Month: May 2014

All / Public Service

WRTC2014 Volunteer Training Session, May 31

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

WRTC2014 logo The WRTC2014 Organizing Committee and the Yankee Clipper Contest Club will conduct a joint meeting on May 31, 2014 beginning at 8:30 AM at Milara, Inc., 49 Maple Street, Milford. The purpose of the meeting is to recruit and provide training for volunteers who will be involved in the WRTC2014 event. Everyone is invited. The main door prize will be a TX38 tribander.

Registration for the training will begin around 7:30am (everyone will be asked to sign a release form if they have not already). Coffee and donuts will be available for breakfast.

The training starts promptly at 8:30am with a short indoor classroom-style review of the station setup process, including changes from last year. Two (possibly three) complete WRTC2014 stations will be constructed outside. The session is expected to conclude by 3 PM. Lunch will be served.

This is a “rain or shine” event. If it is raining, bring rain gear!

Public Information

“My New Favorite Social Media Network is Ham Radio”

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

MetroWest Daily News logo“Well before the days of the tweet and the status update, people communicated with each other over sweeping distances by quite literally harnessing the earth’s magnetic field to send messages via radio waves. It continues to this day, and I’ve just recently gotten on board…”

The May 24, 2014 edition of the Metro West Daily News carries this light, but informative missive about Amateur Radio by Dylan Love. 

Public Information / Regulation & Advocacy

K3HI Steps Down as State Government Liaison

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL logo

Shawn O’Donnell, K3HI, Framingham, has resigned as the State Government Liaison for Massachusetts.

“My current schedule does not allow me to contribute as SGL as much as I had been able to in the past. It is time for me to resign as SGL,” writes K3HI. “It’s been a good ride. A couple of quashed bills here and there, a couple of proclamations now and then, assisting Tom Carrigan, NE1R to get PRB-1 into Massachusetts law, and then helping a number of hams with the legal citation for their zoning boards,” he adds.

Eastern MA ARRL Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI praised O’Donnell’s efforts in his SGL role over the past several decades. “It’s been a tremendous experience to work with someone as dedicated as Shawn. He’s performed a superb job of keeping his finger on the pulse of Beacon Hill, and warning the amateur community of potential legislation that might have an adverse impact on our hobby service.”

“It’s time for some new blood and excitement in the role,” added O’Donnell. “I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with all of you. Please pass along my 73.”

All / Emergency Communications

Reminder: Monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net for May 2014

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Hello to all…

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for May is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for May is Monday May 5th, 2014, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA 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 detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.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 this 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

All / Emergency Communications

Metro-Boston ARES Meeting 5/17/14

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Hello!

We will be holding an all hands meeting, which includes anyone in the Metro-Boston and surrounding areas interested in supporting Metro-Boston ARES, on May 17, 2014 at 10 am.  Current ARES membership is not required! The meeting will be held in the Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center, 125 Antwerp Street, Brighton, MA.

This meeting will have a slightly different format. The main meeting will start at 11 am, and we will be doing a presentation for the community about what amateur radio is all about from 10 to 11. Anyone from that presentation will be welcome to stay through the main meeting if they’re interested.

A map with parking and bus information can be found at http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/Metro-Boston-ARES-Meeting-Parking.jpg
There is also street parking available on Harvard St.

Please RSVP to myself so we can estimate how many people to prepare for to kb1ncg@gmail.com.

If you have not yet done so our Metro-Boston ARES survey is still open and can be found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8V26FBB

Our meeting agenda will be:

1.) From 10 – 11 am we will be presenting an introduction to non-hams about what amateur radio is all about. Topics will include basics of the hobby, equipment, getting licensed, emergency, and skywarn operations.
2.) The main ARES meeting will start at 11 am.
3.) Are you prepared for an emergency? We will discuss best practices for your home readiness kit.
4.) So you are an amateur radio operator, what else beyond the standard kits will you want? We’ll discuss radio-centric aspects to prep-kits and go-kits.
5.) Open discussion about future plans, training, and other topics of interest.
6.) Discussions on next meeting dates and topics.

We will be serving coffee and will provide pizza for lunch.

Look forward to seeing you all at the meeting!

Marek Kozubal
Metro-Boston District Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
kb1ncg@gmail.com

All / Emergency Communications

Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday May 3rd, 2014 at 1000 AM EDT

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Hello Everyone,

Net Control for the  April 3, 2014 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club. They will be conducting the NET from South Shore Hospital.  The net will commence at the usual time of 10am using the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Plymouth 146.685 cts 82.5
2. W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
3. Belmont 145.430 cts 67.0

We will NOT be conducting a simplex test this month.

