Operating

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Licensing Education & Training / Operating / Youth

Youth On The Air 2021 Camp Makes Successful ARISS Contact

- by k1tw - Leave a Comment

YOTA logoFred Kemmerer, AB1OC, writes:

“I had the pleasure of serving as the ARISS contact moderator for the Youth On The Air (YOTA) 2021 Camp’s contact with the International Space Station (ISS) using Amateur Radio today. Young Hams spent the week at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station in West Chester, OH engaging in a variety of Amateur Radio Activities. Ruth Willet, KM4LAO, was the host for YOTA 2021 and provided an excellent pre-contact program. The West Chester Amateur Radio Association partnered with YOTA 2021 Camp group to help them with YOTA 2021 activities and their ISS contact. You can view a video of the YOTA 2021 Camp’s contact with astronaut Aki Hoshide, KE5DNI, on the International Space Station (ISS) by clicking on the video above.

Working with a school or group to help young people make contact with an astronaut on the ISS using Amateur Radio is a great way to build a lasting relationship around Amateur Radio with young people and their teachers and mentors. In my role as an ARISS Mentor and Ground Station, I have had the pleasure to help with nine of these contacts around the world over the last several years. In every case, local Ham Radio clubs partnered with the school or group to provide STEM learning experiences based on Amateur Radio. Helping a school or group make contact with the astronaut on the ISS provides a memorable experience for everyone involved.

You can learn more about the ARISS contact program here or contact me at ab1oc@arrl.net.

Fred, AB1OC

 

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday July 12th, 2021 at 830 PM EDT on the MMRA Repeater Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The July Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday July 12th, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. It is on the second Monday of the month due to Monday July 5th being the observed holiday for US Independence Day.

For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. For this month’s ARES Net, we will have comments on an upcoming ARES exercise we are planning on Saturday August 7th, 2021, past SKYWARN activation information and the continued need for Amateur Radio volunteers for the 2021 Boston Marathon.

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

July ARES and RACES Nets Will be on the Second Monday of July Due to Independence Day Holiday Observed on Monday 7/5/21

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment
Hello to all…
 
We hope everyone has had a great Independence Day holiday weekend so far. With Independence Day being on July 4th, the observed state legal holiday is on Monday July 5th, 2021 so the RACES and ARES Nets will be held on the second Monday of July, Monday 7/12/21 at the usual times. We look forward to talking to everyone on the nets next week. Thanks!
 
73,Rob-KD1CY.
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

Massachusetts State Triathlon – Winchendon – Sun 7/11/11 Needs Amateur Radio Volunteers

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

From the MMRA Email List and KC1US-Bruce Pigott:

Hi Folks,

We’re looking for amateur radio operators to assist with the Massachusetts State Triathlon in Winchendon on Sun 7/11.   It occurs from about 7am to 1pm (some assignments should secure as early as 10am, and most by Noon). This is an Olympic Distance Triathlon, with a .9 mi swim, 22 mi bike and 6.2 mi run. Registration often fills up.   The expanded course will continue, down into the centers of Gardner and Baldwinville.   This means our communications plan will involve using a variety of systems on both 2m and 70cm, including deploying portable repeater systems.   We will forward maps and details about the event to those signed up.

More info online: www.maxperformanceonline.com

If you are interested, please send an e-mail to events@wect.org and let us know if you have UHF equipment with DCS / DPL. Thanks!

Thanks and 73,
Matt, NM1B

Matt Brennan, NM1B
nm1b@wect.org
(508) 425-2750 x107

Affiliated Clubs / Operating

Boston ARC to Host QRP Cookout/Parks On The Air, K-8405, Boston, MA, July 11, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Boston ARC logoMembers of the Boston Amateur Radio Club are planning a QRP Cookout and Parks On The Air operation on July 11, 2021 along the Charles River at Herter Park, 1175 Soldiers Field Road, Allston.  The POTA designation is K-8405: Charles River State Reserve.

An August 1st date has been suggested by the group for another cookout/QRP operation for those who are unable to attend the first event. The group is currently collecting RSVPs via the BARC mailing list. 

 

Herter Park, Boston MA

 

Operating

Special Event Stations Commemorate 100th Anniversary of WBZ, September 17-19, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

WBZ 100 Year Anniversary logoFrom nediv.arrl.org:

WBZ radio 1030 kHz in Boston is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021. It is the oldest broadcast station in New England, and one of the oldest stations in the United States.

The Billerica Amateur Radio Society and the Hampden County Radio Association in Springfield, will help commemorate this anniversary by sponsoring a special operating event starting at 1300z/9:00 am EDT September 17 and ending at 0400z/12 am EDT on September 19. Amateurs from across New England will operate W1W, W1B, W1Z, and WB1Z on various bands and modes. A special QSL card will be sent to anyone who contacts one or more of the special event stations. A historical sheet will also be available for download. The card will feature historical photos of WBZ over the years as well as a special 100th Anniversary WBZ logo. 

For updated information, please visit https://nediv.arrl.org/wbz100.

Operating

KB1MGI Fox Is On the Loose, Chelmsford, June 19, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on Jun 19, 2021 at 1:20 PM:

I placed my DTMF activated by pressing tone 2 for two seconds. The 146.565 Fox box is in the BB Wright [Reservation] land in South Chelmsford off 120 Parker Road.
 
The fox will transmit 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off for 15 minutes. To reactivate press tone 2 again.
 
I’ll leave it out for about 5 days.
 
See Attached pdf map.
 
John  KB1MGI
 
Awards / Operating

13 Colonies Special Event, July 1-7, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

2021 K2H QSL CardFrom nediv.arrl.org:

Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

Are you looking for that perfect, post Field Day ham radio activity? Then working the 13 Colonies special event stations is perfect for you!

Each July 1 through July 7, the 13 original colony states activate on all bands and modes for you to work them. Plus you can chase the three extra 13 Colonies stations where there is one each in Philadelphia, England and France.

This is a very fun activity. The action the first few days can create some overwhelming pile ups. If you can not get through, please be patient and try again later or another day. All the ops are trying to work everyone they can hear. They want to work you and will make every effort to do so.

If you work them all, it’s called a “clean sweep.” You can earn a certificate by sending $5 to KU2US. You can also send an SASE to each of the states to get back a unique QSL card. Each year there is a different theme and a new card is created. Combining the certificate with the QSL cards makes for some fancy wall paper!

But you can receive a certificate by working just one of the 13 colony stations. You do not need a clean sweep to get a certificate.

This year Massachusetts will be active once again as K2H. There are 20 operators all over the state. You’ll hear us on CW, SSB, FT8 and other modes. Work us and send in your SASE QSL request to the info on the K2H QRZ.com page.

Team K2H looks forward to hearing and working you on the bands between July 1 and July 7, 2021!

Operating

W1HFN Fox is Out and About in Littleton, June 17, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on June 17, 2021 at 1:50 PM:

The W1HFN fox is out, 146.565 MHz with a 20 second voice ID every minute. 

Location clues:  what was the name given to the ALL CAPS typewriter used by professional CW ops?  

And if you elevated one to higher than average terrain, where would it be?  Major hint:  Littleton.

Good luck,
Barry –  W1HFN

Operating

KD1D Fox is “Out and About,” June 11, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on June 11, 2021 at 12:07 PM: 
 

The  KD1D Fox is out and about Friday JUNE 11, 2021, operating on 146.565 MHz FM and is expected to be transmitting through Sunday, at least.  

It is located on LITTLETON Conservation land and can be heard from Great Road (Rt. 119) between Lake Nagog and Littleton Common.

The logbook is hidden nearby and should be easy to find.  Enter your Callsign, Name, and Time & Date found or email me a (small) photo at the address below.

A cryptic clue  (for those who enjoy these things) is “Happy Herder.”  Email me at kd1d@arrl.net if you need additional hints.
73 and Happy Hunting from  Alan, KD1D

Field Day / Operating

International Space Station to be in Cross-Band Repeater Mode for Field Day 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Field Day 2021 logoFrom ARRL Special Bulletin 006:

International Space Station to be in Cross-Band Repeater Mode for Field Day

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) cross-band repeater will be available for ARRL Field Day, June 26 – 27. Contacts will count toward Field Day bonus points as satellite contacts and Field Day contacts.

Field Day rules limit stations to one contact on any single-channel FM satellite. Note that contacts made during Field Day by ISS crew would only count for contact credit, but not for satellite bonus points. ISS cross-band repeater contacts are also valid AMSAT Field Day satellite contacts.

The ARISS cross-band repeater uplink is 145.990 MHz (67 Hz tone), with a downlink of 437.800 MHz.

ARISS suggests that those unfamiliar with the ISS repeater may want to practice with it prior to Field Day. ARISS had planned to switch modes to the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) during the second week of June, but this won’t happen until after the first ARISS school contact following ARRL Field Day.

The ARISS ham station will be off-air during spacewalks on June 16 and June 20.

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday June 7th, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The June Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday June 7th, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system.

For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. For this month’s ARES Net, we will have comments regarding past ARES Workshop and virtual SKYWARN training, past ARES exercise in May and the pivot towards public service events as Massachusetts reopens as COVID restrictions are relaxed.

Also, we will pay tribute this evening to the loss of longtime town of Walpole EMA Director and strong supporter of ARES/RACES/SKYWARN, W1ZSA-Roger Turner, who passed away Wednesday Evening. Please join us for a memorial last call up to be held at the start of the ARES Net tonight.

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Operating

New England Digital Swap Net, Time Change

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From Algonquin ARC QRZ Newsletter, June 2021:

Please note the time change for the DMR New England Digital Swap Net:

WHEN: MONDAY NIGHTS at 7:30 PM for 1 hour

WHERE: NEDECN “NEW ENGLAND WIDE” 3181 TALK GROUP

NET CONTROLS: K1NR, WA1NVC, N1JAF, NE1B

https://groups.io/g/NewEnglandDigitalSwapNet

You can read the For Sale items and if you join, you can post For Sale items.

Operating

W1HFN Fox is on the Loose in Westford, June 4, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on June 4, 2021 at 1:11 PM

My father was a 30 year vet of the Army and I (knowing better) joined the Air Force. If that is not enough of a hint, email me for more. Standard 146.565 MHz TX with a voice ID every 40 seconds or so. There is a log to sign nearby. Good luck to all!

73,

Barry, W1HFN

p.s. — I forgot to mention–it’s in the Westford area.

 

Operating

K1USN Radio Club QRV for Museum Ships Weekend, June 5-6, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NJ2BB Battleship NJ logo“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes in K1USN Happenings, June 3, 2021:

The K1USN club station will be on the air this weekend beginning on Friday [June 5, 2021] @ 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC) @ 85 Quincy Ave, Braintree, MA. We expect to have three HF stations running on SSB/CS as well FT8/4. Operators will be needed to enable us to remain on the air as much as possible during the weekend.

As many of you already know, Museum Ships Weekend was begun by the K1USN Radio Club back in 1997 and has become a very popular annual event. All organizational details are now handled by the NJ2BB crew aboard the Battleship New Jersey and we are pleased to continue to support their efforts by activating K1USN each year.

Activity on the bands has grown over the years and there are many home stations competing to make contacts with as many of the participants as possible during the weekend. Larry, W1VP, has created a cool DX Summit search tool which will go live this weekend.

This search tool will show a real time flow of MSW participant cluster spots to enable you to track them down. The DX Summit filtered feed will be available from www.k1usn.com.

As I said, we will be needing operators so please let me know if you have some available time to either operate or just to drop by to check out K1USN in action during this weekend. […] Please drop me a note to let me know that you plan to operate and what day/hours/modes you wish to operate at pi.k1rv@gmail.com.

Locally, Mike, W1USN, WA1MD & Bob, AA1M plan to activate the USS Cassin Young as WW2DD. [See: USS Cassin Young WW2DD QRV for Museum Ships Weekend, June 5-6, 2021] 

Rick, KB1TEE , WI1G, WA1MAD and crew will be activating the USS Massachusetts from Battleship Cove using the callsign NE1PL. Watch for all of them on the Cluster.