Author: n1wbv

Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

Amateur Support Requested for Blackburn Challenge – July 19th, 2025

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Eric, KA1NCF, writes on the NSRA Mailing list:

The Blackburn Challenge is coming up in just a few weeks, in Gloucester, MA and I need to find out how many hams I have that can help this year.
 
I have not found out yet how many boats they have that need ham radio communicators yet, but hope to know soon.  Then I can match operators with boaters, and support communications for the Backburn committee for the race.
 
Please let me know if you are available and would like to help on Saturday July 19th, the race starts around 7 am and runs until around 3 pm, although some boats are done earlier.
Eric can be contacted at ka1ncf@ka1ncf.org
Emergency Communications / Public Service

SKYWARN Spotter Training at SEMARA – June 22, 2025

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Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SEMARA Mailing List:

 I’ll be teaching a SKYWARN Training Class at SEMARA on Sunday 6/22/25 from 930 AM-1130 AM. Details are below:
 
Sunday June 22nd, 2025 – 930 AM-1130 AM:
SEMARA – Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association
54 Donald Street
South Dartmouth, MA 02748
Sponsored by: SEMARA – Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Rob also states the registration is required and information must be filled out to avoid going over capacity and to ensure that he has enough spotter cards for people in the class.
Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

Volunteer Opportunity – Corpus Christi Procession – June 22nd

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Friar John Mary, KC1QAP, is looking for communications support for our Corpus Christi Procession on Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 from 1:30PM to 4:30PM in New Bedford, MA:

Each Comm person would be assigned to a key figure person in the Procession in order to facilitate communications between them, thus ensuring that the Procession runs smoothly . The challenges in the past has been key figures having to run around looking for the one they need to communicate with or not even try because of the distance between them is too great. Walkie talkies in the past have not been too impressive.

If you are interested please contact Friar John via e-Mail.

Operating

New England APRS Net – June 9th, 2025

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Dust off your APRS gear and check in next week to the New England APRS Test Net! This is a great opportunity to figure out the APRS functions on your latest HT or other APRS gizmo.

Why participate in the test net? During the first month, there were a number of reports of operators who tried to check in, but needed to figure out how to send a message or worse, realized they needed to update the firmware of their device. As Amateur Radio Operators, we often market ourselves folks who can send a message “when all else fails” so this is the perfect time for you to find out in a fun environment what isn’t working BEFORE you need to do something important!

KC1VMZ gives the details on the neaprs mailing list:

WHAT: NE APRS Test net 

WHEN: second Monday of the Month (for June, this is Monday June 9): 0600 ET – 2359 ET

WHERE: APRS

HOW: Destination Station = ANSRVR 

HOW: Message body = CQ [space] NEAPRS [space] “your text: check-in message of choice.”

 

Extra credit – send out a location beacon during the net time period as well.

Extra extra credit – Send “Q” to QUIZME and answer the question sent to you.  It will tell you if you got it right or not.  I may even get more questions added by then 🙂