Author: k9hi

Affiliated Clubs

New Affiliated Club: Southeastern MA REACT

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ARRL Headquarters has received an application, dated July 31, 2020, from the Southeastern MA REACT, WC1EOC, in Brockton to affiliate with ARRL as a Category 1, “Local Amateur Radio Club.”  According to their filing,  the club specializes in digital modes, public service/emergency, repeaters, VHF/UHF, and general interest. The club’s president is John Mahon, N1PYC. Their affiliation will become official upon approval by New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR. Congratulations to Southeastern MA REACT of Brockton.

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Northeast HamXposition 2020 Cancelled

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Bob DeMattia, K1IW, Northeast HamXposition 2020 Chairman writes: Large indoor gatherings such as our convention are currently prohibited by Massachusetts state law. This is highly unlikely to change by November.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold a physical convention this year. However, we do plan some virtual activities, all free.  We are currently working on the details for these and will keep you posted as they develop: We plan to the operate the W1A special event station over the weekend of October 31st – November 1st. To avoid a conflict with the November Sweepstakes, we moved this to …

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Affiliated Clubs

K1WCC: “Parks On The Air” at K1USN Radio Club Online Meeting, August 4, 2020

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“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes on the K1USN RC mailing list:   I just wanted to let everyone know that we have confirmed our next K1USN Zoom session for this upcoming Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 7:30 PM.   This session will feature Henry, K1WCC speaking about the ARRL Parks on the Air (POTA) program. I’m certain that several of you have heard or worked a number of these operations over the past few years. Henry will have a Q & A session following his presentation.   If you would like to join the K1USN Zoom list, send a request to k1rv@arrl.net to …

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Emergency Communications / Public Service

Eastern MA Hospital Net, August 1, 2020

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John O’Neill, K1JRO, writes: We would like to thank the group at Mansfield EMA for once again stepping up and offering to be Net Control for the Eastern MA Hospital Net. The August 1, 2020 Eastern MA Hospital Net will from the Mansfield EMA and the Net Control Operator will be Bob, WB1GON. The Net will commence as usual at 10 AM. He will use the following repeaters in the order listed, followed by a simplex test on 147.420, and then return to the Mansfield repeater for net closing: Mansfield         147.015 / tone 67 Bridgewater     147.180 / tone 67 Attleboro        …

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Affiliated Clubs

Waltham ARA “Unofficial” Summer Meeting Show and Tell, July 29, 2020

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Ron Senykoff, KG1T, writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list: We normally cancel meetings during the summer. However many expressed interest in keeping something going online. Agenda: Show and Tell Bring something to talk about, some photos to share. This is online so you could easily screen share some pictures, or just hold items up to the camera to talk about them! [Contact Ron Senykoff, KG1T, at  rsenykoff -at- gmail -dot- com for conference details.]

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Licensing Education & Training

Southeastern MA ARA In-Person VE Session, August 1, 2020

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Members of the Southeastern MA Amateur Radio Association (SEMARA) Volunteer Exam team will hold an in-person ARRL-sponsored Volunteer Exam session on August 1, 2020 at their club house at 54 Donald Street, Dartmouth, MA. According to VE team leader Fred Bacon, N1TF,  “Masks are required and social Distancing is practiced. So far I have two signed up for the Technician exam. We do limit the number of candidates to six in the building at one time but have not reached the limit yet.” For further information, visit http://semara.org/exams/, email exams [at] semara [dot] org or call 508-748-0047.    

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Licensing Education & Training

ARRL Members to Lead New 30-Minute Amateur Radio Webinar Series

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From ARRL Web: 07/22/2020 – ARRL is launching a new webinar series to help introduce more members to the variety of activities and opportunities that radio amateurs enjoy. The ARRL Learning Network will offer live presentations by member-volunteers, for members. Like hamfest forums and radio club presentations, the webinars are intended to help participants get more active, involved, and engaged in amateur radio. Presentations are 30 minutes each, making them easy to fit into a lunch break or as a short evening activity. A 15-minute question-and-answer period follows each presentation for those who can participate longer. The webinars will be hosted initially …

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Youth

ARRL Foundation Announces 2020 Scholarship Awards

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From ARRL Web: The ARRL Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2020 scholarship awards. There were 103 awards this year, totaling $144,450. The non-profit Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) has generously awarded a grant to the ARRL Foundation to match each scholarship award on a dollar-for-dollar basis, lifting the grand total of scholarships awarded to $288,900. Several Eastern Massachusetts youths were the recipients of scholarship awards: The Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club Scholarship Megan G. Wagner, KC1FGH, of Westford, Massachusetts  The CTRI/Chris Seeber, KA1GEU, Memorial Scholarship Julie Knappik, KB1YTT, of Raynham, Massachusetts  The FEMARA Scholarship Yettive S. Crestohl, K1YTV, of Marblehead, Massachusetts  Joseph F. Murray, KC1EGK, …

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Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Course Online, July 21-24, 2020

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For anyone interested in wireless communications and electronics, this ON-LINE course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio GENERAL license exam. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and homeschool students. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary preparation is necessary to get the best results from this course. This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn so much more than just watching a video. Current offering: Four day course: Tu-W-Th-F …

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Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Four New England Sci-Tech Technician Courses Online Throughout August, 2020

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For anyone interested in wireless communications and electronics, this ON-LINE course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio TECHNICIAN license exam, the FIRST of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and homeschool students. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some pre-test practice is necessary to get the best results from this course. This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn so much more than just watching a video …

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Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Amateur Extra Course Online Beginning July 22, 2020

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For anyone interested in wireless communications and electronics, this ON-LINE course will get you ready to take the AMATEUR EXTRA Radio license exam. Geared toward adults, as well as high school and homeschool students who already have a GENERAL license. This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn so much more than just watching a video. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Recommended text: ARRL Extra Class License Manual, 12th edition, for exams through June 30, 2024, (purchase on ARRL website). …

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Affiliated Clubs

K1OA: “Ham Radio Awards” at Billerica ARS Meeting Online, August 5, 2020

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Andy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes on the Billerica ARS website: I am pleased to announce that our own [Billerica Amateur Radio Society] Secretary, Scott Ginsburg, K1OA, will be our speaker for the August meeting. Scott sent me a sneak preview of his PPT slide deck for Ham Radio Awards and wow, there are some awards available to us that I had no knowledge of. Why go for awards? Well lots of us are already doing the heavy lifting – MAKING QSOs – so why not have a nice plaque or certificate to commemorate your hard work? If you are curious about …

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Affiliated Clubs

N1BIM: “DMR Radios” at K1USN Radio Club Meeting Online, July 21, 2020

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“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes on the K1USN mailing list:   Joe Zaks, N1BIM, will be giving us a presentation about how to get started with DMR Radio at our upcoming K1USN Zoom session to be held this upcoming Tuesday evening, July 21, 2020 at 7:30 PM. We should have plenty of opportunity for questions, comments, etc after his talk. I’m sure that many of you have already had some experiences with DMR and will be willing to share them with the group.   [Contact pi.k1rv -at- gmail -dot- com for Zoom conference details. -ed.]

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Operating

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend on Track for 2020

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The Nantucket Amateur Radio Association hopes to operate in International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend at Sankaty Head Light once again.     According to NARA’s Jerry Horton, W2JH: “We kicked off planning last Sunday during our weekly outreach video conference.  We will operate at least two HF rigs on Saturday [August 22, 2020] from about 10 AM to 4 PM,  with Sunday serving as the rain date.  We are exploring the possibility of streaming our station; at a minimum we want to capture plenty of video and lots of photos for after-the-fact posting.  The whole gang is involved, sharing assorted tasks: readying …

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Affiliated Clubs

WU3C: “An Introduction to Synchronization in Modems” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting Online, July 16, 2020

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Bruce Blain, K1BG writes: The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s July meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, JuLY 16th at 7:30 PM . Under normal circumstances, NVARC does not have meetings in July or August. But this summer, NVARC’s board of directors has decided to extend our on-line meetings through the summer. This meeting will be conducted via WebEx. Meeting details are below. Thanks to Jim Hein, N8VIM, and Medtronics for the WebEx conference. The meeting will feature Jessica, WU3C, who will give us “An Introduction to Synchronization in Modems.” I also expect there will be a report on NVARC’s recent participation …

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Public Service

2020 Head of the Charles Regatta Cancelled

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This premiere rowing event, attracting competitors from all over the world, relies upon Amateur Radio communications for coordination and medical support of both land and boat-based services along the beautiful Charles River. From Boston.com: “Organizers of the Head of the Charles Regatta, a two-day [October 17-18, 2020] annual event drawing thousands of rowers from around the world, announced the cancellation of the 2020 event Wednesday, citing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “’As you know, our top priority has always been holding a regatta that is safe, competitive and fun,’ Head of the Charles executive director Fred Schoch wrote in a Facebook …

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Mark Your Calendars for the DXE Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy, July 25, 2020

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Join the Elmers at DX Engineering and a host of Ham Radio luminaries on Saturday, July 25, 2020, for the first DXE Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy—two online events combined into a full day of fun, learning, and drawings for DX Engineering gift cards. Both events are free and open to all.  Once signed up, you will receive a link to access the events in real-time on the Zoom webinar platform, or you can watch live on the DX Engineering YouTube channel. The day kicks off with the DXE Virtual Hamfest, featuring presentations from top contributors to OnAllBands (DX Engineering’s blog site), …

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Public Service

2020 Baystate Marathon Cancelled

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Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list: From the Lowell OEM folks: After speaking with the Lowell Cultural Affairs Special Events office they confirmed that these events have been cancelled for this year. I just wanted to  send a courtesy update everyone involved each year. Hopefully we will resume in 2021: Asian Water Festival (August) Kinetics Race (September) Bay State Marathon (October) River Regatta (October)

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