QRV For New England QSO Party?

New England QRP PartyTom Frenaye, K1KI writes on YCCC@yccc.org:

“I think we’re finally ready for the New England QSO Party this weekend – May 1-2.

Some people call the CQWW or ARRL DX Contest the New England QSO Party, since W1 stations often do quite well. You’ll find the real NEQP at least as much fun since everyone will be calling you if you live in one of the NE states! Many people start out their contesting career in state QSO Parties – so please get on for a few hours!

There are certificates for those making at least 25 QSOs, and we’ve had a lot of support from the YCCC, and other clubs and individuals so there are 27 plaques to be awarded.

The NEQP is a low pressure, fun operating event that starts at 20z on Saturday until 24z Sunday, with a break from 05z-13z. Most of the activity will be on 20 and 40 meters, but you’ll also find people to work on 80, 15 and even 10m if the sun cooperates. The full rules are below, or go to the web site at http://www.neqp.org/ for more information.

Thanks! Tom/K1KI and Bob/W1RH
New England QSO Party Rules

Object: To contact as many New England stations in as many New England counties as possible on 80-40-20-15-10m. (New England stations work anyone)

Date: First full weekend of May (May 1-2,2004 and May 7-8, 2005).

Contest Period: 2000Z Saturday until 0500Z Sunday (4pm ET Saturday until 1am ET Sunday) and 1300Z Sunday until 2400Z Sunday (9am ET Sunday until 8pm ET Sunday).

Categories: Single operator high power, low power and QRP categories, plus multioperator, single transmitter. Same four categories for mobiles. Single operator stations using assistance during the contest (packet or Internet spotting nets, etc.) will compete in the multisingle category.

Contest Exchange: Send signal report and state/province (DX stations send signal report and “DX”). New England stations send signal report, county and state.

Valid Contact: Work New England stations once per band/mode. New England stations work anyone(and must copy the county for New England stations worked). CW contacts must not be made in the phone band segments. Mobiles can be worked again in new counties. County line QSOs should be logged as two separate QSOs. Crossmode, crossband and repeater QSOs are not permitted.

QSO Points: Count one point per phone QSO, two points per CW (includes digital modes)QSO.

Multiplier: Stations outside of New England use counties as multipliers for a total of 67 CT/8 MA/14 ME/16 NH/10 RI/5 VT/14). New England stations use states(50), Canadian provinces(14) and DXCC countries as multipliers.

Scoring: Total score is QSO points times the multiplier. Mobiles count QSO points per county and multipliers from all counties (counted once).

Suggested frequencies: CW – 3540 7040 14040 21040 28040, Novice/Tech – 3705 7130 21130 28130, SSB – 3880 7280 14280 21380 28380

Reporting: Logs should indicate times in UTC, bands, modes, calls and complete exchange. Multipliers should be clearly marked in the log. New England stations put your club’s name on the summary sheet. Entries must be submitted within 30 days and sent to NEQP, P O Box 3005, Framingham MA 01705-3005 or via e-mail to logs@neqp.org (Cabrillo format preferred). Send a large SASE for a printed copy of the results.

Awards: Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers (25 QSO minimum) in each New England county, U S state, Canadian province and DXCC country. At least twenty plaques will also be awarded to top scorers, and some special awards are available to non-New England stations (check the web site for the current list).

More information: The New England QSO Party web site is at http://www.neqp.org. Check there for information on planned fixed station and mobile activity from New England counties, contest software information, county abbreviations, plaques to be awarded, and information on New England state county awards. NEQP results will be posted on the web site when they are complete. Questions can be addressed to info@neqp.org.

ARES/NTS Cooperative Meeting 4/24

[From the EMa ARRL Website, K9HI Webmaster]

New EMA ARES ARRL members active in the ARES and NTS programs in Eastern Massachusetts met Saturday, April 24 in Bridgewater to achieve greater cooperation between their respective programs. Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI called for the workshop in light of recent reports and recommendations by the League’s Volunteer Resources Committee, and the ad-hoc ARES Committee.

KD1CY at ARES-NTS Meeting “It was a great day where much was accomplished,” concluded Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. Macedo coordinated and chaired the workshop.

“I’m very pleased with the progress we made this past weekend,” commented K9HI. “Folks from the NTS voice nets, digital nets and ARES leadership sat down and discussed their mutual needs and problems. There was no animosity between the different camps. I want to especially thank Carl, N1FY and members of the Massasoit Amateur Radio Association for hosting the meeting at the Bridgewater EOC,” Temples added.

Minutes from the ARES-NTS Seminar have been posted on the EMA ARES web site, [please press ARES-NTS button to the left]. Photos are also posted at this site under “Photo Gallery”. Additionally, K9HI has created a mailing list called “ares-nts-coop” to provide for follow up discussion to the points of interest.

[KD1CY Photo courtesy of K9HI]

Framingham ARA Participation in the 2004 Boston Marathon

Framingham ARA logoFramingham ARA wrote the following press release for use by the media:

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association (FARA) provided volunteer communications for the 2004 Boston Marathon, continuing an annual tradition in ensuring help is available to runners who need assistance.

FARA operators kept in direct contact with the Red Cross and ambulance service (AMR) in order to respond to emergencies that were called into FARA net controllers all along the 26-mile course. These services were especially important this year because of the unusual April heat, as many more runners than usual needed assistance. As a result of FARA’s three-day all-out effort of setting up antenna arrays and banks of equipment to complete the task, FARA received an excellent report of a job well done.

The marathon is one of many events for which FARA operators volunteer their services. The club also provided communications for the 2004 March of Dimes walk in Framingham. FARA ham operators kept a close eye for any trouble spots and had check points along the way for water and restroom breaks, as well as a “sweep” ham following the walkers to make sure all was going well along the route.

And, FARA will again have a communications crew ready for the Flag Day parade in Framingham, supplying time and personally owned equipment, as members have done for many years.

Amateur radio operators “have the skills and the frequencies necessary to create expedient emergency communication networks under very poor conditions,” notes the American Radio Relay League, the U.S. national ham radio association. “They are licensed by the FCC and are pre-authorized for national and international radio communications. Hams have the ability and training to rapidly enlarge their communications capacity to meet growing needs in an emergency, something commercial and public safety systems cannot do.”

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association has more than 200 members, many of whom are equipped with portable hand-held radios that can be quickly pressed into service in the event of a local emergency that disrupts commercial communications services. These radio amateurs are skilled, resourceful, non-paid volunteers ready to serve their community when needed.

You can learn more about FARA at http://www.fara.org.

ARES, NTS Move Toward Greater Cooperation in EMA

EMA NTS logoEMA ARES logoARRL members active in the ARES and NTS programs in Eastern Massachusetts met Saturday, April 24 in Bridgewater to achieve greater cooperation between their respective programs. Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI called for the workshop in light of recent reports and recommendations by the League’s Volunteer Resources Committee, and the ad-hoc ARES Committee.

“It was a great day where much was accomplished,” concluded Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. Macedo coordinated and chaired the workshop.

“I’m very pleased with the progress we made this past weekend,” commented K9HI. “Folks from the NTS voice nets, digital nets and ARES leadership sat down and discussed their mutual needs and problems. There was no animosity between the different camps. I want to especially thank Carl, N1FY and members of the Massasoit Amateur Radio Association for hosting the meeting at the Bridgewater EOC,” Temples added.

Seminar group photoMinutes from the ARES-NTS Seminar have been posted. Photos are also posted at this site under “Photo Gallery” below. Additionally, K9HI has created a mailing list called “ares-nts-coop” to provide for follow up discussion to the points of interest.

USS Salem Scouting Help Requested, 5/1/04

JC Cunningham, W1AI writes:

Disappointed that we had to cancel last week because of a lack of volunteers? We need your help this week to make the USS Salem scouting / amateur radio program successful.

We are expecting a big group of 182 scouts.

This could be a tough week to get volunteers because of Hosstraders, but before the excuses start flowing in, I’d like to remind everyone that Hosstraders is essentially over by noon on Saturday. Yahoo Maps says it’s less than 2 hours from Hosstraders to the USS Salem. You can do both!

If I can get 5-6 volunteers, we will run the Intro to Amateur Radio presentations and the HF & VHF/IRLP Demos concurrently in different parts of the ship. All activities are from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday (5/01/04). (All volunteers should be prepared to arrive no later than 2:45 to assist with setup.)

I’m hoping for a gregarious mix of seasoned and new volunteers. Previous experience is not required; our versatile volunteers can train on the fly. Please email me ASAP at W1AI@hamtestonline.com if you will be there! (I have to let the ship know by Friday morning whether we can accommodate!)

Thanks,

JC Cunningham, W1AI

USS Salem K1USN Radio Club Scouting Program Volunteer Coordinator

http://www.hamtestonline.com

Nashoba Valley ARC Net Begins Operation

Nashoba Valley ARC logoThe Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club has begun a regular weekly club net. The initial session on Monday, April 5 drew check-ins from W1ZBT, KD1LE, K1KEY, KD1SM, and W1XP.

The net was called on the 147.345 repeater; it subsequently moved to the 442.900 repeater. After several rounds of comments, the net was then moved to 146.490 simplex so that everyone might become more familiar with the coverage of the repeaters, and to test communications on simplex should the repeaters be unavailable.

NVARC members say they are still in the “experimental stage.” They invite club members to contribute suggestions about the net’s operation. Suggestions include: an assigned NCS each Monday of the month; and, allowing the net controls to determine the “theme” and whether the net is “directed.” —Nashoba Valley ARC Signal, April 2004

New England Flea Markets April 19, 2004

New England Area   Ham - Electronic  Flea Market  ***  DATES  *** 2004 P 1 of 2
All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except ~_____~
*******************************************************************************
2004 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
24-25 April Waltham MA Photographica @HS ~photo~ Ed Shaw 617 965 0807

25 April Southington CT SARA @HS $5@9 $18@6:30 Alex KB7HCO 860 214 3013 F

30 Ap, 1 May Hopkinton NH HossTraders @FG x7 I89 Joe K1RQG 207 469 3492

10 May Whately MA FCARC Monday PM Bill N1EWK 413 774 4669 A+

15 May Goshen CT SBARC @FG $3@8 $10/T@6 Lee K1LEE 860 435 0051 +

15 May N Kingstown RI FARC Dave WV1H 401 723 4051 A+

16 May Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
Third Sunday April thru October

22 May Rensselaer NY EGARA 8A @FD Park Free $10/T Chris N2NEH 518 477 6915 W+

23 May Massapequa NY GSBARC $6@8 $10/S@7 Walter KA2RGI 631 957 0218 W+

29 May Vernon CT NARC @AgCtr I84x67 $4@9 $15/T Wayne N1GUS 860 487 1921 F+

29 May St John NB LCARC @RecCtr $3@8 +$2/T Kal White 506 847 3744 R+

30 May Sorel Tracy PQ CRAST @CurlingClb $5@9 Denis VE2DSH 450 746 0814 R+

4-6 June Rochester NY Atlantic Div Conv Harold K2HC 585 424 7184 A

4 June Feeding Hills MA HCRA @CongCh $5/T@6:30PM Dave KB1MU 413 596 6605 +

5 June Windsor CT VintgeR Museum @33MechanicsSt $10/S@6AM John 860 673 0518

5 June Hermon ME PSARC Roger KA1TKS 207 848 3846 A+

6 June Queens NY HoSARC $5@9 $10/S@7:30 Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599 W+

12-13 June Newington Ct NARL Dan K3UFG 860 206 3379 A+

13 June Bethpage NY LIMARC Brian WB2YMC 631 286 7562 A

20 June Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F

10 July Union ME PBARC Scott KB1DSW 207 354 6809 A+

10 July Charlottetown PEI SARC @FlyClb $3@10 $5/T@8 Bill VY2FF R+

17 July Nashua NH NE Antique RC $15/T@7 $2@9 @StStan's Marty 603 938 5051 F
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAST UPDATE 4-19-04 de W1GSL http://www.swapfest.us P 1 of 2
*******************************************************************************
Additions/ Corrections via e-Mail w1gsl@mit.edu ***
Page 3 Electronic distribution only. This page has the overflow if any P3
from the paper version.
*******************************************************************************
2005 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22 Jan Nashua NH NE Antique RC $15/T@7 $2@9 @StStan's Marty 603 938 5051 F+

2,3 April Timonium MD GBARC @FG 6AM 800 HAM FEST F

23 Ap Nashua NH NE Antique RC $15/T@7 $2@9 @StStan's Marty 603 938 5051 F+
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAST UPDATE 4-19-04 de W1GSL P 3
List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version
Additions/ Corrections via Internet w1gsl@mit.edu
US Mail W1GSL POB 397082 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139
(c)2004 W1GSL http://www.swapfwst.us SASE for updated copy as issued.
unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety
*******************************************************************************

This list has been posted... as a service of the individual home page
owners, to the following WWW sites.

http://flealist.senie.com/
http://mit.edu/w1gsl/Public/ne-fleas
http://www.k1ttt.net/flea.html
http://www.connix.com/~wz1v/ne-fleas.html
http://www.k1dwu.net/flealist.html
http://www.mmra.org/~mmra/flealist.htm
http://www.qsl.net/vhfnews/ne-fleas.html
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~newsvhf/ne-fleas.html

List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version

Be sure to check for the latest version as updating is under the control
of the page owner.

* You can have the list e-mailed directly to you as it is updated. *
* Just send a request to be added to the distribution to w1gsl@mit.edu *

73 Steve F
W1GSL

***********************************************************************
New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** P4
Links to New England Hamfest Web Sites (c) 2004 W1GSL
***********************************************************************
This section is only included in the electronic distribution.

Cambridge MA Flea at MIT http://www.swapfest.us +

Hopkinton NH Hosstraders http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg/

Amherst MA Mt. Tom ARC http://www.mtara.org/hamfest/flea.html

Adams MA N BerkshireARC http://www.nobarc.org/hamfest

Boxborough MA NE ARRL Conv http://www.boxboro.org/

Framingham MA FARA http://www.fara.org/

Newton MA Waltham ARA Auction http://www.wara64.org/auction/

S Dartmouth MA SEMARA http://www.semara.org/flea/fleamkt.htm +

Whately MA FranklinCARC http://www.fcarc.org/flea.html

Enfield CT VHF/UHF Conf http://www.newsvhf.com +

Southington CT SARA http://www.chetbacon.com/sara.htm

Wallingford CT Nutmeg CT Conv http://www.qsl.net/nutmeghamfest/

Lewiston ME AARC http://www.dlois.com/mainearrl/convent.htm

Portland ME PAWA http://www.qsl.net/pawa/fleamarket.html +

Henniker NH CVRC http://www.qsl.net/k1bke/ +

Bergen NJ BARA http://www.bara.org/

Lake Placid NY NNY ARA http://www.geocities.com/nnyara/

Lindenhurst NY ToB ARES http://www.tobares.org/hamfest.html

Long Island NY LIMARC http://www.limarc.org/fest.htm

Massapequa NY GSB ARA http://www.gsbarc.org/

Queens NY Hall of Science http://www.qsl.net/hosarc/hamfest.html

Rensselaer NY E Greenbush ARA http://www.com-tech.org/EGARA.html +

Rochester NY AWA http://www.antiquewireless.org/

Greenwich RI Fidelity ARC http://users.ids.net/~newsm/dates.html

Essex Junction VT Burlington ARC http://www.vtstetson.net/fest02.pdf

Milton VT RANV VT Conv http://www.ranv.org/milton.html

Montreal PQ MARC http://www.marc.qc.ca/fest/fest.html +

Montreal PQ WIARC http://www.pubnix.net/wiarc/hamfest.htm

Montreal PQ MS-SARC http://www.ve2clm.ca/hamfesta.htm

Sorel-Tracy PQ CRAS-T http://www.hamfest.qc.ca/

St Therese PQ CRALL http://www.ve2crl.qc.ca/hamfest2002.htm

Canada RAC List http://rac.eton.ca/data/racfleas.taf?function=form

Phila. Area VARA List http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/hamfest.html +

USA ARRL List http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html

ARES-NTS Forum, April 24, 2004

There were 12 attendees at the seminar and they were as follows:

KB1EKN-Mark Duff Metro Boston ARES District Emergency Coordinator
WQ1O-Frank Olaughlin Cape Cod ARES District Emergency Coordinator
N1XTB-Philip McNamara Bridgewater ARES Team Member
K9HI-Phil Temples Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section Manager
WA1IDA-Bob Salow Eastern Massachusetts Assistant Section Manager
N1LKJ-Jim Ward Eastern Massachusetts Section NTS Traffic Manager
N1BDA-Steve Telsey Middlesex County ARES District Emergency Coordinator
KW1U-Marcia Forde NTS EAS Chairperson
W1GMF-Gil Follett NTS Traffic Handler
W3EVE-Steve Schwarm Norfolk County ARES District Emergency Coordinator
N1FY-Carl Aveni Bridgewater ARES Emergency Coordinator
KD1CY-Rob Macedo ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton

The first topic of the meeting was an ARES Program Overview. During the program overview, introductions were made and each person was asked about what they would like to get out of the meeting. The overview described how the ARES program has progressed over the last several years and how ARES has expanded relationships with different served agencies. It also talked about existing working relationships with MEMA and the National Weather Service. The presentation was well received and some suggestions on enhancements for the NWS Taunton station and for an additional project involving receiving AM Radio Stations was discussed and will be reviewed with NWS.

Following the ARES Overview, numerous items were discussed. Gil Follett-W1GMF requested what Clients/Served Agencies might need NTSD (National Traffic System Digital) or Packet support. This included the following agencies:

  1. Red Cross
  2.  Salvation Army
  3. National Weather Service
  4. Cities/Towns ARES/RACES operations
  5. VOAD non-profit (Southern Baptist, Adventists, REACT and other smaller groups) (Mass. VOAD currently defunct due to internal issues.)
  6. MARS-Is there some way to try and plug into their digital system

It was noted in these discussions that any agency could need support in an emergency but the various agencies listed above would be some of the main agencies to service for potential ARES activations. Several additional ideas were also noted:

Instruct all NTS traffic that is going to a different ARES team either within district but especially outside of the district to pass their traffic via an active NTS traffic net using voice for all future ARES exercises.

  • Utilize Packet more heavily across all parts of the Eastern Massachusetts section during exercises and actual activations.
  • Add Health and Welfare traffic as part of the exercise and utilize active NTS voice traffic nets as well as Packet to pass this traffic.
  • Add NTS Net and Net Control Operations to the Advanced Emergency Communications Workshop as follow-on to the Basic NTS Course offering in the Basic Emergency Communications Workshop.
  • Assist NTS with utilization of a Laptop and LCD Projector capable of putting together Power Point slides to assist with getting more people involved with NTS.
  • NTS Traffic Overview

Jim Ward-N1LKJ gave an overview of the voice and CW network. He explained what nets are run at run times and how the local nets interface with the region and area nets.
All these nets are available and need to be utilized further.

