W1DYJ: Antenna Modeling at Billerica ARS Meeting Online, November 3, 2021

Billerica ARS logoTom Walsh, K1TW, writes on the Billerica ARS mailing list:

Larry Banks, W1DYJ,  will present on Antenna Modeling  at the Billerica Amateur Radio Society meeting on November 3,  2021 at 7 PM. 

This Antenna Modeling presentation will start with some history detailing why Larry has always been interested in understanding antennas. It will then go over the use of three applications: TLW, YW, and HFTA, from the ARRL Antenna Book. Using his homebrew 10M yagi an example, it will hopefully help you get a start at modeling your own antenna systems.

Larry was licensed in 1962 as novice KN1VFX and became W1DYJ in 1966. . Larry holds three degrees in EE from MIT. He spends his time chasing DX and contesting in Woburn MA (and from 2008 to 2021 at his second home in Harpswell ME).

He is also the net manager and newsletter editor for the Minuteman Repeater Association in the Boston area, publications editor for FEMARA (the group that runs HamXposition), a member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club , and on the executive board of the Merrymeeting ARA in mid-coast ME.

Please join us for an outstanding talk about Antennas.

Following the talk, we will hold our annual club elections.

73,

Tom K1TW
Interim President

[For Zoom conference details, email Tom Walsh, K1TW, at k1tw -at- comcast -dot- net.]

WA1JXR: “NanoVNA Devices” at Framingham ARA Online Meeting, November 4, 2021

Framingham ARA logoFramingham ARA President John Iwuc, KB1XVY, writes on the FARA mailing list:
 
Our speaker [for the Framingham Amateur Radio Association meeting on November 4, 2021  at 7:30 PM] will be Greg Algieri, WA1JXR, who […] will talk about the NANO VNA testing device.
 
Members will receive a zoom invitation.  Non-members may request an invitation by sending an email to John at president@w1fy.org.

AB1OC: “Programs Helping Hams and Young People to Develop New Skills and Get on The Air” at Whitman ARC, November 3, 2021

Whitman ARC logoThe next Whitman Amateur Radio Club meeting is November 3, 2021  at 7PM.

The meeting topic will be “Programs Helping Hams and Young People to Develop New Skills and Get on The Air,” presented by Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC. Fred is president of the Nashua Area Radio Society and he’s been mentoring young hams and prospective hams for many years. 

It will be a hybrid meeting at the Whitman K of C on Route 18 and via Zoom.  For Zoom a link will be sent out to the membership and guests via email.  This has been working well so far. Social distancing rules are enforced. Seats are arranged per the recommended guidelines for social distance and face masks are recommended to be worn.  This might change again.

Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN Respond to Major Nor’easter

From ARRL:

10/28/2021–A major nor’easter struck eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island this week, with ferocious winds stronger than those that Tropical Storm Henri brought to the region in August.

Starting on the evening of October 26, eastern Massachusetts amateur radio operators on the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) and National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN™ storm spotter teams joined forces to help emergency services provide a focused and effective response as the powerful nor’easter caused widespread damage. Tree and wire damage, trees falling on homes and cars, and a few cases of direct structural damage to weakened structures have been reported. ARES and SKYWARN operations will continue until the impact of the weather system subsides.

“We have handled several hundred reports of damage, and photos of damage are streaming in from ARES and SKYWARN operators to support damage assessment efforts and to keep the NWS in Norton apprised of the severe weather conditions affecting the region,” said Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and ARES-SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Boston/Norton.

ARES-SKYWARN operators relayed reports of hurricane-force wind gusts reaching 94 MPH in Edgartown, Massachusetts, at Chappy Ferry Point; 84 MPH in Dennis, Massachusetts; 79 MPH in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and 78 MPH in Rockport, Massachusetts. Amateur operators with WX1BOX, the amateur radio station at NWS Boston/Norton; Cape Cod ARES and SKYWARN, and South Coast SKYWARN completed overnight operations, when the peak winds occurred.

