Author: Jon McCombie

Jon N1ILZ writes:

As part of the Fall 2024 SET “November Gale,” we conducted a special session of the Massachusetts Rhode Island Digital Net (MARIDN). MARIDN is an affiliate of the National Traffic System (NTS) of the ARRL, convened to pass formal written traffic across MA and RI and to and from wherever third-party traffic is allowed, using the digital message-passing capabilities of the fldigi NBEMS software suite.

The MARIDN special session ran 1000-1203L (1500-1703Z). A total of 14 stations checked in, with a total of six pieces of traffic passed, including both Radiograms and ICS-213 messages. The exercise demonstrated passing traffic within the net and exchanging traffic with the greater National Traffic System (NTS).

N1ILZ was primary NCS. Special thanks to Don AB1PH for assisting as NCS. Thanks to the following stations for checking in to the special edition of MARIDN:

N1ILZ/NCS, WZ0C, AB1PH/NCS, N1RDN, KW1U, N1JCM, N1CPE, K1HRV, W1RVY, K1ELB, KX1C, KT1OK, NV1Y, AF1R

The special edition of MARIDN started on 80m. After 15-20 minutes it was clear that propagation was not in our favor – stations within ~25 mi of each other could relay traffic, but passing traffic from, say, Walpole, MA to Cape Cod was a non-starter, even with relays. MARIDN moved to its alternate 40m frequency and operations were much better.

The MARIDN team noted several lessons-learned, e.g., around net band-change and NCS handoff. These will be documented in a future document and incorporated into MARIDN processes.

Thanks again to all who participated!

73 de
—Jon N1ILZ

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Welcome to the October 2024 EMA Section Update! I am publishing this update to the EMA Section and NE Division websites and sending it to all the clubs I have email addresses for. Please distribute this widely. The email-blast-to-all-section-members function is still down, a casualty of the cyber-attack on ARRL HQ; there is currently  – still – no ETA.  

 It’s now officially Autumn. That means the population of our Cape Cod communities has reverted to mostly normal. Many businesses have shuttered for the season. This is by far my favorite season, as the temperatures moderate, the traffic calms down, the leaves turn, and things quiet down. And I’ll take my beverages without pumpkin spice, thank you very much!  

* Election for ARRL New England Division Director  

Incumbent Director Fred Kemmerer AB1OC faces Director Emeritus Tom Frenaye K1KI in the upcoming election for ARRL Director, New England Division. You should have received an email and a USMail postcard with directions on how to vote electronically or to request a paper ballot. If you’ve already voted, thanks! If not, vote NOW! Voting ends at noon (ET), November 15, 2024. Whomever your choice is, I strongly encourage you to vote in this very important election! 

* ARRL Sweepstakes Coming Up 

A reminder: the ARRL Sweepstakes – the oldest domestic ham radio contest – is coming up in November. ARRL Sweeps CW is Nov 2, 2024, 2100Z to Nov 4, 2024, 0300Z. That’s THIS WEEKEND! And ARRL Sweeps SSB is Nov 16, 2024, 2100Z to Nov 18, 2024, 0300Z. I hope to work you in one or both of the contests! Full details are at https://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes  

* Police Amateur Radio Team (PART) of Westford, MA has Several POTA Activations  

The Police Amateur Radio Team (PART) of Westford, MA reports having tons o’ fun with POTA activations, both as a club activation and as a group of PART members gathering for POTA activations as individuals. They describe it as “a bunch of hams came together at Great Brook Farm State Park to have great fun together, enjoy the great weather, and make some QSOs.”  

Have you or your club activated some POTAs? Let me know, so I can give you a shout-out in the Section Update! 

* Eastern MA Simulated Emergency Test (SET Saturday, Nov 9, 1000-1200 EST 

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will conduct a section exercise and Simulated Emergency Test (SET) on Saturday 11/9/24 from 10 AM-12 PM dubbed “November Gale”. The exercise will practice similar skills as previous exercises conducted over the course of 2024 and will serve as a means of practice heading into the 2024-2025 winter season.  

Full details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/10/28/eastern-massachusetts-ares-simulated-emergency-test-set-operation-november-gale-saturday-11-9-24-10-am-12-pm-edt/  

* Barnstable ARC members QRV for Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) 

Members of the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) were active on the air for Scouting America’s (nee Boy Scouts of America) Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), an international event in which Scouts worldwide use Amateur Radio to chat with other scouts. BARC members demonstrated a wide variety of Amateur Radio technologies, including an ARES go-kit for VHF communications; HF voice, CW, and FT8; and DMR. A good time was had by all, and many JOTA badges were given away. More details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/10/19/barnstable-arc-qrv-for-jamboree-on-the-air-october-19-2024/  

 Was your club active for JOTA or other Scouting America events? Let me know so I can give you some free publicity!

* Nationwide NTS Traffic Handling Zoom Training Session Held October 14, 2024 

On Monday, October 14 at 7:00 PM NTS luminaries held an interactive Zoom session to introduce the National Traffic System (NTS). This training incorporated videos and open discussion to get participants started with an exciting aspect of the hobby that’s been around for over 100 years! … 

* Recruiting Volunteer Webmaster(s) for the EMA Website 

 Phil, K9HI has done a fantastic job of maintaining the https://ema.arrl.,org website. I (still) need to recruit some backup resources. If you have basic skills with WordPress and can help maintain the website – mostly posting new articles at the suggestion of me and others – please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org. You’ll be helping me – and the League – immensely! 

* Recruiting a New Section Youth Coordinator 

Last month I reported that our Section Youth Coordinator, Paul K1YUB, had stepped down from his position. I’m even more sad to report that Paul is now a Silent Key. I need to fill this important position on the EMA Section Staff. The SYC requirement and job description is at https://www.arrl.org/section-youth-coordinator  If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org  – I’ll appreciate it greatly! 

* N1ILZ for a Final  
 
Stay safe and warm out there!  Autumn is here, the vehicular traffic is (mostly) calming down – at least in vacation areas – and the weather forecasters are predicting – well, who listens to those crazy long-term weather forecasters anyway?  Go pick some apples, go peep at some leaves, and enjoy all that New England Autumn has to offer! And get those outdoor antenna projects done before the snow starts flying fierce and it’s too cold to go out, proving a great excuse to stay by the space-heater – I mean linear amplifier – and make some QSOs! 

 Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Let me know via email at n1ilz@arrl.org!  
 

* For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org  
 
This Section News Update is brought to you by Section Manager Jon N1ILZ. 

Don Rolph, AB1PH writes:

We will be holding a Zoom session to help people get configured with FLDIGI:

Welcome to the September 2024 EMA Section Update! I am publishing this update to the EMA Section and NE Division websites. The email-blast-to-all-section-members function is still down, a casualty of the cyber-attack on ARRL HQ; there is currently no ETA. I’m publishing the Update on the EMA website and sending it to all the clubs I have email addresses for, with a request to distribute it widely. Please spread the word.   

 It’s now officially Autumn. That means the population of our Cape Cod communities has reverted to mostly normal. Many businesses have shuttered for the season, with many more planning their last hurrah for shortly after Columbus Day. This is by far my favorite season, as the temperatures moderate, the traffic calms down, the leaves turn, and things quiet down. And I’ll take my beverages without pumpkin spice, thank you very much!  

* Election for New England Division Director  

Nominations are now closed for ARRL New England Division Director and Vice Director. Incumbent Vice Director Phil Temples K9HI was the only person to submit nominating paperwork for Vice Director, so he was declared elected for the next three-year term. Incumbent Director Fred Kemmerer AB1OC faces Director Emeritus Tom Frenaye K1KI in the upcoming election for Director, New England Division. Emails have already been sent to all ARRL members in the Division with instructions on how to vote. Whomever your choice is, I strongly encourage you to vote in this very important election! 

* HamXpo Was a Huge Success!! 

 In my not-so-humble opinion, HamXposition 2024, held this past August 22-25, was an unmitigated, smashing success. The vendor area was full to bursting, the list of seminars was broader and deeper than what one finds at HamVention (Dayton), and I believe a truly great time was had by all who attended. Please forward your HamXpo stories to me for inclusion in the next Section Update. The HamXposition website, https://hamxposition.org has thousands of photos, if you want to revisit the fun.  

