All

Mike Neilsen, W1MPN writes:

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, wireline video providers, satellite digital audio radio service providers and direct broadcast satellite service providers to make their communications facilities available to the President during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information such as AMBER (child abduction) alerts and severe weather warnings targeted to specific geographical regions or areas. The following transmitted message may be used:

 

“This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. This test will last for approximately three minutes.

During this test, most television and radio providers will remain on the air to participate in the test.

This is (station name). We will be discontinuing programming for the duration of the test.

Our programming will resume at the end of the test, in approximately three minutes.”

 

I am requesting the widest possible dissemination on all Yahoo Groups lists, the SKYWARN List, and the EMA and WMA websites.

Many thanks in advance.

Regards and 73,

Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
State RACES Officer (Acting)
Chairperson, Amateur Radio Working Group
Member of the MA State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC), and Policies and Programs subcommittee
Office Answering Service/FAX 978.389.0558

The ARRL Foundation has awarded a $200 grant to the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association towards the purchase of equipment to support CAARA’s ongoing weekly Morse code classes.

In a letter dated October 19, 2011 from Foundation Secretary Mary Hobart, K1MMH to CAARA’s Rick Maybury, WZ1B, Hobart writes:

“On behalf of the ARRL Foundation I am pleased to advise you that the Foundation Board of Directors has approved a grant of $200 from the ARRL Foundation CW Operators Fund. The grant is provided for the purchase of a MFJ-4628 Multi-Mode Code reader.

“As outlined in your grant application, this grant will provide funding for equipment to be used in learning and practice of Morse code in your Saturday morning classes. The classes include the history of Morse code, reading, transmitting, contesting and emergency services.

“Congratulations! The Foundation Board will be eager to hear from you about the impact of this grant.”

The Eastern MA ARRL leadership  also extends its congratulations to CAARA members for their work in promoting Morse code–still a vibrant and popular mode of Amateur communication.

John Beanland, G3BVU writes on the PART List:

W1GFF has drawn our attention to a fatal accident [on October 12, 2011] on  the “WHDH” tower in Newton. Fatal accidents on a tower should NEVER happen provided a simple set of safety rule is followed 100%.

1. Use a “climbing belt” and two (2) straps. If you have only one (1) strap, DON’T CLIMB.
2. Carefully examine the belt and both straps before putting them on, REJECT IF DAMAGED.
3. When only a few feet off of the ground, place one strap around the tower and throw your weight on it. NO HOLDING THE TOWER. If something breaks you will suffer only a bruise or two as you hit the ground.
4. Repeat the test with the second strap.
5. With two (2) straps there are four (4) ends.
6. ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST ONE STRAP AROUND THE TOWER AND THREE (3) ENDS CONNECTED TO YOUR BELT.
7. When you come to a set of guys to prevent you climbing further, pass one strap around the tower on the other side of the guys and secure to your belt before releasing one end of the strap that is preventing further progress up/down the tower.
8. BASICALLY YOU ARE ALWAYS SECURED TO THE TOWER BY YOUR BELT AND ONE STRAP.

Safe climbing.

de G3BVU

—

W1GFF wrote:

Boston news outlets are reporting that a tower worker fell 1,000 feet to his death today from the American Radio Systems Tower next to Rt 128 in Newton. The tower was formerly known as the WHDH-TV Channel 5 tower…but after Ch 5 lost their license in the 70’s it became known as FM-128 and was the home to a number of FM radio stations and two-way customers. The tower is owned by American Tower Systems.

On Tuesday, October 25th, a Contest University will be presented by the Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC). The Philips Amateur Radio Club (PARC) will be hosting this unique opportunity to learn about contesting from some of the top-level contesters in the area!

The event will take place at the Philips Electronics facility, conveniently located near route 93 in Andover, MA.

Professors K1DG, K5ZD, and K1RX will be on hand to present tips, tricks, and techniques for maximizing your contest performance! Topics will be adjusted for audience interest, but will typically include:

• Maximizing score with limited station
• Maximizing score with limited operating time
• Propagation – what’s expected this year
• Operating tips for running, S&P, DO’s and DON’Ts
• Sleep strategy

The event will take place from 6 to 11 pm. Philips employees will act as hosts/escorts for non-Philips attendees. We will take a collection for pizza and drinks.

If you are interested in attending, there is no fee, but you MUST PRE-REGISTER. Send an email to barockteer(at)aol.com or k1kp(at)arrl.net with your full name and callsign, and US citizenship status. You will be emailed detailed directions to the event to confirm your registration.

This will also count as a YCCC Local Meeting, and new members are welcome to join YCCC at this time.

For the second year, amateur radio has been asked to help with race communications throughout the course of the Bay State Marathon. This years course is a little longer and we would like additional communications resources to cover the entire race, so we are looking for a few more hams than in the past.

http://www.baystatemarathon.com/coursemaps.html

I know it is a “long” weekend which includes NEAR-FEST, but if you find that you don’t want to be dodging rain drops in Deerfield but enjoy the warm sunny skies of Lowell along the river, consider joining us.

It is an early morning event (7 AM) and you should be able to be home in time to watch fute-ball in the afternoon! Patriots game is at 4:15.

Please contact Alan-W1AHM or Terry-KA8SCP if you have questions or are available to assist.

Hello to all..

My apologies to all for a late update here. There have been a lot of developments in the past few weeks and it seemed it would be best to hold off on providing an update until a number of the items here were sorted out.

Approximately 3 weeks after Hurricane Irene, there was the Southeast Massachusetts Emergency Managers Directors Association Meeting (SEMEMDA) meeting. After the meeting, a discussion on RACES ensued including the operational changes of the region 1 and 2 offices not being opened during Hurricane Irene. The official reason given by Region Two Manager, James Mannion, was that there was not enough staffing on the MEMA side to staff the Region 1 and 2 facilities. The closure of the region offices, as mentioned previously, affected not only Amateur Radio but local public safety and others that would normally route requests to the regional offices. The timing of this situation 4 weeks after an Amateur Radio Statewide Hurricane Drill was obviously not optimal for this change during an actual hurricane but again necessitated on their staffing and again Amateur Radio was not signaled out on the impact here and many other agencies were impacted.

Following Hurricane Irene was the cancellation of the September RACES Nets. At the SEMEMDA meeting, less of an explanation could be offered for the last minute cancellation, but later on, it was determined that MEMA was reviewing the program including changes to the RACES Nets resulting in the cancellation. The cancellation was very late and going forward such a situation will be avoided. The October RACES Nets will occur but with some changes as requested by the agency and that will be conducted and brought down to RACES folks through their region RACES Radio Officers. These changes will actually benefit and provide more training and more usefulness to the nets. As always, with changes can come some issues implementing the changes. As the changes are rolled out we remind folks as we state in our Emergency Communications Workshops the motto from the 9/11 ARES/Amateur Radio deployments wish is ‘blessed our the flexible for they will not get bent out of shape’.

By now, many of you may have heard that an Acting Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer has been chosen and that is former Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and ARRL Section Manager, Mike Neilsen-W1MPN. I can not think of a better person to be in this role at this critical time. Mike has many years of experience in ARES, Amateur Radio and served in RACES supporting Massachusetts State EOC operations working with Tom Kinahan-N1CPE as Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer. Mike will help out significantly in implementing changes that MEMA is looking for in terms of the support Amateur Radio can provide and the right way that Amateur Radio can provide support for their changing needs. His announcement is provided in its entirety at the end of this update. It is noted that Mike is taking this on as an interim/acting position and that one of his priorities will be a search for a permanent candidate while implementing the most important initial changes on Amateur Radio support for MEMA.

From an ARES perspective, we will continue to support RACES/MEMA as a client agency. A greater role for our services in terms of training and preparation is likely to occur as we move forward. Other changes in operations for MEMA/RACES may occur as reviewed under Mike Neilsen-W1MPN’s leadership.

While the recent events understandably unsettled people on Amateur Radio’s role in MEMA and disasters, it is our belief that the long-term impact could be a strong positive as we work with MEMA to make the changes that they feel will make Amateur Radio crticial in their disaster operations while maintaining the main roles that Amateur Radio can fulfill. Further updates will be posted as required. Below is Mike’s announcement as posted to the MRAS-General email list:

Hello all RACES, ARES, and SKYWARN stations:

Recently, Tom Kinahan resigned his post as our State RACES Communications Officer after serving in that post since the mid-90’s.  Many of you have joined me in thanking him for his long service and wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

While we search for an exceptionally qualified candidate for permanent appointment, MEMA has asked me to assume the role of State RACES Communications Officer on a temporary basis.  I accepted the offer with that proviso.  I look forward to speaking with each of you, but in view of the pressing circumstances I would be very appreciative if you would contact your regional RACES Officer with your questions and comments.  They will relay to me as needed.

