Operating

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Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 2-3, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on SKYWARN_Announce:

**SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 will occur this year and for the first time since 2019, Ops at the NWS office will be permitted but modified due to COVID19 to have more limited operations inside the office than prior to the pandemic. Similar to the last years, a social media component will be added to engage non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters more with 2022’SRD.**

**SRD Numbers will now be issued automatically when Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters register via the Google form on the SRD web site. You do not need a SRD Number to participate in SRD’2022 but it is now automatically available if you register via the Google form and most NWS offices will not have a SRD number.**

For the first time since 2019, SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 will have Ops at NWS office with volunteer Amateur Radio Operators, however, the scale of what is done inside the office for SRD will be more limited as we will have limited Amateur Radio Operators in the facility. This is similar to other NWS offices who will have volunteer operators into the office this year but more limited in scale than before the pandemic.

Also, all participants are welcome to register on the SRD web site. SRD Numbers will now be issued automatically when Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters register via the Google form on the SRD web site. You do not need a SRD Number to participate in SRD’2022 and most NWS offices will not have a SRD number. The SRD Number for this year is part of the qso exchange but is not a requirement.

For WX1BOX Amateur Radio operations, we will cover the typical SKYWARN repeaters on VHF/UHF as well as simplex and be on HF via the WX1BOX Amateur Radio station, various remote home stations, potentially one Amateur Radio Club station, along with our WX1BOX social media pages. In addition, contacts with other Amateur Radio SKYWARN stations will count towards NWS certificates. Similar to the last two years, there will be a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters alike.

Additional details on SKYWARN Recognition Day including a registration link opened up to all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio Operators can be found via the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

As mentioned previously, this year’s Google registration form also auto-issues SRD Numbers to participant Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. The form can be found off the SKYWARN Recognition Day web site and can be see at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsiwFThctxPqEht9r7j1V1OLBNiAQjt-yJe7z3-XFMwiIx-w/viewform

There is also a SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) Facebook group open to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators. The Facebook group link is listed below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/srd2021

On the web, the following link on the WX1BOX home page will feature all SRD updates for WX1BOX operations as well as social media efforts that can include SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators alike:

Special Announcement: SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) 2022 Friday Evening 12/2/22 700 PM ET to Saturday Evening 12/3/22 700 PM ET

New for this year is we’d like to conduct an experiment to test and experiment with a radio email system known as Winlink. We would like to have Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters test sending email to a radio based email. This system allows for emails to be retrieved over Internet but also over radio. You do not have to be an Amateur Radio Operator to be involved in this experiment. During the SRD period from Saturday 12/3/21 from 0000-2400 UTC (Friday Evening 12/2/21 7 PM EST-Saturday 12/3/21 7 PM EST), we’d like people to do the following:

1.) Compose an email with a report in text format or using one of the Winlink system specific weather or other forms to wx1box@winlink.org with either a current observation from the SRD time period or a prior severe weather event that occurred dring the last 2 years. Do “not” include file attachments. For Amateur Radio Operators who have winlink setup, please go ahead and use winlink. For other Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters who do not have Winlink setup, feel free to use your normal email client but only use text and no attachments in the report.
2.) Put in the subject of the email //WL2K as this will allow for emails to get filtered through the built-in spam protection of the winlink system

We will acknowledge all emails as a contact and publish results of this work as part of the SRD’2021 report.

Similar to last year, the SKYWARN Spotter Map that is being tied to SKYWARN Recognition Day 2022 but also shows a great display of SKYWARN Spotters across the country whether you are able to participate in 2022’SRD or not. To add yourself to the map, utilize the link below (and it also appears once you have submitted your Google registration form):
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/31f1c4cd9b504068b2d15a7d3cdd4d05

The SRD’2022 schedule for repeater rotation and WX1BOX coverage will be included in the next SRD update by Monday Morning 11/28/22 as we are planning the various modes of operation at the NWS office and at home/Amateur Radio Club locations.

