Governmental

Massachusetts Hand-free Mobile Device Legislation Update

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Hands-free mobile device legislation moved one step closer to becoming law, passing in the Massachusetts House on May 16. But by all accounts amateur radio operation while driving will remain unaffected. Eastern Massachusetts section staff who have been in touch with legislative aides in both the House and Senate have learned the language that defines mobile devices will continue to exempt “federally-licensed 2-way radios.” “MGL Chapter 90 Section 13 provides for the use of a federally licensed 2-way radio while driving. The hands-free bill being considered (House Bill 3793) does not alter this provision,” according to a staffer in Rep. Ferrante’s office. …

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Operating

USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. NB1CR, QRV for Museum Ships on the Air, June 1-2, 2019

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Ed Fitzgerald, K1DIN, writes on the Algonquin ARC mailing list:   There are roughly fifteen days before the AARC will send operating teams to put the Destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. on the air for the 2019 Museum Ships weekend June 1 and 2. Ship museums from all over the world will have ham operators on ships of all kinds for this special event. Hams all over the world will be contacting as many ships as they can and collecting QSL cards from each. As of this writing, there are 104 ships are listed for the event. For a list …

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Field Day

Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC Field Day 2019

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Just a reminder that Field Day is the weekend of June 22nd and 23rd [at World War I Memorial Park in in North Attleboro]. Setup will begin at about 9 AM on Saturday. Operation will start at 2 PM. Operation will stop at 2 PM on Sunday and tear down will finish up at about 4:30 PM. If you have not been able to attend the club meetings this is your chance to get involved again. If you would like to help setup or tear down and all help is welcome please come on down. If you would like to …

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Public Service

Call for Volunteers, Norton Founders Day, June 15, 2019

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Ray Cord, K2TGX, writes on the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC list: This is the Official call for EMA, HAM, CERT and MRC Volunteers to help at Norton Founders Day Those Agencies that are supplying equipment have been contacted separately for Mutual Aid  WHAT: Norton Founders Day- An Evening long Family Town Picnic with Games, Music, Vendors,  Classic Cars Cruise Night            Food Court Bands and ending with Fireworks at Dark WHEN: Saturday June 15th from 5:00PM to 9:00PM WHERE: H.A. Yelle School Campus, 64 East Main St., Norton, across from Honey Dew Donuts. WHO: Everybody. Volunteers can bring their families …

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Public Service

Volunteers Sought for YuKanRun Twin Lobster Half Marathon, Gloucester, June 2, 2019

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Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list: We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Twin Lobster Half Marathon at Gloucester High School on Sunday, June 2, 2019. The event begins at 9:00 AM; be on location by 8:30  AM. Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by Thursday, May 30th so I can plan staffing positions for the event. Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use (i.e.: mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; OEM rubber duck; etc.) so we have a better idea of …

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All

KA8SCP Receives Kiwanis Person of the Year Award

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Retired Veterans Service Officer Terry Stader (KA8SCP) has been named the Kiwanis Person of the Year, an annual award bestowed on members of the community who have made significant contributions. Stader has always had a strong commitment to giving back, whether serving his country or serving his community. Early in his career Stader was Senior Chief Petty Officer for the Navy. During his time in the Navy he was decorated with many awards including the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star. He was also named Sailor of the Year …

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Emergency Communications

KD1CY on ARRL Public Service Communications Panel Discussion, Hamvention®, May 17, 2019

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Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, will participate in an ARRL Public Service Communications panel discussion at the Dayton Hamvention® on Friday, May 17 from  2:25 to 3:40 PM in Room 3. Those attending the panel discussion will hear from representatives from Amateur Radio’s largest organizations active during times of disaster and emergency. According to the ARES E-Letter, “An update will also be given on the new ARES Plan and changes that were asked for by volunteers and partner agencies on training, reporting, identification, leadership development, and more. Sponsored by ARRL, this forum will feature Rob Macedo, KD1CY, …

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All

MIT Swapfest, May 19, 2019

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Swapfest (The flea at MIT) is an event to buy, sell, and swap amateur radio equipment, components, used computers, electronics, instruments and audio equipment, tools, and a plethora of other items. Includes vendors specializing in odd, rare, and antique electronics and other pieces of technology. Swapfest occurs on the third Sunday of each month, April through October, and has been running for almost 40 years. Hosted by the MIT Radio Society, in conjunction with the MIT UHF Repeater Association, the MIT Electronics Research Society, and the Harvard Wireless Club. The Swapfest is held at MIT’s Albany Street Garage on Albany St …

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Affiliated Clubs / Technical

N1DCH: Intro to Radio Hotspots, Minuteman Repeater Association, May 15, 2019

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The Minuteman Repeater Association will feature Dave Hornbaker, N1DCH, who will present on “Introduction to Hotspots” at its annual meeting on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 7 PM. The presentation will cover different hot spot options with emphasis on MMDVM based hotspots and Pi-Star.  The meeting will be held at New England Sci-Tech, Inc., 16 Tech Circle, Natick, MA. Directions  

