“FCC Wants to Bolster Amateur Radio”

FCC logoFrom Radio World, October 27, 2023:

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel says the FCC plans to “incentivize innovation and experimentation in the amateur radio bands” by getting rid of outdated restrictions and providing licensees with the flexibility to use modern digital emissions.

The commission at its November meeting is expected to take action on a Report and Order that would eliminate the baud rate limitation and establish a bandwidth limitation in the amateur radio bands below 29.7 MHz.

[Full story]

K5UR: “What’s New at ARRL” at Billerica ARS Meeting Online, November 1, 2023

Billerica ARS logoDoug Bruce, N1WRN, writes in the Billerica ARS November newsletter:

I am pleased to announce that our guest speaker for the November 1, 2023, club meeting via Zoom will be none other than Rick Roderick, K5UR, the current President of the ARRL!

Rick will give a talk on what’s new at the ARRL and will share valuable insights on our great hobby. You will definitely want to make sure and attend this Zoom Presentation to be given by a true pioneer in ham radio!

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

K5UR photoBruce Anderson, W1LUS, writes:
 
For those that missed last night’s meeting, here is a link to the recording of the presentation by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR:
 

FARA Fest, Bourne, November 4, 2023

Photo of FARA FestThe Falmouth ARA FARA Fest is held annually at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational School. The Fest provides and opportunity for local hams to buy, sell, or swap items of interest to amateur radio operators. VE license exam sessions are also held as part of the Fest. Flyers are distributed and available on this site prior to each annual FARA Fest.

The Board of Directors has set the following official guidelines for FARA FEST.

Outside Spaces are $10.00 per space. All vendors will be given a placard to display, bring your own table.

Indoor spaces are $10.00 per TABLE, we supply the table. All vendors will be given a placard to display.

General admission is $5.00, children under 14 free

[Full Details]

K1USN QRV for Veterans Day, November 11, 2023

K1USN Watson Museum signFrom K1USN Radio Club Happenings, October 27, 2023:

The K1USN Radio Club will once again be on the air Saturday, November 11, 2023, 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

[We expect to operate up to four HF stations simultaneously and will be needing operators. Let me know if you would like to operate.
-Pi k1rv@arrl.net]

Wellesley ARS First POTA Operating Event, Elm Bank Reservation, Wellesley/Natick, October 29, 2023

Wellesley ARS logoJoin us at Elm Bank Reservation off of Route 16 at the Wellesley/Natick line on Sunday, October 29, 2023 for our first Parks on the air (POTA) operating event! Mindy KM1NDY will get us started along this path of fun and radio adventure.

We will start at 11:00 A.M. and go to 2:00 P.M. Bring your rig, antennas, tables, and chairs and whatever else you may want.

We will be using the W1TKZ 2-meter repeater for talk-in (147.030MHz, +600 split, PL123Hz). Once you enter the park, look for our WARS “Field Day” sandwich boards to find where we are. Also, we can monitor 146.52MHz simplex at the park.

A final weather NO-GO decision will be made Saturday night by 10pm by Charlie. If necessary to cancel, Dan will email a blast to club members on Sunday morning.

Elm Bank Reservation address:

900 Washington Street Wellesley MA

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.276642,-71.3139296,15z?entry=ttu

CQ POTA!

Charlie WA3ITR

Eastern Massachusetts ARES SET Drill Section Exercise: Operation Regional Prep – Saturday 11/11/23 – 1000 AM-1200 PM EDT

Hello to all…

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will conduct a Simulated Emergency Test, Section Exercise: “Regional Prep” on Saturday November 11th, 2023 from 1000 AM-1200 PM EDT. The exercise will test the ability of several home stations, EOCs, possible field sites and other stations to communicate. The exercise will attempt to build upon the lessons learned from our past operational exercises. This exercise will be held on the same day as the National Winlink ETO (EmComm Training Organization) exercise.

A document on the exercise including frequencies for nets and activities that will be completed on the exercise will be posted by Monday 10/30/23. It could be updated one more time to include final updates during the week of 11/6/23.

The exercise is for all Eastern Massachusetts ARES members but is also open to participation of any kind to the entire Amateur Radio community including anyone outside of the Eastern Massachusetts section. More to follow on the ARES exercise details in the next 1-2 weeks. 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
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60m Band Proposed Changes—File Your Comments with FCC!

Recently, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which effects Amateur Radio use of the 60m band.  The FCC proposes to allocate 15 kHz of contiguous bandwidth between 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz on a secondary basis with a maximum power of 15 W EIRP (equivalent to 9.15 W ERP). This allocation was adopted at the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15).

The NPRM leaves open the question of whether the existing five 60m channels can still be used for Amateur Radio operation as well as if the 100w power level may still be used.

The FCC has requested comments relative to existing channel and power issue.

In 2017, the ARRL petitioned the FCC to keep the four 60-meter channels that fall outside the new band, as well as the current operating rules, including the 100 W ERP limit.

We need as many amateurs as possible to comment on this NPRM and urge the FCC to keep 1) the four existing channels and 2) the 100 w power limit.

Comments are due by October 30th, 2023 – ET Docket No. 23-120.

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/standard

60m band chart, current and proposed allocation

W1MJ Fox is Out, Belmont, October 22, 2023

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 2:50 PM on October 22, 2023:

W1MJ fox now available on 147.450 MHz, in same On Demand mode as K1MJC fox; just ask it to please transmit.  This one will transmit for 1 hour, then you have to ask again.

From Mike’s fox, take trail in left rear corner of Rock Meadow.  It goes to Beaver Brook North, and the direct route to my fox is no more than 15 minutes from there.

Good luck finding both foxes.

Eliot
W1MJ

K1MJC Fox is Radio Active, Belmont, October 22, 2023

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 10:27 AM on October 22, 2023:

Well, the new K1MJC fox is out!
 
It was designed by Eliot W1MJ, and this one has an on-demand feature.
 
All you have to do, is transmit on the fox frequency for about two seconds (Say anything, but should include your callsign), and the fox will begin transmitting various messages for 30 minutes. 
 
When the 30 minutes has expired, the last message will encourage you to make a voice request for more.  (just repeat what you did to get it started in the beginning).

 
I don’t know how long the battery will last on this fox, so I plan on leaving it out for quite a while. it’s transmitting on the fox frequency of 147.540MHz 
 
It’s in a conservation area in Belmont, the RockMeadow conservation area.
 
There is a log with it, I would appreciate if you would sign it, however if you just want to send a reply to this I/O group that’s fine as well.
 
NOTE:
 
Eliot W1MJ, will be placing his out later today in the beaver book reservation. He will be on a different frequency which he will announce and they won’t be too far apart in physical distance so you can hunt both foxes if you wish. 
 
His foxes the same as mine, it has the on-demand feature just as mine does and his however should transmit for about an hour before it requests you to restart it. I’ll let him tell you all about it when he makes his announcement.
 
 

 

 

RadioCraft a Big Hit at “Geek is Glam” Girl Scout Event

Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, shared on the New England Sci-Tech mailing list:

Mike Radz writes:

Dear Colleagues:

I have attached seven pictures from the “Geek is Glam” Girl Scout event held at WPI this past Saturday. My IQP team staffed a booth and offered the girls two STEM/HAM related activities: Morse code and Minecraft.

The former activity utilized Morse code kits from NEST as well as some circuitry built by the students that enabled the Girl Scouts to see the letters associated with the dots and dashes they tapped show up on a computer screen (this shown in the pics).

The later activity utilized a new “mod” that has been created for Minecraft that enables a player to build a HAM radio communication network within the game. It is in beta testing mode right now, but the WPI kids contacted the creator and arranged to get a copy to showcase at the event.

Finally, the kids created a QR code that took each Girl Scout to a survey instrument at which they could specify which activity they preferred. I have not yet seen the survey results, but the WPI kids will develop a “curriculum” based on the most popular activity and test to see whether or not it statistically influences youngsters to re-evaluate their views on STEM in a positive way.

Cheers.

Mike Radz

[The Minecraft radio mod “RadioCraft” made its official debut at the 2023 Northeast HamXposition. -K9HI]

Section Traffic Manager Report for September 2023

The September STM report for the combined sections of Eastern and Western Mass and Rhode Island can be found here.  Note a history of HHTN thanks to Joe Weiss, W1HAI, and with special recognition to Scott Cassidy, N1SGB, for keeping the net’s continuity intact; how to sign up for future issues of the NTS Letter; using APRS to enter radiograms into the nationwide Digital Traffic System; getting creative with radiogram originations.

Save the Date 60th Birthday of MEMA Framingham HQ Bunker Birthday Celebration – Saturday 11/4/23 – 11 AM-2 PM

Allen Phillips – MEMA East Regional Manager writes:

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is excited to host a Bunker Birthday celebration on November 4, 2023, marking 60 years since former President Kennedy dedicated the facility in 1963. We’ll be opening our headquarters to the public for tours and to learn about how emergency management has evolved over time.

