Month: August 2006

“The Multiple Sclerosis Challenge Walk will be utilizing the Barnstable 146.955 repeater for their event on September 8, 9 and 10th.

“All non-event traffic is asked to please keep use to a minimum, or use an alternate repeater if possible during the event hours. Net control will be N1PYN.”

For more information on the event please visit
http://www.maraces.org/mscw.htm.

–Thanks, Barnstable ARC web site

Ted Wright, N1OHV reports that a hidden transmitter has been deployed in the Dartmouth vicinity, and it’s waiting for hunters to find it.

“That wiley, cunning little fox is loose again,” Wright writes on the SEMARA-Members mailing list. “He managed to grab a battery and get loose from my basement. OOPS!”

N1OHV says the fox is hiding in an old ammo can chained to a tree somewhere in Dartmouth. The hidden transmitter identifies every 10 minutes on 145.600 MHz. It can be heard from Routes 6 and 195.

Wright has a number of suggestions for new and experienced fox hunters alike. “Wrap a cardboard tube with aluminum foil so you can stick your handheld in it for attenuation, dust off that old handy finder, that old portable yagi, that old adcock, that squeaky Doppler unit, that near-field receiver, that… well, you get the idea.”

Tim Smith, N1TI writes:

Just a reminder that the [Southeastern MA ARA] tailgate will be [on September 10, 2006]. It’s an informal affair and the best of all there is no admission fee! Restroom facilities and plenty of tailgate space is available on a first come, first served basis. Thanks to the ARRL we will be offering a raffle drawing for two very popular ARRL publications:

* The 2006 ARRL Handbook valued at $39.95

* The 2006 ARRL Antenna Handbook valued at $44.95

Thank you ARRL!

The club is located on 54 Donald St. in South Dartmouth, MA For directions, visit http://tinyurl.com/ghgzg. Additional talk-in help will be available on 147.000/+600/PL67.

The start time is also informal… come anytime Sunday morning. We expect to have the club and restroom facilities open by 8AM and we’ll hold the raffle at noon. At this time I can’t vouch for the availability of refreshments, but there are several drive thrus on the way in or very near by. More news on that as the date nears.
We continue to be grateful if you promote the event at your local meetings, nets, web sites and newletters. Our club is over 300 strong and we openly welcome visitors at any time. Our regular club meetings are the first Thursday of the month at 7PM. We also hold a variety of daily and weekly nets that you can find schedules for on our web site at http://www.semara.org. Please mark your calendars now.

Attention SEMARA members: I still need a few bodies to help with parking and cleanup. There is not much to do during te event except buy and sell, but your help even for just a few minutes would be highly valued. We also need a few people to rotate the talk-in duties on 147.000. Please contact me for arrangements.

We would also appreciate that if you have items to discard that you make arrangements to take these items back with you. We will not be able to accomodate disposals of heavy iron, monitors or any type of hardware. The trash receptacles on the premise are for household rubbish. We appreciate your help in managing this.

Please direct all inquiries to Tim Smith, n1ti@arrl.net.

Thanks & 73,

Tim Smith, N1TI
SEMARA Flea Coordinator
South Eastern Massachusett Amateur Radio Association
54 Donald St.
Dartmouth, MA
n1ti@arrl.net

Listing public events at which Amateur Radio communications is providing a public service and for which additional volunteers from the Amateur Community are needed and welcome. Please contact the person listed to identify how you may serve and what equipment you may need to bring.

The most up-to-date copy of this list is maintained as http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv.
**** Every event listed is looking for communications volunteers ****

