Month: September 2014

Don Burke, KB1LXH writes:

Hello Scouts and Amateur Radio Operators

We are quickly approaching the 57th Jamboree on the Air. This year’s JOTA takes place on October 18-19. I am heading up a group of Hams and Scouts who will put some 300+ Cub Scouts from Annawon Council On the Air from Camp Norse in Kingston, MA We will operate KC1TAC at 9am-3pm Saturday October 18th, on 2Meters; local repeaters and across the HF bands. Our goal is to give the Cub Scouts a taste of Amateur Radio and have each Scout make at least one contact!

YOU CAN HELP!

How can you help?

• Are you hosting a JOTA Station? Let me know what your plans are, PLEASE! Name, Scout Position, Call Signs, Date, Time, Location, Council and Unit# Please forward me your contact info. I am making a spread sheet to share with everyone! (last years is attached)

• Are you or do you know an Eastern Mass Repeater Trustee? Will they allow us to use their Repeater for JOTA contacts? Please let me know… I am making a spread sheet (attached) to share with other JOTA stations; Does the Repeater have Eco-link? Might your trustee change the station name (for the day) to read JOTA and Location? All info regarding the repeater is helpful; frequency, tone -/+.

• Might you like to help us at Camp Norse? Maybe you have a Special Skill you can demonstrate? Fox Hunter, Code, satellite… ANYTHING! Get back to me about your skill and willingness to help… It doesn’t take much. The Scouts are 1-5th graders and spend 2-8 mins with you then they will move to the next radio… The Day Flies By Quick.

• SHARE this email with your Club/Group/Troop/Pack/Crew! Spread the word! The more contacts we ALL make the better! The Scouts we show Amateur Radio to TODAY; will become our best contacts Tomorrow!

< . . . >

73,

Don Burke, KB1LXH
SM Troop 40
Secretary TACGroup
Taunton, MA
508-880-5968
508-944-3024

The Framingham ARA will hold a fall General upgrade class at its station at the Danforth Museum in Framingham. Move up from Technician Class to General, and get access to the HF bands and the thrill of DX contacts!

The three sessions will meet on Saturday mornings on: October 18, October 25, and November 1. There is no fee or text required.

To enroll, contact Ed Weiss, W1NXC at 508-881-2301 or email edaweiss@cs.com.

Dave Wolfe, KG1H writes:

The Worcester Emergency Communications Team (WECT) is short a few volunteers to help with communications for a bicycle ride in Wayland on September 28th. Some stations will need to be in place as early as 630AM, with the last stations securing around 4PM.

More information about the event is available at: http://web.alsa.org/site/TR?fr_id=9550re.

If interested, please send me an email and what equipment you have available. VHF or UHF handhelds will work, some stations with mobile rigs will be helpful.

If you have any questions, contact Ben Holmes via e-mail at nb1h@nb1hnet with phone 508-919-6214.

The Eastern MA Club Presentation List, Revision 20140924, has been posted. Compiled by Affiliated Club Coordinator Bo Budinger, WA1QYM and Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI, the list is a resource 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 Presentation List”. Corrections or new entries are welcomed and may be sent to Bo at his arrl.net address.

Eric J. Pierce, N1WCO writes:

Members of the Genesis Amateur Radio Society will operate a special events station at the Plymouth Municipal Airport’s Annual Air Show on Saturday, September 27 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Look for them on the N1ZIZ 146.685 repeater (PL 82.5), 146.520 simplex, and 28.450 MHz USB.

Food and refreshments will be served.

The event will be held at the Plymouth Municipal Airport Gate #2, 246 South Meadow Road, in Plymouth.

Once again the Ashland Half Marathon needs amateur radio to help with logistics, SAG, and safety. Hams with all levels of experience in public service are encouraged to volunteer.

Ashland, the original starting site of the Boston Marathon, holds several running events every year. In the spring and fall of 2013 and again this year, Amateur Radio played a critical role – providing non-medical transport for tired runners; reuniting separated family members; keeping the organizers appraised of the race progress; providing communications for the on-site medical teams. The event organizers are counting on amateur radio to assist in a safe and fun event.

The race will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2014 with a starting time of 10:30AM. Generally, this is a quick event, with a conclusion around 1:30PM.

Volunteer now and become part of a great team. Contact:

Mark Richards, K1MGY
kmalittl1@gmail.com
k1mgy@arrl.net
617 592 4392

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is again running a supervised bicycle ride called Cycle for Life. We still need a few hams with dual-band radios to assist with communications.

Especially needed is a ham with a first aid certification (Red Cross, EMT, First Responder) to ride with an ambulance during the event.

Details:

CF Cycle for Life
Starting: 101 Summer Street, Holliston
Start time: approx. 7AM
Finish: approx 2PM
Date: Saturday October 11, 2014

Please reply to this email with your interest as soon as possible to:

Mark Richards, K1MGY
k1mgy@arrl.net
617 592 4392

This Sunday, September 28, 2014 CFF is holding a Volunteer Kickoff. Reply soon so I may include you in the festivities.

Volunteer Kickoff
Meeting and Reception
John Harvard’s
Framingham, MA
Sunday September 28th 5PM

16th NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR RADIO FESTIVAL
“NEAR-Fest” LARGEST Gathering of Radio Hams in Northeast
Friday 9a Oct 10th – Saturday 3p Oct. 11th 2014
CONTACT: Warren Elly W1GUD Warrenelly@gmail.com 813-924-6096

Near-Fest Web for tickets, camping, exhibitors http://near-fest.com

The next time you use a smart phone remember; radio hams have been sending messages to each other for over a hundred years. Much of the technology used by the social network was invented by Radio Amateurs; the founders of the world’s first social network, nearly a century before anyone ever heard of the Internet. Many hams build their own equipment and antennas and operate “off the grid” using alternate power sources and no Internet.

Known as the “Woodstock of Amateur Radio”, the NEAR-Fest draws thousands of “Hams” and their families from all over the U.S., Canada, even Europe. At Deerfield Fairgrounds they renew old acquaintances, and dig through rare decades-old radio parts along with the newest gear.

NEAR-Fest, a private not-for-profit corporation donates funds to good causes. Says founder and chairman Mike Crestohl W1RC, “we are committed to funding projects that will introduce the magic and wonder of radio to young people with the hope that this will ‘light the spark’ for some of them as it did for us”.

This year NEAR-Fest is funding college scholarships for electronic studies, but we are also matching New England Ham Radio Clubs in raising funds for the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund. The fund is used to represent and protect the interests of Radio Amateurs in the U.S. and abroad. NEAR-Fest will match up to $1000 every year. We also supported the international WRTC competition, held in New England this summer.

World wide there are over 3 million people using Amateur Radio, with a record number, over 750,000 and climbing, currently licensed in the United States. Hams come from all walks of life, from world leaders to taxi drivers, children, and retired folks. And they’ll all be there at NEAR-Fest this October!

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is offering a one day study course for the FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio License on Saturday, October 25. This course will be held at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street, Gloucester, MA.

This all-day study course begins at 8:30 AM and goes all day until late afternoon when the FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio license exam is administered. The course cost is $20.00 which includes study material, snacks and the FCC examination fee.

If you wish to know more details and to reserve a spot, please contact course leader Stan Stone, W4HIX at techinaday@caara.net.