Month: February 2008

Some welcome news for students, staff, faculty and alumni of Northeastern University and the Northeastern Wireless Club, W1KBN: there is increasing activity on the part of the club and its members of late.

This past week, the club conducted a VE session comprised of volunteer examiners Joe Harris, N1QD; David Goncalves, W1EUJ, NU ’04; and Dave Potter, K1MBO, NUWC’s club advisor. According to N1QD, “six applicants walked in with nothing, and […] four Technicians and two Generals walked out.”

Adds Harris, “I am real proud of these guys for their accomplishments; it is reassuring to see that ham radio can still pull some interest in the 18- to 21-year-old age group.”

Thanks to the cooperation and assistance of the involved repeater owners on Cape Cod, ARRL Regulatory Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, said, “I am pleased to be able to pass along that at this time that the Department of Defense (DOD) has determined that the levels of harmful interference to the PAVE PAWS radar site on Cape Cod have been sufficiently reduced. As part of this determination, they are not rescheduling additional follow-up testing for that area until sometime in 2009.” [Full story]

The Walpole Emergency Management Communications Group will be hosting an Advanced Communications Workshop. Rob Macedo, KD1CY and the Eastern Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator staff of instructors will present this program.

The workshop will be held on Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM, April 12, 2008, at the Walpole Senior Center, Walpole Town Hall, 135 School Street, Walpole, Massachusetts. [Full story]

Don Rosinha, WA1BXY of Tiverton, R.I. writes on the SEMARA Discussion list:

On Monday nights, beginning March 3, 2008 at 8:00 pm on 3.547 MHz I am going to start a beginner’s CW net. If you guys would like to jump in, you are more than welcome.

It should be around 10 to 15 wpm (or slower if necessary) for the “newbies” to get their feet wet. There should also be some experienced operators checking in as well, and a few from around the country as well as locals from S.E. Massachusetts.

Falmouth Emergency Coordinator Heny Brown, K1WCC reported on the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association‘s activities during the recent Cape and Islands Winter Drill.

K1WCC said there was “less difficulty with intermod and blanking from competing RF resources.” Brown added that the group “utilized packet communications successfully as well.”

–Thanks, Falmouth ARA Newsletter, February 2008

Amateurs will play a key role in upcoming Plymouth Nuclear Power Plant Federal Emergency Management Agency-graded exercises for the Reception Center and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Taunton in April. In preparation for this exercise, there will be several practice drills run in February and March, according to Bruce Hayden, NI1X.

“You may hear ‘THIS IS A DRILL’ on the Taunton, Norwell and other area two-meter repeaters,” he writes.

“One part of the evacuation plan requires that there will be backup amateur radio communication between the EOCs in the host communities and the designated reception centers, transportation staging areas and host schools,” Hayden added.

Over twenty Whitman Amateur Radio Club members have registered as volunteers to assist at the local EOCs in Taunton, Bridgewater, Whitman, Carver, Pembroke, Plymouth, Brockton and Weymouth.

If a serious emergency occurred at the Plymouth nuclear power plant, those living within a 10-mile radius of the plant would be instructed to listen to radio advisories. In addition, state officials would start transporting students to host schools in Taunton, Bridgewater and Braintree, and reception centers in each of the three host communities would be made operational. The plans also call for Taunton Emergency Management Agency RACES Operators to staff the Emergency Operations Center, the reception center and the transportation staging area.

John Viveiros, a staff trainer for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reminds amateurs that it is vital to have plans in place to help work around all the unknown events “like a vehicle accident that blocks a main highway, or if equipment decides to fail at the wrong time.”

According to Viveiros, “As we improvise and work around these unexpected problems, it will probably take us a little longer to get the job done.”

Photo: Taunton High School Reception Center Drill: Rudy Burer, KB1LXI, Assistant Director, TEMA; Bruce Hayden NI1X; Don Burke KB1LXH

–Thanks, Whitman ARC Spectrum, February, 2008

PSLIST                                                February 18 2008

   Public Service Volunteer Opportunities in the New England Division
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  5 Newton, +   MA Multiple Sclerosis Journey   Bob WA1IDA                  508.650.9440

                                                             wa1ida@arrl.net

Apr 13 Boston      MA Multiple Sclerosis Walk      Bob WA1IDA                  508.650.9440

      + Cambridge MA                                         wa1ida@arrl.net

Apr 20 Boston      MA Women's Olympic Marathon Trial Bob WA1IDA                508.650.9440

      + Cambridge MA                                         wa1ida@arrl.net

Apr 21 Hopkinton   MA Boston Marathon Start        Bob K1IW                    508.393.4148

                                               http://marc.amateur-radio.net

Apr 21 Hopkinton   MA Boston Marathon Route/1st Aid Steve W3EVE                508.384.7697

      to Boston                                http://marc.amateur-radio.net

Apr 21 Boston      MA Boston Marathon Finish       Paul W1SEX                  978.632.9432

