Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday September 8th, 2025 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all…

The September Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday September 8th, 2025 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. It is on the second Monday of the Month due to the Labor Day holiday on the first Monday of the month.

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 have several announcements for the net.

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
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Reminder: September 8th, 2025 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

Mike “Sparky” Leger, N1YLQ, ARES DEC – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:
 
Hello to all,
 
    This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that Monday evening, September 8th, 2025 is our first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, will be the next RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. 
 
  I will be unable to reliably be NCO for the Sector 2A net due to work requirements, so I am looking for someone to act as the Sector 2A NCO for the night. If no one is able to be NCO, I can try from my mobile radio in my vehicle as our town’s 9-1-1 system allows. 

     For those who participate in the WinLink net, please note that there is a different NCO noted for the WinLink net this month with messages being routed to KF1D with a copy to AB1PH. 
 
      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 may 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 is asked to please send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com <mailto: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 cannot 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!
 

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 – 

NCO: KF1D with copy to AB1PH

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: Net activity on this repeater has been hit and miss. Please report any activity.

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
Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph: 
 
*Winlink Net*
 
To participate:
– create a check-in form using the Winlink standard check-in form
– send via Winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. September 8th and before midnight EST September 9th
  (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to KF1D with a copy to AB1PH.
 
   I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to
check into sector nets from near-by sectors. 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.
 
    I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain
prepared as we close out the year for RACES/ARES operations. 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   <mailto:WC1MAB@gmail.comWC1MAB@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: 508_995_0203 

Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 9/8/25 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

Don Rolph, AB1PH, 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 Sep 2025, the MEMA RACES nets will be held on Mon Sep 8 at:

********************************************************************************
80 meter Voice net
*** Note new frequency of 3938 Khz ****

This is to avoid another established net
6:45 PM
Frequency: 3938 KHz working up until the first free frequency

Jeff N1JCM will be net control

*********************************************************************************
Region 2D VHF net:
7:30 PM ET 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 using WA1PLE will be net control.

********************************************************************************
HF 80 meters NBEMS net:
7:00 PM ET
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 AB1PH will be net control

*********************************************************************************
Winlink Net:
Bryan KF1D will be net control.
Send a winlink checkin form to KF1D, copy AB1PH, between 0600 Monday Sep 8 and 2400 Monday Sep 8.

We look forward to you checking in!

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

NE1PL operating from USS Massachusetts – September 20, 2025

The Uncommon Service to Nautical Radio club, NE1PL, will be operating from the USS Massachusetts in Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA on September 20, 2025 from 10:00AM ET to 3:30PM ET to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the launching of “Big Mamie” on September 23, 1941. They are looking for people who would like to operate on board the ship. Please contact KB1TEE for more details.

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 9/6/25 – 1000 AM

Jeff-N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:

Good Evening,

On Saturday September 6, 2025 the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

Home or alternative locations are also welcome to check into the net. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

We will use the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. West Bridgewater repeater 146.775 dcs 244
2. Attleboro Repeater 147.195 tone 127.3
3. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC:1, Sagamore 145.200 – 0.6M CC:10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC:11, East Falmouth 145.210 -0.600 CC:9, Martha’s Vineyard145.180 -0.600 CC:10, and Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC:12.
4. Sharon Repeater 146.865 tone 103.5
5. Simplex 147.420

We will then return to the West Bridgewater 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.

73,

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

Call for Volunteers for Harwich Cranberry Festival – September 12-14

Lemuel Skidmore, W1LEM, writes on the Barnstable ARC Mailing list that they are looking for volunteers for the Harwich Cranberry Festival – September 12-14:
 
We need people to help with setup and teardown, to meet and greet the public and discuss ham radio, to operate, and to have fun. Please let me know if you will be participating. Our location at the event is perfect: across from restrooms, next to the food trucks, and right at the entrance so we are very visible.
 
Event Location:
Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street
 
Tentative schedule:
Friday 9/12 10:00-14:00 (approximately) – Setup Part 1 (meet at the container, bring equipment and the tower trailer to the site, and set up as much as we can–maybe assemble the tribander)
Saturday 9/13 07:00-09:00 – Setup Part 2 (setup popup tent, radios, etc. maybe assemble the tribander, raise tower, etc.)
Saturday 9/13 09:00-16:00 – Operate, schmooze, and enjoy
Saturday 9/13 16:00-~16:30 – Shutdown for the day
Sunday 9/14 08:00-~16:00 – Setup, operate, schmooze, and enjoy
Sunday 9/14 16:00-~17:30 – Teardown, return equipment and tower trailer to the container
 
Staffing: 
Setup Parts 1 and 2:  5 to 6 people  minimum
Operation, etc.:  4 people on site at all times, preferably in 4 hour shifts (or whatever you are available to do
If interested, please contact Lem at BarnstableARC

WA3SWJ-10 RMS Gateway back online

Bruce Semple, WA3SWJ, writes on the Barnstable ARC Mailing list that his Winlink node is back online after a brief outage:

The WA3SWJ-10 RMS GW @ 145.030 is back online.
I’ve tested the bulk message send of 10 messages in the out box.
All 5 times WinLink Express would send them in groups of 5 at a time.

The problem turned out to be the mast mounted pre-amps T/R relay. For some reason (still to be investigated) is was not staying in transmit mode as long as it should have been. I was testing with a dummy load connected to the transmitter.
After removing the mast amp from the feedline all the bulk message test passed.

Bruce asks that if anyone is having issues to contact him.

Call for Volunteers, GOTA and Demo for “Celebrate Holliston,” September 20, 2025

New England Sci Tech logoMeg (PreTechnician) and Oliver, KC1TCM, write on the Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:

We’re hoping that we can get some extra hands and expertise for an upcoming event–Oliver, KC1TCM, will have a booth at the upcoming “Celebrate Holliston” event on 9/20/25 which is running from 10 AM-3 PM.  (setup 8:30, teardown after 3 PM).

He’s planning on doing a “Get On The Air” station and perhaps some satellite demonstrations.  We got fairly well rained out last year, so hoping the weather holds for this year!  We’ve applied for a special event call, so fingers crossed.
 
<…>

Thanks & 73,
Meg (PreTechnician) and Oliver (KC1TCM)
 

Eastern MA New Amateur Report for August 1, 2025

Here is the new ham report as of August 1, listing newly licensed hams. Club officials, please review the list and reach out to those in your footprint and invite, welcome them. To all: please welcome these folks when you hear them on local repeaters. Offer assistance as well!

Report for 2025-08-01

Mason P Gendron, KC1YAW – FCC
558 Pillsbury Rd
Ashby, MA 01431-1721

Richard Sherrard, KC1YCC – FCC
28 Oxbow Rd
Framingham, MA 01701-3692

Kurt L Rayner, KC1YAO – FCC
995 Pleasant St
Framingham, MA 01701-8853

Greyson Schaefers, KC1YAC – FCC
4 Cider Hill Ln
Sherborn, MA 01770-1400

Matthew M Schaefers, KC1YAA – FCC
4 Cider Hill Ln
Sherborn, MA 01770-1400

Daniel N Eckhouse, KC1YCI – FCC
30 Baker Bridge Rd
Lincoln, MA 01773-3105

Fred R Huettig, AC1UV – FCC
54 Wake Robin Rd
Sudbury, MA 01776-1772

Sean T St Hilaire, KC1YAQ – FCC
PO Box 324
Billerica, MA 01821-0324

Teresa L Robertson, KC1YAH – FCC
288 Littleton Rd Trlr 211
Chelmsford, MA 01824-3339

Daniel R Tang, KC1YCR – FCC
23 Elm St
Chelmsford, MA 01824-4209

Yiming Jiang, KC1YAL – FCC
12 Raven Rd
Wakefield, MA 01880-3469

Fang Yurui, KC1YBL – FCC
12 Raven Rd
Wakefield, MA 01880-3469

Christopher A Deflumeri, KC1YAR – FCC
56 Depot St
Westford, MA 01886-1932

Andrew Lee, KC1YCT – FCC
PO Box 3163
Woburn, MA 01888-2063

Nicholas D Charros, KC1WZQ – FCC
5 Barnstable Rd
Peabody, MA 01960-3403

Charles Z Smith, KC1WZM – FCC
19 Raymond Rd
Salem, MA 01970-5326

Henry H Zenzie, KC1YAB – FCC
36 Cross St
Dover, MA 02030-2211

Connor L Ameres, KC1WZY – FCC
3531 Washington St Unit 203
Boston, MA 02130-5236

Alexandru Gheorghiu, KC1WZL – FCC
80 Fawcett St Unit 309
Cambridge, MA 02138-1152

Konstantinos Maliaris, KC1YCK – FCC
945 Memorial Dr
Cambridge, MA 02138-6123

Charles Fracchia, KC1YCD – FCC
PO Box 22
Somerville, MA 02143-0001

Kevin Obrien, KC1WZJ – FCC
80 Yorktown St
Somerville, MA 02144-2425

Rameshwari Kothapalli, KC1YBE – FCC
143 Park Dr Apt 43
Boston, MA 02215-5160

Arne E Buck, AC1UT – FCC
356 California St
Newton, MA 02458-1054

Ryan Cooley, KC1YAJ – FCC
14 Ellicott St
Needham, MA 02492-3664

Simone D Brown, KC1WZT – FCC
181 Newton St
Weston, MA 02493-2338

Sajani Brown, KC1YCN – FCC
181 Newton St
Weston, MA 02493-2338

Parker M Leger, KC1YAE – FCC
1815 Falmouth Rd Apt A4
Centerville, MA 02632-3167

Volunteers Needed – 2025 Baystate Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay – Sunday, October 19, 2025

KA8SCP-Terry Stader, ARRL ARES Eastern MA District Emergency Coordinator for MEMA Region 1 RACES writes:

Hello fellow Amateur Radio operators,

The Baystate Marathon is now just over 70 days away…. Sunday October 19, 2025. This Lowell-centric event has been a great public service event for ham radio volunteers new and old. Rookie or long time veteran hams are needed. We are looking for approximately 25 volunteers to fully staff the event locations. Some locations are solo and others are a team effort. Our operational time period is from approximately 0700 until event completion (estimated 1400). Our assistance has been requested by Lowell Office of Emergency Management and Lowell Fire Department. The communications team will be employing Amateur Radio to provide this communications asset.

Once again we will be asking for volunteers to staff positions throughout the course to our Runner Accountability Net. No expected changes for years past, but if we can get over the “minimum” requirement, we will be putting as many as we can on the course. The map and course description can be found at https://www.baystatemarathon.com/course-map-descriptio

Race info may be found at http://baystatemarathon.com

Amateur Radio will be used for:

* Accountability Net: the purpose of this net is to coordinate with a race public information booth the status of runners who are unable to complete the race for any issue to any one is seeking this information.

Please contact me if you can assist or would like more information.

Please share with others that may be interested. This is a pretty laid back event and suitable for first time public event participation.

Please click on the this web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet: https://volunteersignup.org/MW9BF

Specific locations are identified but you can also let us know if you are open to any position. To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Thank you for considering this volunteering effort!

Sorry if you get duplicates of this message. Multiple groups are being sent this message.

Again, signup sheet: https://volunteersignup.org/MW9BF

Terry M. Stader – KA8SCP 
MEMA Region 1 RACES Officer
ARRL ARES Eastern MA District Emergency Coordinator for Region 1 RACES

High Altitude Balloon Launch Seeks Help with SSTV Reports

Drew Deskur, KA1M, writes:

I am Drew Deskur, KA1M, and I am the Director of the Kopernik Observatory, a public observatory and Informal STEM Education Center in Vestal, New York, in the ARRL Western New York Section in south central New York State.    www.kopernik.org
 
On Wednesday, August 13, Kopernik Observatory will be running a High Altitude Balloon camp for local high school students.  On the payload of the balloon, we will be running APRS (K2ZRO-9) for tracking and we will also be flying SSTV on 145.600 throughout the flight. We plan to launch hopefully between 10 to 10:30 AM (1400-1430 UTC) and the balloon should reach over 100,000 feet. In previous balloon flights, we have had APRS reports from up in Canada. Total flight time should be approximately 3 hours.

Please track the flight on aprs.fi and download the SSTV images if you are able to do so.  We would love to receive copies of images received from stations in the Northeast and elsewhere so we can share with the students how altitude matters on VHF.  Please send those images to k2zro@kopernik.org.   Thank you!

Drew Deskur  KA1M
Executive Director
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center
Look Up… Dream Big!

www.kopernik.org

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday August 4th, 2025 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all…

The August Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday August 4th, 2025 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 have several announcements for the net.

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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Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 8/4/25 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

Don Rolph, AB1PH, 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 Aug 2025, the MEMA RACES nets will be held on Mon Aug 4 at:

********************************************************************************
80 meter Voice net
6:45 PM
Frequency: 3930 KHz working up until the first free frequency

Jeff N1JCM will be net control

*********************************************************************************
Region 2D VHF net:
7:30 PM ET 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 using WA1PLE will be net control.

********************************************************************************
HF 80 meters NBEMS net:
7:00 PM ET
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 AB1PH will be net control

*********************************************************************************
Winlink Net:
Jon N1ILZ will be net control.
end a winlink checkin form to N1ILZ , copy AB1PH, between 0600 Monday Aug 4 and 2400 Monday Aug 4.

We look forward to you checking in!

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 8/2/25 – 1000 AM

Jeff-N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:

Good Evening,

On Saturday August 2, 2025 the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

Home or alternative locations are also welcome to check into the net. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

We will use the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. West Bridgewater repeater 146.775 dcs 244
2. Plymouth Repeater 146.685 tone 131.8
3. Attleboro Repeater 147.195 tone 127.3
4. Sharon Repeater 146.865 tone 103.5
5. Simplex 147.420

We will then return to the West Bridgewater 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.

