Author: k9hi

Foxhunting / Operating

Bristol County RA Fox Hunt (Two Foxes), Vicinity of Fall River, MA, October 23, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Fox Hunt #3 of 2021 This hunt will include 2 Foxes. The first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM

When:
Saturday, October 23, 2021
10:00am to 3:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New York

Where:
The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).

Organizer: Skip Denault and Jay Hodkinson Skip – kb1cnb@bcra.club and Jay – kb1nyt@bcra.club. Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.

View Event

Description:

NOTICE NEW DETAILS BELOW WITH A NEW CHALLENGE!

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.

The here will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and one by KB1NYT, Jay. 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 first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second 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 3:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.

The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).

The first Fox (in my vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and will 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.

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!

Flea markets & Conventions

NEAR-Fest XXX Health and Safety Guidelines

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NEAR-Fest logoAs we get ready to return to Deerfield NH in a couple days to resume our beloved hamfest that we have all missed so much for two years it is obvious that there are some fundamental precautions we must institute in order to be in full compliance with all CDC, State and Town Departments of Public Health guidelines.  We do not want to wear out our welcome.  NEAR-FEST IS SAFE FOR ALL must be our motto!

It is our hope that everyone will have been vaccinated.  However we realize that not everyone will be.  If you have not had your shots please take extra care: wear a mask especially inside and use hand sanitizer often. We don’t want anyone getting sick at our event.

The State of New Hampshire does not currently have a mask mandate so neither does NEAR-Fest.  However, we have some common sense requests and recommendations because we want everybody to feel safe at our hamfest:

1:  We are strongly requesting that everyone wear a mask or face shield while inside the commercial buildings, when attending forums and when at the exam session.   Masks will be available at the entrance to these buildings but it is advisable to bring your own as well.  We are also strongly requesting that all attendees wear a mask when buying or presenting your admission ticket or otherwise interacting with any of our staff members.

2:  Our staff volunteers have expressed some concerns and we want them to feel comfortable helping us run the fester.  Remember we cannot do the hamfest without them. They did not volunteer to get Covid.  Many of them aren’t the young healthy kids we once were and have serious concerns about covid either personally or with immediate family members.  We are requesting that everyone put aside all political and personal views about mask wearing and wear them where we have requested out of respect for the dedicated volunteers who run this event.

We  are committed to keeping everyone safe and this request from me is part of this commitment.

3: The use of hand sanitizer is advised especially after handling any items in the flea market and commercial buildings.  We will have hand sanitizer in automatic dispensers as well as masks available at the entrances to the buildings. 

Additionally, we ask that all attendees attempt to maintain a distance of six feet (or two metres) from others as much as possible and avoid crowding others at flea market and commercial vendor tables.  I know this is difficult especially if there is “good stuff cheap”.

These are still difficult and trying times.  We are glad to be back running the hamfest again but the world has changed in the past 18 months and we must change with it.  We appreciate your cooperation which is particularly important because we want to continue holding the hamfest while assuring the local community that we pose a minimal health threat with our presence.

HELP MAKE NEAR-FEST SAFE FOR ALL! 

Stay well!

MisterMike, W1RC, and the entire NEAR-Fest gang

Public Information / Youth

New England Sci-Tech ARS Crew to Participate in JOTA, Lexington, October 16, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

JOTA-JOTI logoTate Aldridge, K1MKD, writes:

With Bruce [N9JBT], Mindy [KM1NDY], and Marc’s help (and flyers from Rusty and Bob), we are hosting a Jamboree On The Air for scouts in Lexington. We will have several radios out and will be making contacts and educating scouts about amateur radio. We would be very happy to see you there!

https://www.jotajoti.info/
Lexington Visitor Center lawn, Lexington, MA
Saturday Oct 16
Scouts are coming from 1-4 and we start set up around 11 – STARS friends are welcome any time!

73,
Tate, K1MKD

Clubs

KM1P: “Contesting Preparation for STARS” at Sci-Tech ARS, October 12, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on October 12, 2021 at 7 PM and feature Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P,  who will present on “Contesting Preparation for STARS.” Joe will briefly discuss those opportunities and provide guidance and resources. 
 
