Summer has officially come to a close as we begin to experience cooler days. Kids are back in school and trees are beginning to change colors. It’s a nice time of year to get out and enjoy a little nature, perhaps work some POTA, and get those antennas ready for winter.
The nets continue to do well moving the traffic. EM2MTN manager, Peter, KC1HHO, reports “everyone is playing the game correctly. The group takes what we do seriously, their respect for the procedures we use is extraordinary.” He also states that Jacob KC1ZLP, a 14 year old sophomore in high school, has been doing a great job on the net. It is good to see young folks learning the skills of traffic handling. Welcome to Jacob, and I hope this can encourage more young people to get involved in this important aspect of amateur radio.
Bob, KC1KVY, manager of HHTN, reports that net had a good month. They have been seeing a lot of traffic especially from Shawn, N1CVO, Corwyn, KN1OBI, Mike, W1VEG, Chris, N1XTR, Jim, KM1TWL and Bob, KC1KVY. Thanks to those guys for keeping the net active in spite of the issues the net has been dealing with.
I think I neglected to mention last month that there is a new net manager for the Massachusetts Rhode Island Phone Net, effective August 1. Many thanks to Ralph, N1LAH for his years of service to the net, and welcome to Tim, W1TCD for taking on the position of net manager. Tim has also been net manager of the Cape and Islands Traffic Net and I’m sure he will do a fine job with this new assignment as well.
As you likely recall, Massachusetts radio amateurs participated in the ARRL’s W1AW America 250 operation. Hams from all over the country contacted W1AW-1 when it was activated from Massachusetts. Phil, K9HI, thought it might be nice to send radiograms to all those who contacted Massachusetts amateurs during this activation. It turns out there were approximately 3600 of them who also had email addresses listed on QRZ.com. So, guess what? KW1U, KN1OBI, N1XTR and KM1TWL have been sending these radiograms all over the country. Not only that, amateurs in both Ohio and Michigan are doing the same thing. Lots of traffic going around to keep nets busy! Over 1000 have gone out already. If anyone else would like to help, contact KW1U. They can be sent out at your convenience, although I would like to have them all out by Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season.
You also no doubt heard about the national Obsidian Wave exercise held on September 19, which was organized, under the auspices of the NTS2 committee, by Don Rolph, AB1PH. Some of our traffic handlers may have participated in this exercise, testing the ability to alert amateurs and to move traffic cross-country within 30 minutes. I understand the exercise was a success and lessons learned will be applied to the next exercise in approximately six months. There was a welfare traffic component to this exercise, but I am unaware if any messages were received here. Thanks to all who stood by ready to help if needed.
A new digital voice traffic net will launch on Thursday October 1. The New England Digital Voice Traffic Net (NEDVTN) is the brainchild of Mike Shepherd, W1VEG. It is a region net covering all of New England and while it is an independent net it will operate according to NTS protocol and will liaise with NTS nets throughout New England. It is hoped to attract those who are confined to VHF/UHF operation and encourage them in the skills of traffic handling and to provide outlets for message traffic. Check out Mike’s website at www.NEDDVTN.net.
For the Western Mass STM report see wma.arrl.org.
The August STM report is below. Thanks to all for your participation and support of the nets.
73,
Marcia KW1U, STM EMA/RI