Month: February 2022

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday February 7th, 2022 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The February Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday February 7th, 2022 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:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. We will have a “last call” for Assistant ARES District Emergency Coordinator, K1EJ-Darrel Mallory, who passed away on Friday January 21st, 2022 as well as several announcements.

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
http://www.wx1box.org
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Clubs

PART Members’ Antenna Article Featured in March 2022 QST

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

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

The two Bobs have done it again!

The March 2022 issue of QST (available now on the ARRL website) has another antenna article written by the prolific team of PART club member Bob Glorioso, W1IS, and Bob Rose, KC1DSQ! This article, “Portable 20-Meter Phased Dipole Beam,” describes a two-element wire beam antenna that can be electrically reversed 180 degrees. We used this antenna at Field Day last year and it’s very effective.

As usual, you can vote for this article for the QST Cover Plaque award. The award website should be available for voting in a week or two.

—

George  K1IG
PART President
WB1GOF.org

Emergency Communications

Major Northeast Winter Storm Prompts ARES, SKYWARN Activations

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From ARRL Web:

02/04/2022 – Volunteer radio amateurs across New England got down to business over the final weekend in January, as a major winter storm and blizzard dropped up to several feet of snow in the face of hurricane-force wind gusts along the coast. The combination of wet snow and damaging winds felled trees and power lines in coastal portions of eastern Massachusetts, particularly in Cape Cod and the Islands, and caused minor-to-moderate coastal flooding at high tide. The record-breaking blizzard made the top 10 list of major snow events in the cities of Boston and Providence.  [Full story]

NTS

How to Set up VARA to Access DTN Hub Stations

- by kw1u - Leave a Comment

With increased interest in digital message relay via NTS and RRI’s Digital Traffic Network, the Eastern Area Hub stations of DTN are now accessible via VARA HF sound card modem,  eliminating the need for expensive modems while not sacrificing speed. 

Jim Kutsch KY2D, Assistant Digital Coordinator for Eastern Area, who has spearheaded this project, has written a “how-to” article on setting up.  For more information, visit https://ema.arrl.org/how-to-set-up-vara-to-access-dtn-hub-stations/. The information may also be accessed via the Quick Link “NTS Resources” on the National Traffic System tab.

Look forward to seeing you in the log.

Clubs

W1GBH: “Working at WGBH” at Boston ARC Meeting, February 17, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Boston ARC logoThe next general meeting of the Boston Amateur Radio Club will take place on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. on the Zoom teleconferencing program. Our speaker will be Christopher Kelly, W1GBH. Chris is the broadcast engineer for WGBH and its affiliated stations, and he will give a talk about his job and responsibilities.

Joe Chapman NV1W / Secretary
Boston Amateur Radio Club

[For Zoom conference information, email Joe Chapman, NV1W, at nv1w -at- arrl -dot- net]

All

“SOS Sounded for Historic Radio Towers”

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

photo of historic Marconi towerCHATHAM – Driving along Ryder’s Cove on Route 28, it’s impossible to miss the three tall, steel lattice antennas once used by the Marconi-RCA ship-to-shore radio station. Home to ospreys during the spring and summer, the structures are an imposing reminder of the power the station once had to send and receive signals from halfway around the world, keeping in touch with ships at sea for more than 70 years.

Built in 1921, seven years after the rest of the station, the 100-year-old towers are still apparently structurally sound, but there is concern that they may not be receiving the maintenance necessary to keep them that way.

One of the towers, especially, faces an uncertain future unless something is done to arrest erosion along the Ryder’s Cove shore. 

[Full story]
Public Service

Volunteers Sought for MS Walk Boston, April 3, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Ethan Hansen, KC1OIP, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:
 
After a 2-year hiatus MS Walk Boston is back. Throughout the year, the National MS Society organizes walks to raise funds for multiple sclerosis research and patient advocacy.  The Boston walk has long relied on hams to help ensure everyone’s safety. 
 
This year’s MS Walk Boston is on Sunday, April 3rd.  It starts and ends  at Boston University’s Nickerson Field in Boston, and runs along  Commonwealth Ave and Boston University.  Volunteers will check in at 8:00 AM, and stay until the early afternoon. 
 
 
I’ll be organizing the hams for this event.  In addition to registering, please respond me with the following information:
 

* Your call sign, full name, and name you prefer on the air
* Contact information: your e-mail address, and phone numbers where you can be reached (cell, home, office)
* Your shirt size
* The transmit band(s) of your radio(s), and other equipment you could bring
* Do you have any needs or requests we should consider when making your assignment?

I addition to contacting me All Volunteers  must
 
This is a requirement of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
 
Thanks for volunteering, and 73,
 
Rick Savage KB1LYJ
 
857 272 2866

 

Ethan Hansen – KC1OIP
BARC Public Service Chair

Youth

Amateur Radio Demo at Boy Scouts Klondike Derby, Dunstable, February 5, 2022

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Mindy Hull, KM1NDY, writes in K1USN Happenings:

Jon Lyna, KC1MII, is one of the organizers of the Boy Scouts of America’s Klondike Derby this Saturday, February 5th! And he is looking for any hams who would like to come and help out, play radio, and inspire some Scouts to get on the air. 

Thanks to Pi, K1RV, for letting the group borrow W1BSA as our call sign for this event! 

Limey (my green van) will be decked out in full radio apparel, and we will be setting up a couple HF stations, along with UHF/VHF. AA1F and I plan on getting there for the 2 pm set-up.

Hope to see you there!
Mindy – KM1NDY
km1ndy.km1ndy@gmail.com

This is from Jon KC1MII:

———————————————————————–

 

WHO:
Anyone interested in introducing HAM radio to local boy scouts

WHAT:
HAM radio exhibition at the local Boy Scouts Klondike Derby

WHERE:
Larter Field,  80 Groton St, Dunstable, MA 01827

WHEN:
Saturday, February 5, 2022  Set up starts at 2pm.  Exhibition from 4pm to 6pm, later if there is still interest.

WHY:
To introduce local boy scouts to the hobby of HAM radio, and any potential application is scouting.

WEATHER:
Friday night there is rain and wintery mix predicted.   The high temperature for Saturday is predicted to be 23 with a low of 5.  

WHAT TO BRING?
Dress for the weather, and something from the HAM radio hobby that could apply to boy scouting.

GOAL OF THE EXHIBITION:
We are going to set several information stations, that can explain and demonstrate several aspects of HAM radio, and why the could be interesting or useful to boy scouts.  Topics to include but are not limited HT’s and local repeaters, Morse Code, and Parks on the Air (POTA) and Summits on the Air (SOTA).

<…>

All the best,

Jon Lyna, KC1MII 

Licensing Education & Training

Amateur Radio and AUXCOM Support to the Department of Defense

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ARRL will present a webinar on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 8 pm ET (0100Z Feb 18) on Amateur Radio and AUXCOM support to the Department of Defense.

Use this zoom link to attend:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83781154615?pwd=L0NOY0hEV0tBdmNDWVNNeWRaVXJ5dz09

Check out the ARRL link below for more detail:

http://arrl.org/news/webinar-set-to-discuss-amateur-radio-and-auxcom-support-to-department-of-defense

This webinar will coincide with the start of MARS Exercise 22-1, which should provide opportunity to practice these skills.

Tom Kinahan
US Army Military Auxiliary Radio System
Region One Director
aaa1rd@usamars.us