Author: k9hi

Youth

PART of Westford Planning for JOTA

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JOTA-JOTI logoGeorge Allison, K1IG, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

The annual Scouting Jamboree-On-The-Air (JOTA) is the largest Scouting event in the world, and is held in the third full weekend in October. This year, it will be held October 14-16, 2022.
 
The local Westford Scout troop has several Scouts (and parents) who are interested in participating in the JOTA and pursuing the Radio Merit Badge and possibly an amateur radio license. If any PART members would be able to host a up to four Scouts and parents for a few hours during JOTA at your home station and making some contacts, please send me an email (k1ig@arrl.net) and let me know your availability.
 
73,
George K1IG
Clubs

K5TEC: “New England Sci-Tech STEM Program” at Billerica ARS Meeting Online, October 5, 2022

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Billerica ARS logoThe next BARS Zoom meeting on Wednesday, October 5 will feature Bob Phinney, K5TEC, President of Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS). Join Bob Phinney, K5TEC, as he describes his STEM program at New England Sci-Tech in Natick.

Bob and his team just sponsored a highly successful ARISS Space Station contact at The BIG E multi-state fair in Springfield, MA on September 27. The event garnered much news and television coverage at the venue which attracts 1.5 million people during its 17-day run.

A dozen lucky students in Bob’s program got to ask questions of International Space Station pilot Bob Hines, KI5RQT, via a ground station in Belgium. Along with “Space Chat,” NESci-Tech is conducting a 12-month educational space science program that includes: 

  • Amateur Radio License Course
  • Model Rocketry workshops
  • Air-Powered Rocketry
  • Introduction to Basic Electronics
  • Introduction to Arduinos Electronics
  • Public Telescope Nights
  • Morse Code Introduction
  • Elementary Mathematics for Modeling Rocket Flight

Bob Phinney has a winning formula for engaging young people—and their parents—in an exciting program that has seen youths design payloads for high-altitude balloons and even NASA rockets! Come and hear how he does it.

BARS will announce the link to join the Zoom meeting before the meeting, but it will be posted to the BARS email list and should not be shared outside our Club. Are you on the email list? If not, please send an email to bars-subscribe@w1hh.org and then simply reply to the robot response from the server and you will be subscribed. Observing our Zoom meeting requires only a web browser and headphones/speakers. You do not need a webcam or microphone unless you want to speak or be seen. Before our meeting date, please go to https://zoom.us/test and see if it will function for you. If you have problems, we can try to assist – feel free to ask questions on the BARS email list. We are looking forward to “seeing” many of you on Wednesday 10/5 here at 1900 ET.

Public Service

Algonquin ARC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Report, October 1, 2022

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On Saturday, October 1, 2022, [the Algonquin Amateur Radio Club] supported the bi-annual joint Hudson-Marlborough Household Hazardous Waste Collection event.   This was our fourth event utilizing the larger layout at the Easterly Treatment Plant.   The volume for this event was lower than past ones.  Even though some cards were queued up as early as 7 AM, the lines remained relatively short.  By 10 AM, cars were flowing though the collection points with minimum delay.  During the first hour the cars per hour rate was about 10% faster than last session’s first hour.  So the efficiency of the process continues to improve.  After the first hour the rate dropped only because the volume of cards had dropped.  Last spring we processed 451 cars.  This session the number was 322.

The weather was cool in the 50s (F) with off and on light rain.  We had a smaller support team but with the smaller volume everything flowed smoothly.

Notes:    The Hazardous Waste column also includes cars that had electronics

Thanks for the leadership of Ted Scott, Marlborough DPW and his team; Joe Leatham, Katlyn Miller, and Alex Szczepaniak.   Also for the support from Eddie St Louis from the Hudson Heath Department.

Thanks to the following volunteers from the Marlborough Emergency Management Team and the Algonquin Amateur Radio Club who managed the flow of cars:
Ann Weldon KA1PON
Frank McInnis K1IX
Paul Zompetti
Ed Fitzgerald K1DIN
George Conrad N1ABC
Eric Williams KV1J

Eric Williams
Communications Officer – Marlborough EMA
(ref  EMA hours: 26   ARES hours: 20)

1Oct2022

Clubs

WO1E: “Contesting with FT8 and FT4” at Framingham ARA Hybrid Meeting, October 6, 2022

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Framingham ARA logoJohn Iwuc, KB1VXY, writes on the Framingham Amateur Radio Association mailing list:
 
You are invited to our next [Framingham Amateur Radio Association] meeting to be held at the main Framingham Public Library [on October 6, 2022] at 7 pm (note time change).
 
