Foxhunting Class at Boston Amateur Radio Club, Brighton, September 7, 2024
Chris Larosee, AC1RV, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list:a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®

Chris Larosee, AC1RV, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list:Ethan, KC1OIP, writes on the Boston ARC email list:
It’s that time of year again! The Head Of The Charles is looking for Amateur Radio (and lifeguards, first aid and bike team) volunteers for 2024. Please see below.
—
Volunteer registration for the 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta is opening today at 3pm! The PIN across all of our volunteer teams is 0911. While registration is opening early for returning volunteers, I’d ask you to spread the link and associated information to anyone you know that may be interested in helping! We’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join the team and help us support an incredible event!
This is the link to volunteer registration through Regatta Central:
https://volunteer.regattacentral.com/
Below are a few answers to frequently asked questions:
Q: What are the dates for HOCR 2024?
A: Events will be taking place on the weekend of October 18th to October 20th, 2024.
Q: What are the shift times for each team assignment?
A: Reporting and Securing Times are as follows:
0600 – 1800: Lifeguards and Ham Radio Operators on Safety Launches
0700 – 1800: Land-Based Ham Radio Operators, First Aid Teams, Bike Teams
These timeframes are rough, and we’re allowing for operational hang-ups that may add time to the day when estimating.
Q: When will we hear about assignments?
A: We start working on assignments as soon as we receive volunteer applications. However, we won’t release an assignment list until it’s reasonably full. You likely won’t see anything like that until the end of September or beginning of October. You will receive an email when any action is taken on your application, whether it’s accepted, declined, or put on hold. If you have any questions about the status of your application, please direct them to emergencyservices@hocr.org.
Q: When will I hear from you again?
A: One of our goals is to improve communication with the volunteer contingent every year, and 2024 is no exception. In the next few weeks, the Race Operations team (which includes all of the Emergency Services committee members) will begin meeting regularly. As deadlines for volunteer registration and certification submission approach, you’ll be hearing from us more frequently. In the interim, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact that committee at emergencyservices@hocr.org. This inbox is monitored by several committee members and we’re usually very quick to respond.
Q: What about the volunteer premiums?!
A: I have no information about volunteer premiums for 2024, aside from the fact that we are as curious as you are!
If you have any questions that aren’t listed here, please reply to this message and ask! We’ll be glad to answer them to the best of our collective ability. We’re looking forward to working with you all again soon!
Best,
The HOCR Emergency Services Committee
emergencyservices@hocr.org
—
Hope to see you in October!
73,
Ethan, KC1OIP
Welcome to the August 2024 EMA Section Update! This update is also being published to the EMA Section and NE Division websites. Please spread the word.
It’s still summer. The weather – at least here on the Cape – has been crazy variable, from hot-humid-swampy to nice-cool-dry, and everything in between. I hope you’re all taking it easy, staying cool, keeping hydrated, and enjoying the nice days. The population of our Cape Cod communities continues at 3-4 times off-season. Many businesses make all their profits for the year, and that is to be respected. On the bright side, listening to the police/rescue/fire scanner gives us countless “stupid human tricks” stories. This too shall end!
* HamXpo is Coming!
Last call, I promise! 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 exceeds Hamvention (Dayton) in terms of breadth and depth of topics. Attend an in-person SKYWARN Spotter class! Attend the in-person Mini Contest University being held Friday! Bring someone to review for their Tech license in a day! I want to have an eyeball QSO with you there, including the Section Town Hall (parallel sessions for most of the New England sections)! Full details at https://hamxposition.org/
* K1USN SST
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 20 WPM. Contest sponsors strongly urge all participants to operate at 12 WPM or less to provide new CW ops with a comfortable “on ramp” to CW operating and contesting.
See https://ema.arrl.org/2024/08/14/k1usn-sst-open-september-13-2024/ for more details.
* New Version of KB1OIQ’s Linux Distro Released
Andy KB1OIQ writes:
I have released version 26 of Andy’s Ham Radio Linux. It can be found here:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/files/v26
Version 26 is now the default version when the Download button is clicked.
Andy is hosting a hands-on installation workshop at HamXposition on Fri Aug 23 at 1300 EDT. If you simply want to learn more about Andy’s Ham Linux distribution, he’s giving a seminar at 1100 EDT on Sat Aug 24. Check it out!
* Amateur Radio Communications Request for “Cycle for Shelter” in Haverhill
“This year’s Cycle for Shelter will take place on Sunday September 15th. The start and finish is 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 seven different rest stops 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 four hours. Bike marshals are also needed for the 15-mile route which is local to the start/finish.”
See https://ema.arrl.org/2024/08/14/amateur-radio-communications-request-cycle-for-shelter-haverhill-september-15-2024/ for more details.
* StratoScience Lab Balloons Deployed from New England Sci-Tech on Wed Aug 14
Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on the New England Sci-Tech ARS mailing list:
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 be filling up and releasing the balloon from the NEST parking lot. The exact time is not nailed down yet, but release will most likely be sometime between 10am and 2pm. We will have a HamXposition presentation detailing all the projects.
* Recruiting a New Section Youth Coordinator
I reported last month that our Section Youth Coordinator, Paul K1YUB, had to step down from his position. I’m still looking for his replacement. 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!
* “Three Dots” at Harbor Stage Company, Wellfleet, August 19-20, 2024
“Blending vivid theatricality and meticulously researched history, Three Dots tells the story of one of our region’s proudest accomplishments— in 1903 the first transatlantic telegraphs from America to Europe were sent from a station on the cliffs of our small seaside hamlet: Wellfleet, MA. An insightful look at the science and the psyches behind this remarkable event.”
For more information, visit https://www.harborstage.org/three-dots.html.
* N1ILZ for a Final
Stay safe and cool out there! Summer is (still) here, the traffic is (still) 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?!
Please, PLEASE join us at HamXposition! I will be hosting an Eastern MA ARRL Town Hall on Saturday at 1600 EDT. Here’s your chance to throw rotten tomatoes at your Section Manager and tell me what you really think!
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 and Assistant Section Manager and New England Division Vice Director Phil K9HI.

From the Watertown Patch:
“Swapfest is a huge electronics, tools, technology, amateur radio, and gadget flea market held on the third Sunday of every month from April to October in the Albany St. parking garage at MIT. Come buy, sell, or just look at objects as diverse as WWII Enigma machines, motors, power tools, computers, space capsules, and more. Early bird buyer admission starts at 7:00 AM for $15. Normal buyer admission starts at 9 AM for $6 (or $5 with a paper printout of our flyer). Vendors can preregister by the 5th of the month by mailing in our flyer with a check or show up to register day-of for a slightly higher fee. 9 AM-2 PM, but come early for best deals. Bring cash!”
“Blending vivid theatricality and meticulously researched history, Three Dots tells the story of one of our region’s proudest accomplishments— in 1903 the first transatlantic telegraphs from America to Europe were sent from a station on the cliffs of our small seaside hamlet: Wellfleet, MA. An insightful look at the science and the psyches behind this remarkable event.”
For more information, visit https://www.harborstage.org/three-dots.html.
KA8SCP-Terry Stader – MEMA Region 1 RACES Radio Officer and ARRL ARES District Emergency Coordinator for Region 1 RACES writes:
This year’s Baystate Marathon and Half-Marathon race is scheduled for Sunday October 20, 2024.
Amateur Radio operators have been asked once again to support the Baystate Marathon and Half Marathon. This year the event is on Sunday, October 20th.
Our operational time period is from approximately 0700 until event completion (estimated 1400). Our assistance has been requested by Lowell Office of Emergency Management and Lowell Fire Department. The communications team will be employing Amateur Radio to provide this communications asset.
Amateur Radio will be used for:
* Accountability Net: the purpose of this net is to coordinate with a race public information booth the status of runners who are unable to complete the race for any issue to any one is seeking this information.
Race info may be found at http://baystatemarathon.com.
Course map is found at
https://www.baystatemarathon.com/course-map-description
Please contact me if you can assist or would like more information.
Please share with others that may be interested. This is a pretty laid back
event and suitable for first time public event participation.
Terry-KA8SCP
Terry M. Stader – KA8SCP
MEMA Region 1 RACES Officer
ARRL ARES Eastern MA District Emergency Coordinator for Region 1 RACES
From 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
Brendan Baldonado, NW1S, writes on the Boston ARC mailing list:
The 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/]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/
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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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
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.
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
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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