May 2021 – Page 2 – Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

Topsfield Repeater Refurbished and QRV

May 11, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Warren Rothberg, W4WR/1 (ex-WB1HBB) writes:

The Pocahontas Radio Club (an informal group of old and new friends) and the owners and trustees (N1HSY and N1HOW) are pleased to announce that the Topsfield MA repeater (147.285 PL 100.0) has been completely rebuilt with a new tower, new antenna, new hardline, new weatherproof repeater enclosure and refurbished or replaced electronics. The “Pokeys” hold a ragchew net 7 days a week at 0830 EDT and all are welcome to join in at any time to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. Special thanks to Doug, N1LHP, and his many friends for their tireless work.

[Warren is a former Section Manager of New Hampshire, and a former New England Division Vice Director.]

Clubs

N1DM: “FT8 and FT4 Digital Modes” at Zola Center ARC, May 15, 2021

May 11, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Our feature presentation [on May 15, 2021 at 11 AM] will be from Dom Mallozzi, N1DM. He will present FT8 and FT4 as digital modes. Dom has been a ham for 48 years starting out in RI as WN1RFT. He is currently active on CW during some contests and still likes to build equipment and is active on DMR, FT4, FT8 and satellites. Also, he is the radio consultant for Natick Police and Fire Departments for the past 30 years.

He retired in 2019 from Raytheon as a Principal Electrical Engineer specializing in the design and maintenance of test equipment. He worked at Raytheon plants in Waltham, Andover, Sudbury, and Marlboro over his 38 years with Raytheon.

After our feature presentation we will socialize and enjoy a virtual Spring lunch together.

[Contact Frank Ventura, N1FMV, at frank -at- littlebreezes -dot- com for Zoom conference details.]

Clubs

W1DAN: “FCC RF Exposure Rules and Compliance” at Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, May 11, 2021

May 11, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Join the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:30 PM for a presentation on “FCC RF Exposure Rules and Compliance” by Dan Brown, W1DAN.

Updated FCC Radio Frequency Exposure Rules went into effect on May 3, 2021. Dan will explain what this means. After May 3 of this year, any new station, including SOTA, POTA, and Field Day stations, or any existing station modified in a way that’s likely to change its radio frequency emission profile — such as different antenna or placement or greater power — will need to conduct an evaluation by the date of activation or change.

Born and raised in New Orleans, W1DAN caught the shortwave bug in the early 1970s as he discovered listening to shortwave broadcast stations, but soon discovered ham radio. Dan obtained his license in 1978 and got on the air on CW with a Heath Apache and Hallicrafters SX-101A – and modified them. Since that time he has enjoyed not only the vintage gear and the AM mode, but modern Software Defined Radios with DSP, Class E RF amplification as well as digital modes such as PSK-31. While he does not claim to know everything about radio he is happy to assist fellow hams with technical questions, promote STEM education and citizen science. W1DAN is also the president of the Wellesley Amateur radio Society, works as a broadcast engineer in Boston and lives in Natick, MA.

[For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.]

Clubs

K9LA: “Solar Cycle 25, Space Weather, and Practical High Band HF Antennas” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, May 20, 2021

May 11, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Phil Erickson, W1PJE, writes on the NVARC mailing list:

We’re pleased to announce that the May [20, 2021 Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club] meeting will feature Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, speaking on the topic “Cycle 25 Update and Understanding Space Weather”. NVARC is very fortunate to have K9LA, who is in demand nationally and is a regular at Dayton Hamvention’s forum talks. He also made presentations in 2021 both at K3LR’s Virtual Contest University and 4Z1UG’s QSO Today Virtual Expo.

Summary: Carl K9LA will discuss the predictions for and the progress of Solar Cycle 25, including what to expect in terms of propagation throughout 2021 and as Cycle 25 ascends. He will also review simple antennas for 15m, 12m and 10m as Cycle 25 ramps up. He will then briefly review websites with space weather data and how to tie this important data to HF propagation conditions. Finally, he will highlight real-time propagation websites that allow us to assess what’s happening right now.

