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May 2024 Section News

It’s mid-May already! Got those gardens planted? Antenna raising parties planned? Are you looking forward to a Really Good Time at HamVention in Dayton? [Attending HamVention is high on my personal bucket list. I’ve been meaning to go for several years now … maybe next year!]  

* Send Me Your HamVention Stories 

Speaking of HamVention, if you are going/went, shoot me an email about your experience. Did you find a priceless piece of equipment? Did you attend a particularly interesting talk or seminar? I’d like to know and share some of the cool stories in next month’s Section Update. 

* Inexpensive DIY EchoLink Interface 

The Wellesley Amateur Radio Society (W1TKZ) has been experimenting with a new method of interfacing the club’s analog repeater system to EchoLink.  The MicroLink project has created a low-cost PCB that bridges a repeater to the EchoLink network using a mobile rig. More information is here: https://github.com/brucemack/microlink.  If anyone in EMA is interested in giving this a try, drop a line to Bruce MacKinnon, KC1FSZ. 

* ARRL Field Day is Coming Soon! 

I hope everyone is as excited about Field Day as I am, coming up Jun 21-23. As in previous years, we have coordinated with Governor Healey to have an official proclamation of Jun 22, 2024, as Amateur Radio Day. I will be visiting as many EMA Field Day sites as I can this year, to say “hi” and to show off the proclamation. If you haven’t registered your FD site in the ARRL FD Site locator, please do so soon! 

* Citizen Scientists Gathered Information During the Eclipse 

Thanks to those who participated in the Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP) and otherwise contributed data about the eclipse. Special tips o’ the hat to Larry W1IZZ and Dave K1HRV who emailed me about propagation enhancements he observed right around the time of the eclipse maximum.  Thanks, guys, I find this stuff very interesting!

* MA Operators (Still) Needed for 2024 Thirteen Colonies Special Event 

The planning for the 2024 13 Colonies Special Event stations is underway.  Larry Krainson, W1AST, is looking for ops for K2H Massachusetts. The event runs from July 1 to July 7 and is usable on all frequencies and all modes. You just need to keep a log that you can submit to W1AST right after the event ends. More details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/04/01/operators-needed-for-2024-ma-thirteen-colonies-special-event-station/.

* Club Commission Program Updated for 2024 

The League updated the Club Commission program for 2024. When an existing ARRL member renews through your club, the club earns a $5 commission, as before. NEW ARRL memberships earn a $20 commission for the club.  Complete details are at https://www.arrl.org/affiliated-club-benefits.

* With Help from Local Ham Club, Differently Abled Hams Build a Kit 

On a rainy Saturday April 20, members of the Zola-Middlesex amateur radio club gathered at the Brigham House in Newton Massachusetts to build a kit! In attendance were several Wellesley ARC members. The Zola gang consists of hams who have sight and emotional impairments. Full details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/04/25/the-zola-gang-builds-a-kit.

* Club Grant Program Update 

ARRL is ramping up for another round of the very popular Club Grant Program in 2024.  As in 2023, clubs will be invited to submit applications for grants of up to $25,000 for outreach (especially to youth), STEM activities, etc. Stand by for more information as available. 

* HamXpo is Coming! 

Mark the dates, August 22-25, 2024! The 2024 edition of HamXposition is coming, and it’s shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. Several top-tier amateur radio vendors recently committed to the show. And the lineup of technical talks/seminars/workshops is set to rival HamVention (Dayton) in terms of breadth and depth of topics. I hope to see you in person there! Full details at https://hamxposition.org .

*  Updated Version of Andy’s Ham Radio Linux Available 

On April 17th, Andy (KB1OIQ) Stewart released version 0.1alpha of “Andy’s Ham Radio Linux” for the Raspberry Pi 5.  This popular software collection has been available for many years.  For more information visit https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/files/raspberry_pi/0.1alpha/.

In addition, one can hear more about “Andy’s Ham Radio Linux” by listening to episode 779 of the FLOSS Weekly podcast on Hackaday: https://hackaday.com/2024/04/17/floss-weekly-episode-779-errata-prevention-specialist/.

Lastly, KB1OIQ will be presenting in May at the Dayton Hamvention and at HamXposition in August 2024. 

* Central States VHF Society 2024 Conference 

[Not in the EMA Section, but worth mentioning …] 

The Central States VHF Society 2024 Conference is coming up July 25-27, 2024 The registration link is: https://www.csvhfs.org/index.php/annual-conference/2024-annual-conference-registration. Room Reservation link is: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/G9668829. Note that we have a special conference room rate when you use the link.

Convention web site at: https://2024.csvhfs.org/ 

* Most Excellent Achievement by Wayne AG1A 

 Wayne AG1A, a Life Member of ARRL and of AMSAT, added another award to his already very impressive list of awards: WAS-satellite! Wayne currently holds 10-Band WAS, 9-Band DXCC and a slew of other awards.  Please join me in congratulating Wayne on this most impressive achievement. 

* N1ILZ for a Final  

Stay safe and dry out there!  It’s a wonderful time of year, as we all wake up from our winter snooze, and get to work on all those outdoor projects pent up from the past winter.  

Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Let me know via email at n1ilz@arrl.org!  

* For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org.

. This Section News Update is brought to you by Section Manager Jon N1ILZ.


——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Jon W McCombie, N1ILZ
n1ilz@arrl.org
——————————————————————

April 2024 Section News

It’s mid-April already! I hope everyone enjoyed the eclipse last week!  It was very interesting out here on the Cape, though we only peaked at about 94% occlusion. The reports — and photos — from folks who travelled to VT or NH or NY to get the totality experience are spectacular. Everyone said it was worth it, even if they were caught in hours-long traffic jams coming home. I hope I’m still on the green side of the turf when the next total eclipse comes around in 20-ish years.  

* Citizen Scientists Gathered Information During the Eclipse 

Did you participate in the Solar Eclipse QSO Party? Please email me (n1ilz@arrl.org) a few words about your experience — did you notice any interesting band openings — or closings? I’d like to hear from you so I can publish a summary in next month’s Section Update. 

* MA Operators Needed for 2024 Thirteen Colonies Special Event 

The planning for the 2024 13 Colonies Special Event stations is in motion.  Larry Krainson, W1AST, is looking for more ops for K2H Massachusetts. The event runs from July 1 to July 7 and is usable on all frequencies and all modes. You just need to keep a log that you can submit to W1AST right after the event ends. More details at https://ema.arrl.org/2024/04/01/operators-needed-for-2024-ma-thirteen-colonies-special-event-station/

* Club Grant Program Update 

ARRL is ramping up for another round of the very popular Club Grant Program in 2024.  As before, clubs will be invited to submit applications for grants of up to $25,000 for the purpose of outreach (especially to youth), STEM activities, etc. Stand by for more information as it comes available. 

* International Marconi Day 2024 is April 27 

This year, International Marconi Day (IMD) is on April 27. Italian inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi was born on April 25, 1874, and is credited for inventing the radiotelegraph system, creating Marconi’s law, and sending the first wireless transmission over the open sea. 

Stations in the United States, including Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club, KM1CC, in Massachusetts, are already registering for the event. KM1CC hosts several on-air events each year to keep the accomplishments and story of Marconi and his wireless station site in South Wellfleet alive.  Come see us in person on the Cape or work us on the air! More details at https://nediv.arrl.org/2024/03/22/international-marconi-day-2024/  

* Nashua Area Radio Society Ham Bootcamp Coming Up on May 11th 

The Nashua Area Radio Society will be holding an online Ham Bootcamp on Saturday, May 11th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern Time. 

Ham Bootcamp is a program to help new, inactive, and prospective hams gain the skills and information that they need to Get On The Air.  It is open to any interested Ham or Prospective Ham in the US and Canada and there is no charge to attendees. Full details at https://nediv.arrl.org/2024/04/06/nashua-area-radio-society-ham-bootcamp-coming-up-on-may-11th/

* Updated ARRL Library Book Program 

I included this last month, but it’s worth repeating. Would you or your club like to donate Amateur Radio books to a local library, school, college, student radio club, etc.? ARRL has updated its Library Book Program. The set includes the most popular ARRL publications. Details at https://www.arrl.org/library-book-set  

* N1ILZ for a Final  

 Stay safe and dry out there with all those April showers. It’s a wonderful time of year, as we all wake up from our winter snooze, and get to work on all those outdoor projects pent up from the past winter. 

Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Let me know via email at n1ilz@arrl.org!  

 * For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org  

This Section News Update is brought to you by  Section Manager Jon N1ILZ.

——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Jon W McCombie, N1ILZ
n1ilz@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Reminder: July 1st, 2024 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Mike “Sparky” Leger, N1YLQ, Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:

Hello to all,

This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that
Monday evening, July 1st, 2024 is our first non-holiday Monday of the month
and, as such, will be the next RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. I would
like to thank the stations that checked into our nets last month. I would also like to
thank those stations that have helped with Skywarn operations over the last few
weeks as the weather has kept that comms team particularly busy!

Please note that the 80m HF Voice net will have a Net Control Op with lower than
usual power. Please use relays and patience as necessary to move messages through
the net this time around.

As always, I am looking for Net Control stations to staff our sector
nets for the evening. This month I am working my shift with the fire department and will
be unreliable at best as NCOfor the Sector 2A net. If anyone would like to act as NCO, for the 2A net please let me know! The other Sector Nets and the HF and Winlink nets should all be covered this month for NCOs.

For any operators interested in performing the duties of Net Control
Station (NCS), there are materials available to make the task fairly simple
and straight forward. The net pre-amble and role call lists are available at
http://wc1mab.org/RACES_R2_Interim_Preamble.pdf and
http://wc1mab.org/Month.php with the role-call lists on the left column near
the bottom. If anyone is worried that they may mess up running a net, please
remember that, in many cases, a less than perfect net is WAY better than no
net at all! At the conclusion of any net, any operator that acted as Net
Control Operator is asked to please send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com
letting me know who ran the net and who checked
in so that the proper numbers can be reported to our served agencies. We
cannot always count on our normal net control operators to be available in
the event of a large scale emergency, so every RACES operator should be
prepared to act as NCO if needed when disaster and emergency strikes!

Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph:

*Winlink Net*

To participate:

– create a check-in form using the Winlink standard checkin form

– send via Winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. June 3rd and before midnight EST June
4th (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to KF1D

I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to
check into sector nets from near-by sectors. This will allow our Net
Control Operators to practice fielding nets with a strong check-in count and
will also serve to help practice with relays or modified sector assignments
in the event that a single repeater is out of service.

For those operators who serve as Net Control Operators, please try to
remember to send me a list of the stations and communities that check into
your nets. The numbers are reported to MEMA to show them our level of
participation. I am continuing to work on a graphical map based report to
show which parts of our section have strong coverage and which areas may
need a more targeted recruitment campaign to improve our ability to provide
back-up communications in an emergency.

I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain
prepared. Thank you all for helping us keep things on track and prove that
we remain a consistent source of communication capability to the
Commonwealth. This net provides a monthly reminder to our communities and
served agencies that we stand ready with a quiet professionalism prepared to
serve as a voice to whomever needs one to get help and resources to where
they need to be.

If you know someone who would benefit from being on this list, please have
them contact me at WC1MAB@gmail.com and I will add them to this distribution.
Thank you all!

If anyone has any questions or comments I can be reached by e-mail or
cell phone. Thanks for being a part of our team and I look forward to
hearing back on who can participate this month.

Sincerely,

Michael Leger (N1YLQ)
MEMA Region #2 RACES Officer
C: 508_995_0203

Operating / Technical

New Amateur Satellites Expected to Launch on July 2, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
AMSAT logoJoe Fitzgerald, KM1P, writes on the Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:
 
Several satellites carrying Amateur radio payloads are expected to launch next week.    While launches are often delayed due to technical and weather issues, presently the launch is scheduled 0403 UTC July 2, or slightly after midnight local time.  New England Sci-Tech and its crack team of orbital analysts stands ready to supply the amateur radio community with the Two Line Elements, AKA TLEs that describe the orbit of an earth satellite via daily bulletins.  TLEs are used by tracking software to determine exactly when satellites will pass overhead, and where to point your antennas.

