All

Jeff Arnold, N1FWV writes:

I have heard from quite a few of you, but still need quite a bit of help for Saturday and Sunday October 23rd and 24th from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. We do need you for the whole day. It is too difficult to schedule someone to leave their site. If you can’t make it until a later time, we may be able to use you, but access to the course is very limited, since all the streets are closed in the area.

I still have openings for land and boat positions. Please pass the word around to those who you think may want to help us this year. If you know of email groups, or club web pages, please have them past this request.

For those who would like to volunteer, please send email to RWJeffA@comcast.net with the following information Name, address, call sign, phone, jacket size, what day they can work, and if they would like a land or boat position.

Thanks in advance.

Jeff

*************************************
Jeffrey Arnold
RWJeffA@comcast.net
N1FWV@amsat.org
*************************************

Rob Macedo, KD1CY writes:

Amateur Radio Operators involved in the NWS Taunton ARES-SKYWARN program in Massachusetts were in a new support role over the Labor Day Weekend as net controls for the Voice Over IP SKYWARN Net that assists in supporting the National Hurricane Center which operates under call-sign, WX4NHC. The purpose of the net is to forward estimated and measured wind information, wind damage reports, barometric pressure, measured rainfall, coastal flooding, river and stream flooding and any funnel cloud/tornado reports to the National Hurricane Center when requested to do so by the National Hurricane Center coordinators.

Amateur Radio Operators from SEMARA (the Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association) ARES team, W1AEI-Arthur Irwin, W1RJC-Rick Cabral, KD4CLJ-Dave Bodman from the Sturdy Memorial ARES team, KB1CYO-Phil Mclaughlin from Norfolk County SKYWARN who is also an operator at NWS Taunton, Ray Weber-KA1JJM, Western Massachusetts SKYWARN Coordinator and Rob Macedo-KD1CY, the ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton assisted in these operations over the course of the past 3 days. This assistance included acting as a primary net control for the net, acting as an assistant net control to cover for the primary net control when sending reports online to the National Hurricane Center, and reading critical NHC advisories to the affected areas of Hurricane Frances.

The Voice Over IP WX Net utilizes the WX_TALK server on Echolink and IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) reflector 9210 through a cross-link that allows both systems to be connected simultaneously. This allows the National Hurricane Center access to many Hams who may have weather station equipment or who are SKYWARN Spotters that may not have HF capability or privileges. It also allows net controls from around the United States and even internationally to assist in operations. There were several net controls from such far away places as Australia and Hawaii who covered the net during the overnight hours in the affected area of Florida. This works well since the operator’s in these areas are covering during “their” daytime. In addition, other net controls from Ohio, North Carolina, Washington, South Carolina, Minnesota, Texas and other states and countries were monitoring and assisting where required.

The SEMARA Club activated their Ham Station under call-sign W1AEC in support of this effort. The club station has capability to reach numerous Echolink/IRLP nodes and also allowed for monitoring and relaying to the Hurricane Watch Net on HF frequency 14.325 KHz when required. A station just outside of Stewart, Florida could not be heard by monitoring stations on the Hurricane Watch Net and Hams at the SEMARA Club relayed the information to the Hurricane Watch Net Control. The station in Stewart, Florida was looking for a position on the eye and whether the severe northeast quadrant of the eye had totally passed his location as he was without any capability to receive weather bulletins and radar updates. Net Control operations out of SEMARA was done by a team of Amateurs with at least 2 Amatuers present at all times. KD4CLJ-Dave, KB1CYO-Phil and KA1JJM-Ray opeated out of their home/work locations to provide support for the net.

Several dozen reports were handled by all the net controls including the ones who served from Massachusetts ARES-SKYWARN. Five shifts of varying lengths were covered in the varying capacities of Net Control and Assistant Net Control stations by Amateurs in Massachusetts and many other shifts were covered by Hams in other states and countries as stated previously. Many criteria reports of wind damage as well as measured and estimated winds were received by the net. One station in the affected area, KA4EPS-Lou from Deerfield Beach Florida gave several wind measurement reports at his location and at another residence’s location in Boynton Beach Inlet near Malapan, Florida as well as wind damage reports from his area to net controls from Massachusetts and other states during the course of the net. A peak wind gust of 113 MPH was measured at Boynton Beach Inlet before the anemometer was destroyed by the storm per a report recieved this morning. In addition, liaisons to SKYWARN Nets in the Tampa Bay area as well as Broward County Florida were also on frequency. Numerous stations from the Orlando and Daytona Beach Florida area were also on the air giving reports of criteria to be forwarded to the National Hurricane Center. Former NWS Taunton Amateur Radio Operator, Mike Leger, N1YLQ, who formerly lived in Massachusetts and now lives in Florida, provided reports to both the VoIP WX Net and the Hurricane Watch Net from the backup Daytona Beach Red Cross EOC in Deland, Florida and is providing support to Red Cross operations.

The experience has given Amateurs in Massachusetts a taste of what a hurricane can bring to the region as well as enhanced critical skills in determining what data should be sent to the National Hurricane Center if a hurricane strikes the NWS Taunton County Warning area. Unfortunately, the help maybe needed again as Hurricane Ivan threatens the Carribean Islands and could pose a threat to the US East Coast at the end of this week or early next week depending on his eventual track. Hurricane Ivan is currently a Category-IV Hurricane that is threatening the Carribean Leeward Islands including Barbados. The National Hurricane Center along with the Hurricane Watch Net, and the VoIP WX Net will activate as early as 6PM EDT on Monday for the impact of Hurricane Ivan.

On September 25 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Family Day will be held in Ward Park in Marlborough. CERT Teams from across the state will be there, participating in competitions, games and demonstrations. Mobile command centers from the MA State Police, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and Fire and Sheriffs Office will be on display.

—Thanks, Algonquin ARC QRZ, September 2004

Any hams in the Brookline, Dedham, Needham, Westwood, or Dover area (Towns in the Boy Scout Noanet District) interested in helping Boy Scouts participate in the Jamboree on the Air October 16-17? I am a ham and a scout leader, but I will be with my troop (Troop 3 Westwood) on Cape Cod operating JOTA from Nickerson State Park (and I’m hoping for no rain!).

If you are in another town and are interested in JOTA, I will pass your information to the Boston Minuteman Council Boy Scout officials to see if they have other scouts interested in other areas in Eastern Massachusetts.

Please e-mail me at bean.richard@comcast.net or call me at home at 781-461-0101.

Thank you,
Dick Bean, K1HC

I note in the September QST (pg 40) of the celebration of Hiram Percy Maxim\’s Birthday, from September 2nd through the 12th.

This is an ideal time for the section management of the ARRL, ARES, etc to \”talk up\” the section, and who\’s involved, especially to the newer hams.

In North Carolina, for the 125th celebration, we organized a statewide net that linked up several repeaters in the state, and had every qualified station that could(ARRL Field Positions), check in to the net. Then all other checkins were taken, from any ham station.

All of the non-qualifying stations got \”credit for a contact\” with all of the qualifying stations, so were able to qualify for the certificate offered by the ARRL for the event.

But even more important, each non-qualifying station became aware of WHO THEIR SECTION LEADERSHIP WAS, local as well as state-wide.

The net was long, in fact so long we decided to extend it to the next evening, so it totaled up to be a six-hour net!

It is perhaps too late to try and organize something this year, but perhaps it\’s something for the future.

For now, if you\’re a Field Appointee, please consider signing \”callsign/135\” for the duration of the event!

David Bodman, KD4CLJ

Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, E. Mass. Section Emergency Coordinator discusses the potential threat from Hurricane Frances for New Englanders during the latter part of the Labor Day Holiday weekend:

“It is still too early to say for sure where this hurricane will go, but its track now suggests that it will probably continue toward the Southeast US coast.” [Full story]

Ham radio is on the program for the World Science Fiction Convention being held in Boston September 2-6. Special features for ham radio operators will include:

1. A special interest group meeting covering the past connection of ham radio and science fiction, the future plans for ham radio in space, and radio resources for convention attendees in the Boston area.

2. A list of recommended simplex and repeater frequencies for convention attendees, including times when nets are scheduled on each repeater. This should avoid conflicts with normal operations. For other interested hams, the suggested simplex frequencies are 146.565, 147.42, and 446.000.

3. A check-in board for ham attendees, even if they don\’t have their equipment along.

4. A chance for convention attendees to be part of the Maxim 135th birthday operating event: local hams attending include League appointees qualified to act as special event stations.

The World Science Fiction Convention is an annual event involving roughly 6,000 attendees from all over the world. A major part of the event is the Hugo awards (roughly the same prestige as the Oscars) named for Hugo Gernsback who published the first science fiction magazine and who was the first person (in 1906) to sell complete ham radio stations. Obviously, ham radio is modern science fiction\’s older brother.

The bi-annual Hosstraders Hamfest happens October 1-2, 2004 at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds, off I-89, Exit 7, in Hopkinton NH.

Check the Official Hosstraders web site for more information.

Bob DeMattia, K1IW (NESMC president-elect) writes:

“Per the vote taken by the board on 22 August, I’ve published the New England Spectrum Management Council’s announcement concerning the frequency coordinator openings which we are seeking to fill on the NESMC website. We are looking for the broadest distribution possible to ensure a large pool of applicants. [Full story]

Sumner Weisman, W1VIV writes on FraminghamARA-L:

“Get certified in CPR in only 4 hours. You may be able to save a life. A class is coming on October 9th, in our regular FARA meeting room at the Danforth. The cost is only $25 per person, about half what the Red Cross charges. Our instructor is Ken Reynolds, KA1EZH. Payment in advance is required. Send a check, made out to FARA, to:

Sumner Weisman, W1VIV
43 Agnes Drive
Framingham, MA 01701

Questions? w1viv@rcn.com

       PSLIST                                              August 15, 2004

    Public Service Volunteer Opportunities in the New England Division
Listing public events at which Amateur Radio communications is providing

a public service and for which additional volunteers from the Amateur

Community are needed and welcome.  Please contact the person listed to

identify how you may serve and what equipment you may need to bring.
The most up-to-date copy of this list is maintained as

http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv
   **** Every event listed is looking for communications volunteers ****
Date    Location      Event                       Contact      Tel/Email
Aug 21  MtWashngtn NH Tin Mountain Hillclimb      Cliff N1RCQ  603-279-7763

                                                           n1rcq@cnharc.org

Aug 22  MtWashngtn NH Tin Mountain Bicycle Ride   Cliff N1RCQ  603-279-7763

                                                           n1rcq@cnharc.org

Sep 10  Hyannis    MA MS Challenge Walk           John N1PYN   508-588-3250

        to Brewster                                          n1pyn@arrl.net

Sep 11  Brewster   MA MS Challenge Walk           John N1PYN   508-588-3250

        to Eastham                                           n1pyn@arrl.net

Sep 12  Brewster   MA MS Challenge Walk           John N1PYN   508-588-3250

        to Dennis                                            n1pyn@arrl.net

Sep 17  Plymouth   MA ALA Autumn Escape Bicycle   Bruce KC1US  781-275-3740

        to Sandwich MA      Tour                  kc1us04@amateur-radio.net

Sep 18  Madison    CT MS Tour 150                 Scott AA1WM  203-676-1016

        to Modus CT                                   sbicycles@comcast.net

Sep 18  Sandwich   MA ALA Autumn Escape Bicycle   Bruce KC1US  781-275-3740

        to Brewster MA      Tour                  kc1us04@amateur-radio.net

Sep 19  Modus      CT MS Tour 150                 Scott AA1WM  203-676-1016

        to Madison CT                                 sbicycles@comcast.net

Sep 19  Brewster   MA ALA Autumn Escape Bicycle   Bruce KC1US  781-275-3740

        to Provincetown MA  Tour                  kc1us04@amateur-radio.net

Sep 19  Hopkinton  MA Jimmy Fund Walk             Steve W3EVE  508-384-7697

        to Boston                                            w3eve@arrl.net

Oct  9  Pepperell  MA Fall Classic Soccer          John KB1HDO 978-772-5406

                                                         kb1dho@verizon.net

Oct 10  Pepperell  MA Fall Classic Soccer          John KB1HDO 978-772-5406

                                                         kb1dho@verizon.net

Oct 11  Pepperell  MA Fall Classic Soccer          John KB1HDO 978-772-5406

                                                         kb1dho@verizon.net
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