a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
The Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) has announced the 2008 winners of 55 scholarships it administers. Two of the recipients hail from Eastern Massachusetts.
Bryce Salmi, KB1LQC, of Chelmsford, MA was the winner of the Leland Smith, Sr, W5KL, QCWA Memorial Scholarship worth $1600.
Brenton Salmi, KB1LQD, Chelmsford, MA was the recipient of the Wes Randles QCWA Memorial Scholarship worth $1100.
Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients.
Members of the Whitman Amateur Radio Club will conduct a fox hunt on Sunday, July 27, 2008 somewhere in Hanson. NI1X will act as the “fox”; he will transmit for one minute on 146.565 simplex every five minutes between 2 and 4 p.m. while hiding in a public place. According to reliable sources, the fox will make “bonus transmissions” and some not-so-helpful hints to the hunters. Coordination will be on the Whitman repeater on 147.225 MHz (PL 67 Hz).
–Thanks, Whitman ARC Spectrum July 2008
EMA TRAFFIC HANDLERS PICNIC SUNDAY AUGUST 3, 2008
The annual Traffic Handlers Picnic for EMA will be held Sunday August 3, 2008 at the Raynham Senior Citizen Center picnic area in Raynham, MA. The picnic will run from 12:00PM to 4:00PM. Your host Jim N1LKJ will provide hamburgers. Bring your own soft drinks. No Alcohol is allowed because its on Town Property. If you wish to bring cookies or cakes to share with the group, that would be great.
There are two barbecues for those who want to cook there oun food. There is also toilet facilities available. A great chance to eyeball people you have been hearing all year. A good time for all.
Directions: From RT 24 NORTH OR SOUTH. Take Exit 13 west to Taunton, which is route 44. Follow 44 west 1.5 miles to set of lights. Brooks Pharmacy on corner. Take right on to RT 104 Raynham. Follow 104 1/2 mile, take first left on to King Phillip ST. Follow King Phillip 1/4 mile to Raynham Senior Citizen Center on left. Pull right into parking lot. Picnic area on the left.
See you there.
Jim N1LKJ
All three branches of the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) were involved in a four-hour, time-compressed hurricane drill affecting the eastern United States.
Army MARS was the lead branch with assistance from Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps MARS. The large drill focused on the recovery phase of a Category Four hurricane. The drill encompassed fifteen states, with most of the infrastructure damage, evacuations and flooding situated in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
Tom Kinahan, N1CPE, the MA State RACES Officer and Mike Neilsen, W1MPN manned the Massachusetts State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and participated in the exercise. Situation reports were sent via Winlink to the Air Force Incident Command post at Hancock Air National Guard Base in New York.
Neilsen and Kinahan also used Echolink to communicate with Air Force MARS member Phil McNamara, N1XTB, of Middleboro, MA. Winlink messages were also exchanged with N1XTB, who monitored the progress of the exercise on the MARS HF command and control frequency and passed along notable drill occurrences; for example, the C-130 damage assessment overflight.
Also participating in the drill was Ed Barlow, K1ZIK, the MA Air Force MARS Director and Wilmington RACES officer.
Pictured here: Mike Neilsen, W1MPN (l) and Tom Kinahan, N1CPE at the Massachusetts SEOC
The Whitman Amateur Radio Club has produced a special edition Field Day 2008 Newsletter available via its web site. The nine-page newsletter highlights the club’s activities during Field Day, listing the call signs of 39 club members and ten ham visitors. It also showcases their two youngest visitors: 6-year-old Patrick and 8-year-old Colben, who made contacts on 2-meter FM.
Congratulations to the Whitman ARC for a job well-done!
