Month: August 2023

Hello to all…

The August Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday August 7th, 2023 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 several announcements for the net Monday evening including a new item we’d like net participants to participate in partnering with our colleagues in NTS (National Traffic System) starting with the September Eastern Mass ARES Section Net which will be on Monday September 11th, 2023 at 830 PM EDT due to the Labor Day holiday on the first Monday in September.

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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N1YLQ-Mike “Sparky” Leger – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:

Hello to all,

      As we head deeper into the summer I hope this note finds everyone well! With particularly active weather patterns we have all had quite a few opportunities to remain “radio-active” with Skywarn activations in the last month or so. This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that Monday evening, August 7^th, 2023 will be the next RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night.

      Last month the Sector 2A net did not occur as the net control (ME) got tied up at the last minute and was unable to be on frequency at the appointed net time. While this is definitely a less than ideal situation, it really should not have caused the net to not happen at all. I’d like to remind all operators that, if there is a scheduled net and no Net Control Operator identifies themselves within a few minutes of the scheduled net time, any RACES/ACS operator on the frequency can and should take the helm and kick off the net to the best of their ability. If you don’t have the proper preamble and role call list that is OK! Just do your best, ask for check-ins (and if you can note who is a RACES/ACS operator vs General Interest operator that would be helpful, but not an absolute requirement), and have a quick net with a round of comments on the going-ons in the emergency radio community for the past month. In those cases, the simplex test can be optional. After the net or within a few days of it… just shoot an email with the check-ins and a quick blurb about the net to WC1MAB@gmail.com so it can be logged. As a group that is prepared to deal with emergencies and the unexpected… a late or absent net control operator should definitely not be something to completely derail our monthly net. Quite a few of us have other side tasks, jobs and hobbies that can take us away from the microphone unexpectedly ad the last minute so, while not common, a missing scheduled NCO shouldn’t be completely unanticipated!      

      As always, I am looking for Net Control stations to staff our sector nets for the evening. This month I expect to be able to run the Sector 2A net, but having a backup operator ready just incase may not be a terrible idea. I am also looking for NCS operators to lead the Sector 2B (Plymouth County) net. 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. With this repeater back in operation, please report any comms testing on the repeater and the results of those tests.

              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. August 7^th  and before midnight EST August 8^th (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:

    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: 508_995_0203  ß New Number

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 Aug., Mon Aug 7 is the first Monday of the month, so the RACES nets will be held on Mon Aug. 7.
The RACES nets will be held on Mon Aug 7 at:

********************************************************************************
The HF net will start at 6:45 PM ET: 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 ET 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.
Jeff Marden N1JCM will be net control.

********************************************************************************
HF NBEMS net:
7:00 PM ET
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:
Bryan Marcotte KF1D will be. net control.
Send a winlink checkin form to KF1D, copy AB1PH, between 0600 Monday Aug 7 and 2400 Monday Aug. 7.

We look forward to you checking in!

—

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

K1JRO-John O’Neill – Eastern Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) – Hospital Liaison writes:

Hi Folks,

Sorry for the VERY late notice. We have some equipment issues at South Shore Hospital and thought it best if we did not use the equipment until we had a chance to thoroughly check out all the stuff we have on the roof and make any repairs necessary. We were going to cancel the Net but at the last minute, on short notice, Jeremy KB1REQ and the group at Mansfield EMA offered to step in and come to the rescue (once again).

Tomorrow at 10am Mansfield EMA will be Net Control for the August 5,2023 EMHN.

They will use the following Repeaters and NEDECN Network in the order listed.

1. Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
2. Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5​
3. Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
4. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC:1, Bourne 145.200 –0.6M CC:10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC:11, East. Falmouth 145.210 -0.600 CC:9, Martha’s Vineyard145.180 -0.600 CC:10, and Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC:12.

Return to Bridgewater for comments and 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.

73,
John O’
K1JRO

Hello to all…

For those ARES members and ARES groups interested, WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin and the Cape Cod ARES team will be having their exercise from 1000 AM-1200 PM Saturday 8/5/23 and the district drill document is linked here -> ARESdrill#78V1.6Doc08-03-23. This exercise will be mostly Cape Cod ARES district focused but there are options in the document for other ARES groups and ARES members in the section to participate in the exercise if they are willing and able to do so. There is also a low probability of some thunderstorms early tomorrow morning at sunrise along the south coast that Frank and his team will be prepared for to delay exercise setup if lightning is in the area. The hope though is by the time they start the exercise, any activity will be out of their area but wanted to mention that for anyone interested in participating.

Thanks to all for their 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
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio