Reminder: Monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net for December 2008

Hello to all…

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for December is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for December is Monday December 1st, 2008, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the RACES Nets earlier in the evening. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site and the repeaters that will be linked in will be through Hub 1:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/map.html

In addition, if the Echo-IRLP node on the MMRA hub is available, we will likely link that to the New England Reflector system on IRLP 9123/Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG* Node: 9123.

Make the first Monday of the month, “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 that 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://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
1

W1MX Sweepstakes Check: “09?”

W1MX QSL cardThe November 26, 2008 issue of the ARRL Contest Update newsletter carries this interesting item about the MIT Radio Society, W1MX and other old school club stations:

In the last issue, W1MX’s Sweepstakes check of “09” was projected to “lap the field” next year as the new 2009 licensees discover radiosport. Steve W3HF points out that the first actual licenses were not issued until 1912, so “a strict interpretation of the Sweepstakes rules would therefore say that the oldest check would be ’12’.” Checking further (so to speak), Steve found 1MX in the 1916 call book, but listed as “Calley” – MIT came later in the 1922 edition. Stations associated with educational institutions were considered “Special Land Stations” in 1913 and received call sign suffixes beginning with Y. There were ten: 9YI, 8XA, 3ZH, 9XB, 1YH, 9YN, 6YL, 2YN, 3XJ, and 9YC. The station holding its call continuously since the 1913 call book, at least, is present-day W0YI at Iowa State. Then 9YI, the W was likely tacked on in 1928 and the number converted to 0 in 1947 when the tenth district was formed. It would be great to hear some of these seminal calls on the air!

Hams Help In Marlborough Pandemic Inoculation Program

Rich Zack, K1RJZ writes on FraminghamARA-L:

W1KAB and the Algonquin Amateur Radio Club were helping with [the City of Marlborough’s] Health Dept flu shots today. What makes it really interesting was that this was actually a training exercise for a city-wide pandemic inoculation protocol. Hospital staff, hams, The Lions Club and city employees all participated. The fact that the hams had portable radios was inconsequential. The fact that the ham club was THERE to produce bodies and volunteers in quantity was the key for today anyway. Staff and volunteers clearly outnumbered those in need of flu shots.

This was exceedingly well organized to handle a civilian population volume much larger than today’s exercise. I was impressed. Something to think about.

Ham Radio And The Arts: “Silent Key”

BCA logoSilent Key QSL pieceThe Boston Center for the Arts announces artist Cindy Bernard’s exhibition entitled “Silent Key”–“photographs and pigment prints inspired by the artist’s grandfather Bill Adam’s experience as a ham radio operator from 1923 until his death in 1999.” [Bill Adams was W6ANN.]

Bernard uses the “concept of sound as subject, exploring the communication between her grandfather and other ham operators across time and space.”

The exhibition will be on view at the Boston Center for the Arts from December 12, 2008 until February 15, 2009. The Center is located at 527-551 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End. It is easily accessible via MBTA subway and bus lines.

To schedule a group tour of a Mills Gallery exhibition, email Nova Benway at nbenway@bcaonline.org two weeks in advance. The BCA will contact you to confirm your reservation. Tours are free and are led by Visual Arts interns. All ages are welcome.

Mills Gallery Hours of Operation: Wednesday: 12 – 5 pm; Thursday – Saturday: 12 – 9 pm; Sunday: 12 – 5 pm. For more information about programming at the Boston Center for the Arts visit http://www.bcaonline.org.

EMA SECTION MANAGER ELECTIONS RESULTS

In the Eastern Massachusetts election, Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, of Hudson, defeated incumbent Section Manager Art Greenberg, K1GBX, of Georgetown. Neilsen received 660 votes to Greenberg’s 224. Neilsen served as Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager from January 2005-December 2006. Just prior to his first term as Section Manager, he served as the Section Emergency Coordinator for the Section from September 2001-January 2005.

W1MPN Defeats K1GBX In Eastern MA Section Manager Election

EMA ARRL logoMike Nielsen, W1MPN, of Hudson, defeated incumbent Section Manager Art Greenberg, K1GBX, of Georgetown. Nielson received 660 votes to Greenberg’s 224. Neilsen served as Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager from January 2005-December 2006. Just prior to his first term as Section Manager, he served as the Section Emergency Coordinator for the Section from September 2001-January 2005.

Neilsen assumes the Section Manager leadership role on January 1, 2009.

–Thanks, ARRL

Boston ARC To Operate SKYWARN Recognition Day

Boston ARC logoMark Duff, KB1EKN writes in Boston ARC’s The SPARC:

On Saturday, December 6, 2008, SKYWARN Recognition Day, the Boston Amateur Radio Club will participate for the sixth straight year from the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton. Our operating hours will be from 0900 to 1500. Mark your calendars now for a fun event.

Fun – you want some fun? How about an antenna held 200 feet aloft by a kite in 2004? Then there was the gale-force snowstorm in 2003. There are antennas to be installed and HF/VHF/UHF stations to be operated. We have the opportunity to meet with visitors to demonstrate and explain the relationship between weather observation and ham radio. All this will be at the weather station with the oldest continuous weather records in the country.

On a good day the visibility is over 100 miles from the Blue Hill Observatory. We invite you and any other hams to help and participate. Operating at this location we will use the call sign W1BOS/MQE. The “MQE” reference is the original identifier for this meteorological station which holds the oldest continuous weather records in the country.

Taunton SKYWARN Ops Receive Award For Excellence

SKYWARN awardMembers of the Taunton SKYWARN ARC Team received an Excellence Award from the meteorologists at the Taunton National Weather Service office on November 15, 2008.

The award was presented to the group by NWS Taunton forecasters Bob Thompson, Glenn Field, Bill Babcock and Eleanor Vallier-Talbot.

“Today was a special meeting,” remarked ARES SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. “I wasn’t expecting the trophy that’s sitting on top of the power supply here at the station. I was surprised. Very well done, I must say.”

The award meant even more to the amateur radio team since it was funded not by NOAA but rather, by the forecasters at the station who paid for it out of their own pockets.
WX1BOX team
The award reads: “Presented to NWS-TAUNTON AMATEUR RADIO TEAM / WX1BOX With Sincere appreciation for your long-standing commitment to the National Weather Service and the people of southern New England… and with particular recognition for your tireless support during the unusual 2008 severe weather season.

NOAA / NWS – Taunton
November 2008”

photos courtesy Bill Ricker, N1VUX

Nashoba Valley ARC Members “Sort Up A Storm”

Nashoba Valley ARC QSL Bureau sorting partyMembers of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club held their annual QSL sorting party last month to support the W1QSL Bureau.

Club members sorted 18-20,000 QSL cards at the meeting in less than two hours. “We have been keeping to that schedule for several years and it seems to be working fine.”

After the cards were sorted and collected from the sorting boxes, everyone had an opportunity to look through all the cards in the appropriate letter for their own incoming cards, saving wear and tear on the letter sorters. Afterward, the sorters enjoyed pizza and drinks.

Participants included: K1LGQ, K1LK, K1YTS, KB1KEF, KA1VOU, KB1ESR, KB1JKL, KD1LE, KD1SM, N1PQ, N1SV, N1ZRG, W1JMM, W1LTN, WA1TAC, KB1LRL, N1MGO, KT1I, K1BG, KB1JZU, W1AHM, N1UZ, K1NKR, WA1GON, W1TRC, W1LLB,
W1BYH, and W1HFN.

Photo courtesy KD1SM. Thanks, NVARC Signal, November 2008

Wanted: CW Operators

Bencher electronic keyerJim Ward, N1LKJ, Eastern MA Section Traffic Manager writes:

If you like CW or want to improve your Morse Code Skills, the NTS Traffic Nets is a great place to do it. We are looking for operators to join us on the East MA. & Rhode Island CW Net (EMARICW).

The Net meets daily at 7:00 PM on 3.565 MHz. If you think it is too fast, just send QNS and they will slow down to anyone’s speed. Try it and enjoy the fun of sending and receiving traffic. Help is available for all who want to learn.

73,
Jim Ward N1LKJ STM-EMA

[For more information about the National Traffic system and traffic nets, please visit http://nts.ema.arrl.org]

KY1N List of Volunteer Exam Sessions, Nov. 11, 2008

                         The KY1N Memorial List
Scheduled Amateur Radio Volunteer Examinations - CT MA ME NH RI VT
11/11/08
Jim, WW1Y, Editor
Date Time Contact Location Phone
11/12/08 19:00 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Billerica MA 978-851-2886
11/12/08 19:30 *James Weckback, W1EQW Framingham MA 508-435-6487
11/13/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
11/13/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
11/13/08 19:00 Kevin Cellini, N1KGM Trumbull CT 203-268-5015
11/14/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
11/15/08 09:00 Charlie French, K1CRF Bedford NH 603-487-5201
11/15/08 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
11/17/08 19:00 Skip Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
11/18/08 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
11/19/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
11/19/08 19:00 Robert E Moreland, KA1ZMF Milford CT 203-934-4059
11/20/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
11/21/08 21:00 Paul Gibson, N1TUP Manchester CT 860-643-2105
11/22/08 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
11/22/08 09:00 Kenneth Carr, KB1AWV Cranston RI 401-828-1665
11/22/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
11/22/08 09:00 Jim Heedles, WW1Y Nashua NH 603-673-7395
11/22/08 09:30 Ernest Laug, KA1NGG Stamford CT 203-348-3993
11/24/08 19:00 Walton G Congdon, W1ZPB Northfield MA 413-498-2729
11/26/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
11/28/08 18:00 David Cote, W1FAB Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
11/29/08 14:30 George Rinalducci, KB1KBC Greenland NH 603-231-1392
11/29/08 10:00 Ivan Lazure, N1OXA South Paris ME 207-784-0350
12/06/08 09:00 Don Tarbet, KD1XU Bangor ME 207-327-1453
12/06/08 11:30 Frank Sileo, N1PE Bethel CT 203-438-0218
12/06/08 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
12/06/08 08:00 Bruce Beford, N1RX Newport NH 603-863-1698
12/07/08 10:00 Richard Williamson, WA1YQE Milford CT 203-877-5020
12/08/08 19:00 Jim Clogher, N1ICN Brookline MA 617-364-4658
12/09/08 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
12/10/08 19:00 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Billerica MA 978-851-2886
12/11/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
12/11/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
12/11/08 19:00 Kevin Cellini, N1KGM Trumbull CT 203-268-5015
12/12/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
12/13/08 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
12/13/08 09:00 Jack P Garforth, N1JK Middletown RI 401-683-2250
12/13/08 09:00 Steven Ewald, WV1X Newington CT 860-594-0265
12/14/08 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
12/16/08 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
12/17/08 19:00 Robert E Moreland, KA1ZMF Milford CT 203-934-4059
12/18/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
12/20/08 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
12/20/08 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
12/22/08 19:00 Skip Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
12/24/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
12/24/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
12/26/08 18:00 David Cote, W1FAB Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
12/27/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
12/27/08 09:00 Bob Jones, WB1P Slatersville RI 401-333-4787
01/08/09 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
01/09/09 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
01/10/09 08:45 +William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
01/10/09 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
01/11/09 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
01/12/09 19:00 Jim Clogher, N1ICN Brookline MA 617-364-4658
01/14/09 19:00 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Billerica MA 978-851-2886
01/15/09 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
01/17/09 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
01/19/09 19:00 Richard Strycharz, KD1XP Amherst MA 413-665-2211
01/19/09 19:00 Skip Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
01/20/09 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
01/21/09 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
01/23/09 18:00 David Cote, W1FAB Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
01/24/09 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
01/28/09 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
02/07/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
02/08/09 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
02/09/09 19:00 Jim Clogher, N1ICN Brookline MA 617-364-4658
02/11/09 19:00 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Billerica MA 978-851-2886
02/12/09 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
02/13/09 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
02/14/09 09:00 Don Tarbet, KD1XU Bangor ME 207-327-1453
02/14/09 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
02/16/09 19:00 Skip Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
02/16/09 18:30 Francis D'auria, W1AD Pittsford VT 802-775-3033
02/17/09 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
02/18/09 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
02/19/09 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
02/21/09 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
02/23/09 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
02/23/09 19:00 Walton G Congdon, W1ZPB Northfield MA 413-498-2729
02/25/09 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
02/27/09 18:00 David Cote, W1FAB Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
02/28/09 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
02/28/09 09:00 Jim Heedles, WW1Y Nashua NH 603-673-7395
03/08/09 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
03/09/09 19:00 Jim Clogher, N1ICN Brookline MA 617-364-4658
03/11/09 19:00 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Billerica MA 978-851-2886
03/12/09 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
03/13/09 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
03/14/09 08:45 +William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
03/14/09 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
03/16/09 19:00 Skip Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
03/17/09 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
03/18/09 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
03/19/09 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
03/21/09 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
03/25/09 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
03/27/09 18:00 David Cote, W1FAB Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
03/28/09 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
04/04/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
04/08/09 19:00 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Billerica MA 978-851-2886
04/09/09 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
04/10/09 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
04/11/09 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
04/12/09 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
04/13/09 19:00 Jim Clogher, N1ICN Brookline MA 617-364-4658
04/16/09 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
04/18/09 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
04/20/09 19:00 Richard Strycharz, KD1XP Amherst MA 413-665-2211
04/20/09 19:00 Skip Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
04/21/09 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
04/22/09 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
04/22/09 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
04/24/09 18:00 David Cote, W1FAB Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
04/25/09 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
05/08/09 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
05/09/09 08:45 +William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
05/09/09 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
05/10/09 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
05/11/09 19:00 Jim Clogher, N1ICN Brookline MA 617-364-4658

NOTES:
* = PREREGISTRATION MANDATORY
+ = PLEASE CALL TO GUARANTEE 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 2008 test session fee of $14.00, or 2009 fee of $15.00
All VE Teams are invited to contribute.
For additions/corrections contact Jim Heedles, WW1Y, 603-673-7395,
via email at ky1n@ky1n.net

Eastern Area NTS Digital Report Oct 2008

Eastern Area NTS Digital Report October 2008
Station Received Forwarded TOTAL Function
W1GMF   3184     3184      6368  1RN DRS
N2LTC   602      656       1258  2RN MBO
KW1U    216      297       513   1RN MBO
W8UL    251      251       502   8RN MBO
WX4J    237      228       465   4RN MBO
WB2FTX  184      176       360   2RN MBO EADC
N1UMJ   70       204       274   1RN DRS
WA4ZXV  105      91        196   4RN MBO
NM1K    132      30        162   1RN DRS
N3SW    70       59        129   3RN DRS
W4NBF   68       55        123   FL DRS
VE3GT   7        56        63    ECN DRS
KA4FZI  57       0         57    FL DRS
N2GS    21       9         30    NJ DRS
N1JX    4        16        20    NJ DRS
KC8FWD  0        14        14    8RN DRS
0VA3PM  1        2         3     ECN DRS
TOTAL 10537

W1HFA To Present At Science On Screen, 12/01/08

Very Large Array radiotelescopeScience on Screen at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline explores the possibility of life beyond Earth with a screening of CONTACT, Robert Zemeckis’s 1997 big-screen adaptation of Carl Sagan’s novel, on Monday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m. Before the film, astrophysicist Paul Horowitz (W1HFA) will give a talk on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). A true pioneer in this field, Horowitz and his work are believed to have been the inspiration for Sagan’s novel.

In CONTACT, Dr. Eleanor “Ellie” Arroway (Jodie Foster) is a free thinker seeking evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial life by listening for contact via radio astronomy. [As a very-YL ham operator in the movie, Arroway makes HF radio contacts as W9GFO.] Many years later, when Ellie discovers an intelligent message from deep space, her assumptions regarding science and spirituality are challenged, and she must decide whether to play it safe or risk her life in order to make first contact. (1997, 2h33m)

Paul Horowitz is Professor of Physics and of Electrical Engineering at Harvard. His research group is focused on several problems in experimental astrophysics, including the search for intentional radio signals or laser flashes from extraterrestrial intelligent civilizations. The group’s evolving SETI effort has inspired groundbreaking experiments at Harvard, including a 250-million-channel radio receiving system and a pair of optical searches that process a trillion measurements per second (the equivalent of the contents of all books in print, every second). Also renowned for his work in electronics design, Dr. Horowitz is the co-author of the bestselling book, The Art of Electronics.

With Science on Screen, the Coolidge presents a feature film or documentary with a basis in science, paired with exciting introductions by notable scientific figures. This monthly series is co-presented by The Museum of Science, Boston and New Scientist magazine.

Science on Screen programs are $9.75 regular admission or $7.75 for seniors, students, and Museum of Science members. Members of the Coolidge Corner Theatre get free admission to these shows. Tickets are available in advance at the box office, located at 290 Harvard Street in Brookline, or on-line at http://www.coolidge.org/showtimes .

For more details, visit: www.coolidge.org/science or call 617/734-2500.

PART of Westford To Support Lowell Youth Soccer

Police Amateur RAdio Team of Westford logo“Bo” Budinger, WA1QYM writes on PART-L:

Just another reminder that PART is supporting the Lowell Youth Soccer Group with their “Fall Freeze” Tournament. We will be providing communications and helping with logistics. This will take place on Saturday and Sunday November 15th and 16th. Charles (AA1VS) is the “point man” for this activity. Charles has set up 4 hour shifts so that we don’t have to spend the whole weekend communicating. We do have several volunteers already and could use a few more. So if you can spare a few hours of your time it would be greatly appreciated. You can contact Charles at: aa1vs@arrl.net.

Bo Budinger
WA1QYM
President
PART of Westford

Field Day 2008 Wrap From the EMA FD Directory

Field Day 2008 logoThe League having published scores to the Members’ web, the EMA Field Day 2008 Results are now also posted to Club and Site listings and the History section of the 9th Annual ARRL EMA Section Field Day Directory. http://ema.arrl.org/fd/History.php

There were 29 clubs reporting A, F, and club E/D stations for EMA, the most since 2001 (31) and 1999 (30). While this double counts a few joint stations where multiple clubs were doubling up, MITRE and BARS ran two joint sites, and MIT had both an off campus Class A and their UHF Contest Station (a separate club technically) in Class E.

At the bottom of the Solar Cycle, both North Shore and Falmouth broke Falmouth’s 2005 EMA QSOs tally, amazing.
http://ema.arrl.org/fd/Scores.php?order=QSOs and, as a result, NSRA broke Falmouth’s 2005 score (best EMA all classes since at least 1999, when on-line records begin).

So congratulations to NSRA. http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/index.html?con_id=155&call=NS1RA&bbycall=1

Cape Ann and Genesis also set decade club bests with their return to their old sites in 2008.

Sadly, not a lot of EMA clubs posted pictures or commentary on League Soapbox; but in addition to NSRA’s above, I saw a nice soapbox from an EMA Mobile http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/index.html?con_id=155&call=K1UR&bbycall=1.

The Graphical analysis charts now include *all* Divisions, in addition to all reports, Eastern Mass Section, *and* now a zoom on just class F stations, 2005-2008. http://ema.arrl.org/fd/history/analysis.html (The box areas are in proportion to the total points of the whole chart for that year, and are NOT comparable from year to year or even page to page within year.)

* NNJ may be the only section with more total points in Class F than Class A.
* There are no DX stations in the published scores for 2008.
* 2A remains the Category responsible for the most total points overall and per division, with few exceptions (3A – Dakota 2008, Atlantic,Great Lakes, Hudson 2007+2008).

Eastern Mass doesn’t show too well in Class F, possibly because less than half (2 of 5 known) of our Emergency Management teams participating in Class F submitted reports to League Contest Office, compared with (5) the prior two years. Several other Emergency Management-equipped clubs appear in the Class A listings, which is a goodness.

73

Bill n1vux
Editor, ARRL EMA Section FD Directory
http://ema.arrl.org/fd/
n1vux@arrl.net

Emergency Communications Workshop in Beverly, Mass. Saturday 11/22/08 9 AM-4 PM

Hello to all….

North Shore ARES and Beverly Emergency Management are sponsoring the following workshop. See below:

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Workshop Saturday November 22nd, 2008:

There will be an Emergency Communications Workshop on Saturday November 22nd, 2008 from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at the Beverly Emergency Management Headquarters in Beverly, Massachusetts.

This session is being put on by the ARES Section Staff through the efforts of Essex County ARES District Emergency Coordinator (DEC), Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF, Essex County ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC), Jim Palmer-KB1KQW and the cooperation of Beverly Emergency Management. This Emergency Communications Workshop will provide the background and information to serve Amateur Radio Operators when they need to respond to a communications emergency or when supplemental communications via Amateur Radio is required. It will feature an Introduction and Conclusion to Emergency Communications, and five 1-hour training sessions on topics including:

Overview of Eastern Massachusetts ARES-RACES-SKYWARN Programs
Net Operations
NTS Traffic Message Handling
Basic Overview of ICS
Go Kits

This training will also feature a 1-hour lunch that will be provided at no coerced cost to any Amateur who attends the session.

The presentations will be given by other Amateur Operators well versed in the topics listed above. The training will be a worthwhile endeavor not just for emergency communicators but for anyone who is an Amateur Radio Operator, and wants to learn more about the hobby.

Preregistration is requested but is not required in case anyone would like to attend at the last minute. Please try to preregister by Monday November 17th, 2008 to assure the meeting place is setup properly and we have enough refreshments for breaks between lectures and for the lunch break. We will, however, accept any last minute preregistrations after that day or any walk-ins as long as space permits.

Directions to Beverly Emergency Management Agency (BEMA) Headquarters:

Take Route 128 North to exit 20A towards North Beverly. You will proceed a short distance to a set of lights where you will take a Left onto Conant Street. Follow the signs to the Beverly Airport – East Entrance which is off of Route 97 in Beverly. Once you reach the entrance on L.P. Henderson Road, be prepared to take a right into the Beverly EMA facility. If you enter the airport parking lot, you have gone too far.

There will be talk-in on the Danvers Repeater 145.47 PL: 136.5 and Beverly Repeater 147.390.

For any additional information and to preregister for the workshop, please contact:

KA1NCF-Eric Horwitz ka1ncf@nsradio.org
KB1KQW-Jim Palmer kb1kqw@nsradio.org
KD1CY-Rob Macedo rmacedo@rcn.com

This training should be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in learning more about emergency communications and amateur radio in general. Please forward this on to anyone you feel may benefit from this workshop.

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
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