Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday September 11th, 2023 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all…

The September Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday September 11th, 2023 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. It is on the second Monday of the month due to the Labor Day holiday last week.

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 a number of announcements and items for this month’s net.

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
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Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 9/11/23 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

AB1PH-Don Rolph-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,
Since the first Monday in Sep, Sep 4, was labor day, for Sep., the RACES nets will be held on Mon Sep 11.
The RACES nets will be held on Mon Sep 11 at:

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

The HF net will start at 6:45 PM ET: using the following frequency plan:
We will start at 3930 KHz moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency,
Marc Stern WA1R will be net control.

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

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.
Don Rolph using call sign WA1PLE will be net control.

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HF NBEMS net:
7:00 PM ET
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.
Don Rolph AB1PH 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 Sep 11 and 2400 Monday Sep 11.

We look forward to you checking in!

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Amateur Radio Communications Support Opportunity: B.A.A. Half Marathon, November 12, 2023

Boston Athletic Assoc. logoEthan Hansen, KC1OIP, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:

Some of you may have already seen this from the B.A.A but Volunteer Registration for the Half Marathon on November 12th is open! Please see the information below from the B.A.A.

The B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, returns to Franklin Park on Sunday, November 12, 2023. We invite you to join us as a volunteer to support the third and final event of the 2023 B.A.A. Distance Medley. 
 
Volunteer Registration is ongoing within your B.A.A. Athletes’ Village Account  
  • To apply, log in to your B.A.A. Athletes’ Village account or sign up for an account if you have not yet done so already.  
    • All 2021, 2022, and 2023 Boston Marathon volunteer applicants should have an existing Athletes’ Village account.
  • Navigate to the Volunteers page on your account. Select the “To Volunteer Click Here” button. Follow the instructions on the form. 
  • Your application is complete once you receive an application confirmation number.
The volunteer registration deadline for the B.A.A. Half Marathon is Friday, October 20 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Please note, we do anticipate receiving more volunteer applicants than we are able to accept.

If you haven’t volunteered at a B.A.A event before you will need to create an account and profile. Unlike the full marathon there is only one option for Amateur Radio which can be found after selecting “General” volunteer. 

Hope to see you on race day!

73,
Ethan KC1OIP
BARC Public Service Chair

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 9/9/23 at 1000 AM EDT

N1SOM-Jeff – Secretary of the South Shore Hospital (SSH) group writes:

Good evening,

On Saturday September 9, 2023, the Mansfield EMA will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM. We realize that the usual locations for some individuals and groups are still unavailable due to ongoing COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net.

We will use the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Plymouth Repeater 146.685 tone 131.8
2. West Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244​
3. Attleboro Repeater 147.195 tone 127.3
4. Plymouth Repeater for Net closing.

NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check-in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.

We extend an invitation to any health care facility, EOC of any city or town as well as RACES or ARES members to check in during the NET.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand at Net Control please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com or replying to this message. The goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many individuals and groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct these monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event.

We hope to hear you Saturday.

Jeff N1SOM, Secretary, and the SSH group
N1SOM – W1SSH

Minuteman Repeater Association Volunteer Exam Session, Marlborough, September 16, 2023

MMRA logoKen Horton, KA1GFN, writes on the Algonquin ARC mailing list:

The next MMRA VE exam session will be held on September 16th at 9:00 AM at the City Church Marlborough, 72 Jefferson Street , Second Floor (Shoe Box Building), Marlborough.

For further information check the MMRA website at https://mmra.org/ which includes additional information on their home page.

Ken, KA1GFN

Great Hill Gang “Day of Radio,” North Weymouth, September 7, 2023

K1GHG QSL CardMike Antoine, K1UVH, writes in K1USN Happenings, 9/7/23:

CQ – CQ – CQ, The Great Hill Gang Radio Club – K1GHG

Mark you calendar for Saturday September 16th, our next “ Day of Radio” on the Summit at Great Hill Park in North Weymouth.

Please bring “your own chair, table, radio, antenna and power source” ! If you are planning on operating. Or just come with “your own chair” and rag chew with some of the best Hams around!

Some sort of food item will be planned, and hopefully the weather will be nice!

Amateur Assistance Sought, City of Gardner Centennial Parade, September 17, 2023

Ethan Hansen, KC1OIP, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:

Fellow Radio Amateurs,

The City of Gardner is celebrating our centennial, 100 years as a city, with a large parade on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 13:00 hours.

