The Marathon Hamfest is only 2 weeks away!

The Skyline Amateur Radio Club "winter 'fest" hamfest will be
 held January 16th from 7AM to noon at the Marathon NY Civic

Center, corner of Peck and Brink St, Marathon NY.

Talk-in on the 147.180 Cortland Repeater + offset 71.9 PL Admission is $5.00 per person.
Sorry, VE testing will not be available this year.

Reserve your tables now, as they are subject to selling out.
To reserve tables or for information contact Pat KC2BQZ at pdunn5@gmail.com or 315-456-8955.

Overnight accommodations available close by at the Three Bear Inn (607)
849-3258

For your Garmin or Tomtom: use the address 7 Peck St. Marathon, NY. It will get you close. The Civic Center building has no posted street address.

Directions to the event:

 From Syracuse and North:
I-81 south to Marathon Exit 9
Turn left at the bottom of the ramp.
Turn right at the first traffic light on to route 221 west.
Turn left on to Peck St. It will be just before a girder bridge, and just after the elementary school.
Continue straight in to the parking lot behind the brown sugar shack.
Please leave the parking spaces across from the building for handicap.

 From Binghamton and South:
I-81 north to Marathon Exit 9
Turn left at the bottom of the ramp.
Continue straight at the traffic light on to route 221 west.
Turn left on to Peck St. It will be just before a girder bridge, and just after the elementary school.
Continue straight in to the parking lot behind the brown sugar shack.
Please leave the parking spaces across from the building for handicap.

..............Thanks to Andy; KB2LUV for sending that on to us!

Send us your Hamfest updates to UpstateHam@gmail.com 

Where to go on the Internet to find Answers for your Amateur Radio Issues

LARC BootCamp - January 2016









Check out the LARC Bootcamp session this month for an interesting explanation on how to effectively access Ham Radio resources on the Internet. Ron Panetta; WB2WGH, will give a demonstration showing various Internet resources available to get answers to Amateur Radio questions and technology news. Come join us on Thursday, January 28th at 6:15pm (LARC monthly meeting follows at 7pm).

W2CM LARC BootCamp – Sponsored by the Liverpool Amateur Repeater Club (LARC) this get-together is similar in concept to the “Now That I’ve Got My License, What Do I Do?” course sponsored by the Radio Amateurs of Greater Syracuse a number of years ago. It will cover topics of general interest mainly for new hams, but all are welcome. There is no charge for the course which will be held prior to the monthly LARC meetings (4th Thursdays each month) at:

North Syracuse Community Center
700 South Bay Road
North Syracuse, NY 13212

(from the January 2016 LARC "LongWire" newsletter)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all our UpstateHam.com readers!

We want  to take a moment to thank all our supporters who submit news items and suggestions that help us keep this blog interesting and informative. We want to also thank the many volunteer efforts of individuals, clubs, groups and associations that provide the structure to support our great Amateur Radio community. A special thanks to the repeater owners, trustees, and businesses that support the wide variety of Amateur Radio infrastructure we all use everyday. This is such a great hobby because all of the people who put in the time, effort and expense to support and advance the hobby.

In this new year think about trying something new. Why not learn a new skill or research a new aspect of the Amateur Radio hobby. Try a new piece of software, a new digital mode, or learn CW. Have you looked into SDR or tuned around the Shortwave bands? There are many interesting aspects of this hobby, so take some time this year to learn something new.

........and maybe you can answer a question,  share a tip or trick, mentor a new Ham, help the repeater guys, or just participate in a NET, come on out and get more involved with this great hobby!

Wishing you all health and happiness in 2016!

73 - Tony

Xmas Eve Santa Claus net on WN8Z 147.39 Repeater

2015 SANTA NET

The gang on the Hi-Gate Echolink conference server has again for the 5th year in a row made special arrangements with Santa Claus to talk to the kiddies on Christmas eve. Santa's sleigh has been equipped with a radio similar the one on the international space station and he will be available to talk to the little ones when he leaves the North Pole and flies across the globe.

The WN8Z repeater in Fulton (147.39 PL 103.5) will be connected to the Do-Drop-Inn conference server beginning at 6 pm on Christmas eve and available for third party traffic for all the little ones in Central NY to talk to Santa.

As with any networked conference, please be patient when checking in - press ptt switch - pause then check in per the net controls instructions. Check ins will be heard from around the country, and around the world, so bring the little ones into the shack and chat with Santa!

Sounds like fun

de Wn8z

(Here is a link to the you tube promo by the gang at Newsline that explains:
 http://youtu.be/N3G2uP2r6-A )

- Thanks for connecting that up for us Pat!                                                  

Don't miss the "The Night Before Christmas" on the Fulton 147.15 Pathfinder NET at 9pm.













                                                               ...BE CAREFUL SANTA!

MERRY  CHRISTMAS! from UpstateHam.com

Have some fun with Short Wave Listening (SWL)

On some of our recent area NET's we have been chatting about Short Wave Listening (from 150 khz to 30 mhz). So I thought I would put together a small primer on shortwave. Many of us got our start as SWL's when we were young and have stories about our favorite experiences and equipment. Personally I have always been intrigued by listening to all types of radio from around the world.

I recently have read and heard many comments on the rapidly disappearing SWL Broadcasters that are being replaced by newer technologies. Don't give up yet, as there are still a lot of communications to be heard. You can easily find quite a few broadcasters and all kinds of utility, marine, aircraft and military communications on the low bands.

The Radio Wave Net

Message from K2FX:

The Radio Wave Net will be held on Sunday Evenings at 8:30PM on the 146.655 repeater system located in S. Bristol, NY.  It will commence immediately following the conclusion of the ROC City Net that’s held on the 145.11 repeater. We’ll just shuffle everyone over to the other frequency for the net.  The NET will be held weekly!

Please also pass the word that there is a FB Page for the Net.  Just do a search on The Radio Wave Net, and you’ll find it.  I look forward to hearing people from Central New York join us!! The next net will be held this coming Sunday, December 20th.

73,

Paul Jason Kolacki-K2FX

The Radio Wave Net was created for the purpose of discussing topics relating to Conspiracy Theories, UFO's, ET's, and Scientific Studies through Ham Radio.

Rochester Hamfest 2016 - looking for volunteers

Message from the RARA Team!

"The Rochester Hamfest... bring it home, where it belongs!"

Given the excitement of returning to a "self produced" model for our Hamfest, we circulated a Volunteer Sign-up Sheet at the last meeting. If you did not have the opportunity to sign-up (or are now thinking you want to be part of our success), you can still join in!

Follow this link, and fill-in the details: http://goo.gl/forms/62ei4tR5wJ

NO NEED TO SIGN UP AGAIN, IF YOU SIGNED UP AT THE MEETING.
(unless you are the one person with terrible handwriting that we couldn't decipher) :-)

NOTE: If the form doesn't work well for you, send an e-mail to: HFproducer@rochesterham.org and we will sign you up manually.

All volunteers will be informed of an upcoming organizational and kickoff meeting that may be taking place as early as next week!

"... we need YOU to make it happen!"

from the Rochester Amateur Radio Association (RARA)

more info at http://www.rochesterham.org/

First P25 repeater in Rochester!

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to share with my fellow amateurs that I just put Rochester's first P25 system up in town. Located at Highland Hospital 444.35 analog 110.9 pl and P25 NAC 293 . Using Motorola Quantar in mixed mode, and coverage is City wide. I need to install a preamp and additional receiver cavity but Friday proved to be a great outcome. Antenna is DB 420.

So for Christmas don't forget to purchase some XTX portables. The 444.25 at Strong hospital will be the next system to be switched over. Currently working on it and it will be mixed with ALLSTAR, ECHOLINK , and current IRLP.

73 - Mike; W2HYP/ WR2AHL/WR2ROC

..........nice job Mike! 

Thanks for all you do for the amateurs in Upstate NY!

Can you help with the 2016 Rochester Hamfest?

I think most Upstate NY Hams will agree that the Rochester Amateur Radio Association (RARA) Hamfest is one of the better Hamfests around each year. Though in recent years it has had some ups and downs, its always one I try to catch. I thought the 2015 edition was pretty good and I like the Barnard Fireman's grounds location.


Fast forward to planning for the 2016 edition. I am a member of RARA and just received the latest club newsletter. In the Presidents column he mentions the hamfest challenges for 2016. The need for volunteers to help make it happen is pretty obvious. Can you help out in some way? The leadership is looking for ideas and help to keep this hamfest alive. If you can help, please attend the December RARA meeting on December 4th.

Read the RARA President's message in the December newsletter here: http://rags.rochesterham.org/e-RAGS/RAG_December_2015.pdf

SKYWARN Recognition Day Is Saturday, December 5

    
The 17th annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/hamradio/) on-the-air event is set for Saturday, December 5, from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC. Cosponsored by ARRL and the National Weather Service, SKYWARN Recognition Day pays tribute to Amateur Radio operators for the vital public service they perform.

Update on QCWA 6 Meter NET - Tuesdays

In case anyone missed the previous announcements, the QCWA 6 meter net, Tuesdays at 7pm, will only be held on the Auburn 53.05 repeater until further notice, due to technical issues with the link to the Syracuse 53.67 machine. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

73 KB2VSN

ARRL - National Parks on-the-Air 2016

In 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and radio amateurs will be able to help mark the occasion with the ARRL National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event. The fun begins at 0000 UTC on January 1, 2016.

“As ARRL just celebrated our own Centennial, and Amateur Radio is often enjoyed in the great outdoors, it seemed fitting to devise a program to help NPS celebrate their own 100th birthday,” said ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X.

Winter SKYWARN Training

Winter SKYWARN Spotter Training Classes are coming!

The training will be held at various area locations and on-line. This class is for beginners or anybody that has a general interest in weather. These classes train volunteers how to accurately measure and report snowfall totals to the National Weather Service. The class is free and open to everyone; no age requirements, previous training, or equipment is required.

The SKYWARN program is a nationwide program that provides real-time severe weather reports to the National Weather Service. "Trained weather spotters provide valuable lifesaving information to the National Weather Service and we encourage those who have an interest in weather to participate in this critical program," said David Nicosia, Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Binghamton NY. "Despite all the technological advances, SKYWARN Spotter reports are still crucial to the National Weather Service in providing more accurate severe weather warnings," Nicosia continues.

See the full training schedules at:

Binghamton:  http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining
Buffalo: http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn
Albany: http://cstar.cestm.albany.edu/skywarn/Talks.htm

Learn more about SKYWARN and Amateur Radio at: http://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html

My Favorite Marsh-Man (from AR Newsline)

11/19/15 -UPDATE from Steve on his day in the Marsh (and the pictures):
So the Marshes-on-the-air (MOTA) was a big success! Thanks to the local community for being so supportive . In total I made 57 contacts on four bands 40, 20, 10, and  6m in the 5 hours I was out. The weather  cooperated with just a few brief moments of drizzle . The furthest contact was Colorado which gave me a signal report of 44 as well as Florida where I received a 56/7 and to the northeast; Nova Scotia where I received a 56 as well . We hit various other states including Michigan , Virginia, New Jersey , Mass , New Hampshire and Maine. Overall we did very well with good signal reports from all . Again this was a lot of fun and I really appreciate all the local contacts and enthusiasm from everyone in the immediate ham community. I can't wait to get out and find some more interesting spots to activate in the future . One final note I wanted to thank my YL for being so supportive and being a good trooper putting up with my quirks with my hobby. This is the second expedition she has gone on with me (IOTA) and I give her a lot of credit for putting up with me and getting out in the field . youtube video of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHHHgX7iIgI

Thanks
 KD2ETP; Steve

(This story from the Nov. 6th AR Newsline Broadcast - hear it on Monday Night Ham News this Monday on the KD2SL & KC2VER Repeaters in Syracuse)

 The Hamlin Marsh Wildlife Management Area in New York's Adirondack(?) region holds many things in its vast acreage of wetland: aquatic birds, frogs, deer and various grasses. But it holds something even more for one Syracuse area ham: endless radio possibilities. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has the details:

Since earlier this year, Steven Mussi, KD2ETP, has believed he could enter the upstate New York wetland known as Clay Marsh and find solid footing for a QRP adventure. So Sunday, Nov. 8, will find Mussi canoeing out across the swampy landscape, climbing ashore on some hospitable patch of land, and setting up his Elekraft KX3 and his two antennas.

Communications Exercise - You can help Nov. 8th

Onondaga County ARES, RACES, OCREC and the amateur community are requested to participate in a national exercise scheduled for the upcoming weekend. This training exercise
simulates a national Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) and Geo-Magnetic storm.




All amateur operators are invited to attend. There are no deployment requirements for this exercise so it is a great opportunity for everyone to participate; including our operators who find it difficult to get out into the field...we have a need for your participation in our emergency plans. We welcome operators of ALL skills and physical abilities. Details below: