THIS SATURDAY: SOLDERING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - LIGHT-SOUND PROJECT

ONLINE and IN-PERSON Meeting: Tuesdays, 7:00 pm. Come meet at NEST! 

3:00-7:00 - Radio room open; GET CHECKED OUT for the radio room. (Email on GroupsIO first.)

TUE FEB 27, 7:00 pm: “TARPN: A Modern Amateur Radio Packet Network” by Eric Sherk, WO2S.

8:20: Adjourn

To join the STARS Meeting, link to https://zoom.us/j/231170127 Pw: STARS, or phone in: +1 929 205 6099, Meeting ID: 231 170 127, Pw: 192621

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Tue, Feb 27: “TARPN: A Modern Amateur Radio Packet Network” by Eric Sherk, WO2S.

Description:

Would you like to use ham radio to chat live with other hams using your computer but without using the internet? Take a look at the Terrestrial Amateur Radio Packet Network (TARPN) and a growing TARPN implementation: the North Carolina Packet network (NCPACKET). A TARPN is a stand-alone, point-to-point packet radio network that provides communication using only dedicated amateur radio links. You can chat live with, or send messages to, other hams in your network. To get started, you and a nearby ham set up a “node” based on a RaspberryPi, an inexpensive modem, and modest VHF/UHF radios. Each node can cost as little as $300 even if you have an empty junkbox! Whatever your age or skill level, TARPN is a fun way to learn new things, overcome interesting challenges, and chat with your ham friends!

Bio:

Eric received his Novice license in 1973 at the age of 12. Through the years he upgraded his license to General, Advanced, and achieved Amateur Extra in 1989. He held leadership positions in his college and local NY radio clubs. Eric received a BSEE from Michigan Technological University and an MSEE from Syracuse University. He is a chip design engineer working for Arteris IP. Previously he worked on chips used in computers, game systems, and cell phones at IBM, Qualcomm, and Marvell. He enjoys many facets of the hobby, including CW, SSB, FT8, digital voice, and of course TARPN.

CALLING FOR SOLDERING VOLUNTEERS - LIGHT-SOUND PROJECT

SAT MARCH 2, 9:00-7:00. Two-Hour Shifts

A NEST collaboration with Harvard University on Saturday, March 2 needs volunteers to solder as many as 200 LightSound project boards to be used for sight-impaired people at the upcoming April solar eclipse.

Can you volunteer a couple hours to solder circuit boards with us? Beginners welcome - we will train you. Nothing difficult. Each one should take less than 10 minutes. We need about 10 to 20 people per 2-hour shift from 9:00 am to 7 pm. Please SIGN UP HERE, if you can join us.

STARS RADIO LECTURE SERIES

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! See full details below.

Tue, Feb 27: “TARPN: A Modern Amateur Radio Packet Network” by Eric Sherk, WO2S.

Tue, Mar 5: “How to be a Successful Ham Operator with Cheaper Older Equipment, even in an HOA” by Dave Christie, N5JEY.

Tue, Mar 19: “VHF - UHF Test Bench Equipment - A Practical and Cost-Effective Approach” by Don Westacott VE6HQ.

Tue, Apr 23: “Behind the Tuning Knob: Frequency Control Past and Present” by John Ackermann, N8UR.

Tue, March 19: “VHF - UHF Test Bench Equipment - A Practical and Cost-Effective Approach” by Don Westacott VE6HQ.

Description:

Amateur radio operators are sometimes faced with the challenge of making effective test measurements while limiting investment in a large range of expensive test equipment. This presentation is aimed at practical and cost-effective methods that provide useful results for testing radio equipment operating at VHF and UHF frequencies.

Bio:

Don has pursued a lifelong interest in science and engineering beginning as a youth in western Canada, receiving his first amateur radio license at the age of 15. Don has a degree in Electrical Engineering and has worked in the Energy Exploration industry in Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Far East. He is the holder of numerous U.S. patents, has been a guest lecturer at the Colorado School of Mines, and received the prestigious Hart Energy Innovators Award. After more than 50 years, he rejoined the amateur radio ranks and is currently active on 20 meters and VHF / UHF bands.

Tue, Mar 5: “How to be a Successful Ham Operator with Cheaper Older Equipment, even in an HOA” by Dave Christie, N5JEY.

Description: 

Dave’s talk will describe how he transitioned to modern digital modes using the old 1990’s-era Kenwood TS-120 rig and stealth antennas. The point he wishes to emphasize is that a ham can get on the air and have fun quite successfully using older, inexpensive equipment, even in the face of HOA restrictions.

Bio:

Dave graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1970 and began work in Port Arthur, TX, focusing on refinery fluid catalytic cracking units. He then transitioned to a forty-four year career in computerized industrial process control to operate oil refining and chemical processing units globally. He retired as the Engineering Manager of Yokogawa Corp. of America. First licensed as a ham in 1973, Dave progressed from Novice to Extra class, relying on his Drake TR7 and Kenwood rigs for many years. Dave is an ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator. When his wife passed away, he applied for her call sign as a vanity license in her memory, and is now proud to be N5JEY.

RADIO ROOM CHECKOUTS AND OPEN HOURS

Do you want to use the radio room during open hours? Get checked out by Bruce N9JBT so you can operate unsupervised. Checkouts can be Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat afternoons and certain Sundays by appointment. Email info@nescitech.org.

Radio Room Open Hours generally are Tu-Fr-Sat 3-9 pm, Sat 9am-noon, alternate Sundays 12-4 pm. Late nights by appointment only.

W1STR Worked All States (WAS) Club Effort

ASK BRUCE, N9JBT, IF YOU CAN HELP. The STARS WAS activity is progressing well! Join us as we try to earn a mixed band, mixed mode Worked All States Certificate. We are using the club callsign, W1STR. We are confirming our contacts with QSL cards. Details and QSL cards are in the radio room. Green dots on the laminated US map on the bulletin board signify a contact has been logged, a blue dot is added when a QSL card for that state has been received.

• TECHNICIAN - GENERAL - AMATEUR EXTRA - Morse Code - and more.

GROUPS.IO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR STARS ACTIVITIES

• You can chose to receive direct emails, or daily/weekly digests.
• Subscribe to the NEST Main group first: main+subscribe@nescitech.groups.io
• Subscribe to STARS group second: stars-radio+subscribe@nescitech.groups.io
• You can send emails to stars-radio@nescitech.groups.io to talk to the group.

Club Repeaters

Please get on the air! Try any time of day. IRLP and ECHOLink enabled - W1STR-R.

Natick UHF: 446.325 PL 146.2 at New England Sci-Tech (linked)

Milton UHF: 449.125 PL 146.2 at Blue Hill Science Center (linked)

Milton VHF: 146.985 PL 88.5 at Blue Hill Science Center (linked)

South Natick UHF: 447.025 PL 146.2 (portable, on air, not linked, can be used for events)

Hopkinton UHF: 448.025 PL 88.5 (off air, newly acquired, needs new location)

Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society

16 Tech Circle, Natick MA 01760

508-720-4179 -- info@STARS.radio