Affiliated Clubs

WA1JXR: “Introduction to NanoVNAs” at Barnstable ARC General Meeting Online, January 3, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Barnstable ARC logoNorm Cantin, WA1NLG, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:

[…] Unfortunately, the Dennis Police Department is still closed to the public.  [The Barnstable ARC] will meet via Zoom [on January 3, 2022 at 7 PM.]

This month’s guest speaker is Greg Algieri, WA1JXR, who will present a very interesting topic:  Introduction to Nano VNA.  Due to Greg’s schedule, he will present at 8 PM.  We will conduct the business meeting prior to Greg’s presentation.

[Contact Norm Cantin, WA1NLG, at norman.cantin@gmail.com for Zoom meeting details.]

 

Licensing Education & Training

New England Sci-Tech Technician Courses In-Person and Online, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoFrom <https://nescitech.org/shop/on-line-license-course-technician/>:

This ONLINE or IN-Person ham radio class will get you ready to take the Ham Radio TECHNICIAN license exam, the FIRST of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and home-school students. Yes, we give online and in-person ham radio exams, too! (See below)

Get your ham radio license in 4 days or a 2-day weekend!

This is a FULL course taught live via Zoom (or in person) by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a video or discussion group. You will learn much more than with other methods.

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Optional text: ARRL Technician Class License Manual, 4th edition, for exams through June 30, 2022, (purchase on ARRL website). Regular practice and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.

Amateur radio (or “ham radio”) is used by people all over the world to communicate over radio waves. Some people use ham radio for emergency preparedness, to provide communications support for community events, to report on severe weather and natural disasters, as a social activity, and even occasionally to contact crew members on the International Space Station!

2022 IN-PERSON HAM RADIO CLASS FOR TECHNICIAN LICENSE

  • 4 day IN-PERSON course: Thu DEC 23, Mon DEC 27, Wed DEC 29, Thu DEC 30, 5:00-8:00 pm, EASTERN at 16 Tech Circle, Natick, MA.
  • 4 day IN-PERSON course: Mon Feb 21, Tue Feb 22, Wed Feb 23, Thu Feb 24, 3:00-6:00 pm, EASTERN at 16 Tech Circle, Natick, MA.
  • 4 day IN-PERSON course: Mon Apr 18, Tue Apr 19, Wed Apr 20, Thu Apr 21, 3:00-6:00 pm, EASTERN at 16 Tech Circle, Natick, MA.

Note: These in-person sessions are offered FREE for anyone who is a full-time student.

 

2022 ONLINE HAM RADIO CLASS FOR TECHNICIAN LICENSE

  • 4 day course: M-T-W-T Jan 10-13, 8:30-11:30pm, EASTERN
  • 2 day weekend cram: SAT-SUN Jan 15-16, 12:00-6:00pm, EASTERN
  • 4 day course: M-T-W-T Feb 7-10, 8:30-11:30pm, EASTERN
  • 2 day weekend cram: SAT-SUN March 5-6, 12:00-6:00pm, EASTERN
  • 4 day course: M-T-W-T March 7-10, 8:30-11:30pm, EASTERN
  • 4 day course: M-T-W-T April 4-7, 8:30-11:30pm, EASTERN

Included with course: You will get downloadable lecture study guides and charts, FREE access to our weekly Online Radio Shop Talk sessions, FREE enrollment in any of our Morse Code classes, and a guest pass to the Sci-Tech Radio Rooms and online radio club meetings for 3 months.

Family Free: Additional members of the same family may join this course at no extra charge, if sharing one computer and zoom screen.

System Requirements: For ONLINE course, computer or Chromebook capable of running ZOOM Meeting, either by Zoom app or through a web browser, a web camera/mic, and a printer.

Zoom Link: Approximately 2 days before the session begins you will receive an email with instructions to access the course details, documents, Zoom link for ON-LINE viewing, and directions for IN-PERSON participation. If you don’t see the email, check your spam filter. If you still don’t see it, call or email us.

Please be aware of our Cancellation and Refund Policies. For questions, e-mail info@nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

School and Scout Groups: Ask about scheduling a session just for your youth group at youth-friendly times, perhaps in smaller sessions spread over two weeks. We may be able to give you a reduced rate as well.

YES, our exam team is authorized to give ONLINE exams, so you can schedule your FCC Technician exam within a few days of finishing the course. We also give IN-PERSON exams in Natick, MA. Note that we must collect the standard $15 exam fee for the ARRL VEC separately from the course fee. (Fee is $15 across the country.

We administer ham radio exams both online and in-person, having proctored nearly 2,000 exams over the past decade. We’ve taught amateur radio classes for over 15 years with tremendous success. Hundreds of people have taken our classes with 99% having passed the exam to become licensed operators. We offer classes for all three levels of ham radio licenses:  Technician, General, Amateur Extra, as well as Morse Code.

Operating

New England Sci-Tech “Talk to Santa at the North Pole,” December 22-23, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Mall SantaNew England Sci-Tech writes on its Facebook page on December 20, 2021:
 
Can’t find a mall Santa? No problem. Let us connect your child with Santa Claus through the magic of wireless! Use the link at the end of this announcement to register your child for this free event!
 
This year New England Sci-Tech will participate in the annual Santa Net, a nation-wide network of amateur radio stations which allows youngsters to talk to “Santa at The North Pole” via strategically-placed radio operators who relay the voice of Santa. Reservations are now available through our website (see below). On the nights of December 22nd and 23rd we’ll open at 6:45 PM for registered families to come in, have a look around and learn a little about how this radio stuff works. At 7:00 we’ll put each child’s name onto the net check-in list and get an idea of when we can expect to receive our call over the air. At 8:15 the net opens and we’ll be able to listen in as children from all over North America talk to Santa while we wait for our turn. This year between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve the Santa Net team expects to connect over 1,000 children with Santa Claus, so we do expect a wait.
 
This is a FREE event, but registration is required and space is limited. To participate, reserve your spot on either Wednesday the 22nd or Thursday the 23rd on our Santa Net page at https://nescitech.org/shop/santa-radio/ and have your child prepared to tell Santa their top 2 or 3 gift wishes. Plan to arrive between 6:45 and 7:00.
Licensing Education & Training

K1BG, W1EKG: “How to Run a Successful Technician Class” Online Presentation, December 28, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Recent licensing class held by the Whitman ARCEastern MA Affiliated Club Coordinator Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The ARRL website has a page which lists upcoming license classes (http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class). To my dismay, when I entered the Eastern Massachusetts section, I found no upcoming classes listed. Nothing! Nada! While I know that this is not the case (a number of local clubs do run license classes), it also worries me. Where are future generations of hams going to come from if WE are not bringing them into the hobby?

Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG, of the Whitman Amateur Radio Club runs very successful license classes (technician, general, and extra). I used Ross’ template for the technician classes the Nashoba Valley ARC has run. We would like to share this experience with you, with the goal of having all ARRL Affiliated Clubs in Eastern Massachusetts sponsor amateur radio classes.

On the evening of Tuesday, December 28th at 7PM, we will have a zoom session called “How to run a successful Technician Licence Class” where we will introduce Ross’ program to you.

This program is by no means the only way to sponsor a successful class! If you have success stories that you would like to discuss or present, please let me know. Again, I’d like to see us having more classes, and I’d like us to be sharing ideas as to how we can make this happen.

If you can’t make it, please delegate this to someone in your club who can. Thanks in advance.

I look forward to seeing you on the 28th.

Bruce, K1BG
ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator, EMA

[For Zoom conference information, contact Bruce Blain, K1BG, at <k1bg.bruce@gmail.com>.]
Affiliated Clubs

KD2EAT: “Tracking and Repurposing NWS Radiosondes for High Altitude Balloon Tracking” at New England Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, December 21, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (NEST) will meet on-line and in-person on December 21, 2021 at 7 PM and feature Mike Hojnowski, KD2EAT,  who will present on “Tracking and Repurposing NWS Radiosondes for High Altitude Balloon Tracking.”
 
