Month: March 2007

Len Schaier, K2IVX writes:

Please consider asking the members of your club to support HR 462, a bill that requires the FCC to report back to congress on interference issues associated with the BPL technology. There is an article on BPL in the current issue of QST. I have attached two letters (see below) that your members might find useful. Please feel free to suggest that they be modified/personalized.

If you are not familiar with the kind of interference that BPL can cause, please see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdcY0Eetvsw

If for some reason that link does not work, please search

“Broadband over Powerlines – An Radio Amateur’s Perspective”,

Also, please note that Edward J. Markey from MA is Chairman of the SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND THE INTERNET (where the Bill is in Committee). If you live in his district then your input might be especially valuable.

Thanks in advance,

Len, K2IVX

* Formal BPL example letter
* Not-so-formal BPL example letter

PSLIST

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

Apr 16  Hopkinton  MA Boston Marathon              Steve W3EVE   508.922.9688
         to Boston MA                                          w3eve@arrl.net
         please register via http://www.amateur-radio.net/marc
Apr 21  Townsend   MA Squannacook 2 Man Canoe Race  Gary K1YTS   978-815-4992
                                                               k1yts@arrl.net
Apr 29  Boston     MA Multiple Sclerosis Walk       Bob WA1IDA   508.650.9440
                                                              wa1ida@arrl.net
Apr 29  Groton     MA Groton Road Race             Ralph KD1SM   978.582.7351
                                                               kd1sm@arrl.net
Apr 29  Needham    MA Run of the Charles canoe race Bob WA1IDA   508.650.9440
        to Boston  MA                                         wa1ida@arrl.net
Apr 29  Wellesley  MA MS Journey of Hope Bob WA1IDA 508.650.9440
        to Boston  MA                                         wa1ida@arrl.net  
May  6  Portsmouth NH Am Diabetes Tour de Cure     Joel KB1KBD
                                                              kb1kbd@arrl.net
May 12  Westford   MA Apple Blossom Parade         Terry KA8SCP  978.692.2069
                                                              ka8scp@arrl.net
May 19  Portsmouth NH NH Lung Clean Air Challenge  Dave KA1VJU
     to 20                                                  ka1vju@cnharc.org
May 20  Devens     MA Parker Road Race             Stan  KD1LE   978.433.5090
Jun 16  Mt WashngtnNH Mt Washington Road Race      Cliff N1RCQ
                             n1rcq@amsat.org or Dave KA1VJU ka1vju@cnharc.org
Jul  7  Mt WashngtnNH Newton's Revenge cycle race  Cliff N1RCQ
                             n1rcq@amsat.org or Dave KA1VJU ka1vju@cnharc.org
Aug 18  Mt WashngtnNH Mt. Wash. Bicycle Hill Climb Cliff N1RCQ
                             n1rcq@amsat.org or Dave KA1VJU ka1vju@cnharc.org
Aug 19  Mt WashngtnNH Mt. Washington Century Ride  Cliff N1RCQ
                             n1rcq@amsat.org or Dave KA1VJU ka1vju@cnharc.org
Sep 29  Bristol    NH NH Marathon                  Cliff N1RCQ
                             n1rcq@amsat.org or Dave KA1VJU ka1vju@cnharc.org

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:

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.

-30-

A recent inquiry to ARRL Headquarters by an Eastern MA member who has been missing emailed copies of the ARRL Letter has revealed that internet service provider Comcast is, once again, blocking electronic mail from the League.

In response to a March 28, 2007 email from Bob Salow, WA1IDA, ARRL staffer Jon Bloom, KE3Z, writes, “Comcast has been blocking our server. We have arranged to have it unblocked — again — and we have asked them not to block again without first contacting us. Whether that will work, I can’t say.”

Bloom goes on to note, “I know it’s frustrating, but really, it’s Comcast that’s doing the blocking, not us. They are the only ISP with which we have this recurring problem.”

Lou Harris, N1UEC, NESMC UHF Coordinator writes:

There has been a lot of mis-information going around about the afflicted UHF machines related to the PAVE PAWS interference issue raised by the United States Air Force.

Let me start by saying, at the moment, nothing has yet been passed down from the FCC regarding this issue, and, to that end, we are asking the trustees of the affected machines to be sure that their machines are still operating on their original frequencies. I fully expect that a decision from the FCC will be forthcoming within the next six to eight weeks.

Specific information as to what machines are currently under scrutiny will only be released to the trustees of those machines. They have all been contacted, and, have complied to date with all requests from the USAF.

Suffice it to say that there are 13 machines in the New England area that are being scrutinized. There is apparently no logical rhyme or reason as to the machines that have been singled out from a distance, bearing, power, coverage, topographical or frequency perspective. Any questions to the USAF for technical information as to why these machines were targeted was met with typical statements regarding classified details that could not be released.

The other point that we must all remember is that we are the SECONDARY allocation in the UHF spectrum from 420 to 450 and that the USAF is the primary user of the spectrum. To that end, we must attempt to mitigate the interference to the satisfaction of the primary user.

We should all be thankful that we are not in the Sacramento, CA area, as they have about 60 machines under scrutiny.

This sensitive matter has been brought to the attention of all the powers that be; the ARRL, and the FCC are seemingly on our side.

If I have not contacted you as the trustee of a machine that has been targeted by the USAF, your machine is not under scrutiny and you may continue to operate it normally.

