Month: June 2021

Flea markets & Conventions

ARRL Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, HamXposition 2021 Keynote Speaker

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Bob Inderbitzen NQ1R home office 26 Mar 2020Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, will be the keynote speaker at the 2021 Northeast HamXposition. 

The keynote theme is “Growing Amateur Radio.” There is no shortage of new ham radio licensees each year–approximately 30,000. But only a fraction ever become active. Bob will share stories, perspective, and ARRL initiatives intended to develop more active, involved, and engaged radio amateurs.

Bob Inderbitzen is the Product Development Manager for ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®, and has been on the ARRL HQ staff for 30 years. He advances, with his staff colleagues, ideas that lead to new and improved ARRL membership programs, services, and products. Bob obtained his first ham radio license as a 6th-grader in 1981, and was president of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Wireless Association from 1987-90. Today, Bob’s interests in ham radio include HF and portable operating, and station integration-and-control using the Raspberry Pi. He is an ARRL Diamond Club Life Member and a contributor to ARRL’s Second Century Campaign.

 

All

Cape Cod Clubs Developing Relationships with Public Events

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Eastern MA Assistant Section Manager Rob Leiden, K1UI, writes:

Cape Cod is busy in the summer. Many of the towns have events that draw visitors and inhabitants. The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club ( BARC) is attempting to utilize these to inform the general public about Amateur radio and BARC. We have assigned some of our members to work with some of the organizations that organize these events. We hope to have these experienced members also work with new members using a checklist to develop the expertise to organize amateur radio support for future events.

These experienced members have contacted most of the organizations that are responsible for the events. While some are still affected by Covid restrictions, we are finding some of them beginning to restart.

BARC seeks to develop a relationship with each organization so that BARC can be considered a regular attendee of the events. In some cases we are working with the other clubs on the Cape, such as the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) and Pilgrim Amateur Radio  Club ( PARC).

Below is a list of the events that we have contacted, or will be contacting for this season on Cape Cod:

Event Start Date
Optimism Walk (Parkinson’s) 5/22/21
Relay for Life 6/19/21
Save the Bay 6/26/21
Field Day 6/26/21
Fourth of July – Chatham 7/3/21
Fourth of July – Orleans 7/3/21
Brooks Park Festival – July 7/11/21
Barnstable County Fair 7/19/21
Pan-MASS Challenge 8/8/21
Brooks Park Festival – August 8/8/21
Against The Tide 8/14/21
Falmouth Road Race 8/15/21
Windmill Weekend 9/4/21
MS Challenge Walk 9/10/21
Swim for Life 9/11/21
GASP (Bike Ride) 9/12/21
Cranberry Festival 9/19/21
Alzheimer’s Walk 10/3/21
Yarmouth Seaside Festival 10/9/21
JOTA 10/15/21
Wellfleet Oyster Festival 10/16/21
Race for the Cure 10/23/21
Cape Cod Marathon 10/31/21
Winter Field Day 1/29/22
St. Patrick’s Day Parade 3/19/22
Cape Cod Maker Faire 4/23/22
Brewster-in-Bloom Parade 4/30/22
BSA STEM Event  

 

Flea markets & Conventions / Licensing Education & Training

HamXposition Grand Banquet Speaker: Dr. Philip J. Erickson, W1PJE, MIT Haystack Observatory/HamSCI

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Dr. Philip J. Erickson, W1PJEVia nediv.arrl.org:

Dr. Philip J. Erickson, W1PJE, will be the featured Grand Banquet Speaker at the 2021 Northeast HamXposition (ARRL New England Division Convention) in Marlborough, Massachusetts on September 10-12, 2021. W1PJE will discuss HamSCI’s latest ionospheric science investigations and will also highlight research in his group at MIT’s Haystack Observatory.  The work brings international and national aspects of amateur ionospheric science into the New England realm.

Dr. Erickson is head of the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences group, a Principal Research Scientist, and an associate director at Haystack Observatory, a multidisciplinary radio observatory operated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A licensed radio amateur, he is a member of ARRL, RSGB, and TAPR, vice president of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club. He is on the scientific steering board of the Ham Science Citizen Initiative (HamSCI). Dr. Erickson is also a member of the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Radio Frequencies, which advocates on scientific radio frequency requirements and interference protection for scientific and engineering research.

Tickets for the Saturday evening banquet are expected to sell quickly, so make sure to get your tickets online when they are available. The meal will be plated (details in progress).