Mike is an Amateur Extra operator, licensed since 2013. He’s the club advisor for the Amateur Radio Club at Cornell University (W2CXM) and is very interested in High Altitude Balloons and tracking. He has launched dozens of HABs and Pico flights, one of which is circumnavigating the planet. He’s designed, built and coded APRS and WSPR trackers using Surface Mount technology. Mike has a receiving station for National Weather Service Radiosondes and enjoys tracking and recovering them. NWS Buffalo just switched to “RS-41” sondes, which can be reprogrammed to beacon APRS, 4FSK and several other protocols. Mike is collecting some that land in his area to repurpose for HAB tracking so that he can give them to other balloon enthusiasts. His presentation will be about the software he’s using to track and recover the NWS radiosondes, and how to go about reprogramming them. In his spare time, Mike reluctantly does his day job, and sleeps.
 
Come meet at NEST! We usually have pizza! (Face masks still required, please.)
 
5:00-7:00: radio room open; informal radio activities.
 
For Zoom conference information, email Bob Phinney, K5TEC, at bobphinney -at- nescitech -dot- org or call 508-720-4179.
Flea markets & Conventions / Licensing Education & Training

“Ham Radio University” Going Virtual Again, January 8, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Ham Radio University 2022 logoWith COVID-19 uncertainties precluding an in-person gathering for a second year, the 23rd annual Ham Radio University (HRU <http://www.hamradiouniversity.org/>) educational conference will be held as a virtual event again this year, on Saturday, January 8, 1300 – 2000 UTC, as an online GoToWebinar videoconference.

Advance registration is required and begins on December 20.

HRU 2022 will be adding five forums this year, for a total of 19 presentations by experts in a broad range of amateur radio activities, including Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. Other topics are:

*       Basics of HF Operating
*       Ham Radio Contesting and DXing
*       Communicating through Amateur Radio Earth Satellites
*       Software-Defined Radios
*       HF and VHF Digital Communications
*       Parks on the Air
*       SKYWARN
*       Cables and Connectors
*       Using Raspberry Pi Computers in Amateur Radio.

Online attendees will be able to ask questions of the presenters. Founded by Phil Lewis, N2MUN (SK), HRU also serves as the  online convention of the ARRL NYC-Long Island Section.

As in past years, participation in HRU 2022 is free; an optional donation of $5 is suggested. Additional information is online, including the schedule of forums and advance registration starting December 20

Affiliated Clubs

KB1OIQ: “Regenerative Receivers” at PART of Westford Meeting, December 21, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
PART of Westford logoGeorge Allison, K1IG, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:
 
The December PART meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, beginning at 7:30 PM via Webex video conference.  A meeting link is below; just click on the green button to join in.  You can join the conference any time after 7:00 PM to check out your gear or just rag chew until the meeting starts. We will NOT be meeting in person at the Senior Center until further notice.
 
PART member Andy (KB1OIQ) will give a talk about a 1920s radio receiver architecture called a “regenerative receiver”.  Andy built one of these from scratch based on a simple schematic.  He used old parts obtained from NearFEST and other flea markets.  The radio receives the AM Broadcast Band and shortwave frequencies up to 10 MHz.  It additionally receives sideband and CW.  Like all regenerative receivers of the day, it requires 3 hands to tune.
 
The Nano-VNA presentation originally scheduled has been re-scheduled for the January 18 meeting.
 
See you Tuesday!
 
73,
George K1IG
President, PART of Westford
 
[To request conference login information, contact George Allison, K1IG, at k1ig -at- arrl -dot- net]
Operating

ARRL Rookie Roundup CW Event is December 19, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

If you’re new to CW operating, the ARRL Rookie Roundup (CW), December 19, 1800 – 2359 UTC, is a chance to enhance your CW skills. The objective of the event is to encourage recent licensees to experience competitive amateur radio operating on HF.

A Rookie is anyone who was first licensed in the current calendar year or in the previous 3 calendar years (2021, 2020, 2019, or 2018), regardless of license class. If you were licensed earlier, you can still qualify as a Rookie if you haven’t made any contest contacts on CW before this Rookie Roundup.

Rookies will attempt to make as many contacts as possible during the 6-hour event. Rookies work everyone, and non-Rookies work only Rookies. Stations exchange call signs, first names, a two-digit year, and state/province (or DX, if appropriate). In the exchange, Rookies should send the last two digits of the year of your first contact. If you’ve never made any contest contacts using CW, or if you’re a non-Rookie, send the last two digits of the current year in your exchange. — Thanks to ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE

Affiliated Clubs / Operating

Algonquin ARC “Lantern Battery Competition,” January 1-March 31, 2022

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Algonquin ARC logoAlgonquin ARC writes:

The intent of the AARC LBC is to foster camaraderie among members and find out—in a light-hearted fashion—just how many QSOs can be extracted from a stack of batteries before they are depleted beyond the point of usefulness.  We’re continuing to call this the “Lantern” Battery Challenge even though there is no need to actually use expensive lantern batteries.

Activity period

AARC’s LBC will commence at 0000Z on 1 January 2022 and conclude at 2400Z on 31 March 2022.  Participants can join at any time during the challenge period but must finish by the end of the challenge.

Bands, Modes

Consistent with the terms of the participant’s license, operation on any band, using any mode, is permitted.

Energy Source (Batteries)

Batteries must be assembled from the equivalent of “D” cells or smaller.  Any combination of cells stacked in series not exceeding 15 volts is acceptable, provided that no more than two cells are connected in parallel anywhere in the stack.

     (Note that each of the lantern batteries used last year was the equivalent of four 1‑1/2 volt “D” or “F” cells in series, so two lantern batteries stacked in series yielded 12 volts.  Most rigs like 12V or higher and mis-perform at voltages under 10V.  Current drain depletes the cells quickly and reduces their voltage.  This year’s “connected in parallel” rule allows for starting with twice as much energy, increases the available current, and slows voltage depletion.)

Energy Management

At the participant’s option (or maybe to the extent of his or her technical acumen), only the actual transmitter need be powered by the lantern battery stack.  Receivers, logging software, keyers, decoders, etc. need not be on battery.

Antennas

Any antenna is OK.  Wire works.  So do those “solid state amplifiers” made of aluminum tubing.  There is no scoring penalty for using antennas with gain.

Scoring

  1. A QSO consists of no less than a two-way exchange of callsigns and signal reports.  Beware that long QSOs use battery energy!
  2.  Score:

  —  One point per standard battery QSO with a non‑AARC member.

  —  Two points per standard battery QSO with an AARC member.  Duplicate QSOs with the same member do not count.

  —  Zero points for repeater QSOs.

  1.  Period.  That’s it.  No other bonuses, penalties, multipliers, or dividers.

Reporting

Reporting is on the honor system.  Submission of paper or electronic logs is discouraged as not being within the intended spirit of camaraderie and fun.  On the other hand, expect to have a good time regaling the other members with your LBC exploits at the April meeting.  Plus, any participant who posts an LBC-related item on the AARCList during the challenge gets brownie points.

Awards

Recognition (maybe even certificates) and certainly bragging rights will be awarded for:

  –  Most QSO points

  –  Most QSOs

  –  Best DX

  –  Most unique rig

  –  Shortest battery life

  –  Longest battery life

  –  … more?  Suggestions accepted.

Affiliated Clubs

“Homebrew Night” at Nashoba Valley ARC In-Person Meeting, December 16, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nashoba Valley ARC logoNVARC President Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s December meeting will be TONIGHT, Thursday, December 16th, at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). Doors will open at 7:10 PM for socializing, etc.

