Author: k9hi

Emergency Communications

Hurricane Delta Prompts Activations of Hurricane Watch Net, WX4NHC, SATERN

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hurricane flagsFrom ARRL Web:

10/07/2020 – The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN), WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC), and The Salvation Army’s SATERN have announced activations for Hurricane Delta, the latest Atlantic storm. The HWN moved to its Alert Level 4 on Wednesday and is now running on 14.325 MHz. WX4NHC monitors the same frequency to gather “ground truth” reports from radio amateurs that may assist NHC forecasters.

As of 1200 UTC, the NHC warned that Delta was bringing “a life-threatening storm surge and strong winds” to the northeastern portions of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where it made landfall at 1030 UTC. Maximum sustained winds from Delta were clocked at 105 MPH, making it a Category 2 hurricane. The storm was some 35 miles west of Cancun, Mexico, moving northwest at 17 MPH.

HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said the net got off to a late start because it lacked propagation into the affected area overnight, both on 20 and 40 meters (the net’s secondary frequency is 7.268 MHz). The net anticipates remaining in operation for most of Wednesday, before taking a break and resuming operations on Friday at 1200 UTC on 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz. Graves said the net plans to remain in full operation until around midnight CDT.

Delta is currently forecast to be a Category 2 or Category 3 hurricane when it makes landfall on the US Gulf Coast, somewhere south of Lafayette, Louisiana, on Friday afternoon.

WX4NHC is active on both HWN frequencies, as well as on the VoIP Hurricane Net, requesting surface reports from stations in the affected area “with or without weather data for use by NHC forecasters,” Assistant WXNHC Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said. WinLink to wx4nhc@winlink.org, with “//WL2K” in the subject line. WX4NHC also has an online Hurricane Report Form.

“NHC appreciates all the surface reports from the affected area during hurricanes as they fill in gaps of not just weather data, but also give a real-time, first-person perspective of what is actually happening on the ground,” Ripoll said. [Full story]

 

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician Class Courses Online, October, 2020

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New England Sci Tech logoBEGINNER LEVEL:

Amateur radio (or “ham radio”) is used by people all over the world to communicate over radio waves. Some people use ham radio for emergency preparedness, to provide communications support for community events, to report on severe weather and natural disasters, as a social activity, and even occasionally to contact crew members on the International Space Station!

This ON-LINE course will get you ready to take the Ham Radio TECHNICIAN license exam, the FIRST of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and home-school students. Yes, we give online ham radio exams, too! (See below)

This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn much more than just watching a video or buying a book.

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Optional text: ARRL Technician Class License Manual, 4th edition, for exams through June 30, 2022, (purchase on ARRL website). Regular practice and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.

Current offerings:

  • 4 day course: Tu-W-Th-Fr Sept 29-Oct 2, 3:00-6:00pm each day, Eastern Time
  • 2 day course: SAT-SUN Oct 3-4, 12:00-6:00pm each day, Eastern Time
  • 4 day course: Mon-Tu-W-Th Oct 5-8, 3:00-6:00pm each day, Eastern Time
  • 2 day course: SAT-SUN Oct 17-18, 9:00am-3:00pm each day, Eastern Time
  • 4 day course: Mon-Tu-W-Th Oct 19-22, 3:00-6:00pm each day, Eastern Time
  • 2 day course: SAT-SUN Nov 7-8, 9:00am-3:00pm each day, Eastern Time

System Requirements: Computer or Chromebook capable of running ZOOM Meeting, either by Zoom app or through a web browser, a web camera/mic, and a printer.

Included with course: You will get downloadable lecture study guides and charts, free access to our weekly Online Radio Shop Talk sessions, and a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Rooms and radio club meetings for 3 months, online or in-person.

Family Free: Additional members of the same family may join this course at no extra charge, if sharing one computer and zoom screen.

Zoom Link: A few days before the session you will receive an email with instructions to the course details, documents, and Zoom link. If you don’t see the email, check your spam filter. If you still don’t see it, call or email us.

