Technician License Class At Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC

SMHARC logoThe Sturdy Memorial Hospital Amateur Radio Club will hold a Technician license class on January 7, 2006 followed by a review session and license exam on February 11, 2006. The course will utilize the ARRL’s “Now You’re Talking” course material. SMHARC members N1EZT, KB1KA, N1DPY and KB5TBB will teach the classes.

The second half of the session, held on February 11, will feature a review session followed immediately by the exams. N1FLO, W1TW and KC1N have volunteered to conduct the examinations. Both sessions will be held at Sturdy Memorial Hospital’s Rice Webb Auditorium from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A map and directions are available at http://www.w1smh.com/pages/SMH_Map.htm. Any participant passing the exam will be awarded a one-year free membership in the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC.

–Thanks, SMHARC “Chirp ‘n Click eNEWS”

W1AA To Activate Goat I., Rose I. Lighthouses 12/31/05

W1AA/Newport RI HarborRobert “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV writes:

After a long dry spell of inactivity due to bad weather, we will be out and about again. It is a tough time of the year for activations in this part of the country but Don and I will do our best over the coming months. We have another 20 or so lights to activate in the coming year.

Don N1DT and I plan to activate two on Saturday, Dec. 31st for the Christmas Lights event:

Call sign to be used: W1AA

Goat Island/Newport Harbor Lighthouse – ARLHS USA 548 and Rose Island Lighthouse – ARLHS USA 703

Date: 31 December 2005 Op. time: approx 1230 to 1900 UTC [0730 AM to 2:00 PM EST]. Modes: SSB and CW Bands: 20 and 40 meters. Freqs: SSB: 14.270 ± 15 KHz; 7.270 ± QRM

CW: 14.035 ± 8 KHz; 7.035 ± QRM Depending on the 20 phone QRM we may have to work 15 and 17 meters also. Rig: ICOM IC-706 MK II G Antenna: Home Brew 40/20 Truck Mounted Vertical

We also have a packet station in the truck with a 4 el 2 Meter yagi and a 170 Watt amplfier so we can spot ourselves on the DX Summit packet cluster world wide. Watch the cluster for the spots. http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/hfdx25.html

There will be a digial photo QSL for each of the lights, remember to please include an SASE, no special envelopes required. Stateside QSL to W1AA CBA, and DX vis the bureau.

STATESIDE REMEMBER TO USE A 39 CENT STAMP ON THE ENVELOPE

Keep the Flame

Don N1DT #962 and Whitey K1VV #957 / W1AA

Originating Third Party Message Traffic

“Trump’s Traffic Trilogy” – by Ed “FB” Trump, AL7N
“Getting down to the nitty-gritty of actually doing it.”

Special care is required when preparing written third party message traffic for transmission over the amateur NTS traffic networks. What is third party traffic?
The generally accepted definition is “written or voice traffic between the control operator of one amateur station (first party) and the control operator of another amateur station (second party) on behalf of another person (third party)”. Usually it amounts to short written noncommercial messages between people who are not necessarily amateur radio operators”.

The objective of the NTS is to cause these written messages to transit the system, word for word, character for character, and be able to be handled without alteration via any of the common modes of transmission currently in use such as CW, SSB, VHF-FM or PACTOR. It is important to reproduce the message at the far end of the system exactly as it was initially sent, regardless of mode transition en route.

The main source for any volume of such traffic is usually either of two occurrences.
1. An unplanned event, which forces people to use the Amateur NTS traffic networks due to failure or overload of normal regular commercial facilities or,
2. A planned event, such as a convention, fair or other public gathering that encourages use of the amateur traffic networks more or less as a novelty.
In either case, the average person will need help in composing their messages so they can be properly and expeditiously handled by the NTS network operators. This will be especially so with Health & Welfare traffic coming from disaster shelters in times of emergency.

If any large volume of third party traffic is expected, the radio operator proper must be assisted by another person or persons (“public counter” assistants) who can take care of preparing the messages for transmission. The operator will have his or her hands full just working the radio. The people detailed as counter assistants must be trained and familiar with this kind of message work, but they need not be licensed radio operators.

There are several things that must be considered when taking in message traffic from the general public:

1. The average sender has no idea about putting his message into the standard format which we require to be used, in order for the generated traffic to be capable of being properly relayed through the system. They will need assistance.

2. The word count of the message text must be kept under control to avoid network overloading. Improper or illegal content or symbols that cannot be transmitted must be kept out of the text. The message must be composed so as to convey the desired meaning without unnecessary wordage, and to minimize the possibility of being misunderstood by the recipient.

3. Addressing must be properly done in order for the message to be delivered at its ultimate destination.
a) All messages must be sent to a person or organization by NAME.
b) The address must also contain a PHYSICAL LOCATION where the addressee can be found in order to deliver the message. Street number and name, rural delivery route, post office box, hotel/motel name and room (if known) are some common ways of providing this information.
c) The address must also contain the DESTINATION City, State or Province, Country if not in USA or Canada, and postal code, if known.
d) If at all possible, the address should include a full ten-digit TELEPHONE number. In the USA and Canada, use the form NPA-NNX-NNNN, which will greatly aid expeditious message delivery.

4. The sender only needs to furnish the address, text and signature of the message. Normally, messages should be written either by the sender him/herself or the operator’s “public counter” assistant for or in behalf of the sender. Use plain half sheets of paper 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches in size. This is plenty large for the average
25-word message, and will help discourage excessive wordiness in message texts. Pre-printed blanks are not really necessary for messages being sent and represent an unnecessary expense and logistic problem.

5. Messages must be SIGNED properly with a name so the recipient will know who sent it. The sender should also furnish LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION so they can be reached if there is an answer to their message or if some problem occurs with delivering it. This information should be written on the back of the message blank for future reference if needed.

Appropriate message numbering, precedence, handling codes, Station of Origin’s callsign, check, originating point , filing time (if used) and date must then be properly appended as a PREAMBLE along the top edge of the message half-sheet. This is required in order to route the message correctly through the NTS system from origin to destination. The entire message should be carefully checked over in regard to legibility and completeness at this time. These tasks are best left to the counter assistant who is trained and knows how to do them.

At this point the message is ready to be handed to the radio operator for transmission. The written message copy is now the “document of record” for the message, and after the radio operator notes on it the time sent, frequency or net, and the callsign of the station it was sent to, it should be filed in the Originating Station’s “Sent” file. The FCC no longer requires copies of amateur messages to be retained, but it is a good idea to keep them on file for at least a year anyway, “just in case”.

Only by careful attention to all these details will good service be provided for the
public. Messages that are properly originated have a far better chance of making it through the NTS to destination than those which are not.

The stated objectives of the ARRL National Traffic System are stated in the Public Service Methods and Procedures Guidelines:

“The primary objective of these methods and protocols is to facilitate transmission of a properly formatted written formal message from point A to point B such that it arrives exactly as written on the original copy, group for group, character for character, space for space. Messages filed in the NTS must be capable of being transmitted by any mode without message alteration being required. Voice and CW nets must be run with methods and protocols to operate effectively and uniformly so that message traffic may be exchanged with efficiency. Stations operating in the NTS have the responsibility to promptly relay messages along, deliver messages in a timely fashion, or service undeliverable messages back to the originator. Stations must honor this responsibility. Stations operating in the NTS interface directly with the public and served agencies representing all of Amateur Radio. Stations must represent us all well. The methods and protocols of the NTS MPG are intended to facilitate achieving these objectives. “

Recent observations indicate these objectives are not being met at any acceptable level in the National Traffic System today. There is sufficient evidence that many problems exist in the relaying process from station-to-station, net-to-net, and area-to-area across the country. The problems are not related to the use of any of the current modes or methods used in relaying third party messages. The newer digital modes appear to have problems as well as the more traditional CW and SSB or VHF-FM voice modes.

Perhaps part of the problem stems from lack of training or some other lack of understanding among many of the newer amateurs on the air today. Those who engage in third party written message handling in the Amateur Service need to understand that a certain amount of COMMITMENT is required whether it is done for the enjoyment of it or as a part of emergency preparedness planning and training. There is an indication that the shortcomings have been recognized by the ARRL as is evidenced by the recent emphasis on the ARECC training that is now being offered.

Some of the problems that have been noted in the NTS relaying processes are as follows:

1. Altered texts. The message text does not arrive at destination exactly as it was sent at origination. It appears the message “content” is being relayed, rather than exactly what was to be sent in some instances. Omissions in Preambles, Addresses, Text and Signatures are known to occur.
2. Additions of “Handling Extra” codes to message preamble during relaying, Changed points of origin, “additions” (such as telephone numbers) to address information, parts of addresses deleted en route during relaying.
3. Some names and unusual words are relayed inaccurately.
4. Message check does not agree with number of words/groups in text.

Some of these problems could be due to carelessness or lack of attention to detail during relay work; some could be due to lack of training. Message handling information certainly is not hard to find. There are numerous publications by ARRL and many others available that adequately describe how to do the work.
There seem to be instances where messages are copied and relayed on without any proper verification that what was transmitted was actually correctly received. Misuse of the correct way of “signing” for a message correctly and completely received appears to be a factor. Apparently, the word “ROGER” on voice mode, or “QSL” and “R” on CW is being used when in fact the message has not been properly and completely received and copied down. Perhaps not enough emphasis is being placed on the need to stop the sending operator and get repeats, verification or “fills” before completing the relay work.

Voice modes have unique relaying problems that do not exist in the CW or digital modes where character-by character or file transfer is used. Because of this fact, considerable extra care must be taken to ensure sufficient accuracy is maintained. Unfortunately, the English language has many words that sound the same but are spelled differently and/or have different meanings. (Example: “Four” vs. “for” etc.) Some names are troublesome. (Examples: “Cathy” vs. “Kathy” or “Sara” vs. “Sarah”, “John” vs. “Jon” etc.).

SSB and sometimes VHF-FM can distort the sound of certain words enough to cause them to be copied incorrectly. (Example: “Fifty” vs. “Sixty” etc).
Plural versus Singular can be easily misunderstood. (Example: “Meeting” vs. “Meetings” or “Slide” vs. “Slides” etc.).

Some state abbreviations can be miscopied or misused: (Example: “MA” is sometimes relayed as “Maine”; “PA” becomes “W VA” etc.) All operators need to learn the standard accepted abbreviations for all 50 states and use them.