73,

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

Bristol County RA POTA and Fox Hunt, Colt State Park, Bristol RI, August 3, 2024

BCRA/FRARA logoKevin Spratt, N1KJS, writes on the BCRA mailing list:
 
We are having our POTA and Fox Hunt this weekend at Colt State Park.  You have gotten an email announcing the location in Bristol, Rhode Island, and the time, 10:00 am.  Join us for the chance to get on the air with POTA and track down the micro Fox while in the Park.
 
You’ll also receive the updated August meeting announcement, which informs you that we are having a lunch meeting instead of the one on Monday.  So join us for lunch on August 9, 2025, in Somerset.  The lunch meeting is usually well attended, and we’d like to see as many new and established members as possible.  Please reach out to me with your reservations so that I can get the headcount to the venue.
 
Thanks again, and looking forward to seeing everyone.
 
Kevin Spratt, N1KJS
Vice President, BCRA

POTA Activation, Charles River State Reserve, Allston, August 2, 2025

Boston ARC logoJoe Chapman NV1W, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:

Friends,

Graham, N4GJS/G4NMD, and I will be doing a POTA outing on Saturday, August 2, starting at 2:30 pm at BARC’s usual POTA spot, Christian Herter Park in Allston, US-8405. Graham is visiting from the UK and will be around Boston until the middle of next month, and expects to return frequently in the future.

We’ll be at our usual spot, to the northwest of the main parking area (labelled “Christian Park Parking” on Google Maps). For pedestrians, the nearest crossing of Soldiers Field Road is the footbridge at Telford Street. Talkaround will be on the BARC simplex frequency, 147.420 MHz. If you are without a radio, my cell is 857-334-8136.

The area can be noisy, so bring headphones or earbuds. If you are a Technician and want to operate, let me know, and I’ll make sure we can put you on SSB on 10 meters. If you are planning to operate and have not yet signed up for the POTA program, you can sign up at https://parksontheair.com. If you do operate, please plan on submitting your logs as a courtesy to hunters.

It looks like the weather will be beautiful, though this being New England, that may change. After the activation, a group of us will probably head out to the Night Shift Beer Garden for a post-QRT beverage.

Joe Chapman NV1W / Secretary, Boston Amateur Radio Club.

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Exercise – Operation Summer Strike – Saturday 8/2/25 – 10 AM-1230 PM EDT

Hello to all…

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will conduct a section exercise on Saturday 8/2/25 from 10 AM-1230 PM dubbed “Summer Strike”. The exercise will practice similar skills as previous exercises conducted over the course of 2024 into 2025.

The detailed drill document can be seen at the following link:
https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EasternMA-ARES-Summer-Exercise-2025-V1.5-07-27-25.pdf

If necessary for any last minute critical changes, we will update the document by Friday 8/1/25 with those updates and note what the updates are here.

While we encourage participation by Eastern Massachusetts ARES members, RACES/AUXCOMM/USCG Auxiliary Operators and Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters, all are welcome to participate including those outside of the Eastern Massachusetts section.

Thanks in advance for your support of this exercise and 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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
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Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 7/12/25 – 1000 AM

Jeff-N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:

Good Evening,

On Saturday July 12, 2025 the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

Home or alternative locations are also welcome to check into the net. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

1. West Bridgewater repeater 146.775 dcs 244
2. Norwood Repeater 147.210 tone 100.0
3. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC:1, Sagamore 145.200 – 0.6M CC:10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC:11, East Falmouth 145.210 -0.600 CC:9, Martha’s Vineyard145.180 -0.600 CC:10, and Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC:12.
4. Sharon Repeater 146.865 tone 103.5
5. Simplex 147.420

We will then return to the West Bridgewater 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.

73,

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

Reminder: July 7th, 2025 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

Mike “Sparky” Leger, N1YLQ, ARES DEC – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:
 
Hello to all,
 
    This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that Monday evening, July 7th, 2025 is our first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, will be the next RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. 
 

  I will be unable to reliably be NCO for the Sector 2A net due to work requirements, so I am looking for someone to act as the Sector 2A NCO for the night.

     For those who participate in the WinLink net, please note that there is a different NCO noted for the WinLink net this month with messages being routed to KC1VMZ with a copy to AB1PH. 
 
      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 may 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 is asked to please send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com <mailto: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 cannot 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!
 

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 – 

NCO: KF1D with copy to AB1PH

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: Net activity on this repeater has been hit and miss. Please report any activity.

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
Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph: 
 
*Winlink Net*
 
To participate:
 
– create a check-in form using the Winlink standard check-in form
 
– send via Winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. July 7th and before midnight EST July 8th
  (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to KC1VMZ with a copy to AB1PH.
 
 I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to
check into sector nets from near-by sectors. 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.
 
I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain
prepared as we close out the year for RACES/ARES operations. 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   <mailto:WC1MAB@gmail.comWC1MAB@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: 508_995_0203