Happy Independence Day to you all!

Attached is the July issue of the MARA's Squelch Tales newsletter.

73, Bruce/W1ZE

Here are some more particulars of the arrangements for MARA's 2009
Field Day operation:

The allband doublet and 40 meter half square are up and tested.

Bruce W1ZE is bringing the following gear:

1. *6M Moxon*
2. *6M tuner*
3. *Equipment Coax jumpers*
4. *MFJ HF tuner*
5. *KW 4:1 balun*
6. *IC-736*
7. *FT-897D*
8. *telegraph keys*
9. *Microphones*
10. *A few rolls of RG-8*
11. *30-foot push-up mast*
12. *Rope, stakes, etc*
13. Digital clock

John, N1OIG is bringing his Kenwood rig and keyboard CW setup for the GOTA station.

Paul, KA5FPT, is building a 40 meter half square. We hope to have it up before dark on Friday.

The results of the Fall 2008 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) were published in the June 2009 issue of QST. Sagadahoc ARES had the highest score in Maine. My thanks to all the participants who made this great success possible.

73,

Steve
AA4AK
Sagadahoc ARES EC

Saturday morning, John (N1OIG) and myself ventured down to Manchester, NH, to attend the bi-annual Cabinet Meeting. Fortunately for us it was a bit closer this time around, not as far a ride. Tom Frenaye, NE Division Director (K1KI) was on hand to pass on words of wisdom. Mike Raisbeck, NE Division Vice Director (K1TWF) could not make it due to a family illness in Maine. A special guest speaker, Dennis Dura (K2DCD) ARRL HQ was there to speak on several issues, but mainly focused on Emmergency Communications and the update to the Emergency Communications courses offered on the ARRL website. The new courses will be, Basic Emergency Communications and Advanced Emergency Communications. There will also be some requirements for FEMA courses as well if wish to hold a position within the Division. BPL was brought up again, but it does not seem to be the issue it once was. Cross your fingers. There will be a letter out from Tom Frenaye in the near future on the happenings at the Cabinet meeting. When i receive that I'll post it here. For those of you who have attended the Cabinet meeting before, there was yet another auction at the end and $125.00 was rasied and it was voted that the money would go to the ARRL Education Fund. John and I came away with a few items from the auction and will let you know what they are later. Maine was well represented as always and as a side note. Dennis Dura was introduced to a cold Moxie. He agreed it was good cold, but once it got warm, well I can not put hear what is said it tasted like. On that note. Hope to see you at Field Day

ARRL Maine Section Manager, Bill Woodhead, N1KAT, has appointed Steve, AA4AK, as the official QSL card checker for the Maine Section. Steve can check QSL cards for DXCC, WAS, VUCC and WAC. If you are working toward any of these awards, prepare your paperwork per instructions on the ARRL Web site, and bring your paperwork and cards to Steve. He will check your cards on the spot and forward your paperwork to ARRL. Your hard earned QSL cards never leave your custody. Steve is available to check QSL cards at the Bangor and Andy Hamfests, after Maine QCWA meetings, after MARA meetings, and on other occasions by appointment.

Greetings All:

Attached is the June issue of the Squelch Tales newsletter. Hopefully you will find some parts interesting.

Today, Monday WD1F, K1MNW & W1ZE took down the 2-meter repeater Station Master antenna for maintenance and if needed repair. In the process Donnie (WD1F) lowered down the pigtail jumper that connects the 1-7/8" hard-line to the antenna. They hoisted up a NCG/COMET CA-ABC-22a 2M 2 x 5/8 wave collinear as a temporary antenna while Maintenance was performed on the Stationmaster. While Donnie was installing the Comet antenna, Bill & Bruce tested the pigtail coax jumper and found that it exhibited about 1-megohm resistance between the shield and center conductor. At RF this is like a resistive short hence the SWR in excess of 3:1. A new pigtail jumper was made up using RG-213 vs. the poly-foam original jumper. The Comet antenna seems to have adequate coverage until the Stationmaster goes back up. Stay tuned. A detailed report will be forthcoming at Thursdays meeting.

QSL records for all contacts for the N1R operation have been uploaded to the Logbook of the World.

Thanks to everyone for the excellent job on the N1R operation. As planned, we ran for the entire 24 hours of May 20 (UTC). We made 214 contacts, 98 on data and 116 on SSB, CW and FM. Contacts were all over the world, surprisingly many in Asia. We also participated in the Seagull Net, the Maine Slow Speed Net and the Pine Tree Net as N1R.

The participants that I recall were, Harry, N1TTT, Michele, W7LIF, Dan, N5AGG, Marjorie KX1I, John, N1OIG, Bruce, W1ZE, Heather, KB1SCV, Gordon, KB1SDD, and Steve, AA4AK. If I've overlooked anyone, please let me know, and I'll add you to the list. Special thanks to N5AGG who took the overnight shift, and N1OIG for demonstrating his keyboard CW rig.

Wind speed transmitter newly installed on tower, in East Boothbay, for New England Weather Net-Skywarn