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Public Service

Amateur Radio Communications Request, Cycle for Shelter, Haverhill, September 15, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Ethan Hansen, KC1OIP, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:
 
Hi all, Cycle for Shelter is looking for amateur radio operators for this year’s event. Please see the information from Ross Chapman below.
—
This year’s event will take place on Sunday September 15th.  The start and finish  is again at the Northern Essex Community College sports complex, Haverhill, Mass.
 
There are (4) routes planned, a 100 mile, 62 mile, 35 mile & 15 miles long. Most will overlap each other. The final routes are still being worked out but will run through similar areas as in years past. The start times for each route vary, starting as early as 7:30 AM and the event closes at 4:00 pm. Some routes will take as little as 3 hours to complete where the longest would take a full day.
 
We are looking to fill the positions of route support in such that there would be at least (1) vehicles per route. All route support vehicles will be offered equipment and instruction on the day of the event.
We are also in need of Amateur Radio Operators at (7) different rest stops. Of the seven (7) rest stops locations again are in: Boxford, Georgetown Groveland, Topsfield, North Hampton, Kensington and Amesbury. The open close times of these stops is being calculated but should not be longer than (4) hours. Bike marshals are also needed for the 15 mile route which is local to the start/finish.
 
If you have time available to help again with this event, it would be greatly appreciated. All are welcome at the finish for food and the celebration of the days event.
 
Please RSVP regrets and/or confirmation that you will be able to help. (Even if I have already talked with you)
 
If you know of anyone who would be willing to help, please forward this note to them and have them contact me.
 
Regards, 
 
Ross Chapman 
Route Support Coordinator
Cycle for Shelter, 2024
603 479 2728
—
73,
Ethan KC1OIP
Operating

K1USN SST Open, September 13, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

K1USN SST logoFrom K1USN Happenings, August 13, 2024:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CW ops and contesters from around the world are invited to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the K1USN weekly Slow Speed Contest (SST) by participating in a new event, the K1USN SST OPEN (SSO) to be held annually starting on Friday, September 13 from 2000-2359Z.

From its inception in September 2020, the twice-weekly SST has encouraged CW newcomers to join with experienced ops in a relaxed contest at speeds less than 20WPM. Contest sponsors strongly urge all participants to operate at 12WPM or less to provide new CW ops with a comfortable “on ramp” to CW operating and contesting.

The same speed rules will apply in the Slow Speed Open with the hope that every station that wishes to jump in will be welcome at a pace comfortable for them.

A CW Speed multiplier has been added to the score calculation as an incentive to go slow, (via the 3830scores.com submittal form). This speed multiplier is based on your fastest sending speed used during the contest.

Certificates with score and claimed maximum operating speed (honor system) will be available to all entrants.

RULES:

DATE and TIME: September 13 2000-2359 UTC

Goal: Work as many stations as possible during the four hours on multiple HF bands (160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 meters).  Exchange: Name and State/Province (Non US-VE =DX) Score =Total Points x CW Speed Multiplier x Total State/Province/DX Multipliers

Stations may be worked once per band.  

50 point Bonus for working K1USN once per band.

Post log summary on www.3830scores.com Do NOT mail logs to K1USN

For Complete SSO information including rules and FAQ’s: www.k1usn.com/SSO.html

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Youth

StratoScience Lab Balloon Launches, New England Sci-Tech, Natick, August 14, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
StratoScience banner
 
Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on the New England Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:
 
Hey everyone,
 
Just wanted to let you all know we are aiming to launch two separate StratoScience Lab balloons THIS WEDNESDAY 8/14 from NEST.  That means we’ll actually be filling up and releasing the balloon from the NEST parking lot.  Exact time is not nailed down yet, but release will most likely be sometime between 10am and 2pm.  We’ll update here the night before or morning of.  Since it is taking place at NEST, we also may be able to run the STARS Zoom meeting and have flight prep and the releases going live on Zoom.  We will update on that as well.  We will have a HamXposition presentation detailing all the projects, and maybe we can do a version of this at a STARS meeting, but just to give you a preview of what will be flown this week:
 
StratLab 2024 A:
  • Solar Tracking Rotator (Roy Y.)
  • Spectroscopy Sensor (Timmy B.)
  • Servo Heating System (Elias D.)
  • IMU Recorder and Downward Camera (Ewoud V.)
  • BFCCPS Humidity Sensor Experiment (NEWBS / BFCCPS School)
  • RunCam Split 4 Selfie Camera (Seth K. / NEWBS)
  • Tiny4FSK (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.620 MHz
  • RS41 (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.625 MHz
  • [maybe] Test version of altitude-based rocket igniter board (Dawid F.)
 
