Project Big E Receives Grant

Project Big E logoLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

The Big E Project for 2023 has received a grant!

You can now volunteer to help staff the booth and be reimbursed for both admission and parking!

There are two 6-hour shifts per day.
10 am to 4 pm
4 pm to 10 pm

We ask all volunteers to be on their shift for 30 minutes prior to what you’re volunteered for.

Please sign up here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5gYXzEtVilTSkp4RnXuwA1e7h0SNpFfMp2MJAl9pHrFaD4A/viewform

We are trying this again and hoping to inform the public about ham radio and get more people interested enough to sign up for classes.

New hams can benefit ALL our clubs and ham radio in New England! Will you be a part of making this happen?

Please sign up at the above link!

Thank you for your support!

73 and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Larry, W1AST
ARRL WMA Affiliated Club Coordinator
HCRA President
Visit my Ham Radio club website at: www.HCRA.org
Team K2H – 13 Colonies Massachusetts State Manager
Project Big E 2022 & 2023 Organizer
Proud Member of ARRL, FCARC & YCCC
413-348-3289
W1AST@arrl.net

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) Postponed for One Week to 7/8/23 Due to 7/1/23 Being Part of the Long July 4th Weekend

John O’Neill-K1JRO-Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Liaison ARES DEC writes:

Good afternoon,

As announced last month, this is a reminder that tomorrow‘s EMHN is postponed for one week.  Due to July 1st (the first Saturday of the month, our regular day for the monthly EMHN) being part of the long July 4 weekend.
We will hold the Eastern MA Hospital Net on July 8.

Also, we are very happy to announce that the Whitman Amateur Radio Club’s Repeater is now available for Eastern MA Hospital Net use.
If not already programmed into your radio equipment, please add this repeater. WA1NPO 147.225 + CTCSS 67.0 

Have a safe and fun holiday weekend.
Looking forward to hearing you all next Saturday

John O’
K1JRO

Mark Your Calendars for the HamXposition and New England Division Convention, August 25-27, 2023

HamXposition logo

 

HamXposition 2023 is coming August 25-26-27.

In addition to our popular outdoor flea market, we will have a range of inside exhibitors, as well as a first notch set of speakers offering forum and presentations about many aspects of ham radio.

Come meet some old or new friends and maybe learn something new about our hobby!

We are very pleased to announce that the Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS), will be returning to present Amateur Radio Exposition at HamXposition. This exposition will include many hands-on activities, videos, and displays about amateur radio and wireless communications. NEScitech will also be providing hands-on experiences geared toward children and young adults.

On Friday night, Don Greenbaum, N1DG, will be headlining the DXCC and Contesting dinner. On Saturday morning, ARRL president Rick Roderick, K5UR, will deliver his keynote address. On Saturday night, at the Grand Banquet inventor and scientist Chip [Cohen], W1YW, will talk about his amusing background, ‘ham-genuity’ and some the pitfalls and pleasures along that tortuous path of invention.

Tech-in-a-day study course and VE exams are available.

Online ticketing is available now. If you wish to stay overnight, discounted hotel rates are available through July 25th.

Visit are website for all details and to purchase tickets in advance:

https://hamxposition.org

73,

Bob – K1IW
HamXposition 2023

Fishtown Horribles Parade, Gloucester, July 3, 2023

2023 Gloucester Fishtown Miserables ParadeChristopher Winczewski, K1TAT, writes on the CAARA list:

CAARA has a great public service team. Come out and have some fun with us. Why?

You are using amateur radio to provide a needed public service to ensure the safety and smooth running of a public event in local communities.

If you are unable to be there for the whole race, any amount of time you can give would be helpful. If you don’t have a radio, we have loaner radios available with a mag mount that will work in your car by just plugging it into the cigarette lighter socket. We have loaner handheld radios as well!

Please let me know if you can staff a communications checkpoint for the Gloucester, Massachusetts, Fishtown Horribles Parade on Monday July 3, 2023, so I can plan staffing positions.

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use (mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; rubber duck; etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

The course will be open and supported by CAARA. For four hours, runner safety is everyone’s top priority.

Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help.

Thank you in advance for your participation! More Info to come. Gloucester, Massachusetts, is celebrating 400 Years:1623 to 2023.

Fred

Massachusetts STM Report for May 2023

The Section Traffic Manager’s report for May 2023 can be found at the following link https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-stm-report-for-may-2023/ . Note upcoming Traffic Handlers’ Picnic in Concord MA Sunday, August 6 beginning at noon. Also note NTS Meet and Greet and NTS 2.0 presentation at HamXposition weekend of August 25-27, dates and times TBD. See also featured traffic handler of the month Ralph Devlin, N1LAH, and traffic tip of the month.

Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Coordination Message #2

Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SKYWARN-announce list on June 23, 2023 at 10:41 AM:
 

..The following is the second in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 20 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..2023 Field Day weekend, unlike the past few years, will have the potential for showers, thunderstorms and isolated severe weather. Not every Field Day site will see a shower, thunderstorm or severe weather and a widespread washout is not expected. Some Field Day sites could be dry all weekend but other Field Day sites could be quite wet depending on where showers and thunderstorms develop..
..With the thunderstorms, a few of them could be strong to severe with strong to damaging winds, hail, and heavy downpours leading to urban and poor drainage flooding. The severe weather potential remains focused on Saturday and Sunday Afternoon and Evening though some showers and isolated thunderstorms may occur late Friday Night into Saturday Morning making any shower and thunderstorm redevelopment Saturday Afternoon and Evening more uncertain..

[Full story]

Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Coordination Message #1

Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SKYWARN-announce list on June 22, 2023 at 10:07 AM:
 
Hello to all..

..The following is the first in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 20 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..2023 Field Day weekend, unlike the past few years, will have the potential for showers, thunderstorms and isolated severe weather. Not every Field Day site will see a shower, thunderstorm or severe weather and a widespread washout is not expected. Some Field Day sites could be dry all weekend but other Field Day sites could be quite wet depending on where showers and thunderstorms develop..

..With the thunderstorms, a few of them could be strong to severe with strong to damaging winds, hail, and heavy downpours leading to urban and poor drainage flooding. The severe weather potential is focused on Saturday and Sunday Afternoon and Evening. Any thunderstorms have lightning potential which is a safety hazard for all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to guard their local Amateur Radio SKYWARN frequency and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts during the course of this Field Day weekend including by cell phone/Internet and NOAA Weather Radio..
..Conditions will be warm and very humid Friday through Sunday. Temperatures will range between the mid-70s in coastal areas to the Upper 70s to mid 80s in interior areas depending upon how much heating occurs each day. Dewpoints in the low 70s will create very humid conditions. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids and guard against heat exhaustion especially during Amateur Radio Field Day setup and takedown..
..Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend and activate as needed to guard Amateur Radio Field Day sites to provide weather information as well as to gather reports meeting SKYWARN reporting criteria throughout this weekend..

Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region.

Amateur Radio Field Day Information: https://www.arrl.org/field-day
Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: https://ema.arrl.org/field-day/
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory: https://ema.arrl.org/field_day/

 
For Amateur Radio Field Day weekend, unlike past years, there will be thunderstorm potential throughout the entire period particularly in the afternoon and evening period from Friday to Sunday. For Friday, thunderstorms main potential hazards to Field Day sites will be heavy downpours and frequent lightning. On Saturday and Sunday, the thunderstorm potential is increased with the potential for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms in addition to heavy downpours and frequent lightning. It will be warm and very humid during the weekend. The headlines of this message give the current thinking and coverage area. Here is a breakdown of the hazards by each day:
 
Friday Afternoon and Evening:
Thunderstorms can occur particularly in Western and Central Massachusetts and Connecticut with heavy downpours and frequent lightning. The threat of severe weather is minimal and coverage will be isolated to scattered in nature and will be monitored.
 
Saturday Afternoon and Evening:
Thunderstorms are possible anywhere in Southern New England with the greatest coverage and strongest thunderstorms from the I-95 corridor north and west throughout interior Southern New England. The coverage will be more numerous than Friday with the potential for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. The activity will be slow moving which could also cause localized flooding in areas where thunderstorms train over the same area. This will bear close monitoring given Saturday is the more active of the 2 days of Amateur Radio Field Day weekend.
 
Sunday Afternoon and Evening:
Similar setup to Saturday Afternoon and Evening. More details will follow in future coordination message Friday and Saturday.
 
SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend and activate as needed to guard Amateur Radio Field Day sites to provide weather information as well as to gather reports meeting SKYWARN reporting criteria throughout this weekend. Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
 
NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, monitor various cell phone weather apps where Amateur Operators may have those available and have a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN frequency for their area as a best safety and preparedness practice as there is a threat for thunderstorm development and any thunderstorm can be a threat to the safety of Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Also sites that have mobile Internet capability can utilize that capability as a way to monitor for weather information. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful as well. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
https://wx1box.org/southern-new-england-skywarn-frequency-list/

During setup and takedown of Amateur Radio Field Day sites and even while operating, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat accordingly. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat

With the thunderstorm threat for this weekend, now is the time to remind folks that lightning is a threat to any and all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Remember your lightning safety tips and details on lightning safety can be seen at the following link and we have also added a link from this week’s NWS Boston/Norton Lightning Safety Awareness Week and Public Information Statements on Lightning Safety. See links below:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

 
The next Amateur Radio Field Day weekend coordination message will be posted by 10 AM Friday Morning. We hope the Amateur Radio community participating in Field Day has a great weekend!
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)
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

Waltham ARA, Montachusett ARA Field Day in Princeton MA, June 24-25, 2023

2023 Field Day logoThe Waltham Amateur Radio Association is partnering with the Montachusett Amateur Radio Association  for Field Day, June24 – 25. We will operate on the summit of Mt. Wachusett in Princeton, MA. Setup will begin at 9 AM on Saturday, the 24th. We hope to have enough participation to support 3 HF stations and a VHF station, providing plenty of opportunity for phone, CW, and digital operation from 2 PM Saturday until 2 PM on Sunday. There will also be a  “Get on the Air” (GOTA) station for new hams, future hams, and any Technician class operator.

Field Day participation has numerous facets:

·        This is a wonderful opportunity to participate first-hand in an emergency communications preparedness event at a national level. 

·        Field Day provides a ready-made opportunity to introduce family and friends, to what we, as amateu rradio operators, find rewarding in these endeavors. 

·        It’s a perfect event to introduce young / new folks to the amateur service.

Come for an hour… or come for the whole event.  Combine it with a day out on the mountain.  Don’t worry about rain in the forecast… it’ll be warm, plus we all drip dry   

This is the first big chance, post-COVID, for a radio in-person social event!!

Looking forward to seeing you there.

73,
W1ENB

KC1BHD, WZØC: “Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network Part II” at Minuteman Repeater Association Hybrid Meeting, Natick, June 21, 2023

MMRA logoMinuteman Repeater Association membership meeting: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 ~7:30—9:30 pm: Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN). Jim Garner, KC1BHD; and Michael Ford, WZØC. This is a Hybrid meeting at New England SciTech in Natick + ZOOM.
(Members: log into your account on MMRA.ORG to obtain the ZOOM info.
Non-members: send an email to contact@mmra to request the ZOOM info.

Michael, WZ0C, lives in Maynard and enjoys the amateur radio digital modes. Michael became interested in AREDN last year, connecting with Orv, W6BI, and Jim and learning about their efforts. Michael is hoping to use AREDN to increase the digital presence in Massachusetts. 

Jim, KC1BHD, has always been interested in data transmission in general and for several years, AREDN mesh networking in particular. He lives near Worcester and envisions creating RF access to an AREDN mesh for hams. He will give a demonstration of his AREDN go-kit prototype to be used in ARES activations, at disaster locations, or public service events.

 

Sci-Tech ARS Field Day, Natick, June 24-25, 2023

2023 Field Day logoOpen to all licensed amateur radio operators worldwide, ARRL Field Day is both a contest and a practice exercise of radio skills. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.

 

WHAT:
Family Friendly Event! Ham Radio Field Day has Educational Demonstrations, Maker Activities, Telescopes (weather permitting). Hosted by members of Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS), New England Amateur Radio (NEAR), and New England Sci-Tech (NEST).

WHEN:
2023, Sat June 24, 2pm to Sun, June 25, 2pm.
Public is welcome: Sat 2 pm – 5 pm and Sun 10 am to 2 pm for tours, soldering workshop, maker activities, hidden transmitter hunts, and license testing. (License exam is 7 pm Saturday)

WHERE:
New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. (Field Day runs outside in vans and tents running off alternative power to simulate emergency conditions. However, the building is open for tours, restrooms, maker activities, etc.)

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:
Members of the general public, radio amateurs, scouts, and their friends and families are welcome to participate. You don’t need a radio license to participate, as you can operate with one of the club’s General or Extra class licensees as the control operator. On-site training will be provided.

[Full story]

Sturdy Memorial Hospital QRV for Field Day, North Attleborough, June 25-26

2023 Field Day logoSMHARC Secretary/Treasurer Ray Cord, K2TGX, writes:

On Saturday, June 25th, we would like to see a better turnout for Field Day this year than last. We need setup people on Saturday morning, We need pack up people on Sunday afternoon. BUT MOST OF ALL, WE NEED OPERATORS FOR ALL HOURS OF THE 24 HOUR OPERATION!

We would love to see all those members that we haven’t seen at a meeting lately at the June meeting but at Field Day, also. You don’t have to be a “contester” to operate any of the stations, We are not super competitive, we just want to have a good time. We can have an experienced operator with you to log and guide you. Even if you don’t have your license yet, you can operate with one of our licensed members as control operator.

DON’T BE THE SILENT MAJORITY!! Come on out and renew old friendships, relearn some rusty skills and have a GOOD TIME!

Hope to see you there.

Tnx 73,

Ray, K2TGX
Secretary/Treasurer

Nashoba Valley ARC Field Day, Pepperell, June 24-25, 2023

2023 Field Day logoBruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

Once again, the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club will participate in this year’s ARRL Field Day, operating in Pepperell’s Heald Street Orchard. The event starts this coming Saturday, June 24th at 2 PM and finishes on Sunday, June 25th at 2 PM.

Setup begins on-site around 8:30 AM on Saturday, and some of us have breakfast at Charlotte’s Cozy Kitchen in Pepperell at 7:30 AM.

We will be using the club callsign, N1NC. Plans are to have two transmitters operating simultaneously on amateur bands between 80 and 10 meters (and a third station on 6 and 2 meters and satellite). There will be plenty of opportunity for anyone who “walks up” to operate the stations and meet other members of the club.

NVARC has a casual Field Day that members and friends use as a social gathering – not just operating. There is a covered gathering area with tables, chairs, lemonade, and snacks. Feel free to help us set up, operate, or just have a look and make some friends..

To get there, put “112 Heald Street, Pepperell, MA” into your GPS. You will find a sign at the entrance to the Heald Street Orchard. Head south through the open gates onto an unpaved road for about 0.1 mile to the mowed parking area in the meadow.

PLEASE NOTE: There is work being done to a bridge on Heald Street, and you may have a detour, depending on how you get there. The detour is well marked and you should have no problems finding the site.

Talk in wil be on the N1MNX repeater (the same repeater we use for our club nets). 147.345+, PL 100.0 Hz

I plan on being there most of the time, and I look forward to meeting YOU. Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG

978-772-2773 or bruce.blain@charter.net

PS. Feel free to call me on this number during field day.

