CAARA to hold NWS Skywarn Spotter Seminar

March 9th, 2010

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Service will hold a free National Weather Service Skwarn Spotter seminar on Saturday, April 10th starting at 10 AM and running until 1 PM at the CAARA Clubhouse on 6 Stanwood Street in Gloucester, Mass.

Amateur Radio Operator and 15 year veteran of the NWS Skywarn prorgam, Rob Macedo KD1CY will be the presenter. The program will cover such topics as hurricanes, lightning, tornados, downbursts and other summer and winter weather events.

This highly informative and timely program will also provide information on identifying cloud formations, identifying hail size and estimating wind speed. It will be open to all and will be of particular interest to anyone who enjoys outside activities such as sports, camping and boating.

The National Weather Service relies on real time weather information from local skywarn weather spotters so thet the NWS can issue timely reports and severe weather warnings. At the end of the program, participants will have the opportunity to join the National Weather Service SKYWARN Spotters program. Space is limited so if you would like to sign up to reserve a spot please contact CAARA Club clerk Dean Burgess KB1PGH at dburg101@aol.com .

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CAARA Spring Flea Market on Saturday March 20th

January 23rd, 2010

Hello to all Caara members,

                           The club will hold its spring amateur radio flea market and hamfest on Saturday, March 20th at the Pigeon Cove Circle Center located on 6 Breakwater Ave in Rockport, Massachusetts. This event will open to sellers at 7 am and the doors will open to buyers at 9 am.  To reserve a selling table you can contact club member Richard Copithorne at1-201-674-3485 or his e-mail at dickc911@yahoo.com .  Tables can be reserved ahead of time for a price of $10 in advance or $15 the day of the event. This also gets you one admission ticket. For buyers the door admission fee will be $5. The talk in club repeater frequency is 145.130 MHZ with no pl tone. For general directions head on RT 128 North all the way to the end and head towards Rockport. You will see one rotary after you come off the bridge,take the second exit up the hill to the other rotary. Once again take the second exit down the hill and stay on the left. At the botton of the hill take a left onto RT 127 north. Follow a couple of miles into Rockport. RT 127 ends up taking a left at an intersection so take that left and keep going. Go another mile or two and you will eventually see an old abandonded tool factory on your right. Just at the end of the building take a right. You will our club sign out there. For club members, this is an important club fundraising event  so if you have any unwanted ham gear that you wish to donate for the club to sell please contact Dick as well. This flea market is a perfect opportunity to do some spring cleaning on your old ham gear. Hope to see you there. There will be refreshments served at this event.

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CAARA events calendar for 2010

January 23rd, 2010

Greetings to all Caara members,

                                     The CAARA Board of Directors has set the event calendar for the club for 2010 so everyone can start to plan accordingly. This list only mentions the major club events and as the dates to these events gets closer the membership will be made aware of any changes thru Caaramail. Here`s the list.

Wednesday February 3 rd, Regular members meeting,  AF1T Antenna and Transmission line Demo at Lanesville community Center and this starts at 7 PM.

Saturday March 20th, CAARA Spring hamfest and flea market. This starts at 9 AM at the Pigeon Cove Circle center on 6 Breakwater Ave in Rockport.

Sunday April 18th, Spring Club dinner. This is planned to be at the fortune Palace in Essex and the time is to be determined.

Saturday May 15th-CAARA clubhouse property spring clean-up. Start time to be announced.

Saturday June 26th thru Sunday June 27th-A.R.R.L. Field day-Probable location is Babson Cooperage Museum field on RT 127 on Gloucester/Rockport line.

Saturday July 3rd, Lanesville Roadrace in AM and Horribles Parade in PM. Both public service events for CAARA.

Sunday July 4th, Manchester Parade in AM. Public service event for CAARA.

Sunday August 8th, Gloucester Triathalon in AM. Public service event for CAARA

Friday August 6th thru Sunday August 8 th. Probable weekend for Thatchers Island Activation.

Wednesday September 15th, CAARA Annual meeting at 8 PM

Sunday October 24th, CAARA clubhouse property fall clean-up day. Start time TBD

Saturday November 20th, CAARA fall hamfest and flea market. Probable location at Pigeon Cove Circle Center and start time 9 AM

Saturday December 4th, CAARA Club Christmas party. Probable location at Pigeon Cove circle center.

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February CAARA Members Meeting – hosting Dale Clement, AF1T

January 22nd, 2010

This is a special meeting hosting Dale Clement, AF1T, who will present and demonstrate topics on ANTENNAS & TRANSMISSION LINES!