Biography: Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA started his radio career as a short wave listener in the late 1950s. He received his Novice license (WN9AVT) in October 1961, and selected K9LA in 1977. Carl is a graduate of Purdue University and was an RF design engineer until his retirement in 2013. Carl enjoys propagation, DXing (he’s at the Top of the Honor Roll), contesting (he was NCJ Editor from 2002-2007), experimenting with antennas and restoring/using vintage equipment.

He and his wife Vicky AE9YL enjoy traveling, which has included DXpeditions to Syria (YK9A in 2001), to Market Reef (OJ0/AE9YL and OJ0/K9LA in 2002) and numerous trips to ZF (Vicky is ZF2YL and Carl is ZF2LA). Carl is currently the ARRL Central Division Vice Director. He has received the Bill Orr W6SAI Technical Writing Award, the YASME Foundation Excellence Award and the Indiana Radio Club Council Technical Excellence Award.

[W1PJE: Carl maintains an extensive website at https://k9la.us with selected articles and presentations about propagation and solar topics, grouped into categories – Monthly Feature, Timely Topics, Basic Concepts, Tutorials, General, 160m, HF, VHF and Contesting. It’s well worth your time.]

Phil W1PJE

Emergency Communications

Falmouth / Cape Cod ARES Exercise, May 8, 2021

May 7, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Henry Brown, K1WCC, writes on the Falmouth ARA Facebook page:

Falmouth/Cape Cod ARES members will be conducting an exercise in the lower parking area (across from the Clark Cancer Center) on Saturday, May 8 from 10-12 noon. Setup starts at around 9 AM. We will be operating 2 meter simplex as well as Winlink. Visitors are welcome!

Henry K1WCC

Falmouth ARES EC

Clubs

W1VU: CQ Magazine at K1USN Radio Club Online Meeting, May 11, 2021

May 7, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes in K1USN Happenings, 5/7/21:

Our next K1USN Radio Club Zoom session will take place on Tuesday, May 11th @ 7:30 PM. We are happy to announce that our featured speaker will be Rich Moseson, W2VU, editor of CQ Magazine.

CQ Magazine has been in circulation since 1945 and is still considered THE magazine for active Hams!

FYI, if you have already been receiving our bi-weekly Zoom invitations then you will receive one on Sunday for this upcoming Tuesday session. If you would like to be added to our separate K1USN Zoom invitation list then send me a request (k1rv@arrl.net) and I’ll add you to that growing list.

As always, I ask that you pass along the news about this upcoming session, but do not share the Zoom invitation info. Instead, have your friends send me a request to be added to the list. We do this to reduce the possibility of any “Zoom bombing” – tnx.

Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox is Out and About in Westford

May 7, 2021March 17, 2023 - by k9hi - 1 Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 7, 2021 at 10:23 AM:

The KD1D Fox is out and about as of 0900 EDT on Friday May 7. The transmitter is on 146.565 MHz FM and begins a 30-second message every 60 seconds.

Begin your search near the intersection of North Street and Groton Road (Rt, 40), and you should be able to locate it easily on nearby Westford Conservation Land. For maps and guides, check out https://westfordconservationtrust.org/trails/ and check out the main page https://westfordconservationtrust.org for an overview of Westford’s extensive program of public lands and trails.

Just one clue this time: Herpetology and Horses – mind your step!

If you need additional help locating the trail, email me at kd1d@arrl.net.

73 and Happy Hunting de KD1D, Alan

Licensing Education & Training / Regulation & Advocacy / Technical

RF Exposure Rules Presentation Video Recording

May 5, 2021May 9, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Many amateurs have requested a recording of the RF Exposure Rules presentation featuring Eastern MA Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN on May 4, 2021. ARRL Laboratory Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI also participated in the call, fielding questions from the audience.

The presentation can be viewed at: <https://youtu.be/7dSieKF3rm0>.

Operating

BCRA POTA Operation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI, June 5, 2021

May 4, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Fran Kelly, KC1NDQ, writes on the Bristol County Repeater Association mailing list:

I have registered with POTA and scheduled a park activation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI for June 5 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Colt Park is park K-2872.

I will set up my Yaesu Ft-450d with Shark hamsticks for 20- and 40 meters on my vehicle.

Anyone interested come on by and bring whatever gear you like. I have a 10 ft x 10 ft pop up tent for shade or rain cover. I will stop by the park soon to map out a good spot and will let everyone know where that might be.

Talk to you soon.

Fran, KC1NDQ

Organization

May 2021 Section News Now Available

May 3, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL flag The May, 2021 Section Newsletter is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/may-2021-section-news/.

Clubs

Congrats to PART QST Authors

May 3, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

George Allison, K1IG, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

Congratulations to PART of Westford member Bob, W1IS, who, along with Bob, KC1DSQ, have the lead article in the June 2021 issue of QST! Their article, “A Portable Two-Element 40-Meter Wire Beam,” describes an antenna that PART has used successfully in several Field Days.

ARRL members can cast their vote for the QST Cover Plaque award by visiting this site starting May 10.

Clubs

NN1C: “Contesting” at New England Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, May 4, 2021

May 3, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NN1C QSL card New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society Online Meeting: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 7:00 pm – “Contesting” by Marty Sullaway, NN1C

The presentation is an introduction to contesting, a discussion of serious competition, including the world radiosport team championship, contest DXpeditioning, and some highlights of nearby contest stations. We’ll cover everything from what to do to get involved, to a fun drone video of some of the largest stations in the world, and audio recordings of the highest level of competition.

Marty Sullaway is a 19-year-old radio aficionado living in Eastern Massachusetts. A lover of all things technical, his time in amateur radio has been spent designing and selling station automation hardware, teaching licensing classes, and pushing the limits in remote contesting. Marty has been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to pilot many larger contest stations, both as a single operator and as part of multi-operator teams. Marty will be a competitor at the World Radiosport Team Championship in Italy in 2022, and frequently operates from the Cayman Islands where he is a partner in maintaining a contest station there. Marty is a frequent digital content producer in amateur radio, acting as a frequent amateur radio club speaker, podcast guest, and has been published in The National Contest Journal as well as CQ Magazine, and various other media channels. Marty is currently a student at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is pursuing a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and works in mmWave radar systems and image processing.

[For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.]

Clubs

KA8SCP: “D-STAR Digital Mode” at Billerica ARS Meeting, May 5, 2021

May 2, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Billerica ARS logo The next [Billerica Amateur Radio Society] Zoom Meeting will be Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

Our guest speaker will be Terry Stader, KA8SCP. Terry will give a presentation on the D-STAR digital mode which has been, and will be, a popular digital mode. I am sure Terry’s presentation will be interesting and informative, so please join us!

We will announce the link to join the Zoom meeting before the meeting, but it will be posted to the BARS email list . Are you on the email list? If not, please send an email to bars-subscribe@w1hh.org and then simply reply to the robot response from the server and you will be subscribed.

Observing our Zoom meeting requires only a web browser and headphones/speakers. You do not need a webcam or microphone unless you want to speak or be seen.

Before our meeting date, please go to https://zoom.us/test and see if it will function for you. If you have problems, we can try to assist – feel free to ask questions on the BARS email list.

I am looking forward to “seeing” many of you on Wednesday 5/5 here at 1900.

Doug, N1WRN
President, Billerica Amateur Radio Society

Operating

Parks On The Air Activation, Blue Hills, Milton, MA K-8402, May 15, 2021

May 2, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Parks On The Air logo Fellow WARS members and friends:

Mindy KM1MDY has organized a new POTA Saturday may 15 at Blue Hill in Milton, MA. Her notice is below.

Dan

W1DAN

—

Hello Radio Friends! Here is the OFFICIAL invite to the Blue Hills POTA activation. We will start out playing radio in a field at Houghton’s Pond, and then if we feel like it, some of us will hike to the top of Great Blue. As always, these are come if and when you want, and are meant to be very relaxed free-flowing get-togethers. Bring any equipment you want to test out, or just use ours. With band pass filters we can get several HF bands on the air simultaneously. If you get a preferred parking spot (see below), you will be able to operate with your car close by. We are starting out on the early side to try to secure good parking. Restrooms are closed, so keep this in mind. You will get one more confirmatory email from me the week before (mostly watching the weather).

