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The Whitman Amateur Radio Club conducted a two-day special event from the Plimoth Plantation over the weekend following Thanksgiving.

Bruce Hayden, President of the Whitman Club reports that 16 area amateur radio operators “hams” set up five base stations and portable antennas at the re-creation of the 17th century Pilgrim settlement and Indian homesite. They exchanged contacts with just over 170 other amateur radio operators in 32 States, 8 foreign countries and 4 Canadian Provinces…The ham operators spread the word of Plimoth Plantation over the airways. They explained about the living museum and how they found the visitors, especially the children, amazed by the actors, dressed as Pilgrims and trained to speak in the language of the time. The ‘settlers’, to stay ‘in part’ would not acknowledge the existence of any of our modern technical wonders as they explained about the harsh reality of early Pilgrim life.

In preparation of the event, notice of the program was published in QST. The crew found amateur radio operators from all over the world waiting to make contact with Plimoth Plantation.

Each amateur who contacted the club station WA1NPO, was entitled to receive a certificate suitable for framing which includes a picture of the Mayflower II and confirms the date and time of the contact.

Along with listening to one of the conventional voice stations, Walter Dolson K1BZD of Whitman set up a message center and 36 visitors took advantage of the opportunity to send messages to friends or relatives. Walter was able to explain to the visitors to the plantation how we practice sending routine messages, via radio to amateur radio operators in the local neighborhood who pick up the phone and deliver the message free of charge. Walter also explained how these routine messages could quickly change to priority or emergency messages in times of National emergencies.

The Licensed operators who were able to participate in this special event were Jeff Tracey N1SOM and Mike Marinucci N1FRV of Abington, Roy Logan KB1CYV of Bridgewater, Ed Meehan N1NTZ of Brockton, Bill McInerney N1KBV of Buzzards Bay, Chris Tilden N1WWI and George Pedro KE1KR of E. Bridgewater, George Davis KC1FZ of Hingham, John Coombs WQ1L and Jim Gilbert W5IRW of Marshfield, Jim Halpin KB1ETW, Jim O’Rourke WG1L and Don Keene KA1PJX of No. Weymouth, Bruce Hayden NI1X of Raynham and Bill Hayden N1FRE and Walter Dolson K1BZD of Whitman. —Thanks, MARANews

N1DHW writes:

This week’s CEMARC Youth Net reached its second milestone.

Young Kelsey McGovern, using her father John’s call, W1JMC, acted as Net Control for the net entirely on her own this week. She performed her net control duties perfectly by maintaining control, generating a platform for participant discussion, and overall, sounded like a professional NC with years of experience.

“Kelsey, congratulations on your performance.”

For those of you who haven’t taken the time to encourage young hams, or future hams that you are aware of, whether are your own, a relative’s, a neighbor’s or a friend’s, to join this wonderful group of young adults in their ham radio experience on the air, shame on you.

If we don’t encourage these young adults now, then we are doing them, and ourselves a disservice. Take a minute, think of who might enjoy getting on the air with them. Call their parents. Offer them your assistance in getting on the air. Review your club rosters for family memberships, and contact that member and remind them of the net. If you’re connected to a Scout group, arrange to have them over your shack on Sunday. Thanks to the MMRA linked system, it’s possible for almost any youngster to join in.

It’s up to all of us now to help build this fine group. Keep them active and help the net grow. Give our youth a minute of your time, make a call.

Note: Ann Weldon, KA1PON, was presented a well deserved Certificate at the CEMARC meeting Saturday for her outstanding, and continuing contributions to the children of the ham community.” Congratulations and thank you, Ann”. Additionally, Kevin, K1KWP, and the MMRA Control Operaters were also recognized for their contributions in helping to make the Youth Net possible.

Remember, this net is for children ONLY.

Weekly Schedule – Sunday 7:00pm MMRA Repeaters

The next one day class will be held Saturday February 8, 2003.. Cost is free to BARS members and their family, $15.00 to non BARS members. Please contact Bruce Anderson (W1LUS) for details at 978-851-2886 or the following email address W1LUS@arrl.net

Cape Cod Times, November 17, 2002.

“Houston, We Have a Program”

Students from Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Provincetown High School and Nauset High School will be chatting with astronauts in orbit as part of the 100-year anniversary of the first trans-Atlantic radio transmission.

See the Cape Cod Times Online for the full story and photo.

