Meriden (CT) ARC’s MARCONI Project: Mentoring Radio Clubs

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Meriden ARC logoThe Meriden Amateur Radio Club (MARC), an ARRL Special Service club in Wallingford, Connecticut, has created an innovative program known as MARCONI, “Motivating Amateur Radio Clubs to Open New Initiatives.” The brainchild of MARC President Dr. Ed Snyder, W1YSM, MARCONI seeks to empower radio clubs to mentor other clubs who may be “less robust” or active. 

Funded by an ARRL Foundation club grant through ARDC, MARCONI focuses on seven different areas or “activity programs:” 

1. POTA
2. Fox Hunting
3. CW Training
4. Satellite Communications
5. VE Sessions
6. Served Agencies
7. NCS Training and Traffic Passing

According to W1YSM, MARC has made good progress in all of the programs. “Since the six-month [progress report] we have  added an eighth program to MARCONI: Radio Amateur Balloon Science.” 

Dr. Snyder presented on the MARCONI project at the 2023 Northeast HamXposition; the talk was well-received.

Kudos to the Meriden Amateur Radio Club for implementing this innovative program to benefit other radio clubs!

 

New England Sci-Tech Students Participate in Cubes in Space Experiments

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“New England Sci-Tech students participate in the Cubes in Space program run by iEDU inc. where they create and present experiments that, if selected, launch into near-space on a NASA sounding rocket or zero pressure scientific balloon. This year, the students taking part in Cubes in Space proposed an experiment to test the viability of launching spray-dried blood into space for rehydration in a zero-gravity environment to treat traumatic injury in space.”

Since porcine blood most closely matches human blood, team is researching if APC’s products could treat traumatic injury in space. [Full story]

NEST "blood in space" poster at 2023 HamXposition
New England Sci-Tech poster on display at the 2023 Northeast HamXposition. Photo courtesy K5TEC

HamXposition 2024 Kicks Off With Comedy!

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Juston McKenny
Juston McKinney

Start your convention visit off on a laugh with the newest addition to our HamXposition line up! We’re pleased to announce that the 2024 Northeast HamXposition will kick off with a comedy at by world-renowned comedian Juston McKinney.

Juston has starred in numerous Comedy Central shows including his half-hour Comedy Central Presents and his one-hour special “Juston McKinney-A Middle-Class Hole.” He has multiple appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien as well as a Showtime Special with Rob Gronkowski. He has also appeared twice at Denis Leary’s, Comics Come Home at the TD Garden. 

Tickets are just $35, and also available as part of our “Convention Plus” package.

Seating will be limited to 250 persons, so don’t delay!

Remco Radiocraft Crystal Radio

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Remco Radiocraft Crystal RadioSeen in the 2023 Northeast HamXposition flea market: a Remco Radiocraft crystal radio.
 
” . . . Many youthful experimenters started their radio involvement with one of these. Made by Remco Industries of Newark, New Jersey. Remco was one of the larger toy manufacturers in the 1950s and 60s but sought bankruptcy protection in 1971 and faded from the scene soon after. Its products included a number of scientific toys. This Remco Radiocraft is actually a crystal radio with a permeable coil for tuning and a single transistor as audio amplifier.” -Boat Anchor Pix

VE2DX Electronics Featured in Canada Ventures

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Richard Desaulniers, VE2DX, of VE2DX Electronics, one of the 2023 Northeast HamXposition vendors, was prominently featured in Canada Startup and Venture News, in an article entitled “Which Quebec Electronics Startups are Influencing Canada’s Tech Industry in 2023?” 

“Today’s article is all about Canadian innovation, as we spotlight some of the most exciting startups in the province of Quebec. Concentrating on the electronics industry, these companies are at the forefront of technological advancements, from AI developments to urban air mobility. Dive in to discover 15 remarkable Canadian startups making waves in the electronics world.

“These startups are not just technologically impressive – they’re also diverse in their fields of focus. Covering sectors like cannabis, audio, health care, electric vehicles, water purification, and more, these emerging companies underscore how technology has truly diffused into every facet of life and industry. Feast your eyes on the future, unfolding right now in Quebec.”

[Full story]

Enigma Expert Tom Perera, W1TP, Featured on RATPAC

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Prof. Tom Perera, W1TP, a regular presenter at the Northeast HamXpositions, recently gave a talk at a Radio Amateur Training and Activities Committee (RATPAC) session, “Inside ENIGMA—Cracking the WWII Enigma Codes.”
The German military used Enigma cipher machines to encode and decode all of their important communications. The breaking of these Enigma codes is credited with shortening the war by two years, saving thousands of lives, and perhaps keeping Hitler from developing the Atomic bomb. This talk will explain in detail how the Enigma works and trace the fascinating history of the cracking of the Enigma Codes. The Real Story behind the “Imitation Game” movie will be explained.
 
Tom Perera has been a ham for over 70 years. He is a retired professor of neuroscience who specialized in research on the coding of information in the human brain and nervous system. He has been hunting for, collecting, researching, restoring and writing about Enigmas and their history for over 40 years. He located, restored and sold the Enigmas that star in the “Imitation Game” and “Snowden.” He provides extensive Enigma information through his Enigma book, his lectures and his website: www.EnigmaMuseum.com
 
A recording of Tom’s presentation can be viewed at https://t.co/TZoZiOZncY.
 
Thanks, Barnstable ARC Facebook page

Convention Theme

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Photo of youths making things at HamXpositionSome have suggested that we come up with a theme for the 2024 Northeast HamXposition.

One person has proposed “The Amateur Radio Maker Space” or “Ham Radio Makers” or “Radio Operators and Makers.”

Are you an amateur who loves to make your own gear? Would you like to see a maker-related theme for the convention? Let us know what you think!

FARA Fest, Bourne, November 4, 2023

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Image of flea market crowd at FARA-Fest[Ed. note: Falmouth ARA displayed its EmComm Van at the 2023 Northeast HamXposition.]

From ema.arrl.org:

The Falmouth ARA FARA Fest will be held on November 3, 2023 at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational School in Bourne, MA. The Fest provides and opportunity for local hams to buy, sell, or swap items of interest to amateur radio operators. VE license exam sessions are also held as part of the Fest. Flyers are distributed and available on this site prior to each annual FARA Fest.

The Board of Directors has set the following official guidelines for FARA FEST.

Outside Spaces are $10.00 per space. All vendors will be given a placard to display, bring your own table.

Indoor spaces are $10.00 per TABLE, we supply the table. All vendors will be given a placard to display.

General admission is $5.00, children under 14 free

[Full Details]

Nashua Area Radio Society Ham Bootcamp, November 11, 2023

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Nashua Area Radio Society QSL logo[Ed. note: NARS is responsible for the terrific Amateur Radio Expo at HamXposition each year.]

From nediv.arrl.org:

The Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS) will host their Ham Bootcamp program on November 11, 2023, from 10 AM to 6 PM ET. This program includes a series of online demonstrations and tutorials designed to help newly licensed Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class license holders get on the air. It’s available to all licensed and prospective amateur radio operators.

Visit NARS’s Ham Bootcamp program web page to register and for additional information.