Sturdy, South Coast Hospitals Participate in “Mini-Exercise”
A short exercise was held March 20, 2011 to test communications readiness involving the newly established South Coast Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio (HEAR) Network.
Month: March 2011
Sturdy Memorial Amateur Radio Club/ARES and South Coast ARES Participates with South Coast Hospitals in a Mini-Exercise
On Sunday March the 20th a short exercise was conducted involving the newly established South Coast Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio Network (South Coast H.E.A.R. Network).
The South Coast H.E.A.R. Network consists of three Hospitals, The Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and the Tobey Hospital in Wareham,. These three hospitals merged some years back to form the South Coast Hospital group.
The purpose of this Drill was to test the newly installed and programmed radio gear, establish communications between all three hospitals including other hospitals out of our area along with other ARES/ RACES Stations. There were three modes of communications tested, two meter simplex voice among the three hospitals, two meter duplex voice and HF on seventy five and forty meters. After testing on simplex the three hospitals switched to the REGION 2a RACES repeater, in addition to our three sites we were also joined by the Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro Ma. (K1SMH) our REGION 2a RACES repeater 147.000 is owned and operated by the South Eastern Ma. Amatuer Radio Association (SEMARA) located in Dartmouth. We were also joined by individual ARES home stations the WA1AEC SEMARA Club and Cape Cod ARES.
Operating these positions were approximately six Amatuer Radio Operators representing various organizations i.e. The Town of Acushnet Emergency Management Agency, The Town of Somerset Emergency Management Agency, the K1ZZN Amatuer Radio Club in Fall River, SEMARA Club in Dartmouth and SCMARG (South Coastal Ma. Amatuer Radio Group) from Acushnet. All operators are members of the South Coast ARES group.
Although the drill was of short duration the South Coast HEAR Network was able to test their system and recognize some of our weak and strong points. Future plans are to recruit more operators, especially for St. Luke’s and the Tobey Hospitals, establish digital communications via packet and winlink and participate in other exercises involving othe hospitals in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward A. Caron(ka1rsy)
South Coastal Massachusetts
ARES/SKYWARN Emergency Coordinator
ka1rsy@arrl.net
ka1rsy@comcast.net
Asst. Operations Officer
Town of Acushnet
Office of Emergency Management
(508)998-0295 ext 232
ecaron@acushnetema.com
www.acushnetema.com
Cape Ann ARA Spring Ham Radio Flea Market
The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association will hold its Spring ham radio flea market on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street, Gloucester, MA. Doors open to sellers at 8 AM; doors open to buyers at 9:00 AM. Tables can be reserved in advance for $10.00, or can be purchased the day of the flea market for $15.00. To reserve a table, contact Dick Copithrone at 508-269-4941 or email at dickc911 at yahoo.com.
No computers or CRT monitors will be sold at this event. No need to worry about rain; this is an indoor event.
Talk-in will be provided on 145.130 MHz, no PL tone.
Ham Help Needed for BAA 5K and 1 Mile Races, April 17, 2011
Ham help is needed for the BAA’s 5k & 1 Mile Races, Sunday April 17, 2011.
The BAA 5K & 1 Mile Races start and finishes in Boston’s Back Bay the day before the Marathon.
The 5k race starts around 8:00 AM just forward the marathon’s finish line and heads down Boylston St. to the Boston Common, around the Common, down Beacon Street to Arlington St to Commonwealth Ave down Commonwealth Ave to Hereford ST then to Boylston St ending at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The Mile Races start after the 5k race. The mile races use the marathon’s finish line as the start and finish points. The 1 mile races start just after the finish of the 5k race. This is another excellent event for Hams new to public service to gain experience. Ham support for these races starts around 7:00 AM and ends around noon. (Note that this is the day before the Boston Marathon, but no logistical interference is expected between these events, and the Ham communications will be independent of the Marathon.)
Ham support for this event is straightforward, however, our communications support will make the day safe and smooth for all. For those who are new to ham public service, this event is a good introduction and we need your help. For those who have done this before, your help is needed more than ever.
A 2-meter, 5 watt hand-held is satisfactory the assignments at the BAA’s 5k & 1 Mile Races. A dual-band radio is desirable, but not required. The “rubber duck” antenna that came with your radio should all you need for this event, but if you have a better antenna for your radio take it with you. It will be helpful. Be sure you charge the radio’s battery before the event. If you have extra batteries for your radio take them as a back-up.
Ham public service is interesting and offers fun experiences. The communication load for this event light, but safety and support for the participants are always our primary concern.
If you can help with the BAA’s 5k & 1 Mile Races, Sunday April 17, 2011, please reply to me with all of the following information as soon as possible. If you have already volunteered, bear with me and reply to this message, also. Reply by email is the best method.
Full name
On-air name
Call sign
Postal mailing address (including 9-digit ZIP code)
Evening phone
Day phone
Cell phone
Email address
Does your 2-meter radio have CTCSS (PL)?
Do you have a dual-band radio?
Do you have a magnetic mount antenna?
T-shirt size
Let me know if you have volunteered for this event before and want the same assignment. While I cannot guarantee the same assignment, I will try my best to give you the assignment you want. Note that we cannot assure you that all preferences can be granted. Try to get back to me as quickly as you can.
If you know other hams who would like to volunteer, ask them to send the above information to me. If you are new and want to get more public service experience, this is an excellent event to get your feet wet. As significant as our communications will be, this event is a low impact opportunity to learn the ropes.
Your assistance is valuable. Please let me know promptly if you can help. I will get the assignments and more details to you as soon possible. If you have already volunteered, bear with me and reply to this message, also. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to recommend another ham to join us.
73,
Tom Bertolino, KB1P
kb1p@arrl.net
781-608-6186
Website Makes Letter Writing Regarding HR-607 Easy
Richard Haltermon, KD4PYR, has created a website that makes it very easy to develop a letter for your Congressional representative regarding HR-607 (the bill that would sell off 420-440 MHz). This is as easy as it gets folks! Just enter your callsign and it does the rest.
Bill Morine, N2COP, writes:
“…we used Jim Weaver’s software http://www.kd4pyr.net/hamletter.htm to generate HR-607 letters this past weekend at the Charlotte Hamfest, and it worked wonderfully.”
Please get this info out to clubs and groups.
http://www.kd4pyr.net/hamletter.htm
Send then to:
John Chwat
Chwat & Co.
625 Slaters Lane
Suite 103
Alexandria, VA 22314
Thanks, Handiham World Weekly E-Letter for the week of Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Brockton Emergency Management Amateur Radio Class
Brockton Emergency Management is sponsoring a ham radio class each Saturday in April from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the VA Medical Center, Building 22, in training rooms 1 and 2.
[Full story]Echolink and D-Star connections to Japan
Terry Stader, KA8SCP writes on PART-L:
A heads-up to all our D-Star and Echolink users….
As everyone knows, Japan has been under the influence of a horrific situation as a result of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. There are rolling blackouts and complete loss of power as well as major breaks to communications infrastructure throughout the country.
Many of the “ancillary” communications portions of Amateur Radio in Japan are also suffering from power and internet connectivity loss as you can probably understand. Only vital communications support is being provided in and out of the country.
Please do not initiate any Echolink or D-Star connections to JA stations. Because of the way D-Star and Echolink function in Japan, it is possible that you could interrupt an important communications link in progress by blindly calling in to a link.
If a Japan station is functional and they wish to initiate connections, that is of course their prerogative, but we do ask that you do NOT initiate those connections inbound at this time.
Thanks for your understanding.
Terry
Special Event QRPARCI in MA
Ron Silvia, WB1HGA writes:
If you all don’t already know, QRP Amateur Radio Club International is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) this year. I been a member of this club since 1980. Our goal is to promote (discover) and encourage QRP activity. The club holds as many radio ‘tests as ARRL does and are very popular and well attended. There are also QRP calling frequencies on each bands. Awards are also provided, such as the 1000 miles per watt, QRP WAS, etc. To celebrate this anniversary, they are having one state represented each week. The club call is issued to that state and for one week, make as many QSOs as possible.
I have volunteered to be the point of contact for MA. I have two tasks to perform in preparation: To select a week to represent MA, then gather ops to use their stations with the club’s call.
I would like to select a week that can be both radio related or historically related to MA.
(NEQSO Party week has been selected by another state)
The purpose of this email is to solicit input from everyone regarding a good week to put MA on the map.
Please Email suggestions to wb1hga@arrl.net.
Afterwards, there will be an announcement as to which week MA will be represented in the QRPARCI web site.
The next phase will be seeking ops to volunteer their time to op that week using the QRPARCI club call. (Of course, you will be using 5 watts or less.) This is a fun event.
For more information about the club including the scheduled states, go to:
Thank you,
W1AF/AM QRV on Sunday, March 13
Former Harvard Wireless Club member Jacob Chambers, K4JQV, of Lexington, KY has received permission from the HWC to operate as W1AF/Aeronautical Mobile on a trans-Atlantic flight from Kentucky to Belguim beginning Sunday, March 13 at 0730 ET. Chamber’s jet will refuel in Bangor, Maine prior to beginning the international leg of the flight.
“I’m sure I will make it on the cluster,” said Chambers. “I don’t have an operating plan–just get QRV as the workload and other conditions permit.”
