Month: April 2007

The Minuteman Repeater Association is seeking six to eight people or more to work for a few hours at its Slygo Hill repeater site on June 9, 2007 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (A rain date of June 16 has been set.)

According to MMRA president Bob DeMattia, K1IW, attention needs to be paid to the structures and landscaping around the shelter housing the equipment.

“Currently we can’t open the fence. We need to cut back vines.” DeMattia adds that the Association must also replace the door since it now has a “rusted gap that lets rodents” into the shelter.

Interested parties should contact DeMattia at k1iw at mmra dot org.

–Thanks, MMRA The Minuteman, May 2007

Mark Pride, K1RX writes on the YCCC reflector:

“Unfortunately our local radio club was broken into on Sunday morning, April 22 where several pieces of radio equipment were stolen.

After having nearly all of the ARES members in the Port City Amateur Radio Club provide vital communications assistance during the flood last week that took out the Verizon Central Office in Raymond, NH and caused 5 surrounding towns to lose all telephone service during a 3 day outage, the following Sunday morning around 4:30 AM their club station was broken into and the following pieces of equipment were taken:

1 – Astron 35A power supply – no meters
1 – Yaesu FT1000 MkV Field HF Radio – Serial No. 2H070241 – display is dim
1 – Yaesu desk microphone
1 – Heil Goldline microphone
1 – Heil ProSet headset/microphone
2 – Heil headset adapters for Yaesu radios
1 – Manual for FT1000 Field
1 – Manual for FT1000 MP
1 – Heathkit SB220 Linear Amplifier (donated to the PCARC by KF1V)
1 – Footswitch for SB220 – may be marked “K1RX” on underside
1 – Center channel audio speaker
2 – bookshelf audio speakers
1 – handmade PTT switch – identifiable by KA1GJU
2 – approx. 6 foot section of coaxial cable w/ color coded tape markers

I am asking the YCCC that if any of these items turn up on your tour of various web sites, NEAR-Fest events or related events, to kindly contact me. The Greenland NH Police Department has already collected finger print
evidence and other critical items to aid in their investigation.

Truly unfortunate that a few can spoil a good thing for some many good folks!

Regards,

Mark, K1RX

Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club have documented an extensive project they undertook to build sets of band pass transmitting filters for reducing the interference between HF transceivers operated in close proximity.

The “Ugly” Filter web article describes various aspects of building the filters and traces the thoughts of the team that came up with the project and designed the filters. NVARC has used these filters since 2005 in field day and they have performed very well. The club has generously made the plans available for anyone that may wish to build the filters.

Public Service Volunteer Opportunities in the New England Division

April 22, 2007

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 22  Worcester  MA March of Dimes                John N2YHK   508.982.0617
                                                                n2yhk@WPI.EDU
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 Multiple Sclerosis Journey of Hope Bob WA1IDA 508.650.9440
        to Boston  MA                                         wa1ida@arrl.net  
May  5  Grafton    MA Grafton Gazebo Road Race      Andy KB1JRX  508.353.2738
                                               andrew.garabedian@cingular.com
May  6  Boston     MA Walk for Hunger               Bruce KC1US  781.275.3740
                                                      wfh07@amateur-radio.net
May  6  Milford    NH CROP Walk for Hunger          Russ K1TSV   603.673.9217
        Amherst    NH                                          k1tsv@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
May 20  Hadley     MA Hadley Mem. Day Road Race    Richard KD1XP 
                                                              kd1xp@kd1xp.org
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.

ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI writes:

To New England club presidents and newsletter editors:

Hope you’ve seen some new hams and a lot of upgrades to General and Extra in the last two months.

Please pass the word along to club members about the New England QSO Party on May 5th and 6th. This is a great operating event with good activity where everyone wants to work New England stations.

The full rules (and a lot more) can be found on the New England QSO Party web site at http://www.neqp.org/ and are included below.

Hope you’ll pass the word and join us in the fun!

73 Tom/K1KI for the NEQP team

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 5-6, 2007 and May 3-4, 2008).

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

Categories: Single operator high power, low power and QRP categories, plus multi operator, single transmitter. Use the same four categories for mobiles. Single operator stations using assistance during the contest (packet or Internet spotting nets, etc.) will compete in the multi single 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 7035 14040 21040 28040, SSB – 3850 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. There are thirty twenty plaques available to 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.

New England stations: We hope you will be able to get on for at least a short period of time to make some QSOs! Join in the fun!

——————————————————————————————–
New England QSO Party – May 5-6, 2007 http://www.neqp.org

Alan Martin, W1AHM writes on PART/WB1GOF list:

As we get into the thick of the public service event season, here are three sheets of information from the Crocker Public Service Group (at least two written by Bruce/KC1US, [CPSG] president):

Hints for Operating at Public Service Events (PDF)
http://transactor.amateur-radio.net/cpsg/hintscpsg.pdf

Equipment Checklist for Public Service Events (PDF)
http://transactor.amateur-radio.net/cpsg/psequipcpsg.pdf

FAQ: How long will my battery last? (PDF)
http://transactor.amateur-radio.net/cpsg/battery.pdf

Don’t be put off by the fact that they’re PDFs – they’re each only one page to read.

73’s,
/AHM (W1AHM)

The April 22, 2007 Sunday Globe carries an insightful article about Maine’s Governor John E. Baldacci, KB1NXP and his keen interest in emergency communications.

–Thanks, K1GL

Shown here: Les Peters, N1SV, presenting on “The Art of QSLing” at the March, 2007 meeting of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club. Peters’ presentation included: card design considerations, postage issues, IRCs, where to QSL, and many other aspects. N1SV has 325 countries confirmed.

–Thanks, Nashoba Valley ARC Signal, April 2007

From ARRLWeb: “The ARRL has been working with the US Department of Defense to develop a plan to mitigate alleged interference from 70 cm ham radio repeaters to military radar systems on both coasts. Amateur Radio is secondary to government users from 420 to 450 MHz and must not interfere with primary users. Citing an increasing number of interference complaints, the US Air Force has asked the FCC to order dozens of repeater systems to either mitigate interference to the “PAVE PAWS” radars or shut down. The Commission has not yet responded. The situation affects 15 repeaters within less than 100 miles of Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and more than 100 repeaters within some 140 miles of Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California.” [Full story] [See also: NESMC PAVE PAWS/UHF Repeater Update]

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is currently in negotiations with the City of Gloucester over the use of its club house, writes CAARA President Curtis Wright, AA3JE. Wright met recently with the mayor and his staff regarding the future of the 6 Stanwood Street property.

“I found it to be a meeting that was both encouraging and disappointing,” AA3JE writes. “It was disappointing because it is clear that Gloucester, once again, wishes to sell the […] property. They know it will not bring in much cash, but they have a serious issue with their bond rating which they must address urgently, or face significant and worsening increases in the cost of borrowing for the City.”

AA3JE adds that it was encouraging “to hear a clear statement from the City that the value they place on CAARA is much higher than the cost of [the property]. They are looking for a ‘win-win’ outcome.”

If CAARA retains a lease for the property, it must decide whether to invest its limited resources in maintaining the aging property. Wright says it may be possible that the City will “find CAARA a better site, with lower maintenance and utility costs.”

Club officials hope that a better alternative can be found. Says Wright, “Gloucester has other property they cannot sell, and they would like to migrate clubs, non-profits and other governmental and non-governmental organizations to those properties. Some are pretty nice, though the ‘Rohn 45 tower on top of City Hall’ idea was nixed.”

In the meantime, CAARA plans to work with the City and see what options develop. The City has publicly promised CAARA that it may bid for a 6-12 month extension on its current lease, and a promise that CAARA can stay where it is unless and until a better site can be found.

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association voted at its March 29, 2007 meeting to donate funds towards a science playground program at Falmouth’s Mullen Hall School.

According to FARA Treasurer Saul Dinman, K1BI, the science playground is “in the planning stages.” The school is seeking funds to “build various activity areas in science.” The club has decided to explore supporting a radio-oriented project at the playground; it voted to pledge $500 towards the project.

Dinman, and FARA member John Gould, WX1K will investigate the project further and report to the club on next steps.

–Thanks, Falmouth ARA Newsletter, April 2007

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association is expanding upon its emergency preparedness with the Town of Falmouth, writes FARA Secretary George Jones, N1GJ.

Club members Lyn Gould, N1LYN and Henry Brown, K1WCC are scheduled to meet with the Town’s Fire Chief on April 26 to conduct a “table evaluation” exercise. The Chief also wants to have packet radio “up and running.” According to N1LYN, this will happen by mid-April.

–Thanks, Falmouth ARA Newsletter, April, 2007

The Wellesley Amateur Radio Society has been invited to return and assist with organizing the Wellesley Wonderful Weekend Parade on Sunday, May 20, 2007, according to WARS President Dan Brown, W1DAN.

“I guess previous successes prove our worth,” Brown writes. “I am looking for six to eight volunteers who are willing to spend a few hours on a Sunday to get participants in the proper marching order and communicate this and other information.” W1DAN adds that volunteers need not have any previous experience. “We can help train you ‘on the job.'”

–Thanks, Wellesley ARS The Sparkgap, April 2007

“Whitey” Doherty, K1VV writes:

RADIO MARITIME DAY from 8:00 AM EDST (1200 UTC) APRIL 14 to 8:00 AM EDST (1200 UTC) April 15, 2007. See http://www.radiomaritimeday.org:80/ for rules and details.

This an all CW special event. Former maritime radio operators will be calling “CQ MRD”. The exchange will be their Name and their last Ship Call Sign, “Op Bob last ship NEGX NEGX”.

The ship and shore operators will adjust their CW speed for the slower CW operators.

Taking part from EMA will be:

W1AAX / WFQB, Overseas Marilyn (Grain Carrier)
W1QWT / NEGX USS Fulton AS-11( Submarine Tender).
K1VV / NJPJ Reliance WMEC 615( USCG Cutter).

Ship Photo QSL cards will be used by the ship operators.

There will be several hundred former ship and shore based maritime radio operators worldwide taking part. The list of operators and their ships and shore stations is listed on the Radio Maritime Day web page.

If you are interested in collecting some “one of a kind” unique QSL cards, this is an event you should tune into.

Suggested RMD FREQUENCIES LIST

Plus / minus 5kc/s
1824 khz, 3520 khz, 7020 khz, 14052 khz, 21052 khz, 28052 khz

Since some of these frequencies are in the Extra Class part of the band for 80 and 40 meters so we will start on 3552 khz at 8:00 AM on April 14th, then go to 7252 khz about 9:00 AM. Operating frequencies are +- 5 khz.

73 Whitey K1VV / NJPJ