Month: November 2022

Operating

POTA Activation, Middlesex Fells State Reserve, K-8414, November 26, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Rusty Moore, K1FVK, writes on the stars-radio list:

KC1MWH and I activated Middlesex Fells State Reserve, K-8414, yesterday afternoon.

As you may know, the Reserve covers a huge area and I imagine there are many great locations for setting up a portable station if you’re willing to hike in. We didn’t have time to scout around in the woods though so we hunted for a parking lot (there are only a few, most of them small and surrounded by trees) with open space nearby, and found a suitable spot at the Sheepfold parking lot, just off I-93 and halfway between Spot Pond and Middlesex Reservoir. At the southern end of the lot there were a couple picnic tables and lots of open space to set up a dipole, so that’s where we deployed. If you were to park along the west side of the lot you could operate from inside your car if you wanted.

We jumped on 40m, spotted ourselves on the POTA site, called CQ one time and off we went, working 29 stations in 30 minutes. Signals were so good across the eastern US and into Canada that I decided to reduce power and quickly worked MD, CT, and MI on half a watt.

If anyone knows of other good locations in Middlesex Fells for portable radio ops, I’d love to hear about them.

POTA Activation, Middlesex Fells Reservation

NTS

HEAVY HITTERS TRAFFIC NET (HHTN) NOW 7 EVENINGS PER WEEK

- by kw1u - Leave a Comment

Joe Weisse, W1HAI, reports that the Heavy Hitters Traffic Net (HHTN) is now meeting 7 evenings per week. Effective December 3, 2022, HHTN will be adding Saturday evening sessions.

HHTN meets at 2200 Local on the Minuteman Repeater linked network and also links to the Mt. Greylock repeater for nearly statewide coverage for NTS message traffic. HHTN is also accessible via Echolink New-Eng2 conference, IRLP node 9127.  Alternate repeater: Waltham 146.640 PL 136.5

Foxhunting / Operating

Fox Hunt in Carlisle, November 26, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on November 26, 2022 at 12:26 PM:

I placed my 146.565 transmitter in Carlisle at the Towle Farm off Route 225.

To activate the transmitters press DTMF tone 2. The tones will transmit for 30 second on 30 seconds off for 15 minutes. Then press DTMF to 2 again to start transmitting again.

See attached Map

I will leave the Fox Out until next Wednesday.

John KB1MGI

Map of Carlisle

Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 2-3, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

2022 SKYWARN Recognition Day logoRob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on SKYWARN_Announce:

**SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 will occur this year and for the first time since 2019, Ops at the NWS office will be permitted but modified due to COVID19 to have more limited operations inside the office than prior to the pandemic. Similar to the last years, a social media component will be added to engage non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters more with 2022’SRD.**

**SRD Numbers will now be issued automatically when Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters register via the Google form on the SRD web site. You do not need a SRD Number to participate in SRD’2022 but it is now automatically available if you register via the Google form and most NWS offices will not have a SRD number.**

For the first time since 2019, SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 will have Ops at NWS office with volunteer Amateur Radio Operators, however, the scale of what is done inside the office for SRD will be more limited as we will have limited Amateur Radio Operators in the facility. This is similar to other NWS offices who will have volunteer operators into the office this year but more limited in scale than before the pandemic.

Also, all participants are welcome to register on the SRD web site. SRD Numbers will now be issued automatically when Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters register via the Google form on the SRD web site. You do not need a SRD Number to participate in SRD’2022 and most NWS offices will not have a SRD number. The SRD Number for this year is part of the qso exchange but is not a requirement.

For WX1BOX Amateur Radio operations, we will cover the typical SKYWARN repeaters on VHF/UHF as well as simplex and be on HF via the WX1BOX Amateur Radio station, various remote home stations, potentially one Amateur Radio Club station, along with our WX1BOX social media pages. In addition, contacts with other Amateur Radio SKYWARN stations will count towards NWS certificates. Similar to the last two years, there will be a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters alike.

Additional details on SKYWARN Recognition Day including a registration link opened up to all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio Operators can be found via the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

As mentioned previously, this year’s Google registration form also auto-issues SRD Numbers to participant Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. The form can be found off the SKYWARN Recognition Day web site and can be see at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsiwFThctxPqEht9r7j1V1OLBNiAQjt-yJe7z3-XFMwiIx-w/viewform

There is also a SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) Facebook group open to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators. The Facebook group link is listed below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/srd2021

On the web, the following link on the WX1BOX home page will feature all SRD updates for WX1BOX operations as well as social media efforts that can include SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators alike:

Special Announcement: SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) 2022 Friday Evening 12/2/22 700 PM ET to Saturday Evening 12/3/22 700 PM ET

New for this year is we’d like to conduct an experiment to test and experiment with a radio email system known as Winlink. We would like to have Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters test sending email to a radio based email. This system allows for emails to be retrieved over Internet but also over radio. You do not have to be an Amateur Radio Operator to be involved in this experiment. During the SRD period from Saturday 12/3/21 from 0000-2400 UTC (Friday Evening 12/2/21 7 PM EST-Saturday 12/3/21 7 PM EST), we’d like people to do the following:

1.) Compose an email with a report in text format or using one of the Winlink system specific weather or other forms to wx1box@winlink.org with either a current observation from the SRD time period or a prior severe weather event that occurred dring the last 2 years. Do “not” include file attachments. For Amateur Radio Operators who have winlink setup, please go ahead and use winlink. For other Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters who do not have Winlink setup, feel free to use your normal email client but only use text and no attachments in the report.
2.) Put in the subject of the email //WL2K as this will allow for emails to get filtered through the built-in spam protection of the winlink system

We will acknowledge all emails as a contact and publish results of this work as part of the SRD’2021 report.

Similar to last year, the SKYWARN Spotter Map that is being tied to SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 but also shows a great display of SKYWARN Spotters across the country whether you are able to participate in 2022’SRD or not. To add yourself to the map, utilize the link below (and it also appears once you have submitted your Google registration form):
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/31f1c4cd9b504068b2d15a7d3cdd4d05

The SRD’2022 schedule for repeater rotation and WX1BOX coverage will be included in the next SRD update by Monday Morning 11/28/22 as we are planning the various modes of operation at the NWS office and at home/Amateur Radio Club locations.

The VoIP Operations on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system will take place once again for 2022’SRD. Here is the info regarding Echolink/IRLP operations as of Friday Evening 11/25/22 and will be updated by Monday Morning 11/28/22:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: N0NWS (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0200-0300: WX7SLC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0300-0400: WX9GRB (Confirmed time slot from 2020)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0500-0600: WX9LOT (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0700-0800: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0800-0900: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0900-1000: Open
1000-1100: WX7SLC (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1100-1200: WX1GYX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1200-1300: W7NWS (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1300-1400: WX7SLC (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1400-1500: WX1AW (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1600-1700: WX4NC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Confirmed time slot from last year – new NWS office from 2021)
1800-1900: WX6LOX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1900-2000: K0MPX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Confirmed time slot from last year – new NWS office from 2021)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2300-2400: Open

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Boston/Norton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years and have multiple reflector channels and Echolink conferences available. There is reflector 9250/Echolink Conference *HI-GATE* node: 357564, IRLP 9251 and the *WORLD* Echolink Conference node: 479886, IRLP 9257/*DCF-ARC* Echolink Conference node: 336037 and IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 152566 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG3* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system. The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, Allstar 28848 along with DMR/DSTAR and other modes provided by VK3JED-Tony, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their support!

Thanks to all for their continued support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

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
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box

Operating / Public Information

Whitman ARC Plimoth Patuxet Special Event Operation, November 26-27, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Whitman ARC logoBob Azanow, WA1Q, writes on the Whitman ARC mailing list:

We want to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving and weekend. I have submitted a tentative list to Rob Kluin, the Marketing Director at Plimoth Patuxet Museums. We have been doing this event for over 30 years.

We will have someone spot us on the DX Cluster. Richard, AG1B, suggested we operate on 10 meters as well since 10 has been open.

We can look at setting up the R7 antenna at the Visitor’s Center if possible. Paul has a Yaesu FT450D in his go kit.

This will be a good opportunity for new hams to get on the air on HF.

