Month: February 2010

We are once again postponing the Web launch until March 24th.  We are now confident that we have the majority of the content loaded into the site.  In fact some of you have been viewing the new site and commenting on it during the past few weeks.  We appreciate all of your help with this effort as the site continues to improve daily.

The current delay is necessary to assure that we have all of the data connections correct.  These include data feeds such as hamfests, classes, special events, the new e-store, etc.  We also have not tested the member sign up and member transaction portion of the site.  These are obviously critical functions and both Fathom and our team will be working on this during the next few weeks.

After two years of work, this delay feels like an eternity to me and the rest of the launch team.  Believe me, we all feel terrible about missing yet another deadline.  However, this is a large and complex Web site.  It is used not only by our members, but also by people around the world who have an interest in Amateur Radio.  We want to make sure that we have everything working right when we launch the site.

Along with the Board, staff and SMs, we will be communicating this news to our membership as well.  We will put up a news story tomorrow on our current Web site about this delay.

73,

Harold

Harold Kramer, WJ1B

Chief Operating Officer

ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio.
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111
Telephone: 860 594 0220
email: hkramer@arrl.org
web: www.arrl.org/

…can be found in the latest Section News Summaries de W1MPN, SM

Hello to all..

ARES Emergency Coordinator, Bruce Hayden-NI1X, wrote up an article on the Emergency Communications Workshop that was held in Middlboro on Saturday January 23rd, 2010. The complete article is listed below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/EMCOMM_Workshop_Jan10_rev3-1.pdf

73,Rob-KD1CY.

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

Hello to all…

Massachusetts ARRL State Government Liaison, Shawn O’Donnell-K3HI, has been following and has put together a summary on pending cell phone legislation bill H-4475 and what it says and does not say about Amateur Radio. We encourage Amateurs to closely follow Shawn O’Donnell’s instructions in his info that we have posted to the ema.arrl.org web site. See link below:

http://ema.arrl.org/node/1661

It is noted that ARES Emergency Coordinator for Scituate, Massachusetts, Bob Callahan-W1QWT, has already been successful in getting state representative Jim Cantwell from his district to push an ammendment exempting federally licensed Amateur Radio Operators specifically from this legislation. When writing to your state senator, it may be good to mention this ammendment and the fact that this ammendment was in similar cell phone bill legislation a few years ago but that whole cell phone bill legislation was later defeated in the legislature.

Thanks to all for their support!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: (508) 346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://www.wx1box.org
http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Subject: Pending Legislation Update

Hello all stations:

Some of you have written me expressing concerns about the pending legislation concerning use of telecommunication devices that may include the use of Amateur Radio devices. Please be advised that Headquarters DOES NOT lobby on our behalf in the states, just the federal government. We, collectively, need to take action.

Our SGL, K3HI, has been following this issue closely and summarizes it for you. He also provides recommended approaches you can use to influence your state representative.

K3HI message follows:
============================

QST MASSACHUSETTS AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS

A bill that could restrict amateur radio mobile operations has been
passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It is hard to
say whether the proposed law would cause practical difficulties for
amateur mobile operations and emergency preparedness exercises. Just
to be safe, however, we should take action now to minimize the
potential harm.

The full text of the bill, as adopted by the House, is available at
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht04pdf/ht04475.pdf

Q: What would H-4475 do if it becomes law?

Among the goals of H-4475 are the following: (a) prohibit the use of
cell phones by any driver under the age of 18, (b) require hands-free
cell phones for all other drivers, and (c) ban the use of a broad range
of handheld communications devices while operating a motor vehicle (for
such activites as text- or instant-messaging, email, web-surfing, etc.)

Q: What does the proposed law say about amateur radio?

Nothing. This could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your
perspective. On the one hand, it doesn’t say, “Hams can’t do X.” On
the other hand, it doesn’t say, “This law does not apply to hams.”

Q: So what should we do about this?

If you would like to oppose or seek amendment of H-4475, your best bet
is to contact your state senator on Beacon Hill.

If the prospects for the bill remain good, it will be in our best
interest to try to get the bill amended, rather than simply trying to
defeat it.

Q: What makes for an effective communication with a senator or Beacon
Hill staffer on this topic?

1. Speak to the right person. Call YOUR senator, not someone else’s.
Unless you’re calling to donate to the campaign chest, elected
officials don’t care much about you if you’re from outside their
district. See below on how to find out who is your senator–if you
don’t know.

2. Have a clear message. Informed citizens are more inclined to vote,
so if you call your senator and sound like an informed citizen, they’ll
expect you’re a likely voter. If you want to sound informed, a good
place to start is knowing the number of the bill you’re calling about.
It’s H-4475. (The H is for the House, where the bill originated.)