Date      Location     Event                       Contact        Tel/Email

Aug 19  Conway     NH Mt. Wash Auto Road Hillclimb Cliff N1RCQ   603-522-3943
                                                             n1rcq@cnharc.org
Aug 20  Conway     NH Mt. Wash Auto Road Hillclimb Cliff N1RCQ   603-522-3943
                                                             n1rcq@cnharc.org
Aug 27  Lakeville  MA Cranberry Country Triathlon  Tony N1XRS    508-889-1174
                                                         tdduarte@comcast.net 
Sep  3  Boston     MA Boston Triathlon             Bob WA1IDA    508-650-9440
                                                              wa1ida@arrl.net
Sep  8  Hyannis    MA MS Challenge Walk            John N1PYN    508-588-3250
        to Brewster                                            n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep  9  Brewster   MA MS Challenge Walk            Clayton KB1IBB
        to Eastham                                       arcywick@comcast.net
Sep 10  Brewster   MA MS Challenge Walk            John N1PYN    508-588-3250
        to Dennis                                              n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 17  Hopkinton  MA Jimmy Fund Walk              Steve W3EVE   508-922-9688
        to Boston  MA                                          w3eve@arrl.net
Sep 30  Hollis     NH Applefest Half Marathon      Fletch N1MEO  603-673-3036
                                                               n1meo@arrl.net
Oct  8  Boston     MA BAA Half Marathon            Bob WA1IDA    508-650-9440
                                                              wa1ida@arrl.net
Oct  8  Westford   MA Tour de Westford Bike Ride   Dave WI1R     978-692-7797
                                                                wi1r@arrl.net
Oct  8  Monroe     MA Monroe Trail Races           Richard KD1XP 
                                                              kd1xp@kd1xp.org
Oct 20  Cambridge  MA Head of the Charles Regatta  Jeff K1EMS    978-536-2842
                                                          RWJeffA@comcast.net
Oct 21  Cambridge  MA Head of the Charles Regatta  Jeff K1EMS    978-536-2842
                                                          RWJeffA@comcast.net
Oct 22  Cambridge  MA Head of the Charles Regatta  Jeff K1EMS    978-536-2842
                                                          RWJeffA@comcast.net
Nov 11  Lowell     MA Lowell Youth Soccer Tourn.   Ron KB1KRG    781-752-5885
                                                              kb1krg@arrl.net
Nov 12  Lowell     MA Lowell Youth Soccer Tourn.   Ron KB1KRG    781-752-5885
                                                              kb1krg@arrl.net

This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE and Ralph KD1SM. Our usual distribution is via packet to NEBBS, via Internet mail to the arrl-nediv-list and ema-arrl distribution lists, and on the World Wide Web. If other mailing list owners wish us to distribute via their lists we will be happy to oblige. Permission is herewith granted to republish this list in its entirety provided credit is given to the authors and the Web address below is included. Send comments, corrections, and updates to:

(via packet) KD1SM@K1UGM.#EMA.MA.USA,
(via Internet) KD1SM@ARRL.NET.

We make an attempt to confirm entries with the coordinator unless the information is from another published source. We very much appreciate the assistance we have been receiving from our ‘scouts’; everyone is welcome to send us postings.
Refer to http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv for the most recent version of the PSLIST.

Gene Balinski, K1NR writes:

Nels, K1UR and I will be operating mobile tomorrow (Saturday, August 19) from the Marblehead Light on Marblehead Neck, MA., in support of the (International) Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend on the air.

Please look for us on 3990, 7275,14320,18160, plus/minus QRM. Operating times: 14:30Z – 20:30Z. We will be using callsign K1UR.

For more information about International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend, visit http://illw.net/.

Carl Bredberg, K1KID writes on the Southeastern MA ARA Members List:

“Semara’s Lowfer QRP group is planning to meet at the club house this Saturday morning at 11:00 am. From there we plan to go to and operate from Ft. Rodman [in New Bedford]. All members (and non members) are invited to join us.

“If you have QRP gear bring it along. If you have no QRP gear then there will be radios there for you to operate. Even if you are not personally CW capable, come see what you are missing. It might be incentive enough to study for the CW exam.”

N1DT and K1VV plan to activate Gurnet (USA 609) and Duxbury Pier (Bug) Light (USA 251) under the call W1AA for the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend on August 19, 2006 from 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC) until about 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC).

International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend is held annually to promote public awareness of ham radio and lighthouses; to contribute to the recognition that lighthouses, lightships, and their keepers deserve.

Whitey, K1VV notes that he and N1DT will begin operations on 75 meters, above 3980 kHz. “Check 3996.” On 40 phone, look for W1AA between the nets, most likely below 7270, down to 7225. Whitey says they’ll also use 20 phone later in the morning above 14310, or 17 meters above 18150. “We will return to 40 phone about 1530 to 1600 UTC, about noon local time.”

Morse code operation will be conducted roughly on the half hour, on 7035, 10116, 14035 and 18080 kHz, plus or minus QRM.

“We will be posting our spots on the DX Summit. but we would appreciate any and all W1AA spots by the members.” He adds, “DX QSLs are via the W1 Bureau and stateside are via W1AA please with an SASE. A photo of the lighthouse will be furnished.”