This meeting will be a hybrid zoom meeting with in-person meeting at the Costin Room in the main Framingham Library located on Lexington Street. There is a parking lot next to the building. The meeting will start at 7 pm.
 
Register by Zoom even if you will attend live so we can have an accurate count.
 
Members will receive a zoom invitation.  Non-members may request an invitation by sending an email to John president@w1fy.org.
Foxhunting / Operating

The K1MJC Fox is Out, September 30, 2022

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Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:37 PM on September 30, 2022:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out.

I put it out today, Friday, and it will be picked up late afternoon Sunday.

The fox is in somewhere in an area within the Beaverbrook reservation north; it’s a 15 milliwatt fox transmitting on 146.565 MHz. 

I’m hearing rumblings from Eliot [W1MJ] saying that his fox may also be put out sometime this weekend as well; his is a five watt fox, and on a different frequency. He’ll let you know that detail when and if he puts it out. You could end up with a “twofer” this weekend!

One of the maps on this page would prove useful!

https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting!

Mike C. 73!

Public Information / Youth

BIG E Space Chat Deemed “A Huge Success”

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screenshot from ARISS contact

West Springfield, MA—The BIG E Space Chat was an unqualified success. Many hours of planning and effort went into making the ISS contact a reality.

Thirteen young STEM students who are taking space science workshops at New England Sci-Tech in Natick, Mass., were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 to ask questions of International Space Station pilot Bob Hines, KI5RQT, orbiting 260 miles above the earth via a ground station in Belgium. Held in The BIG E Arena, a large entertainment venue, the event garnered much news and television coverage at the fair which attracts 1.5 million people during its 17-day run. It was an out of this world experience for the students from across New England.

Following several informative videos, hundreds of people who gathered in the arena, along with a national audience watching via YouTube live stream, heard from: Gene Cassidy, Eastern States Exposition CEO; David Minster, ARRL CEO; Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC; and Bob Phinney, K5TEC. The pre-contact show was choreographed down to the minute in order to assure a smooth transition leading to the contact itself.

At approximately 2:30 PM ET, the audience heard astronaut Bob Hines, KI5RQT, reply to the ARISS ground station, ON4ISS:

“Oscar November Four India Sierra Sierra, this is Oscar Romeo Four India Sierra Sierra. Over.” 

Over a dozen questions were asked by the youths and answered.

“The space station has to be flying over one of our ground stations… this one happened to be in Belgium,” said Bob Phinney, President of New England Sci-Tech. He told Springfield Channel 22 News, “The time had to be perfect. So the students got exactly ten minutes to get up and talk.”
“All the new opportunities that there are about new discoveries, new planets, and even new life,” said 11-year-old Harish Sathishkaumar.

Jack Warren told 22 News, “What fascinates me the most is the unknown…. There is just so much to learn!”

“The best thing about this work is that we probably changed one or two lives today,” said Fred Kemmerer. “The biggest takeaway from this momentous day; always to reach for the stars.”

The following day, Bob Hines tweeted this message from the ISS:

Bob Hines tweet re Space Chat: "This was such a fun event... great questions from all the students at New England Sci-Tech. We talked all things space: @space_station, @nasa_astronauts, @nasaartemis and more! Thanks for the chat! -73

 

The BIG E Space Chat team consisted, in part, of:

  • ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
  • New England Sci-Tech member Barbara Irby, KC1KGS
  • Assistant Director Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB
  • Western MA Section Manager Ray Lajoie, AA1SE
  • New England Sci-Tech President Bob Phinney, K5TEC
  • Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI

Third-parties involved in making the effort a success included: the production company Black Helicopter, Limited; the BIG E Marketing team, and Eastern States Exposition CEO Gene Cassidy; NASA; and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station.

Several ARRL Headquarters staff from Newington, Connecticut attended the event including: ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA; Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1W, Director of Public Relations and Innovation; and Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, ARRL Education and Learning Manager.

At the conclusion of the contact, the youths were presented with certificates confirming their contact with Bob Hines aboard the ISS, signed by David Minster, NA2AA; Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC; and Bob Phinney, K5TEC.

Along with “Space Chat,” NESci-Tech is conducting a 12-month educational space science program that includes:

  • Amateur Radio License Course
  • Model Rocketry workshops
  • Air-Powered Rocketry
  • Introduction to Basic Electronics
  • Introduction to Arduinos Electronics
  • Public Telescope Nights
  • Morse Code Introduction
  • Elementary Mathematics for Modeling Rocket Flight

You can learn more about New England Sci-Tech’s educational space science program by visiting their website.

A recording of the pre-contact show and ARISS space station contact can be viewed on the NESci-Tech YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdxnD8uF8t0.

Clubs

KB1OIQ: “Linux in your Ham Shack” at Barnstable ARC Hybrid Meeting, October 3, 2022

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Barnstable ARC logoThe Barnstable Amateur Radio Club will meet  in-person on October 3, 2022 at 7:00 PM at the Brewster Police Department Community Room, 631 Harwich Road (Rt 124), Brewster, MA 02631. In addition we will provide a Zoom link to the meeting. This month, Andy, KB1OIQ, will present “Linux in your Ham Shack.”

[Contact Norm Cantin, WA1NLG, at norman.cantin@gmail.com for Zoom details.]
Emergency Communications

Special Announcement: Amateur Radio Hurricane Nets Activating for Major Hurricane Ian & Florida Impacts

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SKYWARN logoRob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SKYWARN_Announce list:

The Amateur Radio VoIP Hurricane Net and Hurricane Watch Net will be active for Major Hurricane Ian and impacts on Florida. Details on their net activation plans can be seen at the following links:

VoIP Hurricane Net:
https://www.voipwx.net

Hurricane Watch Net:
https://www.hwn.org

For any SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators in our region who may have friends and family in the affected area and have the ability to provide surface weather or damage reports, pictures and videos, reports can be provided over these nets with pictures and videos provided to WX1BOX Facebook and Twitter feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org

We hope everyone in the affected area of Florida stays safe as major Hurricane Ian approaches.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org

Clubs

W1EUJ: “Introduction to SDR for Experimentation” at Northeastern University Wireless Club, September 29, 2022

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Northeastern Univ Wireless logoNortheastern University Wireless Club President Marty Sulloway, NN1C, writes on the NUWC mailing list:

Hi Folks!

The semester is really rolling.

This week we kick off our third workshop, and for the first time this semester, we’re having a technical speaker for our Thursday night meeting.

I’d like to share a bit about our club meeting this coming Thursday. The topic of the presentation will be an Introduction to SDR for Experimentation. David Goncalves, a former president of NU Wireless, will be the speaker. 

David Goncalves (NU BSEE ’04, W1EUJ) has been a ham and a wireless communications experimenter for 20 years – including work on satellites, radar, and software-defined and all-digital radio. During the day he is a Research Electrical Engineer working on a wide range of problems, from antenna development to autonomous vehicles, and wearable systems.

Software-defined radio (SDR) is the way forward in RF experimentation. Instead of physical circuits, expensive test equipment, and bench space, you can build and iterate with a single piece of equipment and open-source software. In this presentation, he’ll go through how SDRs work, the GNURadio SDR development environment, and run through an example of ‘hacking’ a remote control.

Last week over twenty-five students joined us for an introduction to schematic design using KiCAD. Our workshops are designed so you can participate in any of them without participating in a previous one. If you are interested in attending our PCB Design Workshop this Monday (9/26) at 7 pm in Dodge 470, please fill out the form here to sign up.

I hope to see you.

 

Clubs / Emergency Communications

Go Kit Show & Tell, Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC, Norton, September 25, 2022

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Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC logoRay  Cord, K2TGX, writes on the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC mailing list:

Hello all,

Just a reminder that the Go Kit Show & Tell is on for tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 25 at 11:00AM. We will meet in the parking lot of Norton Town Hall, 70 East Main St (Route 123), Norton. The parking lot on the right side of Town Hall where all the Emergency Management trailers are. There is additional parking in the rear lot. We will have several tables for you to display your kits as well as power cords to plug into.