The VoIP Operations on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system will take place once again for 2022’SRD. Here is the info regarding Echolink/IRLP operations as of Friday Evening 11/25/22 and will be updated by Monday Morning 11/28/22:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: N0NWS (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0200-0300: WX7SLC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0300-0400: WX9GRB (Confirmed time slot from 2020)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0500-0600: WX9LOT (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Confirmed time slot from last year)
0700-0800: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0800-0900: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0900-1000: Open
1000-1100: WX7SLC (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1100-1200: WX1GYX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1200-1300: W7NWS (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1300-1400: WX7SLC (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1400-1500: WX1AW (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
1600-1700: WX4NC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Confirmed time slot from last year – new NWS office from 2021)
1800-1900: WX6LOX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1900-2000: K0MPX (Confirmed time slot from last year)
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Confirmed time slot from last year – new NWS office from 2021)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2300-2400: Open

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Boston/Norton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years and have multiple reflector channels and Echolink conferences available. There is reflector 9250/Echolink Conference *HI-GATE* node: 357564, IRLP 9251 and the *WORLD* Echolink Conference node: 479886, IRLP 9257/*DCF-ARC* Echolink Conference node: 336037 and IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 152566 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG3* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system. The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, Allstar 28848 along with DMR/DSTAR and other modes provided by VK3JED-Tony, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their support!

Thanks to all for their continued support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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Operating / Public Information

Whitman ARC Plimoth Patuxet Special Event Operation, November 26-27, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Whitman ARC logoBob Azanow, WA1Q, writes on the Whitman ARC mailing list:

We want to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving and weekend. I have submitted a tentative list to Rob Kluin, the Marketing Director at Plimoth Patuxet Museums. We have been doing this event for over 30 years.

We will have someone spot us on the DX Cluster. Richard, AG1B, suggested we operate on 10 meters as well since 10 has been open.

We can look at setting up the R7 antenna at the Visitor’s Center if possible. Paul has a Yaesu FT450D in his go kit.

This will be a good opportunity for new hams to get on the air on HF.

We also need to bring out Whitman Club IDs and or a call sign badge to wear while we are on-site there. We will have clip-on writable badges we will provide as well if you do not have one.

Here is who we have so far for Plimoth Patuxet

Bob Azanow, WA1Q, Fri Sat & Sun
Paul Moss, KB1MTW
Chris Babbitt, N1CFB
Mike Davis, WA1MAD, Fri, Sat, and Sun
Jeff Ayres, WK1D, Friday
Mark Hirtle, KC1ITF, on Sunday
Lou Lachance, KC1PXN, Deputy Fire Chief Hingham and his son, Nate
Nathan Lachance, SWL
Jack Foley, N1QE, Saturday, maybe Sunday
Steve Cote, N1STV, Saturday
James Aiu, KC1NBN, Sunday
Larry Kenney, W1VP, Friday setup

More folks will be added as soon as you confirm you will attend. We need more folks to step up.

We will have two locations at the Museum. The Visitor’s Center will have Paul, KB1MTW’s go kit setup. And we will have 2 meters running there.

The second location is the Horticulture building, which is heated and nicer than the attic where we have been in the past.

We will have the HF station setup there with the Windom antenna and a 2-meter station. If possible, we will conduct the Sunday Net at 8:30 AM from the museum, If not, we will still be on site Sunday morning at 8:30 AM.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Horticulture building interior
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Horticulture Building interior

 

—

Hours: Setup Friday Nov 25th 10AM to 12PM
On the Air time Sat Nov 26th 9AM to about 3PM
On the Air time Sun Nov 27th 8:30AM to about 3PM
Take down about 3PM

Link to Plimoth Patuxet Museums for directions and info on the Museum.