Thanks again to the trustees for their expeditious compliance in these tough times.

Lou Harris
UHF Frequency Coordinator, NESMC

Students at the recent Framingham Amateur Radio Association‘s License-In-A-Weekend course braved brutal winter weather conditions but they persevered, according to Director of Training Ed Weiss, W1NXC. Of the seven students, all earned their Technician licenses at the weekend course.

“Congratulations to an outstanding group of students who braved the tough weather and a great bunch of teachers! It was a pleasure to participate,” wrote FARA’s Lee Gartenberg, K1GL.

“The Friday night ice/snow storm only had one topic, so we squeezed it into Saturday with no real problems,” added W1NXC. “In fact, it points out that we could do this in just two days.”

Weiss was ably assisted by volunteer instructors N1DB, W1EQW, K1KEB, K1GL, KA1AXY, W1VIV and KA1HGL.

The course marked Framingham ARA’s 14th class, which the club began in 1995. According to Weiss, FARA has introduced 165 people to the Amateur Radio hobby, some as young as 9 and as old as 89!

Hello to all….

The following was forwarded by Public Information Coordinator, Ron Wood-W1PLW from Mark Rubin-WB1ARZ Worcester Emergency Communications Team (WECT) Director:

Team,

It is long been thought that we need a refresher class on NTS traffic and particularly net procedure and protocol. On that note, Team Member, Ralph, KD1SM has agreed to teach such a class which we are calling “Traffic School.” This class will take place on Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 10 a.m. – Noon at the Worcester ECC Building (i.e. National Guard Building) at 50 Skyline Drive, Worcester. The course is free and open to all area hams and will go over NTS traffic writing, Net protocol and procedure and tactical messaging. Students are strongly encouraged to bring with them a notepad, pen and H-T. In addition to being a member of WECT, Ralph KD1SM, currently serves as one of our ARES ASM for WMA in addition is other affiliations. Ralph is also a regular NCS for CM2MN on Friday nights at 9 p.m. on the 146.970 Paxton Repeater. For details regarding the class check out our WECT website at http://www.wect.net.

If you are new to Emergency communications or just in need of a refresher this is a good beginners program from which to learn. We would appreciate a rough head count, so if you think you will be attending, please email me at wb1arz@aol.com.

Thanks and 73,

Mark, WB1ARZ
Director, WECT
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Pictured here: Eastern MA ARRL Section Manager Art Greenberg, K1GBX, speaking at a recent meeting of the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association in Gloucester.

Greenberg updated the CAARA membership on ARRL lobbying efforts and other programs, as well as describing his proposed youth corps program.

K1GBX is available to speak at your local radio club.

K9HI photo

Tom Kinahan, N1CPE writes on MRAS-General list:

The following new courses have been added to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s training calendar:

Incident Command System 200 at Brockton Public Library on March 21, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Fitchburg Fire Station on May 23, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Wilmington Public Safety Building on June 11, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Westminster Fire Department on June 19, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Fall River Fire Headquarters on June 26, 2007

Incident Command System 400 at Grafton Police Station on April 25, 2007

Incident Command System 400 at Lowell Police Academy (Cross Point Towers) Room A on May 22, 2007

Incident Command System-300 UASI ONLY at Quincy Emergency Management Agency on June 12, 2007

Visit our web site for more details.

Daylight-saving time began three weeks earlier this year, on Sunday morning, March 11. While moving the clock ahead one hour, be sure to place fresh batteries into smoke detectors and NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers. [Full story]

Thanks, N1VUX

Pictured here: Matt Strelow, KC1XX, of XX Towers installs a new 8-element log periodic antenna at the Harvard Wireless Club in Cambridge. Assisting Matt were HWC members K1XQ, W1XW and W1HFA. Photo courtesy W1HFA

Hello to all….

Tom Kinahan-N1CPE, Massachusetts State RACES Radio Offier, has posted the following ICS Class offerings from the MEMA Training Calendar. See list below:

The following new courses have been added to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s training calendar:

Incident Command System 200 at Brockton Public Library on March 21, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Fitchburg Fire Station on May 23, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Wilmington Public Safety Building on June 11, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Westminster Fire Department on June 19, 2007

Incident Command System 300 at Fall River Fire Headquarters on June 26, 2007

Incident Command System 400 at Grafton Police Station on April 25, 2007

Incident Command System 400 at LowellPolice Academy (Cross Point Towers) Room A on May 22, 2007

Incident Command System-300 UASI ONLY at Quincy Emergency Management Agency on June 12, 2007

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

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will conduct its highly touted “License in a Weekend” Technician class Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27 at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds Classroom on Route 151. [Map]

The class runs Friday 7-9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-2 p.m., culminating in an exam session at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The fee for the course is $55.00 and includes the course text, ARRL’s Tech Q&A, fourth edition. You must have this text to attend course. The registration is first come, first serve. The class closes with first 25 paid reservations. The class includes a Saturday and Sunday lunch and a one-year free Falmouth ARA membership.

Go to http://www.falara.org/Classes/cnbform.html to register on-line for the course.

Several members of the Billerica Amateur Radio Society were featured in a nice write-up in the March 5, 2007 issue of the Lowell Sun On-line. The article highlights the efforts of K0TV, KB1NEF, WO1N and others operating in the recent ARRL International DX Contest from the home of Jerry Muller, K0TV in Hudson, NH. [Full article]