About AB1OC

A Broad Range of Amateur Radio Interests and Experience

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC was first licensed in 2010, when he earned his Extra Class license. Fred has been very active in the Amateur Radio Service since becoming licensed and he has engaged in a wide variety of Amateur Radio activities.

Fred, AB1OC enjoys building Amateur Radio stations. He has built a multi-operator HF Station (photos and more information on QRZ.com) and is active on all of the HF bands from 160m through 10m. He enjoys all modes of operation – SSB, CW, and Digital.

He enjoys DX’ing, Rag Chewing, Contesting, and Special Event operations on the HF bands. He is the 13 Colonies Special Event State Manager for K2K New Hampshire and has been recognized as a top SSB operator in the 13 Colonies Special Event multiple times.

 

Fred, AB1OC has numerous HF operating accomplishments including:

• 9 Band DXCC (320 DXCCs mixed, 287 CW confirmed)
• DXCC Challenge (2100+ bands-points confirmed)
• 2014 CQ WW WPX Contest – 1st Place US Area 1 High Power SSB SOAB Assisted (#4 in US, #20 in the World)
• Worked All Europe Top Plaque
• Worked All Japan Prefectures

He is also active from his Mobile HF Station. He has activated parks and other locations using his mobile HF station and enjoys making DX contacts when he is on the road.

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Fred, AB1OC is also an avid VHF and above band station builder, operator, and contester. He is active on the 6m Band, 2m EME Band, and on Satellites. His notable operating accomplishments on these bands include VUCC on 6m, 2m, and via Satellites.

Transformational Focus on New Ham Development

Fred, AB1OC has served as President of the Nashua Area Radio Society for the past 5 years. During his tenure, he has transformed NARS from a relatively modest Amateur Radio Club to become a recognized leader in Amateur Radio Licensing and New Ham Development. He led a team that created and delivers license classes for all Amateur Radio License levels (NARS teaches 6 – 7 licenses classes each year). These classes have enabled over 350 folks to earn an Amateur Radio License or License upgrade.

He has also led NARS in developing innovative programs such as Ham Bootcamp that have helped many Hams to get on the air and to use their licenses more effectively. Over 600 Hams have participated in Ham Bootcamp since its inception and Fred and the NARS team have helped these folks to get on the air and make effective use of their license privileges.

Under his leadership, NARS has developed many programs that provide learning and skills development opportunities to Hams everywhere. You can see a presentation about some of these programs here.

During Fred, AB1OC’s tenure as President of NARS, the club has grown to be one of the largest in New England with over 400 members. NARS was also recognized as the 2019 Dayton Hamvention Club of the Year.

He has served as Field Day Chairperson at NARS throughout his time as President and has helped NARS to field stations as large as 11A. He has worked with NARS to focus on the role of Field Day as a learning opportunity for young people and new Hams. You can learn more about NARS Field Day here.

A Passion for Bringing Amateur Radio and STEM Learning to Young People

During his time as a Licensed Ham, Fred AB1OC has worked tirelessly to introduce young people to Amateur Radio and to provide STEM learning experiences in schools. He is an active contributor to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program that enables schools to make contact with astronauts on the International Space Station using Amateur Radio.

Fred, AB1OC serves as an ARISS Mentor and also as one of the twelve ARISS Worldwide Ground Station Network stations. He has helped students in nine schools around to world prepare for and make contact with an Astronaut using Amateur Radio.

Through his work in the ARISS program, he has been able to introduce many students, parents, and teachers to Amateur Radio-based STEM learning opportunities.

Fred, AB1OC has introduced many groups of school students to Amateur Radio during career days, STEM nights, school clubs, and other events.

As part of his work at NARS, he created a STEM learning program around High-Altitude Balloons that carry Amateur Radio Telemetry. Fred has worked with teachers in several local Middle and High Schools to create and deliver a 7 hour series of hands-on classroom lessons around the science of High-Altitude Balloon and the Amateur Radio telemetry systems they can carry. He also led efforts to raise the funds required to equip and operate this program.

Fred, AB1OC has also been teaching a 2-hour Introduction to Amateur Radio in a local school.

A Professional Background including Executive Leadership and Strategic Planning

Fred Kemmerer spent the early years of his professional life as a software engineer and as a group manager developing software for wired and wireless telecom equipment.

He has held many executive leadership positions during his professional life. He has extensive strategic planning and executive leadership experience and has served in leadership roles on industry and corporate boards.

His role as TOPS Council Chairman on the ATIS Industry Board of Directors demonstrates his ability to lead a diverse set of stakeholders to identify and solve complex problems through collaboration. He has also served on the FCC Technical Advisory Committee where he worked with industry peers to influence FCC policy.

You can learn more about Fred Kemmerer’s professional background on LinkedIn here.

What Others are saying about Fred, AB1OC

Fred, AB1OC has been widely endorsed by others for his work in support of Amateur Radio and in schools. You can read what others are saying about him here.