Please be aware of our Cancellation and Refund Policies. For questions, e-mail info@nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

License Exams:

YES, our exam team is authorized to give ONLINE exams, so you can schedule your FCC Technician exam within a few days of the course. Note that we must collect the standard $15 exam fee for the ARRL VEC separately. (Fee is $15 across the country.)

We administer ham radio exams both online and in-person, having proctored nearly 2,000 exams over the past decade. We’ve taught amateur radio classes for over 15 years with tremendous success. Hundreds of people have taken our classes with 99% having passed the exam to become licensed operators. We offer classes for all three levels of ham radio licenses: Technician, General, Amateur Extra, as well as Morse Code.

Clubs / Youth

Sci-Tech ARS Online Meeting, October 6, 2020

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Olin students at New England Sci-Tech

ONLINE Meeting: Tuesday, Oct 6, 7:00 PM.

 
To join the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society Meeting at 7:00 pm link your computer to [… contact Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney@nescitech.com for Zoom conference details]
 
6:30 Moore’s Code Corner
Learn your call sign or first name in Morse code. Join Rusty Moore for a beginner’s intro to code. Same Zoom link as STARS.
 
7:00 MEETING
– Around the room updates and general chat
– Latest about New England Ham Convention
– Update on Parks on the Air
– Other old business and new business.
 
8:00 RADIO SHOP TALK
Open forum – all topics welcome! Each Tuesday after the regular meeting, join us for Ham Radio Shop Talk begins after the meeting, approx. 8:00 pm, on the same Zoom link. Hang out and join us.
Emergency Communications

Department of Defense Exercise With Amateur Radio Participation, October 2020

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MARS logoTom Kinahan, N1CPE, writes:

For almost the whole month of October, (now through October 26) the Department of Defense is conducting a series of exercises that will train the connection of MARS members to the Amateur Radio Service.

There are opportunities for hams to participate in this exercise.

1) Every day at noon local time, there will be a net on 60 meters channel 1 (5.3305 MHz USB) to have checkins from hams. The NCS will ask for your callsign, city and state. As the month moves on, there may be other unplanned requests.

2) Familiarize yourself with the METAR which is transmitted on VHF AM from all major and some less major airports as weather information for pilots. See if you can transcribe the weather information. They speak fast, and usually in mumbles. This is valuable information to the DoD in times of communication outage. Contact me for additional details.

3) There will be ICS-213 messages originating in MARS for certain ARRL and other local ham radio leaders refiled into the NTS system for delivery. NTS nets may carry these messages. Be ready to copy these messages and deliver them, by checking in to your local NTS net.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

 

[Tom Kinahan is the Army MARS Region 1 Executive Officer. He can be contacted at: tom.kinahan@verizon.net]
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Two New England Sci-Tech General Class Online Courses: October 24-25 & 26-29, 2020

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New England Sci Tech logoThis ON-LINE course will get you ready to take the Ham Radio GENERAL license exam, the SECOND of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and home-school students. Yes, we give online ham radio exams, too! (See below)

This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn much more than just watching a video or buying a book.

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Optional but recommended text: ARRL General Class License Manual, 9th edition, for exams through June 30, 2023, (purchase on ARRL website). Regular practice and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.

NOTE: You MUST have a thorough understanding of the Technician and General material before taking this course.  If you are already a licensed Tech or General but have been away from radio for a while, you may request to audit (at half price) one of our Tech and/or General courses to catch up.

Current offerings:

  • Two day course: SAT-SUN Oct 24-25, 11:00am – 5:00pm Eastern Time each day.
  • Four day course: Mo-Tu-W-Th Oct 26-29, 3:00-6:00 pm Eastern Time each day.

System Requirements: Computer or Chromebook capable of running ZOOM Meeting, either by Zoom app or through a web browser, a web camera/mic, and a printer.

Included with course: You will get downloadable lecture study guides and charts, free access to our weekly Online Radio Shop Talk sessions, and a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Rooms and radio club meetings for 3 months, online or in-person.

