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Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on June 4, 2021 at 1:11 PM
My father was a 30 year vet of the Army and I (knowing better) joined the Air Force. If that is not enough of a hint, email me for more. Standard 146.565 MHz TX with a voice ID every 40 seconds or so. There is a log to sign nearby. Good luck to all!
73,
Barry, W1HFN
p.s. — I forgot to mention–it’s in the Westford area.
“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes in K1USN Happenings, June 3, 2021:
The K1USN club station will be on the air this weekend beginning on Friday [June 5, 2021] @ 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC) @ 85 Quincy Ave, Braintree, MA. We expect to have three HF stations running on SSB/CS as well FT8/4. Operators will be needed to enable us to remain on the air as much as possible during the weekend.
As many of you already know, Museum Ships Weekend was begun by the K1USN Radio Club back in 1997 and has become a very popular annual event. All organizational details are now handled by the NJ2BB crew aboard the Battleship New Jersey and we are pleased to continue to support their efforts by activating K1USN each year.
Activity on the bands has grown over the years and there are many home stations competing to make contacts with as many of the participants as possible during the weekend. Larry, W1VP, has created a cool DX Summit search tool which will go live this weekend.
This search tool will show a real time flow of MSW participant cluster spots to enable you to track them down. The DX Summit filtered feed will be available from www.k1usn.com.
As I said, we will be needing operators so please let me know if you have some available time to either operate or just to drop by to check out K1USN in action during this weekend. […] Please drop me a note to let me know that you plan to operate and what day/hours/modes you wish to operate at pi.k1rv@gmail.com.
Locally, Mike, W1USN, WA1MD & Bob, AA1M plan to activate the USS Cassin Young as WW2DD. [See: USS Cassin Young WW2DD QRV for Museum Ships Weekend, June 5-6, 2021]
Rick, KB1TEE , WI1G, WA1MAD and crew will be activating the USS Massachusetts from Battleship Cove using the callsign NE1PL. Watch for all of them on the Cluster.
The USS Cassin Young, WW2DD, will be among the museum ship stations on the air for Museum Ships Weekend. Volunteers will activate the famous Fletcher-class destroyer, DD-793. Plans are to operate on 20 and 40 meters SSB and some digital modes.
According to Wikipedia, the Cassin Young served as a part of the Fast Carrier Task Force. On April 28, 1944, this force sortied for air attacks on Japanese strongholds at Truk, Woleai, Satawan, and Ponape, during which Cassin Young operated as a picket ship, assigned to warn her group of possible enemy counterattack.
The ship is on permanent loan to the National Park Service. She is berthed at the Boston Navy Yard, part of the Boston National Historical Park in Charlestown.
The Norfolk County Radio Association is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a special event operation from 0000 UTC June 5 to 2359 UTC June 12, 2021 on the suggested frequencies of 3.825, 7.225, 14.235, 21.285, and 28.325 MHz as well as other frequencies at the discretion of club members. Club members will operate their own stations using the club call W1AGR during this operating event. A special QSL will be available with an SASE to the club station trustee, K1HC, 422 Everett Street, Westwood, MA 02090.
The club had its beginnings in Norwood, MA in 1921 when a group of young radio amateurs gathered to exchange ideas and help each other build their home-made radio equipment. It originally became affiliated with the ARRL two years later, in 1923. The club grew to include hams from local area towns and then re-organized in 1932, calling themselves the Norfolk County Radio Association. The spirit of those early years continues today; its members are always ready to help others and mentor new hams getting started in amateur radio. NCRA members have made memorable contributions to amateur radio in technology and communications, including support for various public service needs such as municipal events, SKYWARN reporting, Red Cross, and local disaster training.
Congratulations to the Norfolk County Radio Association for reaching this historic milestone.
From the ARRL Letter, May 27, 2021:
CWops has designated the K1USN Radio Club as the 2021 recipient of its Award for Advancing the Art of CW. As CWops noted in making the announcement, the K1USN Radio Club has created and managed the K1USN Weekly Slow Speed Test (SST) that provides a place for new and unpracticed CW operators to gather and operate at relaxed speeds in a friendly and encouraging manner that helps them continue to improve their CW skills.
The Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Communication Committee writes:
Volunteer registration for the 125th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday October 11th, 2021 will open on Wednesday June 16th 2021 at 1000 AM EDT. Additional information can be seen on the hamradioboston.org web site at the following link:
Boston Marathon Volunteer Registration Date Announcement
Additional details will be posted as we draw closer to the volunteer registration date.
I placed the KD1D Fox out this morning. As usual, it transmits a 30 second message every 60 seconds on 146.565 MHz FM.
It is located in Westford Conservation land named after an aquatic mammal once highly prized for making men’s hats.
The Fox can be heard along Concord Rd somewhere between the 99 Restaurant and the railroad crossing at Forge Village. A good place to take a bearing might be near the Robinson School or the old cemetery at the corner of Concord Rd and Country Rd (Interesting, but useless fact – Country Rd used to be called Cemetery Rd, but that tended to “spook” the real estate folks, so it was changed.)
Happy Hunting and 73 de KD1D
From https://bcra.club/bcrawprel/fox-hunting/:
The next BCRA Fox Hunt has been scheduled on Saturday, May 22, 2021.
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.
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 Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM with a 5 watt signal and will transmit 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence. The hunt will last until 2:00 pm or until all checked in participants have found the transmitter, whichever comes first.
The Fox will be located within a 10 mile radius of the intersection of President Avenue (Rt. 6) and North Main Street in Fall River. ( Latitude 41.7159 Longitude -71.1510 )
The 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!
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
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.]
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://
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
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
Fellow WARS members and friends:
WHO: Anyone interested in Ham Radio. No need to be a licensed ham operator. No need to be a hiker.
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
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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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!
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:
Rob Macedo is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ARES Workshop Topic: Go-Kits
Time: May 17, 2021 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87570553300?pwd=L3QvL0x0cWw0bGRmYVgzeFE0ZHQ0QT09
Meeting ID: 875 7055 3300
Passcode: 680020
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,87570553300#,,,,*680020# US (New York)
+13017158592,,87570553300#,,,,*680020# US (Washington DC)
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 875 7055 3300
Passcode: 680020
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kwN3oUDGQ
Rob Macedo is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ARES Workshop Topic: National Traffic System (NTS)
Time: May 20, 2021 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86239795511?pwd=cjU0Qllndk9Fb1M2TXVWRFlsVmpJQT09
Meeting ID: 862 3979 5511
Passcode: 426249
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,86239795511#,,,,*426249# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,86239795511#,,,,*426249# 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: 862 3979 5511
Passcode: 426249
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kpKxQme7t
Rob Macedo is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ARES Workshop Topic: Winlink and VARA
Time: May 22, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84497455727?pwd=SmFPWWFLbEoyZFFPSm1qZ00wS25hZz09
Meeting ID: 844 9745 5727
Passcode: 582282
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,84497455727#,,,,*582282# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,84497455727#,,,,*582282# 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: 844 9745 5727
Passcode: 582282
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keKsYbIiV
Rob Macedo is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ARES Workshop Topic: Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System (NBEMS)
Time: May 24, 2021 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84736841024?pwd=NlRrSm9uRUFGQ28xQnpKdm9XdjdtUT09
Meeting ID: 847 3684 1024
Passcode: 199764
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,84736841024#,,,,*199764# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,84736841024#,,,,*199764# 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: 847 3684 1024
Passcode: 199764
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/knWNuOrqo
Rob Macedo is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ARES Workshop Topic: RF Exposure Rules
Time: May 27, 2021 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81696588548?pwd=ZHNDUmh3Nk5IeEQwa0hqY3hKYzYzZz09
Meeting ID: 816 9658 8548
Passcode: 845025
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81696588548#,,,,*845025# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,81696588548#,,,,*845025# 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: 816 9658 8548
Passcode: 845025
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kqkGWdOTV
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
The 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.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)