JULY 2021: EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS (EMA) SECTION NEWS
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Welcome to the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL section newsletter
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To see all the monthly news, which is updated regularly, visit <https://ema.arrl.org/>.
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CAPE COD CLUBS DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PUBLIC EVENTS
Eastern MA Assistant Section Manager Rob Leiden, K1UI, reports on efforts by the Barnstable ARC and other Cape Cod radio clubs to develop relationships with the coordinators of various public events held on Cape Cod during the summer.
The full article can be found at: <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/06/29/cape-cod-clubs-developing-relationships-with-public-events/>.
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SLOW SPEED TEST (SST) NOW FRIDAY AND SUNDAY EVENINGS
Times are:
Fridays 20:00-21:00 UTC; 4-5 PM EDT
Mondays 00:00-01:00 UTC; 8-9 PM EDT (Sunday)
See rules at <http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html>
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13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT, JULY 1-7, 2021
Are you looking for that perfect, post Field Day ham radio activity? Then working the 13 Colonies special event stations is perfect for you! Each July 1 through July 7, the 13 original colony states activate on all bands and modes for you to work them. Plus you can chase the three extra 13 Colonies stations where there is one each in Philadelphia, England and France.
Details at: <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/06/19/13-colonies-special-event-july-1-7-2021/>.
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FIELD DAY POTPOURRI
“The Barnstable ARC had their field day at the Brewster Sportsman’s Club in Brewster on Cape Cod. They had a nice setup inside with several HF rigs and other good gear. Generator was nice, portable and quiet. Nice tower setup outside. As the ARES DEC, it was good to see the club folks in person again.” -Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O
“During my Field Day tour, I was tickled pink to see Andy, KB1OIQ, staffing the GOTA tent at PART of Westford helping several teenage girls to make contacts on the air. As Andy points out, a YL’s voice can be worth many extra dB of signal strength.” -Phil Temples, K9HI
“It was great to visit the Falmouth ARA Field Day on Saturday as the ARES DEC here on Cape Cod. I was shown the very nice and capable Emcomm trailer that was built by the club. It was excellently configured and designed. Hats off to Ralph Swenson, N1YHS, and the others in the club who helped bring this project to life. From power distribution, to the great rigs inside, it was really nice to see. Field day looked great and very portable! Great job down there, folks! -Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O
“Dave/KB1YXL helped me to find [the Framingham ARA Field Day] site in a nice wooded corner tucked behind the town library. President John/KB1VXY gave me the grand tour. It was good to meet VP Ron/WO1E, and see longtime instructor Sumner/W1VIV again.” -Tom Frenaye, K1KI
“The Sci-Tech ARS in Natick put on quite a show—between their New England Sci-Tech open house, flea market, and various field day operating stations, including a GOTA tent. Bob Phinney [K5TEC] and his crew constantly amaze me! They are to be commended for exposing so many youths to astronomy, Makerspace, and the Amateur Radio hobby.” -Phil Temples, K9HI
“… used the Reverse Beacon Network and 5W CW to see if the antennas were actually working. That was sort of cheating in a strict sense, but people seem to use utility power during setup. This seemed pretty useful, but at the time of test, 80m was dead and so was 15/10. Still, it validated 40m and 20m, which is what I think ended up mattering most.” -Greg Troxel, N1DAM, PART of Westford
“…the start of Field Day is hours away, and the Algonquin ARC is putting together their antennas, testing them and making the adjustments for successfully getting on the air. Ron Lahti, N1CNG, is getting his cobweb antenna put together and hoisted by the bucket truck above the tree line. Everything is falling into place for a productive Field Day. At the same time there are airplanes [at the Crow Island Airport] going to the maintenance garage for safety checks, the trapeze school is teaching a class, children with their parents are swimming in a natural underground supplied pool, socializing, getting on the air and consuming hot dogs, hamburgers chili and much more.” -Steve Babbitt, KC1LPZ
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HAMXPOSITION 2021 GRAND BANQUET SPEAKER: DR. PHILIP J. ERICKSON, W1PJE, MIT HAYSTACK OBSERVATORY/ HAMSCI
Dr. Philip J. Erickson, W1PJE, will be the featured Grand Banquet Speaker at the 2021 Northeast HamXposition (ARRL New England Division Convention) in Marlborough, Massachusetts on September 10-12, 2021. W1PJE will discuss HamSCI’s latest ionospheric science investigations and will also highlight research in his group at MIT’s Haystack Observatory. The work brings international and national aspects of amateur ionospheric science into the New England realm.
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ARRL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER BOB INDERBITZEN, NQ1R, HAMXPOSITION 2021 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, will be the keynote speaker at the 2021 Northeast HamXposition. The keynote theme is “Growing Amateur Radio.” There is no shortage of new ham radio licensees each year–approximately 30,000. But only a fraction ever become active. Bob will share stories, perspective, and ARRL initiatives intended to develop more active, involved, and engaged radio amateurs.
Read more about Bob at <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/06/30/arrl-product-development-manager-bob-inderbitzen-nq1r-hamxposition-2021-keynote-speaker/>.
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BOSTON ARC QRP COOKOUT ALONG THE CHARLES RIVER, JULY 11, 2021
Members of the Boston Amateur Radio Club are planning a QRP Cookout and Parks On The Air operation on July 11, 2021 along the Charles River at Herter Park, 1175 Soldiers Field Road, Allston. The POTA designation is K-8405: Charles River State Reserve. An August 1st date has been suggested by the group for another cookout/QRP operation for those who are unable to attend the first event. The group is currently collecting RSVPs via the BARC mailing list.
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FRAMINGHAM AMATEUR WINS IN MASSACHUSETTS LAND COURT DECISION
The Building Commissioner granted a building permit for an 80’-tall amateur radio tower as an accessory use. The ZBA revoked the permit, applying the setback requirements of the Wireless Communications Facilities (WCF) special permit Bylaw to the tower proposed by Misha Filippov, KD1MF. The Land Court reversed, annulling the decision of the ZBA and ordering the Building Commissioner to reinstate the permit.
The full story can be found at <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/06/24/framingham-amateur-misha-filippov-kd1mf-wins-in-ma-land-court-decision/>.
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SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS COMMEMORATE WBZ 100TH ANNIVERSARY
WBZ radio 1030 kHz in Boston is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021. It is the oldest broadcast station in New England, and one of the oldest stations in the United States. The Billerica Amateur Radio Society and the Hampden County Radio Association in Springfield, will help commemorate this anniversary by sponsoring a special operating event starting at 9:00 AM EDT September 17 and ending at 11:59 PM EDT on September 18. Amateurs from across New England will operate W1W, W1B, W1Z, and WB1Z on various bands and modes. A special QSL card will be sent to anyone who contacts one or more of the special event stations. A historical sheet will also be available for download. The card will feature historical photos of WBZ over the years as well as a special 100th Anniversary WBZ logo.
For updated information, please visit <https://nediv.arrl.org/wbz100>.
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ARES REPORT
Section Emergency Coordinator, Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Latest News and Reports: https://ema.arrl.org/category/emcomm/
Norfolk County ARES/RACES/SKYWARN mourned the loss of longtime town of Walpole EMA Director Roger Turner, W1ZSA. You can read a tribute to Roger at: <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/06/10/w1zsa-roger-turner-norfolk-county-ares-races-skywarn-longtime-walpole-ema-director-silent-key/>.
With COVID restrictions all eased, public service events are returning across the section. Public service events are a great way to be prepared for ARES activations. One of the biggest public service events is the 2021 Boston Marathon and volunteer registration remains open through Thursday 7/15/21. See <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/06/17/boston-marathon-volunteer-registration-now-open-through-thursday-7-15-21-at-500-pm-edt/> for info.
Eastern Mass ARES SEC and NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Coordinator, Rob Macedo, KD1CY, chaired a virtual Amateur Radio workshop for the 2021 National Hurricane Conference on June 14-17, 2021. The workshop was recorded and will be posted on YouTube. Links to the recording will soon be posted on wx1box.org, voipwx.net and ema.arrl.org.
Eastern Massachusetts ARES is planning a summer exercise in the first half of August. Date and details will be posted on the ema.arrl.org web site in the coming weeks.
It is summer time, severe thunderstorm season. Be sure to check wx1box.org for information on SKYWARN activations as we move through severe weather season. Also, hurricane season is coming, and typically affects Southern New England and the Eastern Massachusetts section as we get into later July, August and September.
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NTS REPORT
Section Traffic Manager, Marcia Forder, KW1U
Latest report: <https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-traffic-report-for-may-2021/>
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MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND PHONE NET
The 75-meter Massachusetts Rhode Island Phone Net (MARIPN)is now operating daily, except for Sundays, on 3978 kHz beginning at 5 PM. Daily check-ins are now running about 10-15 participants. After traffic is cleared, time is allotted for comments/ragchew.
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION
Where to find stuff:
Division website: <https://nediv.arrl.org/>
Section website: <https://ema.arrl.org/>
Section Facebook page: <https://www.facebook.com/easternmaarrl/>
Section Leadership: <https://ema.arrl.org/organization/#Section_Leadership>
Section Public Service List: <https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/05/ema-public-service-list/>
Section Speaker List: <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/16/eastern-ma-club-speakers-list/>.
To join EMA ARES visit <https://secure.ema.arrl.org/qilan/ares/EMA/ARES_about>
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This monthly section news has been jointly produced by Phil, K9HI, Assistant Section Manager and Tom, K1TW, Section Manager.
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
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