Whitman ARC Ham Radio Open House

The Whitman Amateur Radio Club is having it’s FIRST Ham RWhitman ARC logoadio Open House on Saturday July 19th at the Knights of Columbus on Rte 18 in Whitman. We’ll be promoting and explaining Amateur Radio to the public from 8- Noon. You are welcome to attend, the event is FREE and we can supply your club with a table indoors if you want to display any equipment/demonstrations or information. If you have any questions, please email me.

Thanks, Ross W1EKG 73

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 7/12/15 – 1000 AM

Jeff-N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:

Good Evening,

On Saturday July 12, 2025 the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

Home or alternative locations are also welcome to check into the net. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

1. West Bridgewater repeater 146.775 dcs 244
2. Norwood Repeater 147.210 tone 100.0
3. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC:1, Sagamore 145.200 – 0.6M CC:10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC:11, East Falmouth 145.210 -0.600 CC:9, Martha’s Vineyard145.180 -0.600 CC:10, and Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC:12.
4. Sharon Repeater 146.865 tone 103.5
5. Simplex 147.420

We will then return to the West Bridgewater Repeater for Net closing.

NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check-in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.

We extend an invitation to any health care facility, EOC of any city or town as well as RACES or ARES members to check in during the NET.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand at Net Control please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com or replying to this message. The goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many individuals and groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct these monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event.

We hope to hear you Saturday.

73,

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

Reminder: July 7th, 2025 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

Mike “Sparky” Leger, N1YLQ, ARES DEC – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:
 
Hello to all,
 
    This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that Monday evening, July 7th, 2025 is our first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, will be the next RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. 
 

  I will be unable to reliably be NCO for the Sector 2A net due to work requirements, so I am looking for someone to act as the Sector 2A NCO for the night.

     For those who participate in the WinLink net, please note that there is a different NCO noted for the WinLink net this month with messages being routed to KC1VMZ with a copy to AB1PH. 
 
      For any operators interested in performing the duties of Net Control Station (NCS), there are materials available to make the task fairly simple and straight forward. The net pre-amble and role call lists are available at http://wc1mab.org/RACES_R2_Interim_Preamble.pdf and http://wc1mab.org/Month.php with the role-call lists on the left column near the bottom. If anyone is worried that they may mess up running a net, please remember that, in many cases, a less than perfect net is WAY better than no net at all! At the conclusion of any net, any operator that acted as Net Control Operator is asked to please send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com <mailto:WC1MAB@gmail.com>  letting me know who ran the net and who checked in so that the proper numbers can be reported to our served agencies. We cannot always count on our normal net control operators to be available in the event of a large scale emergency, so every RACES operator should be prepared to act as NCO if needed when disaster and emergency strikes!
 

The Region #2 and State Net Schedule for this evening is as follows:

Net Frequency/Offset Time
Sector 2A 147.00 /+0.60  PL 19:30 Local
Sector 2B 145.39/-0.60  PL 67.0 20:00 Local
Sector 2C Winlink Net Check-In – 

NCO: KF1D with copy to AB1PH

6AM-Midnight Local Time
Sector 2D 146.865/-0.60  PL 103.5 19:30 Local
6-Meter State Net 53.31 / -1.0  PL 71.9  

 

Note: Net activity on this repeater has been hit and miss. Please report any activity.

19:00 Local
MA RACES HF Net 3930 KHz LSB moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency 18:45 Local
MA MEMA NBEMS Net Frequency:  3584.5 MHx, Center Frequency: 1500 Hz, Initial mode: THOR22 19:00 Local
Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph: 
 
*Winlink Net*
 
To participate:
 
– create a check-in form using the Winlink standard check-in form
 
– send via Winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. July 7th and before midnight EST July 8th
  (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to KC1VMZ with a copy to AB1PH.
 
 I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to
check into sector nets from near-by sectors. This will allow our Net
Control Operators to practice fielding nets with a strong check-in count and
will also serve to help practice with relays or modified sector assignments
in the event that a single repeater is out of service.
 
 For those operators who serve as Net Control Operators, please try to
remember to send me a list of the stations and communities that check into
your nets. The numbers are reported to MEMA to show them our level of
participation. I am continuing to work on a graphical map based report to
show which parts of our section have strong coverage and which areas may
need a more targeted recruitment campaign to improve our ability to provide
back-up communications in an emergency.
 
I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain
prepared as we close out the year for RACES/ARES operations. Thank you all for helping us keep things on track and prove that we remain a consistent source of communication capability to the Commonwealth. This net provides a monthly reminder to our communities and served agencies that we stand ready with a quiet professionalism prepared to serve as a voice to whomever needs one to get help and resources to where they need to be.
 
 If you know someone who would benefit from being on this list, please have them contact me at   <mailto:WC1MAB@gmail.comWC1MAB@gmail.com and I will add them to this distribution. Thank you all!
 
If anyone has any questions or comments I can be reached by e-mail or cell phone. Thanks for being a part of our team and I look forward to hearing back on who can participate this month.
 
Sincerely,
 
Michael Leger (N1YLQ)
MEMA Region #2 RACES Officer
C: 508_995_0203 

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday July 7th, 2025 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all…

The July Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday July 7th, 2025 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system.

For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. We will have several announcements for the net.

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
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Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 7/7/25 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

Don Rolph, AB1PH, Walpole area ARES Emergency Coordinator writes:

The MEMA RACES nets are held on the first Monday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, when it is delayed one week, For July 2025, the MEMA RACES nets will be held on Mon July 7 at:

********************************************************************************
80 meter Voice net
6:45 PM
Frequency: 3930 KHz working up until the first free frequency
Matt KC1PFA will be net control

*********************************************************************************
Region 2D VHF net:
7:30 PM ET VHF net on 146.865 MHz PL 103.5 (Sharon Repeater)
We will have a general call up of any RACES, ARES, or other interested stations. If there is time, we will have a simplex test.
Jeff N1JCM will be net control.

********************************************************************************
HF 80 meters NBEMS net:
7:00 PM ET
Dial Frequency: 3584.5 MHx
Center Frequency: 1500 Hz
Initial mode: THOR22

We will have checkins, followed by an ICS-213 format message using FLMSG.
Alan WA1AR will be net control

*********************************************************************************
Winlink Net:
John KC1VMZ will be net control.
Send a winlink checkin form to KC1VMZ , copy AB1PH, between 0600 Monday July 7 and 2400 Monday July 7..

We look forward to you checking in!

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Paul White Raod Race Communications Support

Falmouth ARA (FARA) volunteers supplied communications and medical support for the 46th Annual Paul White Road Race in North Falmouth. This is a new volunteer opportunity for FARA.

Held every July, the 4.81-mile race begins and ends on Chester Street between North Falmouth Library and Megansett Park (the site of the market owned by Paul White and his wife, Audrey, for many years). This race was created to commemorate local legend Paul White. The Race is the main fundraiser for the North Falmouth Village Association. The monies raised will be used to fund NFVA operating costs and four college scholarships for North Falmouth graduating seniors.

FARA members Mel-K1ELB, Barry-KB1TLR, Ralph-N1YHS, Jeremy-WA1JRC, Matt-KB1MLP, Tim-W1TCD, Chris-WA1CMR, Tegan-KC1VOS, Henry-K1WCC, Alden-K1IZB, Phil-KB1DOS, and Glen-KC1GKT volunteered to assist with the event. Mel and Alden worked with the Medical Team. Phil and Glen did double duty with both Communications and Medical.

 

The Acton Exchange: “Anyone out there? Ham radio operators participate in nationwide field day”

PART of Westford logoThe American Radio Relay League (ARRL) hosted its annual Field Day over the June 28-29 (2025) weekend at the Concord Rod and Gun Club on Strawberry Hill Road, within handheld radio broadcasting distance from the Acton town line. Around 40,000 amateur radio operators, also known as “hams,” participate each year over the fourth weekend of June in the most popular on-the-air event in North America. The event has been running since 1933, interrupted only by World War II, and the operators who set up at the Concord site are members of the PART (Police Amateur Radio Team) of Westford club. [Full story]

W1IS, KC1DSQ: “An All-Band 160-Meter OCF Antenna” in August 2025 QST

PART of Westford logoGeorge Allison, K1IG, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

Congratulations to the two Bobs: W1IS and KC1DSQ, for their article “An All-Band 160-Meter OCF Antenna,” published in the August 2025 issue of QST. This antenna design is the first-place winner in the 160 meter, LF or VLF category of the 2024 WST Antenna Design Competition, and this issue is now available for ARRL members on the ARRL website.

If you like this article (and if you’re an ARRL member), you can cast your vote for the QST cover plaque award, starting on August 1. Don’t worry, I’ll remind you.

73,
George, K1IG

Two Operating Events

From Tim, K1DC:

If you didn’t have enough fun last weekend during Field Day there are two events running this week to feed your addict… err.. radio hobby.

– 13 Colonies ( http://www.13colonies.us/ ). This event has been around awhile and is very popular! There are teams representing each of the 13 original colonies plus 3 ‘bonus’ stations. The goal is contact each of them at least once during the week long event. It is in progress now and runs through July 7 Midnight (Eastern time).

– World Wide Award ( https://hamaward.cloud/wwa/award ). This is a new event patterned after the month long event in Jan. It runs for 7 days\ (Jun 30-Jul 6). The goal is to contact as many of the activating stations (there are over 100 teams all over the world) on any band, any\ mode, every day! The scoring is done in real time so you can be sure you contact made it into the log. I believe this is the future of ham radio contesting.

I’ll be activating both events (Yeah, I’m a glutton) at various times over the week.

Falmouth ARA Field Day 2025

FARA’s Field Day (FD) began on Friday, 27 June. The setup group met at the club storage container, which holds the club’s FD materials. The group loaded up and transported the towers, beams, coils of coax cables, dipoles, tools, tables and related items to the FD location at the Morse Pond School.

Once at the FD location, the primary tasks were to setup the communications trailer and generators, assemble and test three beams, setup three towers with beams and dipole halyards, and run coaxial cable between the towers and the trailer. The goal was to have the towers ready to raise on Saturday. Setup went smoothly and was quickly done.

On Saturday morning, the SSB and CW stations were setup in the communications trailer. The towers were raised. The generators were started early to allow for testing. The GOTA station was setup under the fixed shelter to be more publicly accessible. A VHF station, primarily for use for Winlink message traffic, was also setup under the fixed shelter. In addition, a VHF/UHF station for satellite operation was setup when satellite passes were available.

Operations commenced at 1400 local time and continued until 1400 on Sunday, 29 June. The SSB station operators made 839 contacts and the CW station operators made 1,439 contacts. Contacts were made with all US ARRL sections and nine of the fourteen Canadian sections. Two DX contacts were made via CW.

The GOTA station had one youth operator who made eleven contacts. Messages were sent via Winlink to the EMA section manager and to ten local and state officials. Two satellite contacts were also made during FD.

FARA’s total contact points, which include a 2X multiplier for CW contacts and another 2X power multiplier for all contacts, are 7,434 points. We also qualified for bonus points totaling 1,625 points. FARA’s total claimed score is 9,059–a great score.

We had a nice cookout on Saturday with hot dogs, burgers, and sausages. A sausage, hash browns, and egg breakfast was served on Sunday morning for the overnight crew and anyone else that attended. Mike, KC1HKW, kept us all well fed and hydrated throughout the FD weekend.

Sunday afternoon, the teardown crew took everything down, packed it into vehicles and transported the equipment to the storage container. The container was loaded and locked by approximately 1600–a very quick and efficient disassembly operation!

A gallery of photo’s taken by Ralph, N1YHS and Larry, W1IZZ can be viewed at this link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rbASMK1z3iH2Eaxx8

Amateur Support Requested for Blackburn Challenge – July 19th, 2025

Eric, KA1NCF, writes on the NSRA Mailing list:

The Blackburn Challenge is coming up in just a few weeks, in Gloucester, MA and I need to find out how many hams I have that can help this year.
 
I have not found out yet how many boats they have that need ham radio communicators yet, but hope to know soon.  Then I can match operators with boaters, and support communications for the Backburn committee for the race.
 
Please let me know if you are available and would like to help on Saturday July 19th, the race starts around 7 am and runs until around 3 pm, although some boats are done earlier.
Eric can be contacted at ka1ncf@ka1ncf.org

W1MJ Fox at Nashoba Valley ARC Field Day, Pepperell, June 28-29, 2025

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on NEMassFoxHunters:
 
I will be deploying my fox this morning in the Heald Street Orchard in Pepperell, MA.  I hope to get it on the air by 10 AM, and leave it on until 2 PM on Sunday.  It will sleep from 9 PM to 7 AM.
 
The fox transmits once per minute on 147.540 MHz.  It outputs 4 watts to a roll-up J-pole.
 
If there is cell service at the orchard, I will send a brief follow up here to confirm deployment.
 
This fox hunt is a side activity of the Nashoba Valley ARC’s Field Day.  If you come to hunt, please stop by the FD site in the orchard to say hi.  You can even make a few contacts if you’d like.  If you are not an HF operator, visit the “Get on the Air” station, set up specifically for you.
 

Massachusetts – Rhode Island STM Report for May 2025

To all Field Day participants, best of luck for good weather, good propagation and good fun this weekend. And don’t forget those extra points for NTS radiograms sent from your FD site. 

The May STM report for Massachusetts and Rhode Island is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-rhode-island-stm-report-for-may-2025/. Great to see new ARRL Official Relay Station (ORS) appointments for N1HAN, KC1SJK, KC1VXV, AC1TR and W1VEG. who have taken the training and are handling radiogram messages quite professionally on the traffic nets. Also remember the annual Traffic Handlers Picnic in Concord MA on Sunday August 3. Come see the folks you talk to on the traffic nets and join the camaraderie.

Cape Ann ARA Field Day, 12 Noon-5 PM, June 28, 2025

Cape Ann ARA logoOn behalf of the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association (CAARA), I’m excited to announce our participation in the 2025 ARRL Field Day, a nationwide annual event that showcases the fascinating world of amateur radio. We invite the public to join us on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, from Noon to 5:00 p.m., at our clubhouse, located at 6 Stanwood Street in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

What is Field Day?

Field Day is more than just an event for ham radio operators; it’s an emergency preparedness exercise and a chance to highlight the vital role amateur radio plays in our communities, especially during times of crisis. When traditional communication systems fail, amateur radio operators, or “hams,” can provide crucial communication links.

During Field Day, CAARA members will operate our radio stations, attempting to make as many contacts as possible with other amateur radio stations across North America. This simulates operating under challenging conditions, honing our skills in effective communication.

Join Us!

We welcome everyone, from curious onlookers to aspiring hams, to visit our clubhouse on Saturday afternoon. You’ll have the opportunity to:

  • See amateur radio in action: Observe experienced operators making contacts around the country.
  • Learn about emergency communications: Understand how ham radio can be a lifeline when other systems are down.
  • Try your hand at transmitting: Under the guidance of a licensed operator, you can even get on the air and make a contact!
  • Discover the hobby: Learn about licensing, different modes of operation, and how to get involved in amateur radio.

ARRL Field Day is a fantastic opportunity to see firsthand the dedication and ingenuity of amateur radio operators. We look forward to sharing our passion with the community and demonstrating the value of this essential public service.

For more information about CAARA or the Field Day event, please visit our website at http://caara.net or contact us at info@caara.net.

Sincerely,

Brandon Hockle, NQ1W

President, Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association

Wellesley Amateur Radio Society Field Day, June 28-29. 2025

Wellesley ARS logoCourtesy Needham Patch:

Wellesley, MA – 6/20/2025 – The Wellesley Amateur Radio Society (WARS) will participate in the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day exercise on 28-29 June 2025, at the Needham Memorial Gazebo, 92 Rosemary St, Needham, MA 02492, demonstrating the critical role amateur radio plays in emergency communications and public service. The public are invited to visit our demonstration between 2-6 pm on Saturday and 9 am – 12 noon on Sunday to learn about amateur radio Field Day and the WARS club.

Field Day is amateur radio’s premier annual event, bringing together thousands of radio operators across North America to test their emergency preparedness and showcase their ability to communicate without relying on traditional infrastructure. During the 24-hour exercise, participants operate from temporary outdoor locations using emergency power sources to simulate real-world disaster conditions. Clubs compete with each other on Field Day, by earning points based on the number of contacts made and bonus points for emergency preparedness activities. The real value, however, lies in the training, fellowship, and public education that Field Day provides.

“Many members of WARS will be participating in Field Day by erecting antennas, connecting radios, and making contacts around the US” said Club President Charlie Bures. “The public is warmly invited to stop by and see amateur radio in operation. We’ll be most happy to demonstrate our operations and

answer any questions. We expect to have at least 3 stations operational in various modes, such as voice, Morse code, and the newer digital modes.”

Amateur radio operators, known as “hams,” are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and have a long history of providing emergency communications during disasters. Recent examples include support operations during Hurricane Ian, the Texas winter storm of 2021, and numerous wildfire evacuations across the western United States. Locally our club assisted in the Boston Marathon by providing communications infrastructure.

The WARS Club meets every third Tuesday of the month at Kingsbury Room of the Wellesley Police Station, 485 Washington St. (Rte 16), in Wellesley. For more information about amateur radio or the club’s activities, visit the WARS club website: https://ema.arrl.org/wellesley-amateur-radio-society/ or contact the Club President by email: c.bures@comcast.net

About Amateur Radio 

Amateur radio is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk to friends, conduct emergency communications, experiment with electronics, and even communicate with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Information about amateur radio is available from the American Radio Relay League at www.arrl.org.

About Wellesley Amateur Radio Society 

The WARS club is celebrating its 75th anniversary in the upcoming year, having served the local community and greater ham community. Currently the club has over 50 members and the Club’s radio callsign is W1TKZ.

https://ema.arrl.org/wellesley-amateur-radio-society/

https://www.arrl.org/field-day

https://ema.arrl.org/field_day/ClubDetail.php?club=WARS

https://maps.app.goo.gl/q99xCh5ygyahznMU7