The satellites in this mission are designed to be in a “sun synchronous” orbit which takes advantage of the slight bulge of the earth at the equator nudge the orbit the orbit such that it passes over ground stations  at approximately the same times every day.    Since this launch is at 9 pm local time, we expect these satellites to pass over us at about 9AM and 9PM daily .   This orbit was chosen in part to assure that these spacecraft are always in sunlight reducing the need for on board batteries.    If you don’t want to stay up to watch the launch, don’t despair, you can listen for the new baby satellites on Tuesday morning once the rotation of the earth places us under the orbital plane of these birds.    Below is a summary of the satellites transmitting in the amateur satellite service, more details of these and other payloads transmitting in other services are available.

MESAT-1 has a 30 kHz wide V/U Transponder plus a 1k2 BPSK telemetry downlink. Telemetry downlink 435.800 MHz with transponder downlink 435.810-435.840 MHz, and transponder uplink 145.910-145.940 MHz   Note:   the ham radio equipment on this spacecraft was provided by NEST partner AMSAT.
 
Serenity has a  4k8 FM with AX25 on 437.100 MHz
 
CatSat UHF downlink using 9k6 or 38k4 GMSK but will also relay WSPR and FT8 signals from HF. Downlinks on 437.185 MHz and 10470.00 MHz
 
KubeSat 1 UHF downlink using 9k6 GMSK. A downlink on 437.085 MHz
 
SOC-i UHF downlink using 4k8 GMSK. downlink 437.125 MHz
 
 
-Joe KM1P
Field Day

Eastern MA Section Manager Field Day 2024 Trip Report

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Jon McCombie, N1ILZMy favorite job as Section Manager is touring Field Day sites. This year was no exception! 
 
I got started Saturday morning and headed directly to the FD site for the NorthEast Amateur Radio Club (N1ERC), in the beautiful Fourth Cliff recreational area in Humarock, MA. When I arrived, they were just finishing setup, and waiting for the fun to start at 1400.  The site provides an especially dramatic view overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately for me, the fog was in, so no views for me. Maybe next year? 
 
Next was a visit with the Braintree Emergency Management group (KC1KWC) set up as a field site in the garage/storage area given by the Town of Braintree. Nice setup there, gents! Well done! 
 
Next on the visit list was Sci-Tech in Natick. Congrats to Bob Phinney and the crew at Sci-Tech for creating and running an operation I consider to be one of the crown jewels of the Section; really of the whole country. 
 
My next visit was the Boston ARC (W1BOS), set up in Westwood, MA. For the last several years, they’ve set up FD at the same campsite, providing shelter from wind and rain and plenty of trees for antennas. Very nice! 
 
My first stop on Sunday was the Whitman ARC (WA1NPO) site in the YMCA campgrounds in E. Bridgewater. Another outstanding selection for FD site: a shelter from wind and rain, plenty of antenna supports in a convenient location. 
 
Next on the list was a visit to the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) site in Falmouth, MA. FARA had a fantastic setup, with three towers erected, a few dipoles, and their crown jewel, the FARA communications trailer. The trailer provides at least three operating positions and has a patch-panel to connect radios to antennas. What an outstanding example of engineering! Well done, Ralph, N1YHS, and FARA! 
 
Alas, traffic leaving Falmouth was horrendous, so I couldn’t get to the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) before they had finished breaking down after FD. 
 
This was a great – if tiring – Field Day for me. I’m very much looking forward to visiting FD sites next year. Did you have a great FD? Could you write a few paragraphs about your setup and how you did FD? Have some pix to publish? Send ‘em my way, and I’ll see about getting it on the EMA Section website! 
Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday July 1st, 2024 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The July Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday July 1st, 2024 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system.

For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. We will have several announcements for the net and if a NTS practice message is made available, we will have a NTS practice message sent over the net as we started doing those messages in these nets starting in October 2023.

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 7/1/24 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Don Rolph, AB1PH, Walpole area ARES Emergency Coordinator writes:

The MEMA RACES nets are held on the first Monday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, when it is delayed one week, For July 2024, the RACES nets will be held on Mon July 1 at:

********************************************************************************

Time: July 1 @ 6:45 PM ET
Frequency: 3930 KHz moving up to the first free frequency

Net Control: Matt KC1FA

*********************************************************************************

Region 2D VHF net:
7:30 PM ET VHF net on 146.865 MHz PL 103.5 (Sharon Repeater)
We will have a general call up of any RACES, ARES, or other interested stations. If there is time, we will have a simplex test.
Jim WJ1R will be net control.

