a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
Radio clubs
The Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association writes on its Facebook page:
Join us as we host P.A.W.A field day at the Swansea Fire Station
50 New Gardner Neck Road
Swansea Mass 02777
Saturday, June 23 9:00 AM through Sunday June 24 2:00 PM
Everyone is welcome to join in to make contacts or stop by. Hope to see you there.
Whitman ARC writes on its Facebook page:
The Whitman Amateur Radio Club will be holding field day once again this year in the field behind the East Bridgewater YMCA. Setup will begin Saturday, June 23 at 9 AM, with operating running from 2 PM Saturday through 2 PM Sunday. We invite you to stop by to operate; or just socialize and enjoy the food!
Ann Weldon, KA1PON writes on the Algonquin ARC mailing list:
The radio club as always is committed to watching the Marlborough High School the following dates. Please consider assisting on: May 25, 26, 27, 28; June 1 ,2, 3, 8, 9. Starting time is between 7-8 PM and finishing between 11-12 PM. Ed Fitzgerald is organizing the first weekend. His email is edfitz1@earthlink.net. I am doing the other dates. Please let us know when you are available.
Thank you on behalf of the City and the Club.
Ann, KA1PON
alwma2005@yahoo.com
Brett Smith, AB1RL, Public Service Coordinator, Boston Amateur Radio Club writes:
Now that our busy kick-off month of April is in the books, it’s time to start planning for the summer public service events. At both of these events we support the medical team to make sure everyone gets treated promptly—a critical job when temperatures start climbing.
First is the BAA 10K on Sunday, June 24. This is a fast race through the heart of the Back Bay, from the Boston Common to Boston University and back. Assignments will run from the early morning until around noon. Volunteer registration is open now on the BAA web site, and will close on May 23.
Second is the Finish at the Fifty on Tuesday, July 3. This is a combination 5K/10K at Gillette Stadium, ending right on the 50-yard line. Assignments run from about 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. If you’d like to join the team, just write back to let me know.
Getting together teams for both of these events is always a challenge, due to the overlap with Field Day and July 4. Please join us if you’re able. It means a lot to me, the medical team, and the runners that you’re willing to offer your time supporting these events.
If you have questions about either event, feel free to ask in email or call me at (859) 466 5915.
The 19th Annual Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory contains some of the most comprehensive Field Day resource pages of its kind.
According to Bill Ricker, N1VUX, the Directory offers both detailed historical and current information on individual field day club operations along with the complete event operating rules and helpful safety tips. The Directory’s software will automatically compute your field day site’s Maidenhead Grid locator for VHF recommended ‘Grid Chase’ extra exchange. “We report third level, six-character grid; for example, LL99ii–which is useful for some microwave aiming tools–but you only need four (LL99) in the on-air exchange.”
“Clubs which are reactivating a previous Class A or F site can confirm to the EMA Directory by simply putting their pin in at the ARRL Field Day Locator – also conveniently linked from our directory. I’ll pick that up and mark them confirmed. I would appreciate an email from new clubs in Class A or F, clubs with new sites, clubs whose details on their EMA directory need updating, or who are definitely not using the site they had last year.”
The Directory also links to updated information on how to handle NTS radiogram traffic, and score bonus points during the event.
“A major goal always has been helping (and encouraging) EMA ARRL staff and leadership to plan visits to nearby field day sites, as is our custom — and helping us hit as many different ones as possible. From the staffs’ comments last year about how many sites they didn’t find, I’d like to suggest that if your big banner isn’t visible from the road, place some Realtors(tm)-style foamcore and wire signs at the entrance and leading visitors through the maze.” Bill adds, “‘Public Welcome’ and an arrow are recommended. If you’re not conducting a 24-hour operation, a statement of hours would be good on both the sign and on the EMA FD Directory and Headquarters Locator.”
N1VUX also invites you to post your comments and memories from field day on the ARRL Soapbox. “We’ll link them in the Directory for history. If your club has memories on a website or Facebook page that we don’t have linked, send me the link and I’ll make sure it’s included.”
The Eastern MA Field Day Directory can be viewed at http://fd.ema.arrl.org. N1VUX can be reached at his arrl.net address.
The training includes a two-hour thirty-minute computer-based presentation, which discusses the development of thunderstorms, the criteria for “severe” thunderstorms, as well as the cloud features associated with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Additional information will be presented about winter storms and proper snow measurement and reporting of coastal flooding, river, stream, and urban flooding and rainfall measurements. The session will also present the procedure for reporting weather information to the National Weather Service. Safety procedures for the various forms of summer severe weather (severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning), winter storms, and flooding will also be covered in the training session. Anyone attending should bring a pen or pencil and bringing a notebook is optional.
The number of seats is limited, so pre-registration is strongly advised. Use the following link:
For any questions or further info, contact Rob at rmacedo@rcn.com.
Stephanie Frontiera is one determined young woman. At this spring’s Tech in a Day held at the Lanesville Community Center, she was one of seven students—and one of three from the Ipswich CERT. These CERT members were given radios and encouraged to get their Amateur Radio Technician license. She was determined to do it.
Tech in a Day is a program modeled after the Ham Cram program. It is a study session of the FCC question pool of 426 questions for the exam. There are 35 sections in the question pool, corresponding to the 35 questions on the exam. Every question a student sees on the test will be in the pool.
The good thing? The answers have always been part of the pool. Do the students learn all they have to know about Amateur Radio this way? No, the aim is to pass the test. The students are unlikely to learn everything from a book either—it takes practice and more often the help of a friendly Elmer, or a club to teach the practical matters of operating. After six 45-minute study sessions, the students are ready for the test.
This session was relatively easy—seven exams, plus two walk-ins for testing. CAARA’s crack team of volunteer examiners: Bill Poulin, WZ1L; Dave Robertson, KD1NA; Tony Sarracino, AB1KX; Larry Beaulieu, AJ1Z; Hank McCarl, W4RIG; Stan Stone, W4HIX and VE team liaison Rick Maybury, WZ1B conducted the exam session.
So why did I say that Stephanie was so determined? She told me that she was going to pass this test—and get her General soon after that. But Stephanie was distracted during the session and it took her three tries to finally pass the exam. We all cheered when she made it. So, this session gave us seven out of seven for students and another two walk-ins who passed. All in all, it was a good day.
[CAARA News May, 2018]
Members of the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association have hit upon an innovative fundraising opportunity that also provides a valuable social component for its members: breakfast is served at the “Cafe CAARA” twice each month at its Stanwood Street club house in Gloucester.
“One [breakfast] is for the scholarship fund which we give two $250 scholarships to Rockport and Gloucester High graduating seniors who will be going to a technical, engineering college or someone entering the trades,” reports CAARA president Jon Cunningham, K1TP. “The second breakfast proceeds go to our building fund. We are eating our way to balancing the budget, improving the club facility, and funding a CAARA Scholarship Fund. Stop over the club and enjoy a delicious meal.” Cunningham says this year CAARA plans refinish the club house’s first-floor hardwood floor.
The club took in proceeds of $363 at its last breakfast.
The breakfast menu typically consists of “eggs your way”, pancakes, french toast, bacon, sausage, hash browns, english muffins, wheat toast, orange juice, and coffee.
“Everyone has a great time,” adds the club’s “top chef” Bill Morris, W1WMM. “I’m very happy we are doing the food events. The breakfasts are great for club fellowship.”
Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ writes on PART of Westford email list:
Hi Everybody,
I have deployed both the 2m fox and the new 80m fox!
Both are located within a 1 mile radius of my home. My info is good on QRZ.com.
There is no logbook. However, cell phone photos are accepted as “proof” that you found the fox(es). 🙂
Have a lot of fun, and 73,
Andy
Scott Ehrlich, WY1Z writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list:
Members of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC ARES group held a drill in World War 1 Memorial Park in North Attleboro on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 10:30 AM. As it coincided with Earth Day, the participants also volunteered to help clean up the park.
For many years the venue has used by SMH ARC for its annual Field Day event.
(Thanks, sturdyradioclub.org)
Attention club officers:
The Eastern Massachusetts ARRL web site maintains a list of club presentations and speakers for use by affiliated clubs. The list is divided into two categories:
The latter “historical” category contains over five years of information.
(Note: Inclusion in the historical section does not indicate a willingness or availability on the speaker’s part to present at other meetings, nor shall it be considered an endorsement on the part of the listed club, or the Eastern MA ARRL staff.)
The Speaker’s List can be downloaded from its Google Sheet format into:
Additions and corrections are welcome! Also, please consider sharing information about your speakers and presentations with Affiliated Club Coordinator Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ or Assistant Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI.
Ralph Swick, KD1SM writes:
April 29 will be the 27th running of [the Groton Road Race] and the race committee is again asking the Amateur Radio community to provide the logistics and safety communications for this high-profile event.
The Groton Road Race continues to be a major event for Amateur Radio in North Central Massachusetts. Those of you who have joined us in the past years know that the runners sincerely appreciate our presence. Many say so as they run past. This event is so large that Police Departments from several other communities come to assist the Groton PD. Part of our role is to provide the communications from the Groton Police to these out-of-town officers who come to help with this event.
Contributing to the public good is one of the reasons Amateur Radio exists. Our public service events are a key opportunity for us to show our colors, volunteer our skills and equipment, and demonstrate why it is in the public’s interest to continue to allocate precious RF spectrum to our the Amateur Radio Service. The Groton Road Race is a low-stress event and a great way to gain more experience with the public service aspect of amateur radio. Please consider joining us on the 29th.
If you are interested in helping at these events but unsure of what is expected of you or what equipment you may need, please do not hesitate to ask me, Stan KD1LE, or John KK1X.
The Squannacook River Runners and the Groton Police Department repeatedly praise and express their appreciation for your assistance in providing communications for this event. I do hope you will be able to join us this year; please let me know.
More info at https://www.n1nc.org/Events/2017/GRR/. Contact Ralph at ralph(at)kd1sm.net if you’re interested in volunteering.
John O’ Neill, K1JRO writes on the South Shore Hospital ARC list:
The Genesis Amateur Radio Society‘s repeater, N1ZIZ, has a new PL tone as of April 1, 2018 . The PL has been changed from 82.5 to 131.8 CTCS.
It is recommended you change both encode/decode on all your radios since the repeater is transmitting both analog FM and digital FM. This will help listeners to avoid hearing the noise digital operation produces on the analog side.
Short story: change your PL associated with 146.685 the N1ZIZ repeater to 131.8 CTCS post haste.
Please note the Eastern MA Hospital Net will continue to use analog communications.
The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will again take part in the Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire, April 28 at Mashpee High School.
The Faire bills itself as “a gathering of fascinating, curious people who love sharing what they can do.”
“Because of the din in the room last year, FARA will utilize the digital modes this year,” according the FARA president Brent Putnam, W1NCH. The club is seeking additional volunteers for the event, “especially with construction of the Morse code key.”
Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ writes on PART-L:
Mark your calendars for Saturday morning, April 21st, at 11 AM. We will hold a fox hunting training exercise at the Westford Town Common, which is across the street from the JV Fletcher Library, 50 Main Street. The rain date will be Sunday morning, April 22nd, at 11 AM.
What is a “fox hunting”? Otherwise known as “Amateur Radio Direction Finding”, fox hunting involves locating a hidden transmitter. We’ll hide the transmitter, and you’ll find it. No license is needed to find the transmitter, so ANYBODY can do it!
John (KB1MGI), Andy (KB1OIQ), and anybody else who wants to help will teach you the techniques used to find 2m, 70cm, and 80m low power transmitters. We will supply the transmitters and some gear that you can borrow as you learn.
PART did this a few years ago. It was well attended and quite fun.
Eric Williams, KV1J writes on the Algonquin ARC list:
In two weeks we will be supporting the semi-annual Household Hazardous
Collections Day. This is a joint Hudson and Marlborough event.
See –
https://www.marlborough-ma.
We need about 10 volunteers to help support the event. Our support is a
joint Radio Club and Emergency Management Team effort. We will be using the
Emergency Management UHF portables (new for this year). So open to all to
use the radios. For those with a ham license, please bring a UHF walkie on
the N1EM repeater output-simplex frequency if you have one. This will be as
a backup.
The event is open to residents from 9 AM to 1 PM and we start at 8 AM to
setup and handle the early bird customers. Good to be there right at 8 AM
since the customers start lining up soon after that. Same place as before
– the Marlborough Easterly Treatment Plant, 860 Boston Post Rd East. This
is RT 20, behind the Half Way Café, not far from Home Depot. When you go
down the access road, go past the scale, staying straight, and park near the
cell tower.
Please let me know if you can help out. So far I have: Ann, KA1PON; Joe,
KA1GDQ; Rich, W1IBN; Frank, K1 IX, and myself.
Thank you in advance and Happy Holiday.
The Yaesu DR2X purchased by [the Minuteman Repeater Association] in October has been installed at North Reading site. This repeater is full-time automatic dual mode. Yaesu System Fusion digital signals will be repeated locally in the same mode. Analog FM signals will be repeated in Analog and linked to the MMRA HUB following the normal schedule.
Linking is not available in digital mode.
This is MMRA’s second YSF repeater. The 449.575 repeater in Hopkinton is also full-time automatic dual mode.
Barnstable Amateur Radio Club members were active with the Cape and Islands ARES call-up. “They were the primary operators at the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich, and the Barnstable Intermediate School in Barnstable,” reports Barnstable ARC president Mark Petruzzi, WA1EXA. Both of the locations were opened to shelter individuals affected by the nor’easters that struck Cape Cod. The BARC members provided 90 hours of communication services during the storms.
Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ writes on the PART of Westford list:
I have built an 80m fox transmitter and plan to deploy it once spring arrives. I also have two ARDF receivers for 80m. Very preliminary testing shows that the fox can be heard on 3.5805 MHz at least 3/4 mile away on slightly hilly terrain. This fox transmitter consists of an Arduino, which I programmed for this project, and a Cricket 80a (an 80m QRP CW transceiver). It runs off of a 9.6V NiMH rechargeable battery.
More detailed information and the Arduino source code, can be found at https://sourceforge.net/projec
You have time to get your 80m fox receivers before spring arrives. Consider the R3500D from China, or the RigExpert FoxRex 3500, or build your own!
http://www.crkits.com/r3500d.j
https://rigexpert.com/products
Have a lot of fun, and 73.
