Amateur Radio Week Proclaimed

Rep. Karen MacBeth (D-Dist. 52, Cumberland) presents a House resolution designating this week as Amateur Radio Week to, from left, Robert Beaudet of Cumberland, American Radio Relay League Section Manager for Rhode Island and Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club (BVARC) member, and Richard Langlois of Burrillville, BVARC president.

BVARC invites the public to discover the fun, excitement and services provided by amateur radio during its annual field day starting Saturday at 2 p.m. through Sunday at 5 p.m. on the grounds of the North Scituate Senior Center, the former Chopmist Hill Inn, 1315 Chopmist Hill Road (Route 102). Visitors will have the opportunity to operate radios and make contacts with other amateur stations worldwide.

6 Meter Opening Saturday

I hope youse guys new to 6 meters have been monitoring the band on a regular basis looking for openings especially to Europe.  Yesterday afternoon, Saturday 6/18, we had probably the best opening of the season to Europe with many many signals both SSB and CW.  I had a run going on 50.162.5 where I had to sort out the many callers from G, GM, DL, OZ, SM, I, F, etc which didn’t quit for a couple of hours.  I may have missed some of it as I came in from outdoors doing a home project around 3 PM and checked the band and it was wide open.  I proceeded to find a clear frequency and call CQ and then the fun started.  A bunch of callers each time I stood by.  I didn’t slow down til about 5:30 when I think I was running out of stations to work…as I still heard EU stations calling for North America.  I didn’t count the number of contacts but it was well over 100.  I did hear Will K6ND who was on.  A guy in Plymouth, MA who was portable at a campground called in to say he had worked some EU with a marginal setup….so it apparently didn’t take much to make it across the pond.  Hope some of you caught it….and keep an eye on 6 meters for DX.    BTW, it’s been open to the Caribbean often late in the afternoon …if you can hear the C6 beacon on 50,040 you know something is cooking.  Look for PJ4E, HI3TEJ, a bunch of FGs.  GL!

— John, W1XX

Radio Gear Needed

The following brief article appeared today in the Providence Journal:

The American Legion will establish The American Legion Amateur Radio Club at national headquarters in Indianapolis to conduct regular nets with licensed ham vets who will be able to ask questions about veterans’ benefits and how to obtain help with their claims

To get the station up and running TALARC needs HF and dual-band VHF/UHF transceivers and associated gear. Interested donors should send an e-mail to k9tal@nulllegion.org for more information.