Month: November 2010

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SKYWARN Recognition Day, Dec. 4, 2010

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

SKYWARN logoRob Macedo, KD1CY writes in SKYWARN Newsletter #267:

The National Weather Service in Taunton Amateur Radio Station, WX1BOX, will once again be active for SKYWARN Recognition Day 2010. In addition, for the fourth straight year, the National Weather Service Gray, Maine Office will also be active under call-sign, WX1GYX. The Boston Amateur Radio Club will also be active as they have been over the past several years at the NWS Blue Hill Observatory under call-sign W1BOS/MQE from 9 AM-3 PM Saturday December 4th, 2010. We are also working on a special station for SRD at the Southern New England Weather Conference, which will be on the same day as SRD, sponsored by the Worcester Emergency Communications Team (WECT). Further details on the Southern New England Weather Conference station will be available as we get closer to the event.

This will be the 12th year of SKYWARN Recognition Day and its anticipated that over 100 NWS Forecast Offices will be participating once again this year. This event was featured on page 62 of the December 2010 Issue of QST Magazine and web links to information on SKYWARN Recognition Day can be seen at the following links:

http://hamradio.noaa.gov
http://www.arrl.org/news/skywarn-recognition-day-set-for-december-4

The following is a schedule of repeaters that will be utilized along with simplex being utilized during certain timeframes on Saturday at WX1BOX. We hope Amateurs will utilize this schedule and try and work WX1BOX during these various timeframes. If you don’t hear NWS, feel free to call for WX1BOX and if the office is monitoring, a response will be given. When you make contact, give your current sky condition and temperature as required. Below is the tentative schedule of operations:

Friday December 3rd, 2010:
7:00-7:30 PM: 146.970-Paxton Repeater (PL: 114.8 Hz)
7:30-8:00 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
8:00-8:30 PM: 145.490-Fairhaven Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
8:30-9:00 PM: 146.955-Westford Repeater (PL: 74.4 Hz)
9:00-9:30 PM: 146.79-Vernon, CT Repeater (PL: 82.5 Hz) (linked via IRLP.)
9:30-10:00 PM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater (PL: 156.7 Hz)
10:00-10:30 PM: 146.760-Scituate, RI or 145.370-Coventry RI Repeater PL: 67.0 Hz
10:30-11:00 PM: 145.470-Danvers Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)
11:00-11:30 PM: 146.955-Barnstable PL: 88.5 or 147.375-Falmouth Repeater PL: 110.9
11:30 PM-12:00 AM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater

**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.

**It is possible we may switch off to different repeaters or simplex during time slots if we run out of contacts.

Saturday December 4th, 2010:
7:00-8:30 AM: 146.595 Simplex
8:30-9:00 AM: Litchfield County Linked System via KB1AEV repeater system
9:00-9:30 AM: 145.230-Boston Repeater (PL: 88.5 Hz)
9:30-10:00 AM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater
10:00-10:30 AM: 146.895-Walpole Repeater (PL: 123.0 Hz)
10:30-11:00 AM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater (PL: 156.7 Hz)
11:00-11:30 AM: 145.470-Danvers Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)
11:30 AM-Noon: 146.79-Vernon, CT Repeater (Linked via IRLP.)
Noon-1:00 PM: 146.595 Simplex
1:00-1:30 PM: 146.685-Plymouth Repeater (PL: 82.5 Hz)
1:30-2:00 PM: 145.130-Gloucester Repeater (PL: 107.2 Hz)
2:00-2:30 PM: 146.955-Barnstable (PL: 88.5) or 147.375-Falmouth Repeater (PL: 110.9)
2:30-3:00 PM: 146.955-Westford Repeater (PL: 74.4)
3:00-3:30 PM: 146.970-Paxton Repeater (PL: 114.8)
3:30-4:00 PM: 147.165-Exeter, RI Repeater (PL: 67.0)
4:00-4:30 PM: 146.760-Scituate, RI or 145.37-Coventry, RI Repeater (PL: 67.0)
4:30-5:00 PM: 145.490-Fairhaven Repeater (PL: 67.0)
5:00-5:30 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater (PL: 67.0)
5:30-6:00 PM: 449.375-Pack Monadnock, NH Repeater (PL: 88.5 Hz)
6:00-6:30 PM: 146.895-Walpole Repeater (PL: 123.0)
6:30-7:00 PM: 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater (PL: 67.0)