This month’s program will feature “Homebrew Night”. Come in and show off what you’ve been working on over the past TWO years. No project is too small—or too large. If your project is physically too big, don’t fret. Bring along some pictures, JPEG files, or anything else. We’ll find a way to project or display graphics. Homebrew, kits, software, restoration, innovative solutions. Come. Brag. Converse. Have coffee. This is one of the best “social” meetings of the year…

Because last year’s home brew night was conducted over Zoom, feel free to bring (and show!) that item you showed last year. Besides “show and tell”, home brew night tends to be “touchy/feely”. It’s hard to do that over Zoom!

Remember, HB Night and the upcoming Short Subjects Night (the January meeting) both rely on member participation. It’s your hobby; brag about it.

Because of the nature of the meeting, this meeting will not be available on Zoom.

Need directions? Click here and put your own address in box “A”.

Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG

978-772-2773 or bruce.blain@charter.net

Operating

Second Annual “Hams All-Holidays On-Air Celebration” at W1E, December 18, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Parks On The Air logoMindy Hull, KM1NDY, writes on the Boston ARC list:

Special Event Station W1E is going live this Saturday for the 2nd Annual “Hams All-Holidays On-Air Celebration!”

Born more than a slight bit out of the pain and frustration that the pandemic was causing, AA1F and I wanted a way to celebrate all of the holidays and special occasions that COVID stole from all of us in 2020. Ironically, many of you will remember, that a COVID scare canceled the actual public part of this public event, and AA1F and I operated it as a duo instead.
 
Well, cue 2021, because we are back at it! Same place, same time as we were going to do it last year. SO! If you have had enough with holiday shopping, traveling, and gift wrapping, head over to Hopkinton State Park sometime after 11am and sometime before 3pm, and enjoy a bit of portable radio at its finest!  
 

Here are the details: 

WHO: 
You, your family, your friends, your dog, your iguana. 
 
WHAT: 
The 2nd Annual Hams All-Holidays On-Air Celebration (Special Event Station W1E)
 
WHERE: 
Hopkinton State Park. Use the Main Entrance at 164 Cedar St., Hopkinton, MA 01748. Follow Maps (attached). 
 
PARKING: 
Park in large lot at boat launch. We will meet in a grove of trees with picnic tables near the beach at the end of the parking lot that is the farthest from where you entered it. See maps. 
 
GPS COORDINATES OF EXACT MEETING SPOT: 
42°15’30.7″N 71°31’01.8″W     ( 42.258539, -71.517168 )
 
WHEN: 
Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 11am to 3pm (or around that time). 
 
WHY: 
To celebrate ALL OF THE HOLIDAYS! And play radio with friends…
 
WEATHER: 
Doesn’t look great right now unfortunately. Swing by and say hello anyway. We should have shelters set up. 
 
WHAT TO BRING? 
Comfort items like warm clothes, food, drinks, chair. There should be picnic tables available. 
A handheld 2M radio if you have one. 
 
WHAT ABOUT RADIO STUFF?
We will have everything you need to get on the air. Otherwise, bring whatever rig/antenna for any mode/band you’d like. We will have band pass filters for most of the HF bands, so bring an extra coax jumper cable if you are bringing your own equipment. The band pass filters help us operate simultaneously without interfering with one another. 
 
WHAT FREQUENCY WILL THE GROUP USE/MONITOR? 
146.52
 
PARKS ON THE AIR (POTA)? 
Hopkinton State Park is also a POTA site! Activation code K-2440.  AA1F and I plan on operating W1E as a dual POTA and Special Event Station. If you want to start getting POTA points, you need to make 10 contacts using your call sign. 
Please sign up for POTA by clicking the login tab (on two different screens) here: https://parksontheair.com/
All modes and bands count for POTA!
 
“BUT, I AM ONLY A TECHNICIAN…” 
So? We will get you on HF if you want anyway! AA1F and I are both Extras, and happy to act as control operators.
 