We also need to bring out Whitman Club IDs and or a call sign badge to wear while we are on-site there. We will have clip-on writable badges we will provide as well if you do not have one.

Here is who we have so far for Plimoth Patuxet

Bob Azanow, WA1Q, Fri Sat & Sun
Paul Moss, KB1MTW
Chris Babbitt, N1CFB
Mike Davis, WA1MAD, Fri, Sat, and Sun
Jeff Ayres, WK1D, Friday
Mark Hirtle, KC1ITF, on Sunday
Lou Lachance, KC1PXN, Deputy Fire Chief Hingham and his son, Nate
Nathan Lachance, SWL
Jack Foley, N1QE, Saturday, maybe Sunday
Steve Cote, N1STV, Saturday
James Aiu, KC1NBN, Sunday
Larry Kenney, W1VP, Friday setup

More folks will be added as soon as you confirm you will attend. We need more folks to step up.

We will have two locations at the Museum. The Visitor’s Center will have Paul, KB1MTW’s go kit setup. And we will have 2 meters running there.

The second location is the Horticulture building, which is heated and nicer than the attic where we have been in the past.

We will have the HF station setup there with the Windom antenna and a 2-meter station. If possible, we will conduct the Sunday Net at 8:30 AM from the museum, If not, we will still be on site Sunday morning at 8:30 AM.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Horticulture building interior
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Horticulture Building interior

 

—

Hours: Setup Friday Nov 25th 10AM to 12PM
On the Air time Sat Nov 26th 9AM to about 3PM
On the Air time Sun Nov 27th 8:30AM to about 3PM
Take down about 3PM

Link to Plimoth Patuxet Museums for directions and info on the Museum.

 

Organization

Eastern Massachusetts Section to Welcome New Section Manager; Incumbent Section Managers were Reelected

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL logoFrom ARRL News:

11/18/2022—Jon McCombie, N1ILZ, will become Section Manager (SM) of the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section on January 1, 2023. McCombie, of Eastham, was the only nominee to submit a petition to run for office when the nomination period closed in early September. As the sole nominee, he has been declared elected.

This past year, McCombie has been Assistant SM to Tom Walsh, K1TW, who has been the SM of the Eastern Massachusetts Section for the last 8 years. Walsh, of Bedford, decided not to run for a fifth 2-year term of office.

There were no balloted elections during this fall season’s SM election cycle. The following incumbent SMs ran unopposed, and they were declared reelected, beginning their new 2-year terms of office on January 1: Cecil Higgins, AC0HA (Missouri); Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ (Nebraska); Jim Mezey, W2KFV (New York City-Long Island); Rocco Conte, WU2M (Northern New York); Marc Tarplee, N4UFP (South Carolina); Tom Preiser, N2XW (Southern New Jersey); Michael Douglas, W4MDD (West Central Florida), and Joe Shupienis, W3BC (Western Pennsylvania).

Thanks to ARRL Field Organization Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, for information contained in this story.

Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox Active, Westford, Last Run of 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on November 18, 2022 at 3:24 PM:

The KD1D Fox is now (Friday, November 18, 2022  3:00 pm EST) on the air in Westford, MA in the vicinity of the Stone Arch Bridge Trail.
For maps and a trail description, see:   https://westfordconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/stone-arch-trail/

The Fox transmits on 146.565 MHz FM with a 20 second message repeated every 60 seconds.  It is hidden, but can be found with good direction-finding skills and a sharp eye.  There is a logbook in which you can record your find.  Please enter your first name, call sign, time. and date found.  WX is expected to be good through Monday noon (Nov 21)  when I will retrieve the Fox and bring it home for a few months rest (and perhaps some devious modifications).  You can also report your find to kd1d@arrl.net.

Good Hunting and 73 de KD1D, Alan

Clubs

KC1AWV: “The M17 Project” at the North Shore Radio Association Hybrid Meeting, November 21, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
North Shore Radio Association logoThe North Shore Radio Association will meet at the Peabody Municipal Light Plant auditorium, 201 Warren St Extension, in Peabody and online on November 21, 2022 at 7:00 PM.  
 
This month: Steve, KC1AWV, speaking via Zoom, will talk about the M17 Project, a group of hams creating “a new digital radio protocol for data and voice, made by and for amateur radio operators.”
 
[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.]
Clubs / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Now hosting NEWBS to Reach New Heights

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

StratoScience logoThe New England Weather Balloon Society is dedicated to the collaborative and iterative process of building and launching high altitude balloons to the edge of space to take instrumentation readings, record video footage, and conduct experiments. This club, hosted by New England Sci-Tech, brings together like minded tinkerers, engineers, and hams to work on exciting projects and launches. Open to all ages.

Clubs

ADØIU: “Space Weather and How It Affects Ham Radio” at Boston ARC Meeting Online, November 17, 2022

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Boston ARC logoThe next general meeting of the Boston Amateur Radio Club will be held on Thursday, November 17, at 7:30 PM. Rob Steenburgh, ADØIU, will be the guest presenter. Rob worked for the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center and will discuss Space Weather and how it affects Amateur Radio.

A link will be published in the upcoming issue of The SPARC and will appear on www.barc.org on the day of the meeting.

Clubs

All Welcome to special session of EM2MN on Boston 145.23 Repeater as part of SET

- by kw1u - Leave a Comment

Greetings All,

Whereas the section Simulated Emergency Test (SET) in Eastern Mass will be taking place this Saturday November 12 from 10 AM to 12 PM;

Whereas the ARRL has taken a renewed interest in emergency communications capabilities including preparedness of the National Traffic System in nationwide emergency communications during infrastructure failures; and

Whereas the FCC has given Amateur Radio a multitude of frequencies available for use based in part for it’s availability for public service;

I am therefore encouraging all traffic handlers and participants in NTS nets to show support for the SET this weekend. The exercise plan can be found at https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/EasternMA-ARES-SET-11-12-22-V1.8.pdf and special note can be found regarding NTS participation on page 8. In addition to what is noted there, the Eastern Mass 2 Meter Traffic Net will hold a special session on the Boston 145.23 repeater tomorrow, Saturday Nov 12 from 10 AM to 12 Noon with Net Manager Peter KC1HHO as Net Control. Anyone regardless of NTS or ARES affiliation is welcome to check in, pass traffic or listen to see how an NTS net is conducted and traffic is passed. Traffic handlers are encouraged to list a radiogram addressed to Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde KW1U in Maynard MA, stating your participation in the net and information about the equipment you are using. Others are encouraged to ask questions and participate at whatever level they chose. While we will be using standard radiogram format for messages for this exercise, it is important to note that NTS leadership has begun training in use of ICS formats, generally used by emergency service groups.

For those unable to make the Boston repeater, feel free to check into the net  running on the Minuteman repeater network with Joe W1HAI as NCS as mentioned in the link noted above.

I apologize for short notice. We hope to see as many there as can make it. Thanks for your participation.

73, Marcia KW1U
Section Traffic Manager

Clubs / Operating

K1USN Radio Club QRV for Veterans Day, November 11, 2022

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

K1USN Watson Museum signThe K1USN Radio Club will once again be on the air November 11, 2022, to celebrate Veterans Day to show their appreciation for those who have served. This year we plan to activate K1USN from our club station on the HF bands using SSB, CW and FT8 beginning at 1300 UTC, Nov 11 and ending at 2100 UTC.  Our Club station is located at the Watson Museum & Research Library, 85 Quincy Avenue in Braintree. 

K1USN QSL cards will be available for all contacts with K1USN. Send # 10 SASE to K1RV or DX stations QSL via bureau.

QSL via K1RV
URL: http://www.k1usn.com
Contact: Pi, K1RV
Email: k1rv@arrl.net

Anyone working K1USN on Veterans day can use this link to request a certificate.

https://forms.gle/eUkWe4QviHV1qBRx8

The K1USN Radio Club was formed in May 1997 when we began operation onboard the Heavy Cruiser CA-139 USS Salem Museum Ship located in Quincy, MA. During this time period we began the first Museum Ships Weekend in 1997 with 8 ships participating. The crew from the Battleship New Jersey has done a wonderful job continuing this annual event which has grown into a popular activity with over 100 ships as well as several museums participating. Go to the NJ2BB website for a complete list of participants as well as certificate information – www.nj2bb.org

Later we were able to move our operation to the Thomas Watson Museum located upstream from the USS Salem at the site of the original Fore River Shipyard which was built by Braintree, MA resident, Thomas A. Watson. Watson was Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant developing the invention of the telephone. As US Navy orders continued to demand larger vessels the shipyard was moved to its current location downstream in Quincy, MA. 

