This is from Mitch W1SJ.![]()
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" HAM-CON and W1AW/1![]()
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A couple of big ham activities coming up in 2026!![]()
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HAM-CON, the ARRL Vermont State Convention is February 28th at the Hampton Inn Colchester. We are working right now to put together another great program. Have any ideas? If so, please pass them along to me at w1sj@arrl.net.![]()
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For those who might be interested in joining the Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont, we have a special deal. Renewing or new club members can buy a HAM-CON ticket for only $5 which is good for regular OR early admission. By comparison, advance sale regular admission is $8 and early admission is $16 and these go up in February, so don’t wait! Remember that if you cannot attend HAM-CON in person, we stream the forums and demonstrations on-line, which can be seen both live and after the convention.![]()
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If you are local and interested in meeting the gang at RANV, stop by our holiday party on Saturday, December 20th, 11AM-3PM at the Holy Family Parish Hall, 30 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction.![]()
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If you would like to join RANV and get the special $5 admission, go here: ranv.org/rpayhc.html![]()
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If you want to buy a regular HAM-CON admission, go here: www.ham-con.org/hamconpay.html![]()
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Details about RANV, go here: www.ranv.org/![]()
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Details about HAM-CON, go here: www.ham-con.org/![]()
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One other exciting piece of news! The ARRL will once again be permitting the W1AW portable activations from each state. Vermont will be activating W1AW/1 on February 4-11 UTC (Tue. Feb. 3, 7PM until Tue., Feb 10, 7PM). This also corresponds with the Vermont QSO Party on February 7-8, so there will be a ton of Vermont activity that weekend. If you are interested in activating W1AW/1 from your home or wherever, please let me know so I can set up the permissions.![]()
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Have a safe and happy holiday season and hope to meet you at our upcoming events!![]()
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73, Mitch "![]()
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73 de STARC
www.ham-con.org
Location: Hampton Inn, 42 Lower Mountain View Drive, I-89 Exit 16, Colchester, and right here at hamcon.org. Go to the BACK of the complex and enter through Door C. If you try to enter via the front o...
Question from the Extra License Class question pool:![]()
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" How does the radiation pattern of a horizontally polarized antenna vary with increasing height above ground?![]()
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A. The takeoff angle of the lowest elevation lobe increases![]()
B. The takeoff angle of the lowest elevation lobe decreases![]()
C. The horizontal beamwidth increases![]()
D. The horizontal beamwidth decreases "![]()
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Put your answer in a 'Comment'. ![]()
If we 'LIKE' your answer, then you are correct. ![]()
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Good luck!![]()
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73 de STARC
Question from the General License Class question pool:![]()
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" What must be done to prevent standing waves on a feed line connected to an antenna?![]()
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A. The antenna feed point must be at DC ground potential![]()
B. The feed line must be an odd number of electrical quarter wavelengths long![]()
C. The feed line must be an even number of physical half wavelengths long![]()
D. The antenna feed point impedance must be matched to the characteristic impedance of the feed line "![]()
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Put your answer in a 'Comment'. ![]()
If we 'LIKE' your answer, then you are correct. ![]()
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Good luck!![]()
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73 de STARC
Question from the Technician License Class question pool:![]()
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" Which of the following describes DMR?![]()
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A. A technique for time-multiplexing two digital voice signals on a single 12.5 kHz repeater channel![]()
B. An automatic position tracking mode for FM mobiles communicating through repeaters![]()
C. An automatic computer logging technique for hands-off logging when communicating while operating a vehicle![]()
D. A digital technique for transmitting on two repeater inputs simultaneously for automatic error correction "![]()
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Put your answer in a 'Comment'. ![]()
If we 'LIKE' your answer, then you are correct. ![]()
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Good luck!![]()
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73 de STARC
More FCC rules and regulations that you really should know as an ARO (Amateur Radio Operator).![]()
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" § 97.203 Beacon station.![]()
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(a) Any amateur station licensed to a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be a beacon. A holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be the control operator of a beacon, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held.![]()
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(b) A beacon must not concurrently transmit on more than 1 channel in the same amateur service frequency band, from the same station location.![]()
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(c) The transmitter power of a beacon must not exceed 100 W.![]()
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(d) A beacon may be automatically controlled while it is transmitting on the 28.20-28.30 MHz, 50.06-50.08 MHz, 144.275-144.300 MHz, 222.05-222.06 MHz or 432.300-432.400 MHz segments, or on the 33 cm and shorter wavelength bands.![]()
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(e) Before establishing an automatically controlled beacon in the National Radio Quiet Zone or before changing the transmitting frequency, transmitter power, antenna height or directivity, the station licensee must give written notification thereof to the Interference Office, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, P.O. Box 2, Green Bank, WV 24944.![]()
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(1) The notification must include the geographical coordinates of the antenna, antenna ground elevation above mean sea level (AMSL), antenna center of radiation above ground level (AGL), antenna directivity, proposed frequency, type of emission, and transmitter power.![]()
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(2) If an objection to the proposed operation is received by the FCC from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, Pocahontas County, WV, for itself or on behalf of the Naval Research Laboratory at Sugar Grove, Pendleton County, WV, within 20 days from the date of notification, the FCC will consider all aspects of the problem and take whatever action is deemed appropriate.![]()
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(f) A beacon must cease transmissions upon notification by a Regional Director that the station is operating improperly or causing undue interference to other operations. The beacon may not resume transmitting without prior approval of the Regional Director.![]()
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(g) A beacon may transmit one-way communications. "![]()
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73 de STARC
When is you hamfeast I heard it may be Feb but not sure of date
Thanks ken kd2ppu
Hi Ken:
Our hamfest is in August. The only hamfest in VT, in February, is Ham-Con. See this: http://www.ham-con.org/ for more info.
73 de STARC