Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

Steve Ewald, WV1X, ARRL Field Organization Team Supervisor writes to all ARRL Section Managers:

In early December, the ARRL was contacted by Mr. George Dillon of the FCC and asked to aid in the DTV conversion program by providing technical education for communities.  We liked the idea and opportunities it presented.  But it has come to our attention that there is now some misunderstanding on the part of a few FCC field offices, state broadcaster’s associations, and other broadcast industry representatives about the scope of the ARRL/FCC program to assist in the digital television conversion. The issue is whether or not individual radio amateurs should or will do actual DTV converter box installation and programming. The installation and programming of DTV converter boxes in people’s homes is not, repeat not, part of the ARRL program.

As proposed to ARRL by FCC staff in Washington, the nature of the assistance to be provided by Amateur Radio clubs was that of information dissemination to individuals and groups. The FCC and ARRL believe that the well-known technical skill of radio amateurs is a valuable community resource that can help non-technical people get ready for the DTV conversion (the deadline for which is still not firm -it may be either February 17, 2009 or some time in June of 2009). When the FCC contacted ARRL about this program, they proposed that ham clubs might invite the public from their communities to their meetings, or sponsor a public gathering, to provide information about the program, answer questions, and perhaps offer a demonstration. ARRL views this program as beneficial in several respects. It helps the community; it introduces the public to the benefits of Amateur Radio; and it brings new people to Amateur club meetings who may wish to become licensed once they see what a great avocation we have. Finally, it provides a good topic for a program at a club meeting.

But no part of the program we agreed upon involves having hams going into people’s homes to hook up converter boxes, and ARRL is not asking hams or clubs to do so.

Recently, based on an apparent misunderstanding about the scope of the program, some FCC district offices have asked ham clubs to do DTV converter box installations. So have state broadcaster’s association representatives and some network or station affiliates. If an individual radio amateur wishes to volunteer to do a DTV converter box installation or program the device for a neighbor or friend, or for any member of their community, that is a decision that the individual radio amateur must make for himself or herself, but it is not part of the ARRL/FCC program.

Please also note, there are some state laws regulating low voltage electrical and electronic installations that might prohibit unlicensed individuals from doing this, even as a volunteer. There are also liability issues that should be considered. For that reason, the FCC in Washington specifically assured ARRL that no part of the ARRL’s assistance by radio amateurs in the DTV conversion process involves converter box installations or programming. The ARRL/FCC program is strictly in the nature of an educational effort in a public setting.

Meanwhile, many clubs and groups have been getting excellent publicity in their communities and on regional TV by discussing and showing information about the conversion.  >From community meetings to “information nights,” mall displays and daily spots on television (usually with the weather reports), the hams are being seen as technologically savvy and helpful people.

The Pilgrim Amateur Radio Club reported that a recent licensing class enrolled six youths and one adult.  According to  Dana Henrique, WA1KYU, “Three students passed the technician examination, and three students were scheduled to retake the exam at a later date. On the same date, two people plan to take the examination for the Amateur Extra class license.” Henrique exhibited some pictures of the class to club members at the meeting.

The Pilgrim ARC was founded in 1976. An ARRL affiliated club, it is dedicated to the maintenance and upgrading of the Provincetown Emergency Management Office communications system. The club meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Council on Aging (COA) building, 26 Alden Street, Provincetown, MA.

The Police Amateur Radio Team of Westford will present a panel discussion on Emergency Power at its February Monthly Meeting. This panel discussion is a result of the numerous questions and comments that resulted from the ice storm in December and the extensive power outages (up to 5 days) that resulted. Many hams were well equipped to handle this power outage while some were not.

The panelists are: Ernie (N1AEW), Allison (KB1GMX), John (G3BVU) and Hugh (N1QGE). PART’s Vice President Andy (KB1OIQ) will moderate this panel. The panelists will focus mainly on generator backup power for the home but will also include emergency battery backup power for rigs. They will relate their experiences in dealing with the loss of conventional power. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

This meeting will be held at the Westford Police Station on Tuesday, February 17th at 7:30 PM. Directions to this meeting can be found on the PART web page at: http://wb1gof.org.