We hope you can join us to celebrate MEMA’s history. The event will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Allen Phillips, MSDM
Regional Manager, MEMA East

A History of HHTN – the Heavy Hitters Traffic Net

The Heavy Hitters Traffic Net has been around since the 1970’s and continues to provide a nightly outlet for National Traffic System messages. Through repeater linking and Echolink it currently  covers most of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with outlets to the rest of the country and beyond. Former net manager Joe Weiss W1HAI has written a history of this net. Find the link here and come see what it is all about. They welcome visitors and are happy to explain the NTS and how to become involved.

New England Sci-Tech Starts Wireless Engineering Club

New England Sci-Tech Wireless Engineering Club logoSeth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on the stars-radio mailing list:

We are looking for mentors/volunteers to help out with the new Wireless Engineering Club on Saturday mornings 10:00-11:30am.  Please let us know if you have any interest in participating!

The “Wireless Engineering Club” is a new club at New England Sci-Tech meant to attract youth and prospective hams into the hobby of Ham Radio.  The club will meet every other Saturday morning, a time that tends to work well for families, and will be focused around build workshops and practical, hands-on radio activities.  We’d like to use this club to bring in new hams, especially youth, and further grow the amateur radio community here at NEST.  

We are interested in three kinds of volunteers:

  • Helpers
  • Workshop Leaders
  • Outreach

For Helpers: Pick one or more workshops to come in and help out for.  If we get lots of members, we’ll need lots of Elmers to help people troubleshoot, experiment, and have fun.  

For Workshop Leaders: Pick one of the topics from our brainstorm list and volunteer to lead a 90 minute workshop on that topic.  The more hands on, the better.  We’re looking for activities over lectures.  Even better, volunteer your own workshop.  We need content, so anyone who’d like to put together one or more activities/workshops, please let us know.   They’re meant to be beginner level.  This is an ideal chance to help grow the ham radio community and bring in youth, but it’ll only work with participation from us in the community. 

Outreach: Know any recently licensed youth or youth with a general interest in electronics and science?  Spread the word about the club to communities you know!  Adults are welcome and encouraged to join in the workshops and builds as well.  Many of them could be of broad interest.  I’m attaching a flyer.  It looks like this, but if you download the attachment, it will be print resolution.

If you’d like to volunteer, you an either post here or send me an email at sethlkendall@gmail.com.  Thanks all.

Jamboree On The Air Event, October 21, 2023

  1. JOTA symbolTom Ulrich, KC1OCY, writes on the Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:

During the weekend of October 21, Scouts from around the world will take part in the 2023 Jamboree on the Air, Scouting’s largest radio event promoting friendship and global citizenship. Scouts from eastern Massachusetts will be on the air on Saturday, October 21, from at least four locations in the area; this spreadsheet has information about units’ station callsigns and operating frequencies. Learn more about JOTA, and see which frequencies are popular with JOTA stations. Help our hobby grow by talking to Scouts on the air!

73,
Tom Ulrich
KC1OCY

JOTA information: https://k2bsa.net/jota/

Scouting/JOTA frequencies: https://k2bsa.net/scout-frequencies/

Eastern Mass unit station information for 2024 JOTA: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o9kHhJd1mnMHh3RXN9npBNoHxYEDGJ46_MS-_zbI9GY/edit?usp=sharing

ARISS Contact With Covenant Christian Academy, West Peabody, October 13, 2023

ARISS logoFrom ARISS.org:

October 9, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Covenant Christian Academy (CCA) in West Peabody, MA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

CCA is a private school that serves over 430 students, Pre-K through12th grade. To prepare for this ARISS contact CCA integrated space-themed aspects into its STEM program and STEM-related activities. The physics and chemistry students hosted “Space Week” where they put together interactive displays on everything from the physics of black holes, Doppler shift, life on the ISS, to the chemistry of astronaut cuisine. STEM-related activities engaged students in their newly instituted Rocketry Club, Women in STEM Club, and a robotics lab. Amateur radio activities, such as learning about ham radio and radio communications, are being provided during after-school programs by members of area amateur radio clubs.

This ARISS contact will allow students to ask their questions of Astronaut Loral O’Hara, amateur radio call sign KI5TOM. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners within the ISS footprint that encompasses the amateur radio ground station in West Peabody, MA.