The Net will then return to the Plymouth Repeater for final comments and net closing.

NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check in procedure which is:   Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.

We extend an invitation to the EOC of any city or town that is served by one of our participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.

We are always looking for more groups or organizations to take Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com or Carl Aveni at caave@peoplepc.com. We can assist with getting your location on the air.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month.  More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.

Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3
Belmont 145.430 tone 67.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0 
Fairhaven 145.490 tone 67.0   
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Norwell 145.390 tone 67.0     
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8       
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5   
Weymouth 224.580 tone 100.0
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dpl 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2

We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John O’Neill
K1JRO
South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
55 Fogg Road, Mail Stop #25
South Weymouth, MA 02190

All / Emergency Communications

Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday May 3rd, 2014 at 1000 AM EDT

- by admin - Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Net Control for the  April 3, 2014 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club. They will be conducting the NET from South Shore Hospital.  The net will commence at the usual time of 10am using the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Plymouth 146.685 cts 82.5
2. W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
3. Belmont 145.430 cts 67.0

We will NOT be conducting a simplex test this month.

The Net will then return to the Plymouth Repeater for final comments and net closing.

NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check in procedure which is:   Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.

We extend an invitation to the EOC of any city or town that is served by one of our participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.

We are always looking for more groups or organizations to take Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com or Carl Aveni at caave@peoplepc.com. We can assist with getting your location on the air.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month.  More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.

Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3
Belmont 145.430 tone 67.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0 
Fairhaven 145.490 tone 67.0   
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Norwell 145.390 tone 67.0     
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8       
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5   
Weymouth 224.580 tone 100.0
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dpl 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2

We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John O’Neill
K1JRO
South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
55 Fogg Road, Mail Stop #25
South Weymouth, MA 02190

All

New England QSO Party, May 3-4, 2014

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Tom Frenaye, K1KI writes:

The New England QSO Party is coming – May 3-4 – and we’re looking for more activity from Massachusetts.

The NEQP is a great way to test your antennas on 80-10 meters and to be the focus of a lot of activity as stations from around the world look for New England stations. Plus, it’s fun!!

Here is a summary of the New England QSO Party rules:

Object: To contact as many New England stations (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) in as many New England counties as possible on 80-40-20-15-10m. (New England stations work anyone)

Date: First full weekend of May.

Period: 2000Z Saturday until 0500Z Sunday (4pm EDT Saturday until 1am EDT Sunday) and 1300Z Sunday until 2400Z Sunday (9am EDT Sunday until 8pm EDT Sunday).

Categories: Single-operator high power, low power(150w or less) and QRP(5w or less) categories, plus multi-operator, single transmitter. Same four categories for mobiles. Single-operator stations using assistance during the contest (packet or Internet spotting nets, etc.) will compete in the multi-single category.

Contest Exchange: Send signal report and state/province (DX stations send signal report and “DX”). New England stations send signal report, county and state.

QSO Points: Count one point per phone QSO, two points per CW (includes digital modes)QSO.

Multiplier: Stations outside of New England use counties as multipliers for a total of 67 (CT/8 MA/14 ME/16 NH/10 RI/5 VT/14). New England stations use states(50)(Count DC as MD), Canadian provinces(14) and DXCC countries as multipliers.

Scoring: Total score is QSO points times the multiplier. Mobiles count QSO points per county and multipliers from all counties (counted once).

Suggested frequencies: CW – 3540 7035 14040 21040 28040, SSB – 3850 7280 14280 21380 28380. ** Now that the broadcast stations are mostly out of 7125-7200, try 7180 on 40m SSB.**

Reporting: Logs should indicate times in UTC, bands, modes, calls and required contest exchange. All stations include your club’s name in the log header or summary. Entries must be submitted within 30 days and sent to NEQP, P.O.Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 or via e-mail to logs@neqp.org (Cabrillo format preferred).

Awards: Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers (25 QSO minimum) in each New England county, U.S. state, Canadian province and DXCC country. A number of special plaques will also be awarded to top scorers.

Additional details can be found on the NEQP web site at http://www.neqp.org

See if you can have a competition within your club for the top scorer. Several clubs are challenging each other for the best club score.

We’re especially looking for mobile stations to put the rarest counties on the air.

If think you might be on for at least a short time in the NEQP, let us know with a brief message to us at info@neqp.org

Thanks!

— Tom/K1KI for the NEQP Committee