IMPORTANT: HR 607

ARRL logo

Attention EMA ARRL Members:

The following is an important message from Dan Henderson, N1ND, Regulatory Information Manager at ARRL Headquarters:

“As you may have read, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) has introduced the ‘Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011’ and the bill has been assigned HR 607 as its number. The full story about the Bill’s introduction can be found on the ARRL web at

http://www.arrl.org/news/spectrum-management-bill-threatens-amateur-frequencies

As you will read, while the ARRL supports spectrum for the Public Safety needs, we oppose HR 607 in its current form because of the inclusion of the 420-440 MHz spectrum (most of the Amateur 70-cm UHF allocation) as part of a spectrum swap.

At the request of ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, we are asking ARRL members to contact their local Representative asking them to oppose HR 607 in its current form. Members should be directed to http://www.arrl.org/sample-letters for resources tools to assist them in their letter writing. These include:

 

  • A sample letter opposing HR 607 in its current form
  • A link to the ARRL Webpage that gives the ARRL member the contact information for their Members of Congress
  • A link to information sending their letters to our Washington lobbyist to hand-deliver to Capitol Hill

A couple of key points to remember when discussing our opposition to HR 607:

  • We understand and support the principle that Public Safety and First responders should have the D-Block frequencies.
  • Our opposition to the bill stems from the inclusion of the 420-440 MHZ Amateur allocation as part of the proposed “frequency swap”.

Time is of the essence on this request, as the bill is gathering steam in Congress. So please make your membership contacts as soon as possible. Finally, please include my address n1nd@arrl.org in what you distribute to the ARRL membership (for our records here at HQ.)

Thanks for stepping up to the plate to assist with the direct threat to our Amateur Radio spectrum. What you bring to the table helps us keep this ship heading in the right direction. Please contact me if you have any problems or questions with this request.

73

Dan Henderson, N1ND
Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio(tm)
860-594-0236
dhenderson@arrl.org

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Workshop Saturday 3/5/11 in Concord, Massachusetts

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Workshop Saturday 3/5/11 in Concord, Massachusetts..

There will be an Emergency Communications Workshop on Saturday March 5th,
2011 from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at the Concord Academy Ransome Room of the Math
and Arts Center at 166 Main Street, Concord, Massachusetts. This session
is being put on by the ARES Section Staff through the efforts of Middlesex
County Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator Steve Telsey, N1BDA.
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 so we have a rough
idea of head count for coffee and donuts and lunch. Please try to preregister
by Tuesday March 1st, 2011 to assure the meeting place is setup properly
and we have enough refreshments for breaks between lectures and for the
lunch break. We will accept any last minute preregistrations
after that day or any walk-ins as long as space permits.

Map to Concord Academy in Concord Massachusetts:
http://tinyurl.com/46v9pwd

Parking for attendees will be in the municipal lot on Keyes Rd. or on Main
Street.

Talk-In will be on the 146.955-Westford Repeater PL: 74.4 Hz.

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

N1BDA-Steve Telsey steve.n1bda at verizon.net
N1FY-Carl Aveni caave at peoplepc.com
KD1CY-Rob Macedo rmacedo at 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 
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

Possible Waltham May 12-13 Special Event Station Looking for Volunteers

Bill Mc Ininch, KA1MOM writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list:

On May 12-13 slightly over 10 square miles of Waltham will be transformed into the world of Jules Verne for an entire weekend to become International Steampunk City, an event expected to draw between 12,000 and 15,000 people. The staff of Charles River Museum of Industry, the headquarters of the event, would like to have a wireless station (the kind that glows in the dark if possible) to link the event to the rest of the world. Unusual possibilities may include being able to string a Zepp from a real miniature zeppelin. The museum is looking both for hams to staff a special event station and for possible backup communications for the various venues across town. Best way to see what’s planned while the internationalsteampunkcitywaltham.org site is being finished up is to Google the event name and read the scattered planning documents or to check it out on Facebook. Anyone with antique gear who might want to show it off is a! lso welcome.

Anyone interested in being a formal part of this event can get in touch with me or with CRMI director Ellen Hagney (Elln Hagney on Facebook). Anyone not able to be part of the crew but interested in a great way to unwind the week after Walk For Hunger should still check it out and come enjoy the mostly (everything outdoors) free fun. NOTE: for the non-free items, things will be run much like First Night.

For next year’s event: a non-transmitting copy of the Massie spark gap station should be finished in time to disguise more modern equipment, including the pump handle key.

MARCIA KW1U APPOINTED EASTERN MA SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER

NEW EMA SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER


On February 06, 2011 Jim N1LKJ turned the reigns of Section Traffic Manager over to Marcia KW1U. After many years of didicated work to the section and to NTS in general Jim has found it necessary to back off of some of his many duties do to health and personal situations. Jim has worked very hard and making NTS the best that it can be and has been loved by all that ever came in contact with him. He will surely be missed but he says he isn’t leaving. Whew!.


Marcia KW1U is a long time native of Concord, MA and a devoted NTS operator. She is involved in all aspects of NTS holding many offices and job and it is only an extreme pleasure to have her now working again with the Eastern Massachusetts Traffic Section. I hope we can serve you as well as you have served everyone you have touched over the years.

EMA Traffic Handlers


 

Tech Licensing Class In Bourne

Genesis ARS logo The Genesis Amateur Radio Society and Bourne RACES, in cooperation with the Bourne Emergency Management Agency have announced they will hold an Amateur Radio licensing class for the Technician license in March.

The proposed dates are as follows:

  • Friday, March 18, 2011 7PM-9PM 6:30-9:30pm
  • Saturday, March 19, 2011 9am-2pm (between a 30min – 1hr break for lunch)
  • Saturday, March 26, 2011 9am-1pm (30 min break for lunch)
  • Testing, March 26 2pm-4pm for all amateur class licenses

(The location is tentative at this time; the class and testing may be held at the Plymouth Airport.)

The Town of Bourne RACES (the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is trying to build a team of amateurs to staff EOCs and shelters in the Town during emergencies and to operate stations from their homes for the monthly RACES nets. RACES operators are a vital link between the Massachusetts State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Framingham, the Area EOC in Bridgewater, and the Town of Bourne in relaying vital messages during emergencies.

If you are interested in earning your Amateur Radio license and assisting your town with communications, please join us for these classes. You’ll need to purchase the Technician Q&A manual from the ARRL. The book costs $17.95 plus shipping and handling, but order through Genesis ARS and you can save $0.95 plus shipping and handling. GARS will offer the books for only $17.00; save on shipping and handling.

A second book, “The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual” is also highly recommended. It usually costs $29.95, but you can purchase this book for $29.00 with free shipping. If you order both, you can save an additional $1.00.

If you are interested in attending the course, email the Town of Bourne RACES at bourneraces@gmail.com, then mail your payment to: Genesis Amateur Radio Society, PO Box 230, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 and mention which books you would like to order.

There is a $15 testing fee due at time of testing. ALL REGISTRATION AND BOOKS MUST BE ORDERED BY MARCH 5, 2011.

–Thanks, Genesis ARS

Reminder: Monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net for February 2011

Hello to all…

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for February is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for February is Monday February 7th, 2011, 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

New Section Traffic Manager: Marcia Forde, KW1U

I’m pleased to announce that Marcia Forde, KW1U of Concord MA has agreed to accept the position of Section Traffic Manager effective immediately. Marcia replaces Jim Ward, N1LKJ who has served faithfully as STM for the section for many years. When I assumed the Section Manager role, Jim indicated to me that he wanted to step down, but was willing to serve as long as needed. I promised Jim that I would make it my priority to find a top-notch replacement. I know that I have succeeded in Marcia.

