ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION
Section Manager (SM) – Phil Temples, K9HI
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) – Arthur “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
Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ
State Government Liaison (SGL) – Shawn O’Donnell, K3HI
Technical Coordinator (TC) – Dan Brown, W1DAN
MAY 2014 SECTION NEWS
On April 21, the world focused its attention on Boston and the 118th
running of the BAA Marathon. A record number of runners participated in
this year’s 26.2-mile race from Hopkinton to Boston, and over three
hundred Amateur Radio operators under the overall coordination of Steve
Schwarm, W3EVE helped to assure a smooth and safe event.
W3EVE expressed his appreciation to Marathon Amateur Radio
Communications leaders Jim Palmer, KB1KQW, for his support as an
assistant course coordinator; to Bob DeMttia, K1IW, for net control
technical support; to Paul Topolski, W1SEX, who handled finish-line
operations; and to Kevin Paetzold, K1KWP, for supporting starting-line
operations. [ARRL Web]
“A number of changes for this year’s race were implemented,” according
to Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. “But
despite all of the changes the Amateur Radio community adapted, and the
main mission of the event to manage ambulance requests for downed
runners and support the logistics of the marathon went well.”
It was an emotional day for all the runners, volunteers, and first
responders.
VIPs, as well as “the person on the street” were profuse with their
thanks and acknowledgments for the contributions made by amateurs that
day.
Governor Deval Patrick, who toured the State Emergency Operations
Center in Framingham, personally thanked KD1CY and other amateurs who
were present.
“A woman stopped me on the street to thank me for volunteering,”
recalls Metro Boston DEC Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG. “I asked if she had
run, and she replied it was her husband. As we talked, there were tears
of appreciation in her eyes for the tiny part that I had played in
helping to keep her husband safe during the race.” Marek adds,
“Although I’ve participated in numerous marathons and storm events,
nothing has impacted me like that 60 second conversation with that
woman whom I will never see again.”
Dan Rea, host of WBZ’s “Nightside” invited race supporters, runners,
and first responders to call in to his show with their personal
stories. Bruce Tinkler, N9JBT, phoned in and described the
communications provided by amateurs along the course. “[Dan Rea] asked
some smart questions which allowed me to explain what we do. It turned
out to be a great ‘plug’ for our ham radio efforts in the race.”
You can read a comprehensive story on Amateur Radio’s involvement in
the 2014 Boston Marathon, at <http://tinyurl.com/mcnz9sz>.
Clubs and groups across Eastern Massachusetts are gearing up for this
year’s ARRL Field Day on June 28-29. As you may know, Field Day is much
more than a contest or an operating event. For most clubs, it is part
social event, camp-out, teaching exercise, publicity stunt, and part
emergency operations exercise.
The EMA Field Day page, <http://fd.ema.arrl.org>, maintained by Bill
Ricker, N1VUX, is a wonderful compendium of resources: directories of
clubs and groups operating in the section, past scores, maps,
locations, GPS coordinates, tools, and contact numbers. It also
includes a full description of the Field Day rules.
Check out the site and confirm your club’s information. And while
you’re at it, be sure to also visit the ARRL Headquarters Field Day
Locator, at http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator and add your station
to the map.
Congratulations to Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ in his appointment as our
first Section Youth Coordinator. Jeremy sheds his Assistant SM
credentials to serve in this newly formed section cabinet position.
Ironically, Jeremy was instrumental in creating the SYC while serving
on the national ARRL Ad Hoc Committee on Youth in the Second Century,
which made its recommendations to the Headquarters staff and the Board
of Directors.
Eastern MA Section leaders participated in the Annual Amateur Radio
Workshop at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Florida. SEC
and SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY presented on Hurricane
Sandy’s impacts to the New England and Mid-Atlantic states, and on
Amateur Radio’s response to the 2013 BAA Marathon. Rob also presented
on the VoIP Hurricane Net. Jim Palmer, KB1KQW, ARES Assistant SEC and
North Shore Assistant SKYWARN Coordinator “live streamed” the workshop.
The Harvard Wireless Club presented an ARRL Elmer Award to W1AF Station
Manager Bill Collins, W1PL. The award was given to W1PL by HWC president
Douglas Maggs, KK4UHK at the club’s April 1 meeting.
The New England QSO Party is May 3-4, 2014. Visit <http://neqp.org>.
Last year’s scores are now available; they can be found at
<http://www.neqp.org/2013/2013-results.html>.
The Westborough Patch newspaper carried a WRTC2014 PR story on its web
site, entitled “Sixteen New England Communities to Host International
Radiosport Competition, Headquarters Stationed at Westborough, at
<http://tinyurl.com/mpk8uyo>.
This SM visited the friendly folks at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC
in Attleboro at their monthly meeting on April 15.
The Whitman ARC recently purchased and shipped four Baofung handheld
radios to the Philippine ARA in Manila, which lost 80 percent of its
equipment in the wake of a devastating typhoon that struck the country.
WARC member Karen Trask, N1VI, was instrumental in spearheading the
effort.
The Whitman ARC will conduct a General class upgrade course on Tuesday
and Thursday evenings for three weeks, beginning May 6, from 6:00 PM to
8:45 PM, in the Whitman Police Department Conference Room. To enroll, or
to obtain more information, contact Charlie Amico, W1CBR at 774-203-6905
(before 8 PM) or e-mail Charlie at <sfccamico@gmail.com>.
Mark your calendars for 900 Night at Plane Jane’s held each fourth
Thursday at 5:30 PM at the Plymouth Airport, South Meadow Road, in
Plymouth. Talk-in is on the Marshfield 900 MHz repeater, analog or P25
Digital.
The Norfolk County RA will hold its annual May dinner meeting in E.
Walpole, according to club prez K1HC.
The Braintree Emergency Management Agency Net meets every Monday night
at 8 PM on the 147.30 Weymouth repeater. Once stations have checked in,
they are encouraged to check into the Braintree (IRLP) 442.500
repeater.
The Linden Ponds ARC (W1LPH) conducted an Amateur Radio display at the
Linden Ponds Club House in Hingham, according to W1TPB.
Mauri, AG1LE, of Lexington, was privileged to visit the Arecibo
Observatory in Puerto Rico recently. You can read all about Mauri’s
trip on his blog, at <http://tinyurl.com/kcmn3g2>.
Pentucket RA members are loading up the “chuck wagon” with delicious
food in preparation for the trip to NEAR-Fest in Deerfield on May 2-3.
WA1CBH is head chef.
Nashoba Valley ARC members were treated to a fascinating presentation
at their March meeting on phasing and stacking antennas by AF1T. Dale
showed some crazy, but functioning antennas; like, a “double-Dill”
dipole constructed from two dill pickles, and a Boston “Double Dog”
dipole made from–you guessed it–two hot dogs!
SEMARA members and other South Coast amateurs mourn the loss of Silent
Key Joseph M. Rodriques, N1BZZ, of New Bedford.
K1BLH spoke on emergency communications to members of the Boston ARC at
a special meeting at the Clay Center Observatory on April 17.
From the “Ain’t-QRPp-Wonderful?” department: KB1OIQ in Chelmsford was
troubleshooting a problem on his Micro Fox 15 transmitter recently.
Andy had it sitting on his desk, transmitting into a horizontal antenna
six inches long. He later received an email from Harry, WA1VVH, in
Pepperell, 13 miles distant. Harry wrote, “I heard a really odd FM
beacon on 146.565 MHz tonight with your call, along with the phrase,
‘I am most wise’ followed by a repeated burst of slow musical tones
which sounded like one of those low bit-rate digital modes intended for
weak signal use.” Andy’s Micro Fox was transmitting a whopping 10- to 25
milliwatts!
The Genesis Amateur Radio Society will host a SKYWARN training session
on May 20 from 7-10 PM at the Plymouth Municipal Airport, 246 South
Meadow Road, in Plymouth.
If you missed it last month: the Genesis ARS will present a Technician
Course on May 10 and May 17 from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Middleborough
Public Library. Visit <http://ema.arrl.org/node/2046> for more
information.
The Southeastern MA ARA has begun an innovative program to provide new
hams with a radio upon licensure. Individuals, who attend a
SEMARA-sponsored training class, pass a test administered by a SEMARA
VE team, and join SEMARA and ARRL will be eligible to receive a Baofeng
dual-band handheld transceiver. Email <newham@semara.org> for further
details.
Barnstable ARC members conducted a foxhunt in Dennis on April 11.
Attention iPhone 5 owners: now there’s a company that makes a
Hallicrafters shortwave radio “skin” for your iPhone 5! Check out
<http://tinyurl.com/pkx7svj>. Thanks, W1DAN
You’ve heard of “radiograms,” right? Well, it also refers to a Voice of
America program that broadcasts digital text and images over HF. See
<http://tinyurl.com/nse364k> <https://www.radioworld.com/paul-mclane/20379>.
From the “I-Fought-The-Law-And-The-Law-Won” department: the FCC
recently closed down a popular, but unlicensed radio station “Touch
106.1 FM” in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Boston. See
<http://tinyurl.com/kbv2qx8>.
73,
K9HI
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Phillip Temples, K9HI
k9hi@arrl.org
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