The Massachusetts SATERN EOC, at Mass. Div. HQ’s. was the designated Metro-Boston District EOC for the EMass. ARRL ARES/RACES SET conducted on November 9th. The Metro-Boston ARES DEC, Bill Ricker, N1VUX, was in command, assisted by both SATERN Team Leader, Frank Murphy, N1DHW and BERT Leader, Rick DeSisto, NG1L. ( Boston ARC ” Emergency Response Team”)…The purpose of this season’s drill was to test the ability of Primary Field Teams (PFT’s) to tactically communicate without the use of repeaters. Additionally, having PFT’s relay traffic from outlying district EOC’s and PFT’s to Metro-Boston EOC and MEMA. All tactical traffic between field teams and EOC’s was passed using 2m, 6m, and 70cm simplex only. Traffic between outlying District EOC’s and Mass. State Emergency Management sites was passed using RACES NTS formal HF messaging on 6 and 40 meters. (NVIS)

The SATERN EOC was manned by 6 SATERN members including the Massachusetts SATERN Coordinator, Bill Foley, kb1glf. One of the Boston canteens was manned by Rick Meuse, N1HID, and equipped for HF and vhf/uhf communications, and designated as Boston Tactical Remote Vehicle.

PFT’s were organized from the Boston Amateur Radio Club ” Emergency Response Team”, and were dispatched to two remote “high” areas outside Metro-Boston. Many of this group, 30 strong, are SATERN members; some of whom were active at “Ground Zero”. Individual “mobile and home players” provided tactical traffic related to “simulated emergency conditions/situations” that could be arise around Metro-Boston”. Additionally, the town of Hingham’s Emergency Management EOC was tied in, since it is located within contact range of the “Cape Cod and Islands District”. It was manned by the EM, Mark Duff, KB1EKN, the Hingham Deputy Fire Chief, and a radio officer.

Radio Equipment Used:

EOC – SATERN/METRO BOSTON

Yaesu FT900, Icom 706MKIIG, Icom 2100, Knwd TM-G707, Knwd 315A and individual Ht’s, and EOC scanners.

The SA location, 5 stories high, had a 5 band vertical, 6 mtr vertical, and a 40 mtr dipole(NVIS), along with 2, 220, and 440 vertical. (G5RV not used)

Commercial Power was used; however multiple rechargeable marine batteries and generators were available.

Tactical Remote Vehicle – A30:

Icom 706MKIIG, Knwd dual bander, Ht’s, and truck’s scanners. This vehicle is also equipped with direct Fire Alarm communications with Metro-Boston.

HF was with an Outbacker Antenna and trucks HF whip. VHF/UHF was with truck mounted antennas and mobile magnet mounts.

Primary Field Teams –

North – Located at Chelsea Veterans Home (Malone Park)
4 BERT/SATERN Members
NG1L ~ Rick – BERT Team Leader
AA1XS ~ James
N1LRT – Paul
KA1RDZ – Dan Equipped with 2 – 706 MKIIG (Mobile Verticals) / and dual band mobiles

South/West – Located at Larz Anderson Park, Brookline (BARC FD Site)
WA1IDA ~ Bob
N1ZKR ~ Paul / Pres. BARC
KB1IBG ~ Walter

Results and What We Learned:

The drill was a success, but not without its problems.

First, the drill as outlined, proved that we (SATERN and BERT) could communicate successfully to State EM without the use of repeaters in the Eastern Mass. Section. The SATERN EOC was able to directly communicate with all Mass. Emergency Management Agency locations on air. We were also able to communicate with all of our PFT’s, our Tactical Vehicle on HF, and the Hingham EOC on both HF and VHF simplex. The DEC used 6 meters to conduct drill discussions with the SEC, w1mpn. Additionally, we received and passed traffic from outlying district PFT’s, and also passed American Red Cross traffic from members of the Western Mass. Section, who were conducting an American Red Cross Hospital drill at the same time.

We learned that once our Primary 40m (NVIS) frequency was taken over by a non-participating slow-scan video station, that the secondary HF frequency became too crowded. (needs Net Control Operator) The primary Tactical VHF frequency was also too crowded. (it also needed a Net Control)

The Frequency Table provided was adequate, but not utilized correctly by most.