Joe is a STARS member, is an avid contester, was #1 USA Single Operator in the 2021 ARRL DX contest, and holds an Amateur Extra license.
Public Service

Baystate Marathon/Half-Marathon Support, October 17, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on mass-ares-races-skywarn-general mailing list:
 
For a number of reasons, past volunteers are a little short so far, so I am once more asking for volunteers. 
 
This is a pretty easy event relaying back to “Net Control” bib numbers of the runners who have required transportation off of the course for what ever issue. We collect those numbers and make sure the families are able to find where their runner is if they did not see them on the course. 
 
The role we play is very much a “health and welfare” service, a fundamental piece of what Amateur Radio is all about!
 
All you need to bring with you is a 2 meter portable radio. Most locations you could even bring your own fold up camp chair (make sure but is well marked as yours!) and set up shop at a fixed location.
 
There is a general requirement that all volunteers be wearing mask and to be vaccinated. 
 
I’ll be meeting with race officials tomorrow and may have additional information.
 
Please let me know if you need more info or would like to volunteer!
 
Thanks for your consideration!
Terry
Terry M Stader KA8SCP <ka8scp@wb1gof.org>
Operating / Youth

Possible JOTA Effort at Southeastern MA ARA, October 15-17, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Southeastern MA ARA logoDoug Belcher, KC1NFL, writes on the Southeastern MA ARA mailing list:

This coming weekend 10/15-17 is the Scouting World Wide Jamboree On The Air and Internet. There will be scouts from all over the world tying to connect with each other. Are there any members who would be able to help me get the Scouts on the Air this Friday from 5-8 at the club?  I will also be having a Zoom session with Rob Macedo to go over SKYWARN, ARES, and RACES. I’m hoping to get some new hams out of this by offering HT Baofengs to any scout who gets their Tech license.

73!
Doug Belcher
KC1NFL

Flea markets & Conventions

NEAR-Fest is October 15-16, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Michael Crestohl, W1RC, writes:

NEAR-Fest logoAttention All Units!  NEAR-Fest XXX is Next Weekend… We Are Back Live and Online!

We are pleased to announce that NEAR-Fest XXX will begin at 0900 on Friday, October 15, 2021.  It will be a hybrid event both live at the Deerfield (NH) Fairgrounds and online worldwide via Zoom.  
 
For more information follow these links:
 
General Information:  https://near-fest.com/
 
Don’t miss our “Town Meetimg” candidates for ARRL New England Director forum!
 
 
 
Divisive issue to be sure but let’s all respect each other’s wishes to keep everyone safe.  
 
It has been a long two years…
 
73,
 
MisterMike, W1RC
Benevolent Dictator,
New England Amateur Radio Festival, Inc.
Foxhunting / Operating

K1MJC Fox is On the Loose in Waltham, October 8, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 2:40 PM on October 8, 2021:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out yet again!

Got out of work early, so it’s out early.

Well, I checked the weather and decided to take a chance it’s looking OK, perhaps maybe some sprinkles Sunday afternoon.

The fox is in somewhere in a conservation area within the city limits of Waltham, MA.

I don’t want to give away the  store, but it is within one I have placed it before!

As usual, it will be retrieved before sundown Sunday; if raining, sometime Monday. Maybe the batteries will last until at least Monday morning.

One of the maps on this page would prove useful!

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

Happy hunting!

Mike C. K1MJC 73

p.s. — If the clue is way too vague, I can usually be found on the Waltham UHF repeater,  input 444.0750, output 449.0750, tone in 88.5, tone out , none.

Public Service

Boston ARC Repeaters to Support Boston Marathon

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Boston ARC logoJoe Harris, N1QD, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:

On Monday October 11, 2021, both the 145.23 and 449.175 repeaters will be in use supporting the Boston Marathon. The DMR repeater will not be connected to the standard NEDECN network during the event. Please defer to Marathon traffic throughout the day.
 
Additionally, the DMR repeater will be disconnected from the NEDECN network starting this weekend to allow for Marathon communications testing. The Monday night DMR net will be also taking a week off and will be back on the 18th.
 
Thank you for your continued support, and thank you to all volunteers who are working the event! 
 
73 
Joe Harris, N1QD 
W1BOS Repeater Trustee 
BARC Vice President 
Clubs / Foxhunting

KB1CNB: “Fox Hunting” at Boston Amateur Radio Club Meeting Online, October 21, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Boston ARC logoPlease note that this month’s General Meeting of the Boston Amateur Radio Club will take place at the usual date and time on Thursday, October 21, at 7:30 pm on the Zoom teleconferencing platform. Our speaker will be Skip Denault, KB1CNB, from the Bristol [County] Repeater Association, who will give a talk on fox hunting, equipment and set up.

Further details will be forthcoming in this month’s issue of The SPARC.

73,

Joe Chapman NV1W / Secretary, Boston Amateur Radio Club

Clubs

K1KI: “New England QSO Party” at Algonquin ARC Meeting, October 14, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

AARC logoJust a reminder that the October Algonquin ARC meeting is next Thursday, 10/14, at 7:30 p.m.  We will be meeting both in the school library and on Zoom.  Zoom link will follow closer to the meeting.

Our guest speaker for the October meeting will be Tom Frenaye, K1KI, speaking about the New England QSO Party.  

[For Zoom information, email mdpowell -at- dmpowell -dot- net.]
Public Information

KM1NDY Featured on Pittsfield Community TV, WTBR-FM, October 13, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Mindy Hull,  KM1NDY, South Boston, will be the featured guest on Ham On!, simulcast on Pittsfield Community Television and WTBR-FM 89.7 on October 13, 2021 at 9 AM.  The early morning program is produced and moderated by Western MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Peter Mattice, KD2JKV.
 
Mindy will speak on a wide variety of topics including: Summits On The Air (SOTA); Parks On The Air (POTA); her work with New England Sci-Tech in Natick, MA; and operating in Winter Field Day. 
 
The show will also be available as a podcast.
 
Clubs

KC2G: “Propagation Website” at YCCC Meeting, October 6, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

YCCC logoKen Caruso, WO1N, writes on the YCCC mailing list:

The formal meeting time is [October 6, 2021 at] 7:00PM – 9:00PM.

YCCC Member Andrew – KC2G will be giving a presentation on the propagation website he developed:

Prop.kc2g.com <https://prop.kc2g.com/>

Additionally, you may find the presentation by Jose – CT1BOH from the 2021 Spring Contest University interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-esob7BPtc

Check out Jose’s presentation that starts at the 5hr:39min mark and see how he used the data presented on Andrew’s site to improve his analysis/prediction of potential DX paths.

73,

Ken – WO1N

[Contact Ken at wo1n -at- arrl -dot- net for Zoom information]
Technical

Andy’s Ham Radio Linux Software Update, Version 24e

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

linux penguin logoAndy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

I have just released version 24e of the “Andy’s Ham Radio Linux” software collection.  This is the 20th release since I started this work in 2011.  There are quite a few new pieces of software, as well as all of the other programs to which you’ve become accustomed.

To learn more: https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/

Have fun and 73!

Operating / Youth

W0MXX Balloon Launch, Cummington, MA, October 2, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Seth Kendall writes on the STARS mailing list:

Max [W0MXX] and family are tentatively targeting a launch of our latest high altitude balloon on:

Saturday, Sept. 25th  October 2, 2021

TENTATIVE launch location: Around Stafford, CT Cummington, MA

Note: This will change on the morning of launch, so keep an eye out for posts!
Launch prep begins at 9:30 am with a launch time at around Noon.

(If Saturday is scrubbed, we will shoot for Sunday, and if that’s scrubbed, then next weekend. We will try to keep this thread updated.)

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Pick and choose from…

  1. Come to the Launch!  

    1. We start our prep at 9:30 am and aim to launch by noon.

    2. Keep an eye on our posts on the morning of launch for an updated location.

    3. Stream the prep and launch action for those that can’t make it using your phone.  We’ve never done this before, but always been interested, since most people aren’t able to come in person.  Our discord server has a Voice Hangout section that could be used for this, though we’re fine with any platform. (this is not expected if you show up haha, just a fun idea)

  1. Track the balloon online!

    1. https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FW0MXX-11&timerange=3600&tail=3600 

      1. This gives live updates directly from the transmitter.

    2. https://tracker.habhub.org/

      1. This is very useful for us, because it will give a predicted landing location.  As it gets close to landing, we can really benefit from people tracking it here, and letting us know where to look.  You can post locations here on groups.io, or if you are tracking it live and able to talk, give us your phone number to keep in touch while we’re on the road.

