18/15

3rd quarter VE exams   available by the Syracuse VE Team

Saturday, July 18th 2015 -
Liverpool Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool
Register noon to 1 p.m. in Sargent Room

All tests available: Tech, New General Class, Amateur-Extra.
Bring copy of current  license if you hold one.
Two forms of ID (one with picture)
W5YI/VEC fee $14   cash or M.O.
Questions:  VEexams@hotmail.com

RadioCom 2015 - Utica Hamfest

RADIOCOM 2015 - HAMFEST AND COMPUTER FAIR

Sponsored by the Utica Amateur Radio Club, Inc.

NEW DATE and LOCATION!

Sat, July 25, 2015

Deerfield Fire Department

5476 Trenton Road, Deerfield, New York 13502

      Vendor Setup:                                        6:00 AM
      Hamfest Hours  (auction at 10!):           8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
      General Admission  :                             $5
      Flea Market Tailgate Space :                 $2/space with admission
      Indoor Flea Market Space w/ table:      $4/space with admission

AMPLE INDOOR SPACE AND TABLES ARE AVAILABLE!
DOOR PRIZES TO BE AWARDED!

Talk-In: 146.76 (-600) K2IQ
VE Testing on Site Check in @ 9:00 AM


Hamfest Contact:
Bob Decker (AA2CU)                                                                             Marty Benedict (W2MVB)  
315-797-6614                                                                                          315-866-5924
Email: tbd2626@yahoo.com                                                                   w2mvb1@gmail.com

Talk-In  Call K2IQ  146.76 (-600) 

Utica Amateur Radio Club, Inc.   P.O. Box 71  Utica, NY 13503

www.uticaarc.org

N.F.W.A. Antique Radio Swap Meet - August 1st, 2015

Niagara Frontier Wireless Association

N.F.W.A. Antique Radio Swap Meet
Saturday, August 1, 2015

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village Museum
3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd., Amherst N.Y.

8:00am – Noon

This is our annual summer meet. Gates will open at 8:00am. Set-up in the parking lot.

Come and enjoy an antique radio and ham equipment flea market and auction.

There will be a donation auction at 11:00am to help cover costs. Please bring some saleable items.

We will also be running a 50/50 raffle to help keep this a free event.

ENTRANCE IS FREE!

No fee to set up and sell. Tables will be available (a limited number) for a $5 rental fee.

Free coffee and dounuts will be available, as will the free lunch to follow the meet.

The Museum will be open at noon for anyone wishing to see some of the wonderful exhibits (including our own radio and TV displays).

The Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village Museum is located at 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd., Amherst, N.Y., (north of Buffalo) at the junction with New Road on the south side of Tonawanda Creek in a quiet park like setting.

 Learn more at: http://www.nfwa.net/

Field Day- June 27th and 28th

Field Day is coming soon........June 27th and 28th, 2015 
If you want to meet some friendly hams or experience some different operating modes, why don't you stop by one of the many Field Day events taking place in our area. You will see various antenna and radio setups along with operators trying to share their knowledge and score some points making contacts through out the weekend.

 Its a lot of fun - so we hope to see you out there on field day!

What is Field Day?

Field Day is part educational event, part operating event, part public relations event – and ALL about FUN!

link: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2013/2013%20FD%20Flier.pdf

ARRL Field Day locator: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Check out one of the following groups:

Central New York Contesters
Operating as KD2ETT.
Erie Canal Park, 5750 Devoe Road, Town of Camillus.
Class 4A with SSB, CW and Digital modes.
Setup begins 8am Saturday.
Website facebook.com/pages/CNY-Contesters/168426069924120?ref=hl

Fulton Amateur Radio Club
Operating as W2CXV.
With Oswego County RACES, operating from the Oswego County EOC Building in Fulton.
Website fultonamateurradioclub.org

Liverpool Amateur Repeater Club (LARC)
Operating as W2CM.
William Park, 7033 Lakeshore Road, Cicero, southern shore of Oneida Lake.
Class 4A with SSB, CW, and Digital modes plus a dedicated 6M station.
Setup begins ~8am on Saturday, food service begins at noon on Saturday.
Website w2cm.org or liverpoolamateurrepeaterclub.org

Madison-Oneida Amateur Radio Club (MOARC)
Operating as W2MO.
Oxbow Falls Park, 6919 Oxbow Road, Town of Lincoln.
Website moarc.com

Radio Amateurs of Greater Syracuse (RAGS)
Operating as W2AE.
Camillus Ski Club, next to 401 Blackmore Road, Town of Camillus.
Class 4A with SSB, CW, and Digital modes.
Setup begins ~8am on Saturday, food service begins at noon on Saturday.
Website http://www.ragsclub.org/field-day.html

The Rochester DX Association (RDXA)
Operating as ?
Webster Park, Webster NY.
Running SSB, CW, VHF and GOTA stations.
Setup begins Saturday AM.
Website: http://www.rdxa.com/index.php/

