a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
The Boston Amateur Radio Club will hold its general meeting on Thursday, August 20 at 7:30 PM on the Zoom teleconferencing platform. Bruce Blaine, K1BG, will give a presentation on Amateur Radio licensing.
[Contact Doc Kinne, KE1ML, at kinnerc -at- gmail -dot- com for Zoom conference details.]
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMass Fox Hunters List at 3:34 PM on August 14, 2020:
The KD1D Fox is out again with a new battery from Electronics Plus! I expect it to last for 4 -5 days.
In consideration of the warm weather (and the chiding I got for the last location’s altitude), the new location is easily accessible from the parking area at the end of Trails End Road in Westford.
Happy Hunting!
73 de KD1D
From army.mil:
“…The MARS Auxiliarists were tasked with collecting three different kinds of reports,” said English. “They collected county status reports from across the U.S. by interfacing with the amateur radio community; airport weather reports, called METARS, from select airports across CONUS and finally road closure reports. In total, MARS Ops collected 1,400 city and county status reports; 424 METARSs [Meteorological Terminal Air Reports]; and 190 road closure reports.” [Full story]
The North Shore Radio Association will hold its monthly meeting via Zoom on August 17, 2020. The conference begins at 7 PM; the meeting will start at 7:30 PM. Zoom conference information will be sent via the NSRA groups.io mailing list.
Contact Eric, KA1NCF at ka1ncf -at- nsradio -dot- org to be added to the groups.io list.
Frank Ventura, N1FMV, writes on the Middlesex ARC mailing list:
Due to the Covid-19 situation [the Zola ARC] won’t be holding a Summer luncheon this year. However, we can still get together and catch up and share our stories about how each of us has been doing and what radio related projects we have been working on. So order yourself some good takeout food for lunch and we’ll go around the virtual room and share our latest happenings.. Please see the meeting information below my name.
[Contact Frank Ventura, N1FMV, at frank -at- littlebreezes -dot- com for Zoom conference details.]
The August meeting will feature Paul Wade, W1GHZ, renowned VHF/UHF author and QST/QEX columnist. Contact K1BG.Bruce@gmail.com for WebEx conference info.
Check out Paul’s website: http://w1ghz.org/10g/10g_home.htm.
Edited: October 8, 2020:
Bruce, K1BG, will be conducting on-line technician classes beginning on Monday, November 2nd. Classes will run twice weekly for four weeks, on Monday and Wednesday nights. Each class will be two hours long and run on Zoom. The class will be limited to 15 students, and preference will be given to family and friends of NVARC members. Cost of the class will be $30 and will include textbook material. For more information, please contact Bruce, K1BG, at 508-341-5124. -NVARC Signal, October 2020
“Nashoba Valley ARC to Offer Technician Class in September, 2020”
Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes in the August issue of NVARC Signal:
Beginning sometime in September, the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club will offer Technician license classes the first time in over 20 years.
I will be coordinating a four-week class schedule, with two-hour sessions taking place twice weekly (eight sessions/16 hours total). A detailed schedule will be made available during the August club meeting webinar, and I’ll be looking for several volunteers to help with the classes.
Because we are avoiding group gatherings, classes will be held using the WebEx on-line webinar services generously offered by Jim, N8VIM, and Medtronic, his employer. Plans are to follow up the classes with a VE session to get the students licensed (and we will have to plan for dealing with social distancing at that session). Additionally, if there is enough interest, we will offer classes leading to a General class license sometime later in the fall. Stay tuned for more details.
If you have questions, feel like volunteering for either classroom instruction or the VE session, know of someone who wants to participate, etc., please contact me at K1BG.Bruce@gmail.com, or call me at 508- 341-5124.
Please plan to attend the Thursday, August 13 ARES Zoom session.
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: WK4 – Winlink Radio Soundcard Interface
Speaker: Kevin Custer W3KKC
Thursday’s meeting will be OPEN for all to attend. Please feel free to invite others. Please note that we have a Zoom participate limitation of 500. Let us know if you can’t get in so that we can send you the video link.
[For Zoom conference details, email Tom Walsh, K1TW at k1tw@arrl.org or Phil Temples, K9HI, at k9hi@arrl.org.]
From ARRL web:
As another step in ARRL’s increased focus on strengthening its emergency communications capabilities and long-standing working relationships with federal and state agencies and private emergency response organizations, ARRL has hired Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, of Cedar Park, Texas, as its first Director of Emergency Management.
Gilbert brings more than 30 years of experience in public service in both his professional and amateur radio endeavors. Beginning with his appointment as Emergency Coordinator in 1987, he has held multiple positions in the ARRL Field Organization. Currently in his second term as South Texas Section Manager, he has also served for more than a decade as the West Gulf Division’s Assistant Director for Public Service, acting as liaison between Division leadership and local, state, and federal emergency management organizations.
Professionally, Gilbert most recently was Radio Officer, HQ Staff, for the Texas State Guard, where for the past 6 years he has been responsible for planning and implementation of the organization’s communications capabilities. Previously he was a Public Safety Radio Coordinator for a Texas agency, charged with overseeing that organization’s large-scale disaster communications response and identifying and eliminating in-state interoperability issues.
Gilbert, who has an Amateur Extra-class license, is a member of Army MARS, and holds numerous DHS certifications, including COML, COMT, COMT Instructor, and AUXCOM Communicator. He is a member of the FEMA Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (RECCWG), a graduate of the FEMA Emergency Management Institute’s Exercise Design Course, and was a founding member of the Texas Division of Emergency Management Communications Coordination Group.
In his new role, Gilbert will manage a team responsible for supporting ARRL Emergency Communications (EmComm) programs and services, including the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) and National Traffic System (NTS), as well as lead the continued modernization of those programs in consonance with the future emergency communications needs of the public and ARRL’s key partners.
George Allison, K1IG, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:
Our guest speaker for the PART meeting on Tuesday, August 18, will be Daniel Fernandez-Davila, who will give us a presentation about his with local villages and remote radio communications in Peru. Mr. Fernandez-Davila is an active archaeologist (BA Archaeology and Diploma of Anthropological Studies from Catholic University, Peru; MA in Archaeology and Ancient Heritage from University of Leicester, England) who has conducted excavations and mapping projects in the Andes and continues doing independent research in the north cloud forest of Peru. Daniel has served as an historical advisor for the BBC and Discovery Channel in the production of Ancient Civilization documentaries and has 25 years of experience teaching World History, Latin America, Archaeology and World Geography.
He co-founded Loose Change, an NGO (non-governmental organization) that brings school supplies and books to very remote villages in the Andes. He has also been teaching local Peruvians about radio communications and how to deal with emergencies using handheld radios. Recently he tested new radios and he is planning to create a web of communications in the area that can benefit isolated villagers.
He currently lives in Stow with his family and has been teaching Social Studies at Wayland Middle School since 2005.
The meeting will be conducted via Webex, and will start at 7:30 PM. Those who wish to check out their connectivity or just rag-chew will be able to log on as early at 7:00 PM. Login information will be sent to those on the PART mailing list by Monday evening.
Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, writes on Facebook:
Cape and Islands conducted its annual summer field communications exercise on Saturday, August 8, 2020. Exercise #68 “Operation Windbreaker” had three primary field sites, several individual field ops and several home stations. The main sites were: outside the Sandwich Human Services Building, outside of Falmouth Hospital, and in Eastham near Larry, K1LRJ, home area.
VHF signals were excellent. The HF voice operation went quite well with our Cape/Islands stations as well as the off-Cape stations that hosted a 75-meter net over 75 miles away in another part of MA. Digital modes on HF had mixed results due to some glitches, but a couple of stations did well.
In Sandwich we had a crew of five including a couple of our new folks, Jermy, KC1NGL, from Sandwich Fire; Dennis, N1RDN, from Sandwich CERT; and Jason, KC1MLQ, from Yarmouth. Our 440 MHz simplex backchannel (was diplexed off our main dual band antenna to two radios) with the Falmouth field site worked even better than expected.
My thanks to all of our people who participated and special thanks to those off Cape stations that conducted the net, as well as stations that contacted us from various locations.
For anyone interested in wireless communications and electronics, this ON-LINE course will get you ready to take the second level Amateur Radio license exam, GENERAL. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and home school students.
Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary preparation is necessary to get the best results from this course.
This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn so much more than just watching a video.
Current offerings:
Two day course: SAT-SUN Aug 29-30, 2:00-8:00 pm Eastern Time each day.
Four day course: Mo-Tu-W-Th Aug 31 – Sept 3, 3:00-6:00 pm Eastern Time each day.
The FCC General test will be scheduled for an upcoming weekday evening or weekend, as an online test, run by our VE team which has authorization to run online tests.
System Requirements: Computer or Chromebook capable of running ZOOM Meeting, either by Zoom app or through a browser, a built-in camera/mic, and a color printer.
Included with course fee: downloadable lecture study guide 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 once the facility reopens.
Note that the standard $15 license exam fee is NOT included and must be registered separately; our VE team is authorized to give ONLINE exams, so you can schedule an exam within a week of the course. (Price is $15 across the country.)
One additional member of the same family may take this course for the price of one, if sharing one computer, video screen, and materials.
A few hours before the session you will receive an email with a Zoom link and ID. If you don’t see the email, check your spam filter. If you still don’t see it, call 508-720-4179 for help.
For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.
Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMass Fox Hunters List at 1:01 PM on August 8, 2020:
Sorry for the time lapse since deployments, medical stuff, surgery, etc. Deployed the fox today at the Hartwell reservation in Littleton. Transmits on 146.565 with a voice ID every 30 seconds. In a typical (for me) senior moment, I forgot to leave the sign-in log behind. If you say you found it, I will believe you.
BTW, wear your hiking shoes, its a long walk.
73,
Barry, W1HFN
From ARRL web:
The Board named veteran ARRL Rhode Island Section Manager Robert G. “Bob” Beaudet, W1YRC, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, as the recipient of the Knight Distinguished Service Award, given to an ARRL Section Manager. Beaudet has been Rhode Island SM since 2002.
The Board cited Beaudet’s active promotion of ARRL activities in his Section, including visiting hundreds of Field Day operations; participating in many Volunteer Examiner test sessions; attending at countless club meetings; staying active as a contester, DXer, and mentor, and serving as a model to other Section Managers. The Board said “Beaudet’s leadership of the ARRL Rhode Island Section Field Organization has led to a strong working cadre of volunteers within the Section.”
From the USA ARDF Championship mailing list:
ARRL members will have an opportunity to learn the basics of The Sport of Finding Hidden Transmitters On Foot. The presenter, Robert Frey, WA6EZV, will be conducting the webinar on Thursday, August 20, 2020, 12:30 PM PDT / 3:30 PM EDT (1930 UTC). There is no charge for attending the Zoom presentation. Register online at http://www.arrl.org/ARRL-
From http://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit/
As MIT has announced that only seniors will be back on-campus with heavy restrictions in place, we have determined that we won’t be able to hold Swapfest without excessive risk for the rest of the calendar year. Swapfest will (tentatively) pick back up on April 18 of next year, and anyone who submitted preregistration should have either recently received an email or will shortly receive postal mail returning their payment.
ARRL Headquarters has received an application, dated July 31, 2020, from the Southeastern MA REACT, WC1EOC, in Brockton to affiliate with ARRL as a Category 1, “Local Amateur Radio Club.”
According to their filing, the club specializes in digital modes, public service/emergency, repeaters, VHF/UHF, and general interest. The club’s president is John Mahon, N1PYC.
Their affiliation will become official upon approval by New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR.
Congratulations to Southeastern MA REACT of Brockton.
Bob DeMattia, K1IW, Northeast HamXposition 2020 Chairman writes:
Large indoor gatherings such as our convention are currently prohibited by Massachusetts state law. This is highly unlikely to change by November. Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold a physical convention this year.
However, we do plan some virtual activities, all free. We are currently working on the details for these and will keep you posted as they develop:
We plan to the operate the W1A special event station over the weekend of October 31st – November 1st. To avoid a conflict with the November Sweepstakes, we moved this to one week earlier. W1A will be operated from the operator’s home stations. Dennis, W1UE, is coordinating the schedule. If you would like to be a W1A operator, please contact W1UE by email at w1ue@hamxposition.org. For those who would like to work W1A, we will be posting the operating schedule once it is ready. Note that this will give regular attendees the unique opportunity to work W1A (something which would have been more difficult for many to do operating portable from a hotel room).
We will also be hosting a Saturday evening virtual banquet on November 7th, featuring a guest speaker. There will be no charge for this event. Order your favorite take-out or delivery, pull up a chair to your screen and join your friends for an interesting presentation. After the talk, virtual break-out rooms will be available for you to converse with your “table”.
The Nashua Area Radio Club will be running an online version of the “Ham Boot Camp”. This is a multisession program for hams young and old to learn about the various activities they can do with their license. Details to follow.
From the entire HamXposition committee, we wish you good health, be safe, and we look forward to seeing everyone in person at our 2021 convention on July 23-24-25, 2021.
73,
Bob – K1IW
Chairman, HamXposition 2020
“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes on the K1USN RC mailing list: