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2023 Meeting Topics

December's Topic: Holiday Pot Luck

Join us Thursday, December 14th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, for our annual Holiday Pot Luck. Please bring along a favorite meal or treat to share.

November's Topic: WSPR

Join us Thursday, November 9th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, for a presentation about WSPR, by Frank Krizan KR1ZAN, who will join us via Zoom from his home QTH in Plano, TX. WSPR, which stands for Weak Signal Propagation Reporter, is a protocol used for weak-signal radio communication between amateur radio operators. It was originally designed by Joe Taylor, K1JT, who also developed the popular digital modes, JT65 and FT8.

Click here to view the presentation. Thanks Frank!

October's Topic: Maine Simulated Emergency Test (SET)

Join us Thursday, October 12th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt. 1, Scarborough, ME, for a presentation about the Maine Simulated Emergency Test (SET), which takes place over a 24-hour period during the weekend of October 27-28th.

September's Topic: NanoVNA Presentation & Annual Meeting

Join us Thursday, September 14th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, for a presentation about using the NanoVNA, by Zach Madore KC1SES. The NanoVNA is an affordable antenna and feedline testing tool. This will be followed by our Annual Meeting and officer elections for 2023-2024. 

Click here to view the presentation. Thanks Zach!

August's Topic: Planning for 2023 ILLW at Nubble Light

Join us Thursday, August 10th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, as we'll be planning our portable activation of Nubble Light, in York, ME, for this year's International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW), which takes place Saturday, August 19th. We'll also be nominating officers to be voted on at the Annual Meeting next month.

July's Topic: Field Day Recap / Planning for BOTA/POTA Activation

Join us Thursday, July 13th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, as we'll recap another successful Field Day and do some planning for an upcoming Beaches on the Air (BOTA) / Parks on the Air (POTA) Event.

June's Topic: ARRL Field Day Planning

Join us Thursday, June 8th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt. 1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be doing final planning for 2023 ARRL Field Day, which takes place the weekend of June 24-25, at Wassamki Springs Campground, in Scarborough, ME.

May's Topic: 2 Meter Challenge Results / Initial Planning for 2023 ARRL Field Day and ILLW

Join us Thursday, May 11th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, as we'll announcing the winners of the 2023 Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, and continuing planning for ARRL Field Day and International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW).

April's Topic: Hamfest Review / Log Scoring Party / Initial Field Day Planning

Join us Thursday, April 13th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt. 1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll review the 2023 Maine State ARRL Convention, plan for a log scoring party for the recent Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, and begin initial planning for 2023 ARRL Field Day.

March's Topic: Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge / Table Display at State Convention

Join us Thursday, March 9th, at the Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, ME, as we'll be previewing the Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, and setting up a table display at the 2023 Maine State ARRL Convention, which takes place at the end of the month.

February's Topic: Planning for EMA Work Detail / VE Session / Radio Programming Workshop

Join us Thursday, February 9th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, as we'll be doing a quick recap of Winter Field Day, and begin planning for several upcoming activities, including a work detail at the EMA to do some repeater updates, a VE Session on February 16th, and a Radio Programming workshop.

January's Topic: Radio Programming Review and WInter Field Day Planning

Join us Thursday, January 12th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt. 1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll do a review of our first Radio Programming workshop and do some planning for 2023 Winter Field Day.

December's Topic: Holiday Party and Movie Night

Join us Thursday, December 8th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, as we'll be having a pot luck dinner, with snacks, and watch Rick Alderette's video about Amateur Radio Field Day, that was filmed at Field Day sites throughout Maine and New Hampshire, this past June.

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2022 Events

Join us Saturday, October 22nd, as members of the WSSM Emergency Communications Team will participate in a statewide Simulated Emergency Test. The SET, which is expected to begin at 8AM, will test various communications methods within the county and adjacent counties. Volunteers are asked to meet at the CCEMA Bunker between 7:30-7:45 for instructions.

September 24-25th

Join us the weekend of September 24-25th for the 10th Annual Maine QSO Party contest. The Maine QSO Party is a fun contest that encourages Maine stations to expand their knowledge of DX propagation, improve their operating skills, and station capability in a competition where W/VE and DX stations have the incentive to work Maine. Click here for more details.

June 25-26th

The WS1SM team will take part in their 11th ARRL Field Day during the weekend of June 25-26th! The event will most likely take place at Wassamki Springs Campground, located at 56 Saco Street, Scarborough, ME.

June 16th

DC207 invites you to "Introduction to Amateur Radio" by the Wireless Society of Southern Maine, presented by Tim Watson KB1HNZ. Learn about the world of HAM radio and the world of RF! Tim is one of the founders of our club, which was established in 2010, and is currently a club officer. Click here for more info.

March 26th

You're invited to take part in a fun and competitive 2m-only contest, on Saturday, March 26th, from 12pm-4pm. Participants may be entered as either mobile (as a rover), or fixed, and there are power levels for everything from a handie-talkie to a high power base station. The contest exchange is your callsign, the name of the town, township, or city that you are operating from, and your power level. For more information and complete rules, click here.

January 29-30th

The WS1SM team will participate in their fourth annual Winter Field Day during the weekend of January 29-30. The purpose of Winter Field Day is to foster Ham camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on-the-air, outdoor fun -  in the midst of winter! UPDATE: Due to the Nor'easter that is expected to effect the region during the weekend of January 29-30, we will not be operating from the CCEMA as originally planned. We encourage club members to operate from their own homes, or field day style, and contribute to the club aggregate total, by including Wireless Society of Southern Maine on the club line with their log submissions.

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2022 Meeting Topics

December's Topic: Holiday Party and Movie Night

Join us Thursday, December 8th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, as we'll be having a pot luck dinner, with snacks, and watch Rick Alderette's video about Amateur Radio Field Day, that was filmed at Field Day sites throughout Maine and New Hampshire, this past June.

November's Topic: SET AAR, Preview of SKYWARN Recognition Day

Join us Thursday, November 10th, from 7pm-9pm at the South Windham Fire Station, 33 Main Street, Windham, ME, as we'll do a recap of the 2022 Simulated Emergency Tesy and preview the upcoming SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD).

October's Topic: Simulated Emergency Test

Join us Thursday, October 13th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll do a quick recap of the MEQP and preview the upcoming Simulated Emergency Test (SET).

September's Topic: Annual Meeting w/ Officer Elections & MEQP Logging

Join us Thursday, September 8th, from 7pm-9pm at the Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency bunker, located at 22 High Street, Windham, ME. We will do a quick recap of our ILLW activation of Squirrel Point Lighthouse, hold Officer Elections, and go over logging for the upcoming Maine QSO Party (MEQP).

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

August's Topic: New England Forrest Rally

Join us Thursday, August 11th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll do a quick recap of our POTA / SOTA activation of Mt. Agamenticus in July, followed by a presentation by Todd Rodgers KC1SQ about providing communications support for the New England Forrest Rally, and we'll also finalize plans for our activation of Squirrel Point Lighthouse for 2022 International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW).

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

July's Topic: Summer Portable Ops Planning

Join us Thursday, July 14th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll do a quick recap of ARRL Field Day, finalize plans for summer portable operations, and more!

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

June's Topic: ARRL Field Day

Join us Thursday, June 9th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be making final preparations for 2022 ARRL Field Day, and discuss some possibilities for SOTA and Lighthouse activities throughout the summer.

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

May's Topic:  Initial Field Day Planning / MARS COMEX Exercises

Join us Thursday, May 12th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be discussing 2022 ARRL Field Day, and the ongoing MARS COMEX Interoperability exercises.

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

April's Topic: Winlink

Join us Thursday, April 14th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be discussing 2022 ARRL Field Day, repeater updates, and more, followed by a Winlink demonstration by Brad KC1JMH and Eric N1RXR.

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

March's Topic: Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge

Join us Thursday, March 10th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be previewing the upcoming Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, which takes place Saturday, March 26th.

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

February's Topic: De-mystifying RF Exposure (Re-scheduled)

Join us Thursday, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME. The meeting will feature a program titled “De-mystifying the RF Exposure Evaluation for Ham Stations,” given by Frank Krizan, KR5N, of Plano, Texas.  Frank will focus on the need to “keep things simple”, while ensuring that everyone adheres to the intent of FCC policy. 

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

January's Topic: De-mystifying RF Exposure & WFD Planning

Join us Thursday, January 13th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME. The meeting will feature a program titled “De-mystifying the RF Exposure Evaluation for Ham Stations,” given by Frank Krizan, KR5N, of Plano, Texas.  Frank will focus on the need to “keep things simple”, while ensuring that everyone adheres to the intent of FCC policy.  We'll also discuss plans for the upcoming Winter Field Day, which takes place January 29-30.

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

December's Topic: SRD Review & Winter Field Day (Initial Planning)

Please join us Thursday, December 9th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Safety Building, 275 U.S. Rt.1, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be reviewing SKYWARN Recognition Day, and looking ahead to 2022 Winter Field Day.

Brad KC1JMH will send out a Zoom link via email just prior to the meeting, so members and guests can also join us online.

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2021 Events

September 25-26th

Join us the weekend of September 25-26th for the 9th Annual Maine QSO Party contest. The Maine QSO Party is a fun contest that encourages Maine stations to expand their knowledge of DX propagation, improve their operating skills, and station capability in a competition where W/VE and DX stations have the incentive to work Maine. Click here for more details.

August 21st

The WSSM team will participate in their 10th International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW), activating Doubling Point Light, in Arrowsic, ME. ILLW, an international event that is now in its 23rd year, and usually takes place the 3rd full weekend in August, attracts over 500 lighthouse entries in over 40 countries. It has become one of the most popular international amateur radio events each year. Click here for more details and an event schedule.

August 1st

The WS1SM team will activate Mt. Blue State Park , in Weld, ME, for Parks on the Air (POTA). We will setup portable HF stations, using battery power and free-standing antennas and operate from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 1, 2021. Mt. Blue State Park has the POTA designator: K-2397.

June 27-28th

The WS1SM team will take part in their 10th ARRL Field Day during the weekend of June 26-27th! The event will take place at Wassamki Springs Campground, located at 56 Saco Street, Scarborough, ME.

April 3rd

You're invited to take part in a fun and competitive 2m-only contest, on Sunday, April 3rd, from 12pm-4pm.  Participants may be entered as either mobile (as a rover), or fixed, and there are power levels for everything from a handie-talkie to a high power base station. The contest exchange is your callsign, the name of the town, township, or city that you are operating from, and your power level. For more information and complete rules, click here.

March 6th

Please join us March 4th, at 9:30 AM during the Maine Virtual Hamfest, as members of the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team present 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.

January 30-31st

The WS1SM team will participate in their fourth annual Winter Field Day during the weekend of January 30-31. The purpose of Winter Field Day is to foster Ham camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on-the-air, outdoor fun -  in the midst of winter! Due to COVID-19, we will be doing things a little differently. We encourage club members to operate from their own homes, or field day style, and contribute to the club aggregate total, similar to what some of you did during ARRL Field Day.

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2021 Meeting Topics

December's Topic: SRD Review, Winter Field Day (Initial Planning)

Please join us Thursday, December 9th, from 7pm-9pm at the Scarborough Public Service Building, 275 Portland Road, Room 105, Scarborough, ME, for a review of SRD and a look ahead at upcoming events, such as 2022 Winter Field Day.

November's Topics: Maine SET Review, SKYWARN Recognition Day Planning

Please join us Thursday, November 11th, from 7pm-9pm at Scarborough Public Service Building, 275 Portland Road, Room 105, Scarborough, ME, for a review of the 2021 Maine Simulated Emergency Test, plus planning for SKYWARN Recognition Day.

October's Topic: Maine Simulated Emergency Test

Join us Thursday, October 14th, from 7pm-9pm at Scarborough Public Service Building, 275 Portland Road, Room 105, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be discussing our participation in the upcoming Maine Simulated Emergency Test.

September's Topics: Maine QSO Party Strategy & Officer Elections

Join us Thursday, September 9th, from 7pm-9pm at Wassamki Springs Campground, 56 Saco Street, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be discussing strategy for the upcoming Maine QSO Party, and we'll also be voting on officers for 2022.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.

August's Topics: 2021 ILLW Activation

Join us Thursday, August 12th, from 7pm-9pm at Wassamki Springs Campground, 56 Saco Street, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be finalizing details for the upcoming International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) Activation, which takes place the weekend of August 21-22.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.

July's Topic: Field Day Review and POTA Planning

Join us Thursday, July 8th, from 7pm-9pm at Wassamki Springs Campground, 56 Saco Street, Scarborough, ME, for our monthly business meeting. Topic: TBA

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.

June's Topic: 2021 ARRL Field Day Workshop

Join us Thursday, June 10th, from 7pm-9pm at Wassamki Springs Campground, 56 Saco Street, Scarborough, ME, for our 2021 ARRL Field Day workshop. We'll be working on finalizing details, assigning tasks, and planning strategy for Field Day.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.
 

May's Topic: 2021 ARRL Field Day (Initial Planning)

Join us Thursday, May 13th, from 6pm-9pm at 200 U.S Route 1, Suite 210, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be startring off with Virtual SKYWARN Spotter training, followed by our regular business meeting. On the agenda, we'll do some initial planning for 2021 ARRL Field Day, which takes place June 27-28. We'll also be discussing some of the new membership outreach and retention processes that were approved during the last session, and talk about an upcoming work detail and SET that will take place at the CCEMA Bunker on Saturday, May 15th.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.
 

April's Topic: Membership Outreach, Maine Dirigo Net

Join us Thursday, April 8th, from 7pm-9pm at 200 U.S Route 1, Suite 210, Scarborough, ME. On the agenda, we'll be reviewing the 2021 Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, talk about the upcoming Maine Dirigo DMR net, that is scheduled to take place Sunday, April 11th, at 10:00 AM, and we'll take a vote on allocating funds and materials for membership outreach and new member recruiting for 2021 and beyond.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.
 

March's Topic: Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, Maine Packet Network

Join us Thursday, March 11th, from 7pm-9pm at 200 U.S Route 1, Suite 210, Scarborough, ME, as we'll be previewing the upcoming Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, which takes place Saturday, April 3rd, take a poll of who attended the Maine Virtual Hamfest and Brad KC1JMH will do a presentation on the Maine Packet Network.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.
 

February's Topic: Winter Field Day Review, Maine Virtual Hamfest

Join us Thursday, February 11th, via Free Conference Call, as we'll do a review of 2021 Winter Field Day, and look ahead to the upcoming Maine Virtual Hamfest.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.
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January's Topic: Maine Packet Network Update, Maine Statewide Net, WFD Planning

Join us Thursday, January 8th, from 7pm-9pm via Free Conference Call. For a topic, we'll get an update on the Maine Packet Network from Brad KC1JMH, talk about the possibility of starting a Maine Statewide Net on DMR,  and discuss plans for the upcoming Winter Field Day, which takes place January 30-31.

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.

December's Topic: SRD Review & Winter Field Day Planning

Please join us Thursday, December 10th, at 7:00 PM via Free Conference Call, as we'll be reviewing SKYWARN Recognition Day, and looking ahead to 2021 Winter Field Day. At November's meeting, we discussed taking advantage of temporary changes in the rules, that will allow individual operators to participate from their own homes and contribute to the club score. We will share more details about WFD after the December meeting

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz.

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2020 Events

December 4-5

Please join us December 4th, from 7:00 PM through December 5th at 6:59 PM, for SKYWARN Recognition Day! This year, we'll take turns operating the WX1GYX call sign from our own homes, instead of doing it from the NWS office like in years past. If you're interested in operating, please contact Tim Watson KB1HNZ at: kb1hnz atsign yahoo.com. SKYWARN® Recognition Day is a 24-hour on-air event which sees participation from nearly every NWS and SKYWARN® radio club in the US and Canada, as well as unaffiliated operators from around the world. Simply exchange signal report, name, and current temperature, and see how many NWS Forecast Offices or SKYWARN stations you can work. All modes and bands are eligible.

October 24th

Emergency Communications volunteers are invited to participate in the Maine Simulated Emergency Test (SET), which takes place on Saturday, October 24th, from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The scenario for this year is a hurricane that will strike Northern New England. There will be simulated internet and repeater outages during the event. If you're interested in helping out, please contact Tim Watson KB1HNZ at: kb1hnz atsign yahoo.com.

September 26-27th

Join us on the weekend of September 26-27 for the Maine QSO Party contest. The QSO Party, which is in it's 8th year, is a fun contest that encourages Maine stations to expand their knowledge of DX propagation, improve their operating skills, and station capability in a competition where W/VE and DX stations have the incentive to work Maine. Click here for more details.

August 22-23rd

We will be operating from Owls Head Lighthouse, on the weekend of August 22-23 to celebrate International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW). ILLW, an international event that is now in its 22nd year, and usually takes place the 3rd full weekend in August, attracts over 500 lighthouse entries in over 40 countries. It has become one of the most popular international amateur radio events.

June 27-28th

We are happy to announce that we’ll be participating in our 10th annual ARRL Field Day at Wassamki Springs Campground on the weekend of June 27-28! Wassamki Spring Campground is located at 56 Saco Street, in Scarborough, ME. Click here for more details.

May 2nd

Stop and see us at NEAR-Fest XXVII on May2nd, as we'll have a table display setup to promote amateur radio and club activities. NEAR-Fest, which is New England's largest hamfest, is located at the Deerfield Fairgrounds, in Deerfiled, NH. You're invited to join us in speaking with the public, or just for a place to relax as you're checking out the hamfest. We also plan on having a table available for club members to sell their gear.

March 28th

You're invited to take part in a fun and competitive 2m-only contest, on Sunday, April 12th, from 12pm-4pm.  Participants may be entered as either mobile (as a rover), or fixed, and there are power levels for everything from a handie-talkie to a high power base station. The contest exchange is your callsign, the name of the town, township, or city that you are operating from, and your power level. For more information and complete rules, click here.

March 16-22nd 

The Maine 200 Special Event will take place from March 16-22nd, with special call signs recognizing Maine's original nine counties. There will also be 3 other SES's operating from Jameson Tavern in Freeport, Portland, and Boston in recognition of their contributions to Maine's Statehood.  Click here for more details.

January 25-26th

The WS1SM team will participate in their third annual Winter Field Day at the Cumberland County EMA, on the weekend of January 25-26. The purpose of Winter Field Day is to foster Ham camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on-the-air, outdoor fun -  in the midst of winter! The public is welcome to attend, and those interested in participating may inquire at any upcoming meeting between now and January 25th.

2020 Meeting Topics

December's Topics: SRD Review, Winter Field Day Planning

Please join us Thursday, December 10th, at 7:00 PM via Free Conference Call, as we'll be reviewing SKYWARN Recognition Day, and looking ahead to 2021 Winter Field Day. At November's meeting, we discussed taking advantage of temporary changes in the rules, that will allow individual operators to participate from their own homes and contribute to the club score. We will share more details about WFD after the December meeting. Click here for more details, including the weblink and call-in number.

November's Topics: Maine SET Review, SKYWARN Recognition Day, & Winter Field Day

Please join us Thursday, November 12th, from 7PM - 9PM at 200 U.S. Route 1, Suite 210, in Scarborough, as we'll be reviewing the 2020 Maine SET, come up with a plan for SKYWARN Recognition Day, whihc takes place December 5th, and we'll also talk about 2021 Winter Field Day.

October's Topic: Maine Simulated Emergency Test

Please join us Thursday, October 8th, from 7PM - 9PM at our new meeting location, at 200 U.S. Route 1, Suite 210, in Scarborough. The topic for the evening will be the Maine Simulated Emergency Test (SET), which takes place Saturday, October 24th, from 8AM - 12:30PM. 

September's Topics: Officer Elections, Meeting Locations

Please join us Thursday, September 10th, from 7PM - 8PM at Wassamki Springs Campground, for our Annual Business Meeting. The topics for the evening will be to discuss meeting locations for the Fall and Winter, and also Officer Elections will take place. The nominations include: Tim Watson KB1HNZ, for President, Brad Brown KC1JMH, for Vice President, Jason Andrews W1SFS, for Secretary, and Josh Brown KC1KTX, for Treasurer.

August's Topics: ILLW Activation of Owls Head Lighthouse, Officer Nominations, Meeting Locations

Please join us Thursday, August 13th, from 7PM - 8PM at Wassamki Springs Campground, as we'll be having our first in-person business meeting since March! The topics for the evening will be an overview of the recent special event, planning for the upcoming ILLW lighthouse activation, officer nominations, a discussion about indoor meeting locations for the Fall and Winter, and more!

July's Topic: Field Day Recap & W1V 10th Anniversary Special Event

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person continue to be suspended until further notice, so July's meeting will take place on the air. Join us Thursday, July 9th, from 7PM - 8PM on the 147.090 (+ / 100 Hz) W1QUI repeater. The topic for the evening will be a recap of 2020 ARRL Field Day and a preview of the W1V 10th Anniversary Special Event. 

June's Topic: ARRL Field Day Prep

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person continue to be suspended until further notice, so May's meeting will take place on the air. Join us Thursday, June 11th, from 7PM - 8PM on the 147.090 (+ / 100 Hz) W1QUI repeater. The topic for the evening will be final prep for 2020 ARRL Field Day.

May's Topic: 2020 Field Day, and Self-Quarantine Simplex Drills

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person continue to be suspended until further notice, so May's meeting will take place on the air. Join us Thursday, April 21st, from 7PM - 8PM on the 147.090 (+ / 100 Hz) W1QUI repeater. The topic for the evening will be to continue the discussion about Field Day and also talk about the Self Quarantine Simplex Drills, and what members have been doing in the hobby since we last met.

April's Topic: Discussion About 2020 Field Day

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person meetings have been suspended, so April's meeting will take place on the air. Join us Thursday, April 16th, from 7PM - 8PM on the 147.090 (+ / 100 Hz) W1QUI repeater. The topic for the evening will be to discuss possible changes to Field Day if the pandemic and subsequent lock-downs and restrictions continue through the end of June.

March's Topic: Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge

Join us Thursday, March 12th, from 7pm-9pm at the Gorham Recreation Department, located at 75 South Street, in Gorham. Our topic for the evening will be the upcoming Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge, which takes place Saturday, March 28th. For more information, click here to visit the special event website.

February's Topic: Maine 200 Special Event

Join us Thursday, February 13th, from 7pm-9pm at the Gorham Recreation Department, located at 75 South Street, in Gorham. Our topic for the evening will be the upcoming Maine Bicentennial Special Event, which takes place March 16-22. For more information, click here to visit the special event website.  

January's Topic: Electronic Logging

Join us Thursday, January 9th, from 7pm-9pm at the Gorham Recreation Department, located at 75 South Street, in Gorham. For a topic, we'll take a look at electronic logging programs and talk about the different types of logs, such as "DX station logs" and contest logs, the file formats that can be generated, and more. We'll also discuss plans for the upcoming Winter Field Day, which takes place January 25-26.

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2019 Events

December 6-7th

Please join us at the National Weather Service Forescast Office at 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME for SKYWARN Recognition Day, from 8PM Friday, December 6th - 7:30PM Saturday, December 7th. SKYWARN® Recognition Day is a 24-hour on-air event which sees participation from nearly every NWS and SKYWARN® radio club in the US and Canada, as well as unaffiliated operators from around the world. Simply exchange signal report, name, and current temperature, and see how many NWS Forecast Offices or SKYWARN stations you can work. All modes and bands are eligible.

October 26th

The WSSM-ECT will participate in the 2019 Maine Simulated Emergency Test, from 9AM-12PM, on October 26th. The emergency drill will focus on developing skills using FM Simplex, UHF repeater, digital NBEMS, and PACKET communications within a simulated event.

October 17th

Please join us at the National Weather Service Forescast Office at 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME for a SKYWARN Drill and Net Control Workshop, on Thursday, October 17, from 7PM-9PM.   The workshop will focus on familiarizing current and prospective Net Control operators with SKYWARN activation procedures, weather reporting criteria, asking the right questions to extract the best information, and there will also be on-air practice within a simulated weather event.

September 28-29th

Join us on the weekend of September 28-29 for the Maine QSO Party contest. The QSO Party, which is in it's 7th year, is a fun contest that encourages Maine stations to expand their knowledge of DX propagation, improve their operating skills, and station capability in a competition where W/VE and DX stations have the incentive to work Maine. Click here for more details.

August 17-18th

For the 2019 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW), the WS1SM team will operate from Rockland Breakwater Light! ILLW, which first took place in 1998, has grown to become the largest lighthouse activity weekend, with over 500 lighthouses in 40 different countries being activated last year. For more information about ILLW, click here.

June 22-23rd

The WS1SM team will participate in their 9th ARRL Field Day at Wassamki Springs Campground, on the weekend of June 22-23. Since 1933, Field Day has been a friendly competition that encourages hams to operate "in the field," as a way to practice and demonstrate their ability to provide effective communications without the need of commercial power or well-equipped home stations.

May 19th

The WS1SM team is planning a Summits on the Air (SOTA) expedition to Mt. Agamenticus, in York, ME, on Sunday, May 19th. We'll be active on VHF and HF. Check the SOTA Watch and DX Summit websites for frequencies and spots during the event. Operating times are expected to be between 1200-2100 UTC. This will be our second SOTA expedition to the summit. The first took place in the spring of 2013.

May 4th

Stop and see us at NEAR-Fest XXV on May 4th, as we'll have a table display setup to promote amateur radio and club activities. NEAR-Fest, which is New England's largest hamfest, is located at the Deerfield Fairgrounds, in Deerfiled, NH. You're invited to join us in speaking with the public, or just for a place to relax as you're checking out the hamfest. We also plan on having a table available for club members to sell their gear.

April 14th

You're invited to take part in a fun and competitive 2m-only contest, on Sunday, April 14th, from 12pm-4pm.  Participants may be entered as either mobile (as a rover), or fixed, and there are power levels for everything from a handie-talkie to a high power base station. The contest exchange is your callsign, the name of the town, township, or city that you are operating from, and your power level. For more information and complete rules, click here.

January 26-27th

The WS1SM team will participate in their second annual Winter Field Day at the Cumberland County EMA, on the weekend of January 26-27. The purpose of Winter Field Day is to foster Ham camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on-the-air, outdoor fun -  in the midst of winter! The public is welcome to attend, and those interested in participating may inquire at any upcoming meeting between now and January 26th.

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2019 Meeting Topics

December's Topic: Winter Field Day Planning

Join us Thursday, December 12th, from 7pm-9pm at the Gorham Recreation Department, located at 75 South Street, in Gorham. Our topic for the evening will be planning for our participation in the upcoming Winter Field Day, including logistics, availability of operators, equipment, food, and more! Winter Field Day takes place the weekend of January 25-26, 2020.

November's Topic: Vintage Gear Night

Join us Thursday, November 14th, from 7pm-9pm at the Gorham Recreation Department, located at 75 South Street, in Gorham. Besides our regular agenda, which will include early planning for Winter Field Day, our topic for the evening will be a show and tell of vintage amateur radio gear. If you have some vintage gear of your own, bring it in to show it off. Otherwise, just bring your curiosity and ask questions about what you see. 

October's Topic: QSLing & Writing Reception Reports

Join us Thursday, October 10th, from 7pm-9pm at the Gorham Recreation Department, located at 75 South Street, in Gorham. Our topic for the evening will be QSLing and Writing Reception Reports. If you have your own QSL card, or one from a favorite DX contact, bring it in to show it off!

September's Topic: Annual Business Meeting

Join us Thursday, September 12th, from 7pm-9pm at the CCEMA Bunker, for our Annual Business Meeting. There will be much to talk about, including the upcoming SKYWARN Drill / Training, Simulated Emergency Test, JOTA, and more! Plus, we'll have officer elections. Those nominated so far include: Tim Watson KB1HNZ for President, Brad Brown KC1JMH for Vice President, and Peter Hatem KC1HBM, for Secretary. 

August's Topic: ILLW Planning

Join us Thursday, August 8th, from 7pm-9pm at Wassamki Springs Campground, as we'll discuss logistics for our activation of Rockland Breakwater Lighouse during the upcoming International Lighthouse & Lighthship Weekend (ILLW), which takes place August 17-18.

July's Topic: Field Day Recap & Summer Planning

Join us Thursday, July 11th, from 7pm-9pm for our first meeting of the summer at Wassamki Springs Campground! Some of the topics that will be discussed include a Field Day recap, a look ahead at some options for a lighthouse activation for International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend, and discussion about a possible on-air activity from the Narrow Guage Railroad Museum, during Maine's Bicentennial. 

June's Topic: Field Day Planning

Join us Thursday, June 13th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll take a look at logistics, purchases, and how to best maximize bonus points for Field Day. We'll also tie up any loose ends and make sure each task is accounted for before the weekend. Come prepared with your suggestions and ideas about the event. 

Mays Topic: Repeater Update / The Spectrum of Hams

Join us Thursday, May 9th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be planning the final work on the repeater antenna, which is scheduled to take place the morning of Tuesday, May 4th. Pete Warren KC1DFO will also lead a discussion about The Spectrum of Hams, based on an editorial appearing in the February 2019 issue of QST, by ARRL CEO Howard E Michel WB2ITX.

April's Topic: Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge Strategies

Join us Thursday, April 11th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll take a look at the upcoming Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge contest, which takes place Sunday, April 14th.  We'll also talk about the upcoming VE Exam, Summer meetings, news from NWS, and Field Day preparation.

March's Topic: Spring / Summer Event Planning

Join us Thursday, March 14th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be discussing upcoming events and activities, including our participation in NEARFest, ARRL Field Day, Summits on the Air, International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend, and more.

February's Topic: Movie Night

Join us Thursday, February 14th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be hosting our annual Movie Night. This year we'll be watching Bob Allphin K4UEE's film about the K1N DXpedition to Navassa Island. The K1N DXpedition was named the 2014-2015 DXpedition of the year by the Southwest Ohio DX Association.

January's Topic: Winter Field Day Prep

Join us Thursday, January 10th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be making final plans for our participation in the upcoming Winter Field Day, including logistics, availability of operators, equipment, food, and more! 2019 Winter Field Day takes place the weekend of January 26-27.

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2018 Events


August 18-19th

The WS1SM team will operate from Spring Point Lighthouse for the 2018 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW), which takes place August 18-19th. ILLW, which first took place in 1998, has grown to become the largest lighthouse activity weekend, with over 500 lighthouses in 40 different countries being activated last year. For more information about ILLW, click here.

June 23-24th

The WS1SM team will participate in their 8th ARRL Field Day at Wassamki Springs Campground, on the weekend of June 23-24. Since 1933, Field Day has been a friendly competition that encourages hams to operate "in the field," as a way to practice and demonstrate their ability to provide effective communications without the need of commercial power or well-equipped home stations.

May 26-27th

Amateur Radio will be a part of Falmouth's 300th Anniversary Celebration, with a Special Event station operating from Falmouth Fest. Joe Blinick K1JB and Rick Fickett K1OT will be setting up the station and invite club members to participate during the event, and to operate using the special event call sign K1F during the 2 week period that it will be available. For more information, please contact Joe at: k1jb@maine.rr.com.

May 3rd

SKYWARN® Spotter Training - 7PM-9PM at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker To ensure a network of knowledgeable volunteers and accurate reporting, those who are interested in becoming spotters are asked to attend a training session provided by the National Weather Service. SKYWARN®  training is offered free of charge. The Cumberland County EMA Bunker is located at 22 High Street, in Windham, ME SKYWARN® volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

January 27-28th

The WS1SM team will participate in their first Winter Field Day at the Cumberland County EMA, on the weekend of January 27-28. The purpose of Winter Field Day is to foster Ham camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on the air, outdoor fun in the midst of winter! The public is welcome to attend, and those interested in participating may inquire at any upcoming meeting between now and January 27th.

