Welcome to Lakes Region Repeater Association (LRRA) – with web site at W1BST.org. We are a non-profit amateur ham radio association located in the rural Lakes Region of New Hampshire. We actively promote 2 way radio, also known as ham radio. Our members are friendly and knowledgeable. If you are a first time visitor and are curious about this great hobby, we provide testing for ham licenses, have fun get-togethers, and are ARES affiliated for emergency communications. We also are home to 5 repeaters. Three are located on Bennett Hill in Ossipee, one on Mt. Rowe in Gilford and one on New Durham Ridge, New Hampshire.
NEWS & EVENTS
Pictures are up. Check out our LRRA 2024 Ham Fest post.
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The 48th annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
It is that time of year again… The 48th annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race!
This is one of the local community public service events that the Lakes Region Repeater Association provides communications for.
This year’s race will take place on Saturday May 18th, 2024 beginning at 1:15pm. We will plan to meet at Albee Beach in Wolfeboro around 11:00 am to start getting set up.
Please take a moment to consider if you can help to support ham radio and our club by volunteering to assist with communications for this event. The Wolfeboro Lions Club organizes this annual race and appreciates our club’s support.
If you are able to participate please reach out and I will add you to the list for more detailed information as the event approaches. I can be reached by email at lrraevents@w1bst.org or by phone at 603-833-5397
Thank you
Keith Tuttle
KC1PRT
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LAKES REGION REPEATER ASSOCIATION
2024 FIELD DAY PLANS – April Update
The LRRA will be holding their ARRL Field Day (FD) event and contest on June 22-23. Field Day is always held on the fourth full weekend of June. Since June-1 occurs on Saturday this year, this is a relatively early field day weekend. This popular annual event and contest will be held at property of the Castle-in-the-Clouds which is located on the Ossipee Mountain volcano southern side in the town of Moultonborough NH. Access to the site is located at the top of Ossipee Park Road which is off NH-171, near the intersection of NH-109 and NH-171. The LRRA planning team has been able to obtain permission to use all the the fields and horse barn on the north side of the access road which leads up to the fishpond and large event field. The team discussed the ‘Goals’ of the 2024 FD which include: Education/Training, Socializing, Recruiting, Public Outreach, and of course Operating in the Contest!
This year the planning team has decided to set up five (5) contest stations to compete for points, plus a GOTA (Get On The Air) station. This is Class 5A. Of the five stations, 4 will be on HF and 1 on VHF/UHF. The HF stations may operate on the 80/40/20/15/10 meters bands and the VHF/UHF station may operate on 6m/2m/70cm. Each station has been assigned to a ‘Station Planner’ who will assure that their station has: Radio-equipment, antenna(s)/coax/hoists, station-power, furniture, and a tent or RV shelter. Of course each planner will be responsible to bring perfect weather that weekend. The Modes/Bands of each station are assigned as follow:
Station-1: HF-CW (Morse Code)
Station-2: HF-Phone (SSB or AM)
Station-3: HF-Phone (SSB or AM)
Station-4: HF-Digital (FT8, etc.)
Station-5: VHF/UHF (may include satellite comms)
GOTA-Station: Bands are TBD. See the ARRL Field Day Rules.
Other possible non-operating stations may include: Antique equipment, SOTA/POTA equipment, etc.
The club will compete in the contest as a Class-A station. Class-A stations operate off-grid using portable power (solar, gas-generator, etc.). All stations must be located within a 300m/1000-ft radius. We have a goal of co-locating the stations and spreading the antennas over the periphery of the site. This will maximize the cohesiveness of the event for both participants and visitors. Longer run coax cables should be planned for! The LRRA setup will use contest logging software for all stations. The logging PCs will communicate over wired CAT5 ethernet. FYI: Contest logging software checks that each contest contact is a first-time QSO for each unique Station, Mode and Band combo. At the end of the contest the software computes scores which will be sent to the ARRL for verification & publication in QST.
We plan to present significant Amateur Radio preparedness information to the visiting public because an Arts Festival event will occur on the same weekend. The art show will be set up on the large lower field on the opposite side of the access road. Last year’s art festival drew 300-400 exhibitors and visitors which can provide many opportunities for community awareness of our unique skills and contributions to community safety. To optimize the dissemination of Ham Radio information and log-in visitors, a WELCOME TO HAM RADIO booth will be set up near the festival parking area. Handouts from ARRL will be provided at this booth. A Safety Officer will be on-site to assure an accident-free environment. Operations will include photography which will be provided to local media sources.
At this year’s Field Day event we have permission to use the site overnight, so RVs and Tenting will be accommodated. The site also has a flush toilet, oh-the-joy, on-site. There will be some community meals which are in the planning stages. If there is sufficient interest a possible Saturday-dinner and/or Sunday-breakfast will be offered.
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LRRA Breakfast – SPRING SCHEDULE
May breakfast is May 12, 2024 at 7am at The Flipside Restaurant Address: 566 Main St, Laconia, NH 03246
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Awareness of Amateur Radio for the Scouts’ Radio Merit badge.
This presentation to the Scouts about Amateur Radio was presented by Mary W1ENH (Merit Badge Counselor ) and LRRA volunteers.
Scouts learning Ham Radio is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together.
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HamXposition (The ARRL New England Division Convention)
August 22nd through 25th. Kicking it off with New Hampshire Comedian Juston McKinney on Thursday night.
Flea Market Fri-Sat-Sun,
Exhibitors Sat-Sun.
Forums Fri-Sat-Sun.
General Admission $18,
Comedy Show $35.
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Tech Committee working on New Durhan Ridge Repeaters tuning the duplexers with Bob N1EUN network analyzer.
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Congratulations to Mary Schillereff W1ENH the new Mt. Washington Valley Emergency Coordinator for Amateur Radio Emergency Services.
schillereffmp@gmail.com
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146.805 Repeater Coverage Map
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Association News
IRLP and 900 MHz Repeater: Check out the new page re our connection to the Internet Radio Linking Project, our 900 MHz repeater and associated links.
ARES Net: Every other Monday starting February 19, 2024 at 7:00 pm. On 147.03 + 88.5 PL with emergency coordinator Mary W1ENH.
New 6 m AM Get Together/Hang Out: Join us Tuesday nights at 6:30 PM on 6 m at 50.55 MHz for a new net attended by some of the LRRA Hams and others. The first get together was 10/31/2023 and the last net recorded by KC1RWK was 2-6-2024 attended by those below (and Marvin).