StratoSoar 2024 A:
  • Autonomous Glider (Charlie N.)
    • Planned separation at ~1600m
    • Also contains a Tiny4FSK (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.630 MHz
  • RS41 (Max K. / NEWBS) – 432.635 MHz
  • RunCam Split 4 Downward Camera (Seth K. / NEWBS)
 
This means we will also have 3 separate recovery sites, so if anyone would be interested in helping to recover a payload, please let us know!  We could use all the help we can get.  Even if you’re only available after work hours.  All 3 trackers should hopefully be trackable on https://amateur.sondehub.org/
 
Best,
Seth KC1PZY and Max W0MXX
 
Clubs / Operating

Boston ARC POTA Event, Medford, August 10, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Parks On The Air logoBrendan Baldonado, NW1S, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:
 
Following the great success of our POTA event in July we’re hosting another in August. 
 
We are planning August 10th at the Mystic Lakes Playground area. It is a little out of the city but there are a few Purple line stations nearby for those that are public transport dependent. We are also hoping to coordinate carpools with anyone that may need that too. 
 
So Shannon Beach at Mystic lakes has a large parking lot, although I imagine on weekends it gets very busy. (Satellite pictures included below) There are two more lots south of the main lot, and they may expand the parking I’m not sure. Mystic Lakes is between Arlington and Winchester just east of route 3. The parking lot is off of the Mystic Valley Parkway which can have terrible traffic at all times of the day. 
 
This is our first time going to this location so it’s going to be a bit scrappier than normal. As always we will use the .23 BARC repeater for coordinating onsite. There are only a few tables so bringing a table and chairs will be useful. 
 
So Bring a radio, and an antenna and power, if you need one you can borrow someones radio usually and we can all take turns. Bring your own lunch and snacks as you see fit. The plus side of this location is that if you want to bring family or kids there is a playground and a beach for swimming. 
 
If we get enough interest maybe we can bring a propane grill and have a cookout. So make your interest known now! 
 
Important information:
 
What: BARC Summer POTA 2!
 
Where: Shannon Beach Playground, Mystic Lakes State Park 
481 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford, MA 02155
 
When: August 10th, at 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
 
Who: Anyone that wants to join.
 
Bring: Food, Water, Sunscreen, and your portable operating station. (Radio, Antenna, Coax, Power)
 
 
 
 
 
Flea markets & Conventions

Want to Help Out at the Biggest Ham Event in the Northeast?

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Barbara Irby, KC1KGSThe Northeast HamXposition boasts a cadre of dedicated volunteers who make this convention possible. But we can still use more volunteers.  Your smiling faces and eagerness to help makes a difference to the attendees. From selling tickets, assisting presenters, supervising the flea market, setting up the rooms, handling parking signage, supervising the flea market, and taking it all down and packing it up for next year— you make it happen!

If you’d like to help us at the 2024 Northeast HamXposition, please register at https://registration.hamxposition.org/volunteer/ or contact our Volunteer Chair Barbara Irby, KC1KGS, at kc1kgs@hamxposition.org. 

[See also: https://hamxposition.org/2024/07/23/meet-hamxposition-volunteer-chairperson-barbara-irby-kc1kgs/]
All

WD8DAS: WWVH in Hawaii at BARS, August 7, 2024

- by Jon McCombie - Leave a Comment

Kayla Creamer writes

I would like to announce our “guest speaker video” for the August 7, 2024, Club meeting via Zoom. We will be having a YouTube video discussing the operations of radio station WWVH in Hawaii.

This video is a virtual tour of the NIST shortwave time standard station for the Pacific which broadcasts on 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 MHz with highly accurate frequency and time signals, propagation (geomagnetic storm) bulletins and other special announcements.

