Author: admin

All / Emergency Communications

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday June 3rd, 2017 at 1000 AM EDT

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Good Evening Everyone,

Net Control for the June 3, 2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be KB1JJE, Mansfield Emergency Management Agency. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:AM using the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
2. Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
3. Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
Simplex 147.42

The Net will than return to the Bridgewater Repeater for final 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 the EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month.  More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.

REMINDER: The BARC Repeater is now using split tone. Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0

Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2
Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0 
Fairhaven 145.490 tone 67.0   
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9 
Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0     
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8       
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5   
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2

We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John O’
K1JRO

—

South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
c/o Volunteer Services
55 Fogg Road,
South Weymouth, MA 02190

Emergency Communications

Reminder: Monthly EMA ARES Net 5/1 8:30pm

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Hello to all…
We will be continuing our monthly ARES Net in May. The monthly ARES Net for May is Monday the 1st, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. 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:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html


Make this first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety),  interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA

A brief introduction to ATIS can be found at: https://www.ivao.aero/training/documentation/books/PP_ADC_ATIS.pdf
A more detailed introduction to ATIS/ASOS can be found at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/ASOS-book.pdf

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator

Emergency Communications

Reminder: Cape Cod ARES Technical Drill April 22. 1000 – 1200 ET

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Cape and Islands Exercise #58

Update: Falmouth EOC, Barnstable County MACC, Falmouth Hospital EOC, Falmouth EOC, Nantucket EOC, Joint Base Cape Cod station K1AIR are confirmed to be participating in the drill.

The Cape Cod and Islands Amateur Radio Emergency Service District will conduct a technical test exercise in order to test its capability in establishing communications between one of its primary regional shelters and other fixed sites. Such sites include the Multi Agency coordination Center (MACC), EOCs, Hospital stations, home stations etc. The technical test exercise called “Operation Shelter Hop” will test the ability of several fixed stations to provide communications coverage in our operational district and beyond. This will also be a drill to test some of our on/off Cape EOC’s, primary stations and other ARES member home stations. The exercise will attempt to build upon the lessons learned from our past operational exercises.

The Primary objectives of this exercise are as follows:

  • Deploy a crew and operate from the Falmouth Regional shelter (Falmouth High School)
  • Deploy a crew and operate from the Multi Agency Coordination Center Station (MACC) at the Barnstable County Facility in Barnstable.
  • Establish and conduct a tactical net on simplex 2m FM
  • Establish contact with Town RACES EOC’s
  • Establish contact with other ARES districts and their EOCs where possible
  • Test and evaluate communications with Home Stations
  • Communicate with the Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard ARES/RACES stations
  • Conduct an HF contact on Cape for statewide practice and participation
  • Test communications from Falmouth Club station on Joint Base Cape Cod
  • Test communications from Falmouth Fire Station EOC

Further details are available in the attached updated PDF file at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-POKHfGoNRKVkk0aEM1UE5USzQ/view?usp=sharing

Emergency Communications

ARES Drill April 22nd 10am ~ 12 noon.

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Good Morning Everyone,

 

Cape Cod ARES will be holding a drill on April 22nd from 10 AM – 12 noon.

 

This is an ideal opportunity for EOC’s and hospital’s to take part in an ARES drill and test their ability to communicate with Stations on the Cape. South Shore Hospital will be participating in the drill. In today’s day and age, you never know where you may be needed, and where you may need to communicate to or from.

 

The Drill Details are as follows:

 

—Cape and Islands Exercise #58

The Cape Cod and Islands Amateur Radio Emergency Service District will conduct a technical test exercise in order to test its capability in establishing communications between one of its primary regional shelters and other fixed sites. Such sites include the Multi Agency coordination Center (MACC), EOCs, Hospital stations, home stations etc. The technical test exercise called “Operation Shelter Hop” will test the ability of several fixed stations to provide communications coverage in our operational district and beyond. This will also be a drill to test some of our on/off Cape EOC’s, primary stations and other ARES member home stations. The exercise will attempt to build upon the lessons learned from our past operational exercises.

The Primary objectives of this exercise are as follows:

  • Deploy a crew and operate from the Falmouth Regional shelter (Falmouth High School)
  • Deploy a crew and operate from the Multi Agency Coordination Center Station (MACC) at the Barnstable County Facility in Barnstable.
  • Establish and conduct a tactical net on simplex 2m FM
  • Establish contact with Town RACES EOC’s
  • Establish contact with other ARES districts and their EOCs where possible
  • Test and evaluate communications with Home Stations
  • Communicate with the Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard ARES/RACES stations
  • Conduct an HF contact on Cape for statewide practice and participation
  • Test communications from Falmouth Club station on Joint Base Cape Cod
  • Test communications from Falmouth Fire Station EOC

The simplex frequency that will be used is 146.580.

 

John O’Neill

K1JRO

EMA DEC – Healthcare Liaison

Emergency Communications

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Standby for the 2017 Boston Marathon & SKYWARN Dual Statement – Monday April 17th, 2017

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Hello to all…

While this may be a bit off topic for some SKYWARN Spotters, Amateur Radio Operators and Red Cross volunteers, many of which are SKYWARN Spotters, will be involved in the Boston Marathon on Monday April 17th. To reach out to the highest level of Amateur Radio Operators involved in the event, this coordination message is being sent out to the SKYWARN email list and posted to the various Amateur Radio lists. We appreciate everyone’s patience with this message. This is a joint message between the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)-SKYWARN program at NWS Taunton and Eastern Massachusetts ARES. This is likely to be the only coordination message on the Marathon unless a significant change in the weather forecast occurs. See information below:

Eastern Massachusetts ARES members not participating in the Boston Marathon are requested to be on standby for marathon activities on Monday April 17th from 6 AM-7 PM for any significant issues outside of the Boston Marathon that may require Amateur Radio Emergency Communications support and for any unexpected issues on the Boston Marathon route. With over 280 Amateur Radio Operators staffing the Boston Marathon route, the start line and the finish line, if an issue arises needing Amateur Radio support outside of the Marathon route or an unexpected issue arises in marathon operations, it is important that any ARES members not involved in the marathon can help with any response that is required. The Amateur Radio Station at the National Weather Service in Taunton, WX1BOX, will be active on Monday April 17th for the Boston Marathon to provide weather support to the Amateur Radio community participating in the marathon and to gather any weather reports of significance during the marathon. This station will also be used to coordinate any ARES response to any significant incidents regarding Amateur Radio support outside of the marathon zone including any incidents that need to be provided to the State EOC for situational awareness information.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) at the SEOC (State Emergency Operations Center) will be active for the Boston Marathon. Amateur Radio Operators will be at the SEOC to support Amateur Radio communications and will be on the air under call sign, WC1MA, while many agencies will be there performing primary operations for the marathon.

The weather outlook for the Boston Marathon is one that should be favorable for volunteers but potentially too warm for the runners which could result in increased ambulance requests along the course for this year’s marathon and a higher than average year of medical related issues given the conditions. The Weather Forecast across the Boston Marathon is for mostly sunny conditions throughout the day. Temperatures are expected to be around 55-60 degrees in the pre-dawn and daybreak hours rising to the upper 60s to low 70s by afternoon. Dewpoint values will be low making conditions dry but warm. Winds will gust out of the west at 25-30 MPH. Volunteers should dress accordingly for these conditions and drink plenty of liquids and should be prepared for this potential of increased number of ambulance requests and higher than average year of medical related issues. Also, the low dewpoints and winds could result in increased brush fire risk across the region again for Monday. Below is the NWS Taunton Special Weather Statement and Fire Weather Forecast regarding that potential:

NWS Taunton Special Weather Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus81.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Fire Weather Forecast:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fnus51.KBOX.html

From a SKYWARN perspective, the 146.64-Waltham Repeater and 145.23-Boston Repeater are being utilized for Marathon operations. From an ARES perspective, the Minutemen Repeater Association Repeater Network is being utilized for marathon operations. Please review the SKYWARN Frequency listing for your closest alternate repeater from a SKYWARN or ARES perspective.
http://www.wx1box.org/node/37

For Amateur Radio, Red Cross and all other volunteers along the route, it is recommended that you dress in layers for this event so that you can put on or take off clothes as needed for comfort. Be sure to drink liquids and eat properly during the event and that you are self-sufficient so that you can be of full help to the function and not distract everyone from the main purpose of supporting the runners by having a health issue on your end that can be avoided. No rain is expected at this time so there should be no need for rain gear.

For those people that are planning to go to the Boston Marathon as spectators, the following link details guidelines for spectators for the 2017 Boston Marathon:
http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/mema/2017-marathon-spectator-guidelines-final.pdf

Barring a significant change in the weather forecast, this will be the only coordination message on the Boston Marathon. We appreciate everyone’s support in this event and hope those that volunteer enjoy themselves and feel the self-satisfaction of supporting this historic event and those that are monitoring the Marathon or events outside of the Marathon realize that the monitoring is an important function as well and is a testament to being able to scale other incidents beyond the marathon if required. Thanks to all for their support!

Respectfully Submitted,

Marek Kozubal
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Email Address: kb1ncg@gmail.com

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Emergency Communications

Cape Cod ARES Technical Drill April 22. 1000 – 1200 ET

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Cape and Islands Exercise #58

The Cape Cod and Islands Amateur Radio Emergency Service District will conduct a technical test exercise in order to test its capability in establishing communications between one of its primary regional shelters and other fixed sites. Such sites include the Multi Agency coordination Center (MACC), EOCs, Hospital stations, home stations etc. The technical test exercise called “Operation Shelter Hop” will test the ability of several fixed stations to provide communications coverage in our operational district and beyond. This will also be a drill to test some of our on/off Cape EOC’s, primary stations and other ARES member home stations. The exercise will attempt to build upon the lessons learned from our past operational exercises.

The Primary objectives of this exercise are as follows:

  • Deploy a crew and operate from the Falmouth Regional shelter (Falmouth High School)
  • Deploy a crew and operate from the Multi Agency Coordination Center Station (MACC) at the Barnstable County Facility in Barnstable.
  • Establish and conduct a tactical net on simplex 2m FM
  • Establish contact with Town RACES EOC’s
  • Establish contact with other ARES districts and their EOCs where possible
  • Test and evaluate communications with Home Stations
  • Communicate with the Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard ARES/RACES stations
  • Conduct an HF contact on Cape for statewide practice and participation
  • Test communications from Falmouth Club station on Joint Base Cape Cod
  • Test communications from Falmouth Fire Station EOC

Further details are available in the attached PDF file.

 

Emergency Communications

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday April 1st, 2017

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Good Afternoon Everyone,

Net Control for the April 1, 2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:AM using the following repeaters 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
Simplex 147.42

The Net will than return to the Bridgewater Repeater for final 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 the EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month.  More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.

REMINDER: The BARC Boston Repeater 145.230 is now using split tone. Tone encode 88.5,  tone decode 100.0.

Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2
Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0 
Fairhaven 145.490 tone 67.0   
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9 
Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0     
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8       
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5   
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2

We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John O’
K1JRO

—
South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
c/o Volunteer Services
55 Fogg Road,
South Weymouth, MA 02190

All / Emergency Communications

Update: ARES Stand-by Activation Through 1200 Wednesday for Winter Storm/Blizzard

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Hello to all!

*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES WILL REMAIN ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS THROUGH 1200 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15TH DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM HIGH WINDS AND POWER OUTAGES ***

*** EXPECTED IMPACTS ARE OVERNIGHT HIGH WINDS AFFECTING SNOW COVERED TREES AND POWER LINES CAUSING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AS WELL AS POST-STORM COLD TEMPERATURES ***

*** WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN AND NORTHERN MA REMAINS IN EFFECT THRHOUGH MIDNIGHT ***

 

ARES will remain on a stand by status until 1200 noon on Wednesday March 15th in case of any developments over night. No activations are expected at this time. Unless otherwise specified the stand by will automatically expire at 1200.

 

We would like to thank all the ARES members who volunteered their availability and offered to be available for deployment.

 

A major storm impacted the Southern New England area on Tuesday. As of 2000 59,000 residents are without power, mainly in northeastern MA. The forecast temperatures for tonight into tomorrow are lower teens through low 30s. As the low pressure system moves out a strong wind field may cause additional tree and power line damage. Any areas that got above freezing today will have a refreeze this evening causing slick roads and dangerous travel on any untreated surfaces.

 

This storm saw some significant gusts and damage across the region. A 100′ wind turbine tower collapsed in Galilee, RI. The highest gusts reported to SKYWARN were 74 mph in Barnstable, 70 in Rockport, MA, and 8 reports of 60+. Numerous reports of trees and wires down including some into houses and cars.

 

Part of the mission of ARES and SKYWARN is to help provide situational awareness and the diverse geographical distribution of amateur radio operators across the region is very helpful in gaining on the ground intelligence during storms and other incidents.

 

What is ARES Stand-By mode?

 

ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.

 

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Marek Kozubal (KB1NCG)

ARES Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator

 

SEC/ASEC:

SEC – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net

ASEC – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net

ASEC – KD1CY – kd1cy@comcast.net

 

DECs:

Essex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org

Middlesex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org

Metro-Boston – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net

Norfolk County – W3EVE – w3eve@arrl.net

Bristol County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net

Plymouth County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net

Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com

All / Emergency Communications

Update: ARES Stand-by Activation 0600 Tuesday for Winter Storm/Blizzard

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Hello to all!

 

*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 0600 TUESDAY, MARCH 14TH UNTIL CANCELED DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD ***

*** A BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WESTERN/CENTRAL MA INTO ESSEX AND CENTRAL/NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY IN EASTERN MA ALONG WITH MOST OF CT AND NORTHWEST RI. TOTALS WILL RANGE FROM 12-18″+ WITH WINDS 25-35MPH AND GUSTS 40-50MPH ***

*** A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND SUFFOLK COUNTY INCLUDING THE CITY OF BOSTON, ALONG WITH NORFOLK, BRISLTOL, AND PLYMOUTH COUNTY. TOTALS WILL RANGE FROM 10-15″. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES IN THE WARNING AREA ***

*** A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS ***

*** A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS FOR WINDS 40-50MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65MPH ***

*** A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EASTERN ESSEX, EASTERN PLYMOUTH, CAPE COD, MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET ISLAND FOR MINOR TO POCKETS OF MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING ***

*** A COSTAL FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SUFFOLK AND EASTERN NORFOLK COUNTIES ***

*** EXPECTED IMPACTS ARE POSSIBLY WET HEAVY SNOW AFFECTING TREES AND POWER LINES CAUSING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AS WELL AS POST-STORM COLD TEMPERATURES ***

*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 0600 TUESDAY ***

 

A major storm will be impacting the region on Tuesday. All amateurs are asked to prepare for blizzard conditions and to notify ARES leadership of their availability to deploy for any post storm support. All amateurs during the storm are asked to shelter in place and monitor their local SKYWARN repeaters to help relay damage, snow fall amounts, and any other pertinent information. If able please monitor your local public safety frequencies for situational awareness and relay any criteria level information. ARES members are advised to continue to maintain readiness at home and check your emergency power, supplies, and antenna situation. Secure any loose objects that can blow around easily.

 

The list of SKYWARN repeaters can be found at: http://wx1box.org/node/37

A reminder of SKYWARN criteria can be found here: http://wx1box.org/node/35

 

SKYWARN nets will start up progressing from the south to the north on approximately the following schedule:

Cape Cod 6am & 8am

South Shore 8am

Metro-Boston 9am

North Shore 10am

 

The latest SKYWARN coordination message for this storm is at: http://wx1box.org/node/3901

 

Part of the mission of ARES and SKYWARN is to help provide situational awareness and the diverse geographical distribution of amateur radio operators across the region is very helpful in gaining on the ground intelligence during storms and other incidents.

 

An ARES HF net will be run on 3930+ kHz (up to 3955 kHz) starting in a stand by status at 0700 doing calls on the :00 and :30. If the net is active enough it will switch into a full active net.

 

Even if you are not a trained SKYWARN spotter your information can still be valuable and report items to your SKYWARN net control who will relay onto the National Weather Service.

 

In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC (SEC/DEC listed below) of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime over the following days. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT (ARES Mutual Aid Team) deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NWS Storm Survey Teams, and hospitals as required. Keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies for any updates on this developing situation.

 

When sending your availability, please send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. Also, please let us know if you can do an ARESMAT to another part of the Eastern Massachusetts section as this will be a large area impact storm for this anticipated blizzard. We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to hurricane@nsradio.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability.

 

What is ARES Stand-By mode?

 

ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.

 

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Marek Kozubal (KB1NCG)

ARES Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator

 

SEC/ASEC:

SEC – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net

ASEC – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net

ASEC – KD1CY – kd1cy@comcast.net

 

DECs:

Essex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org

Middlesex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org

Metro-Boston – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net

Norfolk County – W3EVE – w3eve@arrl.net

Bristol County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net

Plymouth County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net

Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com

All / Emergency Communications

ARES Stand-by Activation 0600 Tuesday for Winter Storm/Blizzard

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Hello to all…

*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 0600 TUESDAY, MARCH 14TH UNTIL CANCELED DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD ***
*** BLIZZARD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF EASTERN MA EXCEPT NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND THE CAPE AND ISLANDS WHICH HAVE A WINTER STORM WARNING  ***

*** WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AREA ***
*** EXPECTED IMPACTS ARE POSSIBLY WET HEAVY SNOW AFFECTING TREES AND POWER LINES CAUSING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AS WELL AS POST-STORM COLD TEMPERATURES ***
*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 0600 TUESDAY ***

A major storm storm will be impacting the region on Tuesday. All amateurs are asked to prepare for blizzard conditions and to notify ARES leadership of their availability to deploy for any post storm support. All amateurs during the storm are asked to shelter in place and monitor their local Skywarn repeaters to help relay damage, snow fall amounts, and any other pertinent information. ARES members are advised to continue to maintain readiness at home and check your emergency power and antenna situation. Secure any loose objects that can blow around easily.

 
The list of Skywarn repeaters can be found at: http://wx1box.org/node/37
 
The latest Skywarn coordination message for this storm is at: http://wx1box.org/node/3899
with the next update expected Monday morning. For the latest bulletins please visit http://wx1box.org/
 
A follow up announcement will be issued by 2200 Monday evening.
 
In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC (SEC/DEC listed below) of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime over the weekend. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT (ARES Mutual Aid Team) deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NWS Storm Survey Teams, and hospitals as required. Keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies for any updates on this developing situation.
 
When sending your availability, please send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. Also, please let us know if you can do an ARESMAT to another part of the Eastern Massachusetts section as this will be a large area impact storm for this anticipated blizzard. We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to hurricane@nsradio.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability.

What is ARES Stand-By mode?

ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Marek Kozubal (KB1NCG)
ARES Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator

SEC/ASEC:
SEC – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net
ASEC – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
ASEC – KD1CY – kd1cy@comcast.net

DECs:
Essex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Middlesex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Metro-Boston – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net
Norfolk County – W3EVE – w3eve@arrl.net
Bristol County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net
Plymouth County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net
Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com

All / Emergency Communications

Reminder: Monthly EMA ARES Net 3/6 8:30pm

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Hello to all…
We will be continuing our monthly ARES Net in March. The monthly ARES Net for March is Monday the 6th, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. 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:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html


Make this first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety),  interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA

A brief introduction to ATIS can be found at: https://www.ivao.aero/training/documentation/books/PP_ADC_ATIS.pdf
A more detailed introduction to ATIS/ASOS can be found at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/ASOS-book.pdf

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator

All / Emergency Communications

Last Saturday's Eastern MA Hospital Net

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Good afternoon Everyone,

I would like to thank those who participated in last Saturdays Eastern MA Hospital Net. We had 17 participants covering the area from the Elliot Hospital in New Hampshire all the way down to Dukes County Emergency Management on Martha’s Vineyard. I think this was our largest Net turnout and the largest geographic area covered to date. Our group and the repeaters available for our use continues to grow. 

Thanks also goes out to those Trustees who offer their repeaters for our use. Without your generosity this would not be possible and it is deeply appreciated.  

John O’

K1JRO

— 

South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH

c/o Volunteer Services

55 Fogg Road,

South Weymouth, MA 02190

All / Emergency Communications

Reminder: Monthly EMA ARES Net 2/6 8:30pm

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Hello to all…
We will be resuming our monthly ARES Net in February. The monthly ARES Net for February is Monday the 6th, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. 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:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html


Make this first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety),  interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA

A brief introduction to ATIS can be found at: https://www.ivao.aero/training/documentation/books/PP_ADC_ATIS.pdf
A more detailed introduction to ATIS/ASOS can be found at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/ASOS-book.pdf

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator

All / Emergency Communications

February 4, 2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net

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Good Afternoon Everyone, 

Net Control for the February 4, 2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club

The February Net will include the newest addition to the repeaters available for our use, the Boston Amateur Radio Club’s W1BOS repeater located in Boston. Hopefully everyone that didn’t already have it programmed into their radios will have an opportunity to program it in or bring it up in VFO mode for the February Net. It will be exciting to see how many participants are able to use this repeater. 

The net will commence at the usual time of 10:AM using the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Plymouth 146.865 tone 82.5

2. Boston 145.230 tone 88.5

3. Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9

Simplex 147.42

The Net will than return to the Plymouth Repeater for final 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 the EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month.  More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.

Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2

Boston 145.230 tone 88.5

Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0  
Fairhaven 145.490 tone 67.0    
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9  

Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0

Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0

Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0      
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8        
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5    
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)

W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244 
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2

We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John O’
K1JRO

— 

South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH

c/o Volunteer Services

55 Fogg Road,

South Weymouth, MA 02190

All / Emergency Communications

January 7,2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net

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Hello Everyone,

 

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

The January 7,2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net is approaching.  If anyone is interested in taking a turn as Net Control Station please let us know.