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2018 Meeting Topics

December Meeting Topic: DMR

Join us Thursday, December 13th, as we'll take a look at the digital voice protocol DMR, and explore the DMR-MARC Amateur Radio Network, which expands the range of simple handheld radios to regional, national, and even worldwide coverage. We'll take a look at how to get started, including getting registered, programming your radio, and some of the terminology involved.

November Special Meeting Topic: UHF Repeater & Winter Field Day Food

Join us Thursday, November 15th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, as we'll have a special meeting to discuss UHF repeater progress, and try out some food options to be used during Winter Field Day. 

November Topic: Winter Field Day Planning

Join us Thursday, November 8th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, as we'll begin planning for Winter Field Day, which takes place January 26-27, 2019. We'll discuss number of transmitters, antennas, equipment needed, food, and overnight stays.

October Topic: Maine SET Planning

Join us Thursday, October 11th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, as we'll talk about the upcoming Maine Simulated Emergency Test, which takes place Saturday, October 27th. Our basic plan is to activate as many Regional Shelters as possible, and also relay messages to the National Weather Service, as well as adjacent counties.

September Topic: Annual Business Meeting

Join us Thursday, September 13th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, as we'll have our Annual Business Meeting. Among the topics to be discussed will be updates/discussion on the repeater and Packet installations, the upcoming Simulated Emergency Test (SET), and more.

There will also be officer elections: The present slate contains one name for each position, though nominations will be accepted from the floor. President: Rory KB1PLY, Vice President: CJ W1CJC, Secretary: Pete W KC1DFO, and Treasurer: Pete H KC1HBM.

August's Topic: Planning for ILLW & Shelter Exercise

Join us Thursday, August 9th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, as we'll be discussing our plans for operating during International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW) from Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, as well as our participation in a Red Cross / CCEMA Shelter Exercise at Westbrook High School.

July's Topic: Field Day Review

Join us Thursday, July 12th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, as Frank KR1ZAN will lead a review of our 2018 Field Day efforts. We operated 24 hours as 3A, on battery power, from Wassamki Springs Campground, on the weekend of June 23-24.

June's Topic: Field Day Preparation

Join us Thursday, June 14th, from 7pm-9pm, for our first meeting of the year at Wassamki Springs Campground! The topic for the evening will be Field Day preparation, as we'll take a look at logistics, purchases, and how to best maximize bonus points. If the weather cooperates, we'll also survey the Field Day site for the best antenna locations. Come prepared with your suggestions and ideas about the event. 

May's Topic: FLDigi

Join us Thursday, May 10th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be discussing the software program FLDIGI, which can be used with a sound card interface to operate many popular digital modes, including Feld-Hell, MFSK16, PSK31, RTTY, and more. Please bring any questions you may have about specific modes... what they sound like, where to find them on the bands, etc.

April's Topic: Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge Strategies

Join us Thursday, April 12th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll take a look at the upcoming Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge contest, which takes place April 15th.  Because club members' logs count toward the club competition, we'll also discuss how we can work together to maximize multipliers and points.

March's Topic: Event Planning

Join us Thursday, March 15th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be discussing event planning for the next few months, including on-air activities, meeting topics, and EmComm workshops.

February's Topic: Winter Field Day Review

Join us Thursday, February 8th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be doing a review of Winter Field Day, and discussing some of the things we learned in the 24-hour contest, that we can apply to both EmComm events and future field activities. 

January's Topic: Winter Field Day Prep

Join us Thursday, January 11th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll be discussing plans for our participation in the upcoming Winter Field Day, including logistics, availability of operators, equipment, food, and more! 2018 Winter Field Day takes place the weekend of January 27-28.

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2017 Events

October 28th and November 4th

The WSSM-ECT will participate in it's third annual Maine Simulated Emergency Test on Saturday, October 28th, from 8am-12pm, and also the following Saturday, November 4th, from 8am - 1pm, for the New Hampshire SET. The SET is a nationwide excercise in disaster response and emergency communication, in which volunteers respond to a mock emergency or disaster.

September 21st

Get an introduction to various aspects of Amateur Radio, including basic radio and electronics theory, FCC rules and regulations, and details on how to earn your first Amateur Radio License during our Introduction to Amateur Radio course, offered by Saco -  Old Orchard Beach Adult Education. The course takes place Thursday, September 21st, from 7pm-9pm. Pre-registration is required. Click here for more information.

August 19th

The WS1SM team will operate from Portland Breakwater Light (also known as Bug Light) during this year's International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW). The current lighthouse was built in 1875, and is constructed of curved cast iron plate. It was designed by Thomas Walter, who is best known as the architect of the East and West wings of the U.S. Capitol. ILLW is an annual event which sees over 450 lighthouses activated worldwide by ham radio operators.

June 24-25th

The WS1SM team will participate in their 7th ARRL Field Day at Wassamki Springs Campground, on the weekend of June 24-25. Since 1933, Field Day has been a friendly competition that encourages hams to operate "in the field," as a way to practice and demonstrate their ability to provide effective communications without the need of commercial power or well-equipped home stations. The public is welcome to attend, and those interested in participating may inquire at any upcoming meeting between now and June.

June 15th

SKYWARN® Spotter Training - 7PM-9PM at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker To ensure a network of knowledgeable volunteers and accurate reporting, those who are interested in becoming spotters are asked to attend a training session provided by a local office of the National Weather Service. SKYWARN®  training is provided free of charge . The Cumberland County EMA Bunker is located at 22 High Street, in Windham, ME SKYWARN® volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

March 31st - April 1st

Visit our booth at this year's Maine State ARRL Convention, which will take place March 31st - April 1st, at the Ramada Inn, in Lewiston, ME. This is a great opportunity to get together, take part in the seminars and exam sessions, and meet friends who you've spoken with on the air. There will also be vendors on hand, as well as a radio and electronics flea market. The Ramada Inn & Convention Center is located at 490 Pleasant Street, in Lewiston, ME - just off Exit 80 of the Maine Turnpike.

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2017 Meeting Topics

December's Topic: Introduction to D-STAR

Join us Thursday, December 14th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as Eric Emery KC1HJK will lead us on a discussion about D-STAR, and introduce the various modes and applications available. Eric will also tell us about how to register with the D-STAR network, and demonstrate how to get on the network without the need for a repeater nearby.

For more information about D-STAR, please click here to explore our D-STAR introduction page. Eric was kind enough to share some helpful documents, which are available for download at the bottom of the D-STAR page.