Family Free: Additional members of the same family may join this course at no extra charge, if sharing one computer and zoom screen.

Zoom Link: A few days before the session you will receive an email with instructions to the course details, documents, and Zoom link. If you don’t see the email, check your spam filter. If you still don’t see it, call or email us.

Please be aware of our Cancellation and Refund Policies. For questions, e-mail info@nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

License Exams:

YES, our exam team is authorized to give ONLINE exams, so you can schedule your FCC General exam within a few days of the course. Note that we must collect the standard $15 exam fee for the ARRL VEC separately. (Fee is $15 across the country.)

We administer ham radio exams both online and in-person, having proctored nearly 2,000 exams over the past decade. We’ve taught amateur radio classes for over 15 years with tremendous success. Hundreds of people have taken our classes with 99% having passed the exam to become licensed operators. We offer classes for all three levels of ham radio licenses: Technician, General, Amateur Extra, as well as Morse Code.

Foxhunting / Operating

Northeast MA Fox Hunting Update

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Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMass fox hunters list:

* All the 2-meter FM foxes belonging to PART of Westford members transmit on 146.565 MHz.  

* Currently the KD1D and W1HFN foxes use the Squawkbox module, which typically transmits a short (e.g. 30 second)  voice message and repeats once per minute. The low  power output of about 50 mW allows more than one Squawkbox to be on the air if they are far enough apart.  Often, I have one operating in Westford and W1HFN has one operating in Littleton simultaneously.

* Other two-meter fox boxes operated by our club members (including KB1MGI) use the Byonics module which sends a series of tones for a fixed period (e.g. 30 minutes) when activated by the hunter sending a DTMF ‘2’ for two seconds.   

* Occasionally, Andy Stuart, KB1OIQ, puts out an 80-meter Fox operating around 3.6 MHz.  

[KB1OIQ: It is supposed to be the color burst frequency.  This fox is really a Cricket 80A CW transceiver driven by an Arduino.  Yes, it is a bit overkill but I had fun making it.  It consumes too much power, so when it is out, it is usually only for a day or two.  It has a built-in real time clock so it only transmits during the daylight hours (approximately). I also occasionally put out a 2m fox, which is a Byonics MicroFox, transmitting about 15 mW.  This fox transmits 24×7 for several days until I retrieve it. I have also been accused of hiding a fox inside of a plastic owl, up on a tree branch.  Fox hunters claim to have heard the CW message, “I am most wise.”]

* The operators usually post frequency and activation information, when they announce the hunt.  I’ve gotten a bit lazy on that score and will try to mend my ways!

* Similarly, we usually announce the location (usually conservation, recreation or other public area), although lately I have been providing only clues to add a challenge.

* Some of the foxes use an HT transmitting 1 or 2 watts, in which case, we usually just announce the town it is in to practice long-distance direction finding similar to what we would need to track down a repeater troll.

It’s great to have fox hunters from outside the Westford area participating!  I will try to take that into consideration when doling out clues in the future.

73 and Happy Hunting!

Alan KD1D

Clubs

Norfolk County Radio Association Meeting Online, October 14, 2020

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Dick Bean, K1HC, writes:

The NCRA conduct its Wednesday, October 14, 2020 meeting at 8 PM using Zoom in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Jim, WJ1R, will be our Zoom host.  Thank you to Jim for agreeing to take on this role!

It will be a good opportunity to see and hear our members!  We have a few business items to cover, but we will let everyone have a chance to speak.

Please note that we do need to end the Zoom session shortly after the meeting ends so please be mindful of our host asking us to end our discussion after the meeting closes.  Thanks in advance for your cooperation and understanding!   

73,

Dick, K1HC

All

Northeast HamXposition Schedule, October 10-November 7, 2020

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HamXposition logoFrom https://hamxposition.org:

New England ARES Academy

October 10-31, 2020

View the full schedule and sign up at
<https://hamxposition.org/2020/ne-ares-academy>

The first-ever New England Division ARES Academy, originally scheduled for the Division Convention in November, will instead be held over a period of several weeks in October via Zoom. There are five Basic Track classes for those just getting started, and more advanced classes and workshops for those who already have the basics. One-hour classes will be held on weeknights from 7:30 to 8:30 PM EDT, and two-hour workshop sessions will be held Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 AM EDT.

Just a few of the topics covered include:

* Go Kits
* Hardening Your Station or Repeater
* Expedient Training & Utilization of Volunteers
* Working with Served Agencies (Panel Discussion)

The NE-ARES Academy is an outgrowth of the successful NH-ARES Academy program that ran at the NH State Fire Academy for eight years. The program’s goal is to offer both basic and advanced skills training based in ARRL ARES training standards. Academy Instructors are all recognized experts in their subject area.

Event Details:

Date: October 10th to October 31st
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 PM EDT (weeknight courses), 9:00 to 11:00 AM EDT
(Saturday workshops)
Cost: Free

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

HamXposition Virtual Banquet

November 7, 2020, 7PM

Event registration at <https://hamxposition.org/register/register.php>

On Saturday, November 7th, the HamXposition Convention Committee will be hosting our very first Virtual Banquet! Order your favorite take-out or delivery, pull up a chair to your screen, and join your friends for an interesting presentation. The event will be emceed by our very own Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, and featuring Keynote Speaker Gordon West, WB6NOA.

In addition, there will be a grand prize drawing of a Kenwood TM-V71A Transceiver, Astron Power Supply, and dual band mobile antenna, generously contributed by the Minuteman Repeater Association (MMRA) (must be present during prize drawing to win).

The event is free, but we ask that you please register using the link above. Instructions and a link to join the event will be delivered to your inbox a few days before the event.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, November 7th
Time: 7:00 PM EST (UTC-05:00)
Location: Your computer or mobile device, anywhere!
Cost: Free

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ham Bootcamp

November 7, 2020, 10 AM

Sign up on the NARS website at <https://www.n1fd.org/ham-bootcamp/>

The Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS) will again be hosting their wildly successful Ham Bootcamp, recently featured on the cover of QST magazine, on Saturday, November 7th via Zoom.

Ham Bootcamp is a series of activities designed to help newly licensed Technician and General class license holders get on the air and use their amateur radio license, or for prospective hams who are interested in seeing what the hobby has to offer, including:

* Radio Programming Tutorials and Help
* Getting Started with EchoLink
* Joining a Repeater Net
* Putting together a Station for Repeaters
* Building an HF Station including simple HF Antennas
* Putting up an HF Antenna, Feedline, and Ground
* Getting started with WSJT-X and FT8 Digital

… and more!

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, November 7th
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST (UTC-05:00)
Cost: Free

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

W1A Special Event Callsign

November 6-8, 2020

Operating schedule and sign up at
<https://hamxposition.org/2020/w1a-special-event-callsign>

The W1A special event callsign will operate from individual operator’s home stations during the weekend of the HamXposition Virtual Banquet. Yours could be one of these stations!

Event Details:

Start: Friday, November 6th 7:00 PM EST (UTC-05:00)
End: Sunday, November 8th 7:00 PM EST (UTC-05:00)
Location: Your shack!
Cost: Free

All

Ham Radio Outlet in Salem, NH Re-Opens for “Foot Traffic”

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Andy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes in the Billerica ARS Newletter, October 2020:

I was monitoring the local repeaters on the HT one day and I heard one of the regulars–who it turns out works at HRO in Salem NH–say that as of Monday 9/21/20 the stores are REOPENING TO FOOT TRAFFIC. See the HRO policy here:

https://www.hamradio.com/coronavirus.cfm

Limit of 5 customers inside, and all must wear masks.

This is great news. I do not know if they allow you to touch/operate the rigs at the station yet. Best to call ahead.

https://www.hamradio.com/locations.cfm?storeid=9

Salem, NH
224 N. Broadway D-12
Salem, NH 03079-2145

Store Hours: 10AM-5:30PM Mon – Sat
Closed Sundays

Telephone hours:
9:30AM-5:30PM Mon – Sat
Toll Free: 800-444-0047
Local: 603-898-3750
Fax: 603-898-1041

Email: salem@hamradio.com

Emergency Communications / Operating

Eastern MA Hospital Net Cancelled for October 3, 2020

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John O’Neill, K1JRO, writes on the Eastern MA Hospital Net mailing list:

Due to technical difficulties, I was unable to send out a notice for the October EMHN with enough advance notice to everyone involved. 

Therefore, we will not be holding a Net this month.  I hope to have our email issues resolved soon.

Regards,

John O’
K1JRO

South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group
55 Fogg Rd. Mail-Stop 42
South Weymouth, MA 02190

Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox is Back On the Air, October 2, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMass Fox Hunters List at 7:51 PM on October 2, 2020: 

I set the fox loose again Friday afternoon around 5:00 pm in Westford.  It should run all weekend and into Monday.

Some clues:

It is neither ingenuous nor ingenious to say that it is an area named after something that is igneous.

It is in an area with a small rocky stream.

It should  be an easy non-strenuous hunt once you locate the general area.

73 and happy hunting!

Alan KD1D

Operating

Satellite Tracking Apps and Info

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John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:
 
-John, KB1MGI
 
Organization / Youth

ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications

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ARRL Foundation logo09/29/2020 – Applications for the 2021 ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program will be accepted between October 1 and December 31, 2020.All applicants must be FCC-licensed radio amateurs, and many scholarships have other specific requirements, such as intended area of study, residence within a particular ARRL Division, Section, or state, and license class.

Applicants should review the scholarship descriptions and check off the ones for which they are eligible. If you complete an online application, you must also email a PDF of academic transcripts from your most recently completed school year by January 11, 2021. Some scholarships require additional documents to be submitted (e.g., letter of recommendation from an officer of an ARRL-affiliated club). Applications not accompanied by transcripts and additional documents, where applicable, will not be considered.

The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee will review all applicants for eligibility and award decisions. Scholarship recipients will be notified in May 2021 via USPS mail and email. For more information, visit the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program page.

Regulation & Advocacy

Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles is Not Processing Ham Operator Plate Applications

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From EMA ARRL Section News, September 30, 2020:

For almost a year now, the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles has been unable to process new “Ham Operator” special plate applications. According to one Western Massachusetts amateur who spoke to a DMV employee, “[…] the person I talked to informed me that this issue has been referred to the software company/vendor. No estimate has been placed on a resolution. She refused to tell me how many applications are being held up. I asked if there was anyone I could refer this to, she declined and said there was no one to escalate it to.”

At the request of Western MA Section Manager Ray Lajoie, KB1LRL, MA State Government Liaison Hank McCarl, W4RIG, contacted MA State Senator Bruce Tarr’s office to inquire. A legislative spokesperson from that office informed Hank that all special series and vanity license plates that have specific letter-number requests are currently impacted. However, plates for which numbers are sequentially assigned; e.g., 0001 through 9999, are being processed.

How many other amateurs in Massachusetts have been affected by this snafu at the DMV? Please write and let us know at <k1tw@arrl.org>

Clubs

K1NDF: “Radio Propagation” at Framingham ARA Online Meeting, October 1, 2020

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Framingham ARA logoTopic: Framingham Amateur Radio Association Oct.1 Zoom Meeting

Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, is inviting you to a scheduled Framingham Amateur Radio Association Zoom meeting.

Our speaker this Thursday evening will be Neal Lipson, K1NDF, of Framingham, an extremely active ham who has been blind since birth. He will speak on the subject of Radio Propagation, and on what an excellent location we live in for getting out.  During the talk, I will screen share pictures of Neal with his various radios, as well as his tower and antennas.

Special Request:  Your name will appear under your picture on Zoom.  Please change it so that it provides your name and call letters.  Just right click on your name, and you will be able to change it.  Thank you.

Time: Oct 1, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

If you are not on the Internet, you can join by phone. 

[For conference information, email Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, at w1viv.radio -at- gmail -dot- com]