    3. Join our discord server for the most frequent updates.  We’d love to have you there in general as we work on weather balloons and try to troubleshoot problems!  It’s especially useful on launch day though.

      1. Step 1 – Make a Discord account:  http://discord.com/app 

      2. Step 2 – Join our server.  This invite will expire in 7 days:

https://discord.gg/fQRpHG8n 

  1. Watch this thread on groups.io, or better yet, track the balloon and contribute to it!

  2. Come track the landing beacon!

    1. Bring your 2m mag mount antenna, SDR, and laptop (with wifi access – we use our phone as a mobile hotspot), and try to pick up those final beacons just before (or after) it hits the ground (read: tree).  This can really help us to pinpoint where it actually landed.

    2. Max will post tomorrow with more details about using HDSDR and Direwolf to receive, decode, and publish the GPS data online.

    3. Keep up to date on the predicted landing location using tracker.habhub.org (above) or just tuning into others’ posts on our Discord or groups.io.  I’m not sure where people will post, but we find Discord easier for these kinds of things. 

  1. Come help us physically search for and recover it.

    1. Keep up to date on landing location via groups.io

    2. We’ll agree on a meeting point from which to conduct the search.

    3. Bring some basic survival stuff

      1. Boots, bug spray, water, etc.

    4. Bring your handheld to maintain contact during the search!

    5. We have a slingshot, and are trying to grab a fishing reel in time in order to try and fish it out of a tree should the cutdown system not work.  If you have any other tools you think could help with that, bring em!

    6. If you are a tree climber, bring your gear!  We’ll put you to use!

 

 
We’ve seemed to zero into a final launch location:
 
William Cullen Bryant Homestead
207 Bryant Rd
Cummington, MA 01026 
Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox is Transmitting, Westford, MA, October 1, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on October 1, 2021 at 4:29 PM: 
 

The KD1D Fox is on the air: 146.565 MHz FM, transmitting for about 20-30 seconds every 60 seconds

You may be able to hear it from the Westford Town Common (Boston Road and Main Street), but you may have better luck taking a bearing from the park near the top of Parkhurst Drive.

The approximate location is One of the Conservation Lands listed at:
https://westfordconservationtrust.org/trust-land/

73 and Happy Hunting from Alan, KD1D

 
Clubs

New England Sci-Tech ARS / Wellesley ARS Joint Meeting, September 28, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
The New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society and the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society will hold a joint online and in-person meeting on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at 7 PM at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick MA 01760, Telephone: 508-319-9592.
 
The STARS radio room will be open from 5:00-7:00 PM with informal radio activities.
 
The joint meeting with the Wellesley ARS will begin at 7:00 PM.  Jeremy KB1REQ will demonstrate cabling kits. 
Refreshments will be served.
 
Flea markets & Conventions

NEAR-Fest is ON! October 15-16, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NEAR-Fest logoMichael Crestohl, W1RC, writes:

NEAR-FEST XXX is ON!  We are looking forward to seeing all our friends, new and old, after a very long two-year absence at Deerfield at 0900 on Friday October 15th.

Although there are no state or local mandates we want everybody to feel safe at NEAR-Fest.  We are asking all attendees to bring their own masks and hand sanitizer.   PLEASE respect the wishes of others and wear a mask when inside any of our buildings and observe a 10’ or 2m distance from others whenever possible.  We also request that you don your mask when interacting with any member of our staff, inside or outside.  They have expressed their concerns.  Remember if we didn’t have them we could not do NEAR-Fest! Kindly honor their wishes.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate.  Admission is $15 per person and $10 for inside parking which includes flea market selling space.  You can save $5 on your admission tickets if you buy them in advance.  They are available BY MAIL (do not mail later than Monday October 5th)Mail to NEAR-Fest, 316 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead MA 01945, checks or amo payable to NEAR-Fest and a self-addressed stamped envelope.  Also available in person at Ham Radio Outlet in Salem NH and at Ross W1EKG’s clock shop, 40 Walnut Street in Whitman MA.

We look forward to our “Grand Homecoming”.  It has been a very long two years.

73,

MisterMike, W1RC

PS: Don’t forget to attend the ARRL Division Director candidates “Town Hall” meeting on Friday.   See our web site www.near-fest.com for details.