“The dedication of our volunteers to provide this critical information in a major storm like this one to the NWS, media, and emergency managers during such a grueling stretch is very critical to inform people what is happening during such a significant storm when they wake up in the morning, so they will hopefully make safe decisions to avoid being out in a significant severe wind situation,” Macedo said.

Cape Cod ARES was activated by the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) to staff the Multi-agency Coordination Center (MACC) at the Barnstable County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The damages, power outages, and intermittent cell service from some providers could mean an extended activation for ARES members in Cape Cod and the Islands, Macedo explained.

According to the Cape Cod and Islands ARES District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, “Damage assessments in the region will give us a better sense of how long it will take to restore power and in some cases communication service to the Cape [Cod] and Islands area, and that will determine how long Cape Cod ARES will be needed, and if additional support from Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be needed.”

Macedo called the nor’easter “one of our more extraordinary weather systems within the last few years, and the most severe of several other major SKYWARN/ARES activations in this past year.”

As many as 500,000 customers lost power in the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section, with hardest-hit areas in southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, and the Cape Ann area north of Boston, where hurricane-force wind gusts pummeled the region for several hours. Maximum sustained winds were 50 and 65 MPH. Rhode Island reported nearly 93,000 customers without power at the peak. These outages were an order of magnitude greater than during Tropical Storm Henri in Rhode Island, and about five orders of magnitude more severe than Henri in Massachusetts.

Storm conditions wound down toward the evening of October 27, allowing the process of more widespread power restoration to begin.

 

YuKanRun Ocean View 5K and Half Marathon, Ipswich, November 5, 2021

YuKanRun Ocean View map 2021Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT, writes on the CAARA list:

[The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association] has a great public service team. Come out and have some fun with us. 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.

We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Ocean View 5K & Half Marathon on Sunday, November 5, 2021 in Ipswich. Please be on location at your Check Point by 8:00 for a 8:30 AM start. Start, finish at Ipswich High School, 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA 01938.

Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event so I can plan staffing positions for the event.

ARRL School Club Roundup, Runs Through October 22, 2021

Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, writes on the Yankee Clipper Contest Club mailing list:

We can encourage new hams and budding contesters right now by working them in the School Club Roundup presently underway.   I coached a 5th grader through more than 50 QSOs Monday night at the New England Sci-Tech station, W1STR.

The roundup started Monday and runs through through 2359 UTC Friday.     W1STR will be active again Friday at 6 PM local, and CW counts for double points.    If you hear them on phone, consider asking for a CW QSO also – the kids there are interested in CW.

Please consider tuning around the bands and spotting all the school clubs you can find.

de KM1P Joe

K5ZD: “Tips for Being a Better Single Operator” at YCCC Meeting Online, October 27, 2021

YCCC logoKen Caruso, WO1N, writes on the Yankee Clipper Contest Club mailing list:

YCCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: CQWW SSB Readiness

Zoom channel open at 1900 Local. Formal meeting starts at 1930.

Approximately 2 hours.

Feature talk: K5ZD on Tips for Being a Better Single Operator

73,

Ken – WO1N

[Contact Ken at wo1n -at- arrl -dot- net for Zoom information]

Massachusetts Traffic Report for September 2021

The September Massachusetts traffic report is now available at the following link:  https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-traffic-report-for-september-2021/

Special note: reminder to vote for New England ARRL Director plus new sound card mode (VARA HF) available for connects to KW1U MBO for relay via the national Digital Traffic Network (DTN).  Also one new net manager and one new ORS.

Bristol County RA Fox Hunt (Two Foxes), Vicinity of Fall River, MA, October 23, 2021

Fox Hunt #3 of 2021 This hunt will include 2 Foxes. The first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM

When:
Saturday, October 23, 2021
10:00am to 3:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New York

Where:
The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).

Organizer: Skip Denault and Jay Hodkinson Skip – kb1cnb@bcra.club and Jay – kb1nyt@bcra.club. Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.

View Event

Description:

NOTICE NEW DETAILS BELOW WITH A NEW CHALLENGE!

Communications with “Fox Control” can all be done over the BCRA repeater, including checking in when you have found the fox. You may also speak with us in the control vehicle using physical distancing if you wish.

The here will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and one by KB1NYT, Jay. When you find one of the foxes, you will get a hint to help you find the second (if you want!).

Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.

The first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM with a 5-watt signal and both will transmit 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence. As the hunt progresses we may increase the transmission times – that will be announced on the BCRA repeater. The hunt will last until 3:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.

The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).

The first Fox (in my vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and will be manned at all times. When you have found the fox your time and order of arrival will be recorded and a personalized certificate will be emailed to each participant.

Participants are encouraged to work in teams and are asked to drive carefully and observe all applicable guidelines, both from the FCC and the state & local governments. Since participants are receiving only (except for radio check-ins) an amateur radio license is not required.

Email questions to Skip at kb1cnb@bcra.club or text to 774-644-3469. After the hunt, your comments, impressions, and suggestions will be welcome!

Join us and have some good amateur radio fun!

NEAR-Fest XXX Health and Safety Guidelines

NEAR-Fest logoAs we get ready to return to Deerfield NH in a couple days to resume our beloved hamfest that we have all missed so much for two years it is obvious that there are some fundamental precautions we must institute in order to be in full compliance with all CDC, State and Town Departments of Public Health guidelines.  We do not want to wear out our welcome.  NEAR-FEST IS SAFE FOR ALL must be our motto!

It is our hope that everyone will have been vaccinated.  However we realize that not everyone will be.  If you have not had your shots please take extra care: wear a mask especially inside and use hand sanitizer often. We don’t want anyone getting sick at our event.

The State of New Hampshire does not currently have a mask mandate so neither does NEAR-Fest.  However, we have some common sense requests and recommendations because we want everybody to feel safe at our hamfest:

1:  We are strongly requesting that everyone wear a mask or face shield while inside the commercial buildings, when attending forums and when at the exam session.   Masks will be available at the entrance to these buildings but it is advisable to bring your own as well.  We are also strongly requesting that all attendees wear a mask when buying or presenting your admission ticket or otherwise interacting with any of our staff members.

2:  Our staff volunteers have expressed some concerns and we want them to feel comfortable helping us run the fester.  Remember we cannot do the hamfest without them. They did not volunteer to get Covid.  Many of them aren’t the young healthy kids we once were and have serious concerns about covid either personally or with immediate family members.  We are requesting that everyone put aside all political and personal views about mask wearing and wear them where we have requested out of respect for the dedicated volunteers who run this event.

We  are committed to keeping everyone safe and this request from me is part of this commitment.

3: The use of hand sanitizer is advised especially after handling any items in the flea market and commercial buildings.  We will have hand sanitizer in automatic dispensers as well as masks available at the entrances to the buildings. 

Additionally, we ask that all attendees attempt to maintain a distance of six feet (or two metres) from others as much as possible and avoid crowding others at flea market and commercial vendor tables.  I know this is difficult especially if there is “good stuff cheap”.

These are still difficult and trying times.  We are glad to be back running the hamfest again but the world has changed in the past 18 months and we must change with it.  We appreciate your cooperation which is particularly important because we want to continue holding the hamfest while assuring the local community that we pose a minimal health threat with our presence.

HELP MAKE NEAR-FEST SAFE FOR ALL! 

Stay well!

MisterMike, W1RC, and the entire NEAR-Fest gang

New England Sci-Tech ARS Crew to Participate in JOTA, Lexington, October 16, 2021

JOTA-JOTI logoTate Aldridge, K1MKD, writes:

With Bruce [N9JBT], Mindy [KM1NDY], and Marc’s help (and flyers from Rusty and Bob), we are hosting a Jamboree On The Air for scouts in Lexington. We will have several radios out and will be making contacts and educating scouts about amateur radio. We would be very happy to see you there!

https://www.jotajoti.info/
Lexington Visitor Center lawn, Lexington, MA
Saturday Oct 16
Scouts are coming from 1-4 and we start set up around 11 – STARS friends are welcome any time!

73,
Tate, K1MKD

Public Service Event: Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) 2021 Call for Volunteers – Friday 10/22/21-Sunday 10/24/21

KC1AEI-Matt Knowles writes:

Hi all!

I’m passing along this message in hopes that there are some more amateur
radio operators interested in volunteering at the 2021 Head of the
Charles with special attention for those willing to work on safety
launch boats.

In keeping with the theme of creating a safe environment to hold W1R,
the World’s #1 Regatta, and after consulting with a team of experts from
Massachusetts General Hospital, we’ve updated our COVID-19 guidelines.
Only individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be
eligible to volunteer. We may require proof of vaccination closer to
race weekend. “Fully vaccinated” individuals are those who have received
two doses of an mRNA vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna) or a single dose
of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, with at least two weeks having elapsed
since the final dose. A third “booster” dose is not required for
participation.

Perks of volunteering: A nice Vineyard Vines quarter zip, branded with
the Head of the Charles Regatta logo. You’ll also get a boxed lunch
delivered to you (or to the dock where a safety launch can come in and
pick up), and gluten free and vegetarian options are available. Aside
from that, all I can offer is a fun day on or near the water with a
great crew of volunteers!

Here is the link for Regatta Central.
https://volunteer.regattacentral.com/hocr/browse This is where you will
go to register to volunteer.

There are lots of exciting updates about this year’s event being posted
on social media, so be sure to like and/or follow Head of the Charles
Regatta on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hocr1965/, Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HOCR1965 , and Twitter https://twitter.com/HOCR
to stay in the loop. If there are any questions with this, please send
them my way and I’ll answer them to the best of my ability. I know that
this is short notice, and I appreciate your consideration and hope to
hear from you. Thanks!

Matt Knowles
KC1AEI
Matt Knowles <matthewsknowles@gmail.com>

KM1P: “Contesting Preparation for STARS” at Sci-Tech ARS, October 12, 2021

New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on October 12, 2021 at 7 PM and feature Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P,  who will present on “Contesting Preparation for STARS.” Joe will briefly discuss those opportunities and provide guidance and resources. 
 
Joe is a STARS member, is an avid contester, was #1 USA Single Operator in the 2021 ARRL DX contest, and holds an Amateur Extra license.

Baystate Marathon/Half-Marathon Support, October 17, 2021

Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on mass-ares-races-skywarn-general mailing list:
 
For a number of reasons, past volunteers are a little short so far, so I am once more asking for volunteers. 
 
This is a pretty easy event relaying back to “Net Control” bib numbers of the runners who have required transportation off of the course for what ever issue. We collect those numbers and make sure the families are able to find where their runner is if they did not see them on the course. 
 
The role we play is very much a “health and welfare” service, a fundamental piece of what Amateur Radio is all about!
 
All you need to bring with you is a 2 meter portable radio. Most locations you could even bring your own fold up camp chair (make sure but is well marked as yours!) and set up shop at a fixed location.
 
There is a general requirement that all volunteers be wearing mask and to be vaccinated. 
 
I’ll be meeting with race officials tomorrow and may have additional information.
 
Please let me know if you need more info or would like to volunteer!
 
Thanks for your consideration!
Terry
Terry M Stader KA8SCP <ka8scp@wb1gof.org>

Possible JOTA Effort at Southeastern MA ARA, October 15-17, 2021

Southeastern MA ARA logoDoug Belcher, KC1NFL, writes on the Southeastern MA ARA mailing list:

This coming weekend 10/15-17 is the Scouting World Wide Jamboree On The Air and Internet. There will be scouts from all over the world tying to connect with each other. Are there any members who would be able to help me get the Scouts on the Air this Friday from 5-8 at the club?  I will also be having a Zoom session with Rob Macedo to go over SKYWARN, ARES, and RACES. I’m hoping to get some new hams out of this by offering HT Baofengs to any scout who gets their Tech license.

73!
Doug Belcher
KC1NFL