October's Topic: 10m Antenna Project / Winter Field Day / SET Preparation

Join us this Thursday, October 12th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham. We'll be discussing the upcoming 10 meter antenna project, the possibility of taking part in Winter Field Day, and staffing for the Maine and NH Simulated Emergency Tests (SET's), coming up on Saturday, October 28th and Saturday, November 4th.

September's Topic: Annual Business Meeting

Join us Thursday, September 14th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll have our Annual Business Meeting, which will include officer elections and planning for the year ahead. 

August's Topic: The Outernet's Ham Radio Connection

Join us Thursday, August 10th, from 7pm-9pm, at the CCEMA Bunker, in Windham. Our topic for the evening is "The Outernet's Ham Radio Connection", presented by Frank Krizan, KR1ZAN.

Most of us take the internet for granted, but, around 4.3 billion people around the world don't have access to the internet.  Recognizing an opportunity, entrepreneurs are seeking ways to provide a solution. One of those is the Outernet (www.outernet.is).  The Outernet makes use of the existing world-wide satellite coverage offered by INMARSAT satellites.

Frank will describe the Outernet, what you need to receive the Outernet signals and the amateur radio (APRS) "channel" that's been included. You'll learn about resources and how to send messages via the Outernet.

A native Texan, Frank was first licensed as a Novice in 1961.  He enjoys operating, DXing, contesting and trying new concepts in Ham Radio. Frank, and his lovely bride, Nancy, K5NCK, live in Garland, but, spend their summers in Maine.

July's Topic: Activity Planning

Join us Thursday, June 8th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll discuss upcoming summer activities, including communications exercises and the annual International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend, which takes place on the weekend of August 19-20.

June's Topic: Field Day Preparation

Join us Thursday, June 8th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll discuss preparations for Field Day, including assigning tasks, planning setup, and how to maximize bonus points. 2017 Field Day will take place the weekend of June 24-25, at Wassamki Springs Campground, located at 56 Saco Street, in Scarborough, ME.

May's Topic: The Wonderful World of Capacitors

Join us Thursday, May 11th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as Frank Allen W1FRA, will describe the manufacturing process of capacitors, especially Tantalum Capacitors, which he has many years experience with. Tantalum is known to have high capacitance per volume, has lower equivalent series resistance, and has a higher operating temperature than most other electrolytic capacitors. Some of the capacitors Frank has been involved with making, have been used in spacecraft, including OSCAR satellites, and the Space Shuttle.

April's Topic: Movie Night - "The Last Signals"  and FEMA Training Presentation

Join us Thursday, April 13th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll watch a short film called "The Final Signals," which is about the radio operators on Titanic. Frank W1FRA, will also make a presentation about how to get started with FEMA training online.

March's Topic: Going away party for Ryan KB1YTR

Join us Thursday, March 8th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll have a going away party for Ryan Michaelson KB1YTR, who will be moving to Minnesota at the end of March. Ryan has been one of our most active members, taking part in numerous radio adventures with the club, and he played a big role in developing the WSSM Emergency Communications Team. Thanks for all your support, Ryan!

February's Topic: Winlink Express

Join us Thursday, February 16th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham. Ryan Michaelson KB1YTR, will present an introduction to Winlink Express, which is a global radio email client.

For more information about Winlink Express, or to download the program, please click here.

January's Topic: Year in Review and Goals for 2017

Join us Thursday, January 13th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, as we'll look back at 2016 and discuss some of the goals for the year ahead.

December's Topic: Holiday Gathering & Pot Luck

Join us Thursday, December 8th, from 7pm-9pm at the Cumberland County EMA Bunker, located at 22 High Street, in Windham, for a Holiday Gathering & Pot Luck. If you are able to, we encourage you to bring your favorite dish or treat to share.

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2016 Events

October 22nd

The WSSM-ECT will participate in it's second annual Simulated Emergency Test on Saturday, October 22nd, from 8am-12pm. The SET is a nationwide excercise in disaster response and emergency communication, in which volunteers respond to a mock emergency or disaster. Our team will attempt to establish communications with each of the FEMA designated shelters throughout the county, and relay reports to and from the Cumberland County EMA, National Weather Service, Maine Emergency Management, and other EMCOMM groups throughout the state.

September 10-11th

The WS1SM team will activate Acadia National Park (NP-01) for National Parks on the Air (NPOTA), celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the National Parks System, as well as the 100th Anniversary of Acadia. The team will operate from various locations within the park. NPOTA is a year-long on-air activity promoted by the American Radio Relay League. To find out more, please click here. As of the beginning of September, there have been over 11,000 activations from National Parks, monuments, and historic parks around the country. WWFF: KFF-0001, NPOTA: NP01, Bass Harbor Head Light ARLHS: USA041, Cadillac Mountain SOTA: W1/DI-001

August 20-21st

The WS1SM team will activate another Maine lighthouse for this year's International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) on August 20-21st. We plan to operate mixed HF on battery power, as well as some VHF. International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is an annual amateur radio activity started in Scotland by members of the Ayr Amateur Radio Group. It evolved from the Scottish Northern Lighthouses Award Weekend into an international event in 1998. This year, nearly 450 lighthouses and lightships, in 85 different countries are expected to participate.

June 25-26th

The WS1SM team will participate in their 6th ARRL Field Day at Wassamki Springs Campground, on the weekend of June 25-26. Since 1933, Field Day has been a friendly competition that encourages hams to operate "in the field," as a way to practice and demonstrate their ability to provide effective communications without the need of commercial power or well-equipped home stations. The public is welcome to attend, and those interested in participating may inquire at any upcoming meeting between now and June.

April 23rd

The WS1SM team will provide communications for Walk MS: Portland, on Saturday, April 23rd, in Portland. Volunteers will meet at the Portland Expo Center (239 Park Avenue, Portland, ME) at 7:00am and the walk will begin at 9:00am. Approximately 6 miles in length, Walk MS: Portland is comprised of teams of walkers raising funds to help people who have MS, and their families, through MS education, support, advocacy, services, and research. For more information, please click here.

March 25-26th

Visit our booth at this year's Maine State ARRL Convention, which will take place March 25-26 at the Ramada Inn, in Lewiston, ME. This is a great opportunity to get together, take part in the seminars and exam sessions, and meet friends who you've spoken with on the air. There will also be vendors on hand, as well as a radio and electronics flea market. The Ramada Inn & Convention Center is located at 490 Pleasant Street, in Lewiston, ME - just off Exit 80 of the Maine Turnpike. Click here for more details.