 I’m already looking forward to next year!! Please mark your calendars for August 21-24, 2025, the dates for next year’s event. 

* Boston Area GMRS Club Seeks New Members 

 Gregg Lebovitz, KD1MU, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list: 

 I wanted to let fellow GMRS licensees know that we are now taking memberships for the Boston Area GMRS Club.  

The club is a not-for-profit 501c(3) corporation and focuses on two main areas 1) technology, operator proficiency, and emergency communications education and 2) building a GMRS infrastructure to aid agencies in their emergency communications efforts.  

More details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/09/19/boston-area-gmrs-club/ 

* Successful Walpole EMA/CERT Amateur Radio Field Exercise Held on Sep 21, 2024  

 On Sat. Sept 21, the Walpole Emergency Management Agency and Community Emergency Response Team sponsored an amateur radio field exercise. Operating portable and despite the rain, nine stations were deployed, eight at Adam’s Farm in Walpole and one on High Rock in Foxboro. Full details at  

https://ema.arrl.org/2024/09/23/amateur-radio-field-exercise-on-sat-sep-21-sponsored-by-walpole-ema-and-cert-team/   

* Northeastern Wireless Club “Yagi Build” a “Fantastic Success” 

 Jonah Lefkoff writes on the Northeastern Wireless mailing list: 

 The Northeastern Wireless Club held a workshop on building tape measure yagi antennas that was a fantastic success. Attendees built many awesome antennas, and learned a bit about impedance matching and soldering along the way. Next step: use these new antennas in a fox hunt around campus. Full details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/09/12/northeastern-wireless-club-yagi-build-a-fantastic-success/  

* NTS Traffic Handling Training Session, October 14, 2024  

Mark your calendars! Interested in NTS and Traffic Handling? Join us Monday, October 14 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. This training will incorporate videos and open discussion to get you started in an exciting aspect of the hobby that’s been around for over 100 years! Full details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/09/09/nts-traffic-handling-training-session-october-14-2024/  

* Recruiting Volunteer Webmaster(s) for the EMA Website 

 Phil, K9HI has done a fantastic job of maintaining the https://ema.arrl.,org website. I (still) need to recruit some backup resources. If you have basic skills with WordPress and can help maintain the website – mostly posting new articles at the suggestion of me and others – please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org. You’ll be helping me – and the League – immensely! 

* Recruiting a New Section Youth Coordinator 

Last month I reported that our Section Youth Coordinator, Paul K1YUB, had stepped down from his position. I’m even more sad to report that Paul is now a Silent Key. I need to fill this important position on the EMA Section Staff. The SYC requirement and job description is at https://www.arrl.org/section-youth-coordinator  If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org  – I’ll appreciate it greatly! 

* N1ILZ for a Final  
 
Stay safe and warm out there!  Autumn is here, the traffic is (mostly) calming down, and the weather forecasters are predicting – well, who listens to those crazy long-term weather forecasters anyway?  Go pick some apples, go peep at some leaves, and enjoy all that a New England Autumn has to offer! And get those outdoor antenna projects done before the snow starts flying fierce and it’s too cold to go out (proving a great excuse to stay by the space-heater – I mean linear amplifier – and make some QSOs. 

 Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Let me know via email at n1ilz@arrl.org!  
 

 * For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org  
 
This Section News Update is brought to you by Assistant SM and Vice Director Phil Temples K9HI, and Section Manager Jon N1ILZ. 

Welcome to the August 2024 EMA Section Update! This update is also being published to the EMA Section and NE Division websites. Please spread the word. 

 It’s still summer. The weather – at least here on the Cape – has been crazy variable, from hot-humid-swampy to nice-cool-dry, and everything in between. I hope you’re all taking it easy, staying cool, keeping hydrated, and enjoying the nice days. The population of our Cape Cod communities continues at 3-4 times off-season. Many businesses make all their profits for the year, and that is to be respected. On the bright side, listening to the police/rescue/fire scanner gives us countless “stupid human tricks” stories. This too shall end!   

* HamXpo is Coming! 

Last call, I promise! Mark the dates, August 22-25, 2024! The 2024 edition of HamXposition is coming, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. Several top-tier amateur radio vendors recently committed to the show. And the lineup of technical talks/seminars/workshops exceeds Hamvention (Dayton) in terms of breadth and depth of topics. Attend an in-person SKYWARN Spotter class! Attend the in-person Mini Contest University being held Friday! Bring someone to review for their Tech license in a day! I want to have an eyeball QSO with you there, including the Section Town Hall (parallel sessions for most of the New England sections)! Full details at https://hamxposition.org/   

* K1USN SST 

 CW ops and contesters from around the world are invited to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the K1USN weekly Slow Speed Contest (SST) by participating in a new event, the K1USN SST OPEN (SSO) to be held annually starting on Friday, September 13 from 2000-2359Z. 

From its inception in September 2020, the twice-weekly SST has encouraged CW newcomers to join with experienced ops in a relaxed contest at speeds less than 20 WPM. Contest sponsors strongly urge all participants to operate at 12 WPM or less to provide new CW ops with a comfortable “on ramp” to CW operating and contesting. 

See https://ema.arrl.org/2024/08/14/k1usn-sst-open-september-13-2024/ for more details. 

* New Version of KB1OIQ’s Linux Distro Released 

 Andy KB1OIQ writes: 

I have released version 26 of Andy’s Ham Radio Linux. It can be found here: 
https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/files/v26  

Version 26 is now the default version when the Download button is clicked. 

 Andy is hosting a hands-on installation workshop at HamXposition on Fri Aug 23 at 1300 EDT. If you simply want to learn more about Andy’s Ham Linux distribution, he’s giving a seminar at 1100 EDT on Sat Aug 24. Check it out! 

* Amateur Radio Communications Request for “Cycle for Shelter” in Haverhill 

 “This year’s Cycle for Shelter will take place on Sunday September 15th.  The start and finish is at the Northern Essex Community College sports complex, Haverhill, Mass. There are (4) routes planned, a 100-mile, 62-mile, 35 mile & 15 miles long. Most will overlap each other. The final routes are still being worked out but will run through similar areas as in years past. The start times for each route vary, starting as early as 7:30 AM and the event closes at 4:00 pm. Some routes will take as little as 3 hours to complete where the longest would take a full day. 

 “We are looking to fill the positions of route support in such that there would be at least (1) vehicles per route. All route support vehicles will be offered equipment and instruction on the day of the event. 

 “We are also in need of Amateur Radio Operators at seven different rest stops in: Boxford, Georgetown Groveland, Topsfield, North Hampton, Kensington and Amesbury. The open close times of these stops is being calculated but should not be longer than four hours. Bike marshals are also needed for the 15-mile route which is local to the start/finish.” 

 See https://ema.arrl.org/2024/08/14/amateur-radio-communications-request-cycle-for-shelter-haverhill-september-15-2024/ for more details.  

* StratoScience Lab Balloons Deployed from New England Sci-Tech on Wed Aug 14 

 Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on the New England Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:  

Just wanted to let you all know we are aiming to launch two separate StratoScience Lab balloons THIS WEDNESDAY 8/14 from NEST.  That means we’ll be filling up and releasing the balloon from the NEST parking lot.  The exact time is not nailed down yet, but release will most likely be sometime between 10am and 2pm.  We will have a HamXposition presentation detailing all the projects. 

* Recruiting a New Section Youth Coordinator 

I reported last month that our Section Youth Coordinator, Paul K1YUB, had to step down from his position. I’m still looking for his replacement. The SYC requirement and job description is at https://www.arrl.org/section-youth-coordinator  If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org  – I’ll appreciate it greatly! 

* “Three Dots” at Harbor Stage Company, Wellfleet, August 19-20, 2024 

“Blending vivid theatricality and meticulously researched history, Three Dots tells the story of one of our region’s proudest accomplishments— in 1903 the first transatlantic telegraphs from America to Europe were sent from a station on the cliffs of our small seaside hamlet: Wellfleet, MA.  An insightful look at the science and the psyches behind this remarkable event.”  

For more information, visit https://www.harborstage.org/three-dots.html. 

* N1ILZ for a Final  
 
Stay safe and cool out there!  Summer is (still) here, the traffic is (still) crazy, and the weather forecasters are predicting a hot summer. There’s still plenty of summer fun to be had, including work on all those outdoor projects pent up from the past winter. Especially including antenna projects, amirite?! 

 Please, PLEASE join us at HamXposition! I will be hosting an Eastern MA ARRL Town Hall on Saturday at 1600 EDT. Here’s your chance to throw rotten tomatoes at your Section Manager and tell me what you really think! 

 Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Let me know via email at n1ilz@arrl.org!  
 

* For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org  
 
This Section News Update is brought to you by Section Manager Jon N1ILZ and Assistant Section Manager and New England Division Vice Director Phil K9HI. 

Kayla Creamer writes

I would like to announce our “guest speaker video” for the August 7, 2024, Club meeting via Zoom. We will be having a YouTube video discussing the operations of radio station WWVH in Hawaii.

This video is a virtual tour of the NIST shortwave time standard station for the Pacific which broadcasts on 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 MHz with highly accurate frequency and time signals, propagation (geomagnetic storm) bulletins and other special announcements.

Full details on this event are at https://www.w1hh.org/august-7-2024-bars-meeting-steve-johnston-wd8das-on-wwvh-in-hawaii/ 

Heads up: the email-blast-to-all-section-members function is still down, a casualty of the cyber-attack on ARRL HQ.  There is currently no ETA. I’m publishing the Update on the EMA website and sending it to all the clubs I have email addresses for, with a request to distribute it widely. 

It’s now officially Summer. That means the population of our Cape Cod communities has swollen by a factor of 3-4. Many, many businesses are making their profits for the year, and that is to be respected. On the other hand, geez, the increase in car traffic is crazy, making driving challenging. Ah well. 

* Elections for New England Division Director and Vice Director 

If you are interested in running for the office of Division Director or Vice Director, now’s your chance!  It takes only 10 full members in a Division to nominate a candidate for either office. Full details on the nomination and election process are at https://www.arrl.org/news/call-for-nominations-for-arrl-director-and-vice-director-1   

* HamXpo is Coming!  

Mark the dates, August 22-25, 2024! The 2024 edition of HamXposition is coming, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. Several top-tier amateur radio vendors recently committed to the show. And the lineup of technical talks/seminars/workshops is set to rival HamVention (Dayton) in terms of breadth and depth of topics. I hope to see you in person there, including the Section Town Hall (parallel sessions for each New England section)! Full details at https://hamxposition.org/  

* Amateur Radio Presentation to Middle Schoolers, Mass Maritime, July 15, 2024 

The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) and Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) teamed up the evening of July 15 to introduce amateur radio to several hundred students at the Advanced Studies and Leadership Program held at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne on Cape Cod.  Antennas were set up outside of the conference center to enable live demonstrations of on-the-air operation.  Contacts were made by the students as far away as Europe and local repeater operation was also demonstrated.   Full details at https://nediv.arrl.org/2024/07/24/barnstable-and-falmouth-clubs-team-up-at-advanced-studies-and-leadership-program/   

* Need a Volunteer Webmaster for the EMA Website 

 Phil, K9HI has done a fantastic job of maintaining the https://ema.arrl.,org website. I need to recruit some backup resources. If you have basic skills with WordPress and can help maintain the website – mostly posting new articles at the suggestion of me and others – please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org. You’ll be helping me – and the League – immensely! 

* Recruiting a New Section Youth Coordinator 

I’m sad to report that our Section Youth Coordinator, Paul K1YUB, had to step down from his position. The SYC requirement and job description is at https://www.arrl.org/section-youth-coordinator  If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org  – I’ll appreciate it greatly! 

* N1ILZ for a Final  
 
Stay safe and cool out there!  Summer is here, the traffic is crazy, and the weather forecasters are predicting a hot summer. There’s still plenty of summer fun to be had, including work on all those outdoor projects pent up from the past winter. Especially including antenna projects, amirite?! 

Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Let me know via email at n1ilz@arrl.org!  
 

* For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org  
 
This Section News Update is brought to you by Section Manager Jon N1ILZ.