WHO: Anyone interested in Ham Radio. No need to be a licensed ham operator. No need to be a hiker.

WHAT: Parks-On-The-Air (POTA) activation of Blue Hills Reservation

WHEN: Saturday May 15th, beginning at 10am until you go home.

WHY: Just because darnit! And you can get a POTA point…

WHERE: Houghton’s Pond in the Blue Hills Reservation (in the field near Picnic Site 5 on the Houghton’s Pond Brochure).

PARKING: Preferred Parking is across from the intersection of Blue Hill River Road and Eileen Road (42.207692, -71.100664).

Additional parking along Blue Hill River Road toward the ball fields and Hillside Street. See Maps.

HIKING: If there is interest, some of us will hike up Great Blue (from the Reservation Headquarters to the Eliot Tower/ Blue Hills Observatory). Great Blue is the tallest hill in the blue hills. We will take the Racoon Hollow Path which starts across from Houghton’s Pond. See map. We will see who is interested the day of, and decide how/when to proceed then. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO GO! Flatlanders can stay in the field and keep activating POTA! There is no road to the top of Great Blue that is open to the public to my knowledge.

Notes:

1) The Blue Hills is tremendously popular. People are constantly coming and going. There is a ton of parking, but it still may fill up. Just be patient and you’ll get a spot. We are going to try to get there on the early side though. I of course have an unmistakable green van…look for it!

2) Bring your own radio equipment or use ours!

3) No ham radio license necessary to enjoy this outing.

4) Bring a handi-talkie. Set it to the STARS W1UQ repeater (see #4). We will have a Radio Adventure NET on the W1UQ (i.e. STARS) Repeater at noon. (146.985 Output, 146.385 Input, PL In 88.5, PL Out 88.5). We will monitor the repeater. I’ll try to monitor 146.52 as well.

Yours Truly,
KM1NDY

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Exercise – Operation Unify Coincident with National Red Cross Exercise – Saturday May 8th, 2021 – 10 AM-12 PM

May 2, 2021 - by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

The Eastern MA Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) will conduct an exercise in conjunction with the National Red Cross exercise. Operation “Unify” on May 8th, 2021 from 10 AM to 12 Noon (setup to start at 830-9 AM where needed) to test its capability in establishing communications with stations inside and outside of the section. Operation “Unity” will attempt to build upon the lessons learned from past operational exercises.

The exercise scenario involves a power grid failure caused by an X range solar flare. Eventually, hundreds of thousands of people in Eastern Massachusetts are left without power due to this solar flare.

“This exercise guideline is deliberately broad and generic in nature similar to our previous exercises. ARES groups are free to adapt this scenario and conduct their exercise as needed for their group,” writes District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O.

“This is another great opportunity, similar to the Fall and Winter exercises, for new Amateur Radio Operators, whether they are involved in ARES or not, to check into nets, provide simulated information and exercise traffic, or just check in and learn how nets work and what ARES can do during an actual event. This includes the National Weather Service SKYWARN component of ARES despite a non-weather scenario” writes Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator.

With the ongoing COVID-19 situation in MA, it will be unlikely that groups will be able to operate at EOCs and other municipal locations. Therefore any activation of shelters will be simulated by role play. It is likely that most of the operations involved in this exercise will utilize home stations along with field sites on Cape Cod and at other local ARES groups and those local groups’ discretion.