March 3rd 

Winter SKYWARN® Training - 7PM-9PM at the Gorham Recreation Department The concept of SKYWARN® was developed in the 1960's as a way to promote a cooperative effort between the National Weather Service and local communities. It’s a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters across the country. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service. To ensure a network of knowledgeable volunteers and accurate reporting, those who are interested in becoming spotters are asked to attend a training session provided by a local office of the National Weather Service. SKYWARN®  training is provided free of charge.

January 30th

Join us the morning of Saturday, January 30th, as we'll setup an amateur radio display and live demonstration during the Emergency Preparedness Fair, which will take place from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Church of Latter Day Saints, on 29 Ocean House Road, in Cape Elizabeth, ME. Other presentations will include emergency power, document protection, and more!

2016 Meeting Topics

December's Topic: Holiday Gathering & Pot Luck

November's Topic: The Art of Knot Tying, with Charlie Shepard W1CPS

October's Topic: Planning for the 2016 Simulated Emergency Test (SET)

September's Topic: Annual Business Meeting and Officer Elections

August's Topic: Recap of Communications Test / Officer Nominations

July's Topic: GYX Station Upgrades

June's Topic: Field Day Preparation

Join us Thursday, June 9th, from 7pm-9pm, for our first meeting of the year at Wassamki Springs Campground! The topic for the evening will be Field Day preparation, as we'll take a look at logistics, purchases, and how to best maximize bonus points.

May's Topic: Special Guest, Paul Alberghini W1IMD

April's Topic: ARISS

March's Topic: Clublog

Join us this Thursday, March 10th, from 7pm-9pm,  at the Gorham Recreation Department, as we'll take a look at Clublog.org, and discuss how the powerful reporting features of the tool can be helpful to the serious DXer or even a casual operator.

February's Topic: "Why use JT65?" and Intro to VOACAP

Join us Thursday, February 11th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Gorham Recreation Department, as we'll answer the question "Why use JT65?" and also take a closer look at the propagation analysis program VOACAP.

January's Topic: WSSM Emergency Communications Team

December's Topic: CCEMA Update & Next Steps

Join us Thursday, December 10th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Gorham Recreation Department, as we'll discuss our progress with Cumberland County EMA, and talk about some of our next steps with the project and goals for 2016.. 


2015 Events

December 5th

SKYWARN® Recognition Day SKYWARN® Recognition Day is a 24-hour on-air event which sees participation from nearly every NWS and SKYWARN® radio club in the US and Canada, as well as unaffiliated operators from around the world. Simply exchange signal report, name, and current temperature, and see how many NWS Forecast Offices or SKYWARN stations you can work. All modes and bands are eligible. SKYWARN® Strategy Meeting Join us Saturday, December 5th, for the annual SKYWARN® Strategy meeting, where we'll reflect on 2015 and discuss updates, needs, and strategies for the year ahead.

September  19th

The WS1SM team will provide communications for the MS Journey of Hope Walk, on Saturday, September 19th, in South Portland. Volunteers will meet at the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine (169 Broadway, in South Portland) at 8:00am and the walk will begin at 10:00am. Approximately 3 miles in length, the MS Journey of Hope is comprised of teams of walkers raising funds to support the services of Comprehensive MS Care Centers who are partners in MS Care. For more information, please click here.

August 16th

The WS1SM team will activate Cape Neddick Lighthouse for this year's International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) on August 16th. We plan to operate mixed HF on battery power, as well as some VHF. International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is an annual amateur radio activity started in Scotland by members of the Ayr Amateur Radio Group. It evolved from the Scottish Northern Lighthouses Award Weekend into an international event in 1998. This year, nearly 450 lighthouses and lightships, in 85 different countries are expected to participate.

July 13-27th

The Wireless Society of Southern Maine is celebrating our 5th Anniversary with special event operations using the call sign W1V, between July 13-27th! During the two weeks, club members will take turns activating the call sign and we are offering a special certificate with the following endorsements for contacts:   GOLD for QSOs on 10 or more different band slots SILVER for QSOs on 5-9 different band slots BRONZE for QSOs on 1-4 different band slots

June 27-28th

The WS1SM team will participate in their 5th ARRL Field Day at Wassamki Springs Campground, on the weekend of June 27-28. Since 1933, Field Day has been a friendly competition that encourages hams to operate "in the field," as a way to practice and demonstrate their ability to provide effective communications without the need of commercial power or well-equipped home stations. The public is welcome to attend, and those interested in participating may inquire at any upcoming meeting between now and June.

May 14th

Join us the evening of Thursday, May thth, from 7-9PM as WSSM members teach an Introduction to Ham Radio class at the Wells High School. The course is designed to introduce various aspects of the hobby, as well as basic radio theory, and how students can persue earning their first Amateur Radio License. Preregistration is required.

January 22nd

Winter SKYWARN® Training - 7PM-9PM at the Gorham Recreation Department The concept of SKYWARN® was developed in the 1960's as a way to promote a cooperative effort between the National Weather Service and local communities. It’s a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters across the country. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service. To ensure a network of knowledgeable volunteers and accurate reporting, those who are interested in becoming spotters are asked to attend a training session provided by a local office of the National Weather Service. SKYWARN®  training is provided free of charge.

2015 Meeting Topics

January's Topic: WSSM Emergency Communications Team

December's Topic: CCEMA Update & Next Steps

Join us Thursday, December 10th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Gorham Recreation Department, as we'll discuss our progress with Cumberland County EMA, and talk about some of our next steps with the project and goals for 2016.. 

November's Topic: FL Digi

Join us Thursday, November 12th, from 7pm-9pm, at the Gorham Recreation Department, as we'll discuss the program FL Digi in detail, including an intro to the various digital modes that are available as well as how to set up macros, and what you need to get started.

October's Topic: Providing Communications for Cumberland County EMA

September's Topic: QIKcom-2 Satellite

August's Topic: Movie Night: 2O12L Olympic Special Event

July's Topic: W1V 5th Anniversary Special Event

June's Topic: Field Day Preparation

May's Topic: Intro to Ham Radio Class (for Wells-Ogunquit Adult Ed)

Join us the evening of Thursday, May thth, from 7-9PM as WSSM members teach an Introduction to Ham Radio class at the Wells High School. The course is designed to introduce various as  pects of the hobby, as well as basic radio theory, and how students can persue earning their first Amateur Radio License. Preregistration is required.

April's Topic: Intro to APRS

March's Topic: DMR

 

February's Topic: Simplex Challenge Preparation

 

January's Topic: Standing Up For Standing Waves

2013 Events