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WO1VES: “Digital Voice Hotspots for Ham Radio” at Billerica ARS Meeting, May 1, 2019

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Andy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes on the Billerica Amateur Radio Society mailing list:

Everyone, I am excited to announce that Brian Gudzevich, WO1VES, will be our speaker for May.  Brian runs the “Wolf Pack Repeater System” in Stoneham and hosts the “Nut Net” on the Danvers repeater (145.47) at 11:15PM every day.

Brian explains his topic: “I will be presenting an introduction to digital voice hotspots for ham radio.  These hotspots are designed to link digital radios to reflectors over the Internet, and allow you to talk to people anywhere in the world without the use of a Repeater.  They will work with almost any make, model and digital mode.  I will also be giving a run down of the various digital modes, reflectors, and terminology.  Followed by a live demo.  I hope to give people a full understanding of how these hotspots work.”

That says it much better than I could. If, like me, you only use an FM rig to talk on repeaters this could be really eye opening and I am guessing it will also be a way to “work DX” with your HT or computer! I hope the turnout will be excellent.

In addition, the Near-Fest ham flea (May 3 and 4) and ARRL Field Day (June 22-23) are approaching fast and after Brian speaks we will have Club discussion about those events.

Andy, KA1GTT

President, Billerica Amateur Radio Society

Time:

Meetings begin promptly at 7:00 PM, first Wednesday of the month.

Location:
Our meeting location in Chelmsford is at:

Chelmsford Bible Church
128 Gorham St. (Route 3A)
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Please park in back and enter by the rear door. A map can be accessed by the “Club Meetings” notice on the right side of the website.

The Billerica ARS encourages members to get on the air! (GOTA). There are many exciting operating events over the coming cold months to enjoy. Let us know what you’re interested in.

Bring a friend (or aspiring ham) and join us!

Note: The weekly BARS Wednesday night net will not meet on this evening because of the club meeting. Members are encouraged to get on Billerica (147.12) on their way to/from the meeting instead.

 

Clubs / Youth

KV1J on W1 QSL Bureau, New England Sci-Tech, April 23, 2019

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Eric Williams, KV1J, Co-manager of the W1 QSL Bureau, is the featured guest speaker at New England Sci-Tech on April 23, 2019 at 7 PM. Eric will explain how the QSL card sorting works, and encourage attendees to do some actual card sorting.
 
Prior to the meeting, at 6 PM the club offers training on how to operate the HF station in the radio room (tours for visitors); at 6:30, everyone is encouraged to check into the net on 449.125 (CTCSS 146.2 Hz).  After the meeting and presentation is the Planetarium show and public telescope night, weather permitting.
 
New England Sci-Tech is located at 16 Tech Circle, Natick MA. Directions
 
 
 
Clubs / Youth

Northeastern University Wireless Club Semester Wrap Up

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Courtesy NU Wireless Club web site:

First off, thank you to everyone for a great semester!  We hope everyone enjoyed this semester’s events, workshops, and other club activities.  If you have any feedback from the past semester, or want to make recommendations for the next one we would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to any officer on slack.

Just some quick Summer notes:

  • Ham nets will continue through June
  • Door codes will last through Summer 1 and Summer 2
  • No events are planned, but still feel free to utilize the club space
Clubs

Quannapowitt RA to Feature WO1VES: “Digital Ham Radio and Internet,” April 18, 2019

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The Quannapowitt Radio Association will feature Brian Gudzevich, WO1VES, presenting on “Digital Ham Radio and Internet Connections” on April 18 at 7:00 PM. 

QRA meets at the Reading Senior Citizen Center at 49 Pleasant Street in the old fire house. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, September through June. All are invited and holding an Amateur Radio license is not required. 

Clubs / Emergency Communications

KA8SCP to Present on Emergency Communications, Nashoba Valley ARC, April 18, 2019

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Terry Stader, KA8SCP, will be the featured speaker at the Nashoba Valley ARC‘s April 18 meeting in Pepperell. A member of PART of Westford, Stader is involved in Massachusetts RACES. He’s a D-STAR coordinator for numerous repeaters, an ARRL District Emergency Coordinator, and the MEMA Region One Communications/RACES Officer.

NVARC meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM in the Pepperell Community Center, 4 Hollis Street, Pepperell, MA.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Additional VEs Needed, Billerica ARS, April 11, 2019

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Billerica ARS logoGary Frascarelli, W1GFF, Billerica VE Liaison, writes on the Billerica ARS list:

The Billerica VE Session is short on VEs for this month’s test session [on April 11, 2019].  I need 6 (SIX) due to the fact that in addition to our regular session we need to have a second session in  a different room for someone who is visually disabled and needs the test read to him.   I only have two plus myself at this time, so I really need four or five more.  Please respond direct to me.  It is held at the Chelmsford Bible Church, 128 Gorham St, Chelmsford (across from Gary’s Ice Cream).  Park and come in the downstairs door out back.  

Gary Frascarelli <gary@garyfrascarelli.com>

 

 

Clubs / Technical / Youth

Northeastern University Wireless Club Hackathon, April 6-7, 2019

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The Northeastern University Wireless Club (W1KBN) is holding its 4th annual Hackathon on Saturday, April 6 from 12 noon until Sunday, April 7 at 3 PM in 424/425 Hayden Hall on the Northeastern campus.  The theme will be post-apocalyptic, and the Hackathon will have prize categories for both hardware and software oriented projects. 

To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wireless-club-spring-2019-hackathon-tickets-58854136306. 

Clubs / Public Information / Youth

Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire, Volunteers Requested, April 27, 2019

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The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will again be participating in the Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire, Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the Mashpee High School, 500 Old Barnstable Road, in Mashpee. According to FARA president Brent Putnam, W1NCH, “We need volunteers to assist with station setup, operating, greeting the public, and helping the kids to make Morse code sounders.”
 
If you are available to assist, or have any questions, please contact Brent, W1NCH, at W1NCH@arrl.net.
 
For more information about the Faire, see http://capecod.makerfaire.com/
 
Clubs / Youth

Bruce Blain, K1BG: “Connecting With Youth and Educators,” April 3, 2019

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Andy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes on the BARS web site:

I am excited to bring back Bruce Blain, K1BG to speak at [the Billerica Amateur Radio Society]. You may remember his talk with us about The Entry Level License: What’s Worked and What Hasn’t. Bruce has an eye for spotting opportunities about influencing the young folks and getting their interest piqued for amateur radio.

Recently, Bruce enlisted three other Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club members to assist him in judging a school science fair. This was an opportunity for NVARC to connect with youth and educators and parents, with the hope of generating more budding hams. You can see how this has potential for rejuvenating our hobby.

Bruce will describe what happened and I am sure he will field questions we all have about why ham radio’s average age keeps climbing each year and what we can do about it.

Please come and support Bruce, and thank him for speaking for a fellow club.

[See also: NVARC Members Participate in Bromfield Science Fair] 

Clubs

Zola Center ARC Meeting: “Using Ham Radio Away From the Ham Shack,” March 30, 2019

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Frank Ventura, N1FMV, writes on the MARC/Zola mailing list:

Everyone is welcome to join us at the next meeting of the Zola amateur radio group. The specifics and agenda are below.

When:  Saturday, March 30 , 2019

Where:  20 Hartford street, Newton MA  02461

Time:  11:00 AM to 1:30 PM

Agenda:

11:00 AM:  Welcome and any old business brought to the floor

11:30 AM:  One of the projects I have been working on is exploring different ways of using ham radio away from the ham shack. While on vacation in Florida, myself and N1NGK were able to check into our Thursday evening net via Echolink on our iPhones. I have been looking into alternatives to be used with some of my HF equipment. I will demonstrate one or more potential solutions that I have found.

12:30 PM:  Our traditional pizza lunch

1:00 PM:  Fellowship and open topics

Hope to see everyone at our next meeting.

Clubs

Pentucket Radio Association Meets, March 21, 2019

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Pentucket Radio Association logoDavid Robertson, KD1NA, writes on the PRA mailing list:

On March 21 at 7:30 PM [there] will be a general meeting for all [Pentucket Radio Association] members and visitors [at the West Newbury EOC/Fire station, 401 Main Street, West Newbury, MA].
 
An important topic of discussion will be the coming Spring NEAR-Fest on May 3rd and 4th.
 
Discussion of the repeater status and future upgrades.
 
Hope to see all of you there.

 

Clubs / Organization

K1VR Presents at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, March 21, 2019

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Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s March meeting will be Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell).

Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, our newly-elected ARRL New England Division Director, will join us this month. Fred suggested discussing antenna zoning (his specialty) and current ARRL matters (his new job). He’s an accomplished speaker, a contester and an alumnus-affiliate of a local college radio club, so the session just might easily meander following audience interests.

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Need directions? Click here and put your own address in box “A”.

Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Clubs / Public Service

Groton Road Race Requests Amateur Radio Support, April 28, 2019

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Ralph Swick, KD1SM writes in the March, 2019 issue of NVARC “Signal”:

Sunday, April 28 will be the 28th running of the Groton Road race. The Groton Police Department and the Race Committee are again formally requesting support from the Amateur Radio community for logistics and safety communications for this high-profile event. The Groton Road Race has been a major event for Amateur Radio in North Central Massachusetts. [The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club] has been coordinating the ham participation since the second year of the event. Many NVARC members are 26-year (soon to be 27-year) veterans. Those of you who have joined us in 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 the 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 28th. If you are interested in helping at events like this but are unsure of what is expected of you or what equipment you may need, please do not hesitate to ask Ralph KD1SM, Stan KD1LE, or John, KK1X. You can also find detailed information about the operations in previous years at <https://www.n1nc.org>.

Clubs

QRA Presentation: HCJB “The Voice of the Andes,” March 21, 2019

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QRAThe Quannapowitt Radio Association will present Harry Chase, WA1VVH who will speak at the club’s March 21, 2019 meeting about his adventures while working at “The Voice of the Andes,” HCJB shortwave station in Ecuador. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM.

QRA membership meetings are held in the Reading Senior Citizen Center at 49 Pleasant Street in the old fire house. All are invited and holding an Amateur Radio license is not required.

Clubs / Organization

Section Manager Presentation at PART of Westford, March 19, 2019

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PART of Westford logoAt the [PART of Westford] meeting next Tuesday, March 19, our speaker will be Tom Walsh, K1TW, Section Manager for the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts section.  He will explain the various activities and appointments within the section:

“My talk is focused on the ARRL Field Organization which consists of the volunteers in a section, many of which make ARES run among many other kinds of activities.  I have a volunteer staff of 11-12 who in turn manage about 100 volunteers throughout the section, many of who are PART members already.  I explain how a section is organized and how people can be involved.”

Please come with questions about ARRL activities within the section.

Clubs

Mystic Valley ARG Meets, March 17, 2019

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Nick Magliano, KC1MA, writes:

The March  meeting of the Mystic Valley Amateur Radio Group will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2019 @ 9 a.m.  The meeting will be held at the Milton Auxiliary Fire Department Station, 2nd floor, 509 Canton Ave. Milton Mass. 

The building is behind the gazebo to the right of the Milton Fire Headquarters where we’ve held our Field Day Operations in past years.  Local map is attached below as a post script.

We will be monitoring the 145.43 Belmont repeater for talk-in.  Please feel free to email me with any 
questions.    kc1ma at arrl dot net

https://www.townofmilton.org/sites/miltonma/files/uploads/towncommontrafficdirectionfinal.pdf

Clubs / Youth

Northeastern University Wireless Club Guest Speaker: Pete MaLellan, March 14, 2019

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From the NU Wireless Club web site:

This week during our usual meeting time [Thursday, March 14, at 503 Hayden Hall] we will be hosting Pete MacLellan from Lutron, who will be speaking about his experience at Northeastern and at Lutron.  Come to hear about coop experiences, and an exciting company in the Boston area who hosts many Northeastern coops, many of which are part of Wireless Club!