Month: October 2019

Emergency Communications

Western MA ARES Simulated Emergency Test, November 3, 2019

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From wma.arrl.org: After a long hiatus, the Western Massachusetts ARES Section will conduct a simplified Simulated Emergency Test (SET) to determine our current capacities for communications within the 5 counties in the section. The exercise will begin at noon local time on Sunday November 3 and last until approximately 3PM. Inter-section communications -MAY- be attempted in the 3PM to 4PM timeframe if the appropriate equipment can be put into place. More information on this will appear on this website prior to Nov 3 or be announced in an update during the regular ARES nets on the Sunday morning od the …

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Affiliated Clubs

K5TEC: “Ideas for Attracting Youth and Families to Amateur Radio” at Framingham ARA, November 7, 2019

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The Framingham Amateur Radio Association‘s general meeting on November 7, 2019 will feature Bob Phinney, K5TEC, from New England Sci-Tech who will present “Ideas for attracting youth and families to amateur radio.”  Come and hear what sparks kids’ interests in wireless technology and how we might apply that knowledge to get more youth and families into amateur radio and interested in joining FARA. 

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Public Service

YuKanRun Ocean View 5K and Half Marathon, Ipswich, November 3, 2019

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Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT, writes on the CAARA list: CAARA has a great public service team. Come out and have some fun with us. You are using amateur radio to provide a needed public service to ensure the safety and smooth running of a public event in local communities. I would, but I do not have a radio. No excuse, we have loaner radio’s available with a mag mount that will work in your car just by just plugging it into the cigarette lighter socket. We have loaner hand held radios as well! I don’t have transportation. No excuse, we will …

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Public Service

Norton Halloween Parade, October 27, 2019

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Ray Cord, K2TGX, writes on the Study Memorial Hospital ARC mailing list: A sincere thank you from Sharon, Norton Parks & Recreation Director, for a job well done under adverse weather conditions. While it is still fresh in your mind, can you please forward me any comments you may have as to what worked, what didn’t work and suggestions for next year. Thanks to everyone especially to Rick for his job as Command and to Will who had to take all the abuse from drivers who thought they were special and the detour shouldn’t apply to them!! Now on to …

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Affiliated Clubs / Youth

Antenna Raising in Style at New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society

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Members of New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) held an antenna-raising party to erect an 80-meter antenna on Saturday, October 26, 2019. Members included: Ted, W1OG; Bill, N1WEN; Leandra, AF1R; Alex, KB1SSN; Stu, W1SHS; Barbara, KC1KGS; Dan, W1DAN; Jeremy, KB1REQ; Bob, K5TEC; and Kenneth, KC1AHI.   According to Sci-Tech’s Bob Phinney, K5TEC, “A lot of tree limbs had to be cleared to make room for antenna wires. Ted and Alex did most of the work from the bucket lift while the rest of us were ground crew. It was especially helpful to have Bill, Leandra, Alex, and Jeremy helping …

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All

Framingham ARA Flea Market Suspended

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John Iwuc, KB1VXY, writes on the Framingham ARA mailing list: The Framingham Amateur Radio Association board has made the very difficult decision to suspend the club flea at this time.  So we will not be having a 2020 flea.   If at some point we decide to revive it we will announce that later.  We appreciate all the help and support that folks have provided in past years to make it successful.  We have posted this on our website http://w1fy.org/2020-flea-market.   John KB1VXY President of Framingham Amateur Radio Association

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Operating

15-meter QRP FT8 Activity Night, Westford Vicinity

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Greg Troxel, N1DAM, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list: Without any claim to authority, I’m declaring QRP 15m FT8 activity night tonight (October 21, 2019), from 2000 to 2100 local. I have worked a bunch of stations, including DX, but am puzzled at the relationship of sent to received signal strengths — I receive usually 20 dB worse reports than I send.  So I am guessing that if a few of us are on, with a closed band, and all with the same TX power, perhaps I can understand better.  And perhaps others can shake out their equipment. …

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NTS

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2019

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Below is the traffic report for both Eastern and Western Massachusetts.  I hope everyone is enjoying fall in New England with all its many colors.  It has been quite gorgeous this year.  Lots of public service events going on and also time to get those antennas ready for  a winter I hear could be quite cold and snowy.  If you haven’t tried handling a formal message we hope you will give it a try.  It isn’t that hard, it is fun, and some day you may be called upon to handle a  message in an emergency.  Training and help is …

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Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, November 16-17, 2019

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For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum.  Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course. The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech …

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All

Falmouth ARA FARA Fest, Bourne, November 2, 2019

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FARA Fest is held annually at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational School in Bourne.  The Fest provides and opportunity for local hams to buy, sell, or swap items of interest to amateur radio operators.  VE license exam sessions are also held as part of the Fest.  Flyers are distributed and available on this site prior to each annual FARA Fest.   Outside Spaces are $10.00 per space. All vendors will be given a placard to display, bring your own table.  Indoor spaces are $10.00 per table, we supply the table. All vendors will be given a placard to display. …

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Operating / Youth

Harvard Wireless Club to Participate in the ARRL School Roundup, October 21-25, 2019

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Allen Liu writes on the Harvard Wireless Club mailing list: As we mentioned in our previous meeting, we’re going to be participating in the ARRL school club roundup next week. For all you new technicians, you can operate on the global frequencies with one of us General or Extra licensees present, so you can get on the air at our next meeting Tuesday October 22 at 7:30 PM. Contesting is very cool and in this one everyone around the country will want to talk to us as a school club.  We should also have the promised radios ready for you …

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Organization

ARRL to Launch New On the Air Magazine in January

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From ARRL Web: ARRL is launching a new magazine, On the Air, in January 2020. To be published on a bimonthly basis, On the Air will offer new and beginner-to-intermediate-level radio amateurs a fresh approach to exploring radio communication. Each issue will include advice and insights on topics from the variety of Amateur Radio interests and activities: radio technology, operating, equipment, project building, and emergency communication. The goal of this new magazine is to be a vital resource in helping new and newer radio amateurs get active and involved in radio communications. [Full story]

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Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician License Course, November 2-3, 2019

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For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio Technician license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course. The Technician level course runs on Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM and Sunday, 9 AM-1 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 1:00, at New England Sci-Tech, …

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Operating / Youth

Several Eastern MA Stations QRV for JOTA, October 18-20, 2019

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Several Eastern MA individuals/groups have registered to operate in the Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) festivities October 18-20, 2019: Mark Hofstra, KA1YQC, will conduct operations on behalf of the Mayflower Scout Council from Franklin for the full weekend. The Spirit of Adventure Council will be represented using Ryan Bardsley’s call sign, KC1EIL, from Manchester-by-the-Sea from October 18-20. Don Burke, KB1LXH, will activate KC1TAC on behalf of the Narragansett Council from Camp Norse in Kingston on Saturday, October 19, only. We wish the best of luck to these groups (and others who might not have registered)!

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Affiliated Clubs

W1BOF: Apollo Spacecraft Communications at Nashoba Valley ARC, October 17, 2019

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Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes: The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s October meeting will be TOMORROW, Thursday, October 17th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). George Whitehead, W1BOF, will be Ocober’s guest speaker. George worked at North American Aviation in Downey, CA from 1962 to 1967. This was the prime contractor for the Apollo Command and Service module. He worked in the Apollo Communications Subsystem Group mainly on the telemetry part of the radio system, the part that sent spacecraft status and astronaut medical information back to mission command. But sitting next to him was the rest …

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Affiliated Clubs / Operating / Youth

Northeastern Wireless Club to Participate in ARRL School Roundup, October 21-25, 2019

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    “The Northeastern University Wireless Club will be participating in the ARRL School Club Roundup next week. Come by the club space anytime next week to see us make contacts with other amateur radio school organizations around the world! Even if you don’t have a license, you can still participate under the supervision of one of our licensed members.” -via NEU mailing list

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Affiliated Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Public Information

Nashoba Valley ARC Members Participate in “Massasoit Fall Camporee,” October 4-5, 2019

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Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) participated in Eastern Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s “Massasoit Fall Camporee” at Camp Collier, near Gardner on October 4-5, 2019. The camp is situated deep in the woods on a 500-acre tract of land owned by a preservation trust and leased to the Boy Scouts. Participating were: Bruce Blain, K1BG; Stan Pozerski, KD1LE; Jim Wilber, AB1WQ; Owen Salter, KC1KZT; Skip Youngberg, K1NKR; Phil Erikson, W1PJE; Dan Pedtke, KW2T; Dennis Marandos, K1LGQ; and George Kavanagh, KB1HFT.  A 130-foot long wire and a vertical were erected for HF contacts, thanks …

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All

POPs Local Area Ham Breakfast, Hanson, October 12, 2019

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Jack Buckley, W1AKN, writes: The Bridgewater University has changed management for the 2019 / 2020 Academic year.  Translation: POPs ARS has lost access to the café in the Tillinghast Hall building of the Bridgewater University campus. We will now resume our monthly Local Area Ham Breakfast (2nd Saturday and last Saturday mornings of each month) POPs ARS [Local Area Ham Breakfast] at the Mo’s in Hanson near the Hanson Commuter Rail Station. The POPs Local Area Ham Breakfast (LAHB) is this Sat. morning 9AM – 8:30 for the early birds. LAHBs are held every 2nd and last Sat of the …

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Public Service

Request for Operators, YuKanRun Around Cape Ann Half-Marathon, October 20, 2019

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Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT, <K1TAT@outlook.com> writes: YuKanRun Around Cape Ann Half Marathon on October 20th. CAARA has a great public service team. We have loaner radios if you need one. Come out and join the event. Just contact us and we will set you up with a radio. Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event  so I can plan staffing positions for the event. While CAARA’s repeater performance has greatly improved the we may still experience some difficulty with communications especially with low-powered HTs, so we’ll be looking for higher powered equipment to staff …

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All

New England Area Flea Markets, October 4, 2019

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New England Area   Ham – Electronic Flea Market  ***  DATES ***   2019 P 1 of 2 All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except “____” *******************************************************************************      2019                                                    Contact          Source      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Oct Queens NY HOSARC @HOS                     Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599    11,12 Oct Deerfield NH NEARfest XXVI @FG             Mike K1TWF 978 250 …

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