3. Have something to say about the substance of the bill. Have an
argument for why your position is more justified than the opinion of
someone who calls and urges the opposite. Make our side look smart.

4. Avoid the following: shouting, swearing, threatening, use of
Q-signals, quotes from FCC rules, etc. Be reasonable. Go ahead and
mention the emergency & public service contributions of amateur radio,
but don’t exaggerate. It will undermine your credibility.

Here’s a template for a call or email to a senator regarding H-4475:

“Hello, my name is Elmer Q. Ham, and I am a constituent of the
Senator’s in [your town here.] I am calling/writing to ask that the
Senator oppose passage of H-4475 unless it is amended to protect
amateur radio. In particular, I am concerned that the law might be
interpreted so as to make mobile amateur radio operations illegal. An
exemption for FCC-licensed amateurs in the law would allow us to
continue training for & providing emergency & public service
communications to our communities. [Here’s where you can tell a story
or two of hams in your town providing communications for the marathon
or bike-a-thon or the Memorial Day Parade or SKYWARN, etc.] …And we
couldn’t do that if amateur radio operators weren’t allowed to
communicate while on the road.”

Close by repeating your request. Then thank the senator (or more
likely, staff member) for his/her time. Offer contact information
about yourself; it will help them tell if you really are a constituent.
And who knows–maybe they’ll call back to ask for more details.

If you really want to make a concrete suggestion, you might “propose
that the passage in Chapter 90, Section 13 which exempts Citizen Band
radio also include an exemption for amateur radio operators.”

Q: I don’t know who my state senator is. How do I find out?

The best way to get the name of your state senator is to call your city
or town election board. In some parts of the state, senators cover
large areas. There, knowing the town you live in is enough. If you
live in a more densely populated part of the Commonwealth, your city or
town may have multiple senators. Unless you know what ward & precinct
you’re in, the State Senate’s web site will not be able to help you.
But your city/town election board will definitely know.

Town hall may also have the senator’s phone number or email address; if
they don’t, check out the Massachusetts legislature’s web site.

Senate districts & senator names are listed at:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/sendis03.htm

Senate phone numbers & email addresses are available at:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm

Make that call/send that email ASAP!

End of K3HI message=====================

73, de W1MPN

As posted by Jim Evans-N1HTS on the Billerica Amateur Radio Society (BARS) email list:

To all NEWS Members – WEB asite to be updated shortly.

Subject: COMING TO YOUR AREA – 36TH ANNUAL EASTERN VHF/UHF CONFERENCE APRIL
16, 17 & 18, 2010

Please join us at the Eastern VHF Conference. Registration will open shortly. Thanks Bruce N2LIV

Call for Papers and presentations for the 36th Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference April 16, 17 & 18th, 2010 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Enfield, Ct.

The NorthEast Weak Signal Group (NEWS) is calling for the submission of papers and presentations for the upcoming 36th Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference to be held once again at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Enfield, Ct. on April 16, 17 & 18th, 2010. Papers and presentations are solicited on both the technical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio.

In general papers and presentations on non weak signal related topics will not be accepted but exceptions may be made if the topic is related to weak signal. The deadline for the submission of papers and presentations is March 15, 2010. All submissions for the proceedings should be in Microsoft Word (.doc) or PDF formats. Submissions for presentation at the conference should be in PowerPoint (.ppt) format, and delivered on either a USB memory stick or CDROM or posted for download on a web site of your choice. Pages are 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches with a 1 inch margin on the bottom and ¾ inch margin on the other three sides. All text, drawings, photos, etc. should be in color if possible for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings CD. Station shots and rover operations are welcome.

Please indicate when you submit your paper or presentation if you plan to attend the conference and present there or if you are submitting just for publication. Papers and presentations will be published in a CD format conference proceedings. Send all questions, comments and submissions to the program chair, Bruce Wood N2LIV via N2LIV@optonline.net.

We will have a Hospitality Suite for early arrivals on Friday Evening starting at 7:00PM to 11:00 PM. Conference registration will begin on Saturday at 7:30 AM and talks and band sessions will start at 8:30 AM. A banquet dinner, Triva quiz and prize raffles will begin at 7:00 PM. On Sunday an outdoor flea market, weather permitting, will begin at 8:00 to 11:00 AM. Starting this year flea market admission will be FREE for both buyers and sellers. VHF and above relate equipment items only..

We are planning several auctions both in the morning and afternoon sessions to help raise money to help defray costs of future conferences. If you have any decent shape equipment you would like to donate please bring it along to help support the cause and to clean out your shack.