Some exercise objectives include:
• Simulate the activation of shelters in your area;
• Simulate the activation of EOC stations in your area;
• Establish and conduct a tactical net on simplex 2m FM/ repeater for your group;
• Simulate contact with any Town EOC RACES stations (Home stations is OK if COVID restricted) ;
• Establish contact with other ARES districts where possible;
• Establish an HF 75 meter voice net for all of MA (and potentially other areas);
• Establish an HF 60 meter voice net for all of MA (and potentially other areas);
• Pass an NTS type message on 2 meters VHF and/or 440 MHz;
• Pass a SKYWARN and/or tactical message on voice 2 meters and on the HF net;
• Optional components of the exercise to pass information digitally via Winlink and NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System) on VHF and HF between stations locally and to Red Cross

For full details, see the “Eastern MA Exercise Scenario and Guidelines” document at Eastern Massachusetts ARES Operation Unify Exercise – Saturday May 8th, 2021

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday May 3rd at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network

May 2, 2021May 2, 2021 - by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The May Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday May 3rd, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system.

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

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. For this month’s ARES Net, we will have comments regarding upcoming ARES Workshop training, virtual SKYWARN training (final class is Thursday 5/13/21 at 630 PM) and the Eastern Massachusetts ARES exercise coincident with a National Red Cross exercise on Saturday May 8th, 2021. Also, we’ll have some updates on COVID-19 and the recent announcements on restrictions being removed and how public service events such as road races and parades will be permitted later in May and beyond.

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
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Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox Hiding in Westford, May 1, 2021

May 1, 2021March 17, 2023 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 1, 2021 at 12:50 PM:

The KD1D Fox is now transmitting from an undisclosed location in Westford.

It is in a Conservation Area near a body of water with the name of a famous Massachusetts political family.
The area has two official parking areas:

One has an obvious name referring to a trail. The other is on a road named after a particularly large State.

Another access point is at the end of a road named after what grapes grow on and a mini river, often thought of as “babbling.”

This entry way is graced with “No Trespassing” and “Private Property” signs, but if you walk to the left of the gate, you will actually be on Town land. Just be sure to park up the street. I mention this alternate entry for those wishing to avoid a long walk.

If you need additional clues, email me at my callsign @arrl.org

The Fox has a new voice message. It contains some unwarranted braggadocio, which I will change next time. Meanwhile, enjoy the area!

73 de KD1D

Regulation & Advocacy / Technical

Additional RF Exposure Rules Presentation, May 4, 2021

May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Eastern MA Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN, will hold another presentation addressing the new FCC RF exposure rules on May 4 at 7:30 PM using the ARRL GoToWebinar platform.

His April 27 talk was a hugely successful–a maximum number of 100 connections for the call was reached just as the discussion started. The GoToWebinar has a much higher limit and should accommodate all who are interested. ARRL Laboratory Manger Ed Hare, W1RFI, will serve as Technical Moderator on the call.

To sign up for the presentation, visit:

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3400737102800150797

System Check: https://support.goto.com/webinar/system-check-attendee

Tech Support: (833) 851-8340

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Workshops Via Zoom During the Month of May – Check Here for Frequent Updates!

May 1, 2021May 17, 2021 - by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

**UPDATED ZOOM DETAILS FOR ALL REMAINING WORKSHOP TOPICS LISTED BELOW**

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be hosting an ARES Workshop over the course of May 2021 covering a variety of topics that support public service and emergency communications. These workshops will also be recorded and posted online after the series of workshop topics are completed.

The following is the topic schedule complete with the current list of presenters and the timeframe for each workshop/Zoom call presentation:

Monday Evening 5/17 – 800 PM-900 PM – Go Kits Presenter: WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin
Thursday Evening 5/20 – 800 PM-900 PM – NTS – Presenter: KW1U-Marcia Forde and one or two other members of the NTS team
Saturday Morning 5/22 – 1000 AM-1130 AM – Winlink and Vara Presenter: WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin with members of his Cape Cod ARES team
Monday Evening 5/24 – 800 PM-900 PM – NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System) Presenters: WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin and AB1PH-Don Rolph
Thursday Evening 5/27 – 800-900 PM – RF Exposure Rules Presentation Presenters: W1DAN-Dan Brown

Below are the Zoom Details for the Monday Evening 5/17/21, Thursday Evening 5/20/21, Saturday Morning 5/22/21, Monday Evening 5/24/21 and Thursday Evening 5/27/21 Workshop Topics: