Author: admin

Tom Kinahan, N1CPE writes on mras-leaders list:

The following new courses have been added to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s training calendar:

* Community Emergency Response Team Program at Andover Public Safety Complex on January 16, 2008

* Incident Command System 300 at Swansea Fire Department on January 14, 2008

* Incident Command System 300 at Barnstable County Fire & Rescue Training Academy on January 16, 2008

* Incident Command System 300 at Worcester County Sheriff’s Office on January 29, 2008

* Incident Command System 300 at U.S. Coast Guard Base (Function Room) on February 12, 2008

* Incident Command System 400 at Barnstable County Fire & Rescue Training Academy on January 8, 2008

* Incident Command System 400 at Wellesley Police Department on January 17, 2008

* Incident Command System 400 at Saugus Public Safety Building on January 21, 2008

* Incident Command System 400 at Mirant Canal Plant on January 24, 2008

Visit our web site for more details.

Updated information on NTS nets in Eastern MA has been posted to the nts.ema.arrl.org web site. Check the “Net Schedules” and “EMA Nets” links on the home page for the most current information.

November 27, 2007–By a vote of the general membership, the Crocker Public Service Group has agreed to be acquired by the Minuteman Repeater Association. Under the terms of the agreement, CPSG members in good standing as of 11/1/2007, with expiration dates on or after 11/1/2008, who are not already MMRA members, will be offered one-year memberships in MMRA at no cost. Those members eligible will be contacted directly in the next few weeks. For more information on MMRA, visit their website.

The group’s name honored the memory of former Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager and Silent Key Dave Crocker, W1TMO. Crocker was well-known for his public service activities.

–Thanks, CPSG home web page

Bruce Alexander, KA1IG writes on w1smh list:

The North Attleborough Santa Parade is November 25 at 3 pm. The parade is staging at St. Mary’s parking lot after 2 pm, our presence is requested between 1:30 & 2 pm.

The parade frequency will be 147.420 MHz, no PL necessary. Talk-in will be on the repeater, 147.195, if you need directions.

On behalf of the Downtown Associates of North Attleborough and myself, thanks in advance for your assistance.

A Taunton-area Technician license class is slated to begin in January, according to the Taunton Area Communication Group‘s Carlos Wharton, Sr., WP4US. Wharton says he’ll start the class in or around the third week of January. Persons interested in assisting with teaching, or those wishing to take the class are requested to contact Carlos at cgwharton@wp4us.org.

–Thanks, TACG December Newsletter

November 17th was an ordinary day to most residents of Marlboro. For the senior citizens it was the annual flu clinic. For members of the Algonquin Amateur Radio Club, Marlboro Emergency Management Agency, and other town officials, it was a day to test out the ability for the city to open and run an Emergency Dispensing Site. This year’s Flu Clinic was unlike any before. It was run as a EDS complete with buses to transport people to the EDS site. AARC members rode buses and managed traffic flow, and assisted where needed.

The drill went very well and much information was obtained to fine tune it for next year, which at this time is to be run as a EDS site again.

The Taunton Area Communications Group will convene a two-meter simplex net on Wednesday evenings beginning on November 28, 2007 at 0100 UTC (8:00 p.m. EST) on 146.430 MHz.

According to TACG’s Greg Glynn, W1VFB, it will be directed net with a net control station. Adds Glynn, “This is a first time venture for the Group… I think we will do very well with it. As time goes on it should prove that there is two-meter communications beyond repeaters.”

Hello to all….

Phil McNamara-N1XTB recently presented Winlink-2000 at a Whitman Amateur Radio Club meeting. His presentation has been added to the Winlink 2000 section under departments/programs and the link to the new presentation (about 2 meg in file size) has been provided below:

Winlink 2000 presentation from Whitman Amateur Radio club

Jeff Lehmann, N1ZZN writes:

The annual Whitman Amateur Radio Club special event at Plimoth Plantation is coming up fast. We will be operating from approximately 10 AM until 3 PM on Saturday November 24th and Sunday November 25th. We will be using the club WA1NPO call sign, and operating on the HF bands, as well as 2 meters, mostly monitoring the club 147.225 (PL 67.0) repeater. Ray, KB1ODU will also have a computer set up for echolink. We may also use the echolink over the air on the 147.18 Bridgewater repeater. We would especially like to invite our many new members to come down and get a chance to operate on the HF bands.

All club members and area hams are welcome to stop by and operate, or just observe while we are there. For those who may not have been there in the past, just mention to the people at the door that you are there for the Whitman amateur radio event, and you will be allowed in for no charge. We will have a table set up for anyone who would like to send a NTS radio gram to a non ham friend or family member. This provides practice for sending messages in times of emergency.

The antenna crew will be gathering at 10 AM on Friday November 23 to set up antennas for each operating position. Please remember to bring a hand held radio, set to 147.225 simplex so we’re able to communicate on the grounds.

More information can be found at the club website: http://www.wa1npo.org.

Shown here: A special certificate from a recent Plimoth Plantation Special Event.

Billerica Amateur Radio Society member Erik Kramer, KB1MIC is spearheading a kit construction project for his fellow club members. Kramer has suggested the “Firefly” QRP kit, described in the September, 2007 issue of QST. According to Kramer, the kit costs approximately $60 and takes about 11 hours to assemble. It is “software-based” and “requires a PC.”

According to the club’s meeting minutes, 13 attendees at the last meeting indicated they were interested in participating in a kit project. As a group, the club discussed whether there might be more suitable kits for “first-timers.” Ideas included an SWR/field strength meter, and a power supply for the shack.

Kramer has requested members contact him with additional suggestions for kits.

–Thanks, BARS Newsletter, November, 2007

Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club were on hand to assist in the Townsend 275th Anniversary Parade on September 23, 2007. Approximately 250 divisions marched in the parade.

“It was obvious from the activity in the center of Townsend that there were going to be a lot of people,” writes Stan, Pozerski, Jr., KD1LE.

The group set up a Net Control position by 9:30 a.m. at the Spaulding School. NCS utilized an “Ez-Up” shelter provided by N1QIT, tables and chairs from KD1LE, and radios and antennas from the Pepperell and Groton Emergency Management Agencies. Arrangements were made to use the 146.315 Fitchburg repeater in addition to two-meters simplex.

Operators were stationed at four parade staging areas, the start and finish, the Town Common, and two parking areas from which participants and spectators were bused. Also assisting in the operation were members of the Worcester RACES group (WECT).

Participants included: KB1LRL, K1JHC, KT1I, KB1OZL, KK1X, KB1ESR, AB1CV, W1HFN, N2YHK, Penny, KB1OJH, KD1LE, KD1SM, K1YTS and N1CKM.

–Nashoba Valley ARC Signal, October 2007. Photo courtesy KD1SM.

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association is again hosting a “Toys for Tots” toy drive this year. Members are rquested to bring any toy–new and unwrapped–to the next meeting on December 6.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to brighten some child’s holiday season. It’s the thought that counts,” writes FARA President Gordy Bello, K1GB. He adds that members can drop off toys at the club shack on any Saturday morning in lieu of next month’s meeting.

“We’ve had an unbelievable response the last several years, and I know we can do it again.”