Pictures from Harold W2IBM who was an active member of the club in the early 2000.
Author: N2DH
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2000 WEARC State of the Union Memo
Copy of memo found in old files.
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1992 Field Day- Ray K2DEE Article
Originally published in 1992
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2005 Statement of Understanding Between the WEARC and The American Red Cross
Official agreement signed on March 22, 2005
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to state the terms of understanding between the West Essex Amateur Radio Club, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the American Red Cross Metropolitan New Jersey Chapter. This document will serve as a frame work within which the volunteer Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other licensed amateur radio personnel will coordinate amateur radio emergency networks, equipment and personnel with the American Red Cross for disaster relief communications in the local area of Northern New Jersey.
This document is not intended to replace or revise the “Statement of Understanding Between The American Radio Relay League, Inc. and The American National Red Cross’” #ARC2213.
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If you like FT8, perhaps you will love JS8Call
I got into using FT8 this summer when camping. In 2023 now post COVID I had to adapt to having other campers close by which made it embarrassing to be talking to myself late at night and possibly annoying my fellow campers. I was lucky and able to download all the software and get it running on my laptop during a wet day and then spend the night exchanging contacts using a variant of WSJT-X, JTDX. I improved things by adding GridTracker and spent much of the summer evening working through FT8.
Laptop Screen when integrated with GridTrackerGood as FT8 is, it didn’t satisfy my itch to communicate. It was good at getting to stations, finding out where you could be heard. But just a signal report and location didn’t feel sufficient. I stumbled on a fork of FT8 called JS8-Call. Developed by KN4CRD back at the end of 2019 it takes much of FT8 but adds texting. So, you can now have a QSO, although slowly. To quote KN4CDR “JS8Call is an experiment in combining the robustness of FT8 (a weak-signal mode by K1JT) with a messaging and network protocol layer for weak signal communication.” This code base is well supported (for Ham software) and has a last release of June 2020. There is an active community with sufficient activity to be able QSO most of the time.
The user interface and operation of JS8Call is different than FT8. They look quite different, but I quickly got used to the new layout. Before writing this blog, I went on air to get some typical screen captures to share what I like about it and why I feel it important to share availability of this digital mode.
The top things I really like are:
- You can send and receive text messages and so exchange type of rig, antenna, power and such. You also have a chance to spend as long as you both like chatting.
- There is an automated heartbeat mode where you can send automated messages and get replies including your signal strength.
Main disappointment so far
No automatic link into GridTracker, although might be possible with some work.
JS8Call screen during a QSOThe picture above shows the main screen, you will see that it has the waterfall of activity, above on the left is a list of activities, in the middle you can see the text messages for the current QSO and to the right a list of stations heard. The setup required all the same information as FT8, and I used my radio USB for audio and CAT commands for control. It has interfaces to a central logging program and can be configured for various unattended auto replies as well as full manual operation. It has become something I leave on in the shack and get satisfaction looking where I am being heard.
JS8Call screen response to a heartbeatThis second screen capture shows the responses to an automated heartbeat, you can see a bunch of people responded to my heartbeat with a signal strength. I like this feature as it gives me confidence everything is working.
The system has interesting features a club might want to explore. You can define groups, say the WEARC Group, then messages can be filtered and sent to the group and the group could automatically reply with the heard signal strength.There are also special groups with some set operating periods all designed for interfacing to APRS Packet network.
Most of my operation was portable and so I was not as experimental as I am back here in the Shack. I want to look at the different modes available as some are faster (less weak signal capable) also try out the many shortcut messages and options which might make it simpler to cover the more standard messages and questions.
If I had to sum up what JS8Call feels like in one short sentence, it would be modern day CW mode, since JS8Call has almost the same message speed and probably works in harsher signal conditions.
I hope a few more club members try this and perhaps we can form our own group able to get automated signal measurements on the major bands between us all.
Please comments welcome.
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Unexpected passing of our President Don K2DEG
I am shocked and sad to have to report that Don, our club president, has joined the silent keys on the other side of the DX. Don passed on 26th December 2022 from complications recovering from COVID.
None of us anticipated losing Don so suddenly and I am sure many of us would have wanted to share the New Year with him, all of us will miss his wisdom, experience and humor that helped keep our club together.
Don was first licensed at the age of 15 as a Novice in 1953 (KN2DEG) in Montclair, NJ. There was an article about him in the local paper. He went on to get General, Advanced and finally Extra Class licenses, He was also very proficient at CW having been an instructor during his military service as a sergeant in the Army National Guard for eight years.
Don was married to Marilyn for over 61 years, had two children and was a proud grandfather. Professionally he worked as a CPA and founded his own firm with a couple of partners in Fairfield, NJ finally retiring after enjoying 50 years with the firm. He also enjoyed playing the banjo, singing, collecting antique broadcast radios, and cooking.
Don had been a Ham for 69 years, a significant achievement. A member of the ARRL he was awarded the DX World Award in 2018, a life member of Ten Ten International (#1239) where he always took part in their contests. He wanted to pass down his Ham Radio experience, bringing his grandchildren to all the club events and getting them talking on the air.
We will always remember Don as a strong member of our club and it is fitting to see him pictured at our last club event, Grover Cleveland where he was passionately helping a young cub scout operate on air.
Some words from our members…
Don was a great guy as well as a leader. When WEARC’s president, John, N2NO, passed away suddenly, Don stepped in and took his role. He helped the club move forward with club projects such as the satellite project and supporting the DMR switch. He was also a big help with VE sessions.
When COVID hit, we were no longer able to host our VE sessions at the Essex Fells building. Don, came up with the idea of asking his former company to allow us to use the covered driveway under their building for the sessions. This allowed us to start out “Stay in your car” VE sessions to get through COVID. These sessions were very successful, not only in helping to get operators licensed, but also adding members to the club.
Don was a big supporter of club social gatherings. Under his watch, the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) group was started. Whomever would be available would gather for breakfast on a Thursday morning at one of the local diners. Due to my job, I was never able to join one of the breakfasts.
Don also supported an occasional diner gathering which was held at Don Pepe’s restaurant. Don’s one rule about the gathering was we had to order plenty of red sangria. These diners were attended by many of the members and some of their spouses. They were always a great time.
Don was a great operator. He would help on Field Day by working CW, gathering double points. He would be there to help with any special event, including our Grover Cleveland event. He will truly be missed.
Mike Luongo, K2NNN
I will remember his smile, his upbeat voice, his jokes, and his stories.
I will miss him at our Thursday morning breakfasts.
Don held the WEARC club together, keping us organized.
He was always willing to help another HAM with a problem if he could or would know someone who might be able to help.
He will be truly missed.
Bill Kelly, NB1LL
It’s had to put a date on when I first met Don but I believe it was 2017 at a WEARC meeting. The regulars told me about a well-dressed guy (rare for hams) who showed up to the previous meeting and they hoped he would return.
Don and I gravitated toward each other because of our business backgrounds. We tended to have a similar approach to club events and managing projects. The club president at the time took ill and had to vacate the position. When it came time to select a replacement, we all took a step back while Don took a step forward and thus became our new president. Don stepped in easily, and smoothly began leading the club. He is a natural at leadership.
Around this time, a group of us had decided to start a weekly breakfast club. We enjoyed discussions over breakfast with topics ranging from electronics, careers, growing up, and yes even politics. Don and I may not have always agreed but he was willing to hear the opposing view if you had facts. When either one of us could bring enough evidence to bear, the other conceded.
Don’s adroit leadership kept us steadily moving forward with successful field trips to the battleship NJ, ARRL headquarters, Grover Cleveland, and a series of annual Field days with high point scores. He was always willing to do anything that he asked others to do.
Don spearheaded remodeling the club station and rewiring the antenna feed lines. Don was actively working on getting us a new and improved meeting place, post covid.
The club breakfasts have special importance to me. I’ve learned many things about my fellow hams (ROMEOS) or Retired Old Men Eating Out that has provided enjoyment and respect for their amazing experience and talents. Many times Don and I would be the last ones left at the restaurant leading to one on one discussions.
Don and I shared a strong bond having learned that our career paths had intertwined over the last 40 years. My accountant in 1983 was actually Dons partner. Don validated my bad experiences with the guy and the reason he was no longer at Don’s firm. We discovered that we had several clients and associates in common during our careers. Had I known Don at that time it might have made a significant improvement for my firm over the years. We always had a great time reminiscing and comparing notes.
I enjoyed working with him. I enjoyed his warmth and friendship. I am going to miss him greatly.
Benett Rosen, AC2NI
My first introduction to Don and the members of WEARC came about just prior to the 2022 Ham Radio Field Day. Previously, I had attended the club’s weekly meetings on-line and was anxious to meet some of the members in person.
Over one’s lifetime you may personally meet and remember, I would guess, more that 1500-2000 people if not more. Some of these meetings fly right by and others remain with you as you work to establish long term friendships (and relationships). Such was my initial meeting with Don. A warm, firm handshake and direct eye contact from a fellow who had an e-mail address of ‘otmusic@ ….net’ was what I needed and received at that point in time.
Don and I shared an interest in music as well as ham radio, sharing many memorable moments focusing on the NY Paramount Theatre and the Theatre District going back over 40-50 years if not more. Although our friendship was all too brief, I feel that I have known Don much longer – more like the 50 years when we treaded the same turf in Times Square.
A man of impeccable warmth, honesty and wit, Don will be dearly missed and most certainly remembered.
My sincere condolences to the Saltzman Family and to my fellow members of WEARC.
May Don rest in eternal peace.
John E Beck Sr, KD2WGN
Don became club president about the time I joined the club in 2019. He helped me adjust to being a good member helping me deal with some comments and issues. During the many unofficial club breakfasts I got to know Don better, learn that he helped many members behind the scenes as well as hear his stories of his early life: like running a teenage business showing movie films, endless trips into the city to buy surplus radio parts.
Don was an inspiration to the club, will be a difficult president to replace but whatever happens I hope his desire to keep the club alive and to attract younger members will survive.
We missed our Holiday Club Dinner this year, perhaps at next years dinner we can take a moment to remember Don and show him we continued as WEARC.
Steve Wilcox, N2DH
While I have not known Don long, as I became more active in WEARC I began to interact with him more consistently and he was always up for a conversation.
In my short time with the club my most cherished memory is from Grover Cleveland day, which he was quite fond of. Don truly enjoyed teaching and talking about amateur radio with the younger people. Don took a lot of time talking radio and CW. He worked with numerous scouts that day and it was east to see the joy on his face. That’s what I’ll remember most.
Don will truly be missed, he was an inspiration.
Sincerely,
CJ – KD2TZX
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First Public Display of the WEARC Satellite Tracker
Our satellite tracker has finally come of age. It made its first public appearance during Field Day 2022.
After some last-minute upgrades, the project was considered deployable and set to work tracking satellites for real.
After a night research we were armed with a list of potential targets. The list was short, only 14 possible satellites and only three with FM transponders. The majority, and current trend is inverting linear transponders. When you take out paths that were not visible from the Field Day site and those that are unlikely to be active, we get down to about eight candidates including the ISS. It was a quiet day at the location, many of the normal satellites were too far south and the ISS would only make one short 6 min pass during the Saturday.
Prior to Field Day the tracker has only tracked the beacon with telemetry of one contact. There were still unanswered questions about how SSB worked on inverting linear transponders. It seemed like each transponder had a narrow band of frequencies and trended to use USB for the uplink and so LSB on the downlink. This meant setting the radio to use USB on transmit and LSB on receive, not your everyday setting so took some time to find out how to set up the FT991. I still do not know the process of calling CQ, given we have about 6 minutes of usable time, you make a call on the uplink then presumably have to tune around the downlink to hear any reply. There is no lock between RX and TX, with Doppler changes and the lack of a fixed offset in the tuning makes the normal known TX and RX frequencies unpredictable. I have to assume that operators use their clarifies to resolve signals hence the tuning the RX after a CQ. Same goes for responding to a CQ, you hear the downlink but don’t have to time to process the necessary uplink frequencies and although the tracker software will correct for Doppler, it won’t convert a newly tuned RX frequency into the corresponding uplink frequency.
The bottom line was that I did not expect to make a real contact, our best bet was the ISS and we only had one short chance.
Our Results
We had a good day, we heard eight satellites, a pileup on the ISS a few SSB signals and several beacons. There is a slight possibility we had a reply through the ISS but for sure it is not a confirmed contact. The ISS was low in the sky and we seemed to have about 3 minutes of traffic. Not long to get things done.
We did confirm that USB is the preferred uplink and that contacts are understandably short, quick CQ, callsign and then reply.
This is what we heard:
- NAYIF-1 (E0-88) – heard SSB stations, not English
- TO-108 – heard SSB stations one part call sign EM3 was really strong.
- ISS – many stations, W2EFR? And KE4AZZ particularly strong
- AO-73 – beacon fairly faint
- AO-7 Possibly telemetry/beacon
- PO-101 – beacon
- XW-2C – Beacon, multiple strong SSB signals, just didn’t get time to tune them in to hear callsigns, also multiple CW signals.
- XW-2B – heard SSB including a part call AC3?
This might not seem like a lot, but it was great practice and shown how critical it is to be able to have the radio set up for the pass and get experience tuning in SSB quickly when Doppler is being adjusted.
The Future
I think it is critical to have a duplex TX/RX, being able to listen to the downlink as you transmit will eliminate many of the concerns tuning in the RX. With a duplex setup you should be able to monitor the transmission and get the RX ready on the correct frequency as you switch to RX. It will also alert you to another station using the same frequency. Duplex can be achieved using two radios or a SDR system.
Also having an automated way of calculating uplink and downlink frequencies as needed would make listening and replying to stations more effective. We will look into either obtaining or developing such capabilities.
Next Trial
If there is interest, we can go out again and set things up. If one or more members is interested, then we can schedule a trip. We will need an open space where much of the horizon is visible without obstruction and some place we can put the mounting pole in the ground and attach the four guy ropes. Alternatively, if someone has a towing hitch adapter, we could work from a parking lot.
Further Information
You can see more about our tracker project here
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WEARC Parks on the Air Activation of Wawayanda State Park – 10/16/2021
Had a Great time at our Park’s on the Air Activation of Park K-1636 Wawayanda State Park. Thanks to Matt Kaufman, K2ATV, Metin Serdar Serbetci, KD2UAF, Rich Kopelaw, KD2WJR, and Stan Rogacki, K2EXX. And we even had our newest Member Max, K9D0G show up!! LOL!! Forecast was supposed to be rain all day, but it turned out to be a Totally AWESOME DAY! Looking forward to seeing more Members on the next Activation. Lou, K2TAC.
The Parks on the Air platform gives Licensed Radio Operators the opportunity to take our equipment out to a remote location outside our homes. Whether park, or parking lot, we get to test the efficiency of our gear in various configurations and locations. We make contacts with other Operators State Side and around the World.
Say Hi to our Newest Club Member Nominee, Max, K9D0G
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2021 ARRL Field Day Event
West Essex Amateur Radio Club’s 2021 ARRL Field Day Event.
Thanks to all that showed up to make this event a memorable one. Special Thanks to all my Friends from the Montclair University Repeater Group! You guys are awesome. More pictures and videos to come.
We had a great turnout of Club Members for this years Field Day. We were able to utilize the grounds at the Rockpoint Community Church, in North Haledon, NJ. Several of the Pastors from the Church, as well as some of the parishioners came by to pay us a visit during our 24 hour activation. We had several Law Enforcement Officers also stop by to see if we needed anything and said to call if we needed them for anything. We also had North Haledon Mayor Randy George stop by and pay us a visit. He was thoroughly impressed with our setup and the service that we provide. He also expressed interest in using us for any future projects with the town.
Many came early to setup, and get everything ready. Some were local hams that heard we were having a Field Day in their neighborhood. Others were part of the local repeater group. The Montclair University Repeater 443.450 We had 3 operators stay the full 24 hours. And others came throughout the day to help. Even though the weather was rough on Saturday, we made it through. Lessons learned on what to improve on for next year. Several of the Club Members operating were Rookies. And testimonies from them concerning their first Field Day was that this definitely solidified them in the Hobby.
We Encourage any, and ALL to next years Field Day Event. You won’t be disappointed. 73’s.
Lou Mercado, KD2TSC
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2021 Field Day
Come Join Us!!! We at the West Essex Amateur Radio Club, will be having a Field Day Event at Rockpoint Community Church, 400 North Haledon Avenue, North Haledon, NJ 07508 starting at 2PM Saturday, June 26th, and continue through the night for a full 24 hours, until 2PM Sunday, June 27th. All are invited!! Come see us operate, learn more about how you can get involved, and even make contact with other operators both here in the US, Canada, and even the World!! We look forward to seeing you there!
Directions
- Take Garden State Parkway North to Exit 160.
- Follow signs to Rt 4 West and Rt 208 North.
- Get on Rt 208 North.
- Exit Rt 208 North at Goffle Road, North Haledon/Hawthorne/Paterson Exit.
- Go 3 lights on Goffle Road and make a Right Turn onto Rea Ave.
- Go uphill for about 1/2 to 3/4 mile.
- Rockpoint Community Church will be on your Left side.
- Go all the way up to the upper parking lot.
