Operating

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Operating / Public Information / Youth

Western MA ARISS School Contact Draws ARRL Staffers, State, Local Officials

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARISS logoARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology alumnus Mariusz Zielinski, KB1MDS, invited ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC, Lifelong Learning Administrator Ally Riedel, KM3ALF, and ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, to witness an exciting November 2 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, Massachusetts, where Zielinski teaches. [Full story]

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

November 3, 2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net Announcement

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

John O’Neill-K1JRO writes:

Good Morning Everyone,

Net Control for the November 3,2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club . The net will commence at the usual time of 10:AM using the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
2. Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
3. Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
4. Simplex 147.42

The Net will then return to the Attleboro 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.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many 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 are 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.

REMINDER: The BARC Repeater is now using split tone. Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0

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 you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John O’
K1JRO
– – –
South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
55 Fogg Road, Box 42
South Weymouth, MA 02190

Operating

W1HFN Fox Deployed in Littleton, October 20, 2018

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the fox hunting list:

The W1HFN fox was deployed at the Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve (in Littleton) at 10:30 AM Sat 20 Oct, see link:

https://littletonconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/hartwell-family-memorial-preserve/

The fox broadcasts continually on 146.565 with a 20 second voice ID every minute.  The battery pack is freshly charged and should last 4 1/2 days.

Happy hunting!

Operating

KC1DKY Fox Deployed in Billerica, October 19, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nicholas J. Mollo, KC1DKY, writes on the fox hunter list on October 19, 2018 at 1:07 PM:

With the crisp autumn air and changing leaves, what a great time to get out on a trail and find a fox!  The KC1DKY fox is out in Billerica on conservation and recreation land.  It’s a nice quarter of a mile walk from the parking location, if you go to the right trail head.  The fox is less than 50 feet from the trail.  Fox frequency is 146.565 MHz.  Transmit a DTMF tone of 1 to activate the fox.  It will jingle for 30 seconds and be quiet for 15 seconds.  This will repeat for 20 minutes.  It should be available until middle next week.  If you happen to be in the right location and it does not active, try transmitting a few # tones, but only if you are in the correct general area and still cannot seem to turn it on.

Good luck!

******SPOILER ALERT*****

daeh liart daor evoc elbert

tserof etats acirellib

 

Operating

N1Y / USS Cassin Young 75th Anniversary Special Events Operation, October 20-21, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

USS Cassin Young/ WW2DDPi Pugh, K1RV, Mike Rioux, W1USN, along with other members of the USS Cassin Young Radio Club will activate the USS Cassin Young as N1Y from 0900-1600 ET at the Boston National Historical Park on October 20-21, 2018.

K1RV will be on CW using his KX3/KPA100 rig and one of the existing shipboard verticals.  CW operation will be primarily on 14.050 and 7.050 MHz. SSB operation will occur on 14.250 and 7.225 MHz.

This event is held in conjunction with the National Park Service and US Navy to recognize the 75th Anniversary of the Commissioning of the USS Cassin Young DD 793, a World War II Fletcher-class destroyer, and the birthday of the United States Navy. The USS Cassin Young is located at the Boston National Historical Park (HP-04) in Charlestown, MA.

Operating

YCCC members Plan DXpedition to HQ for ARRL DX SSB

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Three YCCC members will operate on Roatan Island (NA-057) for the ARRL DX SSB contest in February, 2019.

“This will be a [Multi-operator, Multi-transmitter] operation, probably as HQ9X,” writes Paul Young, K1XM. He, along with Charlotte Richardson, KQ1F, and Marty Sullaway, KC1CWF, will make the trek to the Caribbean island, situated 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras.  They’re looking for one more operator.

Paul plans to combine his DX/contesting with a few days of scuba diving. “The villa is a nice place and suitable for non-hams,” he writes.

Clubs / Operating

Harvard Wireless Club QRV in School Club Roundup

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Harvard Wireless Club official shieldBill Collins, W1PL, writes on the Harvard Wireless Club mailing list:

The School Club Roundup will run [October 15] from Monday at 9 AM until [October 19] at 8 PM. We will announce through this website when we are operating. I plan on operating Monday 9 or 10 AM to 2 PM. If anybody wants to stop by during our operation the main operator will leave their contact information on this list. Stop by, make at least one contact, and you will be in the log as representing Harvard in this contest, and also receive a certificate of participation. Not sure about Tuesday, but Wednesday and Thursday, President Benjamin Lee should be on.

Station power will be left on throughout the contest, except for the antenna switch turned off and the linear amplifier power turned off (you may have to reboot the computer in the morning).

