Operating
Operating, on-the-air events and activities, contests, DXing
K1USN QRV for Veterans Day, November 11, 2021
“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes in K1USN Happenings:
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

Northeastern University Wireless Club Active in 2021 ARRL CW Sweepstakes
The Northeastern University Wireless Club (W1KBN) in Boston was QRV in this past weekend’s ARRL CW Sweepstakes Contest. YCCC member Marty Sullaway, NN1C, spent “a few hours playing around between homework assignments and such.” He adds, “[It was] fun to try out our new JK Antennas MidTri-40. Considering we are located in downtown Boston, we seem to hear okay, and I felt loud.”
Marty worked a total of 265 stations and 84 sections for a score of 44,520.
Technician Parks On The Air Event, Blue Hills Reservation, November 20, 2021
The Boston Amateur Radio Club is hosting a Technician Class POTA day on November 20th at Chickatawbut Hill. Included is a press release for you to include in your club newsletter should you see fit. All hams are welcome to attend. Boston Amateur Radio Club Announces a Technician POTA Day, November 20th 10:30 am.
The Boston Amateur Radio Club will host a Parks On The Air (POTA) event with a special invitation to Technician license holders and new hams on November 20th, 2021. The event will take place in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton at the Mount Chickatawbut summit. We will attempt to “activate” the park according to POTA rules using VHF, UHF, and the Technician
segments of the HF bands.
Bring your handheld and any other radio you want to try out on the summit. The club will provide some power sources and a few different antennas for you to experiment with.
You will also have an opportunity to operate on six and ten meters. Brendan, NW1S, and Joe, NV1W, will be on hand to answer questions and help introduce you to amateur radio in the great outdoors. There will even be prizes for accomplishments things like most contacts made, farthest contact, and most Technician bands used. Afterwards there will be a social event of food and drinks. You may park at a lower parking lot and hike the short path to the summit. The Boston Amateur Radio club is attempting to organize a car to bring those who cannot or wish to not walk the distance to the summit. Further information on the Blue Hills can be found at https://friendsofthebluehills.org.
Please email Brendan, NW1S at nw1s.brendan@gmail.com if you’re planning to attend.
Join us at the 110 Grill in Braintree afterwards for some food and drinks! Please include in your email if you will be joining us at 110 Grill so we can make a proper reservation.
We look forward to seeing you at the summit! Updates on the Tech POTA Day can be found at BARC.org, and @W1BOS on Facebook and Twitter.
Do you want to participate without making the trek up Mount Chickatawbut? You can hunt our operators on Saturday. Look for us on the POTA.app spot page, the @W1BOS Twitter or on the National Calling Frequencies. We invite your club to get on the Air with our Technicians and test out your VHF and UHF Equipment.
# # #
KD1D Fox is Out and About in Westford, November 6, 2021
The KD1D Fox decided it would be a good day to test our direction-finding skills.
As usual, the Fox is transmitting on 146.565 MHz FM at about 50 mW, with a 20-30 second message repeating every 60 seconds.
The transmitter is somewhere in the vicinity of the Stone Arch Trail in Westford, MA.. For additional information and a map of the area, check out:
https://
For additional guidance, email me at kd1d@arrl.net
73 and good hunting from KD1D, Alan
K1MJC Fox is On the Loose in Waltham, November 5, 2021
Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:45 PM on November 5, 2021:
Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out yet again!
Well, I checked the weather and decided to take a chance it’s looking OK, perhaps maybe a bit chilly and some clouds Sunday afternoon.
The fox is in somewhere in an area within the City limits of Waltham, MA.
I’ve decided to up my game, and placed in such a way so as to limit your Prospects in finding it!
As usual, it will be retrieved before Sundown Sunday.
One of The maps on this page would prove useful!
https://walthamlandtrust.org/
Happy hunting!
Saturday November 6,2021 Eastern MA Hospital Net
John O’Neill – K1JRO writes:
Good afternoon Everyone,
Net Control for the November 6, 2021 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH the South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group. The net will commence at the usual time of 10: AM using the following repeaters / frequencies in the order listed.
1. W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
2. Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
3. Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0
4. DMR on the NEDECN Boston, Hingham, Bourne, Dennis, and Martha’s Vineyard repeaters. TG:8851 TS:1
The Net will then return to the W. Bridgewater Repeater for final 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 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 or EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member 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 joining the group please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com. 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 the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters is available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month. More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.
Repeaters
Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2
Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
Mansfield EMA 446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 131.8
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2
We look forward to hearing from you all on the Net.
Respectfully,
John O’Neill – K1JRO
_._,_._,_
WC1N: POTA Activation, Fort Phoenix State Reserve, K-8409, October 30, 2021
Bob Farquharson, WC1N, South Easton, MA, is operating from Fort Phoenix State Reserve in New Bedford (K-8409) for Parks On The Air. He was last heard on 7.060 MHz at 15:09 UTC, according to pota.app. ARRL School Club Roundup, Runs Through October 22, 2021
Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, writes on the Yankee Clipper Contest Club mailing list:
We can encourage new hams and budding contesters right now by working them in the School Club Roundup presently underway. I coached a 5th grader through more than 50 QSOs Monday night at the New England Sci-Tech station, W1STR.
The roundup started Monday and runs through through 2359 UTC Friday. W1STR will be active again Friday at 6 PM local, and CW counts for double points. If you hear them on phone, consider asking for a CW QSO also – the kids there are interested in CW.
Please consider tuning around the bands and spotting all the school clubs you can find.
de KM1P Joe
Adams National Park K-0725, Quincy, Activated for POTA
Rusty Moore, K1FVK, writes:Bristol County RA Fox Hunt (Two Foxes), Vicinity of Fall River, MA, October 23, 2021
Fox Hunt #3 of 2021 This hunt will include 2 Foxes. The first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM
When:
Saturday, October 23, 2021
10:00am to 3:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New York
Where:
The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).
Organizer: Skip Denault and Jay Hodkinson Skip – kb1cnb@bcra.club and Jay – kb1nyt@bcra.club. Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.
View Event
Description:
NOTICE NEW DETAILS BELOW WITH A NEW CHALLENGE!
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.
The here will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and one by KB1NYT, Jay. When you find one of the foxes, you will 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 first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second 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 3:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.
The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).
The first Fox (in my vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and will 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.
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!
Public Service Event: Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) 2021 Call for Volunteers – Friday 10/22/21-Sunday 10/24/21
KC1AEI-Matt Knowles writes:
Hi all!
I’m passing along this message in hopes that there are some more amateur
radio operators interested in volunteering at the 2021 Head of the
Charles with special attention for those willing to work on safety
launch boats.
In keeping with the theme of creating a safe environment to hold W1R,
the World’s #1 Regatta, and after consulting with a team of experts from
Massachusetts General Hospital, we’ve updated our COVID-19 guidelines.
Only individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be
eligible to volunteer. We may require proof of vaccination closer to
race weekend. “Fully vaccinated” individuals are those who have received
two doses of an mRNA vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna) or a single dose
of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, with at least two weeks having elapsed
since the final dose. A third “booster” dose is not required for
participation.
Perks of volunteering: A nice Vineyard Vines quarter zip, branded with
the Head of the Charles Regatta logo. You’ll also get a boxed lunch
delivered to you (or to the dock where a safety launch can come in and
pick up), and gluten free and vegetarian options are available. Aside
from that, all I can offer is a fun day on or near the water with a
great crew of volunteers!
Here is the link for Regatta Central.
https://volunteer.regattacentral.com/hocr/browse This is where you will
go to register to volunteer.
There are lots of exciting updates about this year’s event being posted
on social media, so be sure to like and/or follow Head of the Charles
Regatta on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hocr1965/, Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HOCR1965 , and Twitter https://twitter.com/HOCR
to stay in the loop. If there are any questions with this, please send
them my way and I’ll answer them to the best of my ability. I know that
this is short notice, and I appreciate your consideration and hope to
hear from you. Thanks!
Matt Knowles
KC1AEI
Matt Knowles <matthewsknowles@gmail.com>
Possible JOTA Effort at Southeastern MA ARA, October 15-17, 2021
Doug Belcher, KC1NFL, writes on the Southeastern MA ARA mailing list:
This coming weekend 10/15-17 is the Scouting World Wide Jamboree On The Air and Internet. There will be scouts from all over the world tying to connect with each other. Are there any members who would be able to help me get the Scouts on the Air this Friday from 5-8 at the club? I will also be having a Zoom session with Rob Macedo to go over SKYWARN, ARES, and RACES. I’m hoping to get some new hams out of this by offering HT Baofengs to any scout who gets their Tech license.
73!
Doug Belcher
KC1NFL
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Report – September Through Early October 2021
Hello to all…
This is the second in a series of monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES reports that we have published on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES web site and will redistribute via the ARRL Section News provided we can meet the Section News deadline with our report. In the future, we plan to include additional statistical information on number of SKYWARN and ARES activations, total number of ARES members in the section as well as a narrative report in key happenings in Eastern Massachusetts ARES. We hope everyone finds these reports informative.
As this ARES report is being written, the 125th running of the Boston Marathon will take place on Monday 10/11/21. We thank all Amateur Operators and those that are Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters and ARES members for their participation in race day despite COVID and dealing with the COVID precautions. We wish everyone a great and fun race day on Marathon Monday. Also upcoming for public service events are the Baystate Marathon and the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Eastern Massachusetts ARES has lost a key member of its staff. Metro Boston ARES District Emergency Coordinator, K1BTH-Blake Haskell is now a silent key along with his wife Deb Haskell. Eastern Massachusetts ARES honored Blake with a last call on the October Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net and on many of the RACES nets that took place. The ARES Net and Sector 2 RACES Net last calls were recorded and can be heard here:
https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Sector_2C_RACES_Net_K1BTH-Blake-Tribute.mp3
https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Eastern_Mass_ARES_Net_K1BTH-Blake-Tribute.wav
The Eastern Massachusetts ARES staff will review his vacancy and announce a replacement over the course of the next 1-2 months. Our sincerest condolences are extended to the friends and family of Blake and his wife Deb and to all in the Amateur Radio and Public Safety community that knew them.
The month of September after Labor Day was a bit less active from an ARES-SKYWARN perspective as the weather pattern changed allowing for less activations. Nonetheless, the weather pattern remained fairly wet across the region with 6 self-activations for SKYWARN during the period mostly for heavy rainfall events but also for isolated severe thunderstorms on 3 of the self-activation for SKYWARN. More information on the larger activations with post storm reports and photos from the 2021 tropical and severe weather season will be posted on wx1box.org over the course of the next week.
ARES/SKYWARN members from across the country including Eastern Massachusetts support the VoIP Hurricane Net as Hurricane Larry made landfall in Newfoundland Canada. Details on this activation can be seen here:
https://ema.arrl.org/2021/09/16/voip-hurricane-net-lauded-for-efforts-during-hurricane-larry/
As we go through the month of October, the threat of direct impacts of tropical systems to our region is less as water temperatures cool but strong hybrid coastal storms become a potential concern. Given the continued very wet weather pattern of the last few months, we will need to monitor this potential for both SKYWARN and ARES activations.
Eastern Massachusetts ARES will conduct its Simulated Emergency Test (SET) coincident with the national Winlink exercise on Saturday 11/13/21 from 1000 AM-1200 PM. Further details will be posted on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES/ARRL section web site towards late October.
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 (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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K1MJC Fox is On the Loose in Waltham, October 8, 2021
Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 2:40 PM on October 8, 2021:
Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out yet again!
Got out of work early, so it’s out early.
Well, I checked the weather and decided to take a chance it’s looking OK, perhaps maybe some sprinkles Sunday afternoon.
The fox is in somewhere in a conservation area within the city limits of Waltham, MA.
I don’t want to give away the store, but it is within one I have placed it before!
As usual, it will be retrieved before sundown Sunday; if raining, sometime Monday. Maybe the batteries will last until at least Monday morning.
One of the maps on this page would prove useful!
https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/
Happy hunting!
Mike C. K1MJC 73
p.s. — If the clue is way too vague, I can usually be found on the Waltham UHF repeater, input 444.0750, output 449.0750, tone in 88.5, tone out , none.
Baystate Marathon/Half-Marathon support Sunday October 17, 2021
KA8SCP-Terry Stader, MEMA Region 1 RACES Radio Officer & ARES District Emergency Coordinator writes:
I apologize for this late notice on this.
Amateur Radio operators have been asked once again to support the Baystate Marathon and Half Marathon. This year the event is on Sunday, October 17th. 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.
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.
Race info may be found at http://baystatemarathon.com. Course map is found at https://www.baystatemarathon.com/course-map-description-spectator-info
Please contact me if you are able to 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.
Terry-KA8SCP
Terry M. Stader – KA8SCP
MEMA Region 1 RACES Officer
EMA District Emergency Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday October 4th, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network
Hello to all…
The October Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday October 4th, 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:
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. For this month’s ARES Net, we will be doing a “last call” for Metro Boston ARES District Emergency Coordinator, Boston Amateur Radio Club member, town of Hull RACES/Communications Officer, friend and Amateur Radio Operator, K1BTH-Blake Haskell who became a silent key Thursday 9/30/21. We will also announce our plan to conduct our Eastern Massachusetts ARES SET (Simulated Emergency Test) drill for Saturday 11/13/21 from 1000 AM-1200 PM along with several other announcements.
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
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W0MXX Balloon Launch, Cummington, MA, October 2, 2021
Seth Kendall writes on the STARS mailing list:
Max [W0MXX] and family are tentatively targeting a launch of our latest high altitude balloon on:
Saturday, Sept. 25th October 2, 2021
TENTATIVE launch location: Around Stafford, CT Cummington, MA
Note: This will change on the morning of launch, so keep an eye out for posts!
Launch prep begins at 9:30 am with a launch time at around Noon.
(If Saturday is scrubbed, we will shoot for Sunday, and if that’s scrubbed, then next weekend. We will try to keep this thread updated.)
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Pick and choose from…
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Come to the Launch!
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We start our prep at 9:30 am and aim to launch by noon.
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Keep an eye on our posts on the morning of launch for an updated location.
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Stream the prep and launch action for those that can’t make it using your phone. We’ve never done this before, but always been interested, since most people aren’t able to come in person. Our discord server has a Voice Hangout section that could be used for this, though we’re fine with any platform. (this is not expected if you show up haha, just a fun idea)
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Track the balloon online!
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https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%
2FW0MXX-11&timerange=3600& tail=3600 -
This gives live updates directly from the transmitter.
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This is very useful for us, because it will give a predicted landing location. As it gets close to landing, we can really benefit from people tracking it here, and letting us know where to look. You can post locations here on groups.io, or if you are tracking it live and able to talk, give us your phone number to keep in touch while we’re on the road.
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Join our discord server for the most frequent updates. We’d love to have you there in general as we work on weather balloons and try to troubleshoot problems! It’s especially useful on launch day though.
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Step 1 – Make a Discord account: http://discord.com/app
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Step 2 – Join our server. This invite will expire in 7 days:
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Watch this thread on groups.io, or better yet, track the balloon and contribute to it!
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Come track the landing beacon!
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Bring your 2m mag mount antenna, SDR, and laptop (with wifi access – we use our phone as a mobile hotspot), and try to pick up those final beacons just before (or after) it hits the ground (read: tree). This can really help us to pinpoint where it actually landed.
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Max will post tomorrow with more details about using HDSDR and Direwolf to receive, decode, and publish the GPS data online.
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Keep up to date on the predicted landing location using tracker.habhub.org (above) or just tuning into others’ posts on our Discord or groups.io. I’m not sure where people will post, but we find Discord easier for these kinds of things.
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Come help us physically search for and recover it.
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Keep up to date on landing location via groups.io
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We’ll agree on a meeting point from which to conduct the search.
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Bring some basic survival stuff
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Boots, bug spray, water, etc.
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Bring your handheld to maintain contact during the search!
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We have a slingshot, and are trying to grab a fishing reel in time in order to try and fish it out of a tree should the cutdown system not work. If you have any other tools you think could help with that, bring em!
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If you are a tree climber, bring your gear! We’ll put you to use!
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Updated prediction: http://predict.habhub.org/#!/uuid= 7e1987bee1795b91160557b9fc03b8 6a1526161a We’ve seemed to zero into a final launch location:William Cullen Bryant Homestead207 Bryant RdCummington, MA 01026
KD1D Fox is Transmitting, Westford, MA, October 1, 2021
The KD1D Fox is on the air: 146.565 MHz FM, transmitting for about 20-30 seconds every 60 seconds
You may be able to hear it from the Westford Town Common (Boston Road and Main Street), but you may have better luck taking a bearing from the park near the top of Parkhurst Drive.
The approximate location is One of the Conservation Lands listed at:
https://
73 and Happy Hunting from Alan, KD1D


Stephen Johnson, KC1HO, writes on the W1ATD Marshfield Facebook page: