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Radio Amateur’s “Tribute to a Century of Broadcasting” Video Debuts on YouTube

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From The ARRL Letter,  November 21, 2019: Art Donahue, W1AWX, of Franklin, Massachusetts, has posted his “Tribute to a Century of Broadcasting” video in recognition of the centennial of formal radio broadcasts. The video features a complete scan of the AM broadcast band (530 – 1700 kHz), with station IDs for all 118 AM radio channels. Donahue told ARRL he recorded these off the air using two long-wire antennas in the trees. Each slide highlights one station on each frequency with call sign, location, power, day/night/gray-line reception, distance, and year of first broadcast, accompanied by audio of an actual station identification. “If …

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Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday 12/7/19 at 1000 AM ET

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Good Morning Everyone, We hope you all had a pleasant Thanksgiving, are ready for the winter weather and holiday shopping. Net Control for the December 7th Net will be the South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group. The Net will commence at 10am utilizing the following repeaters in the order listed followed by the simplex frequency test on 147.42. After the simplex test we will return to the Plymouth Repeater for comments, announcements, and Net closing. Plymouth 146.685 tone 131.8 Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0 Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0 W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244 Simplex 147.42 no tone …

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Affiliated Clubs

Billerica ARS’ Outreach to New Hams

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Andy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes in the Billerica Amateur Radio Society December, 2019 newsletter: I would like you to think back to the time you first had interest in ham radio. Who got you involved? What did you see (equipment) or heard (QSOs) that fascinated you? How easy – or difficult – was it for you to get into this wonderful hobby? And then, what kept your interest and motivation to stick with it? Your Board has met several times to brainstorm how we can capture some of the people who are newly licensed. Anyone who gets a ham license and …

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Affiliated Clubs / Emergency Communications

WQ1O: “Emergency Go-Kits” at New England Sci-Tech ARS, December 17, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, will be the guest speaker at the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society’s weekly meeting, Tuesday, December 17 at 7 PM. According to the ARRL EMA section website, “Frank is the [District Emergency Coordinator] for the Cape Cod and the Islands area. This large and challenging area consists of Cape Cod, the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Island. Frank heads the CCARES organization and is the Hyannis Red Cross Communications Officer. Frank is an experienced veteran of field operations and NTS procedures. He frequently presents material about field operations at the ARES Workshops, including the ‘go-kit’ presentation.”  

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Affiliated Clubs

Whitman ARC Winterfest, January 18, 2020

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The Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold its Winterfest on January 18, 2020 from 9 AM until 1 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Route 18, in Whitman. A VE testing session will be conducted at the event. Admission is $5; tables cost $15. Raffle prizes will be drawn at noon. Talk-in will be provided on the Whitman ARC repeater: 147.225Mhz+ PL67. For vendor information, call: 781-523-5010 or visit http://www.wa1npo.org/WF/WinterfestFlyer2020.pdf.

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Emergency Communications / Public Information / Public Service

WX1BOX QRV for SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 7, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton Amateur Radio Station, WX1BOX, will once again be active for SKYWARN Recognition Day 2019. In addition, for the thirteenth straight year, the National Weather Service Gray, Maine Office will also be active under call-sign, WX1GYX. The Boston Amateur Radio Club will also be active as they have been over the past several years at the Blue Hill Observatory under call-sign WX1BHO from 9 AM-3 PM Saturday December 7th, 2019. This will be the 20th year of SKYWARN Recognition Day and its anticipated that 80-100 NWS Forecast Offices will be participating once again this year. …

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Affiliated Clubs

Area Clubs Celebrating Holiday Cheer

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

A number of Eastern Massachusetts clubs are holding holiday dinners and informal parties in lieu of their December meetings.  The Waltham Amateur Radio Association will hold a festive holiday dinner at Sichuan’s Garden in Waltham on December  18. The Middlesex ARC/Zola Center ARC will also converge on Sichuan’s Garden on December 10 for their annual holiday get-together. On December 7, Wellesley Amateur Radio Society will gather with members of the New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) for a holiday gathering. They plan to invite members of the Natick High Robotics Team, the Olin Collegiate Amateur Radio Club and the …

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Affiliated Clubs

BCRA General Meeting, Somerset, December 2, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

KB1NYT writes on the bcra-club list on December 1, 2019 at 8:12 PM:   Tomorrow night’s meeting is cancelled due to the weather.   The Bristol County Repeater Association and Fall River Amateur Radio Club will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, December 2, 2019 from 7 to 9 PM at the Stop and Shop, 816 Grand Army Highway, Somerset, MA in the Community Room (2nd floor). (Enter on the Fall River side near the Dunkin Donuts in the store. The stairs and elevator will be on the right. Go left on second floor.)

