Month: May 2022

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday 6/4/22 at 1000 AM

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Jeff-N1SOM writes:

Good evening,

On Saturday June 4, 2022, the South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10AM. We realize that the usual locations for some individuals and groups are still unavailable due to ongoing COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net.

We will use the following repeaters and NEDECN DMR system in the order listed.

1. W.Bridgewater Repeater 146.775 dcs 244
2. Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
3. Plymouth Repeater 146.685 tone 131.8
3. DMR – EMHN Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot 1 on select NEDECN repeaters:
Boston 449.175 CC1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC1, Bourne 145.200 CC10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC11, and Martha’s Vineyard145.180 CC10 repeaters
4. Boston 145.230 tone enc. 88.5 dec (in) / dec (out) 100.0
5. Return to W.Bridgewater Repeater for Net closing.

NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check-in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.

We extend an invitation to any health care facility, EOC of any city or town as well as RACES or ARES members to check in during the NET. We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand at Net Control please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com or replying to this message. The goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many individuals and groups as possible. We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct these monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. We hope to hear you Saturday.

Jeff N1SOM, Secretary, and the SSH group
N1SOM – W1SSH

South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group
55 Fogg Rd. Mail-Stop 42
South Weymouth, MA 02190

Operating

“Last Call” for K2H Operators

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
K2H QSL card, 2021

Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

 
This is the last call for any hams in Massachusetts who may want to be a 13 Colonies Team K2H Massachusetts operator.
 
The Special Event runs from July 1 through July 7.
 
We currently have 28 K2H ops and if you would like to join the team, please contact me before June 1 at W1AST@arrl.net.
 
Operators will spot themselves and wait for the pileups to start. It’s a heck of a lot of fun.

Contact Larry, W1AST  at W1AST@arrl.net if interested BEFORE JUNE 1.

 

Larry, W1AST

  • ARRL WMA ACC
  • HCRA President
  • Visit my Ham Radio club website at: www.HCRA.org
  • Team K2H – 13 Colonies Massachusetts State Manager
  • Project Big E 2022 Organizer
Clubs

K1KP: “Troubleshooting Gear” at Billerica ARS Online Meeting, June 1, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Billerica ARS logoNext BARS Zoom meeting:  June 1 at 7:00 PM on Zoom

“Troubleshooting Gear,” Tony Brock-Fisher, K1KP

Tony will speak on the often arcane art of finding and repairing problems with equipment. Often, a methodical approach, a bit of knowledge, and a few useful pieces of test equipment are all you need to put things right again.

[For Zoom conference details, email Bruce Anderson, W1LUS, at w1lus -at- hotmail -dot- com.]
 
Clubs / Technical

LoRa Birdhouse Project at Wellesley ARS

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Pix of LoRa BirdhouseThe Wellesley Amateur Radio Society is embarking upon an interesting technical project to develop LoRa nodes at club members’ homes, according to WARS President Dan Brown, W1DAN.
 
LoRa (Long Range) and LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) are next generation technologies that will support wireless connectivity in IoT (the Internet of Things). Uniquely enabling long range, low power communication, they are already being used in numerous consumer and industrial applications to solve real world problems.
 
“Under the direction of Bruce [MacKinnon], KC1FSZ, we are launching our club LoRa Birdhouse project,” according to WARS President Dan Brown, W1DAN. Dan says that the project is open to all WARS members but “other folks can build nodes on their own as the project plans are open-source.”
 
WARS members will learn how to build a LoRa node and antenna, and use them to communicate with fellow WARS members. “No technical experience necessary, as we are making the project available to all skill levels.”
 
KC1FSZ’s GitHub documentation can be viewed at:  https://github.com/brucemack/WARS-Birdhouse
 
 
Foxhunting / Operating

MMRA Fox is Hiding, Stow, May 20, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Bob Evans, N1BE, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on May 20, 2022 at 3:56 PM:

The MMRA Fox Box is at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Stow.

The Fox transmits on 145.63 MHz with a 146.2 Hz PL.

Transmissions repeat approx. every 165 seconds. 

I plan to retrieve the Fox on Tuesday, May 24th.

Email me directly if you want a hint to help locate the fox.

Happy hunting,

Bob Evans, N1BE

NTS

Massachusetts Traffic Report for April 2022

- by kw1u - Leave a Comment

The Massachusetts STM Report for April 2022 can be found here: https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-traffic-report-for-april-2022/

Note information on upcoming events, including the annual traffic handlers picnic in Concord MA on Sunday August  7 from noon on.  More details to follow, but for now mark your calendars.  All traffic handlers and any interested in traffic handling from anywhere in New England are welcome.  

