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Bob Salow, WA1IDA writes on barc-list:

After five years of successful events, the Boston Triathlon now takes its place as a “tradition.” Ham radio has established its community value at times like these. We have been asked again to support safety communications. With a little fine tuning, including many ideas from hams, the event is expected to be even better than last year.

For those who have done this event before, you know the road conditions still call for our best support for the athletes. We need you again, and the Race Director has asked for even more ham help (that’s what happens when we are appreciated).

The triathlon consists of a swim in the harbor around the World Trade Center (WTC) in South Boston; bike from there through downtown Boston, Charlestown, across and around Cambridge, and back to the WTC; and run from the WTC into and around the Marine Industrial Park and finish at the WTC. Exhausting? Yes for the racers, no for us hams.

Date: Sunday, 3 September 2006

Ham start: 0600

Ham finish: 0930 to 1100

The ham start time is governed by road closures and access to the station locations. It is important to be at the assigned locations on time (even if you are the first one there) – the triathletes move very fast (I don’t know how they do it), so the course is occupied quickly.

Yes, I know it is the day before Labor Day. The upside is it starts early and ends early, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the long weekend. Your help is greatly needed to continue this as a superb event and to uphold our reputation for dependable support. Our assignments consist of monitoring hazardous and critical locations along the course, and the medical/support stations. As we did last year, we plan to use a 2-meter repeater and/or a 70-cm repeater. Hand-held with a good battery is the way to go.

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience with ham radio public service, this is the way to become familiar without much pressure. If you can help, please contact me as soon as possible. I will email the assignments and more detail as soon as they are available. For most assignments, you can go directly to your station.

Time is short, so please let me know quickly if you can help. If you reply from an email address other than the one best for you, let me know. Also, please send me a phone number (cell, also). Parking should be available very close to each assignment. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks and 73,

Bob Salow, WA1IDA

508.650.9440

wa1ida@arrl.net

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An additional note:

This is the first of a few of the public service events for this fall which are coordinated by the Boston Amateur Radio Club. In the near future I will be sending you information about each. I hope you can help with all or some of these opportunities to demonstrate our skills to the community. Here is a summary of events coming up in the next couple of months:

** 16 September – WGBH Ice Cream FunFest – Logistics management, ham radio public awareness.

** 8 October – BAA Half Marathon – 13.1 miles, 98% in Boston, 2% in Brookline.

On August 2, Terry Stader, KA8SCP received a request for Amateur Radio communications assistance for a shelter in Westford during the recent heat emergency. Stader sought at least two people to staff two shifts, six-to-eight hours in length. He polled members of the Police Amateur Radio Team of Westford and others in the area. A total of five amateurs volunteered: WI1R, AA1VS, WA1VIE, K1LJN and KA8SCP. “Coincidently, these folks are also Community Emergency Response Team members in the Merrimack Valley,” writes KA8SCP.

“Shelter ops were conducted at the Cameron Senior Center on only one night–Tuesday night,” according to Stader. “I got the phone call late Tuesday night around 10:15 PM that there was an elderly woman from the Graniteville side of town who was without power and was going to be transported to the senior center.”

Stader adds that it was originally “only going to be for a couple of hours” but ended up being all night. Once the electric company repaired the outage, the woman was transported back home and the shelter operation was closed about 4:45 AM.

“I’ve been asked to pass on thank you from Chief Rochon, Tim Whitcomb and Captain Joe Targ to those that offered to assist,” adds KA8SCP. “I, too, would like to thank those of you that offered to help and stood by ready to go to Cameron if needed. Fortunately we were only called to action the one night.”

Jeff Arnold, N1FWV writes:

It is that time once again to announce the Head of the Charles Regatta on October 20, 21, 22. On behalf of the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay I would like to invite you to join us once again this year as the ham radio support for this great event.

Please let me know the following:

Name, Call sign, Address, Phone, Cell, Email address, Jacket size, What day or days you would like to work

Friday, Oct 20 noon – 6:30
Saturday, Oct 21 8am – 6:30
Sunday, Oct 22 7am – 5:30

Please also let me know if you CANNOT help us out this year but would like to remain on our list

If you agree to work a day, please plan on being there the whole time. it is very difficult to do a shift change in the middle of the day.

For those who come from afar, we have allowed you to come in a bit late, but as you know, parking can be difficult and roads close early.

Hope to hear from each of you.

Jeff, K1EMS (old call N1FWV)
RWJeffa@comcast.net

N1DT and K1VV plan to activate Boston and The Graves Light under the call W1AA for the National Lighthouse Weekend 2006 on August 5, 2006 from 7:00 AM EST (1100 UTC) until about 5:00 PM EST (2100 UTC).

National Lighthouse Weekend is held annually to promote public awareness of ham radio and lighthouses; to contribute to the recognition that lighthouses, lightships, and their keepers deserve.

Whitey, K1VV notes that he and N1DT will begin operations on 75 meters, above 3980 kHz. “Check 3996.” On 40 phone, look for W1AA between the nets, most likely below 7270, down to 7225. Whitey says they’ll also use 20 phone later in the morning above 14310, or 17 meters above 18150. “We will return to 40 phone about 1530 to 1600 UTC, about noon local time.”

Morse code operation will be conducted roughly on the half hour, on 7035, 10116, 14035 and 18080 kHz, plus or minus QRM.

“We will be posting our spots on the DX Summit. but we would appreciate any and all W1AA spots by the members.” He adds, “DX QSLs are via the W1 Bureau and stateside are via W1AA please with an SASE. A photo of the lighthouse will be furnished.”

The Graves Light is located in Outer Boston Harbor. It can be seen from points along the shore in Winthrop (Shore Drive), Hull (Nantasket Beach), and Nahant, but is best seen by boat. It was established in 1905. With a height of 113 feet, it exhibits two white flashes every 12 seconds. Its fog signals two blasts ever 20 seconds.

Boston Light is located on Little Brewster Island in Outer Boston Harbor. The station was initially established in 1716. The current lighthouse tower was built in 1783. Constructed of stone with brick lining, the tower stands 89 feet high. The lighthouse flashes white every 10 seconds. Its fog signals one blast every 30 seconds.

Tony Duarte, N1XRS is seeking volunteers to help with communications for the 5th annual Cranberry Country Triathlon in Lakeville on August 26, 2006.

“I would like to have people there for 7AM as it starts at 8AM,” writes Duarte, who can be contacted via email at tdduarte@comcast.net.

The Cranberry is based at the Ted Williams Camp on Rte. 18 in Lakeville, less than an hour from Boston. The swim goes around Loon Pond, the bike takes you over scenic roads and the run includes shady sections and plenty of water stations. For complete information on the race visit http://www.cranberrycountrytri.com/.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ted Williams Camp, the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute, the West Bridgewater Drama Club and the West Bridgewater Music Club.

Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club participated in the Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg on July 2, 2006.

Shown here (l-r): N1UZ, KD1SM and K1JHK receiving their assignments. Photo courtesy KD1SM

–NVARC Signal, July, 2006

Meeting notes from the July 16, 2006 New England Division Cabinet Meeting in Portland, Maine have been posted on-line for your reading pleasure. The bi-annual meetings are held approximately one week before regular ARRL Board of Director meetings to allow Section Managers, Assistant Directors, Advisory Committee members and Affiliated Club Presidents the opportunity to voice their opinions and provide feedback to the Director and Vice Director. [See also: ARRL New England Division Cabinet Meeting 7/16/06]

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association has been officially renewed as a Special Service Club by ARRL Headquarters.

“Through the work of its members, [Framingham ARA] is recognized for its continued efforts on behalf of Amateur Radio and services to its community.” wrote ARRL Club Assistant Rose-Anne Lawrence, KB1DMW in a July 20, 2006 letter to FARA’s President Gordy Bello, K1GB, Eastern MA Affiliated Club Coordinator Phil Temples, K9HI, Section Manager Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, and New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI.

“Extraordinary clubs like FARA actively pursue all aspects of Amateur Radio: new ham development and training, public relations, emergency communications, school club support, technical advancement and operating activities,” commented K9HI.

More information about Special Service Clubs can be found at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/#ssc_program

The annual Eastern MA traffic handlers’ picnic will be held August 6, 2006 from 12 noon until 4:00 p.m. at the Raynham Senior Center picnic area in Raynham, MA. [Full story]

The Harvard Wireless Club and the MIT Radio Society ran a joint effort in the IARU HF World Championship from W1MX on July 8-9, 2006.

“We finished with about 1200 QSOs,” writes HWC member Clayton Nall, NF1R. The joint operation saw participation by five operators at the W1MX shack at MIT in Cambridge.

Interestingly, HWC member and Harvard alum Fred Hopengarten, K1VR of Lincoln, MA heard the MIT/Harvard team while participating in the event from Brazil. “W1MX had a good, but not great, signal. I was the referee for the Estonian team, using the callsign PW5K.”

N1DT and K1VV plan to activate Clark’s Point Lighthouse (ARLHS USA 174) in New Bedford under the call W1AA on Saturday, July 15, 2006 from 10:30 UTC (6:30 AM EST) until 18:00 UTC (2:00 PM EST).

“You all are the reason we activate these lights,” writes Robert “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV. “See you all on Saturday. Please be there.”

Whitey notes that he and Don will begin operations on 75 meters, above 3980 kHz. In the past, 3997 has been used. “On 40 phone, tune for us between the nets, most likely below 7270, down to 7225.” Whitey says they’ll also use 20 phone later in the morning above 14310, or 17 meters above 18150. “We will return to 40 phone about 1530 to 1600 UTC, about noon local time.”

Morse code operation will be conducted roughly on the half hour, on 7035, 10116, 14035 and 18080 kHz, plus or minus QRM.

“We will be posting our spots on the DX Summit. but we would appreciate any and all W1AA spots by the members.” He adds, “DX QSLs are via the W1 Bureau and stateside are via W1AA please with an SASE. A photo of the lighthouse will be furnished.”

Located at Fort Taber at the entrance to New Bedford Harbor and the Acushnet River, the lighthouse was originally established in 1797. The current tower, built in 1869, is not open to the public.