Full details on this event are at https://www.w1hh.org/august-7-2024-bars-meeting-steve-johnston-wd8das-on-wwvh-in-hawaii/ 

 

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday August 5th, 2024 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The August Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday August 5th, 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
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Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Reminder: August 5th, 2024 MEMA RACES/ACS Communications Test Net

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment
N1YLQ-Michael Leger, Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:
 
Hello to all,
 
   This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that
Monday evening, August 5th, 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 who participated in yesterday’s ARES Emergency Exercise. The notice for the 
exercise was relatively short, but from initial reports it seems that the event was well attended.
 
      As always, I am looking for Net Control stations to staff our sector
nets for the evening. While each of the sector nets and the HF and Winlink nets should all be covered
this month, we are always looking for NCOs to help provide practiced support in the event of a communications Emergency. Please let me know if you are interested in participating in this role! 
 
      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/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
<mailto: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. August 5th and before midnight EST August 7th
  (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   <mailto:WC1MAB@gmail.com> 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
Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 8/5/24 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 August 2024, the RACES nets will be held on Mon August 5th at:

********************************************************************************
80 meter Voice net
5:45 PM ET
Frequency:  3930 KHz working up to the first free frequency
Matt KC1PFA 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 AB1PH 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.
Don 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 Aug 5 and 2400 Monday Aug 5.
We look forward to you checking in!

—

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Foxhunting

Fox to be Deployed in Hamilton, August 10, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Jim Barber,  K1TT, writes on NEMassFoxHunters at 11:29 AM on August 5, 2024:
 
WHEN: Saturday, August 10th at 1 PM. Rain date Sunday the next day, same time. We may need the rain date! 
 
WHERE: John J. Donovan Reservation & Sagamore Hill Conservation Area, 473 Sagamore Street, Hamilton MA
 
This is a wonderful Greenbelt property. The paths are gravel road or mowed grass with some hills. There are a lot of open fields. It is a very popular spot for dog walking, horseback riding, and bird watching. Dogs are welcome at this reservation off leash when away from the parking lot.
 
The Fox will be right next to a path or road, No need for bushwhacking.
 
The fox will transmit on 146.565 MHz at 0.5 watt. The third harmonic is 439.695 The fox will play tones followed by my call sign in CW for 30 seconds on and 60 seconds off.
 
Map of Reservation: For Map Click Here
 
This is our first attempt at running a walking fox hunt. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Watch this space or Radio Active Cape Ann – Facebook page for weather updates. 
 
Happy hunting! 
 
Jim Barber K1TT
All

July 2024 Section News

- by Jon McCombie - Leave a Comment

Heads up: the email-blast-to-all-section-members function is still down, a casualty of the cyber-attack on ARRL HQ.  There is currently no ETA. I’m publishing the Update on the EMA website and sending it to all the clubs I have email addresses for, with a request to distribute it widely. 

It’s now officially Summer. That means the population of our Cape Cod communities has swollen by a factor of 3-4. Many, many businesses are making their profits for the year, and that is to be respected. On the other hand, geez, the increase in car traffic is crazy, making driving challenging. Ah well. 

* Elections for New England Division Director and Vice Director 

If you are interested in running for the office of Division Director or Vice Director, now’s your chance!  It takes only 10 full members in a Division to nominate a candidate for either office. Full details on the nomination and election process are at https://www.arrl.org/news/call-for-nominations-for-arrl-director-and-vice-director-1   

* HamXpo is Coming!  

Mark the dates, August 22-25, 2024! The 2024 edition of HamXposition is coming, and it’s going 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, including the Section Town Hall (parallel sessions for each New England section)! Full details at https://hamxposition.org/  

* Amateur Radio Presentation to Middle Schoolers, Mass Maritime, July 15, 2024 

The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) and Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) teamed up the evening of July 15 to introduce amateur radio to several hundred students at the Advanced Studies and Leadership Program held at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne on Cape Cod.  Antennas were set up outside of the conference center to enable live demonstrations of on-the-air operation.  Contacts were made by the students as far away as Europe and local repeater operation was also demonstrated.   Full details at https://nediv.arrl.org/2024/07/24/barnstable-and-falmouth-clubs-team-up-at-advanced-studies-and-leadership-program/   

* Need a Volunteer Webmaster for the EMA Website 

 Phil, K9HI has done a fantastic job of maintaining the https://ema.arrl.,org website. I need to recruit some backup resources. If you have basic skills with WordPress and can help maintain the website – mostly posting new articles at the suggestion of me and others – please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org. You’ll be helping me – and the League – immensely! 

* Recruiting a New Section Youth Coordinator 

I’m sad to report that our Section Youth Coordinator, Paul K1YUB, had to step down from his position. The SYC requirement and job description is at https://www.arrl.org/section-youth-coordinator  If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org  – I’ll appreciate it greatly! 

* N1ILZ for a Final  
 
Stay safe and cool out there!  Summer is here, the traffic is crazy, and the weather forecasters are predicting a hot summer. There’s still plenty of summer fun to be had, including work on all those outdoor projects pent up from the past winter. Especially including antenna projects, amirite?! 

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. 

 

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 8/3/24 – 1000 AM EDT

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:

Good Evening,

On Saturday August 3, 2024 the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

We realize that some locations, individuals, and groups may be subject to COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net if possible. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

We will use the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. Plymouth Repeater 146.685 tone 131.8
2. West Bridgewater Repeater 146.775 dcs 244
3. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC:1, Sagamore 145.200 – 0.6M CC:10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC:11, East Falmouth 145.210 -0.600 CC:9, Martha’s Vineyard145.180 -0.600 CC:10, and Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC:12.
4. Falmouth Repeater 147.375 tone 110.9
5. Simplex 147.420

We will then return to the 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.

73,

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Wide Exercise – Operation “Big Blow” – Saturday 8/3/24 – 1000 AM-1200 PM EDT

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

Understanding the short notice, Eastern Massachusetts ARES is conducting a section wide exercise code named Operation “Big Blow” for this Saturday 8/3/24 from 10 AM-12 PM. Eastern Massachusetts ARES members or any general Amateur Radio Operators are welcome to participate. You need not be an ARES member to participate. The document details frequencies and modes and u can utilize as many or as few modes as you would like during the exercise and also note some local area repeater start times for nets may occur during the 2-hour window and not right at 10 AM. Information is below:

https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EasternMA-ARES-Summer-Exercise-2024-V1.6.pdf

This document may be updated one last time on Friday 8/2/24 with minor changes/finalization of plans. We hope many can participate despite the short notice and thanks to all for their continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

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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Operating

Boston ARC Parks On The Air Activation, July 27, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Boston ARC logoBrendan Baldonado, NW1S, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:
 
The BARC Summer POTA event is this Saturday!
 
What: 2024 BARC POTA event
Where: Herter Park / Charles State Reserve
When: 10 am on July 27th
 
Bring yourself and a radio if you have one, and lunch and refreshments.
 
I am planning to Park at the parking lot labeled Christian Park Parking, the address is 1075 Soldiers Field Road. When coming from Downtown or Easterly routes, It is the third parking lot after the set of lights  after the Arlington/Route 3 split near the Elliot Bridge. From Westerly routes it’s the third parking lot after making the reverse direction on Soldiers field road. We will plan to be East of the Herter Park amphitheatre. Any changes will be posted via this thread on the morning of. 
 
 
We will meet around 10 am and set up, for any new people to POTA we can help you activate your first park. I will plan to be there for a while for anyone that can’t make 10 am. Let me know when you can be there and I’ll make sure to stick around. 
 
We can all go for some adult beverages at the Owls nest around the corner after. 
 
A review of the POTA website for rules is encouraged, https://parksontheair.com/
 
Otherwise the goal is to have some fun, play some radio, get on and learn HF if you’ve never done so before.
 
Questions and Comments can be answered here or in a less public way with a direct email to me, nw1s.brendan@gmail.com
 
Reply if you are planning on or thinking of coming to the POTA event!
 
Thanks and see you all there.
 
 
Brendan – NW1S
Clubs / Foxhunting

Cape Ann Fox Hunt, July 27, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

CAARA logoBrandon Hockle, NQ1W, writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:

On Saturday, July 27,/2024, Jim Barber, K1TT, will host Cape Ann Radioactive FB Group’s first fox hunt by car.

Participants will meet at 668 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA, at 11 AM, rain or shine.

The fox will be in Jim’s car (everyone will see it at the start) parked on a public road or parking area viewable from the road.

The fox will be on Cape Ann proper, Gloucester and Rockport, no need to cross the bridges over the Annisquam River.

The fox will transmit on 146.565 MHz at 0.5 watts. With such low transmitting power the fox may not be heard at all until the hunter is within a quarter mile. The fox will play tones followed by my call sign in CW for 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off.

We will have a two hour time limit on finding the fox. If everyone does so quickly we will attempt a second hunt. Sorry, no prizes, just bragging rights, as this is our first hunt. At sometime in the near future we will also have a hunt on foot.

Because fox hunts do not require transmissions by the hunters, an amateur radio license is not required to participate. we have a few handheld radios we can lend out to unlicensed folks who wish to play. 

Questions?

Contact Jim Barber, K1TT, by checking out Radio Active Cape Ann or email: capeann@hotmail.com.

Cheers de K1TT

Foxhunting

KD1D Fox QRV in Littleton/Ayer Area, July 19, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Alan Hicks, KD1D, wites on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 7:50 PM on July 19, 2024:

The KD1D Fox is out again on this much milder weekend. 

 
To find it, you’ll need to travel on Route 110 (between Littleton Common and the Ayer line).   You will likely hear the transmitter when you get to the intersection of Route 110 (King Street) with I-495.
 
The KD1D Fox  transmits a 25 second voice message every 60 seconds on 146,565 MHz FM simplex with an out power of about 50 milliwatts.
 
When you find it, please enter your 1st name, callsign date and time in the logbook, as usual.
 
The transmitter location is less challenging physically than some of the previous hiding spots.  I plan to retrieve the Fox on Monday afternnon.
 
If you have questions or need a hint, drop me an email at kd1d@arrl.net
 
You can also try the Westford PART repeater  (146.955 MHz – PL 74,4) for information on the area or foxhunting hints.
Happy Hunting and 73 DE KD1D (Alan)
Clubs / Public Information / Youth

Amateur Radio Presentation to Middle Schoolers, Mass Maritime, July 15, 2024

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

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

[Barnstable Amateur Radio Club] members will be presenting to  approximately 200 seventh and eighth graders at Mass Maritime on Monday, July 15, 2024.  This is a two-week program for “very smart” junior high schoolers. Evening programs are presentations o a variety of topics–ours will be Amateur Radio.

We will present from 6 PM to about 7 PM, then do Q&A and demonstration. We will be on 2m (both the BARC 146.955 repeater, and the FARA 147.375 repeater as well as HF on 10m on 28.300 and upwards, depending on band activity, and 20m 14.225 and upwards. We should be on from about 7 PM to about 8 PM .

Please look for W1MA on the air. We did this last year and the students loved it. In particular, the female students enjoyed talking with Shannon, K1WIT, on VHF, so it would be great if some of our women members could join us.

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 7/13/24 – 1000 AM EDT

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:

Good Afternoon,

On Saturday July 13, 2024 the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

We realize that some locations, individuals, and groups may be subject to COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net if possible. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

We will use the following repeaters in the order listed.

1. West Bridgewater Repeater 146.775 dcs 244
2. Dartmouth Repeater 147.000 tone 67.0
3. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC:1, Sagamore 145.200 – 0.6M CC:10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC:11, East Falmouth 145.210 -0.600 CC:9, Martha’s Vineyard145.180 -0.600 CC:10, and Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC:12.
4. Attleboro Repeater 147.195 tone 127.3
5. Simplex 147.420

We will then return to the West Bridgewater 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.

73,

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group
55 Fogg Rd. Mail-Stop 42
South Weymouth, MA 02190

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Saturday July 6, 2024 Eastern MA hospital Net postponed to Saturday July 13th, 2024 at 1000 AM EDT

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:

Good afternoon everyone,

The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold the Eastern MA Hospital Net on July 13,2024.

The NET usually held on the first Saturday of the month is being postponed 1 week until July 13th.

Given the first Saturday in July is so close to the July 4th holiday, and many folks are extending the holiday through Friday and into weekend, we thought it best to hold the NET on the following Saturday.

Jeff N1SOM, will send out a notice with the repeaters being used on the 13th sometime this week giving everyone an ample opportunity to be prepared for the NET.

Happy 4th of July! We hope to hear you on the air Saturday July 13th.

73,

John K1JRO and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group
55 Fogg Rd. Mail-Stop 42
South Weymouth, MA 02190