Also more information on use of the ICS 213 type messages.  This information is still emerging, so stay tuned.

Public Information

NV1W: “The Computer in the Shack” at Boston Network Users Group, June 7, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Boston Amateur Radio Club Secretary Joe Chapman, NV1W, will present about Amateur Radio and “The Computer in the Shack” to the Boston Network Users group on June 7, 2022. The meeting will start at 7:30 PM.

The  Boston Network Users Group (BNUG)  provides education and technical forum for anyone interested in computer networking and related technologies. BNUG was founded in 1986.

Our Speaker: Joseph Chapman

Description of the talk: In 1976 I submitted decks of punched cards as homework for my first Fortran class, and earned my entry-level amateur radio license. Over the course of my adult life, as both computer and radio technologies have evolved, the computer has become an essential part of the amateur radio “shack.” I’ll talk about how it’s gone from being used for station control and logging, to supporting digital modes; finally, with Software Defined Radio (SDR), it’s become the radio itself! I’ll also describe some Internet sites used for reporting space weather and making propagation predictions, and online logging, including the public-key signature system used by 112,000 users for the American Radio Relay League’s Logbook of the World.

 Presenter Bio:

Joe Chapman, NV1W, has been fiddling with radios and computers since he was a teenager in the 1970s. After graduating from MIT, he has been involved in more hardware and software startups than Zsa Zsa Gabor has had husbands. His most recent startup having been acquired by Red Hat, he now works on storage optimization in the Linux kernel. In amateur radio he generally works with low power, using Morse code or weak-signal digital modes. He has done two solo cross-country bicycle tours, plays the pipe organ, does calligraphy, and cooks.

Clubs

W1PJE: “Propagation and Space Weather” at Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association Meeting Online, May 20, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

club meeting flyerThe Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association will meet via Zoom on May 20, 2022 for a business meeting at 6:30 PM, followed at 7:00 PM by a special presentation on Propagation and Space Weather by Phil Erickson, W1PJE.

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.

For Zoom link information, contact Mike Nye, N1NTM, at n1ntm@hotmail.com.

 

Awards / Clubs

QST Cover Plaque Award at PART of Westford Meeting, May 17, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

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

The May PART meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, beginning at 7:30 PM at the Cameron Senior Center, 20 Pleasant Street, Westford, MA, and via Webex video conference. For those attending via video conference, a meeting link is below; just click on the green button to join in. You can join the conference any time after 7:00 PM to check out your gear or just rag chew until the meeting starts. Bear in mind that internet connectivity from the senior center may be unreliable.

We’ve got several items on the agenda:

1. New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, will present the QST Cover Plaque Award for March 2022 to PART members Bob Glorioso, W1IS, and Bob Rose, KC1DSQ. After the presentation, Fred will talk about ARRL happenings.
2. Terry, KA8SCP, talk about emergency response by various agencies to an “event” at the Seabrook power station, and involvement by the Amateur Radio community.
3. Field Day plans!
4. ARRL grant money for clubs.

Attendees are reminded to bring donations for the Westford Food Panty. Items such as canned soups and Dinty Moore beef stew are always appreciated.

See you Tuesday!

George, K1IG

[To request conference login information, contact George Allison, K1IG, at k1ig -at- arrl -dot- net]
 
Agenda update: Terry, KA8SCP, is unable to attend the meeting; his talk on Seabrook events has been postponed.
Operating

Eastern MA Museum Ships Getting Ready for Museum Ships Weekend, June 3-5, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
USS Salem
USS Salem, 549 South Street, Pier 3, Quincy, MA

Several museum ship stations in Eastern Massachusetts will be active during Museum Ships Weekend from 0000Z June 4 to 2359Z June 5, 2022.

The K1USN  Radio Club station, K1USN, is signed up to participate. According to station trustee “Pi” Pugh, K1RV, “We plan a full scale activation and will be looking for operators on CW, SSB, and FT4/8 as we get closer.”

Two additional museum ship stations plan will be QRV and are looking for operators: the USS Salem, N1SLM;  and the USS Massachusetts [Uncommon Service to Naval Radio], NE1PL.

Contact W1OF <w1of@nsradio.org> for the USS Salem, KB1TEE <kb1tee@verizon.net> for the USS Massachusetts, and K1RV <pi.k1rv@gmail.com> for the K1USN Radio Club.

For full details, visit <https://www.nj2bb.org/museum/>.

Foxhunting / Operating

K1MJC Fox is “A-Foot,” Waltham MA, May 13, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:16 PM on May 13, 2022:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox’s  are  a-foot!

I put it them out  today, Friday.

The fox’s are close to each other somewhere in an area within the City limits of Waltham, MA.

 “School”  is the clue. 

The extra added bonus here is this time, I’ve placed a UHF fox out as well. 

This is an experimental unit, made up of a Arduino  pro mini 3.3 V with a 433 MHz  AM transmitter with very low power. 

It does tend to drift 10 kHz on either side of the stated frequency possibly with battery voltage; and for those of you who have “AM“ capabilities in your handheld, this is an extra added bonus.

Also, I’m not sure how long the battery life will last with the AM Fox so the sooner you hunt it the better ; ( possibly 2days?)

Note: It can be heard on FM, but it is scratchy and noisy. AM reception is the best!

Fox Frequencies are:

VHF 146.565

UHF 433.975 (thereabouts).

(There is only a log with the VHF fox. Nothing with the UHF fox).

As usual, they will be retrieved before Sundown Sunday.

One of The maps on this page would prove useful!

https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting!

Foxhunting / Operating

KB1OIQ 80m Fox Deployed, Westford MA, May 13, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the  NEMassFoxHunters list at 9:27 AM on May 13, 2022:

The fox is on the loose!

I verified that the signal can be (weakly) heard from the Cider Mill Pond parking area.

It will be out all day today (Friday) and Saturday.

If you are in the neighborhood, feel free to visit my home QTH.  I should be there most of the day today.  My info is good on QRZ.com.

I am willing to tweak your R3500D fox receiver for peak performance by adjusting the capacitor and two transformers.  LMK if you are interested.

Have fun(!) and 73,

Andy

[See also: Interest for an 80m Fox?]
Public Service

Public Service Events, Westford, May 14-15, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

TPART of Westford logoerry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

There are two public service events occurring this weekend that 146.955 2m repeater users should be aware of:

Saturday, May 14th – 9:00 AM to about Noon – Apple Blossom Parade operations
Sunday, May 15th – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Groton Road Race

These event users have primary use during these times. Emergency use will take precedence as always.

Terry M Stader – KA8SCP
WB1GOF Repeaters

Foxhunting / Operating

MMRA Fox Box On the Air Near Acton, May 11, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Bob Evans, N1BE, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on May 11, 2022 at 7:41 PM:

The MMRA Fox Box transmits on 145.63 MHz with a 146.2 Hz PL.

Transmissions repeat approx. every 165 seconds.

The box has been heard in the town of Acton, MA.

I plan to retrieve the Fox on Monday May 16.

Email me directly if you want a hint to help locate the fox.

Happy hunting,
Bob Evans, N1BE

Operating

Rare Grid Square Active in Northern NH, FN45, May 13-14, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

US Grid Square mapEthan Hansen, KC1OIP, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:

Forwarding this along from the NEDECN group. Might be of interest to those of you chasing grid squares or wanting to test out 6 meters.

For those of you that have VHF or UHF gear on 50/144/432  SSB/CW/Digital (FT8 and MSK144), look for this very rare Grid Square in Northern NH.  Mike (K1MUU) and Matt (KC1OFX) will setup early on FRIDAY and SATURDAY (5/13 and 5/14).

Due to the Weak Signal nature of propagation, they will probably spend most time on WSJT-X mode of FT8, but probably some early morning MSK144 if there are enough rocks falling!
 
MSK144 is on 50.260 and 144.150 MHz
FT8 is on 50.313 and 144.174 MHz
SSB is on 50.130 and 144.200 MHz
 
Some coordination will be available via VHF Slack (Rare Grids) and DMR New England Wide (3181).
 
Beam toward Pittsburg, NH and Listen in!
 
73,
Bill, NE1B
Clubs

KA1HIH: “Antique Radios” at Algonquin ARC Meeting, May 12, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

AARC logoThe next AARC meeting will be held in­ person on May 12 at 7:30 pm in the library of the 1st Lt. Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School, 25 Union Ave, Marlboro, MA. Enter from Agoritsas Drive next to police station and use Door #1 at rear of building.

The speaker this month will be Lou Tramontozzi, KA1HIH, presenting on antique radios. 

Lou will appear on Zoom and will present at the beginning of the meeting shortly after 7:30.   If we are unable to connect to Zoom at the library due to network or equipment challenges,  the presentation will continue on Zoom.

After the presentation we will review the election results and share Lantern Battery Challenge anecdotes.