Most action is usually on 20 meters during the day, at night, 40 meters. Power should be kept down to 500 watts or less. Antenna: Europe might be good in the AM (70 degrees east), will fade in the afternoon. Check 15 and 10 meters periodically, as there *might* be some action there. In the afternoon, I suggest to point 270 degrees west. From Noon to 4 PM there may be 15, 10 meter openings to the west coast. After the sun sets (6 PM), 10 and 15 will be dead, and 20 will follow shortly. Any ops after this, use the 40/80 antenna, keeping the power down 300/350 watts or so.

Hope to see you there! 

Clubs / Operating / Public Information / Youth

Falmouth ARA QRV for JOTA

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationThe Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will participate in the 61st annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The JOTA event will occur at Falmouth’s Gus Canty Recreation Center at 790 Main Street, from 10 AM-5 PM.

FARA members hope to show all attendees (specifically any Scout–boy or girl) what ham radio has to offer and get them on the air.

Volunteers are needed to operate several stations as demos and to get folks on the air:

  • CW station
  • HF voice (SSB)
  • Digital (likely PSK31) with a big screen
  • 2m HT and/or mobile

For more information, visit http://www.falara.org/announcements/jamboreeontheairjotaoctober20.

Clubs / Operating

Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC to Commemorate 40th Anniversary

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARCSturdy Memorial Hospital ARC members will operate special event station W1S to commemorate the club’s 40th anniversary on November 10, 2018 from 11 AM-10 PM and November 11, 2018 from 11 AM-5 PM. Everyone is welcome to operate from the club station.

“Please try to attend this meeting to volunteer your time to operate,” writes club secretary Ray Cord, K2TGX.  “Even if you are a Tech we will have a General or Extra to work with you. It is not a high pressure contest. We are just making contacts to celebrate our 40-year history. This is a great learning experience for HF operating. If you absolutely can’t make the [October 16] meeting please email me with the hours that you can operate.”

The club was formed in the aftermath of the Blizzard of 1978, when members with Sturdy Memorial Hospital served their community with emergency communications.

UPDATE: See https://www.qrz.com/db/w1s for times/modes of operation. 

Emergency Communications / Operating

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net for Saturday 10/6/18

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to All,

Net Control for the October 6, 2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH, The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:00 AM using the following repeaters in the order listed and last approximately 1 hour.

1.Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
2 Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0
3.Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Simplex 147.42

The Net will then return to the Sharon 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 yours 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.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control. If you are interested please contact us at the email address listed above. Our goal is to rotate Net Control throughout the year among as many 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 are 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.

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 you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
55 Fogg Road, Box 42
South Weymouth MA 02190

Operating

W1HFN Fox Deployed, Littleton, October 4, 2018

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the foxhunting list at 12:52 PM on October 4, 2018:

At 12 noon today, Thursday, Oct 4th, I deployed the fox in the George and Lucy Lapp Conservation land off Newtown Road in Littleton. The frequency is 146.565, constantly running, and a voice ID of 20 seconds every minute. NO PI within a 100 ft diameter circle of the hide.

Good luck!

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net for October – Monday 10/1/18 at 830 PM on MMRA Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

We will be continuing our monthly ARES Net in October. The monthly ARES Net for October is Monday the 1st, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety), interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA
A brief introduction to ATIS can be found at: https://www.vatsim.net/pilot-resource-centre/general-lessons/understanding-atis

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ema.arrl.org/ares

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

Emergency Communications / Operating

Operation Equinox – Portable HF Ops Event Update – 9/28/18

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Cape Ann ARES Emergency Coordinator KA1BTK-Gardi Winchester II, writes:

All:

‘Operation Equinox’ is definitely taking on a life of its own! From it’s humble beginnings as a suggestion that we try setting up a CAARA member’s new portable antenna mast to an event almost as big as Field Day itself, it has blossomed in just five days! The ideas have come down so fast that I just can’t keep up with administering it! With the numbers of people who are informed and planning to attend, I doubt making many QSOs are going to be likely.

But that is not what it’s all about!

As of right now, the basic plan is for a portable equipment test and set-up practice of our (your) remote emergency communications response plans, on a more individual level, as opposed to Field Day exercises that run more at a club level. We’ve been ‘dodging the bullet’ as of late, and the latest hurricane, Florence, was certainly a big Red-Flag. There are still areas of the Carolinas and Virginia that are relying on Amateur Radio communications for life support.

Are YOU ready?

So, come and bring your Go-Kits and exercise your emergency operations plans and test your equipment for readiness, Check out the plans of other Hams and maybe get some new and fresh ideas. Help us show the public what Ham Radio can do for their safety and well-being, and show newer Hams what the craft holds with higher license grades.

While there has been very little time to plan for this event, we’re sort of ‘winging-it’ this year. But, that works a bit in our favor, as a real emergency will give very little time to prepare and may give a more accurate assessment of our responses. Plans and possibilities for future events are endless!

Hope to see you there!

Operation Equinox:
Sunday, September 30th
12:00 Noon until 5:00PM +
Hospital Hill, Top of Summit Ave.
Rockport, MA, 01966

Semper Paratus! & 73’s ___________________#\____

Gardner H. Winchester II, KA1BTK, ARRL EC Cape Ann

“The most important tool for disaster recovery is communication”.
gardiw2@gmail.com
http://www.google.com/profiles/gardiw2

Emergency Communications / Operating

Portable HF Ops Event

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Cape Ann ARES Emergency Coordinator KA1BTK-Gardi Winchester II, writes:

Who:  All Amateur Radio Operators:

What:  Portable HF Operations and equipment exercise.
When: Next Sunday, September 30th (Weather permitting) from about 12:00 Noon – 5:00 or 6:00 PM
Where: Hospital Hill, at the top of Summit Avenue (through the stone pillars) in Rockport, MA, 01966
Why:  Fellowship, practice, making sure your go-bag plans are complete and all of your equipment is functional, and a whole host of reasons!
Come and join fellow Hams in exercising and testing your equipment and plans, and have fun walking all over one another in a remote area!  Hospital Hill is a large field area and Dog Park (Yes, bring your pets) that we have been using as our portable operations base for some time.  We have running permission to operate from there.  There are some nice hiking and walking trails to explore and beautiful vistas to see from up on the hill!  There is no power so bring a generator or hook into your vehicle power.

Please pass this along!

 
Semper Paratus!  &  73‘s  ___________________#\____
 
Gardner H. Winchester II, KA1BTK, ARRL EC Cape Ann
 
“The most important tool for disaster recovery is communication”.
 
Operating

W1HFN Fox Deployed in Littleton

- by k9hi - 2 Comments.

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the foxhunting list on September 15, 2018:

Barring sudden catastrophe, the W1HFN fox will be loose at:  

https://littletonconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/bumblebee-park/

UPDATE 7:36 AM, September 16, 2018:

 

Sorry, I left out the important bits;  146.565, it runs constantly, no tones needed.  A 20 second voice ID every minute, so there is 40 seconds of no signal.  Makes for a bit of a challenge.

 

Hopefully, it will run through Thursday the 20th.  In any event, it will be recovered then.

 

Good luck,

 

Barry – W1HFN

 

Operating

Petitions to Keep WWV, WWVH On the Air

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

WWV QSL CardTony Fiore, K1AMF, writes on the YCCC reflector:

Two petitions have been started on the White House’s “We the People” petition site calling for restoration of funding for these two essential radio stations. Each needs at least 100,000 electronic signatures by mid-September to generate a response from the White House.

The petitions can be found at:

<https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/maintain-funding-nist-stations-wwv-wwvh>

<https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/proposed-shutdown-nists-wwv-and-wwvh-radio-stations>

Clubs / Operating

Zola Net Restarting

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Matt Chao, N1IBB, writes on the Middlesex ARC list:

Now that summer’s officially gone (Labor Day), it’s time to resume our  activities for the rest of the year.  The first session of the Zola Net  for the other three seasons will be starting up tomorrow at 7 PM on the  Newton repeater (147.360, PL of 67 Hz.  The purpose of the Net is to give  both new and experienced hams the opportunity to participate in a  controlled Net environment.  The Net usually lasts for about half an hour.

Looking forward to hearing all of you on the Net tomorrow, weather  permitting.  (T-storms are forecast for tomorrow as a cold front comes  through). 

Clubs / Operating

New 6-Meter Net in Barnstable

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationLarry Gray, W1IZZ, writes on the Falmouth ARA web site:

“Brian, W1HXN, has started a 6 meter net on the N1YHS 6M repeater in Barnstable. The repeater operates at 50 watts and is located in Barnstable village by the courthouse complex. The repeater is on 53.010, – 1MHz offset, PL tone is 173.8. The time-out timer is set for 180 seconds. 

“Brian set a date of 8/29/18 @ 7:00 pm as the 1st meeting of the 6M net. If you need to check your equipment before that time, Brian will try to monitor the repeater as much as he can. Thank everyone for showing an interest.  It is an open net, so everyone is welcome to check-in.”