Operating

Operating, on-the-air events and activities, contests, DXing

Operating

KD1D Fox is Out and About in Westford

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 7, 2021 at 10:23 AM: 
 

The KD1D Fox is out and about as of 0900 EDT on Friday May 7. The transmitter is on 146.565 MHz FM and begins a 30-second message every 60 seconds. 

Begin your search near the intersection of North Street and Groton Road (Rt, 40),  and you should be able to locate it  easily on nearby Westford Conservation Land. For maps and guides, check out https://westfordconservationtrust.org/trails/ and check out the main page https://westfordconservationtrust.org for an overview of Westford’s extensive program of public lands and trails.

Just one clue this time:   Herpetology and Horses – mind your step!

If you need additional help locating the trail, email me at kd1d@arrl.net.

73 and Happy Hunting de KD1D, Alan

Operating

BCRA POTA Operation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI, June 5, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Parks On The Air logoFran Kelly, KC1NDQ, writes on the Bristol County Repeater Association mailing list:

I have registered with POTA and scheduled a park activation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI for June 5 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Colt Park is park K-2872.

I will set up my Yaesu Ft-450d with Shark hamsticks for 20- and 40 meters on my vehicle.

Anyone interested come on by and bring whatever gear you like. I have a 10 ft x 10 ft pop up tent for shade or rain cover. I will stop by the park soon to map out a good spot and will let everyone know where that might be.

Talk to you soon.

Fran, KC1NDQ

Operating

Parks On The Air Activation, Blue Hills, Milton, MA K-8402, May 15, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Parks On The Air logoFellow WARS members and friends:

Mindy KM1MDY has organized a new POTA Saturday may 15 at Blue Hill in Milton, MA. Her notice is below.
 
Dan
W1DAN

 
—

Hello Radio Friends! Here is the OFFICIAL invite to the Blue Hills POTA activation. We will start out playing radio in a field at Houghton’s Pond, and then if we feel like it, some of us will hike to the top of Great Blue. As always, these are come if and when you want, and are meant to be very relaxed free-flowing get-togethers. Bring any equipment you want to test out, or just use ours. With band pass filters we can get several HF bands on the air simultaneously. If you get a preferred parking spot (see below), you will be able to operate with your car close by.  We are starting out on the early side to try to secure good parking. Restrooms are closed, so keep this in mind. You will get one more confirmatory email from me the week before (mostly watching the weather). 
 

WHO: Anyone interested in Ham Radio. No need to be a licensed ham operator. No need to be a hiker. 

WHAT: Parks-On-The-Air (POTA) activation of Blue Hills Reservation
 
WHEN: Saturday May 15th, beginning at 10am until you go home.  
WHY: Just because darnit! And you can get a POTA point…
 
WHERE: Houghton’s Pond in the Blue Hills Reservation (in the field near Picnic Site 5 on the Houghton’s Pond Brochure). 
 
PARKING: Preferred Parking is across from the intersection of Blue Hill River Road and Eileen Road (42.207692, -71.100664).
Additional parking along Blue Hill River Road toward the ball fields and Hillside Street. See Maps.
 
HIKING: If there is interest, some of us will hike up Great Blue (from the Reservation Headquarters to the Eliot Tower/ Blue Hills Observatory). Great Blue is the tallest hill in the blue hills. We will take the Racoon Hollow Path which starts across from Houghton’s Pond. See map. We will see who is interested the day of, and decide how/when to proceed then. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO GO! Flatlanders can stay in the field and keep activating POTA!  There is no road to the top of Great Blue that is open to the public to my knowledge. 
 
Notes: 
 
1) The Blue Hills is tremendously popular. People are constantly coming and going. There is a ton of parking, but it still may fill up. Just be patient and you’ll get a spot. We are going to try to get there on the early side though. I of course have an unmistakable green van…look for it! 
 
2) Bring your own radio equipment or use ours!
 
3) No ham radio license necessary to enjoy this outing. 
 