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Field Day

20th Annual Field Day Directory Now Available

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The 20th Annual Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory contains some of the most comprehensive Field Day resource pages of its kind. According to Bill Ricker, N1VUX, the Directory offers both detailed historical and current information on individual field day club operations along with the complete event operating rules and helpful safety tips.  “It was originally intended as an ARES function for Y2K and  SKYWARN preparation,” writes Bill. “If any clubs run across records of their Field Day operations before 1997 (or not formally reported to ARRL Contest Branch since then), I’d be happy to include them in the historical catalog.” “Clubs …

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Affiliated Clubs

WA1VVH on Shortwave Station HCJB, Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, May 16, 2019

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Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes: The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s May meeting will be Thursday, May 16th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). This month’s speaker will be Harry Chase, WA1VVH. He will be talking about his memories of shortwave station HCJB in Ecuador. He made several trips there as a volunteer to set up broadcasting equipment, help with technical issues, and eventually help decommission the stations.

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Operating

Request for Operators, Motif No. 1 Day Arts & 5K Fun Run, Rockport, May 18, 2019

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Chris Winczewski, K1TAT writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list: Motif No.1 Day Arts Fest & 5k Fun Run May 18th The Annual 5k and 1 mile fun run for the Rockport Public Schools Health and Wellness Programs. Location: Harvey Park in Downtown Rockport Dates: Saturday, May 18, 2019, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Address: 4 High Street, Rockport, MA 01966 Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by May17th so I can plan staffing positions for the event.    Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use. (i.e.: Mobile; …

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Public Service

Request for Operators, YMCA Back Shore 5K, Gloucester, May 16, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list: CAARA has a great public service team.  Come out and have some fun with us. Why?   You are using amateur radio to provide a needed public service to ensure the safety and smooth running of a public event in local communities.   “I would but I do not have a radio.” No excuse, we have loaner radio’s available with a mag mount that will work in your car just by just plugging it into the cigarette lighter socket. We have loaner hand held radios as well!   “I …

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Operating

Carlisle Fox Hunt, May 10, 2019

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John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the foxhunting list on May 10, 2019 at 1:59 PM: I placed the 2 meter Fox transmitter in Carlisle on146.565 press  DTMF tone 2 to activate 30 seconds on 30 seconds off, run time 15 minutes. (No Bushwacking)  If you choose the wrong trail you will tricked and you will end up bushwacking a long way to find the Fox and that could be wet.   Choose the correct trail and it only 50 feet off the trail and (No bushwacking at all).   If you want to know the location and receive a map Email me …

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Emergency Communications / Public Service

Littleton Volunteer Corps

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Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on the PART-List: Last night, Wed. May 8th, I had the privilege to speak to the Littleton Volunteer Corps at the Littleton Fire station to about 20 participants. This group will be serving as a team to work as CERT and MRC combined to support their community in various roles. Last night I spoke to them about the resource of Amateur Radio. Some of the attendees were hams, but most were not. Those not initially familiar became very interested and asked about what it takes to become a ham (Question: What does “ham” mean? was asked). …

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Public Service

Brain Tumor Ride, Waltham, May 19, 2019

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James Bradley, KB1JKJ <bradleyjab@gmail.com> writes:   It’s that time of year again, the Brain Tumor Ride is less than two weeks away so, I am looking for Volunteers.  The National Brain Tumor Society is planning their 2019 Boston fundraising bike ride and they’re looking for amateur radio volunteers. The ride takes place on Sunday, May 19, starting at 7:00 AM from 200 West Street in Waltham. Volunteers will work until the early afternoon, with lunch provided.   If you are available to SAG in your own vehicle  please send me your information:   Your call sign, full name, and name you prefer on the air …

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Operating

W1HFN Fox is QRV, Littleton, May 8, 2019

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the foxhunting list on May 8, 2019 at 1:03 PM: The W1HFN fox box is out in the Hartwell Family Preserve off Hartwell Avenue in Littleton. https://littletonconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/hartwell-family-memorial-preserve/  It transmits on 146.565 with a 20 second voice ID every 40 seconds and should run at least 8 days.  Please sign the log, TNX.

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Technical

Dan’s Tech Night: TRL-SDR and Miscellany, Ayer, May 9, 2019

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Dan Pedtke, KW2T, writes: Hello past TechNighters, It’s TechNight week again.  TechNight is this Thursday, May 9th, 2019, Grady Research Building in Ayer.  We’re going to talk about the RTL-SDR dongle (again, was a previous tech night, but now there’s a new one), and some other miscellaneous stuff, and the TechNight Radio.  The other stuff might include interesting things I bought at NEARFest last weekend. See DansTechNight.com for details and directions.  A newer schematic and the PCB layout are posted for the TechNight Radio. One of the issues with me talking about the Dongle is that it’s all about software, …

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