********************************************************************************

HF 80 meters NBEMS net:
Dial Frequency: 3584.5 MHx
Center Frequency: 1500 Hz
Initial mode: THOR22
We will have checkins, followed by an ICS-213 format message using FLMSG.
Alan WA1AR will be net control

*********************************************************************************

Winlink Net:
Bryan Marcotte KF1D will be net control.
Send a winlink checkin form to KF1D, copy AB1PH, between 0600 Monday July 1 and 2400 Monday July 1.

We look forward to you checking in!

—

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Clubs / Public Information

Harwich Brooks Park Craft Fair, Harwich, July 13-14, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Barnstable ARC logoLem Skidmore, W1LEM, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:

We will be setting up HF and VHF stations for GOTA and general contacts. 

The objectives are: public awareness of BARC and Amateur Radio, operating practice, team building, and fellowship.

We will need [Barnstable ARC] members to set up Saturday AM and teardown Sunday PM, as well 4-hour shifts all all day Saturday and Sunday to operate, and to meet and greet the public.

Please contact Mark, K4LFL, the event leader.

All

Massachusetts – Rhode Island STM Report for May 2024

- by kw1u - Leave a Comment

The STM report for May is now posted at https://ema.arrl.org/massachusets-rhode-island-stm-report-for-may-2024/ . Take particular note of the Traffic Handlers picnic on Sunday, August 4 from 12:00 Noon on. Hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage and baked beans provided. Bring your beverage of choice and a lawn chair if you have one. A request has been made for good weather, so come join with fellow traffic handlers and would-be traffic handlers for some food and friendly conversation. An RSVP would be most appreciated so I can plan on how much food to have on hand. Also note information about the NTS Treasure Hunt and NE HamXposition forums on NTS. 

Field Day

Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Coordination Message #2, June 21-23, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on SKYWARN_Announce:
 

Hello to all…

..The following is the second in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 20 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..

..This year’s Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend will feature the risk for Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It will remain warm and humid over most of Southern New England with some relief in Northeast Massachusetts Friday Afternoon into Saturday before warm and humid conditions resume there for Sunday. A Heat Advisory remains in effect through 7 PM for Northern Connecticut, Hampden, Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts for heat indices to 95 degrees.
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Western and Central Massachusetts, Connecticut and interior Rhode Island in a Marginal Risk for severe weather Friday. Threat timeframe between 1-8 PM Friday. SPC has placed Western, Central and interior Northeast Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut in a marginal risk for severe weather Saturday. Threat timeframe 1-8 PM Saturday as well. SPC has placed all of Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather. Timing will be better known for Sunday’s severe weather potential on Saturday..
..Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours leading to urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats this weekend..
..At this time, not every Field Day site will see a shower, thunderstorm or severe weather and a widespread washout is not expected. Some Field Day sites could be dry all weekend but other Field Day sites could be quite wet depending on where showers and thunderstorms develop. This will be monitored throughout the weekend..
..Any thunderstorms have lightning potential which is a safety hazard for all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to guard their local Amateur Radio SKYWARN frequency and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts during the course of this Field Day weekend including by cell phone/Internet and NOAA Weather Radio..
..Conditions will be warm and humid Friday through Sunday though not as hot as earlier this week particularly in areas of Northeast Massachusetts which will have less heat and humidity Friday and into Saturday before becoming warm and humid again. Portions of Western Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northern Rhode Island may continue to have heat similar to the previous days through Friday before conditions cool slightly Saturday but remain warm and humid over this time period..
..Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend..

..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Friday Afternoon and Evening in interior Southern New England for the severe weather and flood potential and possible Saturday through this weekend. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend and activate as needed to guard Amateur Radio Field Day sites to provide weather information as well as to gather reports meeting SKYWARN reporting criteria throughout this weekend..

Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region.

