Talk Schedule
SATURDAY MARCH 6
9:00 - 9:45
SKYWARN
Tim Watson (KB1HNZ) and Eric Emery (N1RXR)
What is SKYWARN, and how can hams help?
Members of the NWS Gray Amateur Radio Team will do an overview of the program, review 2020 weather highlights, talk about SKYWARN activation and reporting procedures, and how individual hams and ham radio groups in Maine and New Hampshire can support this vital cause.
10:00 - 12:00
Optimizing Your Signals (Transmit and Receive)
Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID
The face of Hamnation is coming to Vacationland, well, at least virtually!
Bob will begin by talking about his teenage years as an organist at the St. Louis Fox where tuning and the voice from those 4,000 pipes showed him the importance of how to listen. He will also showcase his time at the 1920 Bell Labs and how our ears work to help us understand spoken words better. This will transition to his years on the road with various groups and their sound systems (Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton and others).
The next portion of the presentation will feature phasing, articulation and how to adjust some popular radios. Bob will also provide a brief performance on the theatre organ live in his studio for all to hear.
Bob Heil is a sound and radio engineer most well-known for creating the template for modern rock sound systems. He founded the company Heil Sound in 1966, which went on to create unique touring sound systems for bands such as The Grateful Dead, The Who, Humble Pie and invented the high powered Talk Box for Peter Frampton. Bob has been an innovator in the field of amateur radio, manufacturing micro- phones and satellite dishes for broadcasters and live sound engineers. He has won multiple awards and honors, and in 2007 he became the first manufacturer to be invited to exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bob is well known in the theatre organ circles, beginning his career at the age of 15 playing the FOX theatre Wurlitzer in St Louis. In 2014, Bob Heil was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in Music and Technology from the University of Missouri.
Break 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM
1:00 - 1:45
Volunteer Monitoring Program (Replacement to Official Observer Program)
Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH
The ARRL Volunteer Monitor program is a formal agreement between the FCC and ARRL. Volunteers trained and vetted by ARRL monitor the airwaves and collect evidence that can be used both to correct misconduct or recognize exemplary on-air operation. Cases of flagrant violations are referred to the FCC by ARRL for action in accordance with FCC guidelines.
This program re-energizes enforcement efforts in the amateur radio bands. It was originally proposed by the FCC following several FCC regional office closures and a reduction in field staff.
Under this program, the FCC gives enforcement priority to cases developed by the Volunteer Monitor program, without the delay of ARRL having to refer cases through the FCC online complaint process.
2:00 - 2:45
FT8: Not a Prefix. A Powerful New Mode.
Larry Banks, W1DYJ
FT8 showed up on the ham horizon in August 2017, and has since become the “hot new mode.” Larry will discuss it’s history and how to set up your station. He will also introduce a supporting application called JTAlert and highlight some reporting web sites. He will end with his personal experience using FT8 to chase DX with low power and homebrew antennas.
Larry was licensed in 1962 as novice KN1VFX and became W1DYJ in 1966.He was an engineer and manager developing cardiac instrumentation for Hewlett-Packard Medical in Waltham and Andover MA from 1969 to 1985. He was then the Section Manager responsible for establishing the Cardiac R&D lab’s CAD environment, the SW Testing and Quality group, and ongoing Technical Education.(HP Medical is now part of Philips Medical.) Moving to HP Education in 1993 to be responsible for technical and project management training, he became Agilent Technology’s global program manager for their Learning Management System when Agilent split out of HP in 1999.He “retired” in 2005 and then consulted for Avago Technologies (now Broadcom) on eLearning technologies through 2012.Larry holds three degrees in EE from MIT. He spends his time chasing DX and contesting both in Woburn MA and at his second home in Harpswell ME, traveling with his wife Maren, and attending as many jazz and classical concerts as they can. (At least we did in the era we now call “BC.”)He is also the net manager and newsletter editor for the Minuteman Repeater Association in the Boston area, publications editor for FEMARA (the group that runs HamXposition), a member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club , and on the executive board for the Merrymeeting ARA in mid-coast ME
3:00 - 3:50
ARRL Forum
Phil Temples, K9HI, New England Vice Director
Bob Gould, N1WJO, Maine Section Manager
Learn what is going on with ARRL at the New England and State Level. Q&A session to address your questions and concerns.