Look for W1AF/AM on the DX clusters, and possibly, the 20 meter band. QSLing instructions are expected to be posted on W1AF’s page on QRZ.com.
Thanks, W1PL and K4JQV
March Floods of 2010 Presentation at the North Providence Public Library in North Providence RI Tuesday 3/29/11 at 7 PM
Hello to all..
On Tuesday Evening March 29th at 7 PM, David R Vallee, Hydrologist-In-Charge
of the Northeast River Forecast Center co-located with the National Weather
Service Forecast Office in Taunton Massachusetts will give a presentation on
the March Floods of 2010 at the North Providence Public Library on 1810
Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence, RI. This date coincides with
the first anniversary of the second major flood episode that occurred in
March 2010 in Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts.
Amateur Radio Operators and SKYWARN Spotters were critical in documenting
the historic flooding that occurred last March. This presentation offers
the opportunity to understand the meteorology and conditions that set the
scenario for the historic flooding that occurred in March 2010 around the
region. A complete abstract on what the presentation will cover can be
seen at the following link:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/Dave_Vallee_Floods_of_2010_Talk_North_Providence_RI.pdf
We hope to see many folks at this special presentation on the March Floods of 2010!
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
EMA ARRL Speakers List Update
The Eastern MA ARRL Speakers List, Revision 20110310 has been posted. Compiled by Affiliated Club Coordinator Bo Budinger, WA1QYM, the list is a resource aid for ARRL affiliated clubs in finding topical speakers and presentations.
A permanent link to the list can be found in the main menu under “EMA Club Speakers List”. Corrections or new entries are welcomed and may be sent to Bo at his arrl.net address.
South Shore Fox Hunt
The Whitman Amateur Radio Club and the South Shore Fox Hunters remind everyone that there will be a fox hunt on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM.
KB1CYV has agreed to be the fox. He will be hiding in one of the three “Bridgewater” towns. The fox frequency will be 146.535 MHz simplex. Coordination will occur on the Whitman, 147.225 repeater (PL 67.0 Hz).
-Thanks, NI1X
New England Area Flea Markets – Feb. 28, 2011
New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** 2011 P 1 of 2
All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except ~_____~
*******************************************************************************
2011 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 Mar Feeding Hills MA MtTARA @TurnverneinClb Mary N1TOY 413 967 4008
19 Mar Dayville CT ECARA @StJosephCh $3@8 $10/T Paul KE1LI 860 928 2456 F
20 Mar Southington CT SARA @HS $5@8 $20/T@6:15 Norm W3IZ 860 584 1403 F
25 Mar Lewiston ME ME AARC StConv @ Ramada Ivan N1OXA 207 577 5152 A
26 Mar Middleetown NY OCARC @CommCtr Neil AC2O 914 490 2001 A
27 Mar Henniker NH CVRC @CommSch Donald N1ZIH 603 651 8000 A
3 April Framingham MA FARA @KeefeTech $5@9 $25/T Bev N1LOO 508 626 2012
10 Ap LaGrangeville NY MtBARC @TymorPk David KC2AFK 845 677 5079 A
16 Ap Manchester NH NHAntqRC @Bingo $10 @7:30 $3 @8:30 Charlie 603 898 4821 F
16 Ap S Portland ME PAWA @AmLegion $5@8 $10/t@6:30 Bryce K1GAX 207 799 1116 W
16 Ap Gales Ferry CT RASON Auction Gary WT1SND 860 884 4218 A
16 Ap LaSalle PQ MARC @CanLegion $5@9 $10/T@8:15 James 514 990 1965 R
17 April Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
Third Sunday April thru October
29,30 April Deerfield NH Nearfest IX @FG Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235
30 Ap 1 My Wakefield MA Photographica @AmericalCtr ~photo~ John 781 592 2553
14 May E Greenbush NY EGARA @FD $6@8 +$6/sp@6 Tom KC2FCP 518 272 1492
15 May Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
20-22 May Dayton OH
28 May Vernon CT NARC @Toland AgCtr Wayne N1GUS 860 487 1921 A
4 June Windsor CT VR+C Mus 115 Pierson LN John 860 673 0518
4 June Goshen CT SBARC @FG Lee K1LEE 860 435 0051 A
4 June Hermon ME PSARC @HS Roger KA1TKS 207 848 3846 +
12 June Queens NY HoSARC Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599 A
18 June Newington CT NARL @StMarySch `Steve WV1X 860 594 0265 A+
*******************************************************************************
LAST UPDATE 2-28-11 de W1GSL http://swapfest.us P 1
List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version
*******************************************************************************
Additions/ Corrections via e-Mail w1gsl@mit.edu <- SUBSCRIBE
US Mail W1GSL POB 397082 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139
(c)2011 unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety
^
New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** 2011 P2 of 2
*******************************************************************************
2011 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
19 June Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
Third Sunday April thru October
17 July Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
13 Aug St Albans VT StARC @VFW Arn N1ARN 802 309 0666 A+