Amateur radio operators using call sign N1DQF will operate this radio station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 13, 2023 at 9:47 am EDT (MA) (13:47 UTC, 9:47 am EDT, 8:47 am CDT, 6:47 am PDT). The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://vimeo.com/event/3761617.
_______________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What happens with all the trash on the ISS?
2. What is the best part and worst part about living in space?
3. Is the wifi and internet connection better in space?
4. How do you get your supplies delivered to the space station?
5. Do you play games in space? If so, how are they different from the games you play on earth?
6. What is your favorite workout to do for two hours each day to keep your muscles in shape?
7. What has been one of your hardest or scariest moments on the ISS?
8. How do you train your bodies to fall asleep on the ISS since your circadian rhythm can’t be regulated to the earth’s rotation on its axis?
9. Does time feel different on the ISS?
10. Is there any research that you are currently involved in? If so, how does it benefit the earth?
11. What is your favorite meal or snack to eat in outer space?
12. What types of jobs do you do while on the International Space Station?
13. How do you fix the solar panels on the space station?
14. Do you have any animals on the ISS right now? What are they?
15. What happens when someone gets sick on board the ISS?
16. When you come back to earth from space, do you feel the pressure of gravity, and if so, how much does this affect you?
17. What was the most challenging part of your training that prepared you to work on the International
Space Station?
18. What’s the most amazing thing you have seen from space?
19. Has living on the ISS changed any of your perspectives on life?
20. Is all the training, preparation, and hardship you endure to be an astronaut on the ISS worth it?

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers.

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR

Find us on social media at:

X: ARISS_Intl
Facebook: facebook.com/ARISSIntl
Instagram: ariss_intl
Mastodon: ariss_intl@mastodon.hams.social

K1MJC Fox is QRV, Waltham, October 7, 2023

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 1:50 PM on October 7, 2023:

The new K1MJC fox is out, designed by Eliot, W1MJ, it has an on-demand feature.

All you have to do, is transmit on the fox frequency for about two seconds (should include your callsign), and the fox will begin transmitting various messages for 30 minutes.

When the 30 minutes has expired, the last message will encourage you to make a voice request for more. (just repeat what you did to get it started in the beginning).

I don’t know how long the battery will last on this fox, so I plan on leaving it out for quite a while. it’s transmitting on the fox frequency of 147.540MHz.

It’s in a conservation area right next to the old Waltham high school off of Lexington Street.

There is a log with it, I would appreciate if you would sign it, however if you just want to send a reply to this I/O group that’s fine as well.

73,

Mike C, K1MJC

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 5:06 PM on October 8, 2023:

 

Unfortunate news, decided to check on the K1MJC fox and discovered that someone had tried to steal it. However, the safety restraints saved it.

 

I will have to take it home and perhaps make some repairs and I’m not sure whether I’ll be putting it out again for the holiday tomorrow; sorry to all those who had plans to go look for it tomorrow.

 

Mike C , K1MJC, …… 73!

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday 10/7/23 at 10 AM

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

Good Morning,

On Saturday October 7, 2023, the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

We realize that some locations, individuals, and groups may be subject to COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net if possible. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

We will use the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Attleboro Repeater 147.195 tone 127.3
2. West Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244​
3. 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, 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.
4. Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5​

Return to the Attleboro 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.

73,

John O’ K1JRO and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

W5DX: “ARRL Public Relations and Outreach” at Billerica ARS Monthly Meeting, October 4, 2023

Billerica ARS logoPlease join us at the Billerica Amateur Radio Society meeting on October 4, 2023 at 7:00 PM.  Sierra G. Harrop, W5DX, from ARRL Headquarters, will present on ARRL Public Relations and Outreach.
 

Speaker: Sierra G. Harrop, W5DX, Public Relations and Outreach Manager for the ARRL.

Bio:

I spent a 20-year career as a TV storyteller, and now I work full-time to grow amateur radio! I started on January 16, 2023, as the Public Relations and Outreach Manager for ARRL. It is a tremendous honor to be a part of this organization. I have lofty goals for my work for our league. I want to increase public understanding and appreciation of ham radio to levels never before seen.”

Both my parents were hams. My dad, Paul, was W5DX from 1996 until he passed in 2019 and had been WB5NDN before that. My mom, Carolyn, was KB5IDV until she passed away in 2008. My younger brother, Seth, is KK4MYZ. I grew up with a tower next to my swing set, and a ham shack down the hall from my bedroom. I’ve never known a world without amateur radio being a significant part of my life.

I was first licensed as KD5IUT in 1999 at the age of 15. I changed call signs to WX5USA in 2006, when I was employed as a storm chaser for a TV station in Oklahoma. I upgraded to General in 2013 and Extra in 2020. In July of 2020, I filed for my dad’s old call sign, W5DX. If there’s one callsign I liked more than my vanity, it was his.

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

Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday October 2nd, 2023 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all…

The October Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday October 2nd, 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 a number of announcements and items for this month’s net including a special NTS message item that we will be starting with this month’s net and into future monthly ARES Nets.

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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