The City of Gardner Office of Emergency Management is seeking assistance from the ham radio community to provide safety and parade logistics communications. We need about fifteen hams to shadow division Marshalls and three command/relay trailers. A minimum of nine hams will need to be able to walk the parade route of up to 1.8 miles. The first half mile is on a slight uphill grade but it’s all downhill from there. Hams are requested to marshal at 11:00 hours and the parade steps off at 13:00.

To volunteer, please reply to ptopolski@gardner-ma.gov

Please feel free to forward this message to any hams that you know may be interested in helping out.

Be safe es 73,

Paul Topolski, W1SEX, Director
City of Gardner Office of Emergency Management

73,
Ethan KC1OIP
BARC Public Service Chair

KE1IU: “Nine-Band DXCC On A Covenant Restricted Lot” at Billerica ARS On-line Meeting, September 6, 2023

Billerica ARS logoPlease join us at the Billerica Amateur Radio Society meeting on September 6, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Mark Noe, KE1IU will present “9-Band DXCC On A Covenant Restricted Lot.”
 
This presentation will cover Mark’s journey as a DXer—from lowly beginnings as a teenager with only 4 countries to his name before going off to college—to achieving 9-Band DXCC (which happened last year). He will cover how to set up a very capable DX station with only wire antennas, tips for working common DX and the rare ones, the DX Code of Conduct, how to properly work split without getting frustrated, how to use FT8 to work DXpeditions, how to use a DX Cluster, how to use LoTW to confirm DX, and some automated tools that will make DX collecting easier for you. If you want to learn how to work DX without having a yard full of iron and aluminum, then this talk is for you! As a bonus, your station will also be very capable for rag chewing, WAS (Worked All States) and contesting.
 

[For Zoom conference details, email Bruce Anderson, W1LUS, at w1lus -at- hotmail -dot- com.]

 

Amateur Volunteers Requested, YuKanRun Half Marathon by the Sea, Manchester-by-the-Sea, September 17, 2023

Fred Beaulieu, WA1ESU, writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:

YuKanRun Half By The Sea race course mapWe are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Half Marathon by the Sea. Sun September 17, 2023, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944 US

Please let us know if you can staff a communications checkpoint for the event so we can plan staffing positions for the event.

While CAARA’s repeater performance has greatly improved some regions of this course may still experience some difficulty with communications especially with low-powered HTs, so we’ll be looking for higher powered equipment to staff those areas

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use (ie: Mobile; HT; ¼-Wave Mag-Mount; OEM Rubber-Duck; etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

The course will be open and supported By CAARA. for Four hours We do not cover the one-mile event on this day. Runner safety is everyone’s top priority.

Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Fred WA1ESU

Half by the Sea Communications Team.  
Manchester, Mass  
Last Updated: 09/04/2023 6:22 PM  
Event date: Sunday, September,17, 2023  
On Location: 9:30 AM   
Starts: Half Marathon Run = 10:00 AM  
Freq: W1GLO Repeater. 145.130 – PL:107.2 Back up NS1RA 145.470 – PL136.5  

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net & Massachusetts RACES Nets Will Be on The Second Monday of the Month – Monday 9/11/23 Due to Labor Day Holiday

Hello to all…
 
We hope everyone is enjoying some well deserved excellent late summer/early fall weather during this long Labor Day Holiday Weekend. A reminder that the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net and the Massachusetts RACES Nets will be on the second Monday of the month – Monday 9/11/23 at their usual times due to the Labor Day Holiday weekend. Notices of the various ARES/RACES Nets will be posted on the email lists and the Eastern Mass ARES web site at https://ema.arrl.org/ares this coming weekend/Monday Morning 9/11/23. Thanks to all for their continued support of ARES and RACES at the local and state level.
 
73,Rob-KD1CY.
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net September 2023 – Saturday 9/9/23 Due to Labor Day Holiday Weekend

Jeff N1SOM, Secretary, and the SSH group writes:

Good evening,

Due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the Eastern MA Hospital Net will be on Saturday September 9, 2023 instead of the customary 1st Saturday of the month. I will be sending the Net details and repeaters that will be used for the Net next week.

Jeff N1SOM, Secretary, and the SSH group
N1SOM – W1SSH

Project BIG E Needs More Volunteers

[For more information about Project BIG E, visit the Project BIG E page at https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e/.]

Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

We still need 43 people to fill time slots for the Big E booth.