Please continue to function as you have in your local and state government RACES appointments, including the monthly radio drills.  There will, however, be some changes that will be implemented immediately in the monthly drill procedure, so please watch for a message on the 10/3 drill to be released shortly.  These developments for the RACES program do not immediately affect any ARES programs, but you are encouraged to contact your ARES leadership with any questions you may have.

In the meantime, we also have some pressing challenges that need to be addressed in the coming months.  I desire to receive as much input as possible for that process, starting with input from the recognized ham leadership, and then later providing a forum for general input such as our MRAS group, and other interested parties.

To that end, I will convene the Amateur Radio Working Group (ARWG) approved earlier this year by the State Interoperability Executive Committee to review grant proposals for Amateur Radio.  Unfortunately those funds have been frozen, but the ARWG can be used for the purpose of guiding the future of amateur radio emergency communications.  I will send invitations to those stakeholders shortly for a meeting in October and before the next MRAS meeting.

I look forward to working with you.

de W1MPN

Regards and 73,

Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
State RACES Officer (Acting)
Chairperson, Amateur Radio Working Group
Member of the MA State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC), and Policies and Programs subcommittee
Office Answering Service/FAX 978.389.0558
******************************************************************

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

Bob Salow, WA1IDA writes:

The ham public service events are winding down for this year, so soon you can relax (except for the “real” disasters). Here we are at the Eleventh Annual BAA Half Marathon. For the past ten years this event received huge acclaim in the athlete’s world – largely because of the skills and experience of the organizers and support staff (we are definitely a part of that). The Half Marathon is run almost entirely in Boston (2% in Brookline), with more than 5000 local, national and international athletes already registered. Proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund.

Our ham radio team has been asked again to support communications for this event doing our usual medical, water and administrative tasks. We definitely need your help. Time is short.

The Half Marathon will be held on SUNDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2011, with hams to report at 0630 or 0730 (depending on assignment). The course is along the length of the “Emerald Necklace” (as beautiful as you can get in Boston). As last year, the Start and Finish lines are now at White Stadium in Franklin Park, running to the Fenway and return.

The weather is likely to be cool and the 13.1-mile course should not be a strain on the athletes. Water and medical stations are spaced appropriately. We also have assignments at several hazardous or confusing points on the course. Our duties on the course will be to support these locations, but we also serve as observers of the runners, spectators and local residents (some of their streets are to be closed). Some of the stations serve both outbound and inbound runners. At White Stadium, we have a number of fixed and roving medical assignments.

The entire event should be over before 1130, and all roads will be progressively opened.

Because the entire course is compact, very few repeaters need be used. Our present plan is to use both 2-meters and 70-cm, both bands with CTCSS.

WE NEED YOU TO VOLUNTEER. As in the past, we are committed to reliable, professional performance. Please sign up quickly. Our duties at this event are straight forward and are well suited for hams who have little experience at public service. Each ham must have his or her own radio and accessories – no sharing of equipment can be permitted during the event. Each ham must be self sufficient for the entire period, as we cannot assure partnered assignments.

NOTE: Our past success has been appreciated, resulting in requests for added coverage. More hams are needed – including those new to public service events. Please spread the word in your local club and to your on-the-air friends! Anyone interested should contact me directly ASAP. We also need you to understand that although we must call for more hams now, final staffing needs may not match the number of ham volunteers. Therefore, a very small possibility exists that we still may not be able to give everyone an assignment.

As the event date gets closer, those who volunteer will receive an email with the assignment, a detailed description of the assignment site and other information.

We also need to know if you have a dual band radio – 2-meters with CTCSS and if you have the 70-cm band. If you have any questions about participation, do not hesitate to contact me.

When you reply, please include the following information:

• Your full name
• Postal mailing address
• Phone number(s) – home and cell
• Your best email address for last minute information
• Can you open an MS Word email attachment?
• Are you available to drive, and, if assigned on the course (not assured), would you drive there directly?
• Your shirt size

73,

Bob Salow, WA1IDA
wa1ida@arrl.net
508.650.9440

Don Burke KB1LXH writes on Facebook:

We are just 16 days from the 54th Jamboree on the Air. This year’s event will take place on October 15th.

I will be putting together a group of hams from the Taunton Area Communications Group and our friends from the Whitman ARC.