Amateur Radio Field Day Information: https://www.arrl.org/field-day
Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: https://ema.arrl.org/field-day/
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory: https://ema.arrl.org/field_day/

 
On Wednesday, severe weather activity which was expected to stay north of Southern New England spilled into Northwest and North-Central Massachusetts with pockets of wind damage and flooding noted across parts of Franklin, Hampshire and Northwest Worcester Counties. See the Amateur Radio Report log and Local Storm Report info below:
 
WX1BOX Amateur Radio Log:
 
NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report:
 
Thursday saw the severe weather coverage increase in area with pockets of wind damage and hail across Western, North-Central and Northeast Massachusetts. See the Amateur Radio Report log and Local Storm Report info below:
 
WX1BOX Amateur Radio Report log:
 
NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report:
 
For Friday as we enter into Amateur Radio Field Day weekend, the thunderstorm and greatest severe weather potential will be across Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and North-Central Rhode Island. For Saturday, the greatest severe weather potential is Western, Central and interior Northeast Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut and for Sunday all of Southern New England has the potential for thunderstorms and severe weather. Here is a breakdown of potential hazards by each day:
 
Friday Afternoon and Evening:

The Severe Thunderstorm potential maybe a bit more isolated, perhaps similar to Wednesday of this week. It will be dependent on the frontal position that will bring cooler air into Northeast Massachusetts and amount of shear that overlaps with greater instability in the marginal risk area. Threat timeframe is 1-8 PM. In addition to the severe weather and lightning potential, flooding from very heavy downpours will bear close watching for flooding issues in areas that get repeated downpours.

Saturday Afternoon and Evening:

This will depend on what occurs Friday and if the front that will be over the region separating warmer and more humid air from somewhat cooler air shifts northeast or holds its current position. If it shifts northeast, much of Southern New England would have thunderstorm and severe weather potential. If it doesn’t shift much, the current area of Marginal Risk denoted by SPC will be the impacted area and this will be updated in future updates. Threat timeframe is 1-8 PM like Friday.

Sunday Afternoon and Evening:

This could be a day where much of Southern New England has severe weather potential but will depend on prior day’s convection, cloud debris, frontal position/triggering mechanism etc. and will be better known as we get to Saturday. Wind shear profiles appear a bit stronger for Sunday. All of Southern New England has a marginal risk for severe weather per SPC. Hazard timing will be better known on Saturday.

 
While not as hot as earlier in the week, it will still be warm and humid for outdoor activities over the Field Day weekend period so Field Day sites should have plenty of liquids on hand and a place nearby to cool down whether it be a building or cars with AC to stay cool from the heat. Heat tips and safety guidelines are also included in this message. Northeast Massachusetts will have the most relief from the heat Friday into Saturday but the heat will return there as we get into Sunday.
SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Friday Afternoon and Evening in interior Southern New England for the severe weather and flood potential and possible Saturday through this weekend. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend and activate as needed to guard Amateur Radio Field Day sites to provide weather information as well as to gather reports meeting SKYWARN reporting criteria throughout this weekend. Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook, SPC Day-1, Day-2 and Day-3 Convective Outlooks and NWS Norton Heat Advisory Statement:
NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box
 
SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
 
SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
 
SPC Day-3 Convective Outlook:
 
NWS Boston/Norton Heat Advisory Statement:
 
Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, monitor various cell phone weather apps where Amateur Operators may have those available and have a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN frequency for their area as a best safety and preparedness practice as there is a threat for thunderstorm development and any thunderstorm can be a threat to the safety of Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Also sites that have mobile Internet capability can utilize that capability as a way to monitor for weather information. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful as well. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
https://wx1box.org/southern-new-england-skywarn-frequency-list/During setup and takedown of Amateur Radio Field Day sites and even while operating, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat accordingly. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat

With the thunderstorm threat for this weekend, now is the time to remind folks that lightning is a threat to any and all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Remember your lightning safety tips and details on lightning safety can be seen at the following link and we have also added a link from last year’s NWS Boston/Norton Lightning Safety Awareness Week and Public Information Statements on Lightning Safety and will update with this year’s statements in a future coordination message. See links below:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

The next Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day weekend coordination message will be posted by 10 AM Saturday Morning due to likely SKYWARN Operations this afternoon and evening. We hope the Amateur Radio community participating in Field Day has a great weekend!
Respectfully Submitted,Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
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Field Day

Field Day Touring Support

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL Field Day 2024 logoBill Ricker, N1VUX, writes:

Greetings of the season.

I have posted GPS zip, KML, CSV extracts for use by Eastern Mass Field Day tourists. (Download link https://fd.ema.arrl.org/field_day/history/GPS_files_FD24.zip is on Tours page https://fd.ema.arrl.org/field_day/history/tours.html below the 2024 logo.   If there are any updates Friday, I’ll repost and re-email.)

If any Leadership Tourists have specific plans, I’d be happy to post plans ahead of time (including touring elsewhere in NE Div). (As usual I’ll be visiting Scituate Fourth Cliff, not committing to any other visits.)

 -73-
Bill    n1vux@arrl.net
editor https://ema.arrl.org/field_day/ 25th Annual EMA Field Day Directory

Field Day / NTS

Bonus Points For NTS Traffic During Field Day

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL Field Day 2024 logoPeter Doherty, KC1HHO, writes:

As ARRL Field Day approaches please keep in mind that you or your group can earn up to 200 Bonus Points by sending NTS Radiogram traffic from your Field Day site.

Relay stations will be calling out on the local Eastern MA repeaters and simplex calling frequency throughout the event asking for traffic.  You can also bring your traffic to a local traffic net, please see link below for net information.

Please review the rules 7.3.5 and 7.3.6, printed below as well as the address information for the Section Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator and links to other vital information and resources

7.3.5. Message Origination to Section Manager: 100 bonus points for origination of a formal message to the ARRL Section Manager or Section Emergency Coordinator by your group from its site. You should include the club name, number of participants, Field Day location, and number of ARES operators involved with your station. The message must be transmitted during the Field Day period and a copy of it must be included in your submission in either standard NTS or ICS-213 format (or have the equivalent content) or no credit will be given. The message must leave or enter the Field Day operation via amateur radio RF.

The Section Manager message is separate from the messages handled in Rule 7.3.6. and may not be claimed for bonus points under that rule. Available to all Classes.

Use the following address for the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL SECTION MANAGER

JON W MC COMBIE N1ILZ
ARRL SECTION MANAGER EMA
EASTHAM, MA 02642
Email: n1ilz@arrl.net

Use the following address for the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator.

ROBERT D MACEDO KD1CY
ARRL SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR EMA
NEW BEDFORD, MA 02740
Email: rmacedo@rcn.com

For messages sent under rule 7.3.6 please ensure your “send to addresses”  contain full name, address, telephone and or email including zip code.  They can be sent to anyone, not just amateur radio stations.

Below you will also find links to the 2024 ARRL Field Day Rule (complete) ,a link to the NTS Radiogram form and link to EMA traffic Nets.

7.3.6. Message Handling: 10 points for each formal message originated, relayed or received and delivered during the Field Day period, up to a maximum of 100 points (ten messages). Copies of each message must be included with the Field Day report. The message to the ARRL SM or SEC under Rule 7.3.5. does not count towards the total of 10 for this bonus. Messages claimed under this bonus must be in either standard NTS or ICS-213 format (or have the equivalent content). All messages claimed for bonus points must leave or enter the Field Day operation via amateur radio RF. Available to all Classes.

Rules

2024 ARRL Field Day Rules

Radiogram

RADIOGRAM-2011.pdf (arrl.org)

EMA NTS page (Scroll down to NTS Nets in Massachusetts)

https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/

We are looking forward to making your field day a full amateur radio experience.  Hope to hear from you. 73

Peter KC1HHO
Asst Traffic Manager EMA
Eastern MA 2 Meter Traffic Net Manager
Official Relay Station

Public Service

Amateur Radio Assistance Requested, Blackburn Challenge, Gloucester Vicinity, July 13, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
North Shore Radio Association logoEric Horwitz, KA1NCF, writes on the North Shore RA mailing list:
 
It is that time again for NSRA to help out the Cape Ann Rowing Club
 
They again are putting on Blackburn Challenge a 16-mile ayak race around Cape Ann.
 
Date: 07-13-24
Time: between 7 am and 3 pm
Location: Around Gloucester, MA
 
We are looking for a bunch of hams to spend their day on case boats for health and welfare communications.
 
Come enjoy a day on the water, and do some ham radio on the side.
 
I know it seems early to be asking for an event in July, But I am going away for the week before, so I want to have all the paperwork done before I leave. That way I know we are all set for event day!
 
Please email me at: ka1ncf@nsradio.org if you can HELP us!
 
Thanks

 
Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF
Cell: 978-828-0460
Public Service

American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure charity ride, Lexington, August 18, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

My name is Jim Bradley, KB1JKJ, from the North Shore Radio Association. We’ve been asked to assist with the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure charity ride in Lexington, MA on Sunday, August 18th, and we need your help to make it a success!

We’re looking for ham radio operators to fill two important roles:

  • SAG (Support and Gear) Drivers: Use your own vehicle to transport cyclists and their bikes if needed, and patrol the route to assist riders with any issues.
  • Rest Stop Communications: Help us maintain communication with the Command Center, providing updates on rest stop status and any assistance needed.

The event details are as follows:

Whether you’re a seasoned public service volunteer or looking to gain experience in this area, we welcome your participation! This is a great opportunity to support a worthy cause and learn more about the public service aspect of ham radio.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please email me with your preferred role (SAG driver or rest stop communications) and sign up on the volunteer website. https://signup.com/go/2024NewEnglandTour. 

I’ll send out more details and assignments closer to the event date.

Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you there!

73, Jim Bradley, KB1JKJ 
Vice President
North Shore Radio Association

Flea markets & Conventions

NEAR-Fest Moving to Hillsborough County (NH) Fairgrounds

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NEAR-Fest logoFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phil Brooks, KA1PXZ, Chief of NEAR-Fest, is pleased to announce that, effective October 4th, 2024, the New England Amateur Radio Festival, known as NEAR-Fest, will be held at the Hillsborough County Agricultural Society Fairgrounds and Youth Center located at New Boston NH, approximately 15 miles west of Manchester.

The reason for the permanent change in venue is due to ongoing scheduling conflicts with other events at the Deerfield (NH) Fairgrounds, NEAR-Fest’s home for the past eighteen years.

The hard decision to move the popular New England hamfest was taken by a unanimous vote of NEAR-Fest’s Board of Directors on May 17th, 2024.

In endorsing the decision NEAR-Fest’s Benevolent Dictator Emeritus, Michael Crestohl, W1RC, aka “Mister Mike” commented: “This was inevitable. The Deerfield Fairgrounds is becoming more and more popular with exhibitors and, as a designated agricultural fairgrounds, they have to give priority to agricultural events. We had a fabulous eighteen-year run. I am confident that Phil and Kelley, along with their team, will take NEAR-Fest forward at our new location for many years to come.”

Other than the location nothing else will change. It is still the same NEAR-Fest we have all known and loved since 2007!

NEAR-Fest XXXVI will be held Friday October 4th and Saturday October 5th, 2024 at the Hillsborough County Agricultural Society Fairgrounds, located at 17 Hilldale Lane, (Route 13) New Boston NH. GPS Coordinates 42.9842430, -71.6793460.

See you there!

NEAR-Fest (The New England Amateur Radio Festival, Inc.)

PO Box 172, Barton VT 05822 (781) 639-9172

World Wide Web: www.near-fest.com E-mail: ka1pxz@near-fest.com

Map of Hillsborough Co. fairgroundsMap of NEAR-Fest QTH in Hillsborough Co.

Foxhunting

KD1D Fox Hiding out in LIttleton, June 15, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Alan, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on June 15, 2024:

The KD1D Fox is once again at the Prouty Woods conservation area in Littleton, MA.  The official entry point to the trail is at the end of Wilderness Road, which starts just past the Police Station Parking lot.  Follow the semi-paved road (Speed Limit 10 mph), keeping an eye out for the resident chickens.  You can park near the barn and gate.  

The KD1D Fox is a 55 mW beacon transmitter, repeating a 25 second voice message every 60 seconds on 146.565 MHz FM simplex.

You probably won’t be able to hear the transmitter until you get behond utility pole # 22, so be patient and enjoy the woods and critters.  

I plan to leave the Fox out until noon on Tuesday.   If you can’t make it on the weekend, it should still be transmitting after work hours on Monday evening.

When you find it, please enter Callsign, Name, Date and Time in the logbook.

Best of luck! 73 DE KD1D Alan