21 Aug Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
28 Aug Adams MA NoBARC @FG Timothy KE3HT 413 822 7075 A
10 Sept Ballston Spa NY SCRACES @FG @7 Al KA1IEG 518 677 3316
10 Sept Windsor CT VR+C Mus 115 Pierson LN John 860 673 0518
17 Sept Alexander ME StCVARC @ElSch William AA1ZR 207 853 2951 A
18 Sept Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
2 Oct Queens NY HoSARC Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599 A
9 Oct Wallingford CT Nutmeg Conv $20/sp $7@8 John N1GNV 203 440 4468 +
14,15 Oct Deerfield NH Nearfest X @FG Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235 T
16 Oct Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
29 Oct Gales Ferry CT TCARC Auction @FireCo @10 Darryl WA1DD 860 443 7799
29 Oct Manchester NH NHAntqRC @Bingo $10 @7:30 $3 @8:30 Charlie 603 898 4821 +
4 Nov Feeding Hills MA HCRA Auction @CongCh @6:30PM Jim KK1W 413 245 3228
5,6 Nov Wakefield MA Photographica @AmericalCtr ~photo~ John 781 592 2553
12 Nov Bourne MA FARA @UpperCC VoTech $5@9 $10/S@7 Ralph N1YHS 508 548 0422
3 Dec Windsor CT VR+C Mus 115 Pierson LN @8AM Indoor John 860 673 0518
*******************************************************************************
LAST UPDATE 2-28-11 de W1GSL http://swapfest.us P 2 of 2
List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version
Source F= Flyer T= tentative early info + = new info this month
A= ARRL R= RAC list W= web WR NV CQ QST = Mags
This list has been compiled from many sources. While we believe the info to
be accurate the author can not be responsible for changes or errors.
Check with the sponsoring organizations for more details. This list will be
posted monthly to USENET. Mailed copies are sent when additions are made.
*******************************************************************************
Additions/ Corrections via e-Mail w1gsl@mit.edu <- SUBSCRIBE
US Mail W1GSL POB 397082 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139
(c)2011 unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety
New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** 2011 -> ***
Page 3 Electronic distribution only. This page has the overflow if any P3
from the paper version.
*******************************************************************************
2011 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*******************************************************************************
LAST UPDATE 2-28-11 de W1GSL P 3
List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version
Additions/ Corrections via Internet w1gsl@mit.edu
US Mail W1GSL POB 397082 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139
(c)2011 W1GSL http://www.swapfest.us SASE for updated copy as issued.
unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety
*******************************************************************************
List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version
Be sure to check for the latest version as updating is under the control
of the page owner.
* You can have the list e-mailed directly to you as it is updated. *
* Just send a request to be added to the distribution to w1gsl@mit.edu *
73 Steve F
W1GSL
SEMARA To Participate in “Original Thirteen Colonies” Special Event Operation
The Southeastern MA Amateur Radio Association has been invited to participate in the Original 13 Colonies Special Event on July 1-5, 2011, according to SEMARA’s Radio Events Chairman Bob Kelley, K1KVV.
Reminder: Monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net for March 2011
Hello to all…
A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for March is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for March is Monday March 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
Special ARDF and Orienteering Presentation at TACG
Greg Glynn, W1VFB writes:
The Taunton Area Communications Group is proud to present Vadim Afonkin, KB1RLI from Amateur Radio Direction Finding and Orienteering to give us a presentation on the many facets of Foxhunting and ARDF.
Please follow the attached link to find out more about Vadim.
http://www.arrl.org/news/ardf-update-foxhunting-fun-in-the-blue-hills-of-boston
This presentation will be at the TACGroup’s regular meeting of March 21, 2011 starting at 7:00 pm. We meet at Morton Hospital and Medical Center, 88 Washington St. in Taunton, MA in the Margaret Stone Conference Room. A short business meeting will precede the presentation.
If you have ever wondered about foxhunting or participated in an event this will be a great time to find out more of the finer points and techniques form a master of the sport.
Please pass this email along to all your club members and associates. This is not just for amateurs. This presentation is for anyone interested in foxhunting and direction finding.
We look forward to seeing you March 21 @ 7:00 p.m. at Morton Hospital and Medical Center, 88 Washington Street, Taunton, MA.
KW1U Appointed STM for Western MA
Western MA Section Manager Ed Emco, W1KT has announced the appointment of Marcia Forde, KW1U as Section Traffic Manager for Western Massachusetts. KW1U now serves in a dual role as STM for both Massachusetts sections. [Details]