Clubs

Radio clubs

Clubs

Boston ARC Special Meeting/ Tour at Massport Fire Hq., March 15, 2018

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Boston ARC logoThe Boston Amateur Radio Club will hold a special meeting at Massport Fire Rescue Headquarters, 261 Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday, March 15, 2018. A tour of MassPort Fire Department apparatus will commence at 6:45 PM, followed by a short trip to Santarpio’s pizza at 7:15 PM concluding with the general meeting at 8:00 PM. Attendance for this event is limited to 25 individuals.

Steve Staffier, K1SMS, Massport’s Communications and Interoperability Manager, will talk about communications interoperability followed by a presentation about Massport Fire Rescue by Deputy Chief Robert Barnes.

Parking is available at Massport Fire Headquarters, 261 Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts. The Fire Department is located past the Hyatt Hotel. Please park in designated spaces.

Since we’re literally in the neighborhood, we will have Santarpio’s Pizza for dinner. A suggested donation of $7.50 per person is requested.

Due to space limitations at the facility, we will only be able to accommodate 25 members. If you’re interested in attending this meeting, you must send an email to k1bth@arrl.net no later than March 7, 2018. Management reserves the right to cancel the evening if not enough people sign up by March 7.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Genesis ARS Linux Workshop Sessions

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Genesis ARS logoThe Genesis Amateur Radio Society linux training sessions continue through March, 2018.

According to GARS Project Manager Jack Buckley, W1AKN, the sessions will address:

  • March  3: Linux application install, setup, and configure for specific users, i.e. callsign, location, grid, station data, rig control settings, etc.
  • March 17: Continue work with the many ham applications included in Andy’s Ham Radio Linux 

The training sessions run from 9 AM until 12 noon in the Genesis ARS meeting room at the Plymouth Airport.

All / Clubs / Operating

SEMARA Debuts New Station

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photo of newly renovated SEMARA club shack, Feb. 13, 2018After months of work, Southeastern MA Amateur Radio Association members are putting the finishing touches on their new station at the clubhouse at 54 Donald Street in Dartmouth.

According to SEMARA member Don Rosinha, WA1BXY, the shack now features a Kenwood TS-570 and an Elecraft, as well as new computers and accessories.

A radio room showing and tutorial event for club members scheduled for last month was postponed by winter weather conditions. It will occur in the near future.

Congratulations to SEMARA for constructing an elegant and functional station for its members.

All / Clubs / Technical

PART of Westford Kit Building Session, March 10, 2018

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PART of Westford logoPART of Westford is holding a kit building session on Saturday, March 10, 2018, according to PART club president Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ.

“The club has chosen the Cricket80A QRP CW transceiver for the 80 meter band,” Stewart says. “I’m looking for a building chairman, two to three Elmers to help and encourage kit builders, a technical person to spend a few minutes explaining the circuit theory, and people who want to build the kit!”

Interested parties should contact KB1OIQ at kb1oiq@arrl.net.

More information about the Cricket80A kit can be found at http://4sqrp.com/cricket.php.

All / Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Falmouth ARA Technician Licensing Class, March, 2018

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Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationBrent Putnam, W1NCH writes:

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) is holding a Technician class licensing course over the course of three Saturdays: March 17, 24 and 31 from 9 AM to noon at the Falmouth Fire Rescue Department headquarters, 399 Main Street (entrance on King Street), in the 2nd Floor EOC/training room.

The exam for the students will be held in the same location immediately after the May 31 session.

Cost of the class is $50 and includes:

  • Nine hours of classroom instruction
  • Manual
  • Online test practice and tutoring
  • Refreshments
  • Access to instructors for questions & tutoring
  • License exam
  • 1-year membership with FARA
  • Admission to the 2018 FARAfest
  • Radio (if the student passes)

This is a great value for anyone seeking to get their license, as the total cost of the individual items is well over $100.

Interested? Contact Brent Putnam, FARA President, at W1NCH@arrl.net.

All / Clubs / Public Service

Cape Ann ARA Equipment Registers Earthquake

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Hank McCarl, W4RIG writes on Cape Ann ARA list:

The seismograph [at the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association] at 6 Stanwood Street [in Gloucester] reported a 2.7 magnitude earthquake with epicenter at East Kingston, NH just north of Amesbury, MA at 9:28 AM on Thursday February 15, 2018.

This quake was also detected by Stan Stone [W4HIX] with his seismograph in Lanesville.  Nice to know that our own MAGLO is operating as part of the USGS Netquake program.

Clubs / Technical

K1YOW Wins QST Cover Plaque Award

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(L-R): QST Cover Plaque Award recipient Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW; ARRL New England Division Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF.
(L-R): QST Cover Plaque Award recipient Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW; ARRL New England Division Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF. –photo courtesy K1TW

Nashoba Valley ARC member Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW was presented with ARRL’s Cover Plaque Award for his December, 2017 QST article entitled “Upper Level Lows and 6-Meter Sporadic E.” ARRL New England Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, presented the award to K1YOW at the February 15, 2018 NVARC meeting in Pepperell.

The QST Cover Plaque Award is given to the author or authors of the most popular article in each issue and is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page.

 

Clubs / Technical

Zola Center Kit Building Workshop, Feb. 17

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Members of the Zola Center ARC are participating in a kit-building workshop on February 17, 2018 at the Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities in Newton Highlands.

According to Zola Center ARC’s Bob Druk, WA1UIY, “the group will build continuity testers as a club project. At the December meeting we held a soldering workshop where we they learned the basic fundamentals of soldering. At the end of the session each participant was able to successfully solder the ends of wires together.” Many of the current Zola members are either legally or totally blind.

WA1UIY adds: “The continuity tester project is the next step in their progression. Their goal is to build an AM/FM radio from an Elenco kit which they hope to start by April.”

Additional volunteers are sought to assist in this project.

Dan Brown, W1DAN, Eastern Massachusetts Technical Coordinator and president of the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society will conduct this week’s session.

Clubs

Marlborough Flea Market, Feb. 17, 2018

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Agonquin ARC logoThe Algonquin Amateur Radio Club is again holding its Marlborough Flea Market on February 17, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the 1Lt Charles W. Whitcomb School, 25 Union St., Marlborough, MA. Talk-in is on the MMRA repeater, 147.27+ (PL 146.2).

A VE session will be held beginning at 9:00 AM. General admission is $5. Vendor tables are $15 before February 9, 2018, or $20 at the door if space is available. Each table includes one admission.

For more information, contact Tim Ikeda, KA1OS at 978-333-0067 (before 9:00 PM), email fleamarket@n1em.org or visit http://www.qsl.net/n1em/2018flier.pdf.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Clay Center ARC Courses in March, April 2018

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Clay Center ARC logoThe Clay Center ARC has announced it will conduct three courses for the public, starting in late March and April, 2018.

“We have teamed up with Brookline Adult and Community Education (BA&CE) and Newton Community Education (NCE) to offer a radio Technician Class course for adults and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test.  Children who pass the test receive a free membership in the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club, the largest youth-oriented radio club in New England.”

Clay Center will also hold Technician and General Class “License In A Weekend” events.

For full details, visit http://www.cc-arc.org/courses/.

Clubs

Plymouth Repeater Going Digital

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Genesis ARS logoJack Buckley, W1AKN writes on the Genesis ARS list:

We are getting closer to operating on N1ZIZ (147.835 -600) in the digital (NXDN) mode. The first of March will be the official date for using NXDN on N1ZIZ. The N1ZIZ repeater currently is operating on the analog FM mode with the repeater configured to operate in mixed mode which allows for both digital and analog operation.

The PL 82.5 must be reprogramed to the new PL 131.8. Anyone wishing to have assistance with this reprograming is invited to drop in next Sat Feb. 17. Come with the rig in question and we will see if we have the cable (bring the programming cable if you already have one) You may bring your cable and software (we will attempt to employ Chirp program, but cannot guarantee the rig is included in Chirp app yet) If you wish to get the app setup on your PC, bring your PC in (we are conducting GARS Linux training but you can bring MS for this session) You must have adapter and AC cord along with an extension cord to power you rig

Bottom Line N1ZIZ is configured as follows:

  • Both PL 82.5 and 131.8 are configured on the repeater right now
  • Only 131.8 will be supported post March 2018
  • Mixed Mode = NXDN to NXDN and or Analog to Analog
  • PL of less than 100 has been shown to be unreliable on the Icom Commercial FR5000 repeaters (this includes N1ZIZ)
  • PL 131.8 will be supported going forward

As always:

Please come join us at a Genesis ARS business meeting they are conducted every last Monday of each month.

GARS Business Meetings are at Plymouth Airport, Gate #2, Community Room AKA: precinct voting room, 7PM – 8PM with speakers most meetings!

Clubs / Youth

Clay Center Robotics Talk, Feb. 6, 2018

- by k9hi

The Clay Center ARC will feature guest speaker Russel Nickerson of Collabots on February 6, 2018 at 6:30 PM.

“Robotics is a combination of technology that changes life as we know it. Transistors increased the adoption of radios in the past; now there are other technologies that are making robotics a reality.”

The Clay Center is located at the Dexter School at 20 Newton Street, Brookline, Massachusetts.

via Clay Center ARC e-newsletter

Clubs

CW Training Net, 146.97 MHz Paxton Repeater

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Greg Algieri, WA1JXR writes:

The Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association (CMARA) will be conducting a “Learn CW Training Net” on the club repeater, W1BIM on 146.97 PL 114.8 on Monday nights at 7:30 PM starting January 15. Greg, WA1JXR will be the net control station and CW instructor. The purpose of the net is to teach hams new and old how to send and receive CW. The net will be a combination of FM voice as well as modulated CW (MCW) transmissions over the repeater.

CMARA members as a club project have built an MCW interface for their 2M FM radios which will allow them to send CW. If others are interested in obtaining a MCW Interface Kit they can contact Greg, WA1JXR at wa1jxr@comcast.net and I will start an interested list. If we get a minimum of 10 kit orders I will do a bulk buy of parts and circuit board and assemble more kits. So check it off on your calendar and check into the “Learn CW Training Net” on Monday nights and learn and have fun with the original digital mode, CW.

Clubs

Whitman ARC Winterfest, January 20, 2018

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Whitman ARC logoThe Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold its Winterfest on January 20, 2018 from 9 AM until 1 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Route 18, in Whitman. A VE testing session will be conducted at the event. Admission is $5; tables cost $15. Raffle prizes will be drawn at noon. Talk-in will be provided on the Whitman ARC repeater: 147.225Mhz+ PL67. For vendor information, call: 781-523-5010 or visit http://www.wa1npo.org.

 

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Whitman ARC General License Class, January 9, 2018

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Whitman ARC logoThe Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold a weekly General license class beginning Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 7-9 PM at the Whitman Police Station. The class will conclude with a volunteer exam session on February 27. Material will be based on the ARRL General Class License Manual.

The course is offered free of charge. Interested parties are asked to contact the course instructor, Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG via email at bavarianradio@comcast.net or by phone at 781-447-9104.

Clubs

Waltham ARA Holiday Party

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Waltham ARA logo Eliot Mayer, W1MJ writes:

The Waltham Amateur Radio Association invites all hams and friends for a festive Holiday Dinner! It’s a great time to get that “eyeball” QSO with some of the folks we’ve been talking to all year. Spouses / friends / prospective hams are all welcome! No RSVP necessary. Cost is $25 per person at the door which includes the buffet and 1 ticket for the door prizes. Membership renewal will also gain you an extra ticket for the door prize. See you there!

WARA Holiday Dinner
at Sichuan’s Garden, 411 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA
Wed, Dec 20, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

 

Clubs / Operating

K1USN Veterans Day Operation

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K1USN QSL card “Pi” K1RV writes:

The K1USN Radio Club will once again be on the air to celebrate Veterans Day as we take time to show our appreciation for those who have served; as well as their family members.

Local hams are invited to visit us in Braintree, MA at 85 Quincy Ave.

Our operating frequencies will be:

SSB – 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960, 28360 and 50160.

CW – 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18079, 21039, 24899, 28039 and 50109.

IRLP – NODE # 4086 ( AE1TH 442.500 118.8 P/L in Braintree, MA )

K1USN QSL cards will be available for all contacts with K1USN.

Send # 10 SASE to K1RV or DX stations QSL via bureau.

QSL via K1RV
URL: http://www.k1usn.com
Contact: Pi – K1RV
Email: k1rv@arrl.net

 

Clubs

Noted Media Historian to Speak at North Shore RA, Sept. 18, 2017

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North Shore RA logoNSRA General Meeting on September 18th, 2017
NOTE: Third week this month
Doors open at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30pm
Link to Meeting Location

Speaker:
Media Historian, Professor, & Former broadcaster
Dr. Donna Halper

Speaking on:
How the Amateurs Created Commercial Radio… and what happened after that

Today, people can listen to radio in a number of ways– online, in the car, at home, even on their smartphone. But there was a time in the early 1920s when radio was new, and there was only one way to listen– in your “radio room.” In those early years, one group of people helped to keep your favorite stations on the air– ham radio operators.

Join media historian, professor, and former broadcaster Donna Halper on September 18th, as she brings along her rare radio memorabilia and takes you back in time. She will introduce you to some pioneering hams who kept a foot in both amateur and commercial radio (without them, there would have been no stations like WBZ or WEEI or the first station in Massachusetts– 1XE/WGI).

Dr. Halper will also share some interesting facts about the history of Boston radio, including why radio today isn’t as good as what many of us remember from when we were growing up. And she will tell you about some performers and announcers who came from the North Shore.