Author: k9hi

Public Service

Amateur Radio Communications Support for Buzzards Bay Triathlon, Westport, September 18, 2022

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Valerie Moore, KC1COQ, writes:
 
[The Worcester Emergency Communications Team] was recently asked to organize amateur radio communications support for a Triathlon this Sunday September 18th in Horseneck Beach State Park and the Town of Westport. 
 
Would any of your members be interested in volunteering?
 
We support three other triathlons for these same organizers, and have a good system going.  However, this one is outside of our normal operating area. It also happens to land directly on top of another event we are supporting in Wayland. So we thought it doubly worthwhile to check and see if those a little more local would also be interested in volunteering.
 
The amateur radio volunteer meeting is at 8 am, and depending on assignments we expect stations to secure between noon and 1:30 pm.  More information can be found here:  https://wect.org/news/view/166/two-volunteer-events-on-sunday-sep-18th-2022-looking-for-volunteers 
 
73,
 
Valerie Moore KC1COQ
WECT President
Organization

N1ILZ To Become Eastern MA Section Manager Effective January 1, 2023

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ARRL logoTom Walsh, K1TW, writes:

I am very pleased to add my congratulations to Jon Mc Combie, N1ILZ. 

ARRL announced [on September 9] that Jon, N1ILZ, will assume the role of ARRL Section Manager for Eastern Massachusetts beginning January 1.  There should be a formal announcement from ARRL in the coming few days.

Jon brings a great enthusiasm and level of experience to the job, and I couldn’t be happier than to leave Jon at the helm when my term ends in just a few months.  Please join me in wishing Jon great success.  

I will of course help Jon through the transition so he will be ready.  Give him great support.  

I thank you all for the support I received the last eight years.

73,

Tom K1TW

Technical

KM1P Featured in ARRL Letter Article about OMOTENASHI

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Boston amateur and AMSAT member Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, is mentioned in the September 8, 2022 issue of The ARRL Letter. He describes a tool called JPL Horizons, an online solar system data and computation service that provides access to key solar system data for solar system objects such as asteroids, planetary satellites, planets, the Sun, and select spacecraft:

From The ARRL Letter:

When NASA’s Artemis I rocket launches for its mission to the moon this month, you’ll be able to track it using 70-centimeter beacons known as Outstanding MOon exploration TEchnologies demonstrated by NAno Semi-Hard Impactors (OMOTENASHIs).

Omotenashi is Japanese for welcome or hospitality, and it describes the 70-centimeter beacons as small spacecraft and semi-hard landers of the 6U CubeSat format which will demonstrate low-cost technology to land and explore the lunar surface. OMOTENASHI will be one of 10 CubeSats to be carried with the Artemis I mission.

Brian Wilkins, KO4AQF, says that with the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW), anyone with internet access can pinpoint where Orion is and track its distance from the Earth, its distance from the moon, the mission duration, and more. AROW is available on NASA’s website and Twitter account. AROW visualizes data collected by sensors on Orion that are sent to the Johnson Space Center’s Mission Control Center in Houston during its flight. It will provide periodic real-time data beginning about 1 minute after liftoff through the separation of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, approximately 2 hours into flight.

Once Orion is flying on its own, AROW will provide constant real-time information. On the web, users can follow AROW to see where Orion is in relation to the Earth and the moon, and follow Orion’s path during the mission. Users can view key mission milestones and characteristics on the moon, including information about landing sites from the Apollo program. Also available for download will be an ephemeris, which provides trajectory data from the flight.

AROW will also provide a set of Orion’s state vectors — data that describes precisely where Orion is in space and how it moves — for inclusion in these tweets once Orion is flying on its own. These vectors can be used for data lovers, artists, and creatives to make their own tracking app, data visualization, or anything else they envision. For more information, read https://www.nasa.gov/feature/track-nasa-s-artemis-i-mission-in-real-time/.

AMSAT member Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, adds a second online tool, called Horizons. The JPL Horizons online solar system data and computation service provides access to key solar system data and flexible production of highly accurate locations for solar system objects such as asteroids, planetary satellites, planets, the Sun, and select spacecraft. Horizons is provided by the Solar System Dynamics Group of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Fitzgerald says to use “OMOTENASHI” as the Target Body. You can find information and the online app at https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.

