Operating – Page 17 – Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

KB1MGI Fox Active in Chelmsford, May 16, 2021

May 17, 2021March 17, 2023 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 16, 2021 at 1:37 PM:

I placed my UHF 432.300 MHz Fox transmitter at the George B B Wright Reservation at 120 Parker Road, Chelmsford. See attached Map pdf.

To activate the 432.300 MHz transmitter press DTMF tone 2 for two seconds. The fox will transmit a steady tone and CW ID for 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off for 15 minutes. then you need to press the DTMF tone 2 again to reactivate.

It should last a few days, but that depends on the amount of activations.

John, KB1MGI

Wright Reservation – Public Trail Map_201212071219187445

Foxhunting / Operating

KD1LE Fox is Operating in Westford, May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021March 17, 2023 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Stan Pozerski, KD1LE, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 14, 2021, 10:27 AM:

The fox is out as of 9:30 this morning. It is on the regular 146.565 MHz frequency transmitting every five minutes. Sending an * within five seconds of the end of transmission will halve the cycle time if you’re in range.

It was a beautiful morning for a walk, the trees and lilacs are in bloom and the turtles are sun bathing. But if you were thinking about a picnic lunch you are a few years too late. Since everyone found the intersection of Gould Road and Westford Road [in Westford, MA] last time it’s not a bad place to start.

Stan KD1LE

Operating / Technical

Topsfield Repeater Refurbished and QRV

May 11, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Warren Rothberg, W4WR/1 (ex-WB1HBB) writes:

The Pocahontas Radio Club (an informal group of old and new friends) and the owners and trustees (N1HSY and N1HOW) are pleased to announce that the Topsfield MA repeater (147.285 PL 100.0) has been completely rebuilt with a new tower, new antenna, new hardline, new weatherproof repeater enclosure and refurbished or replaced electronics. The “Pokeys” hold a ragchew net 7 days a week at 0830 EDT and all are welcome to join in at any time to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. Special thanks to Doug, N1LHP, and his many friends for their tireless work.

[Warren is a former Section Manager of New Hampshire, and a former New England Division Vice Director.]

Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox is Out and About in Westford

May 7, 2021March 17, 2023 - by k9hi - 1 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

May 4, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Fran 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

May 2, 2021 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Parks On The Air logo Fellow 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

May 2, 2021 - 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

May 2, 2021May 2, 2021 - 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
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Foxhunting / Operating

KD1D Fox Hiding in Westford, May 1, 2021

May 1, 2021March 17, 2023 - 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!

May 1, 2021May 17, 2021 - by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

**UPDATED ZOOM DETAILS FOR ALL REMAINING WORKSHOP TOPICS LISTED BELOW**

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:

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
Thursday Evening 5/27 – 800-900 PM – RF Exposure Rules Presentation Presenters: W1DAN-Dan Brown

Below are the Zoom Details for the Monday Evening 5/17/21, Thursday Evening 5/20/21, Saturday Morning 5/22/21, Monday Evening 5/24/21 and Thursday Evening 5/27/21 Workshop Topics: