Operating

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

Operating

Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Postponed

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From ARRL Web: (04/08/2020) – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 response and mitigation actions, the 2020 Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test scheduled for Saturday, May 9, has been postponed. Because it’s uncertain just when stay-at-home orders will be lifted across the US, AFD planners chose to postpone this year’s event, because the government stations that typically support this event may not be available. Armed Forces Day Crossband Test planners are considering scheduling a November event in honor of Veteran’s Day, depending on COVID-19 mitigation actions. During the AFD Crossband Test, military stations in various locations transmit on selected military …

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Operating

Museum Ships Weekend Event 2020 Cancelled

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

[Ed note: this impacts various local museum ships that normally operate on the air for Museum Ships Weekend.] “Due to the current unknowns with COVID-19 virus, Battleship New Jersey ARS is cancelling the planned annual Museum Ships Weekend Event 2020 which was scheduled to begin 6-June-2020 at 0001Z and end 7-June 2020 at 2400Z. A lot of the ships that participate are already closed due to this health situation and others may get orders to close soon. As of today, April 6, 2020, it is unknown when the “lock-down” will be lifted so it is with an abundance of caution …

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Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday 4/6/20 at 830 PM ET – COVID-19 Communications Status Update Main Topic for Tonight’s Net

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Hello to all… The April ARES net will be Monday April 6, at 8:30 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 tonight’s ARES Net, we will be providing information on COVID-19, what we are doing to monitor this health emergency from a communications needs …

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Operating

North American SSB Sprint, April 4, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Randy Thompson, K5ZD, writes on the YCCC reflector: The SSB sprint is tonight (April 4 2020).  It is four hours (8-12 PM local) on 20, 40, and 80 M. The easiest way to participate is just to search and pounce to find someone calling CQ.  You’ll copy his number, name and state. Then you give: His call QSO number Your name Your state *Your call At the end of the QSO, you may have someone call you.  The exchange is the same but you give your call as the second item rather than the last. His call *Your call QSO …

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Operating

International Marconi Day 2020 Cancelled

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From ARRL Web: The annual International Marconi Day (IMD) ham radio operating event that was set to take place on April 25 has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 24-hour amateur radio event celebrates the birth of Marconi on April 25, 1874. Sponsored by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club, which operates as GB4IMD, International Marconi Day features participating stations operating at sites having a personal connection to Marconi, including places where he set up transmitting and receiving stations. Given the fact that the National Seashore is closed to the public, a “Marconi Event” on April  25 had been …

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Affiliated Clubs / Operating

Yankee Clipper Contest Club Post-WPX SSB Virtual Get-together, March 31, 2020

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Jim Idelson, K1IR, writes on the YCCC mailing list: Great online meetings are no accident. With some planning, our meeting tonight [March 31, 2020] can be a lot of fun for all. Here’s what it takes to make our on-line meeting a success. Plan to join and participate! More participants means more content and more value to the club. Get setup for Zoom in advance. I will be in the Zoom room 30 minutes ahead to help people get going. When the meeting is underway at 7, we want to focus on WPX, not Zoom. Bring interesting content – something …

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Affiliated Clubs / Operating

Pilgrim AWA Monday Night 2-Meter Net, March 30, 2020

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On 3/30/20 we will be hosting our Monday Night 2 Meter Net on our 147.135 MHz KA1GG club repeater at 7:00 pm. We will have more details to follow. Everyone is welcome to join us. We are always glad to hear you in there. For Updates – Club Events – Activities, listen for announcements on our 147.135 MHz KA1GG club repeater. Check in with us here on our Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association Facebook page. And stop by to visit our ARRL club page. Take care, be safe, stay healthy everyone from all of us here at the Pilgrim Amateur Wireless …

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Operating

20th USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships, Boston, MA, Cancelled

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

  March 28–The ARRL ARDF Committee has determined that the 20th USA ARDF Championships scheduled for June 9-14, 2020 near Boston, MA must be cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation. With events surrounding COVID-19 developing rapidly, along with the obvious need for urgent steps to contain its spread, the need to cancel the championships has become apparent. The 20th USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships will be rescheduled for a future date.   USA ARDF Championships are open to everyone – there is no previous ARDF experience required, nor are competitors required to have an amateur radio license. There are …

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Affiliated Clubs / Operating

Falmouth ARA 2M “Meeting Net” to Utilize NetLogger

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Larry Gray, W1IZZ, writes on the Falmouth ARA mailing list:   I thought the upcoming “over the air meeting” would be a good time to try out NetLogger.   Some of you may already use NetLogger, as a number of regular radio nets use NetLogger to help manage the net.   The use of NetLogger is NOT required.  No worries if you would rather not load it, or try it.      For those members willing to try NetLogger during the meeting net, I attached the information needed to use NetLogger during the net.   As you will see, NetLogger is easy …

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Operating

Fox Box Hidden in Carlisle, March 21, 2020

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on March 21, 2020 at 1:04 PM: I placed the 2-meter 146.565 Fox Box in Carlisle Mass. To activate press DTMF tone 2 for 2 seconds for 30 seconds on 30 seconds off for 15 minutes, repeat as needed. If you want just a hint to narrow down the area of town Email me at KB1MGI55@Gmail.com. If you want the parking location to save you time also email me.

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Operating

Zola Net Meets March 19, 2020

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Matt Chao, N1IBB, writes on the Middlesex ARC mailing list: Hi, Folks.  Hope none of you are getting cabin fever from being cooped up in your ham shacks.  Anyway, it’s that time of the week again – the Zola Net!  Check in tomorrow night  at 7:00pm on 147.36, with a PL of 67.0.  The purpose of the Net is to enable new and experienced hams the opportunity to participate in a controlled net environment.  Talk with you all tomorrow night.

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Operating

Fox Box Deployed in Westford, March 14, 2020

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on March 14, 2020 at 10:08 AM: I just placed out a 2 meter Fox Box in Westford on 146.565 Press DTMF tone two for 2 seconds for 15 minutes of 30 seconds on 30 seconds off. To reset again press DTMF tone 2 again. I’ll leave it out for a week or until the batteries die. If you want to know the location to save time, Email me: KB1MGI55@Gmail,com.

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Operating / Public Information

Maine Bicentennial Special Event Operation Pays Homage to the Original Nine Counties–and Boston, Massachusetts

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Maine Bicentennial Special Event,  March 16-22, 2020, recognizes Maine’s original nine counties from when the state was chartered in 1820.  There will also be three other special event stations operating from Jameson Tavern in Freeport, Portland, and Boston in recognition of their contributions to Maine’s Statehood.   Boston is the “longest continuously serving capital” in the United States, and served as capital for the District of Maine until 1820.The Maine Bicentennial Special Event committee was formed from members of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine, along with members from the PenBay ARC.According to the Committee, “We suspect most participants will be …

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Operating

Down Under Special Event Will Use Former Radio Australia Antennas

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From ARRL Web: Over the March 14 – 15 weekend, members of the Shepparton and District Amateur Radio Club (SADARC) in Australia will be on the air as VI3RA (Radio Australia), connecting their transceivers to the curtain array and rhombic antennas at the former Radio Australia site in Shepparton. Radio Australia ceased transmitting from the site in 2017. VI3RA will operate on 40, 30, 20, 17, and 15 meters. [Full story]

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Operating / Youth

School Club Roundup, February 10-14, 2020

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Date(s): February 10-14, 2020 Objective: To exchange QSO information with club stations that are part of an elementary, middle, high school or college. Non-school clubs and individuals are encouraged to participate. Sponsored by the ARRL, its Hudson Division Education Task Force and and the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club (LIMARC) to foster contacts with and among school radio clubs. Award certificates will be issued for the following US and DX categories: Schools: Elementary, Middle/Intermediate/Junior High School, High School and College/University Non-school Clubs Individuals See http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup for full details.

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Affiliated Clubs / Operating

K1USN Radio Club QRV for “Freeze Your Butt Off”

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“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes on the K1USN mailing list:   Tomorrow we plan to operate outside at K1USN during the FYBO (Freeze Your Butt Off) [Winter QRP Sprint, 1400Z-2400Z, February 1, 2020]. I plan to bring my KX3 and will connect to one of the regular K1USN antennas. Can someone bring a large thermometer so that we can display the current outside temp?   All are  welcome to participate and to bring along your QRP portable radio/antenna to have some fun. As always, the coffee will be hot inside K1USN!   BTW, we usually keep things really simple and just do …

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Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net – Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 1000 AM EST

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

John O’Neill-K1JRO, ARES-DEC Healthcare Liaison, writes: Hello Everyone, Net Control for the February 1, 2020 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be K1JRO, John O’Neill. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:00 AM using the following repeaters in the order listed. 1. Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5 2. Marshfield Repeater 145.390 tone 67.0 3. W. Bridgewater 146.775 DCS 244 4. Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5 (For comments and 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 …

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