We will operate from Camp Norse in Kingston, MA from 8am to 4pm Saturday using the call sign KC1TAC. We will again be using local 2M repeaters and Scout HF frequencies.

Last year the 53rd JOTA Group put 248 Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Girls Scouts on air and we hope to continue with that success. These young Scouts will be the life blood of our hobby in the coming years and I need your help to make it as exciting as we can for them.

What do we need this year? Operators at camp, the use of local repeaters, and of course contacts!

First, if you have helped out in the past or would like to help out this year, please contact me and I will add your name to the 54th JOTA Group list.

I will give you all the information needed to for a day.

Second, are you a trustee of a local repeater? Or do you know someone who is? Please ask them if we may list their repeater as a place to make contacts during the JOTA events on Saturday October 15th. Whitman ARC has already said yes. I will complete a list and pass it along as the date nears. We have had a great response from our friends in the past and because of you we have been able to get every Scout on the air. Some 800 Boys and Girls in just 4 years!

Also if your repeater has Echolink or IRLP, on the day of JOTA will you add “JOTA” to your Stations name description?

3rd, Are you be hosting a JOTA event with your Radio Club, Scout Pack/Den or Troop/Crew? I’d like to add your groups to our list of Scout contacts.

Maybe you don’t have a Scout connection and want to help from your QTH? We still want to hear from you! Please mark your calendar for the October 15th

Feel Free to pass this request on to your club members and Ham Radio friends. The bigger the list the better the time!

With your help and some good weather we will have another Great JOTA event in Eastern Massachusetts. Thank you for your assistance, we’ll look for you on the air.

Dean Burgess, KB1PGH writes:

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is sponsoring a Tech in a day course for those wishing to study for and take the exam on the FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio License.

This all-day course will be held on Saturday, October 29 starting at 8 AM at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street, Gloucester. The study course will last all day and the Technician class Amateur Radio license test will be administered a 4 PM. The cost of the course will be $20.00 for the testing fee and snacks. Participants will provide their own lunch.

Space is limited so please sign up by e-mailing CAARA club President and course leader Stan Stone, W4HIX at techinaday@caara.net.

Hello to all..

Over the last few weeks starting with Hurricane Irene, there appears to have been some operational changes in what the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, MEMA, has typically done during incidents requiring emergency management response and other situations. During Hurricane Irene, it was determined by MEMA that they would only activate their State Emergency Operations Center in Framingham, Massachusetts and the Region 3 office in Agawam, Massachusetts both from a MEMA operational standpoint and the RACES component of MEMA operations. The Region 1 and Region 2 offices were not activated. This was not only from an Amateur Radio perspective but from an operational MEMA perspective as well.

On Thursday of last week (9/8/11), N1CPE-Tom Kinahan, Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer tendered his resignation of his position to MEMA Framingham HQ. Tom intends to stay active in Ham Radio and emergency communications as his prior role was very important to him for a very long time to support MEMA and RACES but felt it was time to move in a different direction. Tom has done a tremendous job as Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer and we look forward to working with Tom in a different capacity within emergency communications.

On Monday Evening (9/12/11), the statewide RACES Nets were cancelled at approximately 630 PM. There was no real reason given other than the nets would be cancelled for this month and would reconvene in October.

As Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator, after cancelleation of the RACES Net, contact was made with KA8SCP-Terry Stader, MEMA Region 1 RACES Communications Officer and N1YLQ-Mike Leger, MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer and offered ARES full support to them in whatever they required. They were receptive to our support and we will work closely with them during this time of uncertainty in MEMA/RACES operations. We offer the same support to all local cities and town RACES/EMA/EOC programs if they request it.

From an Eastern Massachusetts ARES point of view, our support of MEMA and RACES both at the local and regional/state level has been one where they have requested our assistance and we have provided it based on their needs and this just like many other agencies we deal with today. MEMA and RACES at the local and/regional state level are one of a number of clients that we provide support for when requested. Other agencies include:

-National Weather Service Taunton Massachusetts (SKYWARN)
-American Red Cross (As seen in Hurricane Irene)
-Salvation Army
-FEMA Region 1 Federal Response Center (As seen in Hurricane Irene)
-Numerous hospitals (South Shore Hospital, South Coast Hospital chain, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Gloucester Hospital, Bayside Hospital, Cape Cod Hospital, Nantucket Hospital, Beverly Hospital, among others)

From a MEMA and RACES point of view, it appears the agency is going through some administrative and organizational review at this time. This could be driven by any number of factors including the economic concerns, budget cuts and other things that we may not necessarily see from outside of the agency. While it is easy to presume the worst and assume that MEMA no longer needs RACES or Amateur Radio, that is only one of several potential outcomes here. In addition, even if that outcome occurs, we have multiple agencies that we are supporting as highlighted above and local EOCs will need to be interoperable with the above agencies. Amateur Radio can support these needs to provide situational awareness and disaster intelligence information and to be there when all else fails which has been our 2 most critical missions for many years now. There is also the possibility that MEMA is just looking for a change in how Amateur Radio interfaces with their agency and they need time to sort out those changes.

What we ask from all of you at this time is your patience and support. The leaders within RACES and ARES will work to find out the operational changes at MEMA when they are ready to discuss it and what impacts that they will have on Amateur Radio operations with their agency going forward. It is noted that local EMA Directors and other Public Safety officials are also noting these different operational changes and have similar concerns as we do. It is not just RACES and Amateur Radio being impacted by these operational changes. We (meaning the ARES/RACES leadership) will keep folks informed as we learn of new information and give guidance prior to the October Statewide RACES Nets and the monthly Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net that immediately follows the RACES Nets.

For now, we ask Amateurs involved in ARES/RACES/SKYWARN/MARS and any other form of EMCOMM to continue to do what they’ve always done. As I’ve told several new recruits for ARES in the past few weeks, the following items are very helpful in getting more involved with emergency communications:

-Any Public Service Events (even though these events are not typically ARES events) that you may participate in. Quite often, our ARES/RACES/SKYWARN/MARS folks are those that help in Public service.
-Participation in the monthly ARES Nets (essentially checking in when possible on the ARES Nets monthly)
-Participation in the monthly RACES Nets for RACES personnel
-Answering calls for availability for potential ops when we place ARES on stand-by for ARES people.
-Participation in EMCOMM workshops when we offer them (typically a couple times per year and scattered about the section).
-Participation in SKYWARN Training when offered.
-Participation in online FEMA ICS classes and other FEMA online training class offerings.
-Participation in SKYWARN Nets when active for your local area.
-Updating your training record in the ARES Database for ARES members in the section

We appreciate everyone’s support during Hurricane Irene and in the routine nets, drills and public service events. I would like to note that the ARRL has requested a write-up on Hurricane Irene for the ARES E-Letter to be posted next week and its great to be considered for the next ARES E-Letter to help promote the great work that was done during Hurricane Irene to the national Amateur Radio community. Thanks to all for their efforts and we look forward to your continued support!

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

Hello to all..

Many of us recall the horrific events of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks like it were yesterday and the impact that it had on all of us. The shock and horror of the incident and the people that were killed. The recovery efforts of first responders during the days, weeks and months after the incident. The support Amateur Radio Operators provided for several weeks after the attack through ARESMAT (ARES Mutual Aid Teams) to New York City and other attack sites and how it altered the course of the country and the world.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of these attacks on Sunday September 11th 2011, I’m sure many of us just like other American citizens will recognize this in some way, perhaps attending a 9/11 memorial events in their local area or simply watching the memorial events on television. Many of us have heard of the ‘specific, credible but unconfirmed’ threat of an attack or attacks on the country on Sunday.

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a couple of press releases regarding 9/11. See the links below for details:

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/20110909-napolitano-urging-public-vigilance.shtm

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/20110908-statement-press-secretary-matt-chandler.shtm

As we commeorate this anniversary, we remind Amateur Radio Operators in their areas to maintain the same vigilance as other citizens. We also advise that people take a look at their go kits and battery operated equipment and make sure it is ready just in case its required in the event, as unlikely as it may be, that an attack on the homeland occurs. These are the same preparedness steps we take for severe weather, Hurricane Irene, and other situations but its worth reiterating again as we approach the 10th anniversary of September 11th. If an incident occurs, monitoring of local ARES/SKYWARN and RACES repeaters should occur and nets would be called up as required to check in people that are monitoring and provide information on the incident and any requests from agencies that could occur in that scenario.

We appreciate everyone’s vigilance and we hope everyone commemorates and remembers what occurred 10 years ago on September 11th and that it will be a time of rememberance for all of us and no incidents occur. Thanks to all for their support!

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