Rome Radio Club
Operating as W2OFQ.
Griffiss Institute, 725 Daedalian Drive, Rome, NY 13441.
Class 3A with SSB, CW and GOTA stations.
Setup begins ~9am on Saturday.
Website romeradioclub.com


Salt City DX Association - W2ZC
Onondaga Lake Park Near Yacht Club, Liverpool, NY
GOTA: YES
Contact: John Carioti - 315-491-5255
jvc7388@gmail.com
saltcitydx.com

Skyline Amateur Radio Club (SARC)
Operating as K2IWR.
4-H Camp Owahta, Syrian Hill Rd in Solon NY.
Website skylineradioclub.org

Squaw Island & Drumlins Radio Club
Amateur Radio Clubs
Field Day Announcement
Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill, Naples, NY
Everyone is invited to stop by and learn about amateur radio; maybe even pick up a microphone and talk on the radio. Hams love to talk about what they do.
Schedule:
Setup: 11AM – 2PM Saturday
Operation: 2PM Saturday afternoon & night until noon Sunday.
info at: http://www.siarc.us

XRX - Amateur Radio Club (old Xerox Club)
Nazareth College, Pittsford,  NY
Website: http://xarc.us/2015/06/xarc-field-day-information/

Upcoming Hamfests - the next two Saturdays

The Great Rochester HamFest returns Saturday June 6th to the Barnard Fireman's Field - 360 Maiden Lane Rochester NY 14616. This has been one of the better Hamfests in Upstate NY. You don't want to miss this one. Always some excellent tailgating here.

Learn more at the RARA website:
http://www.rochesterham.org/Hamfest.htm


Skyline Amateur Radio Club

Cortland Hamfest

& Technology Fair

Saturday June 13, 2015

From 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM

at the Cortland County Fairgrounds

For your GPS: 4849 Fairgrounds Dr. Cortland, NY 13045

Our 33rd year!

Talk-in on the 147.780/180 K2IWR repeater {PL71.9}

learn more: www.skylineradioclub.org or e-mail k2iwr@arrl.net

Fusion C4FM digital voice repeater on the air in Syracuse N.Y.

The first Digital Voice Amateur Radio repeater is on the air in Syracuse.  This joint venture between KD2SL and KC2VER is unique on two counts: 1) It is the first digital amateur repeater on the air in Syracuse and Onondaga County; 2) It is the only repeater system we know of in the country to link an analog repeater with a System Fusion digital repeater, for full-time cross-mode operation in the same band, at the same site, on the same antennas. Both of these coordinated repeaters are open to all Hams.

The KC2VER repeater is on 145.31 (-) no PL tone, and is set up for full time C4FM digital operation. The KD2SL analog repeater is on 146.67 (-) 103.5 PL, and is linked full-time with KC2VER’s digital repeater.  Some final tuning and adjustments will be taking place over the next several weeks.

If you have a System Fusion equipped radio, jump over to the 145.31 repeater and give it a try. If you don’t, take a listen on the 146.67 to get an idea of what C4FM digital voice sounds like.

Let us know what you think, both Kevin (KD2SL@yahoo.com) and I (KC2VER@gmail.com) would be interested in your thoughts, questions and comments on this new set up. (...or leave us a comment below)

Also note that there are several more C4FM Sytem Fusion repeaters coming to CNY and the upstate area in the next few months. Stay tuned to www.UpstateHam.com for more System Fusion updates.

73 - KC2VER; Tony 

FCC to drop the regulatory fee for a vanity call sign

The FCC is eliminating the regulatory fee to apply for an Amateur Radio vanity call sign. The change will not go into effect, however, until required congressional notice has been given. This will take at least 90 days. As the Commission explained in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Report and Order, and Order (MD Docket 14-92 and others), released May 21, it’s a matter of simple economics.

“The Commission spends more resources on processing the regulatory fees and issuing refunds than the amount of the regulatory fee payment,” the FCC said. “As our costs now exceed the regulatory fee, we are eliminating this regulatory fee category.” The current vanity call sign regulatory fee is $21.40, the highest in several years. (The GMRS licensing free will also be dropped)
read more: http://www.arrl.org/news/view/fcc-eliminates-amateur-radio-vanity-call-sign-regulatory-fee

Cortland Hamfest - just a few weeks away!

Skyline Amateur Radio Club

Cortland Hamfest

& Technology Fair

Saturday June 13, 2015

From 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM

at the Cortland County Fairgrounds

Our 33rd year!

Talk-in on the 147.780/180 K2IWR repeater {PL71.9}

www.skylineradioclub.org or e-mail k2iwr@arrl.net

Admission: $5.00 per person (12 and under free)

- Outdoor flea market included with admission -

- Indoor flea market is first come, first served - Indoor Flea Market - $5.00 per 10’ plus admission

- Dealer tables - $10.00 ea, plus admission—8’ space, includes electricity

VE tests start at 9:00AM—no late entry allowed.

Pre-registration is requested, although walk-ins

are welcome. Please e-mail kb2luv@arrl.com;

indicate which test you wish to take.