Our operating frequencies will be:

  • SSB – 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960 and 28360 kHz
  • CW – 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18079, 21039, 24899 and 28039 kHz
  • FT4/8 – All standard FT8 frequencies

K1USN QSL cards will be available for all contacts with K1USN.

Send # 10 SASE to K1RV or DX stations QSL via bureau.

73, Pi – K1RV / K1USN

k1rv@arrl.net

http://www.k1usn.com

 

Clubs

Massasoit ARA Meeting Location Change

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Massasoit ARA logoAllen Hiltz, WA1BEE, writes on the Massasoit ARA mailing list:
 
MARA will be having our meetings at the Bridgewater Library, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Due to the handicap problems at the [Emergency Operations Center], the vote was taken to move back to the library.
 
Hope to see you all November 15, 2022.
 
Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Reminder: November 7th, 2022 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

N1YLQ-Mike “Sparky” Leger – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer and  Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator writes:

Hello to all,

      This email is a reminder that this evening, November 7th, 2022 is the first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, is our RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. We will be holding our sector nets on the normally assigned frequencies.

      As always, I am looking for Net Control stations to staff our sector nets for the evening. This month I plan to be able to run the Sector 2A net, but if anyone is interested in trying it out, please let me know.  I am looking for NCS operators to lead the Sector 2B (Plymouth County) nets. Sector 2D has already arranged for an NCS operator for this month’s net and Sector 2C is a Winlink only net on a monthly basis.

           The 6-meter net has generally been a very informal net. We have received an update that repairs have been implemented on the repeater. Please report any comms testing on the repeater so that those repairs can be verified.

For any operators interested in performing the duties of Net Control Station (NCS), there are materials available to make the task fairly simple and straight forward. The net pre-amble and role call lists are available at http://wc1mab.org/RACES_R2_Interim_Preamble.pdf and http://wc1mab.org/Month.php with the role call lists on the left column near the bottom. If anyone is worried that they mess up running a net, please remember that, in many cases, a less than perfect net is WAY better than no net at all! At the conclusion of any net, any operator that acted as Net Control Operator should send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com letting me know who ran the net and who checked in so that the proper numbers can be reported to our served agencies. We can not always count on our normal net control operators to be available in the event of a large scale emergency, so every RACES operator should be prepared to act as NCO if needed when disaster and emergency strikes!

Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph: 

*Winlink Net*

To participate:

– create a check-in form using the Winlink standard checkin form

– send via Winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. Nov 7th  and before midnight EST Nov 8th (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to KF1D

   I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to check into sector nets from near-by sections. This will allow our Net Control Operators to practice fielding nets with a strong check-in count and will also serve to help practice with relays or modified sector assignments in the event that a single repeater is out of service. 

   For those operators who serve as Net Control Operators, please try to remember to send me a list of the stations and communities that check into your nets. The numbers are reported to MEMA to show them our level of participation. I am continuing to work on a graphical map based report to show which parts of our section have strong coverage and which areas may need a more targeted recruitment campaign to improve our ability to provide back-up communications in an emergency.

The Region #2 and State Net Schedule for this evening is as follows:

Net Frequency/Offset Time
Sector 2A 147.00 /+0.60  PL 19:30 Local
Sector 2B 145.39/-0.60  PL 67.0 20:00 Local
Sector 2C Winlink Net Check-In 6AM-Midnight Local Time
Sector 2D 146.865/-0.60  PL 103.5 19:30 Local
6-Meter State Net 53.31 / -1.0  PL 71.9  

 

Note: 53.31 has been reported as being repaired and back online. Please report tests on this repeater so that we can verify the repairs/improvements made to the repeater.

