Author: k9hi

Licensing Education & Training

KD1CY: “Amateur Radio VoIP” at RATPAC Online, March 31, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

RATPAC logoRATPAC’s scheduled Wednesday’s March 31, 2021 Zoom presentation will be at:  

9:00 PM AST / 9:00 PM EDT / 8:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM MDT / 6:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM AKDT / 3:00 PM HST

 Topic: Amateur Radio VoIP

 Speaker/Presenter:  Rob Macedo, KD1CY

Hey folks: These Zoom sessions are left open after the presentation. 

After the Zoom presentation has been closed, sign back into Zoom to visit.

  • This meeting will be recorded. By participating you consent to being recorded. 
  • Please change your display name to Your First Name, Call Sign and Location, e.g. Dan K7REX Idaho. 
  • Please stay muted until ready to speak. Your space bar works like a PTT for unmuting
  • You may ask questions in chat; please stay on topic while using chat.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2128884758?pwd=VjBldDhSRXh5cG16MUVhcVRTbUNTZz09

Meeting ID: 212 888 4758
Passcode: College
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,2128884758#,,,,*5305467# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,2128884758#,,,,*5305467# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 212 888 4758
Passcode: 5305467

Operating

Wellesley ARS “POTA Party,” Winchendon, MA, March 27, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Parks On The Air logoDan Brown, W1DAN, writes on the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society mailing list:
 
Who: Anyone interested in amateur radio regardless of experience, license, or equipment
What: Parks-On-The-Air (POTA) Activation of Otter River State Forest (Lake Dennison Recreation Area). 
 
Where: Lake Dennison Recreation Area, 219 Baldwinville State Rd, Winchendon, MA 01475 (drive in to the first large parking lot). 
 
When: Saturday March 27, 2021 starting at Noon. 
 
Special Instructions/Notes: Just show up. Bring any radio or other equipment you may want to use, or use my stuff. Sign up for POTA if you plan on logging your own activation https://parksontheair.com/ .  If you are not planning on logging then please plan on getting on the air with my callsign (POTA Hunters want to get their points!) It is a large parking lot and big outdoor area. We will be there unless the weather is very very bad (i.e., electrical storm, typhoon); I will post to this group if it’s canceled. We will monitor 146.52 if you want to bring a vhf radio. We will operate at least ssb and cw, other modes welcome. I will be in a green van…it is unmistakable. Bring whatever you need to be comfortable (food, water, shelter, etc.)
 
My equipment: I will bring enough equipment to set up at least one cw and one ssb station. I also have band pass filters for 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 40, and 80 meters so we can run stations simultaneously. PLEASE BRING A SHORT COAX JUMPER WITH PL259 CONNECTORS IF YOU THINK YOU MAY WANT TO USE ONE OF MY BAND PASS FILTERS! I do not have enough to share. 
 
Pandemic notes:
Plan on wearing a mask. Outdoor gathering limits are 25 people in Massachusetts; if we exceed this we can split into separate groups, it’s a large enough area.  You of course are responsible for your own safety, so whatever precautions you need, please prepare for it. 
 
Okay, that’s all. Bottom line: Show up and play radio! I can’t wait to meet you all in person! 
 
Mindy
KM1NDY
Clubs

Farhat: “The Essential Oscillator in Wireless Communications: Theory & Applications” at Northeastern University Wireless Club, March 24, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Northeastern Univ Wireless logoOn Wednesday, 3/24/21 at 11:45 AM, Professor Amir Farhat will talk about the all important RF element, the oscillator. This element is responsible for frequency generation that allows filtering and carrying of the data signal being received and sent. In order to operate any RF device and allow proper communication, very clean and consistent sine waves of desired frequencies needed to generate. The theory, the implementation and the application of this will all be discussed for this all important device.

Clubs

W6WN: “Neighborhood Radio Watch” at Framingham ARA Meeting Online, April 1, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association‘s next meeting on April 1, 2021  at 7:30 PM will feature  Alan Thompson, W6WN, who will talk about Neighborhood Radio Watch program.

This is a partnership between hams and non-hams using amateur, GMRS and FRS radios to help keep our communities safer in the event of an emergency or disaster. The NRW Program had it origin in the ashes of the Camp Fire, and has been a tremendous boost for the El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club.

This meeting will be on zoom and FARA members will receive an invitation. [Email KB1VXY at president@w1fy.org to to receive the Zoom registration link.]

Clubs

Cape Ann ARA Schedule

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

CAARA logoCape Ann Amateur Radio Association Schedule:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unless otherwise noted, all scheduled meetings will be held via our 2-meter repeater W1GLO 145.13 MHz in Gloucester.

The next Directors Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 11:00 AM.

The Members Meeting scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 12:00 PM has been canceled due to restrictions imposed on gatherings due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The VE Exam Session scheduled for Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 9:00 AM has been canceled. Please email our VE Team Contact, Bill, WZ1L, for further information.

The club operates a Sunday evening 2-meter net (CAARAnet) at 9:00 PM on 145.130 MHz with a 107.2 PL tone. This is an open and informal net that disseminates club news, ARRL bulletins and traffic of interest to the ham radio community and prepares operators for emergency communications work. All are invited to check into the net as club membership is not a requirement.

The CAARA club net is also available and accessible via Echolink. W1GLO-R will connect you to our Cape Ann repeater on 145.130 MHz.

Regulation & Advocacy

Amateur Radio Fee Collection Schedule

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
FCC sealContrary to what you may have heard or read, the collection of application fees for the amateur radio service and certain other services will NOT begin  on April 19, 2021.
 
Although April 19, 2021 is the date the rules in the FCC Report and Order adopted last December generally take effect – i.e., one month after the R&O was published in the March 19, 2021 Federal Register – certain parts of those rules, including collection of the application fees for the amateur radio service, will NOT begin on that date. 
 
The effective date for new amateur radio fees has not yet been established. The FCC explicitly states in the published Notice that the fees will not take effect until:
     *  the requisite notice has been provided to Congress; AND
     *  the FCC’s information technology systems and internal procedures have been updated; AND
     *  the Commission publishes future notice(s) in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of such rules.
 
The League’s counsel for FCC matters estimates that the effective start date for collecting the fees will be some time this summer, but regardless of the exact timing we will have advance notice.
Clubs

WA1JXR: “Nano VNA” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting Online, March 18, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nashoba Valley ARC logoBruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s March meeting is Thursday, March 18th at 7:30 PM. This meeting will be conducted via Zoom. Meeting details are below. Thanks to Jim Hein, N8VIM, and Medtronics for the Zoom conference. I apologize for such late notice.

The March meeting will feature Greg Algieri, WA1JXR, whose presentation is on the Nano VNA. Greg is a great speaker and I’m personally looking forward to his presentation.

Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG

978-772-2773 or bruce.blain@charter.net 

Operating

Castle Island K-6876 Activated by KC1NRJ and NW1S

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

photo of POTA operation at Castle Island State Park, Boston MAA (Very) Cold Walk in the Park – A POTA Elmer Day with Brendan Baldonado, NW1S, at Castle Island Boston

by Gregory Kenley, KC1NRJ (Boston ARC SPARC, March 2021)

No, that’s not Banksy with a Yaesu FT-897D. After venting my frustration about getting some decent signals from Antennas at condos in Richmond, VA and North End Boston, Brendan offered to show me the Art of POTA at Castle Island [State Park, K-6876] in Boston.

Partly cloudy and a promise of 60+ degrees at peak turned out to be a constant wind of at least 30-35 mph with a real feel that had to be in the 30s. The park was packed with other Bostonians seeking the mythical nice day but we found a nice spot up high to put up the longwire with a Nelson Antennas portable antenna matchbox. I had been eyeing either and end feed from MyAntennas.com or a Nelson Antennas Matchbox for some time.

It was great to see Brendan run the longwire up with a 24 foot B’n’M “Black Widow” fiberglass extension rod. We worked 20 meters first and things were progressing well. We got contacts from Italy, Florida, Idaho, etc. As Brendan filled out the log, I looked up the call signs with the QRZ android app to quickly identify more details about the contact. It was evident why some contacts came in loud and clear (5/9) from veterans showing off their 50 foot towers on the QRZ page. A new $30 LiFePO4 6 Amp battery from Amazon helped power the Yaesu. The hands-on exposure to the contents of a POTA “go bag” (in Brendan’s case it was a “go box,” seen above) was educational. However, what I ended up coveting the most was his solid Patio umbrella stand that he had found in a dumpster.

photo of heavy antenna baseThis heavyweight stand was a perfect anchor for the 24-foot fiberglass extension pole holding up the Wireman longwire antenna. The winds were a constant 30-35 MPH all day. Tripods would not have withstood the heavy wind but the fiberglass pole bent without moving a bit. I immediately bypassed DX Engineering and HRO and found these at both Ocean State Job Lot and Lowe’s/Home Depot stores. I’m always looking at improving the POTA/SOTA go bag. 40 meters proved hard to tune given the longwire and coax lengths brought for this trip, but contacts resumed on 15 and 17 meters.

Operating

KM1CC QRV for International Marconi Day, April 24, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
photo of MarconiThe Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club  writes on Facebook:
 
[The Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club – KM1CC] is participating in International Marconi Day, Saturday April 24, 2021. This event is sponsored by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club. “The purpose of the day is for amateur radio enthusiasts from around the world to make contact with historic Marconi sites using communication techniques similar to those used by Marconi himself.”
 
KM1CC CW operations will be set up at the historic Marconi Station Site – rare grid FN51. SSB ops will be from a home station in Wellfleet also in FN51. Check back for operating/band info.
 
Follow the link to see other registered Marconi Stations. http://gx4crc.com/imd-stations/.
Clubs / Operating

“Great Hill Gang” Meets in Weymouth on March 13, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment
photo of Great Hill Gang setup in Weymouth MAScott Beers, N1KMX, writes on the W1ATD Marshfield Facebook page:
 
Tomorrow the “Great Hill Gang” will be getting together once again atop Great Hill in Weymouth, MA. We will be there on Saturday March 13.
 
Masks and Social Distancing Please!
 
We don’t have a particular schedule set up for frequencies and times but here are some good possibilities for reaching us:
 
146.52 FM Simplex (good for talk-in’s if you are trying to find us)
146.67- PL 146.2 (good for talk-in’s if you are trying to find us)
145.39- PL 67.0 (9AM most of us check into the K1USN Net)
144.200 USB
144.244 USB (Specifically 11AM – 11:30AM I will try to be here)
 
Call out to “The Great Hill Gang” and someone will get back to you.
 
If you look at aprs.fi (Thanks to KC1HHO) you can find an icon showing where we are along the Weymouth Fore River in North Weymouth.
 
N1KMX and K1UVH are just a couple of callsigns you can reach out to for directions into the hill.
 
Clubs

W1IS & KC1DSQ: “Baluns Basics” at PART of Westford Online Meeting, March 16, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

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

The March PART meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, beginning at 7:30 PM via Webex video conference.   […]  You can join any time after 7:00 PM to check out your gear or just rag chew until the meeting starts.

Important: For increased security, we’ve implemented a waiting room for the meeting. After you log in, you’ll be sent to the waiting room for a minute or two while we check you in.
Our speakers for the meeting are Bob, W1IS, and Bob, KC1DSQ, who will be speaking on “Baluns Basics.” Their article on this topic appeared in the January 2021 issue of CQ magazine.
 
See you there!
 
73, George  K1IG
 
[To request conference login information, contact George Allison, K1IG, at k1ig -at- arrl -dot- net]
 
Emergency Communications / Public Service / Technical

Request for Assistance: Two Meter Interference, Hudson MA

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Bob Glorioso, W1IS, writes on NE Mass Fox Hunters list on Mar 11, 2021 at 6:06 AM:

W. Middlesex ARES uses 147.435 MHz with 110.9 Hz tone simplex for our net and emergency calling frequency.   When the local Fire Dept. moved to a new building and left the tower in the center of town for Fire and Police repeaters, we were stuck with a 2M antenna at 90 ft but no place for a rig.  We worked with Fire Chief Landry and shared the expense of putting a new antenna and remote base in the equipment shack at the base of the tower that has automatic power back-up.  Its input is on 70 cm..

Interference from a strong intermittent broadband signal started on 147.439 MHz late last year. It is dead full quieting into our remote base on 147.435 and wipes out direct calls on 147.435 around town. The base only comes on when someone with the right tone triggers it but, if the noise comes on, many of the handheld stations around town are wiped out.  I found it was strong near the Intel plant in Hudson by driving around when it was on.  Early in January it went off and, unfortunately, came back on yesterday right after our monthly net.  I heard it today coming back from getting our Covid shots at Gillett when we got to Hopkinton on 495.

Any assistance locating and silencing this noise will be appreciated.

Thanks & 73,
Bob W1IS
EC Stow

Public Information

K9HI to be Featured on Pittsfield Community TV, WTBR-FM, March 10, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Eastern MA Assistant Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI, will be the featured guest on Ham On!, simulcast on Pittsfield Community Television and WTBR-FM 89.7 on March 10, 2021 at 9 AM. The early morning program is produced and moderated by Western MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Peter Mattice, KD2JKV. Phil will speak on ARRL matters and other wide-ranging topics.

Technical / Youth

WØMXX Experimenting With Weather Balloons

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Shoebox containing W0MXX balloon payloadfrom WickedLocal.com:

Ten-year-old amateur radio operator Max Kendall is having a blast with his latest weather balloon project. The Medway youth has been constructing a balloon payload around a Raspberry Pi computer and camera. The microcomputer he’s programming will collect atmospheric data, and convert the temperature values to the Fahrenheit scale “because I have a better feel for Fahrenheit than Celsius.”

A fourth-grader at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School in Franklin, Max spends many hours of his free time preparing for a spring launch of his very own weather balloon. He launched his first weather balloon from a field in Agawam, predicting it would eventually land many miles to the east in or near Halifax. After a few unsuccessful attempts to get the balloon airborne using party balloon helium purchased at Target, the apparatus went aloft but soon afterward, the tracker stopped sending signals. Max suspects it went too far out of his limited range  or “may have frozen as it drifted higher” despite the disposable hand warmer he placed in the box with it.
 
Max has founded the Medway Balloon Society, a club for youths and families who meet online and “share messages, files, chats, text messages and voice and video calls.” When the club has enough local members, he plans to hold in-person meetings and launches. Max’s mother, Jennifer Kendall, says Max is working with the Medway Public Library’s Makerspace coordinator, Diane Busa, to find interested individuals and families to participate.
 
“He would just love to have more people in the area to collaborate with him on weather balloons.” She adds, “there is just so much to love about them–the engineering and coding needed in building them, the thrill of the launch, and the adrenaline rushing when you attempt to recover them after the launch.”
 
In hopes of avoiding the same loss of contact with his second balloon that he experienced with his first,  Max studied online and earned an FCC General class amateur radio license.  His callsign is WØMXX. With his amateur radio privileges he hopes to track his second balloon and retrieve its data and images via ham radio. He’s currently studying to earn his Amateur Extra license.
 

Max is focusing on his next weather balloon. He thinks it will be ready for launch later this month, or in April. 

 
“The highest weather balloon went up 140,000 feet,” Max says. “My goal is 100,000 feet. That’s just about 63,000 feet short of the top of the earth’s stratosphere.”
 

For details about Max’s first weather balloon project, visit  https://maxkendall.wixsite.com/home/post/first-weather-balloon.

 

Operating

ARRL SSB DX Contest, March 6-7, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

from nediv.arrl.org:

ARRL International DX Contest logoARRL SSB DX Contest, March 6-7, 2021

Contest Objective: 

To encourage W/VE stations to expand knowledge of DX propagation on the HF and MF bands, improve operating skills, and improve station capability by creating a competition in which DX stations may only contact W/VE stations. One contest period is CW-only and one is Phone-only.  Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

W/VE amateurs: Work as many DX stations in as many DXCC entities as possible.

DX stations: Work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.

Date: Phone: First full weekend in March (March 6-7, 2021).

Contest Period: Begins 0000 UTC Saturday and runs through 2359 UTC Sunday.

2021 Multoperator Accommodations:

ARRL has issued temporary accommodations for multioperator stations competing in the 2021 International ARRL DX Contest (CW and phone). Individual team members may operate from their home stations in conjunction with the multi-op station. The home stations must be within a radius of 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the multiop station, and must be within the same DXCC entity, US State, or Canadian province.  For more information, visit the link below.

www.arrl.org/news/guidelines-issued-for-arrl-dx-contest-multioperator-stations

Contest rules are now maintained as a single downloadable document (see “Full Contest Rules” below).

For contest information contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0232

Emergency Communications / Licensing Education & Training / Public Service

2021 National Weather Service Boston Virtual SKYWARN Training Sessions Announced

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

SKYWARN logoDue to COVID-19 concerns, SKYWARN Training classes will again be held virtually in 2021. SKYWARN Training sessions will occur on three weeknights and two weekends in April and May. The weeknight sessions will be taught by NWS forecasters and the weekend sessions taught by Amateur Radio operators.

[Full story]