03/30/2016
Contesting clubs in Canada and New England have joined forces to invite
non-hams, new hams, and even old timers to discover HF radio in the 21st
century firsthand, by getting on the air and operating remote stations. Beta
test "Discover the HF Experience" events will take place in April, with the
debut on April 2 in Manitoba. A subsequent special event in Massachusetts will
take place on April 10, using the call sign K1K. A major rollout is expected at
Dayton Hamvention[1]? in May, with four operating positions at ARRL EXPO. The
"Discover the HF Experience" concept stresses that "short-wave" Amateur Radio
is just as compelling now as it was 100 years ago.
"Amateur Radio is complementary to new technology, not in competition with it,"
said Gerry Hull[2], W1VE, who came up with the idea and has been working with
Cary Rubenfeld[3], VE4EA, in Manitoba to flesh it out into a program. "Ham
radio is so, experiential," Hull told ARRL, "so a key part of this process is
getting hams to experience HF, if they're unfamiliar with it. As part of these
events, we are going to have remote HF stations on the air. We will have Elmers
to help participants through a contact, so they can see how HF really works,"
he added.
"Our amateur population is at an all-time high, but most new hams are getting a
Technician ticket, getting on VHF and UHF, and hanging out with like-minded
friends," Hull said. The limitations on what Technician licensees can do often
leads to boredom, Hull said, "and they drop out of the hobby. They never get
the exposure to HF ham radio, and as any veteran radio amateur can tell you,
that's a lifelong exploration."
Radiosport Manitoba and the Winnipeg Amateur Radio Club will sponsor the April
2 debut at the Canad Inn, Garden City, in Winnipeg (9:30 AM until 4:30 PM CDT).
The April 10 beta test will take place at Keefe Technical High School in
Framingham, Massachusetts (12:30 until 4 PM EDT), in place of the normal Yankee
Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) open house.
"Today there are not as many HF Elmers," Hull said. "Who better to be the
ambassadors of HF than contesters? We're passionate about HF!" Hull, who is
also VE1RM, will be a presenter at the Manitoba event, discussing how the
Internet has enhanced the HF experience.
Hull said everyone who wants to will get the chance to operate a remote HF
station at both the Manitoba and New England sites. The Canadian "Discover"
site will use VE4BB and plans to operate via K1TTT in Peru, Massachusetts,
among others. The New England site will offer four station "pods" that can
connect with stations in Massachusetts - including K1TTT - as well as in
Vermont, Manitoba, Yukon Territory, and Sweden (SK3W).
"Everything from small, residential dipole-type stations to contest
superstations, to DX," Hull pointed out. "I'd like to draw upon our initial
events to develop a template for others to follow. In addition to the YCCC, the
Port City Amateur Radio Club and the Framingham Amateur Radio Association are
taking part in sponsoring the New England event.
YCCC members will offer presentations covering such topics as bands and
propagation, buying an HF transceiver, building antennas, how the Internet can
enhance the HF experience, contesting, collecting awards, and where to find out
more about ham radio.
Contact[4] Discover the HF Experience for more information.
[1] http://www.hamvention.org/
[2] mailto:gerry.hull@gmail.com
[3] mailto:cary@carys.com
[4] mailto:discoverhf@yccc.org
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