Gil Follett-W1GMF gave an overview of the digital system of NTS traffic. He put up a diagram using post it signs on the whiteboard to describe the Packet network. Learned that KW1U-Marcia is a Winlink PMBO node that can be utilized as part of the NTSD network. MMRA is attempting to put this together and we need to refer MMRA to Marcia for technical/logistical support.

Gil then walked through how to format a NTS message via Packet. With Digital, messages can be handled at any length within Gil’s system. Outside of Gil’s system, you have to follow normal NTS traffic rules. Keep in mind, that you can send regular messages at any length in and/or out of the Mass. system.

Gil-W1GMF discussed the NTS program. He discouraged the use of WinRC Packet because it’s only compatible with systems in Colorado. Gil discussed the NTS system being developed by KA1VGM and Beta tested by Gil. The system has most if not all of the bugs worked out. The system should be compatible with any BBS system and include the Winlink systems. The program should now be up on the KA1VGM web site. It is meant for anyone writing NTS traffic. It has several views for NWS messages, NTS traffic and other types of messages and will be passed to the various stations on the Packet network.

Several suggestions have come out of discussion:

1.) Have Jim-N1LKJ and Gil-W1GMF involved in ARES Meetings/exercise discussions. (Add them to all ARES Meeting invitations)
2.) For regular NTS nets, get listeners and anyone else to check into the net and encourage them to get out there and check-in and try to slow down on traffic for new people that are interested. Make sure that NTS people slow down to pass traffic to newcomers.
3.) Need to encourage Amateurs to utilize NTS traffic messaging via the Packet/Digital network even if its for routine traffic as its good practice for activations.
4.) Ask Jim to contact the local Net Managers, one night a month or one night a week to conduct a very basic training net to pass traffic. Jim to put together the scenario to run the basic NTS training across all the traffic nets.
5.) Jim asked that all ARES/RACES personnel encourage their members to check into the NTS Traffic Nets and generate and pick up traffic whenever possible and check into the local, and region traffic nets.
6.) Make sure NTS personnel are invited to the MRAS Meetings.
7.) Put together an all day NTS workshop that would encompass the existing slide sets from the basic and advanced Emergency Communication Workshops and include running a NTS Traffic Net on simplex or a repeater with everyone checking in using HT’s.
8.) Recommend NTS utilize Echolink/IRLP capabilities for in addition to their Region and Area nets and be part of the NTS national infrastructure.
9.) Supplying creative NTS traffic throughout the network via voice or digital nets. Use the key NTS traffic handlers to get this accomplished.
10.) Look into a formal DEC appointment for NTS.

After lunch, continued brainstorming continued and the first part of the afternoon focused on the ARESCOM proposals and the NTSD system. Marcia discussed the NTSD (National Traffic System Digital) System in reasonable detail. Marcia is able to get bulk traffic (2500 messages plus per month) sent across the national digital network using her WinLink node.

Marcia knows several members that are on the ARESCOM, which is a committee setup by Board of Directors concerning nationwide emergency communications and how to improve it. There are two NTS people are on this committee. ARESCOM is working closely with the Winlink Classic and the Winlink 2000 programs. The Winlink Classic program allows single user text messages using conventional forms of Packet. Winlink 2000 is an enhancement to Winlink Classic that would allow traffic from ARES clients including attachments, email and more. The protocol being utilized is called B2, which can handle attachments and has much higher compression rates and makes the message relatively secure.

The idea is to improve ARES capability to expand beyond the local area and to handle anything the client wants to send out. They want a flat “invisible” network with traffic coming in and out of Internet/Digital without knowing where the source is. The National Connection is through the Internet backed up with HF. It was noted that Doc-W1EO might be an excellent resource in the NTSD discussions going forward. The goal is to have regular messages and email with or without attachments to be able to be accepted through the NTSD system utilizing PMBO’s (Participating Mail Box Operators) when needed with the Winlink Classic program via Internet backbone or HF backbone whenever needed.

The EMCON proposal was proposed by W3YVQ-Jim from the Baltimore, Maryland area. Marcia stated that in direct discussions with Jim, they do not consider what they are proposing to be an ARES-NTS merger although at times the document comes across like it should be an ARES-NTS merger. Marcia stated that there is a Message and Procedure Guide on the League web site concerning Winlink and the EMCON proposal and you can click on topics of interest to gather information.

Marcia-KW1U highlighted the following items from the proposal documentation and in direct discussions with W3YVQ-Jim, which is one of the NTSD/EMCON proposal writers:

  • STM and SEC as separate organizations doing what they are doing.
  • ARES will work with the agencies and that’s their primary responsibility.
  • NTS responsible for the message handling network and meet certain criteria.
  • SEC and STM should work together to establish the Emergency Communications Plan for the section.

Based on this discussion, the ARES-NTS Workshop participants drew the following conclusions:

  • The ARESCOM Report/Proposal is very misunderstood by ARES and NTS leadership on what the changes would mean for ARES and NTS.
  • The report needs to be streamlined, reorganized and reworded and should separate the ARES-NTS network alignment from the Winlink-Digital system technical documentation.
  • Volunteer Resource Committee had very negative feedback on NTS. ARESCOM is far less negative on NTS. ARRL Board of Directors needs to decide what committee’s report is more relevant. Based on the fact that ARESCOM does not recommend NTS merge with a ARES, we recommend that ARESCOM apply pressure to the ARRL Board of Directors on preventing any merger of ARES and NTS.
  • Recommend Board of Directors to clear-up miscommunication of ARES-NTS network realignment/further cooperation. State to all SMs that NTS IS a requirement and having a STM IS a requirement that must be upheld.
  • Recommend that the Part 97 rule changes that would dissolve RACES be dropped. While this may happen at some point in the future by attrition, the ARRL should not advocate it as it could promote ill will from RACES groups that already feel threatened by ARES.
  • After the NTSD/ARESCOM discussion, the participants discussed Gil’s recent issues with passing traffic to certain states that are blocking it as “SPAM” traffic. Phil-K9HI plans to confront some of the ARRL Section Managers that are allowing this behavior at the
  • Dayton Hamfest in late May. Phil has recommended that all who attended the meeting be prepared to write complaints to Tom-K1KI, New England Division Director if necessary, to try and resolve these NTS problems as ARRL HQ and the Board have not responded on the issues that Gil is having. Phil also recommended to Marcia that ARESCOM apply pressure to the ARRL Board of Directors and HQ on this issue as well. Phil-K9HI plans on providing status reports on this issue.

Additional discussions surrounded increasing NTS participation. A suggestion was made to take a NTS net, record it and put it on the NTS web site and the ARES web site as well. There should be recordings of one voice net and one CW Net. After putting these recordings, commentary to explain the various portions of the NTS Net, voice or CW could be done as well. Jim and Gil will attempt to put together the recording via .wav or other audio type file that can be put on the web-site, put in workshops and bring to club meetings etc. Gil-W1GMF, Phil-N1XTB and Phil-K9HI will check with Elliot Mayer-W1MJ as he may be an expert in utilizing audio files and could help with breaking up the audio files to allow commentary to be put into the audio files to help describe what various items that happen in the net are so that Hams can learn about NTS Nets quicker.

The next item discussed was a recommendation on a potential name change from ARES to a more generic “Emergency Communicator, Emergency Communications team” type of name. The recommendation was taken under advisement for a future meeting.

Phil-N1XTB brought up a generic point about technical considerations of what MARS is running into for their digital system and how NTS may run into some of the same issues. Some corroboration between MARS and NTS in this area maybe very helpful for both Digital networks to work well and potentially have a path to connect to each other if needed.

The next meeting will be scheduled in the late Summer/Fall of 2004 to review actions generated from this meeting and assure that the plan for expanding the cooperation of ARES and NTS goes to the plans laid out during the meeting. The next meeting will also assure that the recommendations to the ARRL Board of Directors and HQ on ARES and NTS are heard and taken into account on the future of ARES and NTS going forward.

Scouting Activities at K1USN Continue!

K1USN QSL cardW1AI writes:

“We had a great time on Saturday, with 5 top-notch volunteers and 205 eager scouts. Thanks to all who participated!

We are expecting 93 scouts this coming Saturday. If I can get 4-6 volunteers, we will run the Intro to Amateur Radio presentations and the HF & VHF/IRLP Demos concurrently in two different parts of the ship. All activities are from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday (4/24/04). (All volunteers should be prepared to arrive no later than 2:45 to assist with setup.)

I’m hoping for a gregarious mix of seasoned and new volunteers. Previous experience is not required; our versatile volunteers can train on the fly.

Please email me ASAP at W1AI@hamtestonline.com if you will be there! (I have to let the ship know by Friday morning whether we can accommodate!)

Thanks,

JC Cunningham, W1AI
USS Salem K1USN Radio Club Scouting Program Volunteer Coordinator
www.hamtestonline.com

RED FLAG WARNING (expired)

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1248 PM EDT MON APR 19 2004

…RED FLAG WARNING THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE…
NORTHERN CONNECTICUT…NORTHERN AND WESTERN RHODE ISLAND AND MOST OF
MASSACHUSETTS…

IN MASSACHUSETTS…THE RED FLAG WARNING COVERS ALL LOCATIONS
EXCEPT BERKSHIRE COUNTY…THE BUZZARDS BAY COAST…AND CAPE COD AND
THE ISLANDS.

VERY WARM TEMPERATURES…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND SOUTHWEST WINDS
OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 35 MPH EXPOSED AREAS WILL
CREATE RED FLAG WARNING CRITERIA THIS AFTERNOON. RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL DROP TO BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PERCENT BETWEEN 2 AND 5
PM.

WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH AFTER 8 PM. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL
RECOVER GRADUALLY TO ABOVE 70 PERCENT OVERNIGHT.

PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION TO ALL FIELD CREWS.

$$

THOMPSON

Very Warm for Patriots Day/Marathon

SKYWARN Logo UPDATE!

MONDAY-PATRIOTS DAY IN MASSACHUSETTS AND HOME TO THE 108TH RUNNING
OF THE BOSTON MARATHON WHERE 20000 ENTRANTS AND OVER HALF A MILLION
SPECTATORS LINE THE 26 MI ROUTE IN A MIDDAY START THAT WILL BE ONE OF
THE WARMEST EVER BOSTON MARATHONS ON RECORD. A PUBLIC SPS IS POSTED.
HWO PROVIDES MORE SAFELY RELATED CONSIDERATIONS AND COMPARISON INFO
WITH TWO RACES LAST YEAR AND 1976.

ETA CONTS TO SIGNAL BRILLIANT SUNSHINE AFTER ANY EARLY MORNING ST/FOG
EVAPS WHICH ESSENTIALLY BE 12Z-18Z. TEMPS WILL SOAR ALMOST 40F IN 7-
8 HRS (WE HAD NUMEROUS 40-45F DIURNALS YESTERDAY) AND AS YOU MAY HAVE
NOTICED YDY…DESPITE ALL THE RAIN OF APRIL IN SNE…EVAPORATION DID
NOT SEEM TO HOLD BACK THE MERCURY FROM RISING ABOVE MOS GUIDANCE
WHICH IS ALREADY TEMPERED BY CLIMATOLOGY. SO AGAIN WE ARE RAISING MOS
TEMPS…THO THE ETA MOS IS RUNNING 1-2F WARMER THAN OUR FCST!

HIGH TEMPS MONDAY AFTN WILL OCCUR AROUND 20Z-4PM WITH NUMBERS AT 21Z
(5PM) STILL IN THE LOWER 80S AT BDL/BOS. THE FCST WILL RAISE THE 18Z
MESOETA SFC TEMP FCST BY 3-4F ON NEARLY IDEAL BL WLY FLOW IDEAL IS
WNW BUT MIXING MAY FIND TAIL WINDS TRENDING FROM SW IN THE 12Z-16Z
TEIM FRAME TO MORE DIRECT WLY AT 20Z DURING MAX HEATING WHEN MIDDAY
GUSTS TO 25 KTS RISE TO BTWN 30-35KTS ARD 20Z (BUFKIT). DESPITE THE
APRIL RAIN FWX AND WIND ADVY MAY BECOME ISSUES MONDAY AFTERNOON.

CI WILL THICKEN AFTER 18Z LIMITING THE POTENTIAL OF THE +16C 850
TEMP BUT STILL SEE MAX TEMPS OF 83-88F WITH BOS/BDL COMING IN AT 85-
86. FOR BOS THIS WILL BE WITHIN 2F OF THE RECORD OF 87 SET IN 1914.
[Please press “read more” button –>].STRONG LOW PRESSURE MOVING NORTH OF MAINE MONDAY COMBINED WITH HIGH
PRESSURE OFF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC COAST…IS LIKELY TO BRING NEAR
RECORD WARMTH AND GALE FORCE WIND GUSTS TO PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND MONDAY AFTERNOON.

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>019-026-NHZ011-015-RIZ001-002-181611-
CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN ESSEX MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-
SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-
WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
WINDHAM CT-
615 AM EDT SUN APR 18 2004

THE WARMEST WEATHER OF THE EARLY SPRING WILL ARRIVE MONDAY AFTERNOON
ON GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS TO NEAR 40 MPH. TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR TO
BETWEEN 83 AND 88 DEGREES. THE STRONG WIND…NEAR RECORD WARM
TEMPERATURES IN PARTS OF THE AREA…AND RELATIVELY LOW HUMIDITY MAY
CAUSE DEHYDRATION AND HEAT RELATED DISORDERS FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING
IN LONG DURATION STRENUOUS ACTIVITY. HYDRATE APPROPRIATELY INCLUDING
SODIUM SUPPLEMENTED DRINKS. USING A SUNSCREEN WILL BE HELPFUL.
BE ALERT FOR NAUSEA…A SIGN OF HEAT EXHAUSTION WHICH WILL REQUIRE
MEDICAL ATTENTION.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

Waltham ARA/1200 RC Auction “QRT”

K1OJH at WARA/1200 RC AuctionA long-standing Boston-area ham institution is no more, according to its organizer Eliot Mayer, W1MJ.

In a letter dated April 14, 2004, Mayer writes, “Besides being a great social event, it paid for a significaant portion of [WARA’s] repeater maintenance expenses. Alas, despite our best efforts to improve the auction and its publicity, the event has been suspended due to declining interest.”

The event, co-sponsored by the Waltham Amateur Radio Association and the 1200 Radio Club, had been held annually in November at the Newton Masonic Hall.

[K1OJH actioning off an oscilloscope at the 1998 Waltham ARA/1200 RC Auction. Photo courtesy WARA]

Massasoit ARA Participates in Pilgrim Nuke Drill

Pilgrim Nuke Drill at Bridgewater EOC, photo #1Eight members of the Massasoit Amateur Radio Association assisted the Bridgewater Emergency Operations Center in conducting a mock disaster scenerio at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant on April 14, 2004. The scenario called for an aircraft to crash into the containment building at the plant, leading to a small release of radioactive material and an accompanying evacuation.

Bridgewater EOC Director Herb Lemon, KC1ZW and Communications Officer Carl Aveni, N1FY led the exercise, while Joe Serilla, W1JOE and Phil McNamara, N1XTB acted as assistant Communications Officers. Harry Ketler, W1DGD, operated the 440 link, and Gil Follett, W1GMF, worked on Packet/NTS. Allan Cox, K1VQ and Roy Logan, KB1CYV operated the Citizens Band and municipal radios, while Bob Mandeville, N1EDM operated the 2-meter station. Additionally, Bruce Hayden, NI1X and several Whitman ARC members operated the Taunton EOC. Mark Loring, KC1ML operated at the Kingston EOC.Pilgrim Nuke Drill at Bridgewater EOC, photo #2

When it was learned that the Plymouth EOC had only 2-meter capability, and could not contact the Kingston EOC (their 2-meter station was “down”), Bridgewater was able to set up and act as a relay. Taunton EOC also showed that it could function as a very effective backup with solid communications. This impressed the EOC Grader who witnessed the scenerio unfold.

—Massasoit ARA MARA News, April 2004

Sturdy Club Sponsors Blood Drive

DON’T FORGET – The Sturdy Memorial Hospital Amateur Radio Club in conjunction with the American Red Cross, will be sponsoring a Blood Drive on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at the Congregational Church, 17 West Street, Mansfield, MA. The drive will run from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Please help us support the American Red Cross by giving blood or even by donating your time to assist at the drive.Parking is available on West Street in front of the Church, on Union Street (across from 15 West Street) and in the Mansfield Police Station lot at 50 West Street. As always, the local Red Cross Chapter personnel will be handling all of the blood donation duties. For more information, call the American Red Cross’ Laurie Teixeira at 1-800-462-9400, Extension 2067. You can also view the article on the Sturdy Club’s web site at www.w1smh.com/pages/news_brf.html To offer assistance to the club at the drive, contact John Benson – N1FLO at n1flo@comcast.net Again, please help us support this extremely worthwhile cause.

FLOOD WARNINGS! (expired)

Please see MEMA Flood Safety Tips.

SKYWARN Logo Hello to all….
….A Flood Watch Continues Through This Evening for Northern CT, Southern
NH, All of RI and All of Massachusetts except for Cape Cod and the Islands
and Berkshire County Massachusetts….
….Flood Warning for Windham County has Expired….
….Several River Flood Warnings Have Been Issued….
….An additional .50 to 1″ of rain is expected across the region today with
isolated higher amounts….
….SKYWARN Self-Activation Maybe Needed if County Based Flood Warnings Are
Issued….

A Flood Watch Continues through this evening for the areas as listed in the headline of this message. The flood warning for Windham County has expired.

NWS Taunton has issued numerous River Flood Warnings for the region. Rain will continue off and on across much of the area today. An additional .50-1″ of rain is expected across the region today with isolated higher amounts possible in heavier rain or possibly embedded thunderstorms.

SKYWARN Self-Activation Maybe Needed if county based flood warnings are issued. Spotters are encouraged to report rainfall totals of 2″ or more, final rainfall amounts, rivers or streams near bankful or in flood and urban flooding enough to cause road closures or cars to get stuck in the road.

This will most likely be the last message on this situation. Below is the Flood Watch Statement, River flood statement and River Flood Warnings as issued by NWS Taunton:

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedoWGUS61 KBOX 140906
FFABOX
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>021-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-141600-

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
501 AM EDT WED APR 14 2004

…A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THROUGH
THIS EVENING…

THE WATCH INCLUDES NORTHERN CONNECTICUT…ALL OF RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT
BLOCK ISLAND…SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE…AND MASSACHUSETTS FROM THE
EAST SLOPES OF THE BERKSHIRES TO THE SOUTH COAST. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE
CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS.

2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN FELL ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION…WITH LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS. THIS HAS SENT SEVERAL RIVERS
AND STREAMS TO NEAR BANKFULL…AND A FEW ARE PROJECTED TO GO INTO
MINOR FLOOD.

RAIN IS EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP THIS MORNING ACROSS THE REGION.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE PROJECTED TO BE BETWEEN ONE QUARTER
AND ONE HALF INCH. HOWEVER…AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF…TO ONE INCH OF
ADDITIONAL RAIN ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND AND
SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS.

THEREFORE…THE THREAT OF MINOR FLOODING CONTINUES INTO THIS
EVENING. THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY DECREASE
IN AREAL COVERAGE OVERNIGHT.

$$

FRANK

WGUS81 KBOX 140918
FLSBOX
CTC003-007-MAC017-027-RIC003-007-142100-

FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
515 AM EDT WED APR 14 2004

…A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE ASSABET RIVER…BLACKSTONE
RIVER…CONNECTICUT RIVER…FARMINGTON RIVER…PAWTUXET RIVER…
SUDBURY RIVER…

FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER THIS INCLUDES HARTFORD…MIDDLETOWN.
FOR THE FARMINGTON RIVER THIS INCLUDES SIMSBURY.
FOR THE ASSABET RIVER THIS INCLUDES MAYNARD.
FOR THE SUDBURY RIVER THIS INCLUDES SAXONVILLE.
FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER THIS INCLUDES NORTHBRIDGE…WOONSOCKET.
FOR THE PAWTUXET RIVER THIS INCLUDES CRANSTON.

RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AS
HEAVY AS THE RAINFALL TUESDAY. HOWEVER ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL JUST
ADD TO THE RUNOFF AND CONTINUE THE RIVER RISES.

FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AT HARTFORD…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
THE 4 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 9.4 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 16.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE WILL BE REACHED AT 12 PM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 16.8 FEET BY 2 AM FRIDAY.
AT 17.0 FEET…LOWLAND FLOODING IS EXPECTED ALONG THE CONNECTICUT
RIVER FROM HARTFORD THROUGH WETHERSFIELD AND GLASTONBURY…PRIMARILY
OUTSIDE OF LEVEE PROTECTION. THIS WILL AFFECT SEVERAL RIVERSIDE
ROADWAYS AS WELL AS SEVERAL PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AT MIDDLETOWN…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
THE 1 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 5.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 8.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE WILL BE REACHED AT 12 PM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 9.0 FEET BY 2 AM FRIDAY.
AT 9.0 FEET…FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN LOW LYING SECTIONS OF THE
CONNECTICUT RIVER FROM WETHERSFIELD AND GLASTONBURY DOWNSTREAM
THROUGH CROMWELL…MIDDLETOWN AND PORTLAND. BOATING INTERESTS SHOULD
PREPARE FOR A PERIOD OF SWIFT RIVER FLOWS.

FOR THE FARMINGTON RIVER AT SIMSBURY…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 4 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 8.8 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 12.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 12.0 FEET BY 8 AM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY 2 PM THURSDAY.
AT 12.0 FEET…FLOODING WILL CLOSE PORTIONS OF ROUTE
315/TARRIFFVILLE ROAD IN SIMSBURY. FLOODING WILL ALSO AFFECT OLD
BRIDGE…DRAKE HILL…AND TERRYS PLAIN ROADS IN SIMSBURY.

FOR THE ASSABET RIVER AT MAYNARD…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 2 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 4.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 5.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 5.0 FEET BY 2 AM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY 2 PM THURSDAY.
AT 5.0 FEET…MINOR LOWLAND FLOODING IS LIKELY. FLOODING ALSO
AFFECTS ROADWAYS ALONG THE RIVER IN MAYNARD AND WEST CONCORD.

FOR THE SUDBURY RIVER AT SAXONVILLE…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 3 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 9.8 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 10.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 10.0 FEET BY 8 PM WEDNESDAY.
AT 10.0 FEET…FLOODING WILL AFFECT LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE RIVER
IN WAYLAND…INCLUDING A PORTION OF SHORE ROAD AND PELHAM ISLAND
ISLAND ROAD NEAR HEARDS POND.

FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER AT NORTHBRIDGE…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 5 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 8.4 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 9.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 9.0 FEET BY 8 AM WEDNESDAY.
AT 9.0 FEET…FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE RIVERBANK IS
LIKELY.

FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER AT WOONSOCKET…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 5 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 7.4 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 9.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 9.0 FEET BY 8 PM WEDNESDAY.
THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY 2 AM THURSDAY.
AT 9.0 FEET…FLOODING MAY BEGIN TO AFFECT THE LOWER PARKING AREA TO
THE ALBION MILL APARTMENTS. LOWER LYING RESIDENTIAL AREAS ALONG THE
RHODE ISLAND – MASSACHUSETTS LINE MAY BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE FLOODING.
BUSINESSES ALONG THE RIVER SHOULD TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO
PROTECT PROPERTY.

FOR THE PAWTUXET RIVER AT CRANSTON…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
THE 1 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 8.2 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 9.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE WILL BE REACHED AT 7 AM WEDNESDAY.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 9.7 FEET BY 2 AM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY 3 PM THURSDAY.
AT 10.0 FEET…BUSINESSES ARE IMPACTED ON PIONEER AVE…BELLOWS ST
AND VENTURI AVE IN WARWICK. SOME HOMES ARE IMPACTED ON AVERY RD AND
WELLINGTON AVE IN CRANSTON.

OBSERVED RIVER STAGES ARE COURTESY OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND
OTHER COOPERATING AGENCIES. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO
OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
ON THIS RIVER FLOOD EVENT.

$$

WGUS41 KBOX 140915
FLWBOX
CTC003-007-MAC017-027-RIC007-142100-

BULLETIN…IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
512 AM EDT WED APR 14 2004

…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING

FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER THIS INCLUDES HARTFORD…MIDDLETOWN.
FOR THE FARMINGTON RIVER THIS INCLUDES SIMSBURY.
FOR THE ASSABET RIVER THIS INCLUDES MAYNARD.
FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER THIS INCLUDES NORTHBRIDGE…WOONSOCKET.

RAINFALL TUESDAY WAS AROUND 2.50 INCHES. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS
EXPECTED TODAY. THIS WILL CAUSE RIVERS TO CONTINUE TO RISE.

FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AT HARTFORD…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
THE 4 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 9.4 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 16.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE WILL BE REACHED AT 12 PM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 16.8 FEET BY 2 AM FRIDAY.
AT STAGES NEAR 17.0 FEET…LOWLAND FLOODING IS EXPECTED ALONG THE
CONNECTICUT RIVER FROM HARTFORD THROUGH WETHERSFIELD AND
GLASTONBURY…PRIMARILY OUTSIDE OF LEVEE PROTECTION. THIS WILL
AFFECT SEVERAL RIVERSIDE ROADWAYS AS WELL AS SEVERAL PARK AND
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AT MIDDLETOWN…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
THE 1 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 5.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 8.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE WILL BE REACHED AT 12 PM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 9.0 FEET BY 2 AM FRIDAY.
AT STAGES NEAR 9.0 FEET…FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN LOW LYING SECTIONS
OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER FROM WETHERSFIELD AND GLASTONBURY DOWNSTREAM
THROUGH CROMWELL…MIDDLETOWN AND PORTLAND. BOATING INTERESTS SHOULD
PREPARE FOR A PERIOD OF SWIFT RIVER FLOWS.

FOR THE FARMINGTON RIVER AT SIMSBURY…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 4 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 8.8 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 12.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 12.0 FEET BY 8 AM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY 2 PM THURSDAY.
AT STAGES NEAR 12.0 FEET…FLOODING WILL CLOSE PORTIONS OF ROUTE
315/TARRIFFVILLE ROAD IN SIMSBURY. FLOODING WILL ALSO AFFECT OLD
BRIDGE…DRAKE HILL…AND TERRYS PLAIN ROADS IN SIMSBURY.

FOR THE ASSABET RIVER AT MAYNARD…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 2 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 4.0 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 5.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 5.0 FEET BY 2 AM THURSDAY.
THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY 2 PM THURSDAY.
AT STAGES NEAR 5.0 FEET…MINOR LOWLAND FLOODING IS LIKELY.
FLOODING ALSO AFFECTS ROADWAYS ALONG THE RIVER IN MAYNARD AND WEST
CONCORD.

FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER AT NORTHBRIDGE…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 5 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 8.4 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 9.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 9.0 FEET BY 8 AM WEDNESDAY.
AT STAGES NEAR 9.0 FEET…FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE
RIVERBANK IS LIKELY.

FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER AT WOONSOCKET…
NO FLOODING IS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
MINOR FLOODING IS FORECASTED.
THE 5 AM WEDNESDAY STAGE WAS 7.4 FEET.
FLOOD STAGE IS 9.0 FEET.
THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 9.0 FEET BY 8 PM WEDNESDAY.
THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY 2 AM THURSDAY.
AT STAGES NEAR 9.0 FEET…FLOODING MAY BEGIN TO AFFECT THE LOWER
PARKING AREA TO THE ALBION MILL APARTMENTS. LOWER LYING RESIDENTIAL
AREAS ALONG THE RHODE ISLAND – MASSACHUSETTS LINE MAY BEGIN TO
EXPERIENCE FLOODING. BUSINESSES ALONG THE RIVER SHOULD TAKE THE
NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

A FLOOD STATEMENT PROVIDING THE LATEST INFORMATION IN THIS FLOOD
EVENT WILL BE ISSUED WITHIN THE NEXT 8 HOURS…OR EARLIER IF NEEDED.

DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY NEAR SWOLLEN RIVERS…STREAMS OR
CULVERTS. SWIFTLY MOVING WATER CAN POSE AN IMMINENT THREAT TO LIFE.
OBSERVED RIVER STAGES ARE COURTESY OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND
OTHER COOPERATING AGENCIES. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO
OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
ON THIS RIVER FLOOD EVENT.

$$

BAA Marathon Help Sought, April 19, 2004

Steve Schwarm, W3EVE wrote:

We are still in need of hams for the Boston Marathonon Monday, April19th. Please send an email to Steve Schwarm, W3EVE at if you can help.

This is a all day event. Positions open as early as 6:30 AM and run past 6:00 PM. Some start after noon and run to 8 PM. It is a fun event where ham radio plays a very important role. Many of the locations have T access. You will need a 2 meter HT with tone generation (CTSS) with extra batteries and an antenna better than a rubber duck. Please tell us if you have a 440 HT or 2/440 dual band HT. Please include in the email if you have limitations (i.e., must have t access, limited walking, any time constraints, etc.).

You must be at least 18 years of age to participate. Thank you for your help.

Steve, W3EVE

Public Information Officer Appointments

Phil and I would like to officially welcome these PIO’s to the Section Staff. Bill – KA1MOM has been here for a while but a “snafu” in the database never registered his appointment. Ron – W1PLW was appointed last year and Jeff – N1SOM is new to the crew. The Eastern Mass Section Staff looks forward to working with you all and if there’s anything we can do to help, let us know.

Jim Duarte – N1IV
Eastern Mass PIC

Full Story at:
http://ema.arrl.org/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=100300&page_id=38

USS Salem, Call for Volunteers 04/17/04

USS Salem ARC QSL card“JC” Cunningham, W1AI, writes:

Saturday’s training went well. Thanks to Pi and all who attended!

The timing was great, because we are expecting 205 scouts on board the USS Salem this weekend! If I can get 4-6 volunteers, we will run the Intro to Amateur Radio presentations and the HF & VHF/IRLP Demos concurrently in two different parts of the ship. All activities are from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday (4/17/04). (All volunteers should be prepared to arrive no later than 2:45 to assist with setup.)

I’m hoping for a mix of seasoned and new volunteers. Last Saturday’s training session is not a prerequisite; our versatile volunteers can also train on the fly.

Please email me ASAP at W1AI@hamtestonline.com if you will be there!

Thanks,

JC Cunningham, W1AI

USS Salem K1USN Radio Club Scouting Program Volunteer Coordinator

(short call, long title)

http://www.hamtestonline.com