4) Bring a handi-talkie.  Set it to the STARS W1UQ repeater (see #4).   We will have a Radio Adventure NET on the W1UQ (i.e. STARS) Repeater at noon. (146.985 Output, 146.385 Input, PL In 88.5, PL Out 88.5). We will monitor the repeater. I’ll try to monitor 146.52 as well. 
 
Yours Truly, 
KM1NDY
Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Exercise – Operation Unify Coincident with National Red Cross Exercise – Saturday May 8th, 2021 – 10 AM-12 PM

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

The Eastern MA Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) will conduct an exercise in conjunction with the National Red Cross exercise. Operation “Unify” on May 8th, 2021 from 10 AM to 12 Noon (setup to start at 830-9 AM where needed) to test its capability in establishing communications with stations inside and outside of the section. Operation “Unity” will attempt to build upon the lessons learned from past operational exercises.

The exercise scenario involves a power grid failure caused by an X range solar flare. Eventually, hundreds of thousands of people in Eastern Massachusetts are left without power due to this solar flare.

“This exercise guideline is deliberately broad and generic in nature similar to our previous exercises. ARES groups are free to adapt this scenario and conduct their exercise as needed for their group,” writes District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O.

“This is another great opportunity, similar to the Fall and Winter exercises, for new Amateur Radio Operators, whether they are involved in ARES or not, to check into nets, provide simulated information and exercise traffic, or just check in and learn how nets work and what ARES can do during an actual event. This includes the National Weather Service SKYWARN component of ARES despite a non-weather scenario” writes Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator.

With the ongoing COVID-19 situation in MA, it will be unlikely that groups will be able to operate at EOCs and other municipal locations. Therefore any activation of shelters will be simulated by role play. It is likely that most of the operations involved in this exercise will utilize home stations along with field sites on Cape Cod and at other local ARES groups and those local groups’ discretion.

Some exercise objectives include:
• Simulate the activation of shelters in your area;
• Simulate the activation of EOC stations in your area;
• Establish and conduct a tactical net on simplex 2m FM/ repeater for your group;
• Simulate contact with any Town EOC RACES stations (Home stations is OK if COVID restricted) ;
• Establish contact with other ARES districts where possible;
• Establish an HF 75 meter voice net for all of MA (and potentially other areas);
• Establish an HF 60 meter voice net for all of MA (and potentially other areas);
• Pass an NTS type message on 2 meters VHF and/or 440 MHz;
• Pass a SKYWARN and/or tactical message on voice 2 meters and on the HF net;
• Optional components of the exercise to pass information digitally via Winlink and NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System) on VHF and HF between stations locally and to Red Cross

For full details, see the “Eastern MA Exercise Scenario and Guidelines” document at Eastern Massachusetts ARES Operation Unify Exercise – Saturday May 8th, 2021

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday May 3rd at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The May Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday May 3rd, 2021 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:
http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. For this month’s ARES Net, we will have comments regarding upcoming ARES Workshop training, virtual SKYWARN training (final class is Thursday 5/13/21 at 630 PM) and the Eastern Massachusetts ARES exercise coincident with a National Red Cross exercise on Saturday May 8th, 2021. Also, we’ll have some updates on COVID-19 and the recent announcements on restrictions being removed and how public service events such as road races and parades will be permitted later in May and beyond.

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 (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
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Operating

KD1D Fox Hiding in Westford, May 1, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 1, 2021 at 12:50 PM:
 
The KD1D Fox is now transmitting from an undisclosed location in Westford.
 
It is in a Conservation Area near a body of water with the name of a famous Massachusetts political family.
The area has two official parking areas:
 

One has an obvious name referring to a trail.  The other is on a road named after a particularly large State.

Another access point is at the end of a road named after what grapes grow on and a mini river, often thought of as “babbling.”

This entry way is graced with “No Trespassing” and “Private Property”  signs, but if you walk to the left of the gate, you will actually be on Town land.  Just be sure to park up the street.  I mention this alternate entry for those wishing to avoid a long walk.

If you need additional clues, email me at my callsign @arrl.org

The Fox has a new voice message.  It contains some unwarranted braggadocio, which I will change next time.  Meanwhile, enjoy the area!

73 de KD1D
Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Workshops Via Zoom During the Month of May – Check Here for Frequent Updates!

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be hosting an ARES Workshop over the course of May 2021 covering a variety of topics that support public service and emergency communications. These workshops will also be recorded and posted online after the series of workshop topics are completed.

The following is the topic schedule complete with the current list of presenters and the timeframe for each workshop/Zoom call presentation:
Thursday Evening 5/6/21 – 730-900 PM – Introduction to Eastern Massachusetts ARES, RACES, SKYWARN and Exercise Details – Presenter: KD1CY-Rob Macedo
Monday Evening 5/10 – 800-900 PM – ARES Database – How To? – Presenter: N1XTB-Phil McNamara
Thursday Evening 5/13 – 800-900 PM – Antennas -NVIS/60 and Portable antennas – Presenter: WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin
Saturday Morning 5/15 – 1000 AM-1200 PM – Net Control Ops & Public Safety/Social Media Monitoring Presenter: KD1CY-Rob Macedo
Monday Evening 5/17 – 800 PM-900 PM – Go Kits Presenter: WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin
Thursday Evening 5/20 – 800 PM-900 PM – NTS – Presenter: KW1U-Marcia Forde and one or two other members of the NTS team
Saturday Morning 5/22 – 1000 AM-1130 AM – Winlink and Vara Presenter: WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin with members of his Cape Cod ARES team
Monday Evening 5/24 – 800 PM-900 PM – NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System) Presenters: WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin and AB1PH-Don Rolph

Below are the Zoom Details for the Thursday Evening 5/6/21 Workshop Topic and please note that this web post will be updated with Zoom details for all other presentations as well as additional presenter information later this weekend or on Monday:

Rob Macedo is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: ARES Workshop Topic: Introduction to Eastern Massachusetts ARES, SKYWARN & RACES and ARES Exercise Details
Time: May 6, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89877037133?pwd=bEFWdVV2MUpKS05HazJHMUpuNlZzUT09

Meeting ID: 898 7703 7133
Passcode: 787805
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,89877037133#,,,,*787805# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,89877037133#,,,,*787805# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 898 7703 7133
Passcode: 787805
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kxm7aRg5w

Please look for updates and we hope many can attend this series of ARES workshops and if they are unable to do so, they will be able to view the recordings that will be posted online after the entire workshop series is completed. Many thanks for everyone’s support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

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
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Operating

Armed Forces Day Crossband Test, May 7-8, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
MARS logoThe Army Military Auxiliary Radio System will host this year’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test, scheduled for May 7-8, 2021. This annual event is open to all licensed amateur radio operators, and will not impact any public or private communications. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in this event, which is only an exercise scenario, designed to include hobbyist and government radio operators alike.
 
The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS), as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly-controlled exercise scenario that does not impact any public or private communications.
 
For a complete list of participating stations, modes, frequencies, and times, go to http://www.dodmars.org/home/armed-forces-day-2021.
Operating

KD1D Fox Is “On the Run” in Westford, April 23, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on April 23, 2021 at 1:43 PM:

The KD1D Fox is out for its first run of the spring operating on 146.565 MHz (FM) with a 30 second transmission at one-minute intervals. 
To find it, try heading out of the Westford Common Area in the direction of the Westford Knight and an educational institution that may remind you of the leader of a monastery.  You should start hearing the signal within a 1/4 mile or less.

More clues will be available upon request.

If you find it, be sure to sign the logbook  and record the time and date or send a photo to my callsign at arrl.net.

The audio seems to be down a bit and it may transmit a few “clicks” between messages.   I hope to iron out these minor problems next time around.

Happy hunting and 73 DE KD1D (Alan)

Operating

W1MGY QRV for Titanic Anniversary, April 11-15, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

W1MGY QSL cardFrom the Titanic Marconi Memorial Radio Association Of Cape Cod (W1MGY)  QRZ.com website:

The Titanic event for 2021 is fast approaching. We will be operating for more time this year from stations of TMMRACC members. Hopefully CW, SSB & FT8 modes will all be covered.

Operating times as operators available:

Sunday Apr. 11th 13:30 Zulu (9:30 EDT) – 02:00 Zulu (12TH) (10:00 pm EDT)

Monday Apr. 12th 10:00 Zulu (06:00 am EDT) – 02:00 Zulu (13th) (10:00 pm EDT)

Tues. Apr. 13th 10:00 Zulu (06:00 am EDT) – 02:00 Zulu (14th) (10:00 pm EDT)

Wed. Apr. 14th 10:00 Zulu (06:00 am EDT) – 06:20 Zulu ( 01:20 EDT) 15th

Operating is being done in two-hour shifts. A high percentage of shifts are covered, but not all. If you would like to operate in a time slot for this event, please contact W1MGY trustee Barry, KB1TLR. We will make all particulars known to operators.

This year the Grid Square is FN41xr.

This is a relatively new radio group to promote and preserve radio history by preserving the memorial call sign of the HMS Titanic.

We urge you to check out the many facets of this disaster especially as it relates to the significance of radio today and possible links to current emergency radio services. There is a wealth of information available on line about Jack Phillips ( senior radio operator of the Titanic) and the disaster itself. In researching, it is amazing how much relates to radio practices today.

Come explore and enjoy. And hopefully we’ll meet on the air waves, 73

If you live or visit the Northeast and would like to join the Association or participate in special events, send your name, call sign, mailing address, e-mail and contact phone number to w1mgycc@gmail.com. You can, of course, e-mail it. We will keep you advised as to events. Thanks for your interest, 73.

Operating

W1HFN Fox Deployed in NE Mass, April 7-12, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Eliot's canine, Noah
The fox and the hound: W1MJ’s “helper,” Noah, sniffed out the fox, visible in the hollow tree trunk.

Barry Fox, W1HFN,  deployed his hidden transmitter in Northeast Massachusetts on April 7. His fox transmits on 146.565 with a 20-second voice ID every minute. 

Barry decided to make it a real puzzler.  The only clue he gave for a location was:  GC1AV7V. 

“It should be easy enough in this computer age, but if you get stuck, email me.” 

On April 12, Barry wrote, “Retrieved the fox today. The finders were:  Bob, W1FDR; George, K1IG; and Eliot, W1MJ.” He adds, “Watch this spot for more fox hunt adventures!”

Affiliated Clubs / Operating / Public Information

Nantucket ARA Members Show Their Appreciation to Sconset Trust for Use of Sankaty Head Lighthouse

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
The Nantucket Amateur Radio Association membership recently voted to make a donation to the Sconset Trust in a show of appreciation for allowing the use of the Sankaty Head Lighthouse for last year’s International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. [See: International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend on Track for 2020.]
 
In a March 29, 2021 letter, ‘Sconset Trust’s Executive Director, Elizabeth Grubbs, wrote to NARA Treasurer Greg Cokorinos, K1UH, on behalf of the ‘Sconset Board of Trustees, “Thank you for your 2021 membership contribution … we were pleased to collaborate with NARA for the 2020 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend last August. Apart from our enjoyment of this collaboration, this may have been the most activity Sankaty Head Lighthouse saw last year!”
 
The ‘Sconset Trust has worked since 1984 to preserve historic buildings and lands in the Village of Siasconset.
 
Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday April 5th, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The April Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday April 5th, 2021 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:
http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. For this month’s ARES Net, we will have comments regarding upcoming ARES training, virtual SKYWARN training and an exercise coincident with a National Red Cross exercise on Saturday May 8th, 2021.

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 (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
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Operating

Wellesley ARS “POTA Party,” Winchendon, MA, March 27, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Parks On The Air logoDan Brown, W1DAN, writes on the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society mailing list:
 
Who: Anyone interested in amateur radio regardless of experience, license, or equipment
What: Parks-On-The-Air (POTA) Activation of Otter River State Forest (Lake Dennison Recreation Area). 
 
Where: Lake Dennison Recreation Area, 219 Baldwinville State Rd, Winchendon, MA 01475 (drive in to the first large parking lot). 
 
When: Saturday March 27, 2021 starting at Noon. 
 
Special Instructions/Notes: Just show up. Bring any radio or other equipment you may want to use, or use my stuff. Sign up for POTA if you plan on logging your own activation https://parksontheair.com/ .  If you are not planning on logging then please plan on getting on the air with my callsign (POTA Hunters want to get their points!) It is a large parking lot and big outdoor area. We will be there unless the weather is very very bad (i.e., electrical storm, typhoon); I will post to this group if it’s canceled. We will monitor 146.52 if you want to bring a vhf radio. We will operate at least ssb and cw, other modes welcome. I will be in a green van…it is unmistakable. Bring whatever you need to be comfortable (food, water, shelter, etc.)
 
My equipment: I will bring enough equipment to set up at least one cw and one ssb station. I also have band pass filters for 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 40, and 80 meters so we can run stations simultaneously. PLEASE BRING A SHORT COAX JUMPER WITH PL259 CONNECTORS IF YOU THINK YOU MAY WANT TO USE ONE OF MY BAND PASS FILTERS! I do not have enough to share. 
 
Pandemic notes:
Plan on wearing a mask. Outdoor gathering limits are 25 people in Massachusetts; if we exceed this we can split into separate groups, it’s a large enough area.  You of course are responsible for your own safety, so whatever precautions you need, please prepare for it. 
 
Okay, that’s all. Bottom line: Show up and play radio! I can’t wait to meet you all in person! 
 
Mindy
KM1NDY
Operating

Castle Island K-6876 Activated by KC1NRJ and NW1S

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

photo of POTA operation at Castle Island State Park, Boston MAA (Very) Cold Walk in the Park – A POTA Elmer Day with Brendan Baldonado, NW1S, at Castle Island Boston

by Gregory Kenley, KC1NRJ (Boston ARC SPARC, March 2021)

No, that’s not Banksy with a Yaesu FT-897D. After venting my frustration about getting some decent signals from Antennas at condos in Richmond, VA and North End Boston, Brendan offered to show me the Art of POTA at Castle Island [State Park, K-6876] in Boston.

Partly cloudy and a promise of 60+ degrees at peak turned out to be a constant wind of at least 30-35 mph with a real feel that had to be in the 30s. The park was packed with other Bostonians seeking the mythical nice day but we found a nice spot up high to put up the longwire with a Nelson Antennas portable antenna matchbox. I had been eyeing either and end feed from MyAntennas.com or a Nelson Antennas Matchbox for some time.

It was great to see Brendan run the longwire up with a 24 foot B’n’M “Black Widow” fiberglass extension rod. We worked 20 meters first and things were progressing well. We got contacts from Italy, Florida, Idaho, etc. As Brendan filled out the log, I looked up the call signs with the QRZ android app to quickly identify more details about the contact. It was evident why some contacts came in loud and clear (5/9) from veterans showing off their 50 foot towers on the QRZ page. A new $30 LiFePO4 6 Amp battery from Amazon helped power the Yaesu. The hands-on exposure to the contents of a POTA “go bag” (in Brendan’s case it was a “go box,” seen above) was educational. However, what I ended up coveting the most was his solid Patio umbrella stand that he had found in a dumpster.

photo of heavy antenna baseThis heavyweight stand was a perfect anchor for the 24-foot fiberglass extension pole holding up the Wireman longwire antenna. The winds were a constant 30-35 MPH all day. Tripods would not have withstood the heavy wind but the fiberglass pole bent without moving a bit. I immediately bypassed DX Engineering and HRO and found these at both Ocean State Job Lot and Lowe’s/Home Depot stores. I’m always looking at improving the POTA/SOTA go bag. 40 meters proved hard to tune given the longwire and coax lengths brought for this trip, but contacts resumed on 15 and 17 meters.

Operating

KM1CC QRV for International Marconi Day, April 24, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
photo of MarconiThe Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club  writes on Facebook:
 
[The Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club – KM1CC] is participating in International Marconi Day, Saturday April 24, 2021. This event is sponsored by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club. “The purpose of the day is for amateur radio enthusiasts from around the world to make contact with historic Marconi sites using communication techniques similar to those used by Marconi himself.”
 
KM1CC CW operations will be set up at the historic Marconi Station Site – rare grid FN51. SSB ops will be from a home station in Wellfleet also in FN51. Check back for operating/band info.
 
Follow the link to see other registered Marconi Stations. http://gx4crc.com/imd-stations/.
Affiliated Clubs / Operating

“Great Hill Gang” Meets in Weymouth on March 13, 2021

- by k9hi - 1 Comment
photo of Great Hill Gang setup in Weymouth MAScott Beers, N1KMX, writes on the W1ATD Marshfield Facebook page:
 
Tomorrow the “Great Hill Gang” will be getting together once again atop Great Hill in Weymouth, MA. We will be there on Saturday March 13.
 
Masks and Social Distancing Please!
 
We don’t have a particular schedule set up for frequencies and times but here are some good possibilities for reaching us:
 
146.52 FM Simplex (good for talk-in’s if you are trying to find us)
146.67- PL 146.2 (good for talk-in’s if you are trying to find us)
145.39- PL 67.0 (9AM most of us check into the K1USN Net)
144.200 USB
144.244 USB (Specifically 11AM – 11:30AM I will try to be here)
 
Call out to “The Great Hill Gang” and someone will get back to you.
 
If you look at aprs.fi (Thanks to KC1HHO) you can find an icon showing where we are along the Weymouth Fore River in North Weymouth.
 
N1KMX and K1UVH are just a couple of callsigns you can reach out to for directions into the hill.
 
Operating

ARRL SSB DX Contest, March 6-7, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

from nediv.arrl.org:

ARRL International DX Contest logoARRL SSB DX Contest, March 6-7, 2021

Contest Objective: 

To encourage W/VE stations to expand knowledge of DX propagation on the HF and MF bands, improve operating skills, and improve station capability by creating a competition in which DX stations may only contact W/VE stations. One contest period is CW-only and one is Phone-only.  Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

W/VE amateurs: Work as many DX stations in as many DXCC entities as possible.

DX stations: Work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.

Date: Phone: First full weekend in March (March 6-7, 2021).

Contest Period: Begins 0000 UTC Saturday and runs through 2359 UTC Sunday.

2021 Multoperator Accommodations:

ARRL has issued temporary accommodations for multioperator stations competing in the 2021 International ARRL DX Contest (CW and phone). Individual team members may operate from their home stations in conjunction with the multi-op station. The home stations must be within a radius of 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the multiop station, and must be within the same DXCC entity, US State, or Canadian province.  For more information, visit the link below.

www.arrl.org/news/guidelines-issued-for-arrl-dx-contest-multioperator-stations

Contest rules are now maintained as a single downloadable document (see “Full Contest Rules” below).

For contest information contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0232

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday March 1st, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The March Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday March 1st, 2021 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:
http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. For this month’s ARES Net, we have a high wind event expected for the area Monday Night into Tuesday Morning so any reports of wind damage or wind gusts of 40 MPH or greater would be helpful to the National Weather Service. We will have comments regarding upcoming ARES training and an exercise coincident with a National Red Cross exercise on Saturday May 8th, 2021.

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 (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
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
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