— Thanks to Brian Wilkins, KO4AQF; Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P; NASA; JPL Horizons, and AMSAT.

Awards / Clubs

Cape Ann ARA Receives $25,000 ARRL Foundation Grant to Develop Robust STEM Offering

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Photo of CAARA clubhouseThe Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association (CAARA) has been named the recipient of a $25,000 grant from the ARRL Foundation to develop a robust STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education offering for radio amateurs and residents in the community it serves.
 
According to CAARA president Brandon Hockle, NQ1W, “We will use the funds to modernize the presentation and training space of our Stanwood Street clubhouse along the Annisquam river in Gloucester MA, including upgrading our classroom projector, public address system for teachers, electronics workstations, soldering irons, training computers, usb oscilloscopes, Arduinos, and more. The grant will also enhance accessibility to the clubhouse for our mobility-impaired members and attendees.”
 
Hockle says the CAARA board of directors will meet on Sept 24, 2022 to discuss the plans with the membership.
 
“We are excited to provide multiple free monthly classes for hams looking to earn or upgrade their license, for students wishing to learn about microcontrollers like Arduino, introductory electronics, and other topics.”
 

“It is our sincere hope that we can use these fun and popular courses to entice new hams to get their licenses, allow older hams to mentor and train new hams, and generally increase the enthusiasm and engagement of people on our community with radio and electronics,” he adds.

“We can’t wait to show the community what great service CAARA can provide, thanks to the generosity of the ARRL. We cannot thank them and all the ARRL members enough for providing this program of funding for clubs.”
Clubs

Barnstable ARC Awarded ARRL Club Grant to Develop Amateur Radio Program at Boy Scout Camp

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Barnstable ARC logoThe Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the ARRL Foundation to develop an amateur radio station at Camp Greenough to serve the Cape & Islands Boy Scouts of America.

The funds will allow the club to:

• construct, operate and maintain an Amateur Radio Station at Camp Greenough
• expose scouts, guests and leaders to Amateur Radio
• demonstrate the public and emergency capabilities of Amateur Radio
• provide Merit Badge training
• provide Amateur Radio license training and licensing exams

diagram of proposed radio equipment

“BARC provided the initial commitment of funds. The club then received commitments of assistance from Eversource, Comcast, FEW LLC (general contractor), and Avery Electric.  No funding was required from the Boy Scouts of America or Camp Greenough for the project,” says BARC President Norm Cantin, WA1NLG.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to build a station at the Camp. We are meeting with the scout leadership this weekend to work out the details and to start the project.”

Aerial view/plans of the camp

Clubs

K6LCS: “How to Work Amateur Satellites With Your HT” at the Boston Amateur Radio Club Meeting Online, September 15, 2022

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Boston ARC logoThe Boston Amateur Radio Club will hold its September General Meeting on the Zoom Teleconferencing Platform on Thursday, September 15. The Zoom room will open at 7:00 pm for a period of socializing, and the meeting proper will begin at 7:30.

Our speaker is Clint Bradford, K6LCS, presenting “How to Work Amateur Satellites with Your HT.” You do not need 100W of transmit power nor expensive antenna arrays to work the FM voice amateur satellites! Many hams already have the necessary equipment to “work the birds.” This presentation will walk you through ALL the steps needed to successfully work several ham satellites – including the International Space Station.

Clint K6LCS has been a ham since 1994, and found his niche in the hobby: working amateur satellites with minimal equipment and telling ALL about it! He has served a liaison between NASA, the ARISS team, and schools coordinating amateur radio contacts between the International Space Station and students (and also orchestrated a wildly successful ARISS contact). Audiences have never found his presentation slides “wordy” nor dull. Trivia questions are included throughout the session – audiences are never bored.

For reference materials, Clint has created a support Web site at work-sat.com.The Web site has become a one-stop source for ALL the citations and equipment recommendations and software suggestions made in the presentation.