Bo Budinger, WA1QYM
President: PART of Westford
Eastern MA ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator

The spirit of Kids Day is alive and well in Hanson, MA where John Murphy, KB1PHN operated Kids Day from his ham shack on January 4, 2009 with his 10-year-old nephew, Daniel Murphy.

According to John, Danny “checked for a clear frequency on 20 meters, then called ‘CQ Kids Day.'” He was answerd by EI4GYB from Ireland. “Danny the SWL was hooked after that,” reports KB1PHN. “He made a total of fifteen contacts in one hour before his voice gave out.”

Murphy added, “Danny can’t wait to get back on the air.”

–Thanks, Whitman ARC “Spectrum, January 2009”

Bob Salow, WA1IDA writes:

On Saturday, 7 February, the Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities will hold an open house now that their facility has completed a major renovation.  Since [the Boston Amateur Radio Club] has supported the Center with a Technician course and will assist in setting up a permanent ham station, several of us have agreed to provide a demonstration station for the Open House.

The Open House is scheduled for 1200 to 1500; we will set up starting about 1100.  Planned is an HF station (wire antenna out the window) for listening only and full 2M/70cm station.

If you can spend an hour or more to promote ham radio and answer questions it will be very helpful to all visitors.  The Zola Center is located at 20 Hartford St in Newton Highlands – within two blocks of the Green Line T station.  Lunch will be provided.

So as to not overwhelm the staff and visitors, please contact Eric, K1NUN if you can attend.  Email: k1nun@netscape.net.

In today’s Boston.com: Postcards From The Edge: “Long before the Internet, ham radio operators built a buzzing web of communication around the world. Artist Cindy Bernard’s grandfather, Bill Adams, got his license to operate a ham radio in 1923 and kept in touch with operators in distant countries until his death in 1999. Each contact was confirmed with a postcard, called a QSL card – QSL is ham lingo for ‘I hear you.'”

[See also: Ham Radio And The Arts: “Silent Key”]

Rich Zack, K1RJZ writes on GEMotoChat:

Subject: 6M and ch2…  take 2
From:    “Zach, Rick J”
Date:    Mon, January 26, 2009 3:13 pm
To:      “gemotochat”
Cc:      “Bryan W1BRI Cerqua”

————————————————————————–

6M and ch2…  take 2

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Rockefeller (WV) and Ranking Member
Hutchison (TX) agreed on compromise language for Senate legislation to
extend the DTV hard date to June 12, 2009  (might be less??? -RZ) . Senate
Leadership attempted to hotline the proposal  last night to determine
whether the compromise language would pass under a unanimous consent
agreement. However, objections were raised to the bill’s advancement.
Both the House and the Senate were in recess on Friday, but will resume
legislative business on Monday, January 26, which will present the next
opportunity for congressional activity.

A key change is that stations will still have the option to turn off
analog on Feb-17th and will be required to turn off analog TX’s in June.
If the Boston stations actually turn off all analog TX’s on Feb 17th, WGBH
plans to keep ch2 analog on the air until March 3rd with “nightlight
service” to tell viewers where to go for more information and help.  Ch2
may or may not do this at reduced power.  Again all of this info has a lot
of if’s, so only consider this as a potential “direction” towards your 6M
activity.

The text of the changes are attached.
.
——————————————————————————-
Rick Zach, Chief Engineer
WCVB-TV  WCVB-DT  ch-5 Boston

Listing public events at which Amateur Radio communications is providing a public service and for which additional volunteers from the Amateur Community are needed and welcome. Please contact the person listed to identify how you may serve and what equipment you may need to bring.

The most up-to-date copy of this list is maintained as http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv.

Date      Location     Event                       Contact        Tel/Email

Apr 20 Hopkinton   MA Boston Marathon              Bob K1IW marc2009@mmra.org
       to Boston   MA                signup at http://marc.mmra.org 
Apr 26 Groton      MA Groton Road Race             Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul  3 Fitchburg   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul  4 Princeton   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul  5 Fitchburg   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul 25 Devens      MA Memory Ride for Alzheimer's  Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
                      

This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE and Ralph KD1SM. Our usual distribution is via Internet mail to the arrl-nediv-list and ema-arrl distribution lists, and on the World Wide Web. If other mailing list owners wish us to distribute via their lists we will be happy to oblige. Permission is herewith granted to republish this list in its entirety provided credit is given to the authors and the Web address below is included. Send comments, corrections, and updates to:

KD1SM@ARRL.NET.

We make an attempt to confirm entries with the coordinator unless the information is from another published source. We very much appreciate the assistance we have been receiving from our ‘scouts’; everyone is welcome to send us postings.

Refer to http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv for the most recent version of the PSLIST.

Bob “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV writes:

The Marconi Radio Club (W1AA) will take part in the Jack Binns special event commemorating the first wireless rescue at sea one hundred years ago, with two stations, representing the SS Republic (call sign MKC): W1AA/MKC; and the SS Baltic (call sign BC): W1AA/BC. These stations will operate on the amateur bands on January 23, 2009 from 0001Z to 0400Z and on Jan 24, 2009 from 1200Z to 2000Z. using both SSB and CW. Watch the DX Summit for W1AA/MKC and W1AA/BC spots. Special one-of-a-kind photo QSL cards have been created for each call for the event.

QSL card information for stateside is via W1AA on QRZ.COM with an S.A.S.E. Business sized envelope is okay for QSL cards. DX QSLs are via the W1 Bureau.

A certificate is available. Mixed modes are OK. If stateside stations work both the W1AA/MKC and W1AA/BC stations and wish a certificate, please send a large 8 1/2 x 11 inch envelope with $1.50 in stamps on the envelope for stateside return only. Certificates for DX stations via W1AA DIRECT via QRZ.COM address with a large envelope 8 1/2 x 11 inch envelope and sufficient USA postage for 2 oz. of mail to return to their country.

This will be a great event. Please take the time to tune the bands and work us.

Operators will be Henry K1WCC, Tom K1TH, and Whitey K1VV.

Marconi Radio Club  W1AA
Email: k1vv@comcast.net

Meeting notes from the January 10, 2009 New England Division Cabinet Meeting in Springfield, Massachusetts have been posted on-line for your reading pleasure. The bi-annual meetings are held approximately one week before regular ARRL Board of Director meetings to allow Section Managers, Assistant Directors, Advisory Committee members and Affiliated Club Presidents the opportunity to voice their opinions and provide feedback to the Director and Vice Director.

Volunteers of the USS Cassin Young museum ship at the Charlestown Navy Yard are planning a day trip to see the USS Intrepid museum ship in Manhattan, New York on Saturday, February 14, 2009. The cost, including admission is  $89.00.  According to Bob Reiser, AA1M, the group will depart and arrive back at the Charlestown Navy Yard.  Anyone interested is requested to contact AA1M by phone  at 781 272 6219 or email at aa1m@arrl.net.

–Thanks, QRA News, January 2009

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association will hold a General Class license course on the fourth Wednesday of each month beginning in January.

The course will start on Wednesday, January 28th at 7:30 PM at the CAARA club house on 6 Stanwood Street in Gloucester. It will be open to all non-members as well. The course will be headed by CAARA club President Curtis Wright, AA3JE and Bill Canty, W1OKD.

There will be no cost for this course but attendees are requested to register in advance by e-mailing Dean Burgess, KB1PGH at dburg101@aol.com.

“Please spread the word if you know of anyone who is looking to upgrade to General class,” writes Burgess.  “This is a perfect opportunity to do so.”

–caara.net

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association announces its License In A Weekend on March 21-22, 2009 in the Danforth Museum, Lexington Street, in Framingham, MA. The $42 fee includes lunch on Saturday and Sunday, a textbook and the FCC exam fee.

The class schedule is as follows:

– Saturday 9 am to 5 pm

– Sunday 9 am to 4 pm

– FCC Technician license exam on Sunday 2 pm

To reserve a seat, contact Ed Weiss (W1NXC) at  508-881-2301 or email W1NXC@arrl.net. Pre-registration is required, and applications must be received no later than Feb. 21, 2009. (NOTE: there are limited FREE openings for Boy and Girl Scouts.)