Category: WEARC Blog

  • WEARC and ARC² Participate in ARRL Field Day

    WEARC and ARC² Participate in ARRL Field Day

    Members of both WEARC and ARC² participated in the annual ARRL Field Day Event on Saturday June 22 and Sunday June 23, 2024. Saturday morning with temperatures quickly soring into the 90’s the members worked on setting up the stations and antenna’s. 

    With time to spare the group was set up and ready to run by the 2pm start time and settled right into making contacts with other clubs and operators working on field day. 

    The numbers have yet to be calculated but we were well over 200 contacts in our operations. 

    Antenna Raising

    Getting the antenna’s up is one of the most critical parts of Field Day. Without these there will be no possibility of contacts. 

    Satellite Tracking

    One of our goals this year and at past events has to make a successful contact through satellite’s. This year Rich KD2WJR successfully make a contact at 4:00am on Sunday. 

    If you would like to see photos from Field Day please Click Here



    GOTA & BSA 

    During the event WEARC/ARC² operated a Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) station and invited BSA Troops from the Essex County area. Several scouts showed up and began working on the Radio Merit Badge with an on-site Merit Badge Counselor

  • WHY AMATEUR RADIO?

      There are several compelling reasons why people choose to get into ham radio:

    1. Personal Enjoyment and Hobby: Many people find operating ham radio to be a fascinating hobby. It offers opportunities to communicate with people around the world, experiment with different modes of communication (voice, digital, Morse code, etc.), and participate in contests and events.

    2. Emergency Communication: Ham radio operators often play a crucial role in emergency communication. During disasters when other forms of communication may fail, hams can provide a lifeline for emergency responders, communities, and individuals in need. They are trained to handle emergency traffic efficiently and reliably.

    3. Technical Learning: Ham radio provides a hands-on way to learn about radio communication technology, electronics, antennas, propagation (how radio waves travel), and more. It’s a practical way to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting.

    4. Community and Social Connections: Ham radio enthusiasts form a global community of like-minded individuals. They often participate in clubs, nets (regular on-air meetings), and events, fostering friendships and mentorship opportunities across generations and cultures.

    5. Public Service: Many hams engage in public service activities, such as providing communications support for marathons, parades, and other community events. They volunteer their skills and equipment to assist in logistics, safety, and coordination.

    6. Global Connectivity: Ham radio allows communication without reliance on internet infrastructure or commercial networks. This independence can be valuable in remote or isolated areas, during travel, or in regions where communication infrastructure is unreliable or unavailable.

    7. Experimentation and Innovation: Hams are encouraged to experiment with new technologies and techniques. This spirit of innovation has led to advancements in radio technology and communication protocols over the years.

    8. Personal Development: Operating ham radio can enhance skills such as problem-solving, communication, and adaptability. It challenges operators to think critically and make decisions quickly, particularly in dynamic conditions like contesting or emergency situations.

    9. Learning and Teaching: Many hams enjoy sharing their knowledge and mentoring newcomers to the hobby. This fosters a culture of continuous learning and passing on skills to future generations.

    Overall, ham radio offers a unique blend of personal enjoyment, technical exploration, community service, and global connectivity. Whether for hobbyist reasons, public service, or personal growth, ham radio continues to attract individuals who appreciate its versatility and enduring appeal.

    73,

    KD2WWU

  • HOW TO START WITH HAM RADIO

    Starting with ham radio can be an exciting journey into the world of amateur radio communication. Here are the steps you can follow to get started:

    1. Learn About Ham Radio: Familiarize yourself with what ham radio is all about. It’s a hobby that allows licensed operators to communicate with each other using various frequencies and modes. Youtube has great channels that you can watch, check it out!

    2. Study for the License Exam: In most countries, you need to pass a license exam to operate a ham radio legally. Study materials are often available online or through local amateur radio clubs. Topics usually include regulations, operating procedures, and basic electronics.

