ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION
Section Manager (SM) – Phil Temples, K9HI
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Tom Walsh, K1TW
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) – Mike Neilsen, W1MPN
Section Traffic Manager (STM) – Marcia Forde, KW1U
Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ
State Government Liaison (SGL) – Hank Mc Carl, W4RIG
Technical Coordinator (TC) – Dan Brown, W1DAN
NOVEMBER 2014 SECTION NEWS
WX1BOX, the Taunton SKYWARN ARC station, was activated for a recent
nor’easter storm that caused strong to damaging winds and heavy
rainfall. Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern MA Assistant SEC and ARES SKYWARN
Coordinator reports, “At the height of the storm, fifty thousand people
were without power and reports at one point were coming in as fast as
one or two per minute. Rainfall of 2-5 inches, with isolated 7 inches,
caused flooding during the morning commute. The WX1BOX Amateur Radio
team was thanked for their efforts by the NWS Taunton forecaster team.
Everyone is no doubt aware of the catastrophic failure of the Orbital
Sciences’ unmanned Antares rocket. It exploded on October 30 near the
Virginia coast, just seconds after launch. According to Chelmsford
native Bryce Salmi, KB1LQC (who knows a few things about satellites),
“They didn’t just lose ISS supplies. Planetary Resources (asteroid
mining) lost a demonstrator CubeSat (3U) that a few of my co-workers
worked on prior to SpaceX. Also, Planet Labs lost twenty-six
satellites. (YES, 26!!!)” Bryce adds, “[It’s] a sobering reminder that
space is hard.”
The Whitman Amateur Radio Public Service net meets every Sunday at 8:30
AM on the Whitman repeater (147.225+ PL 67.0). All area hams are invited
to check in.
North Shore RA members are putting together a club tee shirt order.
KB1MGI warns those in search of his fox to beware of “ghosts” and the
“creepy sounds of wild animals” this Halloween weekend. He’s placed the
146.565 MHz remote controlled hidden transmitter somewhere in Carlisle
where it will remain for approximately one week. To activate the
transmitter, press DTMF tone 2 for two seconds. You will have 15
minutes of transmission every 30 seconds. For additional time, repeat
DTMF tone 2 as necessary.
A hurricane by the name of Gonzalo failed to deter NS1V, of Townsend,
from traveling to Bermuda for the CQWW SSB contest. Les wrote prior to
his departure, “My host, VP9GE said that while his house and antennas
did suffer some significant damage that my trip was still on. I leave
tomorrow morning and I expect to be doing a lot of antenna repairs when
I get down there as currently only the 40m dipole is up.”
Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC members assisted with communications for
the recent “Crop Walk” in Capron Park in Attleboro on October 19.
PART of Westford members participated in the annual Halloween “Pumpkin
Patrol.”
KB1UHV and KB1SRO have agreed to become editors for the Genesis ARS
newsletter. Says Judy, KB1SRO: “We are so excited to take on this new
endeavor … Anthony is going to use this towards one of his Eagle
merit badge requirements, acquire experience in newsletter writing, and
to give back to the club.”
Section Youth Coordinator KB1REQ reports that the Clay Center ARC has
been very active this school year. “They’ve continued to license
students of all ages through their after school radio classes.” Jeremy
adds, “They’ve provided opportunities for their student members to
practice HF operating with an entry into both the School Club Roundup
and the CQWW DX contest from the club recently.”
Kudos to the Northeastern Wireless Club (W1KBN) for licensing five new
student members! W1KBN is also planning a major effort for ARRL
Sweepstakes involving student, faculty, and alumni operators. Any
alumni interested in operating should contact KB1REQ for details.
The Harvard Wireless Club, W1AF, was QRV for CQWW SSB, according to HWC
Station Manager W1PL. The club also plans to be active in both the phone
and CW Sweepstakes events.
K1USN RC members mourn the loss of former club member and Silent Key
William H. Wood, Sr., K4WAS, of St. Marys, Georgia.
This SM attended a meeting of the Metro-Boston ARES at the Josephine A.
Fiorentino Community Center in Brighton on October 25. KB1MSR won the
door prize–an ARRL Antenna Manual.
Recent leadership changes to Eastern MA ARES: Jim Palmer, KB1KQW has
replaced Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF as North Shore District Emergency
Coordinator.
The Director of the Plymouth Office of Emergency Management has
announced that he is seeking amateurs to assist with the Town’s
emergency communications needs. Aaron Wallace writes: “I’m looking for
ARES/RACES Amateur Support to assist in the build-out and testing of an
Amateur Radio Go Kit [procured to support an EOC at the local
hospital].” Mr. Wallace may be contacted at
<awallace@townhall.plymouth.ma.us>.
K1RV reports that the gang at K1USN RC made a timely purchase: a
complete set of coaxes and power pole crimping tools/strippers. Says
Pi, “We plan to have a work party [on November 1] with Henry, K1WCC,
giving us a demonstration on the proper use of these tools.”
Mike Rioux, W1USN recently gave a talk to Quannapowitt RA members about
portable antenna equipment he uses on his trips to the Caribbean.
Nashoba Valley ARC members “Skip” Youngberg, K1NKR and Stan Poderski,
KD1LE operated in the recent 10 GHz & Up Contest. Using Skip’s
one-watt, 10 GHz SSB rig, they operated for a little over three hours
atop Mount Wachusett. The duo made contacts with Martha’s Vineyard,
Block Island, West Lebanon, Maine, Mount Greylock, and Mount Equinox.
Their best DX was 154 km!
“The Final Courtesy” about a “somewhat delayed” QSL card, written by
long time Harvard Wireless Club member Mike Manafo, K3UOC, can be
viewed at <http://www.eham.net/articles/33155>.
PART of Westford featured a talk on QRP by K1LGQ at its October 21
meeting.
Robert “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV, of the Marconi Radio Club (W1AA) and
Barbara Dougan, N1NS, from the Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club (KM1CC)
contributed to a video about Princess Electra Marconi, the daughter of
Guglielmo Marconi. The video was produced by the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and can be found at:
<http://libraries.mit.edu/exhibits/maihaugen/wired/>. <https://libraries.mit.edu/exhibits/exhibit/wired-telegraph/>.
KB1ZOA conducted a JOTA operation in Woburn on October 18.
Cape Ann ARA members and other area amateurs mourn the loss of Silent
Key Francis A. Vidal, WU1S, of Gloucester.
Members of the Zola Center ARC in Newton were treated to two
presentations at their October 18 meeting: W1DAN demonstrated
software-defined radio, and WO1I discussed the history of Amateur Radio
from the 50s to the present. The group hopes to have a K-9
demonstration, courtesy of the Newton Police Department, in November!
Does your repeater air ARRL Audio News? If so, the ARRL wants to hear
from you! If your recording is clearly understandable, Headquarters
will consider it for possible use during the program.
ARRL Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, invites you to send in
an MP3 file using this script: “I’m ARRL member [your name and call
sign] from [your city and state or country], and you’re listening to
ARRL Audio News.”
Please follow the script exactly, and keep your recording under ten
seconds long. Go to <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> for more
details.
73,
K9HI
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Phillip Temples, K9HI
k9hi@arrl.org
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