Date: February 3, 2010
Time & Place:  Starts early-runs late, promptly at 7:00p  to ~10pm
Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan St. Lanesville, MA
Directions:  http://www.lanesvillecommunity.org/directions.html

This is one night not to miss!

Talk in on W1GLO 145.130MHz (no P.L.) All are welcome–Please plan to attend!

Download the handout notes of the evening’s presentation here: 

antennasintro

transmissionlines

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VE testing produces one of CAARA’s youngest ham members!

January 10th, 2010
We had 3 candidates appear before the CAARA VE Team this morning.

We were surprised to hear that Erin Maybury, daughter of Dr. Rick Maybury, WZ1B, was going to attempt a Technician Examination.  Rick said that Erin had been studying the Technician License Manual, and gone through the Question Pool, and that this was a preparation for Erin to attend a “One Day Technician Class” that would be offered in Lanesville by club member Stan Stone, W4HIX later in the month, and give Erin a chance to see what a Technician Class Exam looked like prior to the class.

Lo and behold, when the examination was scored, it was learned that Erin had passed the examination. “She what?” the bewildered father exclaimed when Bob Quinn announced that “Erin Passed!!” after the test was scored. The proud father beamed and hugged his daughter upon hearing the news.

Then a member of the VE Team asked Erin if she wanted to join the radio club, to which she replied, “Yes!!” Looks like we might have a whole ham family in the making!!!

Examination Recap:

The total participants were 3, Total exams passed were 3, and we have 3 new Technician Class licensees awaiting their new calls hopefully by the end of the week.

Respectfully submitted:

BILL POULIN, WZ1L
VE TEAM MEMBER

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Feb. 3 Special CAARA Meeting!

January 2nd, 2010
Sign up for the Feb.3  Special CAARA Meeting!
AF1T Antenna Demonstration and Transmission Line Presentation

E-mail Briggs, ab2nj, and tell him you’re coming.  He’ll send you a confirming reply with details & directions!
This meeting will be at a different location, it will start earlier and run later!
(Of course, all are always welcome but for seating and planning, your reservation is politely requested.)
CARRA will be hosting Dale & Mickie Clement who will present the extraordinary “AF1T Antenna Demonstration and Transmission Line Presentation”
It will be very entertaining & educational and is a ‘must see’ for all hams!
RSVP asap:  ab2nj@arrl.net or ab2nj@verizon.net and let him know you’re coming!

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“You can get your Tech in a Day” class, January 30, 2010

January 2nd, 2010
(FCC Technician Amateur Radio Technician License)
How?
If you can spare a Saturday, chances are good you can get your amateur radio operator license. You say you’re not technically inclined—don’t worry. This method depends much more on your short-term memory than technical knowledge or background. By spending six hours studying the questions and answers on the FCC Element exam, you can remember enough to pass the exam given at the end of the class. The test is 35 multiple-choice questions and you need 26 correct to pass.
Do I need to learn Morse Code?
Morse code is no longer needed for any amateur license.
Why?
With a technician license, you can use VHF and UHF amateur radio bands, meaning when the phones go dead and your cell phone doesn’t get reception, you will be able to get a message out with a simple hand-held radio. For emergency workers, adding amateur radio capability adds to your communications abilities. And, it is great fun with interesting people to meet.
Help!
So if I get my license, how to I get help? The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is ready and willing to teach you the practical matters on getting “on the air”. How to operate, what radio to buy, and all of your questions can be answered. We get together every Sunday morning for coffee and donuts—come join us. We also have members’ meetings once a month with interesting presentations.
Schedule
Date: Saturday, Jan 30, 2010
Time: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (includes exam)
Place: Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan St Gloucester (Lanesville), MA
Click here for map

Cost & Requirements
Course Fee: $5 (includes materials & snacks)
Test Cost: $15 (required by FCC)
Bring photo ID & Social Security Number
Contact
Stan Stone, W4HIX 978 283-2015
stan@lanescove.us
You must sign up ahead
Sponsored by Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association Gloucester, MA 01930

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CAARA to participate in SPAR Winter Field Day, January 31, 2010

January 2nd, 2010

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association will once again participate in the SPAR winter field day competition.

We invite all club members to come down to the Caara Clubhouse and take a turn at the mike or to catch up on their CW skills from Rick Maybury`s CW class which has been going on during saturday mornings at the clubhouse.The Society for the Preservation of Amateur Radio`s field day event will start at noon on Saturday, January 30th and run 24 hrs until noontime the following Sunday, January 31st.

This event is the perfect oppoutnity to polish your radio skills in a relaxed competitive atmosphere. You can find out more about SPAR and see CARRA`s 2009 results and a couple of pictures of our club in action by visiting their website at www.spar-hams.org and clicking on the 2009 results link.

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