Professionally, Clint was sales manager for ADI / Premier Communications / Pryme, worked for a Motorola commercial two-way dealer a couple of years, and for Ham Radio Outlet a couple more. He resides in Jurupa Valley, California, with his wife, Karen, and their rescued lab, Freja (FRAY-ya).

This will be a “perfect storm” meeting, as the club President, Vice President, and Secretary will all be unable to attend, so there will be no business portion of the meeting.

73,

Joe Chapman NV1W / Secretary, Boston Amateur Radio Club

 
 
Foxhunting / Operating

Bristol County Repeater Association Fox Practice & Hunt, Fall River Vicinity, September 10 & 17, 2022

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Bristol Co. RA club bannerSkip Denault, KB1CNB, writes:

Fox Practice – September 10, 2022

If you want to try out your equipment or just hone your skills there will be a fox active at Skip’s QTH 443 President Avenue, Fall River, MA (Latitude 41.71545°; Longitude -71.14864°) on Saturday, September 10, from 10am-4pm. I will be monitoring the Fall River repeater (145.150 MHz PL 123) if you have questions or you get here and want a tea, coffee (Hot or cold) or water. This is not a hunt – after all, I told you where it will be – this is just practice, if you want it!

BCRA Fox Hunt – September 17, 2022

When:
09/17/2022
10:00am to 2:30pm

Where:
5 mile radius from 25 Church St, Swansea MA — ONLY a 5 mile radius from our usual club meeting location.

Organizer: Skip Denault kb1cnb@bcra.club 774-644-3469

View Event

Description:

Bristol County Repeater Association
 
The next BCRA Fox Hunt has been scheduled!
 
 
Saturday, September 17, 2022
 
NOTICE NEW DETAILS BELOW WITH A NEW CHALLENGE! —  The radius is only 5 miles from the center point.
 
* Time: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm  — check-in starts at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123

* Location: The Foxes will be located within a 5 – mile radius from 25 Church St, Swansea MA
 A five-mile radius from our usual club meeting location.
 (41.724190, -71.202080).
 
* Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM 
  Fox2 will activate at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM 

After the Fox Hunt, participants, friends, and anyone interested will have the option to gather at a nearby restaurant for food and refreshments.  There is no obligation, but many members have indicated an interest in gathering post Fox Hunt to discuss the event and see how everyone made out.  You will be notified of the restaurant’s location when you find the final Fox or at 2:30 PM. 

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 will 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 2:30 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.
 
The Foxes will be located within a  5 – mile radius from 25 Church St, Swansea MA,  (41.724190, -71.202080).

 A five-mile radius from our usual club meeting location.

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!
Clubs

KB1OIQ: “Andy’s Ham Radio Linux” at Billerica Amateur Radio Society Online Meeting, September 7, 2022

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Billerica ARS logoThe Billerica Amateur Radio Society meets at 7:00 PM on September 7, 2022. The meeting will feature a talk by Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, entitled “Andy’s Ham Radio Linux”, a popular Free and Open Source Software collection based on Ubuntu Linux and tailored for amateur radio users. 

Andy Stewart (KB1OIQ) joined the hobby in 2007 and holds an Amateur Extra license. He has been involved with the Linux community since 1997. Andy has a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (focus on computer engineering) from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). By day, Andy builds and uses computer simulations to test digital logic circuits. By night, he can be found doing ham radio projects, FT8, 2m phone, casual DXing, and vintage radio restoration.
 

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

 
 
 
Public Service

Baystate Marathon and Half-Marathon, October 16, 2022

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Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

Hello potential Baystate Marathon volunteers.

This year’s Baystate Marathon and Half-Marathon race is scheduled for Sunday, October 16, 2022.

Amateur Radio operators have been asked once again to support the Baystate Marathon and Half Marathon. This year the event is on Sunday, October 16th. Our operational time period is from approximately 0700 until event completion (estimated 1400). Our assistance has been requested by Lowell Office of Emergency Management and Lowell Fire Department. The communications team will be employing Amateur Radio to provide this communications asset.

Amateur Radio will be used for:

      * Accountability net: the purpose of this net is to coordinate with a race public information booth the status of runners who are unable to complete the race for any issue to any one is seeking this information.

Race info may be found at http://baystatemarathon.com. Course map is found at https://www.baystatemarathon.com/course-map-description

Please contact me if you can assist or would like more information.

Please share with others that may be interested. This is a pretty laid back event and suitable for first time public event participation.

Terry-KA8SCP

Terry M. Stader – KA8SCP
MEMA Region 1 RACES Officer
ARRL ARES Eastern MA District Emergency Coordinator for Region 1 RACES

Public Information

Additional Volunteers Sought for Project Big E, West Springfield MA

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Project Big E logoLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

The Big E is coming up fast and the first day is Friday, September 16th.

As of now, there are 12 clubs and around 110 people signed up to staff the ham radio booth. We are looking for a few more to help us lock down the schedule. Are you available on any of these dates and times?

Each day is broken into two sessions. The first runs 9:30 am through 4 :00 pm and the second runs 3:30 pm through 10:00 pm. The overlap is to help the new arrivals for the 2nd session learn what had been working during the first session so they could continue. The sessions are named Session 1 and Session 2.

Here is where we need volunteers as of right now:
Monday, Sept 19, session 1 – need 2 people
Monday, Sept 19, session 2 – need 3 people
Tuesday, Sept 20, session 2 – need 3 people
Sunday, Sept 25, session 2 – need 3 people
Tuesday, Sept 27, session 2 – need 4 people
Friday, Sept 30, session 2 – need 3 people
Saturday, Oct 1, session 1 – needs 1 person
Sunday, Oct 2 (Final Day), session 1 – needs 2 people
Sunday, Oct 2 (Final session), session 2 – needs 2 people
Are you available to help? If yes, please volunteer or add a session to what you have already volunteered for.

As a reminder, everyone that volunteers will have their Big E fairgrounds parking reimbursed and their admission reimbursed (or free tickets provided to them).

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9_iH1ZucHuCFCNwreEuVPWnmLOT5D_s92vHPuEUASS78Tew/viewform

Learn more here: https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e

I hope you are available to help us lock in these last few days of the schedule for the ham radio booth.

Thank you and 73,

Larry, W1AST

Clubs

ARRL Foundation Grants $270,000 to Amateur Radio Clubs

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From ARRL News:

08/31/2022 – The new ARRL Foundation Club Grant Program, funded by a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), has awarded $270,000 to radio clubs that participated in the first round of applications.

The Club Grant Program, introduced earlier this year, includes $500,000 to be awarded to radio clubs with projects that will have the most impact on amateur radio, the community, and the future of radio technology. The grants will fund transformative projects that encourage the growth of active amateur radio operators and training opportunities, education programs for student groups and schools, and club revitalization. A second round of applications to award the program’s remaining funding will open on September 7, 2022.

Twenty-four clubs were notified on Monday, August 29, that they are receiving grants. The ARRL Foundation received 128 applications in the first round, with requests totaling $1.74 million. The selection committee noted that it was difficult work deciding from many high-quality grant proposals considering the finite available funds. Radio clubs that did not receive grants in the first round may revise and resubmit applications in the second round.

An informational webinar will serve as an orientation to the program, providing information on how to apply. The webinar will take place on September 7 at 7 PM Eastern Time. Please register in advance to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar:

Webinar: ARRL Club Grant Program | Round Two Kickoff
When: September 7, 2022 at 7 PM Eastern Time
Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PezTqPKCTzuwy58FWWgJ3A

The ARRL Foundation, established in 1973 by ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®, administers the Club Grant Program. ARRL has long recognized that it is in the best interests of amateur radio to encourage and support amateur radio clubs. Clubs historically have recruited, licensed, and trained new radio amateurs and have provided the community setting for them to continue their education and training.

The new Club Grant Program will help clubs more easily provide and expand their important services. More information about the program can be found on the ARRL Foundation website at www.arrl.org/club-grant-program.

Clubs

Barnstable ARC to Receive ARRL Club Grant

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Barnstable ARC logoNorm Cantin, WA1NLG, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:

I just received some terrific news. [The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club] will be receiving a $25k grant from the ARRL to build an Amateur radio station at Camp Greenough for the Boy Scouts of America!  BARC is extremely pleased to have received this grant from the ARRL to use for such a worthy cause. 

I would like to thank all the folks who helped prepare the Grant submission and look for everyone’s support to execute our plan flawlessly.  Congratulations all!

The BARC Board of Directors will meet this weekend to review our plan in preparation to receive the Grant and reporting requirements from the ARRL.  We will provide an update at the September membership meeting on Monday.

73, Norm
WA1NLG

Clubs / Emergency Communications

“Cape & Islands Emergency Communications System Working Group” at Barnstable ARC Hybrid Meeting, September 5, 2022

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Barnstable ARC logoThe Barnstable Amateur RadioClub will meet  in-person on September 5, 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, Tom, KB1KCQ, with Lem W1LEM, Frank WQ1O, Bruce WASSWJ and Jason, KC1MLQ will present a joint presentation by the Cape & Islands Emergency Communications System (CAIECS) working group

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

W8TEE, AC8GY: “Building an HF CW/SSB 20W Software Defined Transceiver” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, August 30, 2022

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New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on August 30, 2022 at 7 PM and feature: “Building an HF CW/SSB 20W Software Defined Transceiver” by Jack Purdum, W8TEE and Albert Peter, AC8GY.
 
In this talk, Al and Jack will discuss their development of a SDT, which had its beginnings for them during Field Day 2019. Using a G90 running 15W to an EFHW thrown up into a tree, Portugal, Spain, France, and numerous stations in the U.S. were contacted. Jack and Al concluded that using low power SSB during FD was viable. The G90 suffered from various drawbacks, however, so they began designing the T41 on the drive home. Their design goals were: 1) Five band HF SDT – 80-10M; 2) SSB and CW; 3) Fuzzy QRP – user selectable power from 1-20W; 4) Self-contained – no PC, laptop, or tablet; 5) “Trunk Portable” – probably too big for SOTA, but okay for POTA; 6) Reasonable cost; and 7) Open Source – hardware and software.
 
Al Peter’s educational background is in Physics and Engineering, with degrees from University of Cincinnati and University of Michigan. Al has been an electronics builder/experimenter since high school, and earned his Extra Class license in 2010. He was founder and CEO of SDRC, a major consulting firm specializing in Mechanical CAD and related engineering and manufacturing software. He is co-author of Microcontroller Projects for Amateur Radio (ARRL) and Software Defined Radio Transceiver: Theory and Construction of the T41-EP Software Defined Transceiver. Al has a number of published articles on technical/amateur radio subjects in various magazines including QST, RadCom, and QRPQ.
 
Dr. Purdum has a Ph.D. in Economics and has been licensed since 1954. He was the founder and President of Ecosoft, a software house. He has authored 20 books, mostly on programming topics, and over three dozen articles in various publications (QST, CQ, QRP Quarterly, RadCom, etc). He and Al were awarded the Bennett Prize by the Radio Society of Great Britain “…to recognize a significant contribution or innovation which furthers the art of radio communication…” for their article on their Double-Double Magnetic Loop antenna. Dr. Purdum is an avid supporter of the Open Source initiative and QRP radio operations.
 
[For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.]
Youth

RAO to Launch New Amateur Radio Learning Program for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Students with Support from ARDC

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Nico Bezzerides, KC1PNP, writes on the STARS-radio mailing list:

I just saw this (https://public.nrao.edu/news/nrao-receives-ardc-ham-radio-grant/) and I thought this was really cool. There may even be an opportunity for us to partner with this project in order to fulfill their “connection with amateur radio clubs” requirement.

—
“Following a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the National Science Foundation‘s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will soon launch a two-year project to engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students in learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and the excitement of amateur— also called ham— radio. The new project, Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS), is expected to offer its first student-facing trainings in January 2023.

ARDC selected EMS because of NRAO’s proven track record in supporting underrepresented minority students in the sciences by combining mentoring and instruction from content experts with best practices in equity.

As a part of NRAO’s broader impacts-focused SuperKnova learning platform, EMS will combine the expertise of NRAO staff, amateur radio enthusiasts, and other subject matter experts to develop a scalable and shareable curriculum, introduce students to EMS and radio technologies through hands-on activities, and support students in attaining technical and general class licenses in amateur radio.

Amateur radio provides a hands-on entry point to understanding the radio spectrum and its practical uses, including communications, astronomy, and community emergency infrastructure and response. Early support and engagement with amateur radio has the potential to create pathways for students to a future career or lifelong hobby in the sciences. The $315,123 ARDC grant will allow NRAO to develop and execute the program for two cohorts of students. It will also result in the development of a nine-month EMS curriculum that will be freely available to school groups, community clubs, and educational institutions.

NRAO Director Tony Beasley said, “Amateur radio continues to be incredibly important to the nation and global communications, and NRAO is excited to be working with ARDC to bring a new generation and diverse communities to the field.”

73

Nico, KC1PNP

Clubs

AB2IX: “Test Bench” at Framingham ARA Hybrid Meeting, September 1, 2022

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Framingham ARA logoJohn Iwuc, KB1VXY, writes on the Framingham ARA mailing list:

We have our first hybrid meeting of the autumn season this Thursday [September 1, 2022] at 7:00 pm at the main Framingham library.  After a short business meeting we will have a presentation by Adrian Zeffert, AB2IX, on the “Test Bench.”

This is a hybrid meeting. You can view it on Zoom by registering below.  But we will also have a meeting room with AV set up at the main Framingham library in the first room on the right as you come in from the parking lot. 

Even if you plan to come live, please consider registering as it helps with the head count.

John KB1VXY

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

Public Service

Call for Amateur Radio Operators to Support the 1 Oct 2022 Cycle for Life Charity Event Supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

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Eric Balles, W1ENB, writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list:

Original call for volunteers sent by Dave Gilman (KC1DDH):

Good morning everyone.

The 2022 Cycle for Life is coming up on Saturday October 1, 2022 and I am in need of Amateur Radio operators to volunteer for SAG (Support & Gear) operations and if there is sufficient quantity of volunteers we will also be staffing the rest stops.

For those who have not worked this event before, it is a charity bicycle ride starting and finishing in Holliston, Massachusetts. Funds raised benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in their quest for a cure.

There are three routes: a 12-mile, 30-mile and 62-mile loop and four rest stops traversing several towns around Holliston.

If you are available to help out please fill out this form and I will be in touch with more details as the date gets closer.
VOLUNTEER SIGN UP LINK

Thank You,
Dave Gilman KC1DDH
Course Safety & Communications Coordinator
KC1DDH@Gmail.com

Foxhunting / Operating

Double Fox Hunt, Belmont & Waltham, August 20-21

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

This weekend, K1MJC and I are once again putting our foxes out in the same general area.  They will be within two adjoining conservation areas:

  • Rock Meadow, Belmont, MA
  • Beaver Brook Reservation North, Waltham, MA (accessible from Rock Meadow by foot bridge)

Fox #1
Call:  K1MJC
Frequency:  146.565 MHz

Fox #2
Call:  W1MJ
Frequency:  147.540 MHz

Both foxes will be on the air from 10 AM Saturday until 5 PM on Sunday.  The best place to park for both foxes is the Rock Meadow parking area on Mill St. in Belmont.  If the lot is full, parallel parking on Mill St. is allowed, or you can use the Lone Tree Hill lot just up the street.

The following link shows a map of the area containing both foxes.  The Western Greenway Trail crosses a wooden bridge from the back-left-corner of Rock Meadow into Beaver Brook Reservation North:

https://www.trailforks.com/region/rock-meadow-conservation-area-belmont/?activitytype=1&z=16.0&lat=42.40183&lon=-71.20170

73,

Eliot, W1MJ

Public Information

CNN: “8-year-old girl chats with ISS astronaut using ham radio”

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Isabella Payne spoke with ISS astronaut Kjell LindgrenFrom nediv.arrl.org:

London (CNN) – When Isabella Payne heads back to elementary school in September, she’s going to have the best “what I did in my vacation” story to tell.

In a tale of “right place, right time,” the 8-year-old girl from Kent in southeast England spoke with American astronaut Kjell Lindgren aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using her dad’s ham radio.