If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so ASAP. We need your help to make this a success this year.

Here are the dates, # of people needed and a “Y” for the session time frame.

image showing Big E assignments

Here is the sign up link:  bit.ly/45Cv6mn

Or contact me direct at W1AST@arrl.net

We need more people to sign up to make this a success!

Larry Krainson – W1AST

  • Project Big E Organizer
  • ARRL WMA ACC
  • HCRA President – HCRA.org 
  • 13 Colonies MA State Manager (K2H) – Ask to be an op!
  • Proud Member of: ARRL, FCARC, BARS & YCCC
  • w1ast@arrl.net

New Quincy Radio Club Formed: KW1NZE

Quincy RC logoA new radio club in Quincy has been formed called the Quincy Radio Club. It has been issued the call sign “KW1NZE.”

According to Quincy Radio Club trustee Peter Doherty, KC1HHO, the club will host “a series of special events that focus on the extraordinary cultural, political and social history of Quincy (pronounced “Kwinzee”) and its contribution to our nation and the world.”

“We are excited about our first upcoming event. The list of significant ‘Who, What and Here’  is long and varied.” Peter adds, “It will be difficult to choose the first.”

The Quincy Radio Club will commentate each event QSO with a handsome certificate upon request. 

 

Double Fox Hunt On the Air in Belmont, September 1, 2023

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 11:01 AM on September 3, 2023:

Due to technical difficulties, the double fox hunt in Beverly has been terminated early.

This was Mike’s first deployment of this new fox design, and it is likely that the low-battery cutoff setting was too high for his battery.  My fox became intermittent, apparently due to a bad cable going to the radio (or, hopefully not, a bad jack in the radio). 

We will address these issues and try again.  For now, go find the W1MWS fox in North Chelmsford.

 

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 6:00 PM on September 1, 2023:

K1MJC and I have both put foxes on the air in the Rock Meadow Conservation Area in Belmont, MA for the holiday weekend. 

Map and directions from Google Maps:  https://goo.gl/maps/6sYA2FXTKBXSdJXv7

Both foxes transmit once per minute between the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.  They will be on the air until 5:00 PM on Monday, Labor Day.

The K1MJC fox is on 147.54 MHz, and has a log book to sign when you find it  

The W1MJ fox is in 147.57 MHz, and has no log book; please email your report to fox@w1mj.com.

73 DE W1MJ

W6NBC: “2m – 70cm Satellite Dish Slot Antennas” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, August 29, 2023

New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on August 29, 2023 at 7 PM and feature: “2m – 70cm Satellite Dish Slot Antennas” by John Portune, W6NBC.

Description: Have you ever wondered if you could hide a 2m – 70 cm base antenna in a television satellite dish?  By cutting a slot antenna into the reflector of a TV satellite dish, neighbors and homeowner associations are unlikely to notice it and, even if they do, federal Law prevents them from telling you to take it down.

Bio: John is a native of Los Angeles, CA and was first licensed in 1965. He has a Bachelor’s degree in physics from Oregon State University and, before he retired, was a broadcast television engineer and instructor. John is a ham magazine author and has published more than 25 articles to date in QST. He is active on HF, VHF, UHF – SSB, FM, digital modes, ham satellites and his other hobbies include steam railroading and pipe organs. John is married to KF6OEB and has three children and 12 grandchildren. 

W1HFN Fox is Out, Littleton, August 24, 2023

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 6:04 PM on August 24, 2023:

Finally got a chance to deploy my fox.  Too much rain this summer.  My favorite spot, Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve in Littleton.  Freq 146.565 MHz with a 20 second voice ID every minute.  Please sign the log when found.  I doubled up the battery, so should run until at least next week.

73,
Barry, W1HFN

Minecraft Ham Radio Mod Unveiled at HamXposition

Minecraft screenshotThe Minecraft ham radio mod “RadioCraft” will be introduced at the 2023 Northeast HamXposition / ARRL New England Division Convention in Marlboro, MA, on August 25-27, 2023.

RadioCraft will enable simulation of ham radio in the Minecraft game. Game players will be able to build and operate a variety of radios on HF and VHF, with customizable antennas, and realistic simulations of propagation, QRM and QRN, diurnal solar effects, and band conditions. Eventually the project hopes to simulate the full range of ham radio activities including phone, CW, APRS, VHF repeaters, and even fox hunting.

“There will be a continuous demonstration in the convention center lobby,” writes PART of Westford President George Allison, K1IG. “At 11:00 AM on Saturday we’ll have a one-hour presentation by Lucas (W1BTR) and me in the Sterling Room. The presentation will include a live demo of the program, and we’ll talk about how the mod could affect the growth of ham radio.”

If successful, the RadioCraft project could potentially introduce Amateur Radio to millions of young gamers. Every convention-goer is strongly encouraged to attend the presentation and see what the RadioCraft project has accomplished.

“Our goal is to use this simulation to introduce ham radio to the world-wide Minecraft gaming community and then get them licensed so they can participate in the real-world hobby.”

For more information, visit http://wb1gof.org/RadioCraft/.

SKYWARN Training Classes, Booth at HamXposition, Marlboro, August 25-27, 2023

Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SKYWARN_Announce list:
 
The regional Amateur Radio show known as Northeast HamXposition will feature many forums on Emergency & Public Service Communications as well as the traditional NWS Norton SKYWARN Training class for newly interested spotters and those seeking to update their SKYWARN training. The basic SKYWARN Class is Friday Afternoon 8/25/23 at 200 PM.
 
An Advanced Topics in SKYWARN Class on Saturday 8/26/23 at 300 PM is an Amateur Radio driven course on how Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters can provide additional support during times of severe weather and will cover some facets of radar meteorology. Details on the advanced topics in SKYWARN class and other forums including an overview presentation of the Amateur Radio VoIP Hurricane Net being held at Northeast HamXposition can be seen at the following link:
 
 
In addition, an ARES/RACES/SKYWARN booth will be setup inside the HamXpo Exhibit Hall for those interested. We hope to see many of you at the various forums and/or at the ARES/RACES/SKYWARN booth. 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
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
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Region One ARDF International Class Referee Nomination Vote Underway for Vadim Afonkin, KB1RLI

Voting is underway to nominate an Eastern Massachusetts amateur as a Region 1 ARDF (“Radio Orienteering”) International Class Referee.

Buzzards Bay, MA, resident Vadim Afonkin, KB1RLI, has expressed his desire to serve as an International Class Referee . The ARRL’s ARDF Committee is currently accepting votes from its committee members. According to co-USA ARDF Coordinator Charlies Scharlaus, NZØI,  “six ‘yes’ votes are required for his nomination to carry.”

Ken Harker, WM5R, has indicated his support for Vadim’s nomination and his willingness to request that his nomination be put on the agenda for the 45th Plenary Meeting of the IARU Region 1 ARDF Working Group to be held at the IARU 21st World ARDF Championship, Liberec, Czech Republic, August 30, 2023 at 14:30h.
 
“Vadim Afonkin is an experienced ARDF athlete who embarked on his ARDF journey at the age of 14 in Moscow, Russia. Remarkably, he clinched his inaugural ARDF title in 1982, marking the inception of his triumphant path in the sport. Vadim’s commitment to ARDF continued to shine as he represented Team USA (ARRL) at the World Championships since 2004, demonstrating his prowess on the global stage and securing an impressive collection of three Gold medals for the Team at these esteemed Championships.

 
“Upon establishing himself in the United States, Vadim’s dedication to ARDF extended beyond competition. He took on the role of a gracious host, overseeing two US ARDF Championships and orchestrating a captivating Region 2 Championships. Notably, his most recent accomplishment was the successful organization of the ARDF World Cup Black Sea event in Bulgaria, a testament to his leadership and collaborative efforts alongside the BFRA.
 
“Vadim’s journey in ARDF is a testament to his enduring passion, remarkable achievements, and unwavering dedication to fostering the growth and success of the sport on both national and international platforms.”
 
For more information about Radio Orienteering, visit https://arrl.org/ro.
 

Algonquin ARC, Volunteers Sought for Marlborough Labor Day Parade, September 4, 2023

AARC logoKen Horton, KA1GFN, writes on the Algonquin ARC mailing list:

Algonquin ARC will provide radio communications for the Town’s Labor Day Parade along the parade route.  If you are able volunteer contact Ann, KA1PON.

There will be a change to the parade route this year due to the road work along Main Street which therefore cannot be used. The parade will take the usual route down W. Main Street but will then turn onto the south side of Granger Blvd. It will then continue up to the Verizon building and then onto Maple Street. Therefore, volunteers will be needed at each intersection along Granger Blvd. There will probably be the need for more volunteers than we have needed in previous year.