Author: k9hi
Eastern MA Hospital Net, March 7, 2020
John O’Neill K1JRO, writes:
Net Control for the March 7, 2020 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH, South Shore Hospital. The net will commence at the usual time of 10: AM using the following repeaters in the order listed:
1. Plymouth 146.685 tone 131.8
2. Bridgewater 148.18 tone 67.0
3. Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3
4. Simplex 147.42
NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check-in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.
We extend an invitation to any health care facility or EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.
We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested in joining the group please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com. The goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many individuals and groups as possible.
South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group seeking licensed Amateur Radio Operators to join their group. For information on joining us please contact Amy Parker in Volunteer Services at AParker@southshorehealth.org
We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters is available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month. More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.
Repeaters
Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2
Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
Mansfield EMA 446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 131.8
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2
We look forward to hearing from you all on the Net.
Respectfully,
Dayton Hamvention Officials Keeping an Eye on Coronavirus Situation
From ARRL Web:
03/03/2020 — With Dayton Hamvention® 2020 a little more than 10 weeks away, Hamvention officials say they are closely following the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Show organizers will post updates as the May 15 – 17 event nears, but they’re optimistic that coronavirus will not be an issue.
“At this time, the Hamvention Executive Committee has been in contact with the Greene County Public Health Department, and we do not anticipate any impact because of this issue,” a March 3 Hamvention statement said. The Greene County Public Health Department reports that no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ohio.
“Greene County Public Health is working closely with the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are prepared to respond, should there be a community spread of COVID-19,” the Hamvention statement noted. “The current risk to the general public is very low. Travel advisories are in effect, and can change anytime, so please see the CDC Travel Advisory webpage before traveling.” [full story]
Nantucket ARA Meets March 7, 2020
The Nantucket Amateur Radio Association (W1TUK) will hold its next meeting on March 7, 2020 at 12 noon at the Nantucket Police & Fire Department in the second floor conference room, 4 Fairgrounds Road , Nantucket, MA 02554.
NARA is an ARRL affiliated club. It meets quarterly on the first Saturday of each month in: December, March, June, and September.
KC1FSZ: “Homebrewing Renaissance in Amateur Radio” at New England Sci-Tech, March 10, 2020
From the Sci-Tech ARS Newsletter, March 3, 2020:
Pilgrim ARC Meets March 9, 2020
The next club meeting of the Pilgrim Amateur Radio Club will be Monday, March 9, 2020, 7:00 PM at The Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School, 195 MA-137, Harwich, MA.
Pilgrim ARC members have been active in amateur radio emergency communications, class/test instruction, and maintaining two repeaters in Truro and Harwich. PARC is an ARRL affiliated club.
Southeastern MA ARA Meets on March 5, 2020
The Southeastern MA Amateur Radio Association (SEMARA) will hold its monthly business meeting on March 5, 2020 at 7 PM at the clubhouse at 54 Donald Street, Dartmouth, MA.
About SEMARA: Founded in 1932, SEMARA is an ARRL affiliated club. It owns a clubhouse which sits on three acres of land. The clubhouse contains three separate operating positions, each with HF/VHF/UHF gear and desktop computers/monitors, all networked together with high-speed business-class internet. There is also a meeting hall, kitchen area and two restrooms. The club owns and operates three analog repeaters, plus an APRS digipeater and iGate.
W1EKG on “Vintage Aircraft Radios” at the Whitman ARC, March 4, 2020
The Whitman Amateur Radio Club will meet on March 4, 2020 at 7:00 PM. WARC member Ross Hochtrasser, W1EKG, will present on vintage aircraft radios.
WARC holds a winter flea market, conducts licensing classes, and participates in a number of high-profile public service events. Meetings are held at the Whitman Knights of Columbus Hall on route 18 just south of the Abington line.
Boston Marathon “Urgent Appeal” for More Volunteers
This year we have worked hard to build up our volunteer numbers so that the mission may be accomplished. Unfortunately we’ve been met with lower than hoped for volunteer applications. So here’s our urgent appeal for help.
Please spread the word, personally, that comms volunteers are needed at the Marathon. In particular, we are seeking Amateur Radio communications for Course Medical tents, Hydration stations, Transportation medical Sweep and Express buses, and operators in the Course Net Control Operations Center.
Please tell your local Amateur Radio clubs and your licensed friends about the need.
To volunteer, send the following information immediately to contact@hamradioboston.org:
- Full Name
- Address
- Amateur Radio Call Sign
- Do you have a current Red Cross or other CPR certification
- What is your jacket size (Male/Female)
- What is your assignment area preference (Start, Course, Finish)
THANK YOU for stepping up as a volunteer. You are a vital part of a highly-trained, able team of Amateur Radio communications specialists who are making a huge, and very positive impact on this complex and expansive event. We cannot possibly thank you enough and simply cannot do the job without everyone’s enthusiasm, energy, and super volunteer spirit!
See you at the training!
Yours sincerely,
Boston Marathon Communications Committee
contact@HamRadioBoston.org
New England Sci-Tech Weekend General Course, March 21-22, 2020
For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course.
The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 8:30 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 8:30 am to noon, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick.
Included with course fee: printed handouts, lecture study guide, license fee if tested at our location, a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Room and radio club meetings for 2 months, and free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate during the course. Advance registration and payment required.
For more information and to register, visit <https://www.nescitech.org/product/weekend-general-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.
February 2020 Section News Now Available
The February, 2020, Section Newsletter is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/february-2020-section-news/.
Norwood ARC Honors N1UEC With W1JLI Memorial Award
Lou Harris, N1UEC, was awarded the first Louis H. Schall, W1JLI, Memorial Award at the Norwood Amateur Radio Club Dinner on February 27, 2020. The Walpole resident was “recognized for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Norwood Amateur Radio Club exemplifying the best spirit of Amateur Radio.”
Schall became a Silent Key in 2006. A longtime member of the Norwood Amateur Radio Club, W1JLI was also a founding member of the 19/79 Amateur Radio Association (K1VTE) in Malden, and a pioneer in New England Amateur Television.
Kudos to Lou Harris, N1UEC!
(via Facebook)
Maine Bicentennial Special Event Operation Pays Homage to the Original Nine Counties–and Boston, Massachusetts
The Maine Bicentennial Special Event, March 16-22, 2020, recognizes Maine’s original nine counties from when the state was chartered in 1820. There will also be three other special event stations operating from Jameson Tavern in Freeport, Portland, and Boston in recognition of their contributions to Maine’s Statehood. The Maine Bicentennial Special Event committee was formed from members of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine, along with members from the PenBay ARC.
According to the Committee, “We suspect most participants will be operating from their QTH. We are asking those interested in participating in this event to discern where their QTH would have been in 1820 relative to that town, and county in 1820, and to participate in this event in that original county. The webpage will have a map as an aid for that amateur operator; e.g., if you are now in Knox County, in 1820 you were likely in Lincoln or Hancock counties and would participate as a station in that county.” The Committee has created an online spreadsheet listing as many towns as possible related to the nine original counties.
Operations will take place on HF, 6, and 2 meters (no repeaters). Modes are CW, phone, and digital. This allows all Maine Amateur Radio operators to participate in some form.
“There will be Certificates available once we receive logs from the various stations that contacted the special event operators. We’ll also need logs from participating operators to corroborate what is sent in. It is recommended that your log is sent in ADIF format. We’ll need the logs ASAP after the event. More details on that will be available on the special event website.”
The Maine Bicentennial Special Event Stations are:
Cumberland: W1C
Hancock: W1H
Kennebec: W1K
Lincoln: W1L
Oxford: W1O
Penobscot: W1P
Somerset: W1S
Washington: W1W
York: W1Y
Jameson Tavern (Freeport): K1J
Town of Portland: K1P
City of Boston: K1B
ARRL Seeks a New Chief Executive Officer
From ARRL Web:
02/27/2020 – ARRL is seeking an experienced radio amateur to be Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at its headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. The CEO is the top compensated employee in ARRL’s management structure and oversees all operations in collaboration with the President and the Board of Directors, in accordance with ARRL’s Articles of Association, Bylaws, and Board policies. The successful candidate will ensure day-to-day management of ARRL, including fiscal operations and will oversee and make certain that its fund-raising, marketing, human resources, technology, advocacy, and governance strategies are effectively implemented.
Essential CEO functions include:
- Leading the headquarters staff and field volunteers, in response to Board policy, in the development and implementation of effective programs for the promotion and growth of amateur radio and the provision of services to members.
- Planning, developing, organizing, implementing, directing, and evaluating ARRL’s operational and fiscal performance.
- Providing leadership, directing headquarters staff, and maintaining performance standards in headquarters operations.
- Participating, in collaboration with officers, Directors, and staff, in developing ARRL’s plans and programs.
The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with a record of significant amateur radio experience and a broad understanding of its operational, technical, regulatory, and social facets. The CEO will be responsible for effective financial and operational management and oversight.
CEO candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent (master’s degree preferred), be an active radio amateur who has initiated or led a significant amateur radio activity within the past 10 years, and have 10 years of management and supervisory experience. Candidates should be able to demonstrate ability in providing effective leadership and management of business operations.
The position is located at ARRL Headquarters, and the successful candidate will be required to establish a residence in the Hartford, Connecticut, area.
The CEO Position Announcement includes details. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume via e-mail to ARRL Human Resources Assistant Monique Levesque.
Barnstable ARC Meets March 2, 2020
The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 7:00 PM in the Dennis Police Department conference room in Dennis, MA. Entrance to the meeting area is to your right after entering through the main entrance.
It meets on the first Monday of each month unless otherwise noted.
All radio amateurs and people interested in Amateur Radio are welcome to attend. BARC members will receive a written call to meeting with more detail and a meeting agenda.
ARRL Website, Other Services to be Offline on February 28
From ARRL Web:
02/23/2020 – The ARRL website and other online services will be offline on Friday, February 28, for up to 8 hours in order to conduct necessary maintenance. The outage will begin at 0500 UTC and should end by 1300 UTC. Affected will be the main ARRL website, the ARRL Store, and the ARRL contesting-related pages, including the log submission page. Logbook of The World (LoTW), email, and all ARRL Headquarters systems will not be affected. We apologize for any inconvenience.
FEMA Online Training Materials Currently Offline
FEMA is reporting its Independent Study Exam web materials are currently unavailable. This may impact amateurs who are in the process of taking online training for ARES membership and certification.
Per https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx: “The Independent Study Exams are currently unavailable. EMI is working to determine the cause. Currently, there is not an estimated time of recovery.”
Whitman ARC Amateur Extra Class Begins February 25, 2020
The Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold a bi-weekly Amateur Extra license classes for eight sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning on February 25, 2020. Some classes will be held at the Whitman Police Station; others will be conducted at the Whitman United Methodist Church. The course will wrap up with a volunteer exam session on March 19. Material will be based on the ARRL Amateur Extra Class License Manual.
The course is offered free of charge; however students are responsible for acquiring their own textbooks. Interested parties are asked to contact the course instructor, Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG via email at bavarianradio@comcast.net or by phone at 781-447-9104 or visit http://www.wa1npo.org/training/training.htm for additional information.
BCRA Meeting, March 2, 2020
The Bristol County Repeater Association and Fall River Amateur Radio Club will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, March 2, 2020 from 7 to 9 PM at the Stop and Shop, 816 Grand Army Highway, Somerset, MA in the Community Room (2nd floor).
(Enter on the Fall River side near the Dunkin Donuts in the store. The stairs and elevator will be on the right. Go left on second floor.)
Plans Underway to Celebrate NCRA’s 100th Anniversary
At their February meeting, members of the Norfolk County Radio Association plan to discuss ideas for celebrating the club’s 100th anniversary in 2021. According to NCRA president Dick Bean, K1HC, two ideas suggested are: a special event station, and a commemorative QSL card.