Author: k9hi

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician License Course, August 10-11, 2019

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For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio Technician license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course. The Technician level course runs on Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM and Sunday, 9 AM-1 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 1:00, at New England Sci-Tech, …

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Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, August 3-4, 2019

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For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum.  Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course. The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech …

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day / NTS

Marcia Forde, KW1U, Commended For Field Day Message Origination Assistance

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Section Manager Tom Walsh, K1TW, received a commendation letter from ARRL Special Service Club PART of Westford acknowledging the efforts of Eastern MA Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U, “for her professionalism and patience … in preparing members of PART for Field Day 2019 National Traffic System messaging.” PART President Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes, “[Marcia] worked with two of our members over the course of several weeks to advise on software and protocols.” KW1U’s knowledge and expertise allowed PART to earn an additional 200 points for message handling.  Stewart added, “her dedication to the Amateur Radio art reflects great credit …

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Organization

Window Closing on July 15, 2019 Volunteer Monitor Program Applications

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From ARRLWeb: As of the close of business on Monday, July 15, applications for the new Volunteer Monitor Program no longer will be accepted. Some 250 applications have been submitted to fill approximately 150 Volunteer Monitor (VM) positions in the program, which is succeeding the Official Observer (OO) program. Retired FCC special counsel and former Atlantic Division Vice Director Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, is overseeing ARRL’s role in the development and implementation of the program, and he has been interviewing every applicant. Those not selected as VMs will be placed in a reserve pool. Current OOs were invited to apply for …

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Public Service

Volunteers Sought, North Attleborough Fire Fighters Kids Day, July 25-28, 2019

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Deputy Director Norton EMA Ray Cord, K2TGX, writes on the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC mailing list: This a call for assistance from all EMA, CERT. HAM and MRC groups to help at the North Attleborough Fire Fighters Kids Day. Those Agencies that are supplying equipment (Light Towers, Message Boards etc) have been contacted separately for Mutual Aid. Our event is coming up quickly and I am still in need of staff for every day both day and evening for our event.  If you could please get back to me with your agencies staff availability, any and all help would be …

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Operating

Salem Maritime Festival Special Event Station N1S QRV, August 3-4, 2019

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Nick Mollo, KC1DKY, writes on QRZ.com: N1S will be the call sign used at National (Park) 1 Salem (Maritime) to celebrate their 31th annual Salem Maritime Festival being held on Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th, 2019.  The Parks On The Air team will predominantly transmit on 20m and 40m.  Operations on SSB, CW, and FT8 are assured, with PSK as a possibility.  Efforts to make satellite contacts on SO-50, AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92 will be made as well.  Watch the spotting clusters to find out where we are currently transmitting.  We will be on the air starting around …

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day / Public Information

PART of Westford Field Day 2019: A Successful Public Relations-Public Information Effort

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PART of Westford‘s Field Day Chairman George Allison, K1IG,  reports a successful public relations/public information effort on the part of PIO Lela Smith, KC1ACV and others.   “The club entertained a total of 75 participants and visitors this year, including the mayor of Leominster, a representative of the Billerica EMC, a Carlisle selectman, and a contingent of soldiers from the 211th Military Police Battalion who were sent by their commanding officer to get some experience in field communications. One of the officers from this group is now interested in joining PART,” reports George.   PART also netted a lengthy article …

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Operating

W1UE to Activate VY1AAA for Canada Day, July 1, 2019

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Dennis Eagan, W1UE, writes: I have the honor of operating VY1AAA [remote] for the Canada Day contest this year. Operation will be low power CW only.  Still, it may be the only way you’ll get to work YT if you want it! I don’t expect much propagation on 15 or 10m, but you never know.  Should be on the 4 lowest bands.  I’m figuring on 12-16 hours of operation, depending on rate and my ability to stay awake! -Dennis VE3WUE, W1UE, VY1AAA

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Operating

KC1DKY Fox Hiding Out in Billerica, June 28, 2019

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Nick Bollo, KC1DKY, writes on the foxhunting list at 1:27 PM on June 28, 2019: It has been a while, but finally, the KC1DKY fox is out and hiding on Billerica town land.  Fox is on 146.565MHz.  Send a DTMF of 1 to activate the fox.  If the fox does not seem to be responding, send a couple DTMF # and then a 1 to possibly whack it back into shape.  The fox will signal for 30seconds and be silent for 15sec, and repeat for 15minutes.  The fox is located around a third of a mile from the parking area …

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Operating

W1HFN Fox Deployed, Littleton, June 27, 2019

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Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the foxhunters list at 1:09 PM on June 27, 2019: I deployed the W1HFN fox today in the Mill Hill conservation land off Mill Road in Littleton.  Frequency is 146.565 with a voice ID every 30 seconds. https://littletonconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/mill-hill/ When I recovered it last time, the TX was keying up for 2 seconds then shutting down.  I assumed a dead battery.  When I got it home and recharged the battery, same symptoms.  Wrong assumption.  Turns out water had leaked into the case and landed on the TX PC board.  It reacted with something and left a …

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Affiliated Clubs / Emergency Communications / Public Service

Falmouth ARA Emergency Communications Trailer Project

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The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association has embarked upon an ambitious project to raise $14,000 by September 1, 2019 for the purchase a 16-foot utility trailer and to “assemble a professional, self-contained, mobile communications platform that would be utilized for emergency and non-emergency, public safety and public service events.” FARA intends to outfit the trailer with a number of operator positions that would “allow operation on a multitude of communications networks and frequencies … including local amateur radio repeaters that link local and regional communications for storm shelters, hospitals and aid stations.” The trailer would also be utilized for non-emergency events …

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day

ARRL Officials Tour 2019 Field Day Sites

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ARRL division and section officials hit the road this past weekend to visit numerous clubs participating in the annual ARRL Field Day on June 22-23, 2019. New England Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, reports he visited a total of twelve sites in New Hampshire and Eastern Massachusetts: Cape Ann ARA, Gloucester North Shore Radio Association, Topsfield Philips ARC/Pentucket RA, West Newbury Nashua Area RC, Hudson, NH Nashoba Valley ARC, Pepperell Algonquin ARC, Marlboro Framingham ARA, Framingahm New England Sci-Tech/Sci-Tech ARS, Natick Wellesley ARS, Needham Waltham ARA, Waltham PART of Westford, Concord Billerica ARS, Billerica K1TWF drove 248 miles during the …

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day

Nashoba Valley ARC QRV for Field Day 2019

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Jim Wilber,  AB1WQ, writes: Tomorrow morning we’ll be doing it!  LOOK AT THE ATTACHED WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST– IT’S GREAT! SATURDAY, JUNE 22 7:00 AM – Breakfast at Breen’s Diner, 170 Main Street in Pepperell.  If you’re gung-ho to start the day strong, come out and join us here as we assemble for a quick breakfast before heading to the Field Day site. WHERE TO GO:  The usual location:  Heald Orchard in Pepperell.  Two ways to find it: 1)  Enter “110A Heald Street, Pepperell MA” into Google Maps and follow the driving directions. The final part of the route is 0.1 …

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day

Quannapowitt Radio Association Field Day 2019

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The Quannapowitt Radio Association will conduct a Field Day operation on June 22, 2019,  in Topsfield. According to Ron Draper, WA1QZK, the QTH is situated adjacent to the Topsfield water tank off Route  1 at the top of the hill. “It’s the home of the 147.285 Topsfield repeater, W1VYI. It’s 230 feet elevation, easy access, and there some trees to throw up a dipole.” Ron adds, “Saturday operation only is planned, maybe until 8 PM.” Those interested in joining in or visiting the site can ask for talk-in from WA1QZK on 147.285 PL 100, or by calling 978-335-2099.      

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Public Service

Coop’s Troop 5K Race, Hingham, July 21, 2019

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John O’Reilly, K1JRO, writes on the South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group mailing list: Geoff Ayres, WK1D, will be organizing a group this year to provide communications support for the Coop’s Troop 5k Race in Bare Cove Park in Hingham on Sunday, July 21. If you can assist Jeff in supporting this very worthwhile event please contact us and we will make sure you get signed up for the event.

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day

Barnstable ARC Field Day 2019, Brewster

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From the Barnstable ARC web site: Public welcome! The best time is 3-5pm Saturday or 10-noon Sunday. The event will run for 24hrs.  During this time you will have the opportunity to get on the air and make contacts with other Field Day stations throughout the country and Canada. All visitors must sign in. ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June each year more than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations. Field Day offers …

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day

K1USN Radio Club QRV for Field Day, June 22, 2019

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Marty Koszewski, N1VH, writes:   ARRL Field Day is this coming weekend.  Marty, N1VH, is currently planning to operate a portable station for a couple of hours from the picnic area next to the parking lot at K1USN.  Marty’s station (Elecraft KX3) will operate 5 Watts via battery and solar utilizing portable antennas for 20M/15M/10M. No K1USN infrastructure (power & antennas) will be used.  Set up around 1:30PM and operations to run from 2:00PM – 4:00PM (will stay longer if others are interested).  Field Day operating class A or B will be used depending on the number of participants.  Computer …

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