                                               http://marc.amateur-radio.net

Apr 27 Needham     MA Run of the Charles Canoe Race Bob WA1IDA                 508.650.9440

      to Boston   MA                                         wa1ida@arrl.net

May  4 Boston      MA Walk for Hunger              Eric KA1NCF

                                                             w4h@nsradio.org

Jun  8 Boston      MA Bikes Not Bombs Bike Ride    Bob WA1IDA                  508.650.9440

      + suburbs                                              wa1ida@arrl.net

Jul 12 Woburn      MA New England Classic Tour     Mike K1LJN                  978.244.0417

      see http://www.newenglandclassic.org                    k1ljn@arrl.net

Jul 13 Durham      NH New England Classic Tour     Mike K1LJN                  978.244.0417

                                                              k1ljn@arrl.net

Jul 14 Biddeford   ME New England Classic Tour     Mike K1LJN                  978.244.0417

                                                              k1ljn@arrl.net

Jul 15 North ConwayNH New England Classic Tour     Mike K1LJN                  978.244.0417

                                                              k1ljn@arrl.net

Jul 16 Northfield  VT New England Classic Tour     Mike K1LJN                  978.244.0417

                                                              k1ljn@arrl.net

Jul 17 Killington  VT New England Classic Tour     Mike K1LJN                  978.244.0417

                                                              k1ljn@arrl.net

Jul 18 Rindge      NH New England Classic Tour     Mike K1LJN                  978.244.0417

                                                              k1ljn@arrl.net

Oct 12 Boston      MA BAA Half Marathon            Bob WA1IDA                  508.650.9440

                                                             wa1ida@arrl.net
This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE

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Hello to all….

The following is a posting for the Advanced Emergency Communications Workshop scheduled for Saturday April 12th, 2008 in Walpole, Massachusetts. See announcement below:

Advanced Communications Workshop (ACW)
Saturday, April 12, 2008, 9AM to 4PM

The Walpole Emergency Management Communications Group will be hosting an Advanced Communications Workshop (ACW). Rob Macedo, KD1CY and the Eastern Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator staff of instructors will present this program.

The ACW will be held on Saturday from 9 AM-4 PM, April 12, 2008, at the Walpole Senior Center, Walpole Town Hall, 135 School Street, Walpole, Massachusetts.

Lunch will be provided at no coerced charge to those participating in the workshop, but we appreciate and accept donations from whoever can provide them.

Topics in the workshop will include:
Applications of VoIP modes (EchoLink, IRLP and D-Star) in Emergency Communications
Packet Radio
Winlink
Advanced Go Kits
We also hope to be able to answer many of your setup and operational questions on digital modes.

This program will be of particular interest to anyone involved in Emergency Communications, Digital Communications, ARES, RACES and/or the National Weather Service SKYWARN Program.

In order to plan for handouts, etc., pre-registration is requested.

Directions to the Walpole Town Hall:
http://maps.yahoo.com/
http://www.mapquest.com/

From Boston:
Take Route 95 south to Exit 10 – Coney Street. Turn right at top of exit ramp.
Turn left at the lights on to Route 1. (The Walpole Mall will be on the right)

Take Route 27 (High Plain Street) at next set of lights at top of hill.
Big Y is on left. Route 27 X through 3 sets of traffic lights. Route 27
(High Plain Street) merges left onto East Street. Take left onto School Street (after passing Blessed Sacrament Church on left at Diamond Street).
The Town Hall (former school building) is on right. Parking is in the rear.
Entrance to meeting room is on left as you face the rear of building.

From the South:
Take Route 95 north to Exit 9 – Route 1.
Take Route 1 north to lights at Route 27 (High Plain Street) (Applebee’s on your right). At lights take left onto Route 27(High Plain Street). Big Y is on left. Route 27 X through 3 sets of traffic lights. Rout 27 (High Plain Street) merges left onto East Street. Take left onto School Street (after passing Blessed Sacrament Church on left at Diamond Street). The Town Hall (former school building) is on right. Parking is in the rear. Entrance to meeting room is on left as you face the rear of building.

From the west – Medfield – Route 109
Take Route 27 to Walpole Center. Through set of lights at Route 1A, (Main
Street). School Street is the next intersection. Right onto School Street. The Town Hall (former school building) is on right. Parking in rear. Entrance to meeting room is on left as you face the rear of building.

There will be talk-in on the 146.895-Walpole Repeater, PL: 123.0.

For additional information and registration contact:

W1ZSA-Roger Turner rfturner@gis.net or wlp1ema@aol.com
K1HRV-Dave Doe d.doe@comcast.net
KD1CY-Rob Macedo rmacedo@rcn.com

There will be talk-in on the 146.895-Walpole Repeater, PL: 123.0.

This training should be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in learning more about emergency communications and amateur radio in general.

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://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
1

Leaders in Massachusetts’ RACES, ARES, Skywarn and MARS organizations met this weekend at the State’s Emergency Operations Center in Framingham. Attendees discussed a variety of topics, including:

* A proposed Rhode Island emergency drill in the spring
* A review of WebEOC
* NWS Storm Ready Program and Skywarn Support
* Increasing Amateur Radio PR opportunities
* Navy-Marine Corps MARS emergency readiness (NNN0DAB)
* BAA Boston Marathon
* Winlink 2K update

The various MARS services, ARES, and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency headquarters and regions were represented. Dennis Dura, K2DCD, ARRL’s Manager of Emergency Preparedness & Response also attended.

Pictured, above: Tom Kinahan, N1CPE, Massachusetts State RACES Officer. Photo courtesy W1MPN

John Flood, KB1FQG writes that he’s started a Yahoo Group for the popular Waltham Wranglers Swapnet that meets on the 146.64 repeater each Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM.

“You can use the mail list to sell your item here, as well as post photos to the file section if you so desire.”

–Thanks, KB1FQG

John Flood KB1FQG

Amateur radio received positive publicity in today’s Sunday Globe article entitled, “Have We Learned Anything? What the Blizzard of 1978 has taught us about emergency preparedness in Massachusetts.”

The City & Region front-page story by Boston Globe staff writer Peter J. Howe included the following text:

“In 1978, the [Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency] leaned heavily on amateur ham radio operators and citizens-band radio owners to share information. ‘There were people holed up in places that nobody knew about,’ [Peter] Judge [spokesman for MEMA] said, including makeshift shelters that rapidly ran out of food.

“Today, the agency still enlists 30,000 ham radio operators in a kind of emergency-information militia, but has sophisticated Web-based conferencing and information-sharing systems linking hundreds of state and local governmental agencies.”

Eastern MA Affiliated Club Coordinator Chris Smith, K1CJS writes:

Back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, the thought that a club council meeting regularly to pass information and ideas between clubs in the section was conceived and implemented. The birth of CEMARC, the Council of Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Clubs, was the result. The council met at quarterly intervals, and was an effective means of accomplishing the goals of that time–the exchange of information.

Since then, technological advancement and other changes have all but ended the need for quarterly meetings for the exchange of such information. In addition, because of other things we have less and less time to spare to attend those meetings. Lately, it seems we have to have to make time just to work the bands!

In an effort to reestablish a method of contact while not taking away from what little spare time we have, we have taken advantage of the web and the Yahoo Groups website to try to reestablish a common and direct route between clubs and ham operators in the section. The CEMARC group at Yahoo has been started to again provide a common, single channel of communication for all eastern Massachusetts section clubs.

Any ham operator may join the group–the only thing that is needed is a amateur radio call sign which will be verified before access is given. Stop by and give it a look see–and join. Hope to see you there!

In responding to H-4477, numerous amateurs from both Eastern and Western Massachusetts sections are reaching out to their respective house and state legislators.

Framingham Amateur Radio Association president Gordy Bello, K1GB reported communication with his state senator, Susan Fargo, and house representative Koutoujian. He received a return phone call from Fargo on Wednesday.

“Our discussion was obviously about the cell phone bill. She understands our position about the exemption and realizes its importance for public service and, more importantly, safety and survival.”

Bello clarified for Fargo the differences between Citizens Band and Amateur Radio. “She was somewhat aware of the role we play in emergencies and natural disasters. All in all it was a very upbeat conversation.”

Ironically, the existing “driver distraction law” already codified in MA law exempts Citizens Band — but not Amateur Radio operators. Bello suggests that, if H-4477 dies in the Senate, amateurs should consider pursuing some sort of amendment to add Amateur Radio to the existing law.

Mark Rubin, WB1ARZ, director of the Worcester Emergency Communications Team wholeheartedly agrees.

For its February 11, 2008 meeting, WECT has invited two senators — Ed Augustus and Hariette Chandler — along with ten house representatives, including Joe Wagner, sponsor of the original legislative amendment H-4477, and Frank Hynes who amended it for Amateur Radio.

“The invitations were sent via email [January 31] … no responses have been as yet received, though receipt of some emails were acknowledged,” Rubin writes. “[WECT] would be able to provide any representatives who attend a view of Amateur Radio and what we do. During our 15 minute coffee and refreshment break, the opportunity would be there for attending hams to speak with the representatives about Amateur Radio.”

WB1ARZ hopes that “at least a few” of the invitees accept their invitation. He encourages area hams to check the website “as the responses hopefully come in.”

For additional information on the current and proposed laws, contact ARRL MA State Government Liaison Shawn O’Donnell, K3HI. And for information on identifying your state senator or representative, go to http://www.mass.gov/legis/ and search by city/town or by ward/precinct.