Operating

Operating, on-the-air events and activities, contests, DXing

Operating

YCCC Members QRV for ARRL DX CW Contest Weekend

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Several Yankee Clipper Contest Club members plan to operate from DX locations in the upcoming ARRL DX CW Contest February 16-17.

YCCC president Dennis Egan, W1UE, of Marlborough, writes he will be on Roatan Island  (off the coast of Honduras).  “If you need HR on any bands, let me know.  I’ll also be doing some 60-meter operation, SSB only on the same frequency slots as the USA. For the contest, I’ll either be W1UE/HR9 or HQ9X.  Haven’t got the authorization for the special call yet.” Dennis adds he’ll also be on Roatan for the  CQWW 160M SSB contest the following weekend.

Brian Machesney, K1LI, Vermont, is traveling to J75Y in Dominica. He hopes to be on from the DARCI club station for both CW and phone, low power.

Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, Coventry, Connecticut, will be QRV from 4U1ITU in Geneva (a separate DXCC entity). “It’s not exactly a DXpedition, but because I will be in Geneva for an ITU meeting February 18-28. I am going a couple of days early to put 4U1ITU on for CW.” Dave adds he will have to QRT early Sunday “but there will probably be a couple of other operators as well.”

Kurt Pauer, W6PH, of Amherst, New Hampshire, will be VP9/W6PH (Bermuda) for the contest. Kurt says it will be his 20th consecutive year there.

Paul Young, K1XM, Hudson, MA, will operate remote as VY1AAA giving out the rare Yukon Territory multiplier. “It is not a DXpedition because I’m not going anywhere,” Paul adds.

Bill Barber, NE1B, Hudson, New Hampshire, writes, “C6ANM (Bahamas) may be on for ARRL CW and CQ 160 SSB, depending on antenna build challenges.” He adds the station will be on “definitely for ARRL DX SSB with NE1B, N1GN, K1EP and K1VK.”

UPDATES:

 

February 5, 2019: Gerry Hull, W1VE, Hancock, NH, will be part of a multi-multi operation from P40E (Aruba) along with K2LE, K9RS, N3RD, and AA5B.  “Please work us on six bands.  We will be watching 10 carefully, with a dedicated SDR watching the band.”

 

February 14, 2019: Dennis, W1UE, confirms he will operating as HQ9X for the ARRL DX CW contest.

Operating

Vermont QSO Party, February 2-3, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Joe Vanat, Jr., K1VMT, writes on the YCCC reflector:

The 61st Vermont QSO Party will take place during the first full weekend of February 2019.  It will begin at 0000 UTC Saturday February 2 and will end at 2400 UTC Sunday February 3.  Details and rules are at http://www.ranv.org/vtqso.html .

To my knowledge, all counties will be active. I’m told there will be rovers in northern counties on Saturday.  Also, an Essex County operator might be on 6- and 2 meters if rotors turn. It’s only -11F this morning, hi.

FT8 operators will be on. (Check for the special rules that apply.)

I will operate mostly CW and RTTY, even PSK31  (when on lunch break) and some SSB from Lamoille County. 

Hope to work you all.

Operating

WCC ARA Celebrates RCA Centennial

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

WA1WCC QSL cardThe WCC Amateur Radio Association (WA1WCC) in Chatham will celebrate the centennial of the Radio Corporation of America throughout 2019. According to the organization’s web site, RCA was incorporated on October 17, 1919.  

“In November 1919, RCA acquired the assets of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America, which then ceased doing business in the US. At the outset, RCA consisted of only five radio stations, in various stages of completion, and Chatham was one of them. Chatham would later become RCA’s flagship coastal station WCC, known as “Marine Radio Central”.

WA1WCC is commemorating the founding of RCA in a year-long celebration. Watch for WA1WCC/100RCA on the bands during 2019. Participants can request the RCA Special Event Certificate.

For additional information, visit https://www.qrz.com/db/wa1wcc.

 

Clubs / Operating

AA1M, W1USN QRV from Costa Rica, February 2-13, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Quannapowitt Radio Association members Bob Reiser, AA1M, and Mike Rioux, W1USN, will be making their annual mini-dxpedition this year to Costa Rica. Their trip begins on February 2; they return home on the 13th. Bob and Mike expect to use all HF bands on SSB, CW and digital with “some trials on the AMSAT satellites.” Last year, the two discovered they could operate simultaneously using FT8 because the timing for transmit and receive are the same.

AA1M and W1USN will be on the lookout for calls from QRA members. They indicate skeds can be arranged via email while they are in TI-land.

—Thanks, QRA Newsletter, January 2019

Licensing Education & Training / Operating

MMRA To Present K3LR Contest University, January 16, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Well known contester Tim Duffy, K3LR, will present Contest University via Skype at the Minuteman Repeater Association meeting on January 16 at 7 PM. The meeting will be held at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle,  Natick.

Duffy is a well know contester and the owner of the multi-multi contest superstation K3LR. He will discuss the following topics, followed by a Q&A session:

  • What is a contest?
  • What do you need to get started at contesting?
  • Where can you find resources to help you be a contester
  • What are the benefits of contesting?

The workshop is intended for hams  who are new at contesting or want to improve their skills.

https://www.nescitech.org/directions/

Operating

KM1CC QRV for Marconi’s First Transatlantic Wireless Message Anniversary, January 18-19, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

KM1CC signBill Kretschmer, N2KNL, writes:

On January 18, 1903, young inventor Guglielmo Marconi made communication history by sending the first public transatlantic wireless message from his station on the South Wellfleet bluffs to Poldhu, Great Britain. The KM1CC Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club operators will talk to hams around the world on January 18-19, 2019 beginning at 1000 Eastern Time (1500 GMT). Instead of operating at the Coast Guard Station in Eastham this month, we will operate from Russ Apgar’s home, K1RTA, in Wellfleet, MA, at 285 Old Wharf Road off U.S. Route 6 across the street from the original Marconi Site. Grid Square FN51av. Operators are welcome to attend. Here are the operating frequencies and modes:

80M 3.660-3.860 SSB / 3.535 CW
40M 7.130-7.260 SSB / 7.035 CW
30M 10.110 CW 
20M 14.260 SSB / 14.035 CW
17M 18.160 SSB / 18.080 CW
15M 21.360 SSB / 21.035 CW

UPDATE:

 

“Due to our usual operating site in Cape Cod National Seashore being closed as a result of the current federal government shutdown,  KM1CC will operate from multiple home operator locations.  SSB operations will still be from an amateur station located in grid square FN51 (a Wellfleet location close to original Marconi station site).  CW operations will be from amateur radio stations in FN42.

 

 When:  Jan 18   1500-UTC   through   Jan 19,  2100 UTC

 <…>

QSL card requests- best to use LoTW Log Book of the World.  Please do not direct mail QSL card requests to KM1CC until after the US Federal Government – DEPT OF THE INTERIOR shutdown ends as Cape Cod National Seashore is closed until the shutdown ends.

 

See also: “Marconi: Beyond the Horizon“

Field Day / Operating / Youth

Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) Winter Field Day and STEM Event at New England Sci-Tech – Saturday 1/26/19 – 2-10 PM EST

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment
Area radio clubs are invited to join us for Winter Field Day in Natick. Open to the public Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 2-10 pm. Pot Luck Dinner, Ham Radio Event, Yard Sale, Maker Activities, Planetarium Shows, Guest Speaker, Movie Night, all in one event! Hosted by the youth members of Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) and by New England Amateur Radio (NEAR). Held at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick, MA.  See website for a list of the major items in the yard sale.
 
Many thanks. Let me know if you need any other information that is not already evident from the web page. https://www.nescitech.org/winter-field-day/
 
Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday January 5th, 2019 at 1000 AM

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Good Morning Everyone,

Net Control for the January 5, 2019 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:00 AM using the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Plymouth 146.685 Tone 131.8
2. Boston 145.230 Tone Encode 88.5 Tone Decode 100.0
3. Norwood 147.210 Tone 100.0
4. Simplex 147.42

The Net will then return to the Plymouth Repeater for final comments and Net closing.

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.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

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 are 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.

REMINDER: The BARC Repeater is now using split tone. Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0

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 you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John Barbuto

KS1Q

—
—
South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
55 Fogg Road, Box 42
South Weymouth, MA 02190

Operating

Fessenden Commemorative Transmission Set for Christmas Eve

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From the ARRL Letter, December 20, 2018:

A replica 1921 CW and Heising modulated AM transmitter constructed by Brian Justin, WA1ZMS. [Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, photo]

As he’s done in years past, Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, of Forest, Virginia, will commemorate what may have been the first radio broadcast [from Brant Rock, Massachusetts] to include speech and music by experimenter Reginald Fessenden on Christmas Eve 1906. Justin will fire up his vintage-style transmitter operating on 486 kHz under Experimental license WI2XLQ to mark the 112th anniversary of Fessenden’s accomplishment. Justin will begin his transmission on December 24 at 1700 UTC and continue until December 26 at 1659 UTC. [Full story]

See also: Fessenden’s Christmas Eve Broadcast

Operating

Countdown to Third Annual AM Rally Has Begun

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Townsend amateur Steve Cloutier, WA1QIX, and others are spearheading the third annual AM Rally in February. The event is sponsored by Radio Engineering Associates (REA), in cooperation with ARRL.

From the ARRL Hq. web site:

The third annual AM Rally is on the near horizon — just about 6 weeks away — getting under way at 0000 UTC on February 2 and continuing until 0700 UTC on February 4. The event aims to encourage the use of AM on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6 meters while highlighting the various types of AM equipment in use today. The event is open to any and all radio amateurs running AM using any type of radio equipment — modern, vintage, tube, solid-state, software-defined, military, boat anchor, broadcast, homebrew, or commercial. 

[Full story]
Operating

KC1DKY Fox Deployed, Billerica, December 14, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nick Mello, KC1DKY writes on the fox-hunting list on December 14, 2018 at 1:37 PM:

The KC1DKY fox is hiding in Billerica on conservation land.  Fox is on 146.565 MHz.  Send a DTMF of 1 to activate the fox.  If the fox does not seem to be responding, send a couple DTMF # and then a 1 to possibly whack it back into shape.  The fox will signal for 30 seconds and be silent for 15 sec, and repeat for 15 minutes.  The fox is located around a third of a mile from the trail head and about 20 ft or so in from the trail.  Don’t forget to sign the log book in the plastic bag next to the fox.  I recommend some boots, as there are a few mucky spots.  And please, as it will be the topic of my daughter’s Girl Scout project, try to avoid stepping on the princess pines, which are very short plants, 2 to 3 inches tall, which look more like fern frons than pine trees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopodium_obscurum

While not endangered like lady slipper flowers, they are protected…and they are found all along this particular trail.

*******SPOILER ALERT*******

OI24NF DNA NI24NF FO REDROB EHT NO

Operating

N1SV QRV on 630 Meters for the Weekend

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Les Peters, N1SV, in Townsend, MA writes:

Finally got my 160m inverted-L loaded up on 474.2 kHz using the variometer and impedance transformer I built.  I can only get about 1 mw out of my K3S so real QRPP!  So far only W1XP hears my flea signal (-20 SNR) but I’m hoping for more reports after dusk.  I’ll keep the signal on both Friday and Saturday nights and would appreciate any reports.

Operating

Experimental Station Heard on 30 Meters

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From the ARRL Letter:

IARUMS has received reports of short “beeps” exactly 1 second apart, as  well as frequency hopping between 10,108 and 10,115 kHz and 18,834 and  18,899 kHz. The signals are believed to emanate from a site near Chicago  associated with an FCC-licensed experimental operation involved with  low-latency exchange trading on HF (see “Experiments Look to Leverage  Low-Latency HF to Shave Microseconds off Trade Times  <http://www.arrl.org/news/experiments-look-to-leverage-low-latency-hf-to-shave-microseconds-off-trade-times>”).  Although Amateur Radio is secondary on 30 and 17 meters, Experimental  licenses may not interfere with Amateur Radio operations.”

YCCC member Fred Coelho, WX1S writes on the YCCC reflector:

“More on our 30 meter intruder.  I’m not sure if this is what we were  hearing last month but a signal (beep) at 1 second apart sounds about  right.  I copied this from the latest ARRL letter.”

Operating

WSJT-X with FT8 Support Now Available

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Randy Thompson, K5ZD, writes on the YCCC reflector:

There is a big event happening in ham radio today.  The new release of WSJT-X is out and it will require a major migration for FT8 users.  The new WSJT-X support for FT8 is incompatible with the old one.  I don’t think we have seen this kind of dramatic change in a mode before.  I installed the new version and got on 30 meters.  Lots of signals, but not many decoding. But, this is day 1.  I am sure people will upgrade quickly.

https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

The current General Availability (GA) release is WSJT-X 2.0.0The FT8 and MSK144 protocols have been enhanced in a way that is not backward compatible with older program versions. 

The new protocols become the world-wide standards starting on December 10, 2018, and all users should upgrade to WSJT-X 2.0 by January 1, 2019.  After that date, only the new FT8 and MSK144 should be used on the air.

Release Notes for Version 2.0.0:  
h
<https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Release_Notes.txt> 

Upgrading from a previous WSJT-X version will be seamless.  There is no need to uninstall a previous version or move any files.

Operating

KC1DKY Fox Deployed, Billerica, December 6, 2018

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Nick Mollo, KC1DKY, writes on December 6, 2018 at 1:13 PM:

The KC1DKY fox is hiding in south west Billerica on conservation land.  Fox is on 146.565MHz.  Send a DTMF of 1 to activate the fox.  If the fox does not seem to be responding, send a couple DTMF # and then a 1 to possibly whack it back into shape.  The fox will signal for 30seconds and be silent for 15 sec, and repeat for 15minutes.  The fox is located around a quarter to third of a mile from the parking area and about 30ft or so in from the trail.  Don’t forget to sign the log book in the plastic bag next to the fox.  I recommend some boots, as there are a few mucky spots on the trail.  Dress warm too – cause baby it’s cold outside 😉

                GOOD LUCK and 73!

                Nick

                KC1DKY

*******SPOILER ALERT*******

DNAL EFILDLIW LAREDEF NO YLLAUTCA SI XOF EHT

Operating

KC1DKY Fox Deployed, Chelmsford, November 30, 2018

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Nick Mollo, KC1DKY, writes on the fox-hunting list:

The KC1DKY fox is once again out and about in Chelmsford on town land.  Fox is on 146.565 MHz.  Send a DTMF of 1 to activate the fox.  If the fox does not seem to be responding, send a couple DTMF # and then a 1 to possibly whack it back into shape.  The fox will signal for 30 seconds and be silent for 15 seconds, and repeat for 15 minutes.  The fox is located about a quarter of a mile from the parking area and only about 30 ft. in from the trail.  Don’t forget to sign the log book in the plastic bag next to the fox.

******SPOILER ALERT*****

Read it backwards to get a clue:

TSEROF NWOT DNA DNOP LLIM LLESSUR

Clubs / Operating

YCCC Net, Wednesdays at 8 PM

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Bill Barber, NE1B, writes on the YCCC reflector:

For those of you who have a DMR radio, we have setup a net on Wednesday nights, available on the 91 New England Network repeaters.  It is basically an intercom covering ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, and areas of NY (Albany, Mt. Beacon, Long Island).  Access by NETAC1 (New England TAC1 – “Talk Group” 8801).  Just key PTT to activate and call-in.

Additional info available on http://nedecn.org

Clubs / Operating / Public Information

Whitman ARC Plimoth Plantation Special Event Operation, November 24-25, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Whitman ARC logoWhitman Amateur Radio Club members, assisted by other area amateurs, will set up tables and a portable station over the Thanksgiving weekend and operate a special events station at the Plimoth Plantation, the home of the Mayflower II in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  The participants will demonstrate Amateur Radio to tourists and visitors.  In the past the group has logged over a hundred HF and VHF contacts with US and foreign amateurs, including a contact with Plymouth, England.

This year’s event will be held on November 24-25, 2018. Setup takes place on Friday, November 23 at 10 AM at the Plantation’s lower parking lot. On-air operations run from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM on Saturday, November 24, and Sunday November 25. The “take down” begins at the conclusion of the Sunday operations.

The station will be operating on or near the following frequencies: 18.160 14.260 7.260 and 3.860, as well as the Whitman 147.225+ PL 67.0 repeater (EchoLink: WA1NPO-R and IRLP node 8691).

“Anyone wishing to operate at a specific time is encouraged to email wa1npo@gmail.com with dates/times and station preference and they will be added to the schedule; or,  just show up at the Plantation and find your way to either station.”

Additional information about the special event can be found at http://www.wa1npo.org/Plimoth/Plimoth2018.html.

Clubs / Operating

Boston ARC QRV for SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 1, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

W1BOS/MQE operation, Blue Hills, December 6, 2003On December 1, 2018, and for the 16th consecutive year, [the Boston Amateur Radio Club] will once again participate in SKYWARN Recognition Day. SRD is a joint event support by the ARRL and the National Weather Service where weather stations and weather buffs from across the country contact each other for fun and to promote the SKYWARN Program.  Our station, WX1BHO, will be located at the summit of Great Blue Hill in Milton.

For several decades, hams have assisted the National Weather Service by providing real-time reports of severe weather and storm conditions. Although the NWS operates a network of 120 Doppler radars to track severe storms, at greater ranges weather radar has a difficult time sampling conditions close to the ground. The information radio operators located near a storm provide plays a key role in aiding forecasters.

SRD stations will exchange signal reports, location and a brief description of the current weather at their respective locations (“sunny,” “partly cloudy,” “windy,” etc.). BARC will be on the air from approximately 0900 to 1500 local time. The event itself is a great way in a low-key environment to make HF contacts and get your feet wet in the HF Spectrum.

In past years we have endured all kinds of weather including warm and cold days, clear and cloudy days, and yes, even a blizzard. Access to the summit is gained by a 20 minute hike from the base of Great Blue Hill located on Route 138 next to the DCR Trailside Museum or (if you arrive early in the day) by car.

Further information is available by contacting Mark Duff, KB1EKN, at emgmgt@comcast.net. If you’re interested in hiking up the hill, contact Joe Chapman, NV1W, at nv1w@arrl.net. 

[Boston ARC’s “The SPARC”, November, 2018, by Mark Duff, KB1EKN]