**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.

**It is possible we may switch off to different repeaters or simplex during time slots if we run out of contacts.

The following is information EchoLink/IRLP operations during SKYWARN Recognition Day. Further updates to follow as we get closer to the event:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: WX0GLD (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
0200-0300: WX4MLB (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
0300-0400: W0ABR (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Confirmed to keep the time slot but can swap if needed)
0500-0600: WX9GRB (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
0700-0800: N0NWS (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
0800-0900: KL7FWX (New NWS Office in Fairbanks Alaska. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS)
0900-1000: KL7FWX (New NWS Office in Fairbanks Alaska. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS)
1000-1100: KL7FWX (New NWS Office in Fairbanks Alaska. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS)
1100-1200: WX7PHX (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
1200-1300: W7NWS (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
1300-1400: KL7FWX (New NWS Office in Fairbanks Alaska. Will Show Up on Echolink as KL2GS)
1400-1500: WX4HUN (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Confirmed to keep the time slot but can swap if needed)
1600-1800: WX4NC (Confirmed to keep the time slot, 2 hour time slot and time slot is from last year)
1800-1900: WX6MTR (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
1900-2000: K0MPX (Confirmed to Keep Time Slot)
2000-2100: WX4MLB (Confirmed to keep Time Slot)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Confirmed to keep Time Slot)
2300-2400: Open

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Taunton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years on reflector 9250 and have its gateway system on IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 125266 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system.

The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for there support!

All / Organization

K9HI New Section Manager On January 1, 2011

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EMA ARRL logo“[Section Manager election] ballots were counted and verified at ARRL Headquarters on Tuesday, November 23.

“In Eastern Massachusetts, Phil Temples, K9HI, will become the Section Manager on January 1. Temples, of Watertown, has served previously as the Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager for terms from 1994 through 1996 and again from 2001 through 2004. Temples was the only nominee for the position after present Section Manager Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, decided not to run for another term of office. Neilsen has served as Section Manager for two terms of office, from 2005 to 2006, and again in 2009 through the end of this year.”

-via ARRL News, 11/23/10

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HF Antenna Improvments At W1FY

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Framingham ARA 75th anniversary logoHF capability at the Framingham Amateur Radio Association‘s club station, W1FY has recently been improved, according to FARA’s Sumner Weisman, W1VIV.

Weisman says a new 40/80 meter trap dipole was erected on the roof by he and W1JSS. The trap dipole complements an existing 10/15/20 meter yagi.

“All bands operate very well,” comments W1VIV. “The sunspot cycle is growing nicely, and there are even good 10-meter openings for the first time in a while.  Members are invited to come on down and get on the air any Saturday morning.”

 

 

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New MMRA 440 MHz Repeater in Lowell Proposed

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The Minuteman Repeater Association has begun work on a new 440 MHz repeater in Lowell.

According to MMRA officials, the repeater “would provide additional coverage along the north end of I-495.” It will be situated at the Saints Medical Center in Lowell. The operating frequency will be 442.250 output/447.250 input, with 88.5 PL CTCSS. The hardware was donated to MMRA by K1ST.

–Thanks, KA8SCP and The Minuteman, Nov. 2010

 

 


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EMA ARRL Events Calendar Upgrade Fixes Date Problem

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Drupal logoA nagging problem with the Drupal Agenda Calendar module has caused this site to display EMA events with the incorrect date. Even though events were entered in local EST/EDT, club meetings beginning on or after 0000 GMT (7:00 PM ET) were being displayed on the following day (GMT date) rather than the expected local date. An upgrade of the Agenda module has fixed this problem.

We apologize for the issue, and encourage all club contacts to review the calendar to ensure that their club meeting dates and times are correctly displayed.

You can view the summary version of the EMA event calendar in the right hand column of the EMA ARRL home page, or the full calendar at http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=7cfp0coduepuile63ivihhlq78%40group.calendar.google.com. A shorter version of this link is: http://tinyurl.com/37kk64y.

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Software Defined Radio Presentation, Waltham, Nov. 17

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Jim Ussailis of National Wireless, Inc. will present on software defined radio on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at a meeting of The Consultants Network at 6:30 PM. The meeting location is at Foley Hoag LLP, Emerging Enterprise Center, Bay Colony Corporate Center, 1000 Winter Street, Suite 4000, North Entrance, Waltham, MA.

The meeting is free and open to the public. For further details, see http://is.gd/h84NO.

—Thanks, BARS-W1HH list

All / Emergency Communications

Cape Cod ARES Mini-Exercise – Saturday November 13th, 2010 130-300 PM

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Hello to all..

Cape Cod ARES will be hosting a mini-ARES Exercise on Saturday November 13th from 130-300 PM. Other districts within Eastern Massachusetts ARES that are interested in participating can monitor 3935 KHz 75 Meter HF or 146.955 MHz. In addition, the New England reflector Echolink conference *NEW-ENG* node: 9123/IRLP 9123 system will be monitored as well. Amateurs from other districts that participate in the mini-exercise are asked to give their 72-hour availability for ARESMAT to Cape Cod if this was an actual incident requring ARES support to their district. Further details and the Cape Cod ARES document for this mini-exercise as written by Cape Cod ARES DEC, WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin are listed below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/CCARESdrill_41Doc11-12-10.pdf

Mini ARES exercise “Operation Hybrid storm” Saturday Nov 13 at 1:30pm- 300 pm

CCARES will hold its Mini-exercise #41 this Saturday at 1:30-3pm. This will be primarily an EOC type exercise. We will also have home stations participating to back up our primary stations. This is a follow up to the Earl activation in September. We will be starting our normal net on the RACES repeater at 146.955Mhz PL 88.5 as we normally would for an activation. Check-ins will be called for after the start of the net. At some point the repeater will likely fail requiring a move to the output of the repeater as standard RACES policy (146.955 Mhz simplex, NO shift or tone). Net control station (NCS) ARES HQ Hyannis will direct a move to one of our simplex frequencies after that time. The ARES backup EOC station WA1KCC will also be operational. This station will also have HF capability on 75m SSB on 3935khz and will be guarding that frequency for contacts. Since HF is a wider area system, all station having the capability may contact other stations as the MACC does NOT have HF capability. Winlink messaging protocol is a different animal. It is important that the primary stations be aware of important messages passed on winlink to avoid redundant confusion and key stations being left in the dark. When winlink messages are sent, the other key stations (NCS, MACC, other EOC stations) should be CCd on the message. This insures that all the stations have the same info.

Example:

Harwich EOC needs to make a request to the MACC. Harwich would also CC the message to NCS and the other EOC stations.

Station contact protocol:

In an actual operation, protocol would be for shelters to contact the local EOC for requests. Since we are not having the shelter layer active for this exercise, we start at the EOC level. EOCs would contact the MACC station (K1DYO).  EOCs could also contact the ARES HQ station in Hyannis for any ARES related needs or info that has to go to NCS.

We will have the ARES southern sub-regional command station (WA1EMA Acushnet EOC) active for this operation as well. Normal protocol would be for the MACC station to communicate with the southern sub-regional command station. Other EOCs could contact southern command if the MACC was unavailable. 

Home stations:

Home stations are the extended resource to the operation. They can be relay points, net control stations, and backup stations. They will check in just as the EOC stations do during the operation. They are free to use any mode necessary to accomplish the path ( provided the ultimate receiving station can communicate there.)

Messaging:

Messaging will include NTS type messages and tactical messages. Due to time constraints, stations should only send one or two messages per half hour time block. Most messages should not require a reply as this will also increase the time issue. Each EOC should designate someone to create/send the messages and receive messages.

Unannounced problems:

All stations should be prepared for an unexpected event and act quickly react.

73’ Frank WQ1O

Cape Cod and Islands ARES DEC

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MA, NH, Seabrook Station To Conduct November 10th Siren Demonstration

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Please see the following as received by MEMA Public Information Officer Peter Judge:

MA, NH, SEABROOK STATION TO CONDUCT NOV. 10th SIREN DEMONSTRATION 
                     

On Wednesday, November 10th, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of New Hampshire, in conjunction with Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, will conduct an audible demonstration of all 121 of the Public Alert and Notification System (PANS) sirens that are located within Seabrook Station’s 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ).  There are 27 sirens located in Massachusetts, within the communities of Amesbury, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and West Newbury, with 94 in New Hampshire.

This demonstration is a public information endeavor designed to increase public awareness of what the sirens sound like and what to do if they are ever sounded due to a declared emergency. The siren demonstration will begin at 12:30pm, lasting from 3-5 minutes, and will be ending at approximately 12:35pm.  No public action will be necessary.

While the PANS sirens can be used to notify the public of any kind of emergency (i.e. weather, homeland security event, etc.), the purpose of this November 10th demonstration is to provide the public within the 23 Seabrook Station EPZ communities an opportunity to again hear the siren tone that would be utilized by Massachusetts and New Hampshire to alert the public of an emergency at Seabrook Station. 

The demonstration is intended to complement information published annually in the Emergency Public Information Calendars for Neighbors of Seabrook Station in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  The annual emergency public information calendars advise the public that if they hear the PAN siren tone, for three to five minutes, tune to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio station for their state (93.7 FM, 92.5 FM, 1030 AM, 98.5 FM and 1450 AM in MA; 97.5 FM in NH) for specific information and directions.  The demonstration is intended to reinforce that message.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

 

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Cape Ann ARA Participates in EmComm Drill

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Cape Ann ARA logoCurtis Wright, AA3JE writes:

Just a note to let you know that [the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association] Emergency Communications Team did us and their community a great service Friday [Oct. 29] when they participated in a Homeland Security drill at the Fuller School.

This was one of the mandatory drills that needs to be conducted to maintain our State grants, and it was attended by the Mayor of Gloucester, the Finance Chief (does our lease), and Town Administrators or equivalent and first responders from Essex, Manchester and Rockport.

It was an anxious day for me, as since I had worked on the planning, I could not participate.

The EmComm team handled communications, were professional, learned, and uniformly I heard, “I had no idea hams could do that” from table after table.

What a wonderful performance. Did us proud.

All / Emergency Communications

Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net for November 2010

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Hello to all…

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for November is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for November is Monday November 1st, 2010, 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     
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://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org