Below are the repeaters we have available for our use. Let us know which 3 repeaters you would like to use and we will make all the notifications. We will also send you a copy of our net preamble if you desire which you may modify for your own use.


Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)

Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0
Fairhaven 145.490 tone 67.0
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dpl 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2

Happy New Year Everyone,

John O’

K1JRO

All

January 28 Knox County (ME) Exercise – Invitation to Participate via Winlink

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Hi All,

Knox County will be having its quarterly emcomm exercise on Saturday
January 28. There are a number of internal goals for the county
ARES-RACES team but we would like to solicit the participation of other
groups by sending Winlink messages with flmsg ICS-213 attachments to the
Knox County EMA. Here is the relevant information:

1/28/2016 0800 to 1200 ET

The scenario is a statewide blizzard.

Winlink messages will be addressed to the Knox County EMA Winlink
address, KX1EMA (kx1ema@winlink.org)

The message body will include the method by which the sender accessed
the Winlink system (HF, VHF packet, telnet). While RF is preferred, the
intent is to get more groups using the Winlink Express client and the
Winlink system. Telnet (internet) is perfectly acceptable for this
exercise. All you need is an internet connected PC. No credit for
sending from a commercial email address.

Also in the message body, state the ARES/RACES team with whom you are
associated. Multiple messages from a single team are fine as long as the
sender call signs are different.

Winlink messages will include an attached flmsg ICS-213 form addressed
to KXEMA, Rockland, ME. Your ICS-213 will ask a simple question to which
the EMA will reply. Ideally the message should be from an agency person
but that's optional. You should prepare the message in advance of the
exercise. If you are not able to participate at the time of the
exercise, you may post your message the day before.

Be sure to include "TEST MESSAGE" in your message body and in the flmsg
ICS-213 attachment.

KXEMA will respond to each message using the Reply section of the ICS-213.

If you are not set up for Winlink, it's a relatively simple process.
Start by reading the Winlink section at
http://maine-ares.org/digital.htm. Then follow the link to the "RMS
Express Exercises." Flmsg may be downloaded from
http://www.w1hkj.com/files/flmsg/

Any questions on the exercise or the Winlink system, please contact me
(kb1tce@maine-ares.org or kb1tce@winlink.org)

73,

Steve KB1TCE
All / Emergency Communications

Reminder: Monthly EMA ARES Net 12/5 8:30pm

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…Please read below as we will be requesting new information after checkin on the net…

Hello to all…

We will be resuming our monthly ARES Net in December. The monthly ARES Net for December is Monday the 5th, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. 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:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html


Make this first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety),  interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA

A brief introduction to ATIS can be found at: https://www.ivao.aero/training/documentation/books/PP_ADC_ATIS.pdf
A more detailed introduction to ATIS/ASOS can be found at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/ASOS-book.pdf

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator

All

NE1PL and W1MV MSOTA (Museum Ships On the Air) – June 2nd-4th 2017

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Rick Emord-KB1TEE writes:

Museum Ships on the Air (MSOTA) weekend June 2-4 2017 0000Z June 2 through 2359Z June 4

The Battleship Cove team has inquired as to whether we would like to put the USS Massachusetts on the air for this event. The event would need many operators to donate time to set up the radios and antennas and personnel to operate for a two hour time period and then allow for time off for a walk about and to replenish beverages and food. The ship will provide us with berthing areas separate from the general public for rest.  The operating areas are close to the restrooms and wardroom café. The chairs are a little uncomfortable so I am hoping they can accommodate us with a better seating.  Anyone, whether an Amateur Radio operator or not, is welcome and we need people to run the logging software, assist in keeping the operators comfortable such as getting them water or a snack as it can become a big job to insure comfort.  For the operators, I am guessing I will need at least 15.  I will need a few HF radios for backup so some can be shut down from time to time.  I have my Yaesu 450D, my Kenwood TS520 and Kenwood TS 430S.  Set up will be on Thursday 6/1/17 and tune up on Friday 6/2/17 with operators in place on Friday 6/2/17 at 6 PM.

This is the first time that the ship will be on the air on modern radios.  For this event, I feel it is a big deal that the Staff has accepted us.  If anyone wants to do CW on the ships radios, I will set up times for us to meet someone to take us to Radio 2 so you can observe the 1938 radios.  If you wish to see the ships original radios operating, go to youtube.com to look it up.

Please contact me no later than December 10 2016 to give me your answer I need to do a lot of paperwork to get us on the air for Museum Ships on the Air.

Thank you
Rick Emord KB1TEE      My email: kb1tee@gmail.com