    3. Find a Local Club or Elmer: Joining a local amateur radio club can be immensely helpful. These clubs often offer classes, exams, and mentoring (sometimes referred to as an “Elmer”) for newcomers. They also provide opportunities to meet experienced operators and learn from their knowledge.

    4. Take the License Exam: Once you feel prepared, take the license exam. The exam typically covers multiple-choice questions on regulations, technical knowledge, and operating practices. Passing the exam grants you a call sign and a license level (which varies by country).

    5. Get Your Equipment: Start with basic equipment appropriate for beginners. A popular choice is a handheld transceiver (HT) that operates on VHF/UHF bands. As you gain experience, you can expand your equipment to include HF bands and more sophisticated setups.

    6. Practice Operating: Start making contacts with other ham radio operators. Join nets (scheduled on-air meetings), participate in contests, or simply chat with other hams. Each contact helps you improve your skills and learn more about the hobby.

    7. Continue Learning: Ham radio offers a wide range of activities beyond basic voice communication, including digital modes, satellite communication, and even amateur television. Explore these options based on your interests and technical skills.

    8. Contribute to the Community: Many hams enjoy contributing to emergency communications, public service events, or education. Volunteering for these activities not only helps others but also enhances your own skills and network within the ham community.

    9. Upgrade Your License: As you gain experience, consider upgrading your license to gain access to more frequencies and operating privileges. This often involves passing additional exams that cover more advanced topics.

    10. Have Fun and Enjoy the Hobby: Ham radio is a diverse hobby with opportunities for learning, experimentation, and making friends around the world. Enjoy the journey and don’t hesitate to ask for advice or help from fellow hams along the way.

    WEARC is a great group of people that can help you with each step. Subscribe to our blog and reach out in the comments, via Skype, WhatsApp or show up at our meetings. We will always do our best to help you!

    73,

    KD2WWU

  • WEARC & ARC² Gear Up For Field Day

    WEARC & ARC² Gear Up For Field Day

    Club Members from both WEARC and ARC² met at the American Red Cross building in Fairfield, NJ (Essex County) on Saturday June 8 for a final prep for this years ARRL Field Day. 

    Field Day is June 22, 2024 starting at 2pm through June 23, 2024 2pm – Come out and join us and learn more about Amateur Radio For info contact CJ Melhorn (KD2TZX) by e-mail.

  • Field Day – NE2S remote input

    Field Day – NE2S remote input

    While on-site at WEARC Field Day 2024, please take advantage of the temporary remote input for the NE2S repeater in Livingston, NJ which will be available throughout Field Day weekend.  Using the remote input frequency will allow your signal to be full quieting into the repeater while using a HT on low power from our Field Day site.  We will use this repeater to create awareness of our Field Day location and offer talk-in directions and site availability details (hours of operation) upon request.

    Note: there is a small timing delay as a result of VoIP buffers for EchoLink and the end-to-end IP network path; pausing 1/2 second to begin your transmission after hearing the repeater courtesy tone is sufficient to compensate for this delay.

    Standard Repeater Output: 146.595; Standard Repeater Input: 147.595 (+1.00 MHz), 127.3 Hz PL

    Remote Input: 147.445 (+0.85 MHz), 127.3 Hz PL.  Please set your HT to its lowest TX power setting.

  • WEARC and ARC² Scout out Field Day Location

    WEARC and ARC² Scout out Field Day Location

     Over the last month the West Essex Amateur Radio Club and the ARC ² Clubs have been on site at the American Red Cross doing site surveys on where they will set up stations, antennas, and the ever friendly Guests on the Air (GOTA) for field day 2024. 

    The WEARC and ARC² will be operating from the American Red Cross Building for 2024 ARRL Field Day in Fairfield NJ – 209 Fairfield Rd. 

    For more information about field day you click here or contact CJ Melhorn, KD2TZX at kd2tzx{at}arrl.org

    Many ideas and configurations being discussed so the plan is ready to be enacted on Field Day 2024.



    Members from WEARC and ARC² working on spotting a location for one of the field day antenna’s.



    Getting the A/D stretched out after being in storage to locate best positioning



    Members spotting a location for an A/D antenna. Working to see if the reach is feasible.

  • ARRL Annual Field Day – June 22 to June 23, 2024

    ARRL Annual Field Day – June 22 to June 23, 2024

    West Essex Amateur Radio Club – Arc² ARRL Field Day Event
    Saturday June 22, 2024 – Sunday June 23, 2024
    209 Fairfield Rd, Fairfield, NJ (Essex County)

    Come out and visit the West Essex Amateur Radio Club along with Arc² at the American Red Cross building in Fairfield, NJ (Essex County) when our amateur radio operators participate in the most popular on-the-air even held annually in the U.S and Canada. Field Day is a time where many aspects of amateur radio come together to highlight our many roles. Field Day has a variety of purposes, many clubs use it as a social event while contesting, and others will practice their emergency communications.

    WEARC and ARC² will be welcoming amateur radio operators, the general public, distinguished guest and more throughout the day. We will be running a Guests-on-the-Air station so those who are not licensed operators may sit with one of our members and operator a radio and make contacts around the world. We look forward to this event each year and now in collaboration with ARC² we have a site that provides our members and visitors safety in the event of any foul weather that may come our way.

    If any Boy Scout troops are interested we will have an on-site merit badge counselor during the event. Please co-ordinate with CJ Melhorn, contact info below.

    If you require more information feel free to contact CJ Melhorn (KD2TZX) by e-mail at kd2tzx{at}arrl.net. 

  • Moving the Red Cross Radio Room

    Moving the Red Cross Radio Room

    During a recent emergency drill, Bill, NB1LL, realized the existing Red Cross Ham Operation Radio Room would not be functional during a crisis; it was too small to accommodate the personnel and equipment needed.  As Regional Lead of the American Red Cross New Jersey Region, Ham Operations, he set out to find a more suitable space in the Fairfield, NJ Red Cross Building.  

    Bill found a new office; then he just needed a few hands to help move furniture, radios and wire.  Ed K2BED, Henry KC2WRQ, Jerry WB2GZL and Richard KD2IIX, members from ARC Squared (ARC2 ) an Amateur Radio Club for the volunteers and the staff of the American Red Cross and the West Essex Amateur Radio Club (WEARC) were happy to help.

    Tuesday, March 19th, the team met at the Red Cross Building at 7pm to move the Radio Room.

    Bill had previously located the cable antennas in the ceiling so there’d be no delay in moving them.

    Photo Credit: Jerry Scola

    The cables for the new room.

    Photo Credit: Jerry Scola

     The move took 2 hours and was accomplished in time for Bill to have the new Radio Room available for WinLink Training!

    A ‘shout out’ to Ed K2BED, Henry KC2WRQ, Jerry WB2GZL and Richard KD2IIX for all their efforts! 

    Photo Credit: Jerry Scola

  • Repeater Operational Tips

    Repeater Operational Tips

    The question of how a repeater controller works has come up several times in the past few months. Below are some relevant facts about the operation of a familiar repeater controller. The post that follows will focus on high impact items for repeater users, including specific PL and timing details about our local VHF FM repeater, NE2S, on 146.595 MHz.

    PL (Private Line) / CTCSS
    Continuous sub-audible tone signaling, required to access the repeater. Input PLs help keep unwanted noise and unexpected users from activating the repeater. While an input PL may be passed through the repeater, there is no PL tone generated on the output of NE2S by the repeater, so please keep your receive squelch set to carrier (do not filter on PL/CTCSS) for this repeater system. Setting your radio for carrier squelch will ensure you will be able to hear the Courtesy Tone and repeater ID.

    Courtesy Tone
    Following each user’s transmission, the repeater transmitter remains on for a programmable period with a Courtesy Tone provided to indicate that the other use may transmit. On NE2S, the value of this timer is set to 1.5 seconds. The delay to the tone allows other stations to break into the conversation. The period of 1.5 seconds starts when the user unkeys their microphone, and ends once the repeater Courtesy Tone sounds.