 

 

ARLB011 Legislation to Remove Private Land Use Restrictions on Amateur Radio Introduced in Congress

ARRL logoARRL Bulletin 11 ARLB011
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT June 14, 2023
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB011
ARLB011 Legislation to Remove Private Land Use Restrictions on Amateur Radio Introduced in Congress

Congressmen Bill Johnson (OH-06) and Joe Courtney (CT-02) reintroduced a bill in the US House of Representatives on June 12 – H.R.4006 – to remove private land use restrictions that prohibit, restrict, or impair the ability of Amateur Radio operators from operating and installing reasonable antennas on property that they own or control. Similar legislation, H.R. 9670, was introduced by Congressman Johnson in 2022.

The full text of the bill can be found in PDF format at, https://billjohnson.house.gov/uploadedfiles/amateur_radio_emergency_preparedness_act_signed_bill_text.pdf

“I reintroduced the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act to remove barriers to disaster and emergency communications and training, and to promote education in STEM subjects related to critically needed wireless technology,” Congressman Johnson said in a release. “Passage of this bill will promote developing and sustaining our nation’s wireless future and facilitate and encourage amateur radio operations as a public benefit.”

“As their actions during recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy proved, amateur radio operators in Connecticut can be a critical component of disaster response and emergency management. It is in our communities’ best interest that we give them the capabilities to operate at the highest level, and with the re-introduction of this bill, we’ve taken a strong step in that direction,” said Congressman Courtney.

The exponential growth of communities bound by private land use restrictions that prohibit both the operation of Amateur Radio and the installation of amateur station antennas has significantly restricted the growth of the Amateur Radio Service.

The ARRL continues its multi-year efforts to eliminate private land use restrictions that prevent Amateur Radio operations and has pledged to strongly support Congressman Johnson and Congressman Courtney in their efforts on behalf of Amateur Radio.

Rick Roderick, K5UR, President of ARRL, on behalf its Members and America’s Amateur Radio community extended his thanks and appreciation for the leadership of Congressman Johnson and Congressman Courtney in their tireless efforts to support and protect the rights of all Amateur Radio Operators and to further STEM education and the advancement of American expertise in wireless technology.

North Shore Radio Association Field Day, Topsfield

2023 Field Day logoEric Horwitz, KA1NCF, writes on the NSRA mailing list:
 
We will be having Field Day at Fair View Farm, 114 Boston St. Topsfield on June 23rd thru 25th! It is at the top of the hill just before the Topsfield Fair Ground entrance that we went to last year. 
 
I am planning to present all our plans at the next [North Shore Radio Association] meeting on Tuesday, June 20th—even though it will be JUST before Field day weekend.
 
If you are planning to help or want to, please let me know, so I can include you in the few emails I am planning on sending out in the days before Field day 2023!
 
I have been talking to a few of you as we have been trying to get this year going. Thanks for your help and see you all soon.
 
Currently we are planning to make the site similar to last year with two or three operating positions. Food as always, and hopefully a great time operating on the bands..
 
Thanks,
 
 

Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF

North Shore Radio Association
email: ka1ncf@nsradio.org

K3LR: “DX Engineering” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, June 15, 2023

Nashoba Valley ARC logoThe Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s June meeting is Thursday, June 15th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts.

Besides discussing plans for ARRL Field Day (June 24th and June 25), our guest speaker will be Tim Duffy, K3LR. Besides the sponsor of a world-class multi operator contest station, Tim is the face behind DX Engineering, one of the most successful Amateur Radio dealers in the country. I’m sure this will be an interesting talk

Also, NVARC will be taking ARRL Membership Applications (new, renewals, and extentions) at the meeting. The club gets a nice commission on each application we submit..

Need directions? Click here and put your own address in box “A”.

Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG

978-772-2773 or bruce.blain@charter.net