Public Information

Public information, amateur radio publicity

Operating / Public Information

Special Event Station W1MGY to Commemorate 104th Anniversary of HMS Titanic Sinking

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Special Events Station W1MGY, April 14, 2017
Special events operation in April, 2017. Photo courtesy @kathyschrock

Special events station W1MGY will operate at the old Coast Guard Station in Eastham on Cape Cod on April 13-14, 2019 to commemorate the tragic loss of the HMS Titanic.

Two stations will be set up and operated in approximately 4 hour shifts as follows:
 
  • Saturday April 13, 6:30 am- 10:00 am ; 10:00 am- 2:00 pm ; 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm ; 6:00 pm- 10:00 pm  (No operation over night)
  • Sunday April 14, 6:30 am – 10:00 am ; 10:00 am- 2:00 pm ; 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm ; 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm ; 10:00 pm – 1:27 am on 15th
 
“I’m going to start set up on Wednesday, April 10 at 12 noon and finish up on Friday morning if necessary,” reports Barry Hutchinson, KB1TLR. “Coffee and munchies will be available. Come and join the fun. The old station is a unique place to operate from. Pick a time slot or slots and email me your choices so that I may set up a roster.” KB1TLR adds, “If you are a CW operator, you will have to supply your own key.”
 
The station will be open to the public on Saturday from 1-4 pm.
 

This event is sponsored by the Titanic / Marconi Memorial Radio Association of Cape Cod and hosted by the Cape Cod National Seashore.

(Info via KB1TLR, W1MGY trustee, and Falmouth ARA)

Operating / Public Information / Youth

W1BSA Special Event Operation, USS Massachusetts, Fall River, April 27, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1PL QSL cardUncommon Service to Nautical Radio  will host a special event operation W1BSA aboard the USS Massachusetts in Fall River, on Apr 27, 2019 from 1000-1600 ET.  Look for W1BSA on 14.259 and 7.259.

“The Scouts stay overnight on the ship Friday and on Saturday nights,” writes Rick Emord, KB1TEE.  “We have been doing this event since 2015 and have tried to showcase Amateur Radio.” Rick adds, “we have put some of the Scouts on the air and we look forward to seeing them and other visitors to Battleship Cove.”

Stations may QSL via USTNR c/o Rick Emord, 135 Wareham St., Middleboro, MA 02346.

 

Emergency Communications / Public Information / Public Service

KD1CY Featured on WeatherBrains Podcast

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Rob Macedo, KD1CY featured on WILI SKYWARN interviewEastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator and ARES SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, was one of three featured guests on the podcast “WeatherBrains” on January 7, 2019. The 90-minute program discussed Amateur Radio, SKYWARN, and the VoIP Hurricane Net. Other guests included Jay Farlow, W9LW, and Jeff Stapel, W8SWX. The audio and YouTube video can be found at https://weatherbrains.com/?p=7531.
 
According to Macedo, “The program was well received by the meteorological panel and those that have watched/listened to date.”
 
 
 
 
 
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.

Operating / Public Information / Youth

Western MA ARISS School Contact Draws ARRL Staffers, State, Local Officials

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARISS logoARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology alumnus Mariusz Zielinski, KB1MDS, invited ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC, Lifelong Learning Administrator Ally Riedel, KM3ALF, and ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, to witness an exciting November 2 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, Massachusetts, where Zielinski teaches. [Full story]

Clubs / Operating / Public Information / Youth

Falmouth ARA QRV for JOTA

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationThe Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will participate in the 61st annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The JOTA event will occur at Falmouth’s Gus Canty Recreation Center at 790 Main Street, from 10 AM-5 PM.

FARA members hope to show all attendees (specifically any Scout–boy or girl) what ham radio has to offer and get them on the air.

Volunteers are needed to operate several stations as demos and to get folks on the air:

  • CW station
  • HF voice (SSB)
  • Digital (likely PSK31) with a big screen
  • 2m HT and/or mobile

For more information, visit http://www.falara.org/announcements/jamboreeontheairjotaoctober20.

