Author: k9hi

Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 2-3, 2022

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Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on SKYWARN_Announce:

**SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 will occur this year and for the first time since 2019, Ops at the NWS office will be permitted but modified due to COVID19 to have more limited operations inside the office than prior to the pandemic. Similar to the last years, a social media component will be added to engage non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters more with 2022’SRD.**

**SRD Numbers will now be issued automatically when Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters register via the Google form on the SRD web site. You do not need a SRD Number to participate in SRD’2022 but it is now automatically available if you register via the Google form and most NWS offices will not have a SRD number.**

For the first time since 2019, SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 will have Ops at NWS office with volunteer Amateur Radio Operators, however, the scale of what is done inside the office for SRD will be more limited as we will have limited Amateur Radio Operators in the facility. This is similar to other NWS offices who will have volunteer operators into the office this year but more limited in scale than before the pandemic.

Also, all participants are welcome to register on the SRD web site. SRD Numbers will now be issued automatically when Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters register via the Google form on the SRD web site. You do not need a SRD Number to participate in SRD’2022 and most NWS offices will not have a SRD number. The SRD Number for this year is part of the qso exchange but is not a requirement.

For WX1BOX Amateur Radio operations, we will cover the typical SKYWARN repeaters on VHF/UHF as well as simplex and be on HF via the WX1BOX Amateur Radio station, various remote home stations, potentially one Amateur Radio Club station, along with our WX1BOX social media pages. In addition, contacts with other Amateur Radio SKYWARN stations will count towards NWS certificates. Similar to the last two years, there will be a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters alike.

Additional details on SKYWARN Recognition Day including a registration link opened up to all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio Operators can be found via the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

As mentioned previously, this year’s Google registration form also auto-issues SRD Numbers to participant Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. The form can be found off the SKYWARN Recognition Day web site and can be see at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsiwFThctxPqEht9r7j1V1OLBNiAQjt-yJe7z3-XFMwiIx-w/viewform

There is also a SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) Facebook group open to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators. The Facebook group link is listed below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/srd2021

On the web, the following link on the WX1BOX home page will feature all SRD updates for WX1BOX operations as well as social media efforts that can include SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators alike:

Special Announcement: SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) 2022 Friday Evening 12/2/22 700 PM ET to Saturday Evening 12/3/22 700 PM ET

New for this year is we’d like to conduct an experiment to test and experiment with a radio email system known as Winlink. We would like to have Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters test sending email to a radio based email. This system allows for emails to be retrieved over Internet but also over radio. You do not have to be an Amateur Radio Operator to be involved in this experiment. During the SRD period from Saturday 12/3/21 from 0000-2400 UTC (Friday Evening 12/2/21 7 PM EST-Saturday 12/3/21 7 PM EST), we’d like people to do the following:

1.) Compose an email with a report in text format or using one of the Winlink system specific weather or other forms to wx1box@winlink.org with either a current observation from the SRD time period or a prior severe weather event that occurred dring the last 2 years. Do “not” include file attachments. For Amateur Radio Operators who have winlink setup, please go ahead and use winlink. For other Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters who do not have Winlink setup, feel free to use your normal email client but only use text and no attachments in the report.
2.) Put in the subject of the email //WL2K as this will allow for emails to get filtered through the built-in spam protection of the winlink system

We will acknowledge all emails as a contact and publish results of this work as part of the SRD’2021 report.

Similar to last year, the SKYWARN Spotter Map that is being tied to SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 but also shows a great display of SKYWARN Spotters across the country whether you are able to participate in 2022’SRD or not. To add yourself to the map, utilize the link below (and it also appears once you have submitted your Google registration form):
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/31f1c4cd9b504068b2d15a7d3cdd4d05

The SRD’2022 schedule for repeater rotation and WX1BOX coverage will be included in the next SRD update by Monday Morning 11/28/22 as we are planning the various modes of operation at the NWS office and at home/Amateur Radio Club locations.