– Compliments of Greg WA1VUG and R&S we will have the following test capabilities available at the conference: If you want things to happen we need your HELP- see below!!!

R&S ZVA and ZVL Vector Network Analyzers for component test (filter responses, amplifier gain vs. freq, etc.) from 9 kHz to 40 (hopefully 50) GHz R&S FSUP Signal Source Analyzer for phase noise measurement of oscillators to 26 GHz (hopefully 50 GHz) R&S FSQ Spectrum Analyzers for Noise Figure measurements (to 24 GHz) and spectrum measurements (harmonics, spurs) to 26 GHz R&S FSH handheld Spectrum Analyzer/Vector Network Analyzer for antenna measurements/transmission line fault measurements (mobile installations).

We are looking for a few volunteers to help Greg and watch the equipment when he takes a break, Also, we need a few 12v power supplies, soldering station, solder and small tools and jumper cables to assist the
measurements. If you can help please email me N2LIV@optonline.net

Registration is now open for this years conference on April 16, 17 & 18th, 2010 in Enfield,Ct. A block of Hotel Rooms is available at the Crowne Plaza, Enfield under the NEWS group for $99. Call fo local in-house hotel
registration.

SEE OUR WEB SITE FOR FUTURE INFORMATION & PAYPAL or MAIL REGISTRATION.

http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html

Further info to follow as it develops.

Thank you,

Bruce N2LIV
Conference Chairman

Attention: ARRL Affiliated and Special Service Clubs

Affiliated Clubs

Even though your club has submitted an application as an ARRL Affiliated club  and this application has been approved…you still are required to submit an annual report each year to ARRL headquarters.  The date of your last club update is included in your club’s detailed page.

Any official of the club can submit this annual report although I would recommend that this be the job of the club secretary. It is easy to submit this report, simply locate your club in the ARRL database at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml. Once you’ve located your club, click on the club name to get to the detail page for your club. At the bottom of that page is a link you can click to update the detailed data. Submitting that update constitutes your annual report. Note, though, that you can submit an update whenever you need to.  Information about your club is given to prospective radio amateurs who want to learn more about our ho The Annual Report is our way of keeping your club records at HQ up-to-date.

(more…)

On Saturday January 30th, the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association conducted its second Tech-in-a-Day program at the Lanesville Community Center in Gloucester. Students came from as far away as South Hadley, Massachusetts and Jaffrey, New Hampshire for a highly compressed day of studying to pass the FCC Element 2 examination. Twentyfour students attended the course, ages ranging from 9 to over 60 years old. The course consisted of six one-hour sessions, each session covering approximately 60 questions in the Element 2 question pool. Students were told to read the question and only the correct answer, which was indicated in bold. Very little lecture was conducted—this was a self-study program. Any tricks or associations were encouraged to memorize the largely unfamiliar material. After 45 minutes, students were directed to get up and move around for 15 minutes and enjoy some of the snacks and beverages that were provided. The next session started on the hour and the cycle was repeated. Three sessions were held in the morning and three in the afternoon.

It was a cold day for January, so the community center was chilly inside, actually the best condition for keeping the students sharp during the long periods of study. After the sixth session in the afternoon, the Element 2 exam was conducted by the CAARA V.E.’s, Bob Quinn, WV1A; Curtis Wright, AA3JE; Bill Poulin, WZ1L; Dean Burgess, KB1PGH; Stan Stone, W4HIX; Sandy Balzarini, N1MAU; Jim Cavan, AB1IV and Dave Suuronen, KB1KR.

Twentyone of the twentyfour students passed the exam with several getting perfect scores. Of the 21 students that passed their Element 2 exam, many went on to take the Element 3 and three of those passed, earning their General license. Two of the new General’s took the Element 4, and Bob Edwards, an electrical engineer from Topsfield passed, earning him an Extra–in one day. Bob and his son Allan joined CAARA on the spot–making Bob the third CAARA member in recent years to pass all three elements on one session (Briggs Longbothum, AB2NJ and Stan Stone, W4HIX were the other two).

Stan Stone developed and conducted the course from reports of similar courses that have been conducted around the country. Dean Burgess arrived early and helped coordinate the day’s activities. This session passing rate was 86%, down a bit from the first session’s success rate. Two students joined CAARA on the spot, and several more expressed a strong interest.

The challenge now will be to engage these new hams so that they actually get on the air. Follow-up e-mails have already gone out to congratulate them and encourage them to drop by the clubhouse on Sunday mornings for coffee, donuts and plenty of free advice.

CAARA’s Tech-in-a-Day program will likely be repeated in the fall.