ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION
Section Manager (SM) – Phil Temples, K9HI
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) – “Bo” Budinger, WA1QYM
Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) – Ed Parish, K1EP
Public Information Coordinator (PIC) – Bob Salow, WA1IDA
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) – Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Section Traffic Manager (STM) – Marcia Forde, KW1U
State Government Liaison (SGL) – Shawn O’Donnell, K3HI
Technical Coordinator (TC) – Eric Falkof, K1NUN
APRIL 2013 SECTION NEWS
It’s that time of year again — time to start gearing up for ARRL Field
Day, June 22-23, 2013. ARRL’s flagship operating event — always held
the fourth full weekend in June — brings together new and experienced
hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are now available
for download and include the complete rules, as well as other reference
items. Visit <http://www.arrl.org/field-day>.
KB1LYJ is organizing Amateur Radio communications for two upcoming
public service events: the MS Boston Walk on April 7, and the MS
Journey of Hope walk on May 18 in Natick. To volunteer, contact Rick at
<rpsavage@comcast.net>.
The Minuteman Repeater Association has decided to relocate its 146.82
repeater from Brookline to the Prudential site in Boston’s Back Bay.
According to President Bob DeMattia, KI1W, “we hope to have this
completed in time for the Boston Marathon public service activity.”
Incidentally, MMRA is holding a special meeting for its members who are
interested in participating in club technical projects on April 10 in
Weston. RSVP to K1IW.
KD1CY and KB1KQW are back from their adventures at the recent National
Hurricane Center Conference March 25-28 in New Orleans. Seminars at the
conference included “The Importance of Amateur Radio/Spotter Surface
Reports” by NHC Director Dr. Rick Knabb. According to Rob and Jim, all
of the Amateur Radio workshops were live-streamed over the internet.
W1RJC reports that the Southeastern MA ARA has received three Raspberry
Pi computers for the club’s 2-meter, 220 and 900 MHz repeaters. Richard
says “they have been assembled and modifications necessary to interface
them to IRLP are complete.”
Cape Ann ARA members are making plans for their next W1T/Thacher Island
DXpedition on August 3, according to WW1N.
K0TV and N1IW presented at the March Billerica ARS meeting on the
proper installation of coax connectors on RG-8 size cable.
K1NUN spoke about limited size antennas to members of the Montachusett
ARA in Lunenburg on March 13.
In the month of May, SKYWARN training sessions will be held in the
following towns and cities in Eastern Massachusetts: Townsend, Walpole,
and Marlborough. For details, visit <http://www.wx1box.org/node/36>.
Members and friends of the Taunton SKYWARN ARC recently rearranged and
updated the station equipment at WX1BOX. According to W1VFB, “an Icom
706 was put into service and an Alinco HF radio was taken out of
service.” Coax jumper cables and power cables were constructed, and the
6-meter station was tested and found to be in working order.
This SM had the privilege of participating in a ceremony at ARRL
Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut on March 27 in which Marcia
Forde, KW1U received the 2012 George Hart Distinguished Service Award.
A photo can be viewed at <http://tinyurl.com/cnw98le>. It should be
noted with sadness and a bit of irony that George Hart, W1NJM became a
Silent Key only days prior to the presentation.
W1DAN recently received a donation from his employer of a surplus
five-foot equipment rack for the Wellesley ARS. He’s successfully
delivered it to the club’s repeater site at the Newton-Wellesley
Hospital. Dan says additional work remains–pricing out and purchasing
additional shelving, casters, doors and a power strip–before the rack
can be put to use.
W1RAB reports a change to the frequency of the Gloucester 440 MHz
repeater. It’s now: 447.525 output, 442.525 input, no PL tone.
Kudos is in order for W1ICU, W1JT and others who recently helped with
antenna repairs at N1IQI’s QTH.
NEAR-Fest is coming May 3-4 at the Deerfield, New Hampshire
Fairgrounds. See <http://near-fest.com>.
The Whitman ARC will hold a General class upgrade class in in Abington
in mid-May, according to WARC Training Coordinator W1CBR. Charlie says
they will use the Gordon West General Class book and CD. -Thanks, The
Whitman ARC “Spectrum.”
Massasoit ARA members have been asked to provide communications support
for the Brockton YMCA 2nd Annual Road Race on April 20. If you can help
out, contact N1FY at <caave@peoplepc.com>.
KB1FQG shares this online article describing how to hack the
inexpensive Baofeng UV5R transceiver to send FSK and other tricks at
<http://tinyurl.com/czf566p>.
K1KI wants to remind everyone about the World Radiosport Team
Championship tests being held July 12-13, 2013. “Instead of the 13
stations we fielded last year, we’re aiming for 25-30 stations this
year.” He adds, “With another 12-17 sites, obviously we need to have
additional volunteers for site management and operating teams, so if
you know of others who are interested, please have them contact me!”
Tom can be reached at <k1ki@wrtc2014.org>.
W1OD has been doing a great job arranging for customized clothing for
the K1USN Radio Club membership. Members will soon be sporting K1USN
shirts, sweat- and tee shirts with the colorful club logo. Says K1RV,
“These will certainly draw comments when worn at any ham event,
including the Dayton Hamvention.”
The popular sitcom “Last Man Standing” has prominently featured Amateur
Radio in several episodes. In one recent episode, the daughter of the
show’s protagonist (played by Tim Allen, “KA0XTT”) talks on 20 meters;
she receives help on writing her history paper from other amateurs. The
episode can be viewed online at <http://tinyurl.com/cmek6ol>.
In keeping with its time-honored tradition, the April issue of QST
magazine contains no less than _two_ items of highly dubious
authenticity. Did you spot them?
73,
Phil, K9HI
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Phillip Temples, K9HI
k9hi@arrl.org
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