 

Public Service

Hams Active for Bike MS: Cape Cod Getway, July 10, 2021

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Steve Johnson, KC1HO, writes on the W1ATD Marshfield Facebook page:
 
Both the Marshfield 145.39 and Norwell 145.25 repeaters will be used for the Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway on July 10 from 6 AM to 4 PM. Activity on these repeaters should end around 1 PM as the race moves south of the repeater coverage area and they switch to the Plymouth repeater.
 
Please refrain from using these repeaters during these hours on July 10.
 
The K1USN net which is normally held on Saturdays at 9:00 will be skipped for July 10.
Clubs

AB2IX: “Test Bench for Non-Technologist Ham” at Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, June 29, 2021

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New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society presents, “Test Bench for Non-Technologist Ham” by Adrian Zeffert, AB2IX,  on June 29, 2021 at 7 PM.
 
This presentation addresses simple test equipment for the ham who does not have a technology background and would like to test and repair components of their ham station. With minimal investment, simple repairs and measurements can be made that will keep your equipment up to snuff and save money while providing immense satisfaction.
 
Bio: Adrian M. Zeffert, age 79, has been a ham for 49 years and has spent 60 years in Systems and Product Engineering, Testing, and Project Management for Avionics, Ground Navigation Aids and Communication systems. He retired from Raytheon at 75 years old in 2017. His education includes Brooklands Tech UK, Electrical Engineering, 1959-1963; Newark College of Engineering (NJIT) 1966 to 1969. Adrian’s other activities include CMARA BOD Member FD Director 2019, 2020 (planned), and 2021. FD Director for Larkfield Amateur Radio Club (LARC) Huntington LI, 1994, 1995, and 1996.
 
[For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.]
Clubs / Operating

Boston ARC to Host QRP Cookout/Parks On The Air, K-8405, Boston, MA, July 11, 2021

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Boston ARC logoMembers of the Boston Amateur Radio Club are planning a QRP Cookout and Parks On The Air operation on July 11, 2021 along the Charles River at Herter Park, 1175 Soldiers Field Road, Allston.  The POTA designation is K-8405: Charles River State Reserve.

An August 1st date has been suggested by the group for another cookout/QRP operation for those who are unable to attend the first event. The group is currently collecting RSVPs via the BARC mailing list. 

 

Herter Park, Boston MA

 

Field Day

Final EMA Section News Bulletin concerning ARRL Field Day

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ARRL Eastern MA Section Manager Tom Walsh, K1TW, writes on the ARRL Members Only list:

Field Day begins Saturday June 26, at 1800 UTC, and runs until Sunday, June 27.  Ending times depend on when you start setting up so check the rules carefully. 

++++

CORRECTION FROM LAST BULLETIN

The correct call sign for the Whitman ARC Field Day is NI1X.  My apology to Whitman ARC for the error. 

++++

UPDATED LIST OF CLUBS DOING EMA FIELD DAY (AND ONE CORRECTION)

Here are 11 Eastern Massachusetts club locations that I found.  Many of these may be near you and most  welcome your visit and support.

  • K1IG    PART OF Westford, Concord MA
  • W1STR   NE Sci Tech, Natick MA
  • W1MA    Barnstable ARC, Brewster MA
  • K1RK    Falmouth ARC,  Falmouth MA
  • N1NC    Nashoba Valley ARC, Pepperell MA
  • W1M     Joint Waltham ARA and Algonquin ARC, Stow MA
  • W1FY    Framingham ARA, Framingham MA
  • NI1X    Whitman ARC, E Bridgewater MA, ** Note: Call Correction as NI1X
  • K1RTA   Northeast ARC, 4th Cliff, Scituate MA
  • W1GLO   Cape Ann ARA, Hospital Hill, Rockport, MA – Rain date is Sunday
  • Callsign?   The Great Hill Gang, North Weymouth, MA

++++

Section Staff Tours

EMA Section Manager, K1TW, usually makes a tour of EMA section Field Day clubs. K1TW is unable this year.  K1TW will be there in spirit rooting for your club FD operation in EMA. 

Phil, K9HI, Eastern Massachusetts (ASM) and NE Division Vice Director, will be visiting some EMA clubs as well as other clubs throughout the NE Division. 

++++

MORE BONUS POINTS

–  Send a Field Day radiogram to your Section Manager (K1TW) or SEC (KD1CY).  A list of the EMA Traffic nets can be found at
https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/net-schedule/

–  Copy and submit the W1AW Field Message with your entry.

Again, read the rules carefully to gather as many bonus points as you can.

++++

RULES

Get the full rules in the ARRL Field Day packet at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2021/2021%20Field%20Day%20Packet.pdf

++++

Field Day Locators

You can find a club and help them at a nearby Field Day site by checking either:

–  the ARRL Field Day Locator at http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

–  the EMA Field Day Locator at https://fd.ema.arrl.org/field_day/

++++

Stay safe and have fun!

——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Operating

Special Event Stations Commemorate 100th Anniversary of WBZ, September 17-19, 2021

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WBZ 100 Year Anniversary logoFrom nediv.arrl.org:

WBZ radio 1030 kHz in Boston is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021. It is the oldest broadcast station in New England, and one of the oldest stations in the United States.

The Billerica Amateur Radio Society and the Hampden County Radio Association in Springfield, will help commemorate this anniversary by sponsoring a special operating event starting at 1300z/9:00 am EDT September 17 and ending at 0400z/12 am EDT on September 19. Amateurs from across New England will operate W1W, W1B, W1Z, and WB1Z on various bands and modes. A special QSL card will be sent to anyone who contacts one or more of the special event stations. A historical sheet will also be available for download. The card will feature historical photos of WBZ over the years as well as a special 100th Anniversary WBZ logo. 

For updated information, please visit https://nediv.arrl.org/wbz100.

Regulation & Advocacy

Framingham Amateur Misha Filippov, KD1MF, Wins in MA Land Court Decision

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Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, writes:

Filippova v. Framingham ZBA, Trial Court, Massachusetts Land Court, 20 MISC 000073(HPS))
Attorneys for Mr. Filippov: Fred Hopengarten, K1VR (Lincoln, MA), and Ethan Dively (Wellesley, MA).

The Building Commissioner granted a building permit for an 80’-tall amateur radio tower as an accessory use. The ZBA revoked the permit, applying the setback requirements of the Wireless Communications Facilities (WCF) special permit Bylaw to the tower proposed by Misha Filippov, KD1MF. The Land Court reversed, annulling the decision of the ZBA and ordering the Building Commissioner to reinstate the permit.

The WCF Bylaw’s definition of a tower is very broad, and the ham’s tower appeared to fit within that definition – causing the ZBA to require the WCF setback of structure height plus 20’. However, the next sentence in the same WCF paragraph required that “any such facility shall be a minimum of three hundred feet from a residential zoning district or residential use.” The Board suggested that KD1MF “re- apply to place the tower in a more central location on the lot, farther away from the abutters.”

The court recognized that amateur radio towers, under the Framingham Bylaw, are exempt from special permit requirements. The court wrote: “By its decision, the Board has taken the position that it may pick and choose which of those requirements will remain applicable to uses that are, by the explicit terms of the Bylaw, exempt from the special permit requirement. No reasonable reading of the Bylaw permits this unfettered exercise of discretion.” The court decided that it could not accept the Board’s construction of the Bylaw “if the consequences of doing so are absurd or unreasonable, such that it could not have been what the [legislative body] intended.”

The court decided that applying the accessory use setback for amateur radio towers was “[t]he only result that gives effect to the entire Bylaw and is consonant with common sense and reasonableness. This conclusion is buttressed by the Board’s inelegant attempt to reconcile irreconcilable provisions of the Bylaw by simply declaring that it has the discretion to pick and choose which shall apply.”

“[T]he Board appears to have claimed the roving and unfettered discretion to selectively apply and to disregard dimensional requirements as it chooses.”

This was not a PRB-1 decision, but rather a question of which setback rule applied. Mr. Filippov is a very happy radio amateur.

—

[See also: “Neighbors are fighting a Framingham man’s OK to erect 80-foot ham radio tower“]

 

Field Day

EASTERN MA FIELD DAY 2021

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Field Day 2021 logoEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION

– SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN –

Field Day begins Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 1800 UTC and runs until Sunday, June 27.  Ending times depend on when you start setting up. 

************************************
What are your Field Day Plans? 
************************************

There are several options for each person:

* Try “Field Day at Home”

When you submit results at the end just list your local club so they will get credit in the QST results. Note that again this year home stations running class D may work everyone including other class D stations. 

* Try Field Day with another club 

You can find a club and help them at a nearby Field Day site by checking either:

–  the ARRL Field Day Locator at http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

–  the EMA Field Day Locator at https://fd.ema.arrl.org/field_day/

Again, this year, our thanks go to Bill Ricker, N1VUX for the outstanding EMA FD Locator which is packed full of extra news and information. 

* Try doing Field Day with your friends

–  create a non-club group like a 1- or 2-person portable in a park or campsite.  

* Try Field Day at someone else’s home station

Just remember to let them know you are coming first. 

Whichever you choose, try to spend some time operating in Field Day this year.   

********
CLUBS
********

Here are nine of the Eastern Massachusetts club locations I found on the Field Day locators.  Many of these may be nearby your home should you want to help them out.  

  • K1IG   PART OF Westford  Concord MA
  • W1STR  NE Sci Tech    Natick MA
  • W1M    Barnstable ARC   Brewster MA
  • K1RK   Falmouth ARC   Falmouth MA
  • N1NC   Nashoba Valley ARC   Pepperell MA
  • W1M    Waltham ARA     Stow MA
  • W1FY   Framingham ARA    Framingham MA
  • N1IX   Whitman ARC   E Bridgewater MA
  • K1RTA   Northeast ARC   Scituate MA

*******************
BONUS POINTS
*******************

Don’t forget the Bonus Points.

Remember to send a radiogram to your Section Manager (K1TW) or SEC (KD1CY) during the event for an extra bonus.  A list of the EMA Traffic nets for this purpose can be found at https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/net-schedule/

*********
RULES
*********

Get the full rules in the ARRL Field Day packet at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2021/2021%20Field%20Day%20Packet.pdf

And finally, I usually make a tour of EMA section Field Day sites but am unable this year.  On Monday, I had eye surgery and while the recovery is going well, I don’t want to risk the outcome by driving the usual several hundred miles.   I will be there in spirit rooting for each and every club and FD operation is EMA.  Stay safe and have fun!

——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Flea markets & Conventions

Lobstercon 2021 is a “Go,” Brunswick, Maine, July 9-11, 2021

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Lobstercon logoFrom nediv.arrl.org:

The Lobstercon2021! event will be held at Thomas Point Beach & Campground in Brunswick, Maine on July 9-11, 2021. This is the 22nd year that W1REX has hosted the QRP event.

“… I plan on coming up with a few special activities to make our awakening event from this pandemic very special and an event that you will not want to miss,” writes Rex. “If you’ve thought about coming to Lobstercon but never got a round tuit, you had better make this one.”

Billed as New England’s premiere QRP gathering, Lobstercon is a weekend of QRP camping, BBQ eating, operating, socializing, lobster eating, prize winning, and all-round great QRP time. The $50.00 registration fee includes wake-up coffee, juice, cereal, bagels and donuts (if you wake up early enough) and two giant meals on Saturday: a BBQ lunch and fresh Maine lobster dinner.

“Lobstercon lobsters are fresh out of the ocean for less than an hour before they go into the pot. You can taste the difference.” 

For full details and to register, visit <https://www.qrpme.com/?p=product&id=L21>.

Clubs

N1EA: “Radio Officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine and Commercial Radiotelegraphy” at Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, June 22, 2021

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N1EA-NS1L QSL cardThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society presents, “”Radio Officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine and Commercial Radiotelegraphy” by David J. Ring, Jr., N1EA on June 22, 2021 at 7 PM.
 
This talk will be about being a radio officer in the United States Merchant Marine, and commercial radiotelgeraphy, with mentions of the SOS in which David was involved in 1980. This event concerned the fire and abandoning of passenger cruise ship MS Prinsendam, call sign PJTA (Netherlands Antilles), in the Gulf of Alaska on October 4, 1980. The Prinsendam was on fire and burning out of control when James N. Pfister, NS1L, and David J. Ring, Jr., N1EA, both Radio Officers on the USA flagged ‘super-tanker’ Williamsburgh (Call Sign WGOA), picked up her SOS.
 

David Ring was first licensed in 1965 as WA1DRS, upgraded to Amateur Extra in 1967 to avoid the necessity of relearning all the subdivisions, obtained secondary call N1EA in 1978, and when the FCC dropped secondary call sign assignments, kept N1EA. He holds FCC First Class Radiotelegraph, and First Class Radio Telephone Licenses and worked in broadcast and at Marine Coast Stations. He also holds a U.S. Coast Guard license as Radio Officer, and sailed from 1980 until 1993 as a Merchant Marine Radio Officer. He also worked at maritime coast station WSC in West Creek, NJ and at various broadcast stations in the Boston, MA area. In 1980 while serving on the USA flagged tanker “WILLIAMSBURGH,” Jim Pfister, NS1L and David Ring, N1EA, answered an SOS from the passenger ship PRINSENDAM, a Holland-America cruiser bound for the Orient which was burning out of control south of Valdez, Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska. All 535 passengers and crew members were ultimately rescued from lifeboats from the chilly waters of the Gulf. In 1988, Jim Pfister and David Ring were awarded the VWOA “Marconi Gold Medal” for their work during this rescue.

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

K8ZT: “Ideal Callsign Selection & Amateur Radio, Field Day & Trains” at K1USN RC Meeting, June 22, 2021

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K8ZT QSL cardFrom K1USN Happenings:

This week our upcoming K1USN Zoom session on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 7:30 PM will feature Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, on “Ideal Callsign Selection & Amateur Radio, Field Day & Trains.

Anthony has quite a resume and some of you may have seen some of his presentations during the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. Anthony is an Ohio Assistant Section Manager for Education Outreach.

If you would like to join our rapidly growing list of K1USN Zoom attendees then send me an e-mail ( k1rv@arrl.net ) to be added to the master Zoom list which is separate from the K1USN member list!
Foxhunting / Operating

KB1MGI Fox Is On the Loose, Chelmsford, June 19, 2021

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John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on Jun 19, 2021 at 1:20 PM:

I placed my DTMF activated by pressing tone 2 for two seconds. The 146.565 Fox box is in the BB Wright [Reservation] land in South Chelmsford off 120 Parker Road.
 
The fox will transmit 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off for 15 minutes. To reactivate press tone 2 again.
 
I’ll leave it out for about 5 days.
 
See Attached pdf map.
 
John  KB1MGI
 
Awards / Operating

13 Colonies Special Event, July 1-7, 2021

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2021 K2H QSL CardFrom nediv.arrl.org:

Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

Are you looking for that perfect, post Field Day ham radio activity? Then working the 13 Colonies special event stations is perfect for you!

Each July 1 through July 7, the 13 original colony states activate on all bands and modes for you to work them. Plus you can chase the three extra 13 Colonies stations where there is one each in Philadelphia, England and France.

This is a very fun activity. The action the first few days can create some overwhelming pile ups. If you can not get through, please be patient and try again later or another day. All the ops are trying to work everyone they can hear. They want to work you and will make every effort to do so.

If you work them all, it’s called a “clean sweep.” You can earn a certificate by sending $5 to KU2US. You can also send an SASE to each of the states to get back a unique QSL card. Each year there is a different theme and a new card is created. Combining the certificate with the QSL cards makes for some fancy wall paper!

But you can receive a certificate by working just one of the 13 colony stations. You do not need a clean sweep to get a certificate.

This year Massachusetts will be active once again as K2H. There are 20 operators all over the state. You’ll hear us on CW, SSB, FT8 and other modes. Work us and send in your SASE QSL request to the info on the K2H QRZ.com page.

Team K2H looks forward to hearing and working you on the bands between July 1 and July 7, 2021!

Clubs

KA1HAH: “Oceanography at Woods Hole” at North Shore RA, June 21, 2021

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North Shore Radio Association logoEric Horwitz, KA1NCF, writes on the NSRA mailing list:
 
Bob Weller (KA1HAH) goes over highlights of a 40-year career as an oceanographer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He worked at sea one to three months each year making measurements in the ocean and at the sea surface.  More than once knowledge of radio communications and radio frequency interference were important, once alerting people ashore that the research vessel he was on was in distress.
 
Time: Jun 21, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
        Every month on the Third Mon, until Oct 18, 2021, 5 occurrence(s)
        Jun 21, 2021 07:00 PM
        Jul 19, 2021 07:00 PM
        Aug 16, 2021 07:00 PM
        Sep 20, 2021 07:00 PM
        Oct 18, 2021 07:00 PM
 

Notice:  We will be back to in-person meetings as of September at PMLP! More info to follow.

 
[Zoom conference information will be sent via the NSRA groups.io mailing list.  Contact Eric, KA1NCF, at ka1ncf -at- nsradio -dot- org to be added to the groups.io list.]
 
Foxhunting / Operating

W1HFN Fox is Out and About in Littleton, June 17, 2021

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Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on June 17, 2021 at 1:50 PM:

The W1HFN fox is out, 146.565 MHz with a 20 second voice ID every minute. 

Location clues:  what was the name given to the ALL CAPS typewriter used by professional CW ops?  

And if you elevated one to higher than average terrain, where would it be?  Major hint:  Littleton.

Good luck,
Barry –  W1HFN