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Emergency Communications

SKYWARN Activations Receive ARES Support

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARES supported several SKYWARN activations over the last six weeks, reports Section Emergency Coordinator and ARES SKYWARN  Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. “The  biggest, a coastal storm event on October 16-17, 2019, resulted in widespread pockets of trees and wires down across the section. Hurricane force wind gusts were reported by Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters along portions of the south coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands and even the North Shore of Massachusetts,” Rob writes. Hundreds of damage photos were received by Amateur Radio operators and SKYWARN spotters. At the height of the storm, approximately 250,000 were without power in …

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Emergency Communications

Burlington Emergency Communications Meeting, October 30, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Amateurs and public safety officials met in Burlington on October 30, 2019 to discuss emergency communications and preparedness for the Town, according to Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. “We had a successful meeting and presentation [attended by] a lieutenant from the Burlington Police Department, the Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management, and the Director of Burlington’s Medical Reserve Corps along with several  hams,” said Macedo.  “The amateurs will work with the town officials to help establish strong contact with the local police, fire, and the Burlington Emergency Management Agency to assist with community events, hold exercises, and reach out to …

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Affiliated Clubs / Emergency Communications

KA8SCP: “Emergency Communications” at Billerica ARS, December 4, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Andy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes on w1hh.org: I am very happy to announce [the next December 4, 2019 Billerica Amateur Radio Society] meeting will showcase Terry Stader, KA8SCP, who will talk about Emergency Communications in Eastern Massachusetts. Many of you follow this topic and even volunteer for emergency comm drills. Past presentations about EmComm have been great attractions and I hope the turnout for Terry’s talk will gather a crowd. Terry is the MEMA Region 1 RACES Officer, as well as an EMA ARES District Emergency Coordinator for Region 1 RACES. Does that sound like alphabet soup to you? Then come …

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NTS

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2019

- by kw1u - Leave a Comment

Below is the combined October STM traffic report for Eastern and Western Massachusetts.  A special thanks to all net managers for a fine job of keeping the nets running smoothly, as well as all those who help relaying and delivering the messages.  A special thanks to Bob KC1KVY who handled his first messages this past month and has continued to do a very commendable job. We are always happy to see the many other participants who are most welcome to join us at any time.  We would of course like to see more jump in and take advantage of the …

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Governmental

IMPACT ON AMATEUR RADIO FROM DISTRACTED DRIVING BILL

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Tom Walsh, K1TW, writes on the ARRL Members Only mailing list on November 21, 2019 at 7:09 PM: The outpouring of concern statewide from the Amateur Radio Community regarding the impact of the Distracted Driving Law has gotten the attention of our Legislators on Beacon Hill in Boston.  Ray, KB1LRL, and Tom, K1TW,  wish to thank all the ARRL members in both Western and Eastern Massachusetts who communicated our concerns so effectively as a community to the Senators and Representatives and staff across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This afternoon Tom Walsh, K1TW, Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager …

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Affiliated Clubs / Youth

Local Clubs Assist Olin College Amateur Radio Club Members with Antenna Project

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From the New England Sci-Tech Facebook page: Members of Olin College‘s new amateur radio club visited New England Sci-Tech on Tuesday night, joining members of the Framingham Amateur Radio Association, Wellesley Amateur Radio Society and host group, Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS), in a casual meet and greet. STARS members Nolan Palmer, KC1IEO, and Mindy Hull, KM1NDY, assisted the Olin students in testing their antennas out in the parking lot. We look forward to collaborating with all these fine clubs!

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Affiliated Clubs / Governmental

KB1QND: “Hands-free Driving Law” at Falmouth ARA, November 23, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Henry Brown, K1WCC, writes on the Falmouth ARA Facebook page: Our local State Rep. Dave Vieira, KB1QND, will be present at Saturday’s [November 23, 2019 Falmouth Amateur Radio Association] meeting to explain the new hands-free driving law about to be signed by Gov. Baker. It’s important that we understand this law as it’s currently written. [See also: MA Distracted Driving Bill, Call to Action]

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Governmental

Lawmakers approve ban on drivers using hand-held cellphones

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From WCVB: BOSTON–Massachusetts drivers would no longer be able to use hand-held cellphones behind the wheel under a bill approved by state lawmakers. The Senate voted 38-1 in favor of the bill Wednesday. The House approved it on a 153-1 vote Tuesday. The legislation now heads to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker for his signature. Baker has expressed support for a ban on drivers using hand-held cellphones and filed a bill earlier this year that included similar language. Baker’s press secretary said Wednesday that the governor will carefully review the legislation. Hands-free cellphones would still be allowed. Massachusetts already bans texting …

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Affiliated Clubs

QSL Sorting at Nashoba Valley ARC, November 21, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Bruce Bain, K1BG, writes: The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s November meeting will be […] Thursday, November 21st, at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center in Pepperell. This month program will feature our annual “QSL sort” for the W1 QSL bureau. It’s personally my favorite meeting of the year. Grab some of your cards early, converse with other local hams, have some refreshments, and of course, sort a few cards! If you haven’t done this before and it sounds like a lot of work, you’ll find that this is actually the club’s most rewarding event. Pizza and soda follow when the …

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