Marcia rose steadily in the National Traffic System ranks after first getting her feet wet in traffic handling in 1981. Not long after, she became an active member of the elite Transcontinental Corps; later, serving as TCC Director for the Eastern Area. Marcia also served as manager of Eastern Area Net Cycle 2.

KW1U previously served as the Eastern MA Section Traffic Manager for five years back in the 80s. In addition to her “new-old” STM duties, Marcia currently serves at the national level in NTS as Chair of the Eastern Area Staff. Somehow, she also manages to find the time to run a “24×7 multiband scanning Pactor MBO on HF serving the continental US, with local outlet on VHF packet.”

Jim is not disappearing from the picture completely, however. He has graciously agreed to assist Marcia with some of the day-to-day workload. Thanks, Jim!

Please join me in welcoming Marcia Forde, KW1U to this important section leadership position!

73,

Phil Temples, K9HI
ARRL Section Manager
Eastern Massachusetts Section

New Metro Boston ARES Email List Created by Metro Boston ARES DEC KB1NCG-Marek Kozubal

Hello!

This is KB1NCG, the Metro-Boston DEC for ARES.

As part of my continuing efforts to build a new core team for the Metro-Boston district I have started a new mailing list for Metro-Boston specific activities and discussions.

If you wish to join you can do so here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/metroboston-ares/

My hope is to grow a wide base of regular members with a large depth of knowledge that will be useful to any future deployments within the Metro-Boston district, and greater New England area.

Thanks
Marek Kozubal
kb1ncg@gmail.com
ARES Metro-Boston District Emergency Coordinator
KB1NCG / VA3NCG

WX1BOX SKYWARN Presented With Vinyl Banner by TACG

WX1BOX banner, courtesy TACGThe Taunton SKYWARN Amateur Radio Club, WX1BOX recently received a gift of a high quality vinyl banner, courtesy of the Taunton Area Communications Group. It is on display at the NWS Taunton offices. TACG president Greg Glynn, W1VFB made the presentation to Carl Aveni, N1FY, who is Eastern MA ARRL Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, and one of the primary SKYWARN operators at the Taunton SKYWARN ARC.

“I have found in the past that identification of a service or entity is essential to getting the message out as to what we do as amateur radio operators,” remarked Glynn. “When clubs or operations identify who they are, people will stop and ask about who and what we are and when you don’t they will tend to look and walk on by.”

–Thanks, TACG News, Feb. 2011

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Stand-by for Major Winter Storm – Wednesday 2/2/11 at 6 AM Through Thursday 2/3/11 Noon

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO GO ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS BEGINNING AT 6 AM EST WEDNESDAY MORNING FEBRUARY 2ND 2011 THROUGH NOON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 3RD 2011 DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MOBILIZATION DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE MAJOR WINTER SNOW/ICE STORM TO THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION.***
***SKYWARN ACTIVATION WITH OPS AT NWS TAUNTON WILL COMMENCE AT 3 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING AND LAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING**

A major winter storm/nor’easter will likely pound the Eastern Massachusetts Section with heavy snow and the potential for damaging accumulations between heavy snow and potential heavy ice accumulations. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for much of the Eastern Massachusetts section. For further specific information on warnings in effect for the section, see the latest Storm Coordination Message link listed below that has greater details on the storm scenario.

http://www.wx1box.org/node/586

We’d like to have ARES personnel assist with SKYWARN reporting of measured snowfall, any changeover in precipitation over the region, snow/ice accumulation and damage reports and by providing damage and storm related pictures where possible. Keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org, monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies and reporting into the nets and monitor local media on this potentially significant storm.

If you have not already done so, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from now through Thursday February 3rd, 2011. This is to support parnter agencies (Red Cross, Salvation Army, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) etc.) that are also on some form of standby. Its also noted that Connecticut ARES has moved to stand-by mode for Wednesday Morning at 6 AM.

What is ARES Stand-By mode?

ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts 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