The VoIP Operations on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system will take place once again for 2022’SRD. Here is the info regarding Echolink/IRLP operations as of Friday Evening 11/25/22 and will be updated by Monday Morning 11/28/22:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: N0NWS (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0200-0300: WX7SLC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0300-0400: WX9GRB (Confirmed time slot from 2020)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0500-0600: WX9LOT (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0700-0800: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0800-0900: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0900-1000: Open
1000-1100: WX7SLC (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1100-1200: WX1GYX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1200-1300: W7NWS (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1300-1400: WX7SLC (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1400-1500: WX1AW (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1600-1700: WX4NC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Confirmed time slot from last year – new NWS office from 2021)
1800-1900: WX6LOX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1900-2000: K0MPX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Confirmed time slot from last year – new NWS office from 2021)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2300-2400: Open

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Boston/Norton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years and have multiple reflector channels and Echolink conferences available. There is reflector 9250/Echolink Conference *HI-GATE* node: 357564, IRLP 9251 and the *WORLD* Echolink Conference node: 479886, IRLP 9257/*DCF-ARC* Echolink Conference node: 336037 and IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 152566 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG3* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system. The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, Allstar 28848 along with DMR/DSTAR and other modes provided by VK3JED-Tony, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their support!

Thanks to all for their continued support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box

Operating / Public Information

Whitman ARC Plimoth Patuxet Special Event Operation, November 26-27, 2022

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Whitman ARC logoBob Azanow, WA1Q, writes on the Whitman ARC mailing list:

We want to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving and weekend. I have submitted a tentative list to Rob Kluin, the Marketing Director at Plimoth Patuxet Museums. We have been doing this event for over 30 years.

We will have someone spot us on the DX Cluster. Richard, AG1B, suggested we operate on 10 meters as well since 10 has been open.

We can look at setting up the R7 antenna at the Visitor’s Center if possible. Paul has a Yaesu FT450D in his go kit.

This will be a good opportunity for new hams to get on the air on HF.

We also need to bring out Whitman Club IDs and or a call sign badge to wear while we are on-site there. We will have clip-on writable badges we will provide as well if you do not have one.

Here is who we have so far for Plimoth Patuxet

Bob Azanow, WA1Q, Fri Sat & Sun
Paul Moss, KB1MTW
Chris Babbitt, N1CFB
Mike Davis, WA1MAD, Fri, Sat, and Sun
Jeff Ayres, WK1D, Friday
Mark Hirtle, KC1ITF, on Sunday
Lou Lachance, KC1PXN, Deputy Fire Chief Hingham and his son, Nate
Nathan Lachance, SWL
Jack Foley, N1QE, Saturday, maybe Sunday
Steve Cote, N1STV, Saturday
James Aiu, KC1NBN, Sunday
Larry Kenney, W1VP, Friday setup

More folks will be added as soon as you confirm you will attend. We need more folks to step up.

We will have two locations at the Museum. The Visitor’s Center will have Paul, KB1MTW’s go kit setup. And we will have 2 meters running there.

The second location is the Horticulture building, which is heated and nicer than the attic where we have been in the past.

We will have the HF station setup there with the Windom antenna and a 2-meter station. If possible, we will conduct the Sunday Net at 8:30 AM from the museum, If not, we will still be on site Sunday morning at 8:30 AM.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Horticulture building interior
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Horticulture Building interior

 

—

Hours: Setup Friday Nov 25th 10AM to 12PM
On the Air time Sat Nov 26th 9AM to about 3PM
On the Air time Sun Nov 27th 8:30AM to about 3PM
Take down about 3PM

Link to Plimoth Patuxet Museums for directions and info on the Museum.

 

Organization

Eastern Massachusetts Section to Welcome New Section Manager; Incumbent Section Managers were Reelected

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ARRL logoFrom ARRL News:

11/18/2022—Jon McCombie, N1ILZ, will become Section Manager (SM) of the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section on January 1, 2023. McCombie, of Eastham, was the only nominee to submit a petition to run for office when the nomination period closed in early September. As the sole nominee, he has been declared elected.

This past year, McCombie has been Assistant SM to Tom Walsh, K1TW, who has been the SM of the Eastern Massachusetts Section for the last 8 years. Walsh, of Bedford, decided not to run for a fifth 2-year term of office.

There were no balloted elections during this fall season’s SM election cycle. The following incumbent SMs ran unopposed, and they were declared reelected, beginning their new 2-year terms of office on January 1: Cecil Higgins, AC0HA (Missouri); Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ (Nebraska); Jim Mezey, W2KFV (New York City-Long Island); Rocco Conte, WU2M (Northern New York); Marc Tarplee, N4UFP (South Carolina); Tom Preiser, N2XW (Southern New Jersey); Michael Douglas, W4MDD (West Central Florida), and Joe Shupienis, W3BC (Western Pennsylvania).

Thanks to ARRL Field Organization Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, for information contained in this story.

Operating

KD1D Fox Active, Westford, Last Run of 2022

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Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on November 18, 2022 at 3:24 PM:

The KD1D Fox is now (Friday, November 18, 2022  3:00 pm EST) on the air in Westford, MA in the vicinity of the Stone Arch Bridge Trail.
For maps and a trail description, see:   https://westfordconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/stone-arch-trail/

The Fox transmits on 146.565 MHz FM with a 20 second message repeated every 60 seconds.  It is hidden, but can be found with good direction-finding skills and a sharp eye.  There is a logbook in which you can record your find.  Please enter your first name, call sign, time. and date found.  WX is expected to be good through Monday noon (Nov 21)  when I will retrieve the Fox and bring it home for a few months rest (and perhaps some devious modifications).  You can also report your find to kd1d@arrl.net.

Good Hunting and 73 de KD1D, Alan

Clubs

KC1AWV: “The M17 Project” at the North Shore Radio Association Hybrid Meeting, November 21, 2022

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North Shore Radio Association logoThe North Shore Radio Association will meet at the Peabody Municipal Light Plant auditorium, 201 Warren St Extension, in Peabody and online on November 21, 2022 at 7:00 PM.  
 
This month: Steve, KC1AWV, speaking via Zoom, will talk about the M17 Project, a group of hams creating “a new digital radio protocol for data and voice, made by and for amateur radio operators.”
 
[Zoom conference information will be sent via the NSRA groups.io mailing list.  Contact Eric, KA1NCF, at ka1ncf -at- nsradio -dot- org to be added to the groups.io list.]
Clubs / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Now hosting NEWBS to Reach New Heights

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StratoScience logoThe New England Weather Balloon Society is dedicated to the collaborative and iterative process of building and launching high altitude balloons to the edge of space to take instrumentation readings, record video footage, and conduct experiments. This club, hosted by New England Sci-Tech, brings together like minded tinkerers, engineers, and hams to work on exciting projects and launches. Open to all ages.

Clubs

ADØIU: “Space Weather and How It Affects Ham Radio” at Boston ARC Meeting Online, November 17, 2022

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Boston ARC logoThe next general meeting of the Boston Amateur Radio Club will be held on Thursday, November 17, at 7:30 PM. Rob Steenburgh, ADØIU, will be the guest presenter. Rob worked for the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center and will discuss Space Weather and how it affects Amateur Radio.

A link will be published in the upcoming issue of The SPARC and will appear on www.barc.org on the day of the meeting.

Clubs / Operating

K1USN Radio Club QRV for Veterans Day, November 11, 2022

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K1USN Watson Museum signThe K1USN Radio Club will once again be on the air November 11, 2022, 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

The K1USN Radio Club was formed in May 1997 when we began operation onboard the Heavy Cruiser CA-139 USS Salem Museum Ship located in Quincy, MA. During this time period we began the first Museum Ships Weekend in 1997 with 8 ships participating. The crew from the Battleship New Jersey has done a wonderful job continuing this annual event which has grown into a popular activity with over 100 ships as well as several museums participating. Go to the NJ2BB website for a complete list of participants as well as certificate information – www.nj2bb.org

Later we were able to move our operation to the Thomas Watson Museum located upstream from the USS Salem at the site of the original Fore River Shipyard which was built by Braintree, MA resident, Thomas A. Watson. Watson was Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant developing the invention of the telephone. As US Navy orders continued to demand larger vessels the shipyard was moved to its current location downstream in Quincy, MA. 

Our operating frequencies will be:

  • SSB – 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960 and 28360 kHz
  • CW – 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18079, 21039, 24899 and 28039 kHz
  • FT4/8 – All standard FT8 frequencies

K1USN QSL cards will be available for all contacts with K1USN.

Send # 10 SASE to K1RV or DX stations QSL via bureau.

73, Pi – K1RV / K1USN

k1rv@arrl.net

http://www.k1usn.com

 

Clubs

Massasoit ARA Meeting Location Change

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Massasoit ARA logoAllen Hiltz, WA1BEE, writes on the Massasoit ARA mailing list:
 
MARA will be having our meetings at the Bridgewater Library, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Due to the handicap problems at the [Emergency Operations Center], the vote was taken to move back to the library.
 
Hope to see you all November 15, 2022.
 
Public Service

Communications Support Needed, Gloucester Santa Parade, November 27, 2022

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North Shore Radio Association logoEric Horwitz, KA1NCF, writes on the North Shore Radio Association mailing list:
 
After several years away the Gloucester Santa parade is BACK and requesting our help for communications support.
 
Event Day: Sunday November 27th, stepping off at 3: 00 pm
 
Event Time Requirement: Around 2 pm until 7 pm
 
Parade Starts at the Fish pier and goes thru downtown to end near the cut bridge
 
Please email me if you can HELP.
 
Thanks for your Support.
 
Eric, KA1NCF
Operating

KB1OIQ Fox Deployment, Westford, November 6, 2022

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Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 10:23 AM on November 6, 2022:

The KB1OIQ 2m fox (146.565 MHz) has been deployed in the Cider Mill Pond conservation area in Westford.  Note that one entrance has parking for perhaps three cars, but there are other entrances which can be found on a map.

I’ll leave the fox out for a couple of days.  Enjoy fox hunting with this great weather!

73,

Andy

Clubs / Technical / Youth

“AeroNU Project Horizon Presentation” at Northeastern University Wireless Club, November 3, 2022

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Northeastern Univ Wireless logoThe Northeastern University Wireless Club is hosting a special meeting with the AeroNU Project Horizon project on November 3, 2022 at  7 p.m. in 503 Hayden (club space).

The club will discuss its upcoming collaboration with AeroNU. AeroNU is launching a CubeSat, and NUWC is supporting the construction of a VHF/UHF satellite ground station to be hosted in the NUWC club space. The team from Aero will be presenting on their work, and the communication systems onboard. 

 

Clubs

AB1PH: “Winlink” at the Framingham Amateur Radio Association Hybrid Meeting, November 3, 2022

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Framingham ARA logoYou are invited to the next Framingham Amateur Radio Association meeting to be held on November 3, 2022 from 7 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. via Zoom and at the at the Costin Room in the main Framingham Library, located on Lexington Street. There is a parking lot next to the building. 
 
The program will feature Don Rolph, AP1PH, on Winlink.  Don has been involved with Amateur Radio since  earning his Novice license in 1961.   He re-licensed in 2012 and has been involved in support for emergency services in Eastern MA for about the same time.   
 
His group supports: 
 
    • a 2m voice repeater
    • 2m DMR repeater
    • a 220 repeater
    • a 440 repeater
    • a general purpose digipeater
    • an APRS digipeater
    • a Winlink RMS Packet node, and 
    • an APRS Igate

Members will receive a zoom invitation.  Non-members may request an invitation by sending an email to John president@w1fy.org.

Clubs

K9EID: “Heil Sound” at Billerica Amateur Radio Society Online Meeting, November 2, 2022

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Billerica ARS logoBruce Anderson, W1LUS, writes on the Billerica ARS mailing list:

Topic: Speaker Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID of Heil Sound

Time: Nov 2, 2022, 07:00 PM Eastern Time

This month’s guest speaker will be Dr. Bob Heil K9EID. He is CEO Emeritus and Founder of Heil Sound, which has provided many microphones, headsets, booms, shock mounts, and radio accessories. This talk is sure to be a great one that you won’t want to miss.

BARS leadership elections are held at the November meeting. Be sure to take a look at the newsletter for the list of candidates. There’s still time to get your name in the running if you’d like to run for office in 2023. Nominations will be accepted during the November meeting. Voting is for the leadership for the upcoming year. Be sure to join us to make your vote.

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

Emergency Communications

PL Changes on the Beverly 147.390 Repeater

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Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on the mass-races-ares-skywarn-general list:

Repeater OUT 147.390 with a PL of 127.3 Hz
Repeater IN 147.990 with a PL of 162.2 Hz

You WILL NEED to make this change to add PL 162.2 to your transmit frequency to use the repeater.

Please let all your friends know of the addition of the PLs and current situation.

This repeater is used as the MEMA Region 1 Sector 1F RACES repeater.