Careful message origination can reduce the potential for transmission errors but that is beyond the control of relay operators. They must relay accurately what they receive no matter how strong the temptation is to “correct” perceived errors. Message texts must be protected from alteration at all costs. This is one place where little things DO matter.

If the message text is already messed up, don’t make things worse by trying to “fix” it without proper verification from the operator who sent it to you, or better yet from the originating station if possible.

Proper use of phonetics can aid message relaying in voice modes. However, care must be taken to use the standard ITU phonetic code words, not some cute variation that you dreamed up. The meaning might be different to the receiving operator. Learn and use the standard ITU Phonetic Code, always.

Some messages that you relay may not make sense to you. Resist the urge to “edit” or “change” a message text in any way. Whatever it is the message conveys may make perfect sense to the sender and recipient. As a relay operator, your only job is to see that it gets through unaltered and intact. Remember: “word-for-word, group-for-group, and character-for-character”. That, and only that is your objective.

If some problem prevents prompt relaying beyond your station for an unacceptable period of time, service the originating station and request instructions…you might be requested to continue to attempt relay, or cancel the message. However, NEVER throw a message away without direct permission to do so from the sender. Either relay it or hold it and service it.

NEVER add “Handling Extra” codes in message preambles. If using a “canned” message form in your computer to handle messages digitally, make sure this is not happening to messages that do not carry “HX” codes from origination. Adding (or subtracting) “HX” codes is NOT optional with relaying stations. Never “add” information (such as telephone numbers) to message addresses. The recipient may no longer be using the number in the listing(s) you have access to. Relay only what the sender puts on the message. Delivering stations may need to look up numbers during the delivery process attempts, but NEVER-EVER “add” anything to a message when you are relaying it.

Never “shorten” or omit items in a message address. Pass it on exactly as you receive it, even if the addressee is known to you. There could be some need for all that information in the actual delivery process, which you as a relaying operator may be unaware of.

Keep accurate records of your message relaying work. File the copies of all messages you handle with proper servicing information recorded on them. Information such as date/time/frequency/call sign of station received from, and date/time/frequency/call sign of station sent to should be written on the message copy. Then you will be able to properly respond to any inquiry as to your disposition of any message that you handle, should the occasion arise. Note particularly if the message carries an “HXD” handling extra code and respond promptly with the appropriate service message to the originating station. It is a good idea to keep copies of all messages handled through your station on file for a year, “just in case”.

Diligence and great care in relaying third party written messages is required of all participants in the National Traffic System. If due regard is not paid to this requirement, all the effort of the other amateurs involved in the process is diminished or wasted. Be a helpful part of the process, instead of part of the problem.
Relay properly with accuracy and timeliness!

Handling third party written message traffic is a well-established activity in the Amateur Radio Service, and has been around about as long as the hobby itself has.

It is one of the reasons we exist. Amateurs are always helping out when commercial communications fail, sometimes we are the only service that can. The rules and conventions for this activity are well spelled out in a number of available publications. Most of the time we handle messages just for practice.
In the doing of that, here are some things to think about…..

If you check into any of the statewide nets, you might sometime get called upon to handle a third party written message. Do you know how to do it properly?

Message handling work takes a certain amount of commitment on the part of all amateur operators who engage in it. If it is to be done at all it is important that it is done correctly.

For now, we’ll talk about message delivery…
It could be called “The Last Mile” the message travels.

Consider the following scenario:

You are checked into one of the statewide evening nets, and old Joe down at Two Harbors comes on with a piece of formal traffic for your town. Net control asks you if you can handle it. It would be kind of silly to decline, wouldn’t it? So you take it on, and NCS sends you and old Joe off frequency to handle the traffic.

You tune to the assigned frequency, and give old Joe a call. You get to call Joe, because you will be the one receiving the message. Joe comes on, and his signal has gone down a little, but you can still hear him pretty well. You tell him to go ahead with the message.

You copy the message down…the band is not the best tonight, but you think you get everything OK, even though you had to ask for a couple of repeats along the way.

Now think about it (#1)…..
Are you sure you have the entire message exactly correct? Don’t say “Roger” or send the signal “QSL” on CW unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE you have ALL OF the message OK (“OLL KORRECT”). If there is ANY doubt about ANY part of it, fix it RIGHT NOW, before you let old Joe get away. Otherwise, there will always be a nagging doubt.

Now that you have this message copied out, what are you going to do with it?

Now think about it (#2)….
How are you going to deliver it to the addressee?

How you handle this step in the process probably has more impact on the public’s perception of the Amateur Radio Service than anything else you can do. More about that in a minute.

Look at the message content….(Message precedence notwithstanding). Is it of a routine nature, or does it look like it might be something someone would want to know about right away? Is there a local telephone number on the message? This is a judgment call. If the message is of a routine nature, and the hour is late, say after 830 or 9 PM or so, probably the best thing will be to wait until the following day, and then try to phone it. If the message looks like it might be of an urgent nature, a phone call late in the evening might be OK. You just don’t want to get someone out of bed in the middle of the night and scare hell out of them over nothing. So think about it before you make that call.

Lets suppose you elect to deliver the message by telephone the following day, but the number comes up no good. What to do? You might look in the local directory, and see if there is a newer listing by name, and try that. If still no-go, your only recourse is to attempt delivery by mail.

ONCE YOU ACCEPT A MESSAGE FOR DELIVERY YOU ARE OBLIGED TO MAKE AT LEAST SOME ATTEMPT TO DELIVER IT!

The message should have some sort of a mailing address on it. If it does not, is there enough address so you could hand-carry it to the addressee someplace? If there is no way to physically send or give the message to the addressee, all you can do is file it “undelivered” and originate a return service message (now you get to send one!) to the originating station, and say so. Give a good reason for non-delivery, what ever it is. Bad address/bad phone number/moved-no forwarding address/deceased, etc.

NEVER throw a message away unless the ORIGINATOR cancels the message or otherwise instructs you to do so. Might be a good idea to keep a copy on file for a year or so anyway…just in case.

Now think about it (#3)…
Lets say you end up having to mail the message (or maybe you delivered it over the phone and the addressee wants a hard copy…it is always a good idea to offer one). Type it or write it neatly on a radiogram blank or a plain half sheet of paper in PROPER MESSAGE FORM. Put it in a neatly addressed envelope with your return address on it, and mail it. You buy the stamp.

Nothing makes a better impression on a person receiving a message than a neatly typed radiogram on an official-looking blank; especially these days when radiograms or telegrams are a VERY rare event for the average person. By the same token, a sloppily copied and poorly delivered or non-delivered message will leave a negative impression as well. People do talk, you know.

Consider this….If Aunt Minnie sends Nephew John a radiogram from some county fair someplace, she sort of expects it to get there. If Aunt Minnie and Nephew John have a phone conversation sometime after the fair, Aunt Minnie might ask Nephew John if he ever got the radio message she sent. If Nephew John remembers getting a neatly typed message in a timely manner, he will probably say “Yes, I Sure Did”, because the event left a good impression on him…”Hey…This is kinda neat!” The esteem of the Amateur Radio Service goes up a few points with both of these people, as well as anybody else they tell about it, because the message delivery was handled in a professional manner.

Yeah, I know….. “Fair Messages” are considered “junk traffic” but look at the impact this can have. Suppose Aunt Minnie asks Nephew John if he got her message, and John says “Huh? What Message?”….because he never got anything. Now the Amateur Radio Service takes a BIG hit in the eyes of these people. Aunt Minnie probably will say…”The heck with ever doing THAT again…They’re Amateurs, all right…Phooey!”

You could apply this scenario to any message activity, not necessarily traffic from County Fairs… It might be traffic from a Disaster Shelter someplace, where people are trying to find out the status of relatives and loved ones. The positive or negative impact on the public would be even greater in this instance.

So think about it (#4)…….
ANY message involving a third party could have considerable positive or negative impact on how the Amateur Radio Service is perceived by those who send and receive that message, depending on how YOU handle it. It will have even more of an impact on messages of a more important nature, such as welfare inquiries and the like.

So you have to come up with a 37 cent stamp and an envelope to mail a message…So What? That’s pretty cheap “good” PR, is it not? A short paid toll call to deliver an urgent message would likely be very well received in almost any circumstance. It buys a lot of good PR with the folks who get the message. They are usually grateful you went to the trouble. And the cost is small. Even if the message preamble bears the handling extra code “HXG”, (way too many do these days, by the way), you might want to consider a nice delivery anyway, for the above stated reasons.

What it boils down to, is simply this….If you are going to engage in handling message traffic, resolve to LEARN HOW to do it and how DO IT RIGHT, and then COMMIT YOUR EFFORTS to always doing it so. Especially when dealing with “The Last Mile”. A little practice now and then will help too.

The Amateur Service will be the better for it, and so will you.
=========================================================================

SEMARA Kids Day Operation, January 8, 2006

SEMARA logoRon Silvia, WB1HGA writes on SEMARA Members List:

On Sunday, January 8, from 1800Z to 2400Z at the [Southeastern MA Amateur Radio Association] radio room in South Darthmouth, MA.

Lets show the youth our hobby!

If you know grade school kids in your neighborhood, invite them (and their parents). Now is a wonderful opportunity to plant the seeds of ham radio. They will be speaking with their peers, exchanging favorite colors, names etc., via HF radios.

As always, there will be two HF stations ready to go.

We do need some ops to man the radios.

Heavy Hitters Traffic Net Moves

I am proud to report that on Jan 01, 2006 the Heavy Hitters Traffic Net will be operating on the MMRA repeater system. I am very happy that the MMRA officials came forward and offered the use of their system for our nets. This will offer us a wider range of RF coverage with the hopes of getting more people interested.

The nets will be held at 2200 hrs Monday thru Friday. The list of repeaters involved are listed on the HHTN page on this site. The link is in the left column on this page under EMA Nets.

Remember to wait 2 seconds after keying to speak. This allows the links to come up so you will be heard.

I would like to thank the Boston Amateur Radio Club for the use of their Boston repeater for our net for the past year. It has been a great repeater and it is a great service to the radio community.

Hope you hear you on the nets.

Byron Piette K1YCQ
HHTN Net Manager

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays to All!

Hello to all….

We are entering the very festive time of year of Christmas, New Year and important religious holidays for many over the course of next week. On behalf of the entire Eastern Massachusetts ARES staff, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a happy and festive holiday season to those celebrating important holidays that are coinciding with the Christmas season this year.

Eastern Massachusetts ARES continues to broaden its relationship with served agencies including the National Weather Service, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and local Emergency Management and ARES groups. We continue to have strong relations with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency through the efforts of Tom Kinahan-N1CPE, Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer and Mike Nielsen-W1MPN, Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section Manager. MEMA continues to work closely with us concerning the governor’s comments made in mid-November and continued progress is being made to recognize the capabilities of Amateur Radio and the executive state level and as more progress is made, we will report that to all of you.

Eastern Massachusetts ARES was very active this year with our Emergency Communications Workshop where we did a basic class in April in Ipswich and an advanced class in August in Attleboro. Cape Cod ARES has developed a Technical Workshop that was run for the first time ever on Cape Cod and is a huge addition to the training offered by our section for emergency
communications. All of this is additive to the ARECC classes that the ARRL offers.

We are working and will implement in January after further testing an ARES Online Application system that will allow us to have a database of all ARES operators in the section. This is thanks to the incredible hard work and effort of Phil McNamara-N1XTB who has worked for several months to create the online form and database. Further details on this exciting development
will follow in January.

We had several small-scale, localized but highly visible ARES activations in the past year. Cape Cod ARES was active with shelter operations for the
Blizzard of 2005 and for the recent nor’easter which brought hurricane force wind gusts and power outages for several days to their region. Eastern Massachusetts ARES supported the Whitman Amateur Radio Club and the Taunton Emergency Management Agency for shelter and EOC operations for the Whittenton Pond Dam crisis. Those operations lasted several days and prompted the ARRL to contact myself and Mike as SEC and SM of the section to determine what preparations were taking place in that area. The operation went very well and exemplified ARES and RACES cooperation along with the use of ARESMAT to support long duration operations for a localized event. SEMARA ARES and Cape Cod ARES both provided critical support to the operation.

We had several successful exercises including the June Hurricane Exercise which involved the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida via VoIP, the
Operation Atlas Boston Logan Airport Drill also in June and our Power Outage drill in mid November. These exercises allowed us to put in practice much of what we learn in our workshops as well as public service events. We also reorganized and put into place our monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net on the MMRA system on the RACES Net night, immediately following all the nets. While it can make for a long evening,. participation is strong as we’ve turned the RACES Net Night into an Emergency Communications Net night exemplifying the partnership ARES and RACES must have to be successful.

While we still have more work to do in creating depth in the ARES organization by recruitment and further training, the program remains very well organized and its a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of you as ARES members. On behalf of the Eastern Massachusetts ARES staff, we thank all of you for your support and wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy New
Year, and a happy and festive holiday season to those celebrating holidays that coincide with the Christmas season.

Below is a note of thanks for the holiday for all those who have contributed in the ARES-SKYWARN program in Eastern Massachusetts. This message was sent
out to the SKYWARN email list as well:

We are entering the very festive time of year of Christmas, New Year and important religious holidays for many over the course of next week. On behalf of the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts, it is time to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a happy and festive holiday season to those celebrating important holidays that are coinciding with the Christmas season this year.

We’ve seen an extremely high level of weather activity this year. With the powerful nor’easters that were seen from January through May of this year including the Blizzard of 2005, to the severe weather outbreaks that occurred in August and other points this summer, to the October floods to the powerful short lived nor’easter in early December that produced hurricane force winds on Cape Cod and 7-17″ of snow across interior portions of Southern New England, the NWS Taunton SKYWARN program with the associated ARES and SKYWARN teams and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters across the NWS Taunton County Warning Area have provided an invaluable service. Many areas lack the surface observations to help produce a forecast that will protect life and property. The National Weather Service in Taunton is blessed with all of you, highly trained SKYWARN Spotters and highly trained Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters who react and provide critical ground truth reports to protect life and property. Whether it is a severe thunderstorm in the summer, or a nor’easter in the winter, or spring and fall flooding and everything in between, all of you are there, and for that, the National Weather Service is thankful for your efforts.

We are looking forward to another year of working with all of you. We are planning a more extensive SKYWARN training plan for 2006 than 2005 and we will continue to work to expand the technologies in getting data into NWS through Amateur Radio and other means. We don’t know how active the 2006 year will be but we know that regardless of how active the next year will
be, all of you will be there to support the primary mission of SKYWARN and the National Weather Service to help protect life and property with precise ground truth reports of what is happening when severe weather strikes regardless of season.

I look forward to working with all of you through the remainder of 2005 and into 2006. Once again, I would like to wish each and everyone of you Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a happy and festive holiday season to those celebrating other important religious holidays this week. Take care and all the best to everyone of you!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section 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/rmacedo
1 1

Fessenden Special Event Operation, January 2006

Reginald FessendenA Marshfield amateur has announced plans for a special event operation commemorating the accomplishments of radio pioneer and inventor Reginald Fessenden. Dave Riley, AA1A and the Fessenden Amateur Radio Society (W1FRV) will operate from January 1 through January 31, 2006 from Brant Rock, MA for the 100th year commemoration of transoceanic 2-way communications on 18.075 14.055 10.118 7.055 MHz.

All who participate are encouraged to use a “/BO” suffix (Fessenden’s radio station “BO,” or “Big Ocean”) during the event.

“Fessenden lived in Marshfield from about 1905 to 1911 or so and had a most turbulent round of successes and failures with both the scientific and legal communities,” states Riley on his web site. “His most remarkable feat here was the world’s first radio broadcast on Christmas Eve, 1906 and again on New Year’s Eve, a week later.”

Participants may QSL via RAF.NESCO, Box 686, Brant Rock, MA 02020.

[See also: http://www.radiocom.net/Fessenden/.]

Whitman ARC Assists At Winterfest

Whitman Winterfest 2005, photo_2Whitman Winterfest 2005, photo_1Members of the Whitman Amateur Radio Club provided communications support for the Town of Whitman Winterfest activities. Town citizens visited downtown Whitman to enjoy free ice cream and see tree lighting, wood- and ice-carving exhibits. Members of the Whitman Emergency Management Agency were also on-hand to assist, using handheld General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) transceivers.

Club members included N1FRE, N1SON and KB1MTW along with Bob Graves, who is studying for his Technician license.

Shown: ice sculpture; Ed Meehan (left), N1NTZ and Frank Hayes, N1OGP at the Whitman Emergency Operations Center. Photos courtesy Whitman ARC Spectrum, December 2005

Heavy Hitters Traffic Net To QSY To MMRA Network

leftleftBob DeMattia, K1IW, MMRA President writes:

Effective January 1, 2006, the Heavy Hitters Traffic Net, which is a National Traffic System affiliated net for passing formal written messages between hams and non-hams, will be operating nightly at 10PM on the Minuteman Repeater Association network. Their nets generally run about 30 minutes. The following repeaters will automatically link at 9:50 pm:

146.61, 146.67, 146.715, 146.820, 147.270, and all 222 and 440 repeaters.

The repeaters will return to their normal state at 11:50pm. On Tuesdays, the repeaters will link as they always have at 7:50 pm for the TIOS net, but will remain linked until 11:50pm.

Note that the 146.790 repeater in Weston will NOT link for HHTN, so it will remain on the previous schedule of 7:50 pm link, 9:50 pm unlink on Tuesdays only.

Although the net will not begin until January 1st, the scheduler setpoints have been programmed and the automatic linking will begin starting this evening. This gives us a week and one half to make sure
everything is running smoothly.

Eastern MA ARES, SKYWARN Efforts Acknowledged on ARRLWeb

EMA ARES logoSKYWARN logoEastern MA ARES and SKYWARN members received a nice write-up on the ARRL national website describing their efforts in the wake of last week’s nor’easter in which “near-blizzard conditions and high winds” prompted ARES and SKYWARN teams to activate in Eastern Massachusetts on December 9.

The article quotes Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY describing the damage caused by the storm. Macedo acknowledged the superb communications efforts put forth by several dozen Amateurs throughout the region.

“The quick-hitting nature of the storm tested the ability of Eastern Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN to react quickly to a rapidly intensifying winter storm that brought hurricane force winds and near blizzard conditions to the region,” said KD1CY.

The full story can be viewed at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/12/15/2/?nc=1.

Eastern MA ARES, SKYWARN Efforts Acknowledged on ARRLWeb

EMA ARES logoSKYWARN logoEastern MA ARES and SKYWARN members received a nice write-up on the ARRL national website describing their efforts in the wake of last week’s nor’easter in which “near-blizzard conditions and high winds” prompted ARES and SKYWARN teams to activate in Eastern Massachusetts on December 9.

The article quotes Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY describing the damage caused by the storm. Macedo acknowledged the superb communications efforts put forth by several dozen Amateurs throughout the region.

“The quick-hitting nature of the storm tested the ability of Eastern Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN to react quickly to a rapidly intensifying winter storm that brought hurricane force winds and near blizzard conditions to the region,” said KD1CY.

The full story can be viewed at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/12/15/2/?nc=1.

Framingham ARA To Operate In ARRL Kids Day

Framingham ARA logoSumner Weisman, W1VIV writes on FraminghamARA-L:

There has been lots of talk among [Framingham Amateur Radio Association] members about how we need to attract more young people to our radio club. Here is one way to do it.

ARRL Kid’s Day is coming Sunday afternoon, January 8th. I will be at the FARA shack, operating the rig, from 1 to 5pm. My 9-year-old grandson Tim will be there also.

Last year we did it at my QTH, but this year I would like to invite other parents and grandparents to the FARA shack, with their kids and grandkids. We will put the kids on the air, talking to other kids around the country. We hope that it will help to develop an interest in pursuing a ham license in the future. You can read more about Kid’s Day on the ARRL website.

Please e-mail or call 508-877-1565 and let me know if you are coming. If you can bring some refreshments to share, that would be great. (Cookies, brownies, soda, etc.)

K1XM, KQ1F Highlighted In Globe West Column

Paul Young, K1XM and Charlotte Richardson, KQ1F were featured in the December 4, 2005 Boston Globe West “People” column. The chatty article describes the Hudson couple’s DXpeditions and contesting efforts over the years to places like Sao Tome and Principe, Malaysia, and Bermuda. KQ1F was quoted, saying Massachusetts travel agents have stopped returning their calls: “They told us that we have too many unusual requirements.”

The article also included the URLs for the ARRL web site, and the Eastern MA ARRL site.

Townsend Middle School Makes ARISS Contact!

ARISS crew at Hawthorne Brook School in TownsendMembers of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club helped facilitate a contact between astronauts aboard the International Space Station and youths at the Hawthorne Brook Middle School in Townsend, Massachusetts on November 29.

Shown here: Marilyn Richardson, N1CSH (left) and her twenty student ARISS participants. KD1LE photo

[See also: ARRL Web, ARISS release, (archive.org copy of “ARISS release”),The Community Journal: “Hawthorne Brook Middle School makes contact”, Nashoba Valley ARC newsletter, ARISS contact at Hawthorne Brook Middle School]

Kuss Middle School ARISS Project Featured In Providence Journal

ARISS logoParticipants in the Kuss Middle School’s Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS) project received positive PR in a recent Providence (R.I.) Journal story entitled “Kuss Middle School students will talk directly to International Space Station astronauts.”

According to the story, school officials have announced that students at the Fall River middle school will have their second opportunity in four months to talk directly to astronauts aboard the International Space Station on January 19, 2006.

Kuss Middle School’s science curriculum director, Pamela Tickle is quoted in the story, saying, “Fall River is one of the few communities across the country to host such an event and it’s the only school in Massachusetts that has ever hosted a downlink.”

“Fall River Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. said the selection of Kuss shows ‘in this working-class community, there’s no reason why these kids can’t reach for the stars.'”

Billerica ARS One-day Tech Class “A Great Success”

BARS logoThe Billerica Amateur Radio Society one-day Tech Class was “a great success,” according to BARS’ Bruce Anderson, W1LUS.

“Thirty-three signed up for the class and 23 people actually showed up. Nineteen of the 22 people passed the Technician test.” Anderson explains that one of the original 33 actually passed the exam before the class. “After reading the ARRL book “Now You’re Talking” she decided to try the exam before the class. She is now KB1MSV.”

The class participants are now all BARS members and Anderson hopes to see them at future BARS meetings. He also encourages club members to greet the “new faces” and welcome them into the club and to Elmer them.

W1LUS credits his fellow instructors for the class: WO1N, N1HTS, AA1VS, and K1TWF, in addition to assistance from KB1CIC and KB1DMO. He also acknowledges the VEs who conducted the examination at the conclusion of the class: WO1N, K1LJN, K1TWF, AA1VS, N1HY and N1HTS.

“It took a lot of work to administer 35 exam elements,” says Anderson. “It was a very long day for the students and the instructors, but well worth it. Now I remember why we only do this once a year.”

—Billerica ARS Newsletter, December 2005

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net Tonight at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all….

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for December is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for December is Monday December 5th, 2005, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the RACES Nets earlier in the evening.

Make tonight, “Emergency Communications Night” and
check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are
always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

We will have several interesting announcements for the net this evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at
http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!
Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section 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/rmacedo
1