For more information about International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend, visit http://illw.net/.

Members of the Whitman Amateur Radio Club are gearing up for the annual Marshfield Fair with a special event station and Amateur Radio exhibit booth August 18-27. Bill Hayden, N1FRE is coordinating the event. He has secured passes for all volunteers who have signed up thus far. According to Hayden, most of the four-hour shifts have been filled, but he is still soliciting volunteers to staff the event.

As in years past, hams will explain Amateur Radio to the public and introduce youngsters to Morse code. Last year, the crew made approximately 150 contacts with 31 states, 15 foreign countries, and two Canadian provinces.

—Thanks, Whitman ARC Spectrum, August, 2006

Bob Salow, WA1IDA writes on barc-list:

After five years of successful events, the Boston Triathlon now takes its place as a “tradition.” Ham radio has established its community value at times like these. We have been asked again to support safety communications. With a little fine tuning, including many ideas from hams, the event is expected to be even better than last year.

For those who have done this event before, you know the road conditions still call for our best support for the athletes. We need you again, and the Race Director has asked for even more ham help (that’s what happens when we are appreciated).

The triathlon consists of a swim in the harbor around the World Trade Center (WTC) in South Boston; bike from there through downtown Boston, Charlestown, across and around Cambridge, and back to the WTC; and run from the WTC into and around the Marine Industrial Park and finish at the WTC. Exhausting? Yes for the racers, no for us hams.

Date: Sunday, 3 September 2006

Ham start: 0600

Ham finish: 0930 to 1100

The ham start time is governed by road closures and access to the station locations. It is important to be at the assigned locations on time (even if you are the first one there) – the triathletes move very fast (I don’t know how they do it), so the course is occupied quickly.

Yes, I know it is the day before Labor Day. The upside is it starts early and ends early, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the long weekend. Your help is greatly needed to continue this as a superb event and to uphold our reputation for dependable support. Our assignments consist of monitoring hazardous and critical locations along the course, and the medical/support stations. As we did last year, we plan to use a 2-meter repeater and/or a 70-cm repeater. Hand-held with a good battery is the way to go.

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience with ham radio public service, this is the way to become familiar without much pressure. If you can help, please contact me as soon as possible. I will email the assignments and more detail as soon as they are available. For most assignments, you can go directly to your station.

Time is short, so please let me know quickly if you can help. If you reply from an email address other than the one best for you, let me know. Also, please send me a phone number (cell, also). Parking should be available very close to each assignment. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks and 73,

Bob Salow, WA1IDA

508.650.9440

wa1ida@arrl.net

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

An additional note:

This is the first of a few of the public service events for this fall which are coordinated by the Boston Amateur Radio Club. In the near future I will be sending you information about each. I hope you can help with all or some of these opportunities to demonstrate our skills to the community. Here is a summary of events coming up in the next couple of months:

** 16 September – WGBH Ice Cream FunFest – Logistics management, ham radio public awareness.

** 8 October – BAA Half Marathon – 13.1 miles, 98% in Boston, 2% in Brookline.

On August 2, Terry Stader, KA8SCP received a request for Amateur Radio communications assistance for a shelter in Westford during the recent heat emergency. Stader sought at least two people to staff two shifts, six-to-eight hours in length. He polled members of the Police Amateur Radio Team of Westford and others in the area. A total of five amateurs volunteered: WI1R, AA1VS, WA1VIE, K1LJN and KA8SCP. “Coincidently, these folks are also Community Emergency Response Team members in the Merrimack Valley,” writes KA8SCP.

“Shelter ops were conducted at the Cameron Senior Center on only one night–Tuesday night,” according to Stader. “I got the phone call late Tuesday night around 10:15 PM that there was an elderly woman from the Graniteville side of town who was without power and was going to be transported to the senior center.”

Stader adds that it was originally “only going to be for a couple of hours” but ended up being all night. Once the electric company repaired the outage, the woman was transported back home and the shelter operation was closed about 4:45 AM.

“I’ve been asked to pass on thank you from Chief Rochon, Tim Whitcomb and Captain Joe Targ to those that offered to assist,” adds KA8SCP. “I, too, would like to thank those of you that offered to help and stood by ready to go to Cameron if needed. Fortunately we were only called to action the one night.”