 

Operating

KD1D Fox Active, Westford, Last Run of 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on November 18, 2022 at 3:24 PM:

The KD1D Fox is now (Friday, November 18, 2022  3:00 pm EST) on the air in Westford, MA in the vicinity of the Stone Arch Bridge Trail.
For maps and a trail description, see:   https://westfordconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/stone-arch-trail/

The Fox transmits on 146.565 MHz FM with a 20 second message repeated every 60 seconds.  It is hidden, but can be found with good direction-finding skills and a sharp eye.  There is a logbook in which you can record your find.  Please enter your first name, call sign, time. and date found.  WX is expected to be good through Monday noon (Nov 21)  when I will retrieve the Fox and bring it home for a few months rest (and perhaps some devious modifications).  You can also report your find to kd1d@arrl.net.

Good Hunting and 73 de KD1D, Alan

Clubs / Operating

K1USN Radio Club QRV for Veterans Day, November 11, 2022

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

K1USN Watson Museum signThe K1USN Radio Club will once again be on the air November 11, 2022, to celebrate Veterans Day to show their appreciation for those who have served. This year we plan to activate K1USN from our club station on the HF bands using SSB, CW and FT8 beginning at 1300 UTC, Nov 11 and ending at 2100 UTC.  Our Club station is located at the Watson Museum & Research Library, 85 Quincy Avenue in Braintree. 

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

Anyone working K1USN on Veterans day can use this link to request a certificate.

https://forms.gle/eUkWe4QviHV1qBRx8

The K1USN Radio Club was formed in May 1997 when we began operation onboard the Heavy Cruiser CA-139 USS Salem Museum Ship located in Quincy, MA. During this time period we began the first Museum Ships Weekend in 1997 with 8 ships participating. The crew from the Battleship New Jersey has done a wonderful job continuing this annual event which has grown into a popular activity with over 100 ships as well as several museums participating. Go to the NJ2BB website for a complete list of participants as well as certificate information – www.nj2bb.org

Later we were able to move our operation to the Thomas Watson Museum located upstream from the USS Salem at the site of the original Fore River Shipyard which was built by Braintree, MA resident, Thomas A. Watson. Watson was Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant developing the invention of the telephone. As US Navy orders continued to demand larger vessels the shipyard was moved to its current location downstream in Quincy, MA. 

Our operating frequencies will be:

  • SSB – 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960 and 28360 kHz
  • CW – 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18079, 21039, 24899 and 28039 kHz
  • FT4/8 – All standard FT8 frequencies

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

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

73, Pi – K1RV / K1USN

k1rv@arrl.net

http://www.k1usn.com

 

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Reminder: November 7th, 2022 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

N1YLQ-Mike “Sparky” Leger – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer and  Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator writes:

Hello to all,

      This email is a reminder that this evening, November 7th, 2022 is the first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, is our RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. We will be holding our sector nets on the normally assigned frequencies.

      As always, I am looking for Net Control stations to staff our sector nets for the evening. This month I plan to be able to run the Sector 2A net, but if anyone is interested in trying it out, please let me know.  I am looking for NCS operators to lead the Sector 2B (Plymouth County) nets. Sector 2D has already arranged for an NCS operator for this month’s net and Sector 2C is a Winlink only net on a monthly basis.

           The 6-meter net has generally been a very informal net. We have received an update that repairs have been implemented on the repeater. Please report any comms testing on the repeater so that those repairs can be verified.

For any operators interested in performing the duties of Net Control Station (NCS), there are materials available to make the task fairly simple and straight forward. The net pre-amble and role call lists are available at http://wc1mab.org/RACES_R2_Interim_Preamble.pdf and http://wc1mab.org/Month.php with the role call lists on the left column near the bottom. If anyone is worried that they mess up running a net, please remember that, in many cases, a less than perfect net is WAY better than no net at all! At the conclusion of any net, any operator that acted as Net Control Operator should send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com letting me know who ran the net and who checked in so that the proper numbers can be reported to our served agencies. We can not always count on our normal net control operators to be available in the event of a large scale emergency, so every RACES operator should be prepared to act as NCO if needed when disaster and emergency strikes!

Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph: 

*Winlink Net*

To participate:

– create a check-in form using the Winlink standard checkin form

– send via Winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. Nov 7th  and before midnight EST Nov 8th (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to KF1D

   I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to check into sector nets from near-by sections. This will allow our Net Control Operators to practice fielding nets with a strong check-in count and will also serve to help practice with relays or modified sector assignments in the event that a single repeater is out of service. 

   For those operators who serve as Net Control Operators, please try to remember to send me a list of the stations and communities that check into your nets. The numbers are reported to MEMA to show them our level of participation. I am continuing to work on a graphical map based report to show which parts of our section have strong coverage and which areas may need a more targeted recruitment campaign to improve our ability to provide back-up communications in an emergency.

The Region #2 and State Net Schedule for this evening is as follows:

Net Frequency/Offset Time
Sector 2A 147.00 /+0.60  PL 19:30 Local
Sector 2B 145.39/-0.60  PL 67.0 20:00 Local
Sector 2C Winlink Net Check-In 6AM-Midnight Local Time
Sector 2D 146.865/-0.60  PL 103.5 19:30 Local
6-Meter State Net 53.31 / -1.0  PL 71.9  

 

Note: 53.31 has been reported as being repaired and back online. Please report tests on this repeater so that we can verify the repairs/improvements made to the repeater.

 19:00 Local
MA RACES HF Net 3930 KHz LSB moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency 18:45 Local
MA MEMA NBEMS Net Frequency:  3584.5 MHx, Center Frequency: 1500 Hz, Initial mode: THOR22 19:00 Local

    I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain prepared. Thank you all for helping us keep things on track and prove that we remain a consistent source of communication capability to the Commonwealth. This net provides a monthly reminder to our communities and served agencies that we stand ready with a quiet professionalism prepared to serve as a voice to whomever needs one to get help and resources to where they need to be.

 If you know someone who would benefit from being on this list, please have them contact me at   WC1MAB@gmail.com and I will add them to this distribution. Thank you all!

      If anyone has any questions or comments I can be reached by e-mail or cell phone. Thanks for being a part of our team and I look forward to hearing back on who can participate this month.

Sincerely,

Michael Leger (N1YLQ)

MEMA Region #2 RACES Officer

C: 386-566-7666

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday November 7th 2022 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The November Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday November 7th, 2022 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system.

For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. We will focus our announcements on the Eastern Mass ARES Simulated Emergency Test set for Saturday 11/12/22 from 1000 AM-1200 PM EST. See https://ema.arrl.org/2022/11/06/update-eastern-massachusetts-ares-simulated-emergency-test-set-saturday-11-12-22-1000-am-1200-pm-est/ for the SET info.

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

UPDATE: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET) – Saturday 11/12/22 – 1000 AM-1200 PM EST

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be doing its Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for Saturday 11/12/22 at 1000 AM-1200 PM coincident with the national Winlink exercise. Our scenario will be customized from the ETO National Winlink exercise. The following is the Eastern Mass ARES SET document that we wanted to deliver by this weekend. See Eastern MA ARES SET 11-12-22 V1.8 Document for all of the pertinent info. We look forward to everyone that can participate and we will also mention this on the monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Net on the MMRA Repeater network for Monday 11/7/22 at 830 PM. Thanks to all for their continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 11/7/22 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

AB1PH-Don Rolph – Walpole area ARES Emergency Coordinator writes:

The MEMA RACES nets are held on the first Monday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, when it is delayed one week,

For Nov, the RACES nets will be held on Mon Nov. 7.

********************************************************************************
The HF net will start at 6:45 PM EDT: using the following frequency plan:

We will start at 3930 KHz moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency,

Marc Stern WA1R will be net control.
*********************************************************************************
Region 2D VHF net:
7:30 PM EDT VHF net on 146.865 MHz PL 103.5 (Sharon Repeater)

We will have a general call up of any RACES, ARES, or other interested stations. If there is time, we will have a simplex test.

Don Rolph using WA1PLE will be net control.
********************************************************************************
HF NBEMS net:
7:00 PM EDT
Dial Frequency: 3584.5 MHx
Center Frequency: 1500 Hz
Initial mode: THOR22

We will have checkins, followed by an ICS-213 format message using FLMSG.
Don Rolph AB1PH will be net control.
*********************************************************************************
Winlink Net:

To participate:
– create a checkin form using the Winlink standard checkin form
– send via winlink after 6 AM EDT Mon. Nov 7 and before 0000 EDT Nov 8 (any mode, but include mode in checkin form) to Bryan Marcotte KF1D
– Tues I will create the checkin report and send to all of you
*************************************************************************************

We look forward to you checking in to any or all nets!

—

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Operating

KB1OIQ Fox Deployment, Westford, November 6, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 10:23 AM on November 6, 2022:

The KB1OIQ 2m fox (146.565 MHz) has been deployed in the Cider Mill Pond conservation area in Westford.  Note that one entrance has parking for perhaps three cars, but there are other entrances which can be found on a map.

I’ll leave the fox out for a couple of days.  Enjoy fox hunting with this great weather!

73,

Andy

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 11/5/22 at 1000 AM EDT

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Good evening,

On Saturday November 5, 2022, the South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10AM. We realize that the usual locations for some individuals and groups are still unavailable due to ongoing COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net.

We will use the following repeaters and NEDECN DMR system in the order listed.

1. Plymouth Repeater 146.685 tone 131.8
2. Falmouth Repeater 147.375 tone 110.9
3. Sharon Repeater 146.865 tone 103.5
4. DMR – EMHN Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot 1 on select NEDECN repeaters:
Boston 449.175 CC1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC1, Bourne 145.200 CC10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC11, and Martha’s Vineyard145.180 CC10, Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC12 repeaters
5. DMR Simplex 446.500 TG 99 both slots
6. DMR Simplex 145.790 TG 99 both slots
7. Return to Plymouth Repeater for 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, EOC of any city or town as well as RACES or ARES members to check in during the NET. We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand at Net Control please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com or replying to this message. The goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many individuals and groups as possible. We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct these monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event.

We hope to hear you Saturday.

Jeff N1SOM, Secretary, and the SSH group
N1SOM – W1SSH

Operating

Bristol County Repeater Association Fox Hunt, Dartmouth, November 5, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Where:
5 mile radius from The intersection of US Route 6 and Reed Road, Dartmouth, MA (823 State Road (41.6384678, -71.0361075)
Organizer: Skip Denault, kb1cnb@bcra.club, 774-644-3469

* Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm — check-in starts at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123

* Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM
* Fox2 will activate at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM

$10 Dunkies Card to the first team to reach each fox!

Communications with “Fox Control” can all be done over the BCRA repeater, including checking in when you have found the fox. You may also speak with us in the control vehicle using physical distancing if you wish.

There will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and one by N1KJS, Kevin. When you find one of the foxes, you can get a hint to help you find the second (if you want!).

Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.

The Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM, and Fox2 at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM with a 5-watt signal, and both will transmit 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence. As the hunt progresses we may increase the transmission times – that will be announced on the BCRA repeater. The hunt will last until 2:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.

The Fox1 (in Skip’s vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and be manned at all times. When you have found the fox, your time and order of arrival will be recorded, and a personalized certificate will be emailed to each participant.

The Fox2 (in Kevin’s vehicle, a blue Toyota Tacoma marked BCRA) will be in a public place and be manned at all times. When you have found the fox, your time and order of arrival will be recorded.

Participants are encouraged to work in teams and are asked to drive carefully and observe all applicable guidelines, both from the FCC and the state & local governments. Since participants are receiving only (except for radio check-ins), an amateur radio license is not required.

Email questions to Skip at kb1cnb@bcra.club or text to 774-644-3469. After the hunt, your comments, impressions, and suggestions will be welcome!

Join us and have some good amateur radio fun!

Operating

AC1JR First Fox Hunt

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:41 PM on October 29, 2022:

Congratulations to Jeff AC1JR for his inaugural fox hunt (mobile; he was parked in a secret location) with his homemade fox.

In true ham fashion, he designed and built from scratch this fox, and I’ll let him go further into the further details of it, but I found it to be an impressive feat; some thing that would make my brain hurt pretty bad for sure!

I got wind of the fox being activated on my way home from completing the hunt for the KD1D fox in Littleton, and so I had begun to guess at some possible locations based on knowledge of my hometown and where he may possibly be, suffice it to say…. I was wrong! Lol

After checking out a few locations where I thought he may be, I kept getting indications in one particular area which I spent the majority of my time looking.

After dropping my daughter off, I continue to hunt and was able to find him within five minutes after; I actually had wanted to check the backside of a location that would require me to drive the long way around and, in the process of doing so, I got full quieting without an antenna on a handheld… a ways before I was to reach the destination I was heading for, and so sometimes the old-school methods work the best!

As it turns out, only two of the five or six bearings that I had taken with my app “FoxHunt Pro“ were accurate and actually pinpointed him where they crossed; that’s the problem, sometimes you don’t know which bearings are the accurate ones!

I’ve been working on a fox that I could use for mobile hunts like this, and so I’m inspired to finish it now, and join in the fun!

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET) – Saturday 11/12/22 – 1000 AM-1200 PM EDT

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be doing its Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for Saturday 11/12/22 at 1000 AM-1200 PM coincident with the national Winlink exercise. Our scenario will be customized from the ETO National Winlink exercise and the details including an exercise document will be released between 11/1/22-11/5/22 or earlier if time allows. Some of the items we will be looking to do are as follows:

  • Using Winlink to send a field situation report on HF/VHF to gather reports of damage and damage to infrastructure including items such as NOAA Weather Radio based on the exercise scenario. Details will be released in the exercise document by early November.
  • Voice Activities: When checking into nets, list all NOAA Weather radio stations you can hear. Give Call-Signs and frequencies of the stations heard and your location. List the signal strength of the WX Station and whether you were using indoor or outdoor antennas to monitor – can be done tactically or by NTS – this will be in addition to any other simplex testing that is done as part of the nets
  • HF Nets 75m/60m – normally used HF exercise frequencies (Frequencies to be published in early November)
  • Echolink 9123 node and MMRA RPTR System – use as normally used in exercises
  • Localized 2m repeaters – local call up nets ARES/RACES (Frequencies to be published in early November)
  • Simplex nets – simplex call-up nets or have stations do simplex to simplex on a frequency they choose and come back to the main net  (optional simplex activities)
  • NBEMS activity – Optional
  • NTS Operations – Pass an NTS message by voice and have it sent by digital to KD1CY (or local ARES designee, local NTS person or KW1U-Marcia – Section Traffic Manager)
  • The WC1MA 53.31 PL 71.9 Hz 6-meter Mount Wachusett Repeater is now back up and running and if we have the coverage, we will look at having a 6m component as part of this exercise both on that repeater and via simplex.

Again, we will have the exercise document and further information on the SET exercise released between 11/1/22-11/5/22 or earlier if time allows. We hope many Eastern Massachusetts ARES members can participate in our SET.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org

Operating

The KD1D Fox Returns, Westford, October 21, 2022

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on October 21, 2022 at 1:09 PM:

The KD1D Fox is on the loose again.  As usual, it transmits on 146.565 MHz FM for about 25 seconds and repeats every 60 seconds.

As of noon on Friday, October 21, the FOX can be found somewhere in the Grassy Pond conservation in Westford.  Parking can be found on the west side of Plain Road between Almeria Circle and Villanova Drive (both of which are on the east side of Plain Road).  Come on out – there are still some fall colors to be seen and ,if you’re so inclined, you can try some of the exercise stations along the trail.

The KD1D FOX will be on the air until about noontime on Monday, 10/24. 

There’s a pleasant farm stand nearby where you can get coffee and other delights to fuel your adventure,

More information is available at
https://westfordconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/grassy-pond-life-course-and-trail/

73 and good hunting from KD1D

Clubs / Operating / Youth

New England Sci-Tech ARS (W1STR) QRV for School Club Roundup

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoW1STR will be open and operating School Club Roundup on Thursday [October 20, 2022] from 7 pm to 9 pm and Friday [October 21, 2022] 6 pm to 8 pm, all are welcome to come and operate.  New hams, youth, and anyone interested in ham radio will be able to operate this event on HF.

Bands:

All amateur bands except 60, 30, 17 and 12 meters are permitted.

Repeaters are not to be used. Only recognized simplex frequencies may be used. U. S. A. examples include 144.90-145.00; 146.49, .55, 58; and 147.42, .45, .48, .51, .54 and .57 MHz. The national calling frequency, 146.52 MHz, may not be used. Similar restrictions apply in other countries.

Suggested HF Frequencies:

Phone (MHz): 1.855-1.865; 3.850-3.880; 7.225-7.255; 14.250-14.280; 21.300-21.330; 28.440-28.460
CW (MHz): 1.800-1.810; 3.530-3.540; 7.030-7.040; 14.030-14,.040; 21.130-21.140; 28.130-28.140

More details at: https://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup

Operating / Youth

JOTA Activity in Westford

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

JOTA-JOTI logoAndy Stewart, KB1OIQ, is hosting Scouts for Jamboree On The Air on October 15 at his Westford QTH.

“If you are available, please listen on the 955 WB1GOF repeater from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday.  I will have Scouts making calls around that time.  Also, if you are able to join us on an HF frequency, we can negotiate that on 955,” Andy writes.

Clubs / Operating

Cape Ann ARA Portable Operations Session, Rockport, October 15, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

CAARA logoDean Burgess, KB1PGH, writes on the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association mailing list:

Hello to all club members,

There will be a informal HF portable ops session next Saturday, October 15 starting at noon until the end of the day. The location will be in Rockport on the top of Hospital Hill, at the end of Summit Avenue—the same place field day was held. There will be hot dogs and hamburgers. This is a time for anyone who wants to set up any equipment to operate portable and to see some HF stations. Basically, we’re just hanging out, having some fun and playing radio.

The talk-in will be CAARA repeater 145.130 MHZ with a 107.2 PL tone. So far, the weather looks good; if it does rain, the rain date will be following Saturday, so monitor the repeater if you decide to go. Hope to see you there.

73,

Dean Burgess, KB1PGH and Jon Cunningham, K1TP

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

WC1MA 53.31 6-Meter Mount Wachusett Repeater Is Back On the Air

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Bruce Fant-KA1TZY Auburn RACES Officer – COMT/COML writes:

WC1MA It’s my pleasure to announce that the WC1MA 6 meter repeater 53.31 is back up and on the Air at Mt Wachusett with PL of 71.9. PL 162.2 will not work take note and change your PL if needed. The new repeater was donated in memory of Dale Thomas WA1RJC by John W1GPO. The Custom built antenna and tower work was donated by Clark N1PAH. After years of personally keeping it on the air then the Lightning strike over a year ago,  myself and fellow coworker Alex-AB1FC started talking and looking at ways to bring it back. We had some help from some other volunteers on install day Mike Girard from MEMA and our intern Joe-KC1EGK.

I’m getting reports from stations that it’s working great around the state. Give it a try and report back please.

Bruce Fant / KA1TZY
Auburn RACES officer
ComT / ComL