KY1N List of New England Volunteer Exams – 12/2/05

                        The KY1N Memorial List
Scheduled Amateur Radio Volunteer Examinations - CT MA ME NH RI VT
12/02/05
Jim, WW1Y, Editor
Date Time Contact Location Phone
12/03/05 11:30 Frank Sileo, N1PE Brookfield CT 203-438-0218
12/03/05 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
12/03/05 09:00 *Alan Shuman, N1FIK Manchester NH 603-487-3333
12/03/05 09:00 Jim Heedles, WW1Y Nashua NH 603-672-4035
12/03/05 08:45 Conrad Ekstrom, WB1GXM Newport NH 603-543-1389
12/06/05 19:00 Richard Strycharz Jr, KD1XP Northampton MA 413-665-2211
12/06/05 19:00 Joel T Curneal, N1JEO Wallingford CT 203-634-4444
12/08/05 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-231-6045
12/08/05 19:00 Kevin Cellini, N1KGM Trumbull CT 203-268-5015
12/09/05 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
12/10/05 09:00 Don Tarbet, KD1XU Bangor ME 207-327-1453
12/10/05 10:00 Bryce Rumery, K1GAX Bath ME 207-799-1116
12/10/05 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
12/10/05 09:00 Joanne Reid, N1LNE Falmouth MA 508-548-1121
12/10/05 09:00 Jack P Garforth, N1JK Middletown RI 401-683-2250
12/10/05 09:00 Steven Ewald, WV1X Newington CT 860-594-026512/11/05 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
12/12/05 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
12/12/05 19:00 Mike Ardai, N1IST Brookline MA 781-321-7939
12/13/05 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
12/14/05 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
12/15/05 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Norwood MA 508-668-0858
12/17/05 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
12/17/05 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
12/19/05 19:00 Arthur Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
12/20/05 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Middletown CT 860-635-1742
12/21/05 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
12/21/05 19:00 Robert E Moreland, KA1ZMF Milford CT 203-933-9587
12/23/05 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-592-4978
12/24/05 12:00 +Warren Hartman, W1LN Danvers MA 978-927-1015
12/28/05 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
12/31/05 09:00 Bob Jones, WB1P Slatersville RI 401-333-4787
01/07/06 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
01/07/06 09:00 Darryl Del Grosso, WA1DD New London CT 860-443-7799
01/08/06 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
01/09/06 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
01/09/06 19:00 Mike Ardai, N1IST Brookline MA 781-321-7939
01/10/06 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
01/11/06 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
01/12/06 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-231-6045
01/13/06 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
01/14/06 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
01/14/06 09:00 Joanne Reid, N1LNE Falmouth MA 508-548-1121
01/18/06 17:30 Donald R Smith, AE1Q Augusta ME 207-495-3891
01/18/06 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
01/19/06 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Norwood MA 508-668-0858
01/21/06 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
01/21/06 09:00 Bruce Howes, W1UJR South Portland ME 207-443-2140
01/25/06 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
01/27/06 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
01/28/06 12:00 +Warren Hartman, W1LN Danvers MA 978-927-1015
02/04/06 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
02/08/06 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
02/09/06 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-231-6045
02/10/06 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
02/11/06 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
02/11/06 09:00 Joanne Reid, N1LNE Falmouth MA 508-548-1121
02/12/06 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
02/13/06 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
02/13/06 19:00 Mike Ardai, N1IST Brookline MA 781-321-7939
02/14/06 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
02/15/06 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
02/16/06 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Norwood MA 508-668-0858
02/18/06 10:00 Bryce Rumery, K1GAX Bath ME 207-799-1116
02/18/06 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
02/22/06 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
02/24/06 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
02/24/06 09:00 Mitch Stern, W1SJ Milton VT 802-879-6589
02/25/06 12:00 +Warren Hartman, W1LN Danvers MA 978-927-1015
02/25/06 09:00 Jim Heedles, WW1Y Nashua NH 603-673-7395
03/04/06 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
03/08/06 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
03/09/06 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-231-6045
03/10/06 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
03/11/06 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
03/11/06 09:00 Joanne Reid, N1LNE Falmouth MA 508-548-1121
03/12/06 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
03/13/06 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
03/13/06 19:00 Mike Ardai, N1IST Brookline MA 781-321-7939
03/14/06 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
03/15/06 17:30 Donald R Smith, AE1Q Augusta ME 207-495-3891
03/16/06 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Norwood MA 508-668-0858
03/18/06 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
03/18/06 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
03/18/06 09:00 Bruce Howes, W1UJR South Portland ME 207-443-2140
03/22/06 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
03/22/06 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
03/24/06 18:00 *Mitch Stern, W1SJ Essex Junction VT 802-879-6589
03/24/06 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
03/25/06 12:00 +Warren Hartman, W1LN Danvers MA 978-927-1015
04/01/06 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
04/08/06 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
04/08/06 09:00 Joanne Reid, N1LNE Falmouth MA 508-548-1121
04/09/06 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
04/10/06 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
04/12/06 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
04/13/06 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-231-6045
04/14/06 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
04/15/06 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
04/19/06 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
04/20/06 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Norwood MA 508-668-0858
04/22/06 12:00 +Warren Hartman, W1LN Danvers MA 978-927-1015
04/26/06 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
04/28/06 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
05/06/06 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
05/06/06 09:00 Bill Studley, AA1OC Hopkinton NH 603-424-2857
05/08/06 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
05/10/06 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
05/11/06 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-231-6045
05/12/06 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
05/13/06 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
05/13/06 09:00 Joanne Reid, N1LNE Falmouth MA 508-548-1121
05/14/06 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
05/18/06 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Norwood MA 508-668-0858
05/20/06 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
05/24/06 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
05/24/06 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
05/26/06 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
05/27/06 12:00 +Warren Hartman, W1LN Danvers MA 978-927-1015

NOTES:
* = PREREGISTRATION MANDATORY
+ = PLEASE CALL TO GAURANTEE SEATING
T = Technician Exams only
Times are Local Time
Please check with the contact person as some dates are tentative!
For the latest examination information, check
http://www.ky1n.net/ky1n.html.
If attending a session please remember to bring:
1) One photo ID, or two non-photo ID's (one with address)
2) Original FCC-issued license plus a photocopy (if already licensed)
3) Original plus photocopies of all CSCE's you are claiming
4) The 2005 test session fee of $14.00
All VE Teams are invited to contribute.
For additions/corrections contact Jim Heedles, WW1Y, 603-672-4035,
via email at ky1n@ky1n.net

LAFD + Ham Radio = An Exciting Opportunity

John Salmi, KB1MGI posts:

http://lafd.blogspot.com/2005/12/lafd-ham-radio-exciting-opportunity.html

Thursday, December 01, 2005

The Los Angeles Fire Department has been chosen by the City’s Emergency Operations Organization to oversee its amateur radio program under the Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS) agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

LAFD Auxiliary Communications Service (LAFD ACS) volunteers provide essential communications support to the Los Angeles Fire Department during disasters and at LAFD-supported public service events, such as the recent Hollywood Christmas Parade.

In a strong show of support for the program and evidence of its importance, Fire Chief William Bamattre has authorized the LAFD ACS to enroll up to 500 licensed radio amateurs (ham radio operators) to supplement the Department’s existing communications network as needed.

If you are a licensed radio amateur, we welcome you to join or support the efforts of the LAFD ACS, a local Fire Corps program.

Not a Ham?

The LAFD ACS has a mentoring program designed to assist members of our community who desire to become FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operators. You can learn more by visiting the LAFD ACS website:

http://www.lafdacs.org

Submitted by Brian Humphrey (KG6IVD), Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

# posted by LAFD Media and Public Relations : 12/01/2005 03:07:00 PM