Emergency Communications / Public Information

Cape Cod ARES Participates in Falmouth Public Safety Fair

- by admin - Leave a Comment

Cape Cod ARES District Emergency Coordinator WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin writes:

I felt just well enough to attend the Falmouth Emergency preparedness/Safety fair day here on Cape Cod to support my new ARES ADEC Henry Brown K1WCC who headed up the event for the Falmouth ARES area of the Cape Cod and Islands ARES District. I was pleased to see the aluminum case kit that I built for him a few years back and the cooler based kit he personally built. I only brought my small camera bag radio kit. It was well attended and organized by Assistant Falmouth EMD Kim Strohm. Several Falmouth ARES folks were there. It was nice to see Henry get interviewed by Falmouth TV. It was also great to see our partners such as CERT, MRC, CC DART, Red Cross, DCR, public safety, MEMA, NWS and many others at the public safety fair.

Display of Cape Cod ARES Go Kits at the Falmouth Public Safety Fair
Close-up of Cape Cod ARES Go Kit
Close-up of Cape Cod ARES Go-Kit
Close-up of a Cape Cod ARES Go-Kit

 

Cape Cod ARES Assistant District Emergency Coordinator, K1WCC-Henry Brown being interviewed on Falmouth Cable Access Television
Clubs / Public Information

Barnstable ARC Presence at Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival, September 15, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Barnstable ARC at the Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music FestivalThe Barnstable Amateur Radio Club had a presence for the second year at the Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival on September 15, 2018 from 10 AM – 6 PM. The festival featured food trucks, music, community and vendor tables, and a bicycle event.

According to BARC organizers, “excellent weather and band condition made for a good weekend.”

Public Information / Youth

Mass Jam Volunteers Needed, Falmouth, October 6-9, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationGlen Dowden, KC1GKT writes:

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association is looking for volunteers on October 6 through October 9, 2018 for Mass Jam.

Mass Jam is held at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds in East Falmouth. The event brings Scouts from all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island for a weekend of activities. Mass Jam provides the scouts the opportunity to participate in fellowship and activities throughout the weekend. We would be providing an opportunity for Scouts to learn more about Amateur Radio and the opportunity to get on the air. Falmouth Amateur Radio Association can provide the necessary equipment (Radio equipment and antennas), but we will need operators. All operators at the event will have to be registered as volunteers at the event and will have to take the Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Training (this is available at http://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/).

If you are available or are already planning on attending the event with your local Scout Troop/Post/Ship and are interested in assisting with operating, please reach out to Glen.dowden@gmail.com and indicate dates and times you are available. This is a great opportunity to reach Scouts from your local area.

Thank you,
Glen KC1GKT
Falmouth Amateur Radio Association

Clubs / Public Information / Youth

Harvard Wireless Club Table at Student Involvement Fair, September 7, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Harvard Wireless Club official shieldThe Harvard Wireless Club will participate in the Harvard Student Involvement Fair on Friday, September 7, 2018 at Tercentenary Theater in Harvard Yard, Cambridge.

“We will be at Table 719. Just look for the Alex Loop antenna on the 19-foot tripod, which is usually the tallest thing at the fair,” remarks W1AF station manager Bill Collins, W1PL.  Bill is requesting HWC members come by and help recruit new people. The crew will conduct talk-in on the MIT repeater, 449.725/444.725 -, PL 114.8. 

The first meeting of the Harvard Wireless Club will be held on Tuesday, September 11 at 6 PM. Adds W1PL, “We will have free pizza. Hopefully,  new recruits will be there.”

Public Information / Youth

Boxboro Convention to Feature Amateur Radio Exposition For Young People

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nashua Area Radio Society High Altitude Balloon DisplayThe 2018 Boxboro! ARRL New England  Division is pleased to announce that the Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS) will be presenting an Amateur Radio Exposition for Young People on September 8-9, 2018. This exposition will include many hands-on activities, videos, and displays about amateur radio and wireless communications, including:

  • Software Defined Radios
  • High-Altitude Balloons
  • Portable and Mobile stations
  • Emergency Communications
  • Fox-hunting

In addition to the displays, the exposition will also feature a kit building activity. For a small cost ($20), you can purchase a kit and build it using NARS’s equipment and help from their mentors. The kit is a fully functional Morse code touch keyer and practice oscillator. It is available on a walk-up basis anytime on Saturday or Sunday that the Exhibitor hall is open.

The exposition will also include a computer-controlled satellite ground station. Using this satellite ground station, folks can communicate with other amateur radio operators using satellites in space.

For more information, please visit https://www.boxboro.org/exposition-for-young-people.

Clubs / Field Day / Public Information

Framingham ARA Field Day Featured on “Access Framingham TV”

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Screenshot of "Framingham Beat" featuring story about FARA Field DayThe Framingham Amateur Radio Association‘s recent Field Day operation at the McAuliffe Library was featured on Framingham’s community access channel accessfram.tv. According to FARA’s Glenn Axelrod, KC1HPZ, the coverage “is expected to be part of Access Framingham’s ‘Framingham Beat’ news magazine show at 7:30 PM on August 2.”

“Sumner, W1VIV, was featured prominently… his explanation of Field Day became the narration for the video that KC1HPZ shot and AFTV’s staff edited.”

Access Framingham can be viewed on RCN 3, Comcast 9, or Verizon 43. It can also be live-streamed on the web at accessfram.tv/watch.

UPDATE: the program can also be found on YouTube: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZjHmHfIP90>.

Clubs / Public Information

Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC Public Display at Kapron Park, August 11, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

SMH ARC "Magic Beans" portable tower on a trailerThe Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC  will set up an Amateur Radio display on August 11, 2018 from 9 AM until 1 PM  in Kapron Park, 201 County Street in Attleboro.  Club members will display ‘Magic Beans’ “as well as other radios and modes of communication that an ham radio operator can use.” 

Magic Beans is a homemade, hitch-mounted  extendable tower constructed by club members in 2005. You can see additional photos along with a detailed description of Magic Beans on the club’s web site.

 

Licensing Education & Training / Public Information / Technical

ARRL Represented at IEEE Symposium in Boston

- by k9hi - 1 Comment
VE2JBP/W1 operating N1P at IEEE AP-S Symposium in Boston
Robert Paknys, VE2JBP/W1 checks out 20m SSB from special event station N1P at the 2018 IEEE AP-S Symposium in Boston, Massachusetts

07/13/2018

ARRL was on hand in Boston July 8 – 13 for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antenna and Propagation Society (AP-S) Symposium, held jointly held with the US National Committee of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI). The ARRL exhibit included an Amateur Radio special event demonstration station, N1P, and more than a dozen volunteers staffed the ARRL exhibit.

“We had a very attractive booth in a great location,” said ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Assistant Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI. “Engineers and scientists in the fields of antennas and propagation who attended from all over the world stopped by the ARRL table to see and learn about Amateur Radio.”

Temples said ARRL Headquarters provided supplies for the booth as well as display copies of publications, “which doubled as door prizes for drawings,” he added. Complementing volunteers from the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section were radio amateurs attending the conference who donated their time between talks and seminars to assist with the booth and greet fellow attendees.

“It was clear to me that our presence at the symposium meant a great deal to the IEEE AP-S/URSI leadership,” Temples said. “It’s difficult to have a ‘live’ Amateur Radio station in an exhibit area of a major hotel, so we were indeed fortunate to have access to one of the premiere contesting stations in New England through a remote internet HF setup, courtesy of Yankee Clipper Contest Club member Greg Cronin, W1KM.” Temples said YCCC president Dennis Egan, W1UE, supplied an Elecraft K3 to use on site.

In addition, ARRL Volunteer Examiners conducted separate Amateur Radio licensing exam sessions over two days at the conference thanks to the efforts of the Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Group and Lou Harris, N1UEC. More than a dozen attendees took advantage.

“The IEEE AP-S/URSI hams who will organize next year’s event hope to secure the call sign N4P and recruit local volunteers when the symposium moves to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019,” Temples said. He expressed gratitude to Dave Michelson, VA7DM, an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia and who chaired the IEEE’s AP-S/URSI Joint Meetings Committee, for his help in coordinating the Amateur Radio display. “Thanks also go to San Diego Section Manager Dave Kaltenborn, N8KBC, and Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, who advised us following the 2017 ham radio effort.”

—ARRLWeb, http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-represented-at-ieee-symposium-in-boston

[Additional photos can be viewed on the Eastern MA ARRL Facebook page, at: https://www.facebook.com/EasternMaARRL/]

 

Clubs / Public Information

North Attleboro Firefighter’s Kid’s Day Amateur Radio Table, July 19-22, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

July 22, 2018: Due to the inclement weather we won’t be operating the demonstration table at kids day today. I would like to thank everyone who came out and assisted over the past few days.

 

73,
N1EZT, Pierre

Pierre Guimond, N1EZT, writes on the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC mailing list:

Good afternoon Sturdy Radio club members and friends of W1SMH! For those of you who may not be aware,  it’s time again for the annual North Attleboro firefighter’s Kid’s Day Festival . It will be held from July 19 through 22 at the North Attleboro Middle/High School complex, 564 Landry Avenue, North Attleboro.

We are going to have a club-sponsored information/demo table with HF, VHF, DMR, SDR  (and other  modes /information that  anyone might like to suggest) set up at NAFF Kid’s Day to advertise our club’s good work, and generate/spawn interest with the kids (and parents too!) for our hobby .

I’m planning a pop up tent, the club sign , a table, chairs , radios, batteries, computers, and at least two or three different portable expedient antennas.

I’ve had some interest from the membership already but I’m reminding you in case you wish participate and provide a small or large block of your time to staff the station. I’m keeping the scheduling as informal as I can.

I won’t be able to staff the station for the most part but l will be able to set up and take down equipment, and provide verbal support to other staffers as I am committed to other functions during this event.

I would like to have staff at the table on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon from about 1 to 4 p.m. Based on response, we will extend or cut back the time.

This will be good trial run in preparation for the August farmers market in Attleboro, and hopefully a future open house Amateur Radio demo/special event station we are planning in the fall.

Any and all assistance is appreciated but I don’t wish to take staffing away from other activities at the event by radio club members / CERT team members, so I will ask that you keep this in mind if you wish to help out with the information table.

You can respond to me directly by email–until, and even after the event starts–if you can help out. I am grateful for any assistance you might be able to provide for this effort.

Thank you for your consideration. And thank you in advance for your support and expertise!

Sincerely and 73,

N1EZT, Pierre
SMHARC Member since 1986
n1ezt@yahoo.com
n1ezt2@gmail.com
401-230-5437 c

Operating / Public Information

Whitman ARC QRV for 151st Annual Marshfield Fair

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Whitman ARC logoThe Whitman Amateur Radio Club will sponsor a ham radio exhibit and special events station at the 151st Annual Marshfield Fair August 17-26,  2018 from 1600Z-0059Z. The club will operate under the call sign NN1MF on the following frequencies/bands: 18.160, 14.260, 7.260, and 3.860 MHz. The station will also be active on EchoLink via the WA1NPO-R, and IRLP: 8691. Contacts will be acknowledged with a certificate and QSL at: Whitman ARC, PO Box 48, Whitman, MA 02382. 

Field Day / Public Information / Regulation & Advocacy

Massachusetts House Passes Resolution Proclaiming Amateur Radio Week

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

MA House sealA resolution has been passed in the Massachusetts State House honoring Amateur Radio operators and proclaiming an “Amateur Radio Week” to coincide with Field Day. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Jonathan Hecht, who represents the 29th Middlesex District (Cambridge, Watertown).  It was signed on June 18, 2018 by Hecht, along with House Speaker Robert A. De Leo and House Clerk Steven T. James.

The language of the House bill is identical to the text in the counterpart Senate resolution. Copies of the resolution have been mailed to ARRL Eastern and Western MA Section Managers Tom Walsh, K1TW and Ray Lajoie, KB1LRL and should arrive in time for this weekend’s Field Day.

Edited: June 21, 2018

Emergency Communications / Public Information

KD1CY Featured in SKYWARN Interview on WILI AM 1400

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Rob Macedo, KD1CY featured on WILI SKYWARN interviewRob Macedo, KD1CY was featured in a radio interview on  radio station WILI AM 1400 in Willamantic, Connecticut on June 15. Macedo spoke on severe weather and the importance of trained SKYWARN observers. 

KD1CY is an Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator for Eastern Massachusetts and SKYWARN Coordinator for the National Weather Service office in Norton.

Emergency Communications / Public Information

WQ1O Interviewed About Emergency Communications by WCAI

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Photo of Cape Cod Multi-Agency Communications Center in HyannisFrank O’Laughlin, WQ1O writes on Facebook:

I was interviewed today by Kathryn Eident of NPR station WCAI today at our Barnstable County facility (used for the Multi-Agency Coordination Center) on Cape Cod.

We discussed ARES, agencies, volunteers and how basic simple equipment can often endure due to its lack of dependence on infrastructure. We gave her a live demonstration of digital modes and NBEMS sending files and ICS forms. We then had ARES member Jim, KC1KM send a digital image on VHF. It was of Kathryn’s own WCAI broadcast facility in Falmouth.

I think the interview went well. She is working in collaboration with the Cape Cod Times on a series about disaster preparedness and levels of communications. She will advise me when the final piece is ready to air, possibly in late July or early August. My thanks to Kathryn and WCAI for their interest in emergency communications.