a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
Eastern MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Greg Bennett, KC1CIC writes in this month’s issue of the Boston Amateur Radio Club “The SPARC” about how emergency preparedness and the National Traffic System go hand-in-hand in this story entitled, “Gaining Experience and Confidence Through a Storm“.
A marketing company has launched a mobile app which enables two-way communication between deaf-blind people.
Cheil India has created the Good Vibes app, which works by using the vibration capability of a smartphone combined with Morse code to “represent the alphabet in a binary fashion”.
[Full story]
Dan Pedtke, KW2T writes:
Looks like we’re on this month with the two engineers from National Grid. They have verified they will be coming this week. So we’ll learn some interesting things about the local power grid, and be able to ask questions about it. I mentioned five topics to them as examples:
If you’ve ever wondered how the power gets to your house, here’s your chance to find out this Thursday, April 12, at the Grady Research Building in Ayer at 7:00 PM.
See www.DansTechNight.com for details and directions.
Hope to see you there.
From Slate.com: “In January a Silicon Valley–based commercial space startup named Swarm Technologies launched four experimental satellites into orbit aboard an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket… There’s just one problem: It appears Swarm launched the SpaceBEEs without an experimental authorization from the Federal Communications Commission, something that should have been acquired before launching.”
The online newspaper CapeCod.com carried a story on April 4 entitled, “National Seashore to Host Events Commemorating Titanic, Marconi.”
The article publicizes two upcoming events: the Titanic Memorial Event on April 14, which will honor the the lives of 1,500 people lost aboard the RMS Titanic. That operation is being conducted by the Titanic/Marconi Memorial Association of Cape Cod, W1MGY.
The Cape Cod newspaper article also describes International Marconi Day on April 21, an event which will honor Guglielmo Marconi for his contributions to wireless technology. The Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club, will operate KM1CC at the Nauset Coast Guard Station.
This, and other stories publicizing Amateur Radio can be found at Amateur Radio in the Media.
Recent storms in New England took a toll on antennas at the QTH of our Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U. Last Saturday, Greg Bennett, KC1CIC replaced Marcia’s ailing Alpha Delta antenna with a new G5RV. However, only days later the high winds took it down.
But April 7, 2018 was “antenna raising day.” Greg used Jack’s (N1OTC) bow and arrow and got the antenna up over a tree branch at least 60 feet up. Now KW1U is back on the air!
John O’Neill, K1JRO writes:
Net Control for the April 7, 2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH, The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club . The Net will commence at the usual time of 10:00 AM using the following repeaters in the order listed:
The Net will then return to the Sharon repeater for final comments and 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 facility’s call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.
We extend an invitation to any health care facility or the EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the Net.
Any hospital or EOC wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.
We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.
We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month. More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.
PLEASE NOTE: The Plymouth Genesis Amateur Radio Society’s Repeater 146.865 is now a dual mode repeater. The analog CTCSS (PL) tone has been changed to 131.8. The Eastern MA Hospital Net will continue to use this repeater in analog mode with the new tone. Also a reminder that the Boston ARC 145.23 repeater uses split tone of encode 88.5, decode 100.0.
We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.
Ralph Swick, KD1SM writes:
April 29 will be the 27th running of [the Groton Road Race] and the race committee is again asking the Amateur Radio community to provide the logistics and safety communications for this high-profile event.
The Groton Road Race continues to be a major event for Amateur Radio in North Central Massachusetts. Those of you who have joined us in the past years know that the runners sincerely appreciate our presence. Many say so as they run past. This event is so large that Police Departments from several other communities come to assist the Groton PD. Part of our role is to provide the communications from the Groton Police to these out-of-town officers who come to help with this event.
Contributing to the public good is one of the reasons Amateur Radio exists. Our public service events are a key opportunity for us to show our colors, volunteer our skills and equipment, and demonstrate why it is in the public’s interest to continue to allocate precious RF spectrum to our the Amateur Radio Service. The Groton Road Race is a low-stress event and a great way to gain more experience with the public service aspect of amateur radio. Please consider joining us on the 29th.
If you are interested in helping at these events but unsure of what is expected of you or what equipment you may need, please do not hesitate to ask me, Stan KD1LE, or John KK1X.
The Squannacook River Runners and the Groton Police Department repeatedly praise and express their appreciation for your assistance in providing communications for this event. I do hope you will be able to join us this year; please let me know.
More info at https://www.n1nc.org/Events/2017/GRR/. Contact Ralph at ralph(at)kd1sm.net if you’re interested in volunteering.
John O’ Neill, K1JRO writes on the South Shore Hospital ARC list:
The Genesis Amateur Radio Society‘s repeater, N1ZIZ, has a new PL tone as of April 1, 2018 . The PL has been changed from 82.5 to 131.8 CTCS.
It is recommended you change both encode/decode on all your radios since the repeater is transmitting both analog FM and digital FM. This will help listeners to avoid hearing the noise digital operation produces on the analog side.
Short story: change your PL associated with 146.685 the N1ZIZ repeater to 131.8 CTCS post haste.
Please note the Eastern MA Hospital Net will continue to use analog communications.
The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will again take part in the Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire, April 28 at Mashpee High School.
The Faire bills itself as “a gathering of fascinating, curious people who love sharing what they can do.”
“Because of the din in the room last year, FARA will utilize the digital modes this year,” according the FARA president Brent Putnam, W1NCH. The club is seeking additional volunteers for the event, “especially with construction of the Morse code key.”
Carl Nelson writes:
As in the past, I am a volunteer for the veterans parade in Wellesley and I am looking for radio communications help with the veterans parade.
The Wellesley Veterans Parade will be held on Sunday, May 20 and we hope you will be able to help.
This year — due to a generous donation by an individual — each radio personnel will be given a small stipend of $50 to cover their parade day expenses such as gas, mileage and any equipment maintenance.
The time commitment is: 11 AM to 3 PM on Sunday, May 20 in Wellesley.
We meet at 11 AM at the Wellesley Community Center at 219 Washington Street.
The duties are to get the 125 units in order. The units arrive at Noon and they are told prior to arrival to go to a specific street and location. We need to check off that the unit has arrived and that it is in the proper location. Then we need to start the parade at 1 PM and key the units in order down the street.
A radio communications plan has been developed.
Are you able to help?
Please let me know either way if you can join us. Thank you for your service and help to our veterans.
In service,
Carl Nelson
Wellesley Celebrations Committee
Tel: 781-929-9095
Brett Smith, AB1RL writes:
The Run of the Charles is one of the most unique public service events for hams each year. It’s a series of canoe and kayak races for all different group sizes and course lengths. The variety draws all kinds of participants, and they all rely on us to help keep the event running safely and smoothly.
This year’s Run of the Charles is on Sunday, April 29. The full 26-mile course runs from Riverdale Park in Dedham down to Artesani Park in Brighton. Assignment check-in times vary by location, from 7:00 AM at far start points to 10:00 AM at portages near the finish. Since the CRWA relies on hams for all kinds of logistics, from on-site check-ins to rules infractions, there’s a position for volunteers at any experience level.
Volunteers for this event must have a dual-band (2m and 70cm) handheld radio and an antenna with improved gain over the stock rubber duck. These are necessary because many volunteer sites are low-lying areas where it can be a challenge to reach repeaters. If you can help, please write back with the following information:
If you have questions about the event, please get in touch by e-mail or phone (859) 466 5915.
Thank you, and 73,
We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org
Thanks for your continued support of ARES!
Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator
Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ writes on PART-L:
Mark your calendars for Saturday morning, April 21st, at 11 AM. We will hold a fox hunting training exercise at the Westford Town Common, which is across the street from the JV Fletcher Library, 50 Main Street. The rain date will be Sunday morning, April 22nd, at 11 AM.
What is a “fox hunting”? Otherwise known as “Amateur Radio Direction Finding”, fox hunting involves locating a hidden transmitter. We’ll hide the transmitter, and you’ll find it. No license is needed to find the transmitter, so ANYBODY can do it!
John (KB1MGI), Andy (KB1OIQ), and anybody else who wants to help will teach you the techniques used to find 2m, 70cm, and 80m low power transmitters. We will supply the transmitters and some gear that you can borrow as you learn.
PART did this a few years ago. It was well attended and quite fun.
The FCC reports that it seized transmission equipment from two pirate radio stations in Boston on March 26. According to court documents, the seizures involved an illegal broadcaster that identified as “Big City” on various FM channels from Dorchester, Massachusetts (with a studio in Roxbury) and pirate “B87.7 FM,” which operated on 87.7 FM from Dorchester. Both unlicensed stations had been issued multiple warnings but continued to operate. Pursuant to federal forfeiture statutes, authorities seized equipment operated by each radio station. [ARRL Web]
[Full story]
Tom Frenaye, K1KI writes:
I’d appreciate your help in publicizing the upcoming New England QSO Party on May 5th and 6th. Please mention it at your next club meeting and in your newsletter.
The NEQP is a great time to check out antenna systems and offers a moderately paced opportunity to work new states and countries. You’ll find a wide variety of participants, from newcomers to experienced contesters, all interested in making contacts with New England stations.
We’re working to make sure that all of the New England counties are active again this year and would appreciate your help. Get on for at least an hour or two and join in on the fun. Please let me know if you can put in any time at all so we can work on activity from the rarest counties. Will you be QRV? Let us know which county you’ll be on from with a message to info@neqp.org.
Oh yes, the NEQP is also lots of fun when mobile. Every time you cross a county line the action starts over again. It’s amazing what a 100w radio and mobile whip can do.
The QSO Party is 20 hours long overall, in two sections with a civilized break for sleep Saturday night. It goes from 4 PM Saturday until 1 AM Sunday, then 9 AM Sunday until 8 PM Sunday. Operate on CW, SSB and digital modes on 80-40-20-15-10 meters. For each QSO you’ll give your callsign, a signal report and your county/state. Top scorers can earn a plaque and everyone who makes 25 QSOs and sends in a log will get a certificate.
Last year we had logs from 177 New England stations and 460 more from around the country and world.
The full NEQP rules can be found at http://www.neqp.org/rules.html.
The 2017 results are posted and the results since 2002 are also available at http://www.neqp.org/results.
It’s just about a month until the 2018 NEQP. Please make some QSOs even if you don’t want to send in a log.
Eric Williams, KV1J writes on the Algonquin ARC list:
In two weeks we will be supporting the semi-annual Household Hazardous
Collections Day. This is a joint Hudson and Marlborough event.
See –
https://www.marlborough-ma.
We need about 10 volunteers to help support the event. Our support is a
joint Radio Club and Emergency Management Team effort. We will be using the
Emergency Management UHF portables (new for this year). So open to all to
use the radios. For those with a ham license, please bring a UHF walkie on
the N1EM repeater output-simplex frequency if you have one. This will be as
a backup.
The event is open to residents from 9 AM to 1 PM and we start at 8 AM to
setup and handle the early bird customers. Good to be there right at 8 AM
since the customers start lining up soon after that. Same place as before
– the Marlborough Easterly Treatment Plant, 860 Boston Post Rd East. This
is RT 20, behind the Half Way Café, not far from Home Depot. When you go
down the access road, go past the scale, staying straight, and park near the
cell tower.
Please let me know if you can help out. So far I have: Ann, KA1PON; Joe,
KA1GDQ; Rich, W1IBN; Frank, K1 IX, and myself.
Thank you in advance and Happy Holiday.
The Yaesu DR2X purchased by [the Minuteman Repeater Association] in October has been installed at North Reading site. This repeater is full-time automatic dual mode. Yaesu System Fusion digital signals will be repeated locally in the same mode. Analog FM signals will be repeated in Analog and linked to the MMRA HUB following the normal schedule.
Linking is not available in digital mode.
This is MMRA’s second YSF repeater. The 449.575 repeater in Hopkinton is also full-time automatic dual mode.
Rob Macedo, KD1CY writes on SKYWARN_Announce:
NWS Boston/Norton issued a Public Information Statement regarding the NOAA Weather Radio outage and that a couple transmitters are back on air. Details can be seen at the following link:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/PNS_noaa_wx_radio_move_3_28_18.txt
We will provide updates on the NOAA Weather Radio status as time allows. We’ll provide an update on the Amateur Radio station setup at the new NWS office building by this weekend.
John O’Neill, K1JRO writes:
The April 7,2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net is approaching. We are seeking groups and organizations to take a turn at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand as Net Control please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.
Below are the repeaters we have available for our use. Let us know which 3 or 4 repeaters you would like to use and we will make all the notifications. We’ll also send you a copy of our net preamble if you desire which you may modify for your own use.
—
Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2
Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
Mansfield EMA 446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dpl 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2