The KY1N Memorial List
Scheduled Amateur Radio Volunteer Examinations - CT MA ME NH RI VT
7/07/08
Jim, WW1Y, Editor
Date Time Contact Location Phone
07/08/08 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
07/09/08 19:30 *James Weckback, W1EQW Framingham MA 508-435-6487
07/10/08 17:00 Steven Ewald, WV1X Newington CT 860-594-0265
07/10/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
07/10/08 19:00 Kevin Cellini, N1KGM Trumbull CT 203-268-5015
07/11/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
07/12/08 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
07/12/08 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
07/12/08 09:30 Ernest Laug, KA1NGG Stamford CT 203-348-3993
07/12/08 09:00 Norm Smith, NY1B Union ME 207-354-6853
07/13/08 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
07/15/08 19:00 Orrin Riggott, AB1EL Portland CT 860-223-8867
07/16/08 19:00 Robert E Moreland, KA1ZMF Milford CT 203-934-4059
07/17/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
07/17/08 18:30 John Ruggiero, N2YHK Worcester MA 508-982-0617
07/19/08 09:00 Bryce Rumery, K1GAX South Portland ME 207-799-1116
07/21/08 19:00 Richard Strycharz Jr, KD1XP Amherst MA 413-665-2211
07/21/08 19:00 Arthur Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
07/22/08 12:00 Adam Woodbury, K1ADW Bedford MA 781-271-3062
07/23/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
07/23/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
07/24/08 18:00 Bryce Rumery, K1GAX South Portland ME 207-799-1116
07/25/08 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
07/26/08 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
07/26/08 09:00 Kenneth Carr, KB1AWV Cranston RI 401-828-1665
07/26/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
08/03/08 09:00 Richard Williamson, WA1YQE Milford CT 203-877-5020
08/08/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
08/09/08 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
08/09/08 09:30 David Carberry, WA1IKN Gales Ferry CT 860-464-0225
08/09/08 09:00 Don Tarbet, KD1XU Saint Albans ME 207-327-1453
08/09/08 10:00 Bryce Rumery, K1GAX Topsham ME 207-799-1116
08/10/08 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
08/12/08 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
08/14/08 17:00 Steven Ewald, WV1X Newington CT 860-594-0265
08/14/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
08/14/08 19:00 Kevin Cellini, N1KGM Trumbull CT 203-268-5015
08/16/08 09:00 Bob Jones, WB1P Slatersville RI 401-333-4787
08/17/08 09:00 Thomas Jaworski, WA1MJE Adams MA 413-528-9002
08/18/08 19:00 Arthur Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
08/19/08 19:00 Orrin Riggott, AB1EL Portland CT 860-223-8867
08/20/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
08/20/08 19:00 Robert E Moreland, KA1ZMF Milford CT 203-934-4059
08/21/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
08/22/08 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
08/23/08 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
08/23/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
08/25/08 19:00 Walton G Congdon, W1ZPB Northfield MA 413-498-2729
08/27/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
08/30/08 14:30 George Rinalducci, KB1KBC Greenland NH 603-231-1392
09/02/08 18:30 Albert Noble, AA1CZ Saco ME 207-642-8830
09/06/08 11:30 Frank Sileo, N1PE Bethel CT 203-438-0218
09/07/08 09:00 Richard Williamson, WA1YQE Milford CT 203-877-5020
09/08/08 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
09/09/08 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
09/10/08 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
09/11/08 17:00 Steven Ewald, WV1X Newington CT 860-594-0265
09/11/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
09/11/08 19:00 Kevin Cellini, N1KGM Trumbull CT 203-268-5015
09/12/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
09/13/08 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
09/13/08 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
09/13/08 08:00 Conrad Ekstrom, WB1GXM Newport NH 603-543-1389
09/14/08 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
09/15/08 19:00 Arthur Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
09/16/08 19:00 Orrin Riggott, AB1EL Portland CT 860-223-8867
09/17/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
09/18/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
09/20/08 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
09/24/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
09/26/08 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
09/27/08 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
09/27/08 09:00 Kenneth Carr, KB1AWV Cranston RI 401-828-1665
09/27/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
09/27/08 09:00 Jack P Garforth, N1JK Middletown RI 401-683-2250
10/04/08 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
10/05/08 09:00 Richard Williamson, WA1YQE Milford CT 203-877-5020
10/06/08 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
10/08/08 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
10/09/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
10/09/08 19:00 Kevin Cellini, N1KGM Trumbull CT 203-268-5015
10/10/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
10/11/08 09:00 Don Tarbet, KD1XU Bangor ME 207-327-1453
10/11/08 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