“I DON’T WANT TO GO OUT. I WANT TO STAY IN. GET THINGS DONE.” 

First off, do you know what song this is??? Second, then get on the air and hunt us down! We look forward to hearing from you! And we are sending QSL cards automatically to each and everyone who contacts us. 

So, you guys probably know how I feel about these things. I like our events to be as simple for you guys as possible. So as always, show up when you want, hang out, and leave when you want. And have a whole bunch of fun in between. 

 
Yours truly, 
KM1NDY
 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

Marconi Commemorative Event Contact, December 12, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

KM1CC – Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club writes on its Facebook page:

Today, December 12, 2021 is the 120th anniversary of the first transatlantic signal- the letter S. In 1901 Marconi’s Poldu, UK Wireless Station sent the letter S: Marconi received the letter S by flying a kite at Signal Hill, Saint Johns, Newfoundland.
 
To commemorate the anniversary the Newfoundland Marconi Radio Club – VO1MRC, scheduled contacts with KM1CC and other early-historic- Marconi Stations. Messages were exchanged between stations, and the letter S was sent in CW by the Poldhu Station GB2GM as they did 120 years ago.
 
KM1CC will be on the air Tuesday, January 18, 2022 for the 119th anniversary of Marconi’s first USA to UK/Europe transatlantic message. More details will be posted closer to January 18.
 

KM1CC Commemorative Event, Dec. 12, 2021Shown here: KM1CC members K1RTA and N1NS on the air for the 120th anniversary event of the letter S. The two operated from a home station near the historic Marconi station site.

Operating

K1MJC Fox is On the Loose in Waltham, December 10, 2021

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 3:49 PM on December 10, 2021:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out on a December Bonus outing!

I checked the weather, it’s supposed to be in the 60s Sat & Sun and decided to take a chance. 

 It is looking like wind and rain early on Sat (best time after 11:00AM ) but Sunday should be the better day, maybe a bit chilly In the mid 40’s.

I put it out today, Friday, but I’ll leave it to you as to how much of a risk you would like to take in this kind of weather … l take no responsibility!

The fox is in somewhere in an area within the City limits of Waltham, MA.

I’ve gone to “School” on making the experience a bit more difficult, if you chose to look for it, you’ll see what it is I had in “store” for you, and how long it takes you to find it will determine how successful I was.

As usual, it will be retrieved before Sundown Sunday.

One of The maps on this page would prove useful!

https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting!

 
Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday December 6th, 2021 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

The December Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday December 6th, 2021 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. It has been a tough year of key losses to the ARES/RACES/SKYWARN community. Unfortunately, again, for this month’s ARES Net, we will be doing a “last call” for Sandwich EMA Director, ARES member, SKYWARN Spotter, friend and Amateur Radio Operator, N5EMD-Brian Gallant who became a silent key on Tuesday November 22nd. We will have several announcements detailing plans for the new year.

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 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 3-4, 2021

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on WX1BOX.org:

SKYWARN Recognition Day 2021 (SRD’21) will occur this year but modified due to COVID19 and the fact NWS offices are not allowed to have volunteer Amateur Radio Operators at any NWS office due to COVID. Similar to last year, a social media component will be added to engage non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters more with 2021’SRD. An additional update on SRD’2021 will be posted Friday Morning 12/3/21.

Due to COVID19, typical WX1BOX Amateur Radio Operations will not occur at NWS Boston/Norton. There is a possibility similar to last year through the efforts of employees at NWS Norton who have Amateur Radio licenses, the WX1BOX station will be on the air for a few hours during SRD. Otherwise, the WX1BOX Amateur Radio team will be operating remotely via their home stations. The NWS Gray Maine office cannot be active at the office due to the same restrictions on volunteers at NWS offices nationwide but will have remote SRD operation for 2021.

For WX1BOX Amateur Radio operations, we will cover the typical SKYWARN repeaters on VHF/UHF as well as simplex and be on HF via the various remote home stations along with our WX1BOX social media pages. In addition, contacts with other Amateur Radio SKYWARN stations will count towards NWS certificates. Similar to 2020, there will be a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters alike. The current set of information is available and additional information will be made available on the SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) web site via the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition.

Also, all participants are welcome to register on the SRD web site. They can obtain a SRD number. The SRD Number for this year is part of the QSO exchange but is not a requirement. It is something new since 2020’SRD so as always there will likely be some glitches and delays in getting the SRD number but if you register and obtain your SRD number, please feel free to add that to your exchange.

[Full story]
Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

December 4,2021 Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net Cancelled

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Good evening,

My apologies for writing at this hour. I’ve tried several times today to sit down and write this out and kept getting interrupted by one thing or another.

I thank those that responded to our email of 12-2-21.

I’ll respond to everyone in this single email.

Although we had some responses, it is less than a handful of folks that responded and could commit to joining us Saturday. At this point in time, I think it best that we forego the December Net and focus on 2022 and look forward to getting back full swing. DMR radio will never replace analog radio for last mile communications when the chips (end everything else) is down. But DMR does have great benefits as long as the repeaters have networking capability. We have our own Talkgroup on NEDECN repeaters from Boston to the Islands and I would like to see us utilize this great resource. The COVID-19 situation took a heavy toll on us when we were all suddenly prevented from accessing our hospital’s locations and our radio equipment. Every time we thought we could see light at the end of the tunnel it got dark again. With the uncertainty of the new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, hopefully that will not add additional time.

We are fortunate that we are back in SSH. Even though we may not have adequate external participation to hold a net, we are ready and capable of supporting the organization should they need remote communications.

Chuck: I hope you get your Star Link system soon. I hope you can resolve the issue of the MV NEDECN connectivity. What repeaters can you reach from MV? We try and keep at least one Cape Cod repeater in the mix or at least a repeater with good coverage that most Cape users should be able to hit.

Rob: good luck tomorrow, have fun with SkyWarn.

Tom: thanks for offering to check-in. It would be nice to have Braintree Emergency Management check in to our monthly nets.

Nicholas: you folks at Mansfield EMA have been terrific not only checking into the nets on a regular basis but also taking the reins and acting as Net Control on a few occasions. Much appreciated. As for home stations, we have said for years that members of groups who can not attend at their regular shacks should check-in from home. You may not be able to reach all the repeaters that are being used that month but even checking in through just one confirms that your home station could be used as an alternative site or as a relay station. Members of the SSHARG check in from home when unable to attend the nets at SSH. Funny you should mention a Zoom meeting. That was suggested to me a few days ago by Joan Cooper-Zack SSH’s Emergency Preparedness Manager as an early 2022 EMHN event.

For everyone, food for thought: Over the years SSH has been Net Control for the EMHN the majority of the time. We defaulted to the position because we couldn’t get others to give it a try. We would love to see Net Control duty rotated among several groups. Not only is it good practice but what would happen if SSH was not able to in an actual incident to be Net Control? Who would take the reins and get a net up and running? Nobody gets is right 100% the first few times. The more you do it the easier it gets and the more comfortable you get doing it. Its like riding a bike (or think back to when you were a new ham and first picked up the mike and pressed the PTT, your first QSO). Net Control gets to pick which repeaters from our list they would like to use for their Net. At SSH we try and rotate among the strongest machines with the greatest footprint to reach the largest possible group. Sometimes this is not always successful and we are out of reach of some folks.

Charlie: sorry things are looking bleak at Falmouth Hospital. Things were starting to look good for a while until the Delta Variant surfaced. I thought for sure you guys were going to be welcomed back with open arms shortly.

Well, that’s all the news that is the news from SSH. The entire team here wishes everyone a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season.

We look forward to talking with you all in 2022.

73,

John O’ -K1JRO
For the entire SSH Team…