While the locations selected for the remote sites were optimum for individual team communications, today’s high power equipment, good antennas, and the presence of a “lift condition”, created a condition on simplex similar to most DX pile-ups. Without a Net Control Operator to sort out the hailing stations and directing us to alternate frequencies to pass traffic, weaker, distant stations were not recognized, or if they were on alternate frequencies, they were not heard. Emphasis must be placed on proper use of hailing frequencies/initial contact freq’s, with direction to an alternate by a NCS. (Thought should be given by Section Manager and SEC, to assigning individual club simplex frequencies for better hailing.)

The next step for our SATERN/BERT Group must be to test our ability to communicate within the ring of “high ground”. We must dispatch mobile operators, or the canteen, to many of the shelters, hospitals, and local EOC’s to recognize those problem communication area’s we may encounter in a real world disaster in Metro-Boston . Also, the equipment used at the EOC was provided by SATERN members and took considerable time to transport, erect antennas and set-up. The Salvation Army Mass. Division MUST purchase its own equipment, and provide a permanently equipped in house EOC location, that can be opened and manned in a reasonable time to be able to respond quickly. The Sharon, Mass. “Camp Wonderland” should also be equipped and tested as an alternate EOC location.

Some areas we have to work-on are:

1 – separation of EOC operators (too distracting hearing multiple traffic)
2 – assign tactical calls to our own PFT’s for easier recognition of hailing
3 – assign a recorder to each operator, and a separate NTS writer for traffic
4 – build a retractable operating shelf in the canteen for HF radio equipment
5 – wire external antenna connectors
6 – provide seating for the mobile operator.
7 – SOP for SATERN and BERT teams/ tested and distributed to all members.
8 – better participation of club members to drill training efforts. Only 12 members participated from BERT,40%, and 8% of total BARC membership.
9 – request additional “home/mobile players” participate in next drill to test real world LOAD on EOC’s ability to steer and pass tactical info correctly.
10- establish a list of HF hailing freq’s to other New England SATERN and American Red Cross EOC’s.

The final CEMARC meeting of the year will be hosted by the Algonquin Amateur Radio Club on December 7th at 9:00 am. Location will be the Central Fire Station in Marlborough. The address is 255 Maple Street (Route 85).

A tour of the Marlborough EOC will be conducted prior to the meeting.

Please submit agenda items to: n1dhw@arrl.net

Don’t forget that the annual club auction is this coming Saturday November 16th. Complete information is on our club website at www.wara64.org/auction/

The main reason for this message is that our steadfast printer of our newsletter has, sadly gone out of business and the newsletter has yet to make it to the post office. We’re working hard to make that happen but it’s getting so close to the auction that I wanted to ask folks to talk it up on the air and with friends. This is our main fund raiser for the club for the year so anything you can do to help get the word out will be appreciated.

73 for now,
Ron, N1USS

Happy Veterans Day!

Today we were able to activate K1USN from 9 AM – 3:30 PM. K1VV, K1RV, W1BT, KB1IUB, N1VTI and NI1X were on the air using both HF stations in Radio Room 5. We also activated the IRLP from Node # 4320.

We were able to work well over 100 contacts on 20-17-15 and 10 meters SSB. Band conditions were very good with many excellent signal reports from throughout the US, South America, Europe and Africa. We made many contacts with veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces.

We were able to work several other Museum Ships and also spoke with some of our friends associated with other ships that were not activated today. We did work the USS Clamagore just before they had to secure due to bad wx conditions! AA2WN-Harry said that the USS New Jersey is gearing up for this year’s Scouting program.They can be contacted on IRLP Node # 3740. VA3USN-John told us that the HCMS Haida was due to enter dry-dock within the next 10 days and several of their members have been spending time onboard the USS The Sullivans and USS Croaker. They expect more activity from the USS Little Rock soon. They also hope to get active on the IRLP soon.

The USS Kid was quite active and we did work them several times using the IRLP on Node # 8560 but not on HF. They also had well over 100 QSO’s today.

We spoke with one of the guys from the USS Hornet Radio Club – NB6GC, who tried to “hook us up” on 15 meters. We never did get to work them, but I did speak with several stations who had worked them. They may also be getting active with IRLP soon.

There were many stations working the USS Missouri – KH6BB today, but we never seemed to have good propagation to Pearl Harbor. Perhaps we should have tried the Echolink which was quite successful during the Museum Ships Weekend!

Thanks to all who participated today and encourage any other Museum Ships to let us know if they were active for Veterans Day.

73 , Pi – K1RV / K1USN

The Boston Amateur Radio Club’s recent JOTA operation garnered some great publicity in the form of an article and two photos in the Hingham Journal. Thanks, n1dhw.