10/12/08 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
10/14/08 18:30 Wilburn A Scott, WA1YNZ Presque Isle ME 207-455-8333
10/14/08 19:00 Lawrence Polowy, KU1L Thomaston CT 860-283-4089
10/15/08 19:00 Robert E Moreland, KA1ZMF Milford CT 203-934-4059
10/16/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
10/16/08 18:00 Bryce Rumery, K1GAX South Portland ME 207-799-1116
10/16/08 18:30 John Ruggiero, N2YHK Worcester MA 508-982-0617
10/18/08 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
10/18/08 09:00 Bob Jones, WB1P Slatersville RI 401-333-4787
10/20/08 19:00 Richard Strycharz Jr, KD1XP Amherst MA 413-665-2211
10/20/08 19:00 Arthur Denault, KB1CNB Fall River MA 774-644-3469
10/21/08 12:00 Adam Woodbury, K1ADW Bedford MA 781-271-3062
10/21/08 19:00 Orrin Riggott, AB1EL Portland CT 860-223-8867
10/22/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
10/22/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
10/24/08 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
10/25/08 09:00 William D Wilson, K1IN Bloomfield CT 860-869-1059
10/25/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
11/02/08 09:00 Richard Williamson, WA1YQE Milford CT 203-877-5020
11/03/08 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
11/08/08 08:45 William J Needham, K1WN Braintree MA 781-843-4400
11/08/08 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
11/09/08 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
11/12/08 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
11/13/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
11/14/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
11/15/08 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
11/18/08 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
11/19/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
11/20/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
11/22/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
11/22/08 09:00 Jim Heedles, WW1Y Nashua NH 603-673-7395
11/26/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
11/28/08 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
12/06/08 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
12/08/08 19:00 Dick Doherty, KA1TUZ Brookline MA 617-527-2968
12/10/08 19:30 Bruce Anderson, W1LUS Chelmsford MA 978-851-2886
12/11/08 19:00 Louis Mester, W1CH Providence RI 401-263-6045
12/12/08 18:30 Ralph T Stetson III, KD1R Burlington VT 802-878-6454
12/13/08 09:00 Ben Fleck, K2LYE Falmouth MA 508-540-2583
12/14/08 12:00 Bob Quinn, WV1A Gloucester MA 978-283-4660
12/16/08 19:00 Paul Lux, K1PL Portland CT 860-635-1742
12/18/08 19:30 Louis Harris, N1UEC Canton MA 508-668-0858
12/20/08 09:00 Bill Wade, K1IJ Marlborough MA 617-699-3670
12/24/08 19:30 Nick Altenbernd, KA1MQX Cambridge MA 617-253-3776
12/24/08 19:00 *Paul Upham, KD1YH Shirley MA 978-597-6535
12/26/08 18:00 David Cote, WA1DC Holyoke MA 413-575-2950
12/27/08 12:00 +Daniel Lee, W1DFL Danvers MA 978-352-4513
02/07/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
04/04/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
06/06/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
08/01/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
10/03/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055
12/05/09 10:30 Larry Houbre, AA1FS Dartmouth MA 508-991-6055NOTES:
* = PREREGISTRATION MANDATORY
+ = PLEASE CALL TO GUARANTEE SEATING
T = Technician Exams only
Times are Local Time
Please check with the contact person as some dates are tentative!
For the latest examination information, check
http://www.ky1n.net/ky1n.html.
If attending a session please remember to bring:
1) One photo ID, or two non-photo ID's (one with address)
2) Original FCC-issued license plus a photocopy (if already licensed)
3) Original plus photocopies of all CSCE's you are claiming
4) The 2008 test session fee of $14.00
All VE Teams are invited to contribute.
For additions/corrections contact Jim Heedles, WW1Y, 603-673-7395,
via email at ky1n@ky1n.net
RACES, SKYWARN, and ARES will participate in a statewide hurricane drill on Monday, August 4, 2008. [Full story]
Hello to all…
..Updated Participants Manual to correct the title page, remove a paragraph on regional simplex that will not be done to this drill and corrected the Winlink Frequencies and added a link to the Winlink Documentation on the ARES web site. Remainder is unchanged..
In lieu of the RACES and ARES Nets for Monday August 4th, 2008, there will be a Massachusetts Statewide Hurricane Drill on Monday August 4th, 2008 starting at 7 PM. The drill will follow a similar format as past hurricane drills that have occurred in June of past years. The reason the drill is occurring later this year is because Region Two held a more concentrated/localized drill on the Cape Cod Emergency Traffic plan back in mid-May of this year.
The drill will follow a similar format seen in past statewide hurricane drills. The scenario has been finalized and the participants document can be seen via the link below:
Hurricane Matt 2008 Mass Statewide Hurricane drill
MEMA Region Two has determined that they will use NTS traffic for this exercise. A request is being made for utilization of Winlink/Airmail digital modes along with the various voice nets and voice liaison paths on HF, EchoLink/IRLP etc. as done in past drills.
Thanks to all in advance for supporting this drill!
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
1
Hello to all…
A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for July is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for July is Monday July 7th, 2008, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the RACES Nets earlier in the evening.
Make the first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.
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!
1
The Genesis Amateur Radio Society made some impressive inroads in the publicity department from last weekend’s annual Field Day exercise. The club operated from their usual location at the Plymouth Airport in the 3A category. In addition, they operated a GOTA (“Get On The Air”) station for beginners.
“We had media publicity before and during [Field Day] and we are waiting for [one more] after the event,” reports GARS President John Williams, KB1EVY.
“A couple of weeks before Field Day, we were invited to meet with a reporter from the Plymouth Colonial. The story was published in print and also on their web site.”
Williams reports that radio station WATD (95.9 FM, Marshfield, MA) ran numerous promotional spots during the week of Field Day. Ten of those spots alone were aired on Friday. WATD also conducted a live interview with Williams on Saturday!
Shown, below: WATD’s Sam Kooper interviewing GARS President John Williams, KB1EVY at Field Day; Genesis ARS Field Day group photo
Roland Daignault writes on the BCRA-Club mailing list:
Location: EMA / Fall River Fire Dept. Headquarters Airport Rd.
Date & Time: Tuesday July 8th at 6:00 PM
Please join us for a table-top hurricane drill exercise. Radios will not be required as this drill will focus on how the local Emergency Management agencies will conduct operations during a hurricane, and pass this information to the RACES operators. This is a good exercise for us to know how the documentation is utilized, to know who our EMA folks are (and vise versa).
The HAMCOW will also make its debut to the EMA community to showcase the awesome capability we now have. We will not be communicating to Bridgewater as we have in the past, so there is no need to bring any radios. If a few of us show up we can get a good refresher on how the system is supposed to work.
I’ll have the HAMCOW on site by 6:00 PM and a couple of helpers to set up and tear down will be appreciated. Even though we will not require the radio gear, I plan to do a full deployment (minus W2DAN’s tower & HF Yagi) for demonstration purposes.
We will also start evaluation a new software package written specifically for running a net control in a RACES environment. You may want to take a look at this installation and get familiar with its features and functions.
Thanks, and I hope to see you there!
Roland – N1JOY
New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** 2008 P 1 of 2
All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except ~_____~
*******************************************************************************
2008 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12 July Union ME PBARC @Thompson Comm Ctr Scott KB1DSW 207 354 6809 A20 July Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776
9 Aug Gales Ferry CT RASON @VFD $4@9 $15/T@7 Wayne KB1NKK 206 350 3064 W
9 Aug St Albans ME PARC @SnowMobileClb $5@8 George WA1JMM 207 441 6112 W
15-16 Aug Swanton VT STARC AirportRD $5/D+$5/DTG Arn N1ARN 802 285 6457
17 August Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776
17 Aug Adams MA NoBARC @FG $5/B $10TG $15/T Alan K1SAV 413 358 8428 W
21 Aug Halifax NS HARC 75th Anv @StVincentUniv Howard VE1DHD 902 490 6421 W
22-24 Aug Boxboro MA FEMARA NE Conv Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235 W
7 Sept Windsor ME AARA @FG Bill K1NIT 207 623 9075 A+
13 Sept Windsor CT VR+C Mus 115 Pierson LN @6AM Tailgate John 860 673 0518
13 Sept Ballston Spa NY SCRACES @FG @7 Darlene N2XQG 518 587 2385 W
13 Sept Montreal PQ WIARC Auction @ShrinerH $5@9 $15/T@8 VE2CWI W+
14 Sept Newtown CT CARA @TownHall $6@8:30 $10/15@7 Joe AB1DO 203 938 4880 W
20 Sept Alton NH MASONS @Lodge @7 Tg$10 $20/inside T Bob W1GWU 603 776 0086 A
20 Sept Forestdale RI RIFMRS @VFW rt146 8A flea+auct Rick K1KYI 401 864 9611
20 Sept Alexander ME StCCARC @ElSch Rt9 Mike KB1GEO 207 427 3058 A
21 Sept Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776
27-28 Sept Wakefield MA Photographica @AmericalCtr ~photo~ John 781 592 2553 W
27 Sep Drummondville PQ CRADI @StBernard $5@9$15@7 Omer VE2OML 819 478 0478 R
5 Oct Queens NY HOSARC $5@9 $10/SP Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599 W
10-11 Oct Deerfield NH NearFest @FG Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235 W
12 Oct Wallingford CT Nutmeg Conv $20/sp $7@9 John N1GNV 203 440 4468
18 Oct Manchester NH NEAntqRC @BingoCtr $15@7:30$5@8:30 Charlie 603 898 4821 F
18 Oct Greenwood NS NSARA @CommCtr $3@10 S@8 Burt VE1AMA 902 847 7073 W
*******************************************************************************
LAST UPDATE 7-2-08 de W1GSL http://swapfest.us P 1
List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version
*******************************************************************************
Additions/ Corrections via e-Mail w1gsl@mit.edu
The Framingham Amateur Radio Association announced the winner of its annual scholarship.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that FARA member Shaun Smith, KB1NYI, is the recipient of this year’s FARA scholarship in the amount of $750,” wrote FARA President Gordy Bello, K1GB to the FARA membership.
Smith, a physics major, is entering his sophomore year at the University of Mass. in Lowell.
Bello added, “Please join me in congratulating Shaun. We wish him every success in his academic pursuits.”
Shown here: FARA Vice President Leo Cantin, WA1HAM, awarding the scholarship to Shaun Smith, KB1NYI.
The Fall River ARC/Bristol County Repeater Association received excellent publicity in both print and web courtesy The Herald News on June 28. The article highlights the club’s Field Day operations in Freetown State Forest and describes the club’s communications trailer. Roland Daignault, N1JOY is quoted in the article, which also includes an embedded YouTube video.
John Benson, N1FLO writes on SMH-list:
From 20:00 to the end will be live with tactical communications between police fire and EMA on crowd control. If this sounds interesting to any of you and could give a couple of hours on July 12, 2008 please contact N1NVE @ comcast.net for times and further instructions.
73
John C. Benson
N1FLO
SEMARA member Bob Zeida, N1BLF of North Dartmouth has received a Quarter Century Wireless Association Presidential Honors Award for his volunteer work with the Massachusetts Talking Information Service, the Courage Center Handiham System, as well as devoting countless hours of reading and recording ham-related material for the blind and visually impaired. [Full story]
Attention all Field Day sites–please be alert to the possibility of severe weather this Field Day weekend, June 28-29, 2008.
We encourage you to take a moment and review this important document on lightning safety outdoors.
Also, we are including the Severe Weather and Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message #1, courtesy Rob Macedo, KD1CY below:Hello to all..
..Severe Weather Possible today as the weather pattern gets active once again starting today through early next week. In addition, we have now started the first in a series of weather coordination messages for Amateur Radio Field Day. For Non-Amateurs, a description of Amateur Radio Field Day is in the first paragraph of this coordination message..
..Extent of Thursday Severe Weather Threat will be contingent on area of showers and possibly embedded thunderstorms that will make its way through Southern New England this morning and amount of heating this afternoon into early evening. Damaging winds and large hail would be the primary threats..
..There is a threat of showers and thunderstorms over much of interior Southern New England for the Friday through Sunday timeframe and all thunderstorms will have the threat for heavy rainfall and lightning and the potential for at least isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms as well. It will not be a total washout this weekend and there will likely be some Field Day sites that experience little in the way of weather while others could see one or multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms with the possibility of severe weather..
..All Amateur Radio Field Day sites are strongly encouraged to have a NOAA All-Hazards Alert Radio with them and a Ham Radio monitoring their local Amateur Radio SKYWARN Frequency to be able to monitor the weather as they do their Field Day activities if they do not have Internet access to monitor radar and NWS warnings and statements. Be prepared to take cover even if a “garden-variety” thunderstorm approaches due to the risk of lightning..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton is possible Thursday. Ops at NWS Could also be utilized anytime over Field Day weekend if a threat for severe weather develops. Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will monitor through the weekend to alert Field Day stations of any risk of thunderstorms in their area..
For the non-Amateur Radio Operators on the email list, Amateur Radio Field Day occurs on the 4th weekend of June every year and is a time where local Amateur Radio Clubs and individual Amateurs across the United States set up Amateur Radio stations across the region and work other Amateurs in a 24 hour contest that practices some radio operator skills, practices setup of Amateur Equipment in the field at various locations for the Amateurs who elect to setup equipment versus operating their home or pre-installed club stations and is an overall fun event that Amateurs enjoy. The field stations put on by Amateur Radio Clubs and other groups allows the public to see Amateur Radio Operators perform their duties in a fun atmosphere. Any non-Amateurs in Eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut that are interested in visiting the various Field Day sites can see a map of the sites that are open to the public via the following links:
http://ema.arrl.org/fd/fd_dir.php
http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php
http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/
At this time, I do not have links to Field Day sites in other parts of the NWS Taunton County Warning Area. Those that have links to their Field Day can pass them along to me and I can add them to the next coordination message. Now, we will focus on weather risks for the first 24-48 hours.
For Thursday’s weather, at 725 AM, Doppler radar showed showers and possibly embedded thunderstorms across Eastern Pennsylvania, South-Central and Eastern New York and into Western Connecticut. This activity will make its way through Southern New England this morning into early afternoon. Skies will clear to some extent after this activity moves through New England. If enough heating and destabilization can occur during the afternoon, there would be the threat for isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail being the primary threats as there would be sufficient winds aloft and if the destabilization is sufficient, severe thunderstorms would be able to organize into short lines or clusters. If there is not enough heating, the severe threat would be muted.
As we get into Friday, this day should be free of shower and thunderstorm activity but this is contingent on impulses that will rotate around an approaching trough. If this approaches the area sooner, there would be some threat for shower and thunderstorm activity. At this time, Friday, where some Amateur Radio groups may be doing Field Day setup should be a decent day but this will be updated in the next coordination message.
As we get into this weekend, this is where the shower and thunderstorm threat with the safety risks of lightning along with the potential for flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds increases. Exact timeframes and threat regions are tough to determine at this time and will be fine-tuned in future coordination messages but anywhere in interior Southern New England could see activity. Again, Field Day weekend is not expected to be a washout at the present time and there is a definite possibility some Field Day sites may see no significant weather activity while other sites have the potential to be significantly impacted. We strongly encourage all Field Day sites to have a NOAA All-Hazards Alert Radio with them and a Ham Radio monitoring their local Amateur Radio SKYWARN frequency to be able to monitor the weather as they do their Field Day activities. This is particularly important if the site does not have Internet access to monitor radar and NWS Warnings and statements.
Remember even non-severe thunderstorms pose a risk for Field Day stations due to lightning. Take cover even if a non-severe thunderstorm approaches your area.
The next several Severe Weather and Field Day Coordination Messages will be issued as a series of messages through Sunday. The next coordination message will be sent by 1130 PM this evening.
Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook: http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
The following is a link to SKYWARN Frequencies that we will be roving at NWS Taunton and formal SKYWARN Nets established where required.
http://www.wx1box.org and click on Southern New England SKYWARN Frequency List.
In addition, the New England Gateway/Reflector system will be utilized so those with Internet access or access to an EchoLink/IRLP node via a repeater or other system may also be able to gain access to NWS Taunton when we are active via this means by connecting to IRLP Reflector 9123/EchoLink Node #:9123 which is the *NEW-ENG* conference server.
As has happened in year’s past, Field Day is occurring near the time of the National Weather Service’s Lightning Safety Awareness Week but this year it falls after Field Day weekend. A link to the NWS web site dedicated to the hazards of lightning as well as links to Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statements issued by NWS Taunton is listed below:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/
http://www.wx1box.org/local/lgt_safety_part_1_PNS.txt
http://www.wx1box.org/local/lgt_safety_part_2_PNS.txt
http://www.wx1box.org/local/lgt_safety_part_3_PNS.txt
In addition, Eastern Massachusetts ARRL has posted some of the safety messages from Field Day from last year to the web and that information can be seen at the following link and will probably be updated with new information from this email. See link below:
http://ema.arrl.org/fd/safety/Safety.html
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Roland Daignault, N1JOY writes on BCRA mailing list:
The Kuss high altitude balloon launch last Friday was a complete success!!
They launched on time in clam clear blue skies from the large ball fields at the Silvia School on Meridian St. in Fall River. The balloon went in excess of 24,000 feet before it was commanded over New Bedford to release the payload, and it drifted to just North of Cuttyhunk Island!
There were several payloads on the balloon made by the kids such as seeds, an egg to see if it could survive the flight and landing, APRS, and a digital video camera to record the entire flight. I have a copy of the video recovered from the balloon and it is awesome!
At one point I was able to identify my house (and N1OCY’s), U-Mass Dartmouth, a high speed ferry boat, and about 2 minutes before the balloon splashed down, for just a moment, you can see what appears to be the recovery boat on the edge of the screen! The balloon landed and was plucked out of the water about 15 minutes later.
With APRS the students were able to direct the recovery boat to be in place where we expected the payload to touch down. The balloon traveled a total of 22 miles.
As well at things went, there were a few lessons learned:
#1.) You can fit 17 middle school students in the front half of the HAMCOW. They were calling me “Kid #18” when I walked in and took a head count. 🙂
#2.) Fall River has some of the coolest kids around! They were great, well behaved, very helpful, and very interested in the balloon and Ham Radio equipment.
#3.) The recovery boat needs a better APRS & 2 Meter setup. HT’s were just too intermittent at those distances from the mainland.
#4.) The APRS payload (not set up by us I must add), needs to beacon out more frequently than every 2 minutes, which is what we were given.
#5.) The payload box carrying the video camera needs to be stabilized to keep the video from jiggling back and forth and wildly twirling in circles. This is easily accomplished with a couple of balsa sticks with what is essentially rudders placed on the ends.
#6.) Launching tennis balls high in the sky with a bunch of kids with my new “Antenna launcher” (a.k.a. – potato gun) is more fun that playing with my dog! I kept the kids busy while we waited for the recovery team to return from the docks.
The Fall River Herald News did ANOTHER front page story on the Kuss kids! (How many is that now? I’ve lost count!!) The BCRA also received an honorable mention in the article, which is fine because were were only helpers. In the article there is a link to a You-Tube video that clearly shows the HAMCOW in the background.
http://www.heraldnews.com/education/x719314157/Science-experiment-sends-students-soaring
It was also great to see a couple of the Ham Radio kids who are students from past years and are now in High School make the event. Kuss has quite a few current Ham students, and plenty more aspiring to get their license!
[See also: Kuss School – High Altitude Balloon Launch June 13
Members of the Boston Amateur Radio Club facilitated a License In A Weekend session at the Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities in Newton on June 13-15.
A dozen Zola Center members, with assistance from volunteers of the Boston club studied and reviewed test material from the ARRL license manual. The sessions were conducted on Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon, the Boston ARC Volunteer Examiner team administered the Technician and General class elements.
BARC members held a May prequel meeting to the weekend study session to distribute the materials, and to prepare the students for what lay ahead.
“Everyone helped in some way. Some were on the front lines, but it took everyone else’s support to really make it happen,” wrote BARC Vice President Eric Falkof, K1NUN.
“Paul [N1ZKR] and Nora [KB1OHB] called people to encourage or ensure there were no outstanding problems. This was an essential element, because it maintained the club’s contact with the students. We did not leave them adrift. This helped the students to know they were not being abandoned to their own devices entirely. … We showed we were attentive and cared.”
“The 80 percent passing grade of the participants was a testament to your good work,” wrote Donna Suskawicz, the Center’s Director, complementing the Boston ARC crew on their efforts. “All participants enjoyed the weekend and communicated to me they were thankful for the opportunity to study and take the license exam.” She added, “I know this was time consuming for all of you and I am appreciative of the personal dedication from each of you.”
Suskawicz also participated in the course; she successfully passed the Technician exam and is awaiting her license.
Participating Boston ARC members included K1NUN, WA1IDA, KB1OHB, N1ZKR, KB1OKP, N1ICN and K9HI.
Costs for the weekend program were partially offset by the Avon Products company, who awarded Suskawicz a national “Avon Hello Tomorrow” grant to encourage women with disabilities to pursue ham radio.
The Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities at Brigham House is a drop-in community center for persons with disabilities. The center is named for Irving Kenneth Zola, a resident of Newton, MA, who was an internationally known sociologist and advocate who specialized in disability studies and medical sociology.
[See also:
The Pentucket Radio Association plans to have a station active during the ARRL-sponsored Kids Day on June 21, 2008 at the home of Larry Caruso, K1LGC in Haverhill. All are welcome to attend.
See http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html for more information on Kids Day.
—PRA625 Group