    Hang Time
    This is the period where the repeater transmitter remains on the air, after the user input signal goes away and the courtesy tone has sounded. Sometimes Hang Time is referred to as a repeater’s tail. NE2S is configured for 3 seconds of Hang Time after the Courtesy Tone.

    Timeout Timer
    The repeater’s timeout timer is set at 3 minutes on NE2S and its function is to limit transmission duration in case of a continuous carrier at the repeater’s receiver. The timer resets automatically when the input signal at the receiver has ceased for 1.5 seconds. Normally, a Courtesy Tone is generated at that time, however if pending repeater ID is waiting, the repeater ID message will be generated in place of the Courtesy Tone and will be followed by the tone. In either case, the Timeout Timer resets at the beginning of the courtesy tone or pending repeater ID. You do not need to wait for the repeater tail (Hang Time) to drop (end). In order to reset the Timeout Timer, simply wait to hear the Courtesy Tone and begin the next transmission.

    If users do not wait for the Courtesy Tone and the total transmission time between timer resets exceeds the NE2S timeout timer value of 3 minutes, the controller will announce “Repeater Time Out”, and the transmitter will be shut off. When the signal at the input stops for at least 1.5 seconds, the transmitter will be re-enabled and will announce “Repeater Ready” and normal operation will resume.

    Function Value
    Input PL 100.0 Hz
    Output PL None
    Courtesy Tone 1.5 seconds
    Hang Time 3 seconds
    Timeout Timer 3 Minutes
    Output Frequency 146.595 MHz
    Input Frequency 147.595 MHz

    73 & hope to hear you on the repeater soon!

  • Meshtastic Waterproof Device – BEST DESIGN

    Meshtastic Waterproof Device – BEST DESIGN

    Let’s build my version of the LoRa Meshtastic ESP32 device. What do we want to achieve: 

    1. As waterproof as it can be.

    2. No 3D Printed needed.

    3. Battery that can run for a couple days.

    4. Easy USB waterproof connector that can be used for charging.  

    5. ON/OFF switch WITH LED ON/OFF indicator 

    6. High gain antenna.

    Tools needed below (just look at the picture below):

    Parts that you will need: 

    ALL AVAILABLE ON AMAZON! 

    915MHz ESP32 LoRa 0.96 OLED Development Board V3 SX1262 Type-C

    915MHz LoRa Antenna Omni 5dbi Gain SMA Male for ESP32 LoRa OLED Board

    MakerFocus 4pcs 3.7V 3000mAh Lithium Rechargeable Battery 1S 1C Lipo Battery with Protection Board

    mxuteuk 5pcs 12V RV Waterproof Push Button Switch Black ON/Off SPST Switch with 4.52inch Lines for RV/Motorcycle/Car MXU-KP-107

    10PCS USB 3.1 Type C Connector 24 Pins Male Female Plug Socket Receptacle Adapter to Solder Wire & Cable 24P PCB Board Support Module

    VizGiz 10 Pack USB Plug Replacement 4 PIN Type A Female Male Socket Connector Solder Terminal Repair

    DKARDU 6PCS GX16 5 Pins Aviation Connector Male/Female Panel Aviation Wire Connector Plug Socket for Power Connection with 6PCS Waterproof Cover

    Zulkit Junction Box ABS Plastic Dustproof Waterproof IP65 Universal Electrical Boxes Project Enclosure with Fixed Ear Black 3.27 x 2.28 x 1.30 Inch

    DiCUNO 450pcs (5 Colors x 90pcs) 5mm LED Light Emitting Diode Round Assorted Color 

    22 AWG Stranded Wire Silicone Tinned Copper Wire Spool 25ft Each 6 Colors Flexible 22 Gauge Hook up Electrical Wire Kit from Fermerry

    STEP 1 – Case

    Let’s drill the box:

    Mark one of the sides, from lower chanel of the top down, it’s 20mm tall. Do 2 lines, one at 10mm another 7.5mm from the top. The 10mm line is the guide for the switch, the 7.5mm from the top one is for the GX16 5 pin connector. Mark 1 inch from each side crossing the 2 previous lines. 

    With a soldering iron, do some guiding holes. The one on the bottom line 10mm is for the switch, the other one is for the GX16 connector. At the top, mark a place for the antenna SMA connector. We can drill the LED hole in a few.

    Switch is 3/8”, use a step drill for the GX16, 5/8” is the hole size. I used some liquid electrical tape to help with the water proofing. Don’t forget the rubber washer inside of the switch. The SMA connector is a 1/4” and the LED is 3/16”, it’s one of the final holes, in the next section, add where you want. 

    I had to use the soldering iron to remove a post that was in the way of the On/OFF switch. 

    STEP 2 – Soldering connectors

    The GX16 has some numbers. You can do whatever combination of color you want. 

    My setup is: 

    1 – RED (+V) 

    2 – B BRROW/BLACK (Data – )

    3 – Blue (Data +)

    4 – Green (Ground or V-)  

    5 – Nothing, no connection

    4 1/2” should be enough for the the connection between the USBC and the GX16, same for the LED. LED is connected to the 3V and ground pins of the ESP36. 

    For USB-C side I kept the male and female connected just to see better and also to test for wrong connections / soldering bridges between the 4 connectors. ALWAYS check. There should be NO continuity between the 4. 

    STEP 3 –  Final Device assembly 

    Cut one of the battery cables and connect to the switch. Drill the final LED hole 3/16” and use super glue to keep the LED in place. It’s a snug fit and the super glue also helps with the waterproofing.  The way it fits the best is with the ESP32 board below the battery. 

    IMPORTANT: Before connecting the battery, connect the antenna. NEVER turn on the device with the antenna disconnected. Make sure you use the switch off after testing and close everything. Device is done. 

    Almost done… The GX16 cap has a rubber, I added some super glue between the base of the connector and the rubber seal to keep the cap from falling when cap is open.  Screw the lid of the case and it’s done. 

    STEP 4 – USB Cable for Data and Charging

    Use whatever cable with 4 or more wires/conductors. I’m using a Cat 6 POE Ethernet Cable Waterproof Heavy high Speed LAN Network. It’s 4 pairs so I twisted the ends together of each pair. Numbers are in the male connector of the GX16 connector.

    Use plenty shrinking of tube. I used 2 layers begore closing the GC16 connector so the metal part grips the cable well. Also used liquid electrical tape to make sure things stay in place and don’t short in case cable is pulled.   

    1. 5V + (Orange + White with orange Stripe)

    2. Data – (Brown + White with brown stripe)

    3. Data + (Blue + Blue with white stripe)

    4. Ground AKA 5V- (Green + Green with white stripe)  

    TIP: Number the USB male connector: White plastic on top, left to right (1,2,3,4) 

    IMPORTANT:

    DEVICE WILL ONLY CHARGE WHEN ON/OFF SWITCH IS ON so you can connect via USB to charge in a solar panel, power bank or anything else you want. Add a carabiner to hand in your backpack, tree etc. 

    DONE!!!! Congratulations!!! 

    Connect to your computer, go to https://flasher.meshtastic.org/ and flash the most recent stable version of Meshtastic online. 

    IMPORTANT: 

    DEVICE WILL ONLY CHARGE WHEN ON/OFF SWITCH IS ON so you can connect via USB to charge in a solar panel, power bank or anything else you want. Add a carabiner to hand in your backpack, tree etc. 

    You are responsible for things you do. Any error, please leave a comment and this remember this is an AMATEUR GUIDE so it’s your responsibility to make sure you don’t do anything stupid. This contains a LITHIUM BATTERY and will be connected to a COMPUTER so there are risks. I’m showing how I did and worked for me, result may be different for you. Don’t cut, drill or burn your fingers, house etc. BE CAREFUL! 

    73

    KD2WWU