 19:00 Local
MA RACES HF Net 3930 KHz LSB moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency 18:45 Local
MA MEMA NBEMS Net Frequency:  3584.5 MHx, Center Frequency: 1500 Hz, Initial mode: THOR22 19:00 Local

    I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain prepared. Thank you all for helping us keep things on track and prove that we remain a consistent source of communication capability to the Commonwealth. This net provides a monthly reminder to our communities and served agencies that we stand ready with a quiet professionalism prepared to serve as a voice to whomever needs one to get help and resources to where they need to be.

 If you know someone who would benefit from being on this list, please have them contact me at   WC1MAB@gmail.com and I will add them to this distribution. Thank you all!

      If anyone has any questions or comments I can be reached by e-mail or cell phone. Thanks for being a part of our team and I look forward to hearing back on who can participate this month.

Sincerely,

Michael Leger (N1YLQ)

MEMA Region #2 RACES Officer

C: 386-566-7666

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday November 7th 2022 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The November Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday November 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 focus our announcements on the Eastern Mass ARES Simulated Emergency Test set for Saturday 11/12/22 from 1000 AM-1200 PM EST. See https://ema.arrl.org/2022/11/06/update-eastern-massachusetts-ares-simulated-emergency-test-set-saturday-11-12-22-1000-am-1200-pm-est/ for the SET info.

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
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
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Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

UPDATE: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET) – Saturday 11/12/22 – 1000 AM-1200 PM EST

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be doing its Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for Saturday 11/12/22 at 1000 AM-1200 PM coincident with the national Winlink exercise. Our scenario will be customized from the ETO National Winlink exercise. The following is the Eastern Mass ARES SET document that we wanted to deliver by this weekend. See Eastern MA ARES SET 11-12-22 V1.8 Document for all of the pertinent info. We look forward to everyone that can participate and we will also mention this on the monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Net on the MMRA Repeater network for Monday 11/7/22 at 830 PM. Thanks to all for their continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 11/7/22 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

AB1PH-Don Rolph – Walpole area ARES Emergency Coordinator writes:

The MEMA RACES nets are held on the first Monday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, when it is delayed one week,

For Nov, the RACES nets will be held on Mon Nov. 7.

********************************************************************************
The HF net will start at 6:45 PM EDT: using the following frequency plan:

We will start at 3930 KHz moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency,

Marc Stern WA1R will be net control.
*********************************************************************************
Region 2D VHF net:
7:30 PM EDT VHF net on 146.865 MHz PL 103.5 (Sharon Repeater)

We will have a general call up of any RACES, ARES, or other interested stations. If there is time, we will have a simplex test.

Don Rolph using WA1PLE will be net control.
********************************************************************************
HF NBEMS net:
7:00 PM EDT
Dial Frequency: 3584.5 MHx
Center Frequency: 1500 Hz
Initial mode: THOR22

We will have checkins, followed by an ICS-213 format message using FLMSG.
Don Rolph AB1PH will be net control.
*********************************************************************************
Winlink Net:

To participate:
– create a checkin form using the Winlink standard checkin form
– send via winlink after 6 AM EDT Mon. Nov 7 and before 0000 EDT Nov 8 (any mode, but include mode in checkin form) to Bryan Marcotte KF1D
– Tues I will create the checkin report and send to all of you
*************************************************************************************

We look forward to you checking in to any or all nets!

—

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Public Service

Communications Support Needed, Gloucester Santa Parade, November 27, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
North Shore Radio Association logoEric Horwitz, KA1NCF, writes on the North Shore Radio Association mailing list:
 
After several years away the Gloucester Santa parade is BACK and requesting our help for communications support.
 
Event Day: Sunday November 27th, stepping off at 3: 00 pm
 
Event Time Requirement: Around 2 pm until 7 pm
 
Parade Starts at the Fish pier and goes thru downtown to end near the cut bridge
 
Please email me if you can HELP.
 
Thanks for your Support.
 
Eric, KA1NCF
Foxhunting / Operating

KB1OIQ Fox Deployment, Westford, November 6, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 10:23 AM on November 6, 2022:

The KB1OIQ 2m fox (146.565 MHz) has been deployed in the Cider Mill Pond conservation area in Westford.  Note that one entrance has parking for perhaps three cars, but there are other entrances which can be found on a map.

I’ll leave the fox out for a couple of days.  Enjoy fox hunting with this great weather!

73,

Andy