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.

HamXposition Marketing & Promotion Subcommittee Formed

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Phil Temples, K9HI
Phil Temples, K9HI

Phil Temples, K9HI, who had chaired the Northeast HamXposition Programs Subcommittee has taken on a different role: building and chairing a new Marketing & Promotion Subcommittee.

Phil has gathered a team of current and new volunteers for this endeavor. The new committee will focus on publicizing the convention among amateurs and the general public; recruiting new vendors, and soliciting funding through advertisements, grants, and other means.

Skip Youngberg, K1NKR, has agreed to serve as Chair of the Programs Subcommittee replacing K9HI in that leadership role.

New England QRP CW Net to Resume on Wednesday Nights

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Greg Algieri, WA1JXR, writes on the NEQRP mailing list on Octobrer 19, 2023:

Hello fellow New England QRP Club Members. With the passing of Chuck K1CL(SK) the NEQRP CW net has not been active. I am revitalizing the NEQRP Weekly CW HF Net.

The net will be every Wednesday at 8PM local time on frequency of 3.566 MHz +/- QRM.

I will call the net to order by calling “CQ NEQRP.” I will ask for check-ins with a “QNI?” Call in with a “de” followed by your call sign.

The CW speed will be 15 WPM, but I can slow down if desired. Call in at the speed you would like me to respond at.

I will create a list of check-ins and we will do a round table QSO of the list.

All ham radio operators are welcome. You do not need to be a NEQRP member.

Hope to see you all on Wednesday night,

72, Greg WA1JXR 
NEQRP#12

RadioCraft Mod a Big Hit at HamXposition

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Minecraft logoGeorge Allison, K1IG, writes:
 
Minecraft is the largest selling video game of all time with over 240 million copies sold, and it’s estimated that there are over 140 million active players world-wide, most of whom are under the age of 21. Thanks to a grant from the ARRL Foundation, Lucas, W1BTR, and the Police Amateur Radio Team (PART) of Westford, MA, have undertaken a project to incorporate ham radio functionality into the game; essentially to build a “ham radio simulator” that players can install as a game modification (the Radiocraft mod) and then use to build radios and antennas and make voice and CW contacts in the game with other players.
 
The project started in January, 2023, with the hiring of a professional coding team, and over the ensuing months, radios, antennas, solar panels, batteries, and even a solar weather station were developed and tested. Lucas debuted the project at the Northeast HamXposition in Marlborough, MA, in August 2023, with a capabilities presentation, an installation workshop, and a day-long demonstration in the lobby of the HamXposition site where attendees could actually play Minecraft with the ham radio mod on three computers.
 
Those three events, the presentation, workshop, and online demonstration, were notable because of the ages of the attendees; the average ages were about 18, and several were as young as eight, and included both boys and girls. Instead of parents bringing their kids to a ham radio show, the kids were excitedly escorting their parents to the Radiocraft events and learning how they could use ham radio to enhance their favorite game.
 
The lobby demonstration was continually active with youngsters playing the game, and notably, without any instruction. They were able to use the gaming skills they already had to build working radios and antennas, while most of the parents just watched in awe. Attendees of all ages were enthusiastic about the project. Lucas and his team look forward to appearing at the 2024 HamXposition with a larger display and presentation.
 
At this time, development of the project continues, and a small group of players is presently testing the mod before it goes into general release later this year. Final checks include searching for program bugs and polishing the user interfaces. When the mod is released it will be a free download and documentation will include links to ARRL and licensing information.