Hope to see you all there.

tnx 73,

Ray K2TGX <raycord@aol.com>

Youth

Blue Hill Observatory Wireless Society Organizing JOTA Event

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Blue Hill Observatory Wireless SocietyTom Ulrich, KC1OCY, writes on the Boston Amateur Radio Club mailing list:
 

I’m working with the Blue Hill Observatory Wireless Society and the local Scout council to organize a JOTA event on October 15 at their base camp in Milton; more info to come soon. I’m hearing word that local troops may be planning their own JOTA events that day as well.

73,
Tom KC1OCY
 
—
Thomas Ulrich
thomas.rm.ulrich@gmail.com
+1 (617) 571-8650
KC1OCY / WRCU734
Emergency Communications

First Air Force MARS Comm Wing Information Request: Weather Observation Stations

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MARS logoJoe Rogers, AJ1Y, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

First AFMARS Comm Wing Information is trying to identify which airport weather broadcasts that amateur radio operators can receive over the air in New England.  These broadcasts are transmitted on VHF AM.  If you visit www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/ and put in your state, you will see the frequencies for the VHF airport weather broadcasts in your state.  Check out for which ones if any you can receive the weather information from and send a message to me herein Groups.io or aj1y@arrl.net identifying the station(s) that you can receive.  Please include your email address so that we reach out to you, if necessary. 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.  Also, feel free to pass along this request to other hams in New England.

Thanks for your help,

Joe Rogers
1st AFMARS Comm Wing Information Liaison Officer
AJ1Y

Public Information

BIG E Space Chat is a “Go” on September 27, 2022

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ARRL logoFred Kemmerer, AB1OC, writes on the ARRL New England Division members list:

Hundreds of The Big E attendees and spectators will be able to watch students make a live contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from The Big E Arena on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Hams who bring an official copy of their FCC license on the day of The Big E Space Chat will receive free admission for themselves and up to 3 members of their family and friends (see Instructions for Free Admission below).

NASA Astronaut Bob Hines, KI5RQT, will contact the students via a radio link provided by amateur radio ground station ON4ISS in Belgium. The contact is organized through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). Around a dozen New England young people have been selected to participate in The BIG E Space Chat.

Please plan to arrive in time for the pre-contact program, which begins at 1:20 pm ET on Tuesday and will feature a series of videos about space, NASA, ARISS, going to Mars, and more. Pre-contact program speakers will include:

•       Gene Cassidy, CEO of the Eastern States Exposition
•       David Minster, NA2AA, ARRL CEO
•       Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, ARRL Director – New England Division
•       Bob Phinney, K5TEC, NEST President

Instructions for Free Admission

Parking and walking to The BIG E arena will take a little time, so be sure to get there early. The arena will hold well over 1,000 people. The BIG E is helping publicize the event and is arranging for TV coverage for the program and the contact. Help us get the word out!

The Big E free admission for amateur radio operators and up to three guests (maximum 4 people) is good on Space Chat Day (Tuesday, Sept. 27) only.

•       You must present an official copy of your FCC license to the Gate Captain at The Big E pedestrian gates 1A, 1B, 4, 5, 7, or 9A to receive free admission on Space Chat Day.
•       Visit http://www.arrl.org/obtain-license-copy for instructions on downloading a copy of your FCC license to print and bring with you.
•       Parking is not included.
•       The Big E is at 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, Massachusetts.

If you’re attending The Big E, visit the amateur radio booth (#103) inside Door 6 of the Better Living Center for more information. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and fellow radio club members!

You can download and print The Big E Brochure and a Fairgrounds Map. Both are available at https://www.thebige.com/p/generalinfo/bigeinfo.

Can’t come to The BIG E on Space Chat Day? 

A live video stream of the contact will be carried on the New England Sci-Tech YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdxnD8uF8t0.

For up to date information about Space Chat @ The BIG E, please visit https://nediv.arrl.org/big-e-space-chat.

——————————————————————–
ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
ab1oc@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Public Information

New England Sci-Tech Members Staff The BIG E Booth

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Sci-Tech members staff The BIG E ham radio booth
L-R: Barbara, KC1KGS; Bruce, N9JBT; Jim, WB4EJR; Bill, KA1MOM; Lorena, KC1MWH; Zachary, KC1NXK; Rusty, K1FVK; Bob, K5TEC

New England Sci-Tech enjoyed their time at the BIG E [on September 18, 2022]!  We had quite a number of club members staffing (thanks to those who stayed for the whole day). 

The group attracted attention by strategic Morse Code practice (thanks, Bruce, N9JBT)-getting youth to stop by and try their names in CW, the ISS banner, equipment (including waterfall displays), scrolling videos and our friendly faces!

The cards and flyers gave those who walked by something to refer to later. 

Thanks to all who are staffing the booth over the days of the BIG E—it’s rewarding!

Public Information

Two BIG E Volunteers Needed for September 20, 2022

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From nediv.arrl.org:

Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes on the Project Big E mailing list:

Through a scheduling error, the Big E booth is in need of at least 2 more people for the first session tomorrow/Tuesday, Sept 20th for 9:30 am through 4:00 pm.

IF you are available for all or even part of that time slot, please email Larry, W1AST immediately at W1AST@arrl.net

Thank you!

Technical

New England Division Receives ARDC RFI Equipment Grant

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From nediv.arrl.org:

ARDC has approved a request for RFI hunting equipment for each of the seven sections in the New England Division.  The funds should be received in the next few weeks and orders placed for the equipment soon after.  Included is both an antenna set and an HF/VHF/UHF transceiver with a spectrum scope.  Distribution to each section will accompany training on the equipment.  In addition, some high-end equipment will remain in the custody of the Division for sharing when needed in addition to any the ARRL Lab will provide on loan.  Any questions can be directed to Rob, k1UI, Assistant New England Director, Spectrum Protection and Use.

Clubs

W1SEX: “The Not So Secret, ARRL Benefit Program Nobody Knows About” at PART of Westford Hybrid Meeting, September 20, 2022

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PART of Westford logoGeorge Allison, K1IG, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:
 
The September PART meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, beginning at 7:30 PM at the Cameron Senior Center, 20 Pleasant Street, Westford, MA, and via Webex video conference.  For those attending via video conference, a meeting link is below; just click on the green button to join in.  You can join the conference any time after 7:00 PM to check out your gear or just rag chew until the meeting starts. Bear in mind that internet connectivity from the senior center may be unreliable. 
 
At this meeting Paul, W1SEX, will present: “The Not So Secret, ARRL Benefit Program Nobody Knows About.” For decades the ARRL has a program that very few hams know about, The ARRL Technical Coordinator Program.  Paul will re-introduce this valuable resource that is available to all ham radio operators and clubs.
 
We’ll also have an update on the December holiday dinner and discuss the poll results and options.

73,
George K1IG

 
[To request conference login information, contact George Allison, K1IG, at k1ig -at- arrl -dot- net]
 
Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox On the Air, Westford, September 16-19

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Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list:

The KD1D Fox transmitter operates on 146.565 MHz, transmitting a 25-second message every 60 seconds. 
It is currently located in the “Stepinski Parcel” adjacent to the Stony Brook Conservation land in Westford, MA.  Check out the following:

https://westfordconservationtrust.org/events/stepinski-parcel-guided-hike/

for more information on location and access. 

The KD1D Fox will be transmitting in this area from 3:30 pm from Friday, September 16 through Noon on Monday, September 19 , 

If you find it, please sign the logbook.  

Happy hunting and 73 de KD1D, Alan

Clubs

Olin Collegiate ARC Makes ISS Contact

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Int'l Space StationZachary, KC1NXK, writes on the Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:

 
It finally happened! After a failed attempt on Field Day to talk to an astronaut on the ISS, tonight I succeeded.
 
I often send out an email when the ISS is going to pass over, and we usually get a couple students to watch, but for whatever reason about 25 students came tonight! I gave my usual disclaimer, that it was unlikely we’d even hear an astronaut, but not only did we hear one, we talked to him. My guess is that it was Kjell Lindgren, since he’s been pretty active on the radio up there. Definitely a memorable moment, and a fairly proud one for me. I attached audio from the pass to this email.
 
 
73 and happy Friday,
 
Zachary, KC1NXK (operating KC1LHR, Olin’s club callsign)