Travel directions {signs will be posted}: I-81 to exit 12; turn left on to Route

281 South. Turn left again on to Fisher Ave, (8/10 mile) then right on to

Fairgrounds Drive.

From Ithaca: Route 13 North to Route 281 North. Turn right onto Fisher Ave,

then right on to Fairgrounds Drive.

For your GPS: 4849 Fairgrounds Dr. Cortland, NY 13045

“Inland Islands On The Air" report from KD2ETP

KD2ETP; Steve held his “Inland Islands On The Air" expedition; IIOTA, on Klein Island at the outlet of Onondaga Lake, west of Syracuse, this past Saturday 5/9/15. Steve and his XYL started around 10:00 am and ran until about 2:30pm. Steve reproted that he worked 6 bands, making 35 qso's, 4 dxcc, 7 states. His equipment was made up of an Elecraft KX3 with a 7ah battery, running a Windom 104' Off-center-fed dipole. Steve would like to thank everyone that participated. Great Job Steve! We can't wait for your next special event activation.

Steve reports that his Island was also recognized for a special Island Event: "The following New York island was Added and Qualified by KD2ETP during the 2015 IDG: Klein (NY056R) - Seneca River - Onondaga County"

Skywarn Training in Auburn N.Y. - May 28th

National Weather Service Binghamton

SKYWARN^TM Training

                                                   

  When: May 28, 2015

  

Where: Cayuga County Office Building, Genesee St. Auburn N.Y.  In the Sixth Floor Legislative Chambers. Enter through rear of County Office Building (basement door - then elevator to the 6th floor)

  

Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Training sessions last about two hours.

  

Who Should Attend: SKYWARN^TM is a nationwide program of spotters that report severe weather to the National Weather Service. Anyone can become a SKYWARN^TM spotter for the National Weather Service, all you have to do is attend one of our Spotter Training Sessions. There is no charge for the training.

Registration: Please contact the Cayuga County Emergency Management Office @ 315-255-1161 or register online @: http://www.cayugacounty.us/Community/EmergencyServices/ClassRegistration.aspx


Training provided in conjunction with the Cayuga County Emergency Management Office. Every community's level of preparedness begins with its individual families and businesses.  Take time to learn how you can be better prepared to protect yourself and your loved ones.  Develop emergency plans and make certain that proper emergency supplies are readily available at home, at work or anywhere else that you and your family spend time.

Brian

Brian P. Dahl

Director of Emergency Services

Cayuga County Emergency Management

160 Genesee Street

Auburn NY 13021

315-255-1161 Office

315-253-1551 Fax

More upcoming SkyWarn training classes: http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

IIOTA - KD2ETP will be doing another outing this Saturday

KD2ETP; Steve is doing his “Inland Islands On The Air" expedition; IIOTA, on Klein Island at the outlet of Onondaga Lake this Saturday 5/9/15, starting around 9:00 am. 

Catch him on his HT on the KD2SL 146.67 repeater for details. 
HF frequencies listed below: 
- (so far) 7.210 mhz
- more to come?

Rochester Hamfest - Saturday June 6th

Mark your calendars, its only a month away! The Great Rochester HamFest returns to the Barnard Fireman's Field - 360 Maiden Lane Rochester NY 14616. This has been one of the better Hamfests in Upstate NY. You don't want to miss this one. Always some excellent tailgating here.

Learn more at the RARA website:
http://www.rochesterham.org/Hamfest.htm

FLOTA Special Event video from KD2ETP

Steve, KD2ETP has put together a nice 30 minute video from his "Frozen Lakes on the Air" (FLOTA) special event back in February. It is well done and documents his set up and then several HF QSO's. Nice job Steve!

Check out KD2ETP's FLOTA video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cHdMgjPFBMY

Original FLOTA article on UpstateHam.com:  http://www.upstateham.com/2015/02/frozen-lakes-on-air-expedition.html

The demise of Radio Shack and where to buy stuff locally

Generations of home electronics hobbyists, ham radio enthusiasts and computer geeks spent their growth-spurt years hanging around their local Radio Shack stores. I was one of them. None of us are happy to have witnessed the company's long slide toward irrelevance and its looming exit from the retail landscape. The company's heyday ran from the 1970s through the late 1990s, when it rode the CB radio craze as the largest retailer in the market, and then transformed into a creditable maker of computer gear.

Read more about Radio Shack's demise here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/radioshack-may-be-facing-the-end-after-decade-of-decline/2015/02/03/1d513ee0-abdb-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html

I am reminded of heading to my local Radio Shack store after school to get batteries, crystals, parts and books. My first crystal radio kit, a 101 Electronics project kit and first VHF scanner all came from the “Shack”. Remember the Battery of the Month Club card? Was I the only one that waited for the new catalog each fall? The manager in my local store was a great guy! I scored lots of “damaged” goods for little to nothing from the return shelf in the back of that store. His support was another influence that shaped my career choice and several lifelong hobbies. So the “Shack” as we once knew it is another Silent Key. What do we do now? (read more below)