Terry

Terry M. Stader – KA8SCP
MEMA Region 1 RACES/Communications Officer
ARRL EMA DEC – Region 1 RACES
PART of Westford-WB1GOF, Senior Club Advisor, WB1GOF Repeaters Proprietor
NESMC EMA Director

Operating

Bristol County Repeater Association Fox Hunt, Dartmouth, November 5, 2022

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Where:
5 mile radius from The intersection of US Route 6 and Reed Road, Dartmouth, MA (823 State Road (41.6384678, -71.0361075)
Organizer: Skip Denault, kb1cnb@bcra.club, 774-644-3469

* Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm — check-in starts at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123

* Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM
* Fox2 will activate at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM

$10 Dunkies Card to the first team to reach each fox!

Communications with “Fox Control” can all be done over the BCRA repeater, including checking in when you have found the fox. You may also speak with us in the control vehicle using physical distancing if you wish.

There will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and one by N1KJS, Kevin. When you find one of the foxes, you can get a hint to help you find the second (if you want!).

Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.

The Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM, and Fox2 at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM with a 5-watt signal, and both will transmit 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence. As the hunt progresses we may increase the transmission times – that will be announced on the BCRA repeater. The hunt will last until 2:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.

The Fox1 (in Skip’s vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and be manned at all times. When you have found the fox, your time and order of arrival will be recorded, and a personalized certificate will be emailed to each participant.

The Fox2 (in Kevin’s vehicle, a blue Toyota Tacoma marked BCRA) will be in a public place and be manned at all times. When you have found the fox, your time and order of arrival will be recorded.

Participants are encouraged to work in teams and are asked to drive carefully and observe all applicable guidelines, both from the FCC and the state & local governments. Since participants are receiving only (except for radio check-ins), an amateur radio license is not required.

Email questions to Skip at kb1cnb@bcra.club or text to 774-644-3469. After the hunt, your comments, impressions, and suggestions will be welcome!

Join us and have some good amateur radio fun!

Operating

AC1JR First Fox Hunt

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Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:41 PM on October 29, 2022:

Congratulations to Jeff AC1JR for his inaugural fox hunt (mobile; he was parked in a secret location) with his homemade fox.

In true ham fashion, he designed and built from scratch this fox, and I’ll let him go further into the further details of it, but I found it to be an impressive feat; some thing that would make my brain hurt pretty bad for sure!

I got wind of the fox being activated on my way home from completing the hunt for the KD1D fox in Littleton, and so I had begun to guess at some possible locations based on knowledge of my hometown and where he may possibly be, suffice it to say…. I was wrong! Lol

After checking out a few locations where I thought he may be, I kept getting indications in one particular area which I spent the majority of my time looking.

After dropping my daughter off, I continue to hunt and was able to find him within five minutes after; I actually had wanted to check the backside of a location that would require me to drive the long way around and, in the process of doing so, I got full quieting without an antenna on a handheld… a ways before I was to reach the destination I was heading for, and so sometimes the old-school methods work the best!

As it turns out, only two of the five or six bearings that I had taken with my app “FoxHunt Pro“ were accurate and actually pinpointed him where they crossed; that’s the problem, sometimes you don’t know which bearings are the accurate ones!

I’ve been working on a fox that I could use for mobile hunts like this, and so I’m inspired to finish it now, and join in the fun!

Public Service

Volunteers Sought for YuKanRun Ocean View 5k and Half Marathon, Ipswich, November 6, 2022

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Fred Beaulieu, WA1ESU, writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:

We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Ocean View 5k and Half Marathon. Sunday, November 6, 2022 Please be on Location at your Check Point by 8:00 a.m. Starts At 8:30 a.m. Ipswich High School 134 High Street Ipswich, MA 01938.

Please let us know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event so We can plan staffing positions for the event.

We will Be using the Topsfield Repeater N1HYS 147.2850 +0.6 PL 100.0 FM Please program your Radio in Advance of this event.

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

The course will be open and supported By CAARA for four hours. Runner safety is everyone’s top priority. Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Fred WA1ESU

Clubs / Public Service

Olin Collegiate ARC Members Active at the Head of the Charles

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Olin Satellite + Spectrum Technology & Policy Group writes on LinkedIn:

Thanks to Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) grant, more than thirty students have obtained their amateur license at Olin, and we anticipate that number will grow to more than fifty by the end of this year. Here are a few of them volunteering this past weekend at Head of the Charles! GO Team!

Special shoutouts to Zachary Sherman, Regan Mah, Bob Phinney and Phillip Post for their dedication to the Olin Collegiate Amateur Radio Club (OCARC) and licensing efforts. None of this would be possible without them.