a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
The February traffic report for the combined sections of East and West Mass and Rhode Island can be found at https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-rhode-island-stm-report-for-february-2024/. Highlighted are two section nets including special commendation to MARIPN for highest number of check-ins and traffic, as well as MARI CW, then and now. Come join both friendly groups. We would love to hear from you.
Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes on the Nashoba Valley ARC mailing list:
The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s March meeting is TONIGHT, March 21st at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts.
For our March meeting, Phil Temples, K9HI, will give a presentation on “Project ASCEND.” Project ASCEND (“Amateurs Supporting a Collaborative Environment for New ham Development”) is a comprehensive program designed to advance the Amateur Radio experience for the Technician class amateur and provide the needed mentoring and connection with the active ham community. It is a multi- faceted, high-touch program that leverages the time- honored tradition of mentoring – but with the goal to support and nurture hundreds to thousands of new and inactive hams.
We will also have a report on the Bromfield School Science Fair judging, and talk about the upcoming Groton Road Race.
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
The March 2024 Section Newsletter is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/march-2024-section-news.
For more information:
Barbara Dougan, trustee Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club-KM1CC
km1cc.capecod.fn51@gmail.com
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
What: International Marconi Day – Honoring Marconi on his 150th Birthday
Marconi’s 150th birthdate is April 25, 2024 (born 1874). To celebrate his contributions to wireless, simply turn on a radio and give a nod and a smile to Marconi for his lifetime efforts in advancing wireless.
International Marconi Day is Saturday, April 27, 2024. Historic Marconi radio stations around the world go on the air to make two-way contacts with each other and other amateur radio operators.
Where: Marconi Station Site, Wellfleet, MA Saturday April 27 from 10 AM-3 PM. (The event will be held inside the Salt Pond Visitor Center, Eastham in case of inclement weather.)
Who: The Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club and the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club are partnering with Cape Cod National Seashore to serve as an official International Marconi Day Station.
The public is invited to visit the site to learn about Marconi’s historic Wireless Station that is famous for sending the first wireless transatlantic message from the USA to Europe (1903) and its ship-to-shore messages. High frequency radio operators will make live contacts around the world using Morse code and voice. A radio talk in station is planned for visitors to make local radio contacts and learn how to become amateur “ham” radio operators. Weather permitting, a kite antenna will be used for some radio contacts.
The Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 7 PM and feature: “”VHF-UHF Test Bench Equipment—A Practical and Cost-Effective Approach” by Don Westacott VE6HQ,
Description:
Amateur radio operators are sometimes faced with the challenge of making effective test measurements while limiting investment in a large range of expensive test equipment. This presentation is aimed at practical and cost-effective methods that provide useful results for testing radio equipment operating at VHF and UHF frequencies.
Bio:
Don has pursued a lifelong interest in science and engineering beginning as a youth in western Canada, receiving his first amateur radio license at the age of 15. Don has a degree in Electrical Engineering and has worked in the Energy Exploration industry in Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Far East. He is the holder of numerous U.S. patents, has been a guest lecturer at the Colorado School of Mines, and received the prestigious Hart Energy Innovators Award. After more than 50 years, he rejoined the amateur radio ranks and is currently active on 20 meters and VHF / UHF bands.
The North Shore Radio Association meets on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7 pm at Peabody Municipal Light Plant. This evening’s meeting will be both in-person and via Zoom.Phil Temples, K9HI, will present on Project ASCEND (“Amateurs Supporting a Collaborative Environment for New ham Development”), a comprehensive program designed to advance the Amateur Radio experience for the Technician class amateur and provide the needed mentoring and connection with the active ham community. It is a multi- faceted, high-touch program that leverages the time- honored tradition of mentoring – but with the goal to support and nurture hundreds to thousands of new and inactive hams.
First Region Net Cycle 2 (SSB) is changing its meeting time due to the time change to Daylight Savings. Both early and late sessions will meet on 3950 Khz at 1445 and 1630 local time. This change is due to the change in the Eastern Area Net time which will continue to meet at 1930 UTC except on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1915 UTC (1530 and 1515 local respectively). The alternate frequency for First Region is 7240 Khz. Eastern Area meets on 7243 Khz daily.
Lem Skidmore, W1LEM, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:
As I mentioned at the BARC Membership meeting last Monday, we are beginning to work with Girls Scouts on the Cape.
Our focus will be the ARRL Radio and Wireless Technology Patch Program and World Thinking Day on the Air
Both programs are naturals for introducing STEM topics, which are a focus for Girl Scouts.
With 10 troops on the Cape, we need a lot of support for this program. Anyone interested in this initiative would be a great asset. In particular, we would like to invite women and anyone with Girl Scout experience, including those with daughters or granddaughters in Girl Scouts
BARC’s Girl Scout Programs Liaison is Mary Jo, KC1TNF (mayjocrna@comcast.net).
Please contact Mary Jo or me if you are interested or would like more information.
—
73, Lem W1LEM
Bruce Anderson, W1LUS, writes on the Billerica ARS mailing list:
The March 6 meeting of the Billerica Amateur Radio Society will be in person, at the Church 182 Gorham Street Chelmsford, and on Zoom.
<…>
Topic: ARRL Club Coordinator Role and Suggestions For Our Club
Time: Mar 6, 2024 07:00 PM
Presenter: Bruce Blain K1BG
Bruce is the ARRL Eastern Mass Affiliated Club Coordinator, past president of the Norwood Amateur Radio Club, founding member, and past Vice President of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club where he currently serves as a board member. He is also a member of the First Operators Club, CW Ops, the Yankee Clipper Contest Club, and the Radio Club of America. Bruce has been a member of the ARRL for over 50 years. He has been “advising” CW Academy classes for the past 4 years, where he is currently a “youth academy” advisor. Attracting and mentoring young people and supporting local radio clubs are areas that Bruce is passionate about.
Cape Ann ARA President Brandon Hockle, NQ1W, writes on the CAARA list:Just a quick reminder that CAARA’s members meeting will be held this weekend Saturday 3/9 at noon inside the Stanwood St. clubhouse.
Joseph-Fratto-N1RLO, FCC General Radiotelephone Operator writes:
I attended the MMRA Minuteman Repeater Association board of directors meeting this evening. They
discussed and approved the “Auxiliary Net” to take place every Sunday morning from 11:00 to 12:00 on
the MMRA repeater network. The MMRA is a nonprofit Amateur Radio Club dedicated to Emergency.
Communications. The MMRA owns about twenty-five repeaters.
We will be using an assignment of eight repeaters all linked together on separate frequencies covering
from the Worcester area to the Boston Harbor. They are waiting for me to give them further areas we
wish to cover. Our members in New Hampshire please let me know of 2 meter machines in your area
so we can determine whether they can be linked to allow you access to the net. Currently we are able
to get into the Nashua area.
147.120-Billerica PL 146.2
146.715-North Reading PL 146.2
146.820-Boston Prudential PL 146.2
146.790-Weston PL 146.2
147.270-Marlboro PL 146.2
146.610-Mendon PL 146.2
146.670-Quincy PL 146.2 (Temporarily off air for a couple of weeks)
442.250-Lowell PL 88.5
There is also an Echo Link system attached to this linked repeater net. The Echo Link can handle up to 100 callers at a time. If you are a licensed Ham with a callsign and you don’t have a radio you can come into the net by Echo Link.
These repeaters will be all automatically linked during the 11 to 12:00 Net times. They are all analog.
Please check online for the PL CTCSS tone codes.
The net control station for the present time will be myself using my Ham radio callsign N1RLO. Ham radio
callsigns only on this net. This is a Ham radio net on Ham radio frequencies NO federal callsigns allowed.
The first “Auxiliary Net” will be held on Sunday 10 MAR 2024 at 11:00 hrs. AM. This is a fellowship net and
NO official business to be discussed.
This is a good time for any members who are not licensed Ham radio operators to become motivated and
get their entry level Ham license. Everything including the FCC exams are online and very convenient. This
system is so robust you should be able to hit one of these repeaters with a portable walkie talkie.
The Prudential Building 146.82 repeater should cover the entire harbor area out to and including P Town.
For help with programming contact captdan3@aol.com Dan Long for help.
Submitted:
Joseph Fratto
FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License
Hello to all…
The March Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday March 4th, 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 we will continue the NTS practice message that we started doing in these nets 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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Hello to all,
This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that Monday evening, March 4th, 2023 is our first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, will be the next RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. I would like to thank the stations that checked into our nets last month as well as those stations that participated in the section emergency exercise that occurred this past weekend.
As always, I am looking for Net Control stations to staff our sector nets for the evening. This month expect to be able to run the Sector 2A net. If there is no Net Control Operator at the start of the net I strongly encourage any of the on-frequency stations to take over as NCO and run the net and submit a net report via email. If anyone would like to act as NCO, for the 2A net please let me know! As always I am looking for NCS operators to lead the Sector 2B (Plymouth County) net. Sector 2D has already arranged for an NCS operator for this month’s net and Sector 2C is a Winlink only net on a monthly basis.
For any operators interested in performing the duties of Net Control Station (NCS), there are materials available to make the task fairly simple and straight forward. The net pre-amble and role call lists are available at http://wc1mab.org/RACES_R2_Interim_Preamble.pdf and http://wc1mab.org/Month.php with the role-call lists on the left column near the bottom. If anyone is worried that they may mess up running a net, please remember that, in many cases, a less than perfect net is WAY better than no net at all! At the conclusion of any net, any operator that acted as Net Control Operator is asked to please send a note to WC1MAB@gmail.com letting me know who ran the net and who checked in so that the proper numbers can be reported to our served agencies. We cannot always count on our normal net control operators to be available in the event of a large scale emergency, so every RACES operator should be prepared to act as NCO if needed when disaster and emergency strikes!
Winlink Net Instructions From Don Rolph:
*Winlink Net*
To participate:
– create a check-in form using the Winlink standard checkin form
– send via Winlink after 6 AM EST Mon. March 4th and before midnight EST March 5th (any mode, but include mode in check-in form) to KF1D
I continue to ask that any operators who have the time, please try to check into sector nets from near-by sections. This will allow our Net Control Operators to practice fielding nets with a strong check-in count and will also serve to help practice with relays or modified sector assignments in the event that a single repeater is out of service.
For those operators who serve as Net Control Operators, please try to remember to send me a list of the stations and communities that check into your nets. The numbers are reported to MEMA to show them our level of participation. I am continuing to work on a graphical map based report to show which parts of our section have strong coverage and which areas may need a more targeted recruitment campaign to improve our ability to provide back-up communications in an emergency.
The Region #2 and State Net Schedule for this evening is as follows:
| Net | Frequency/Offset | Time |
| Sector 2A | 147.00 /+0.60 PL | 19:30 Local |
| Sector 2B | 145.39/-0.60 PL 67.0 | 20:00 Local |
| Sector 2C | Winlink Net Check-In | 6AM-Midnight Local Time |
| Sector 2D | 146.865/-0.60 PL 103.5 | 19:30 Local |
| 6-Meter State Net | 53.31 / -1.0 PL 71.9
Note: Net activity on this repeater has been hit and miss. Please report any activity. |
19:00 Local |
| MA RACES HF Net | 3930 KHz LSB moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency | 18:45 Local |
| MA MEMA NBEMS Net | Frequency: 3584.5 MHx, Center Frequency: 1500 Hz, Initial mode: THOR22 | 19:00 Local |
I appreciate you all answering the call to help our communities remain prepared. Thank you all for helping us keep things on track and prove that we remain a consistent source of communication capability to the Commonwealth. This net provides a monthly reminder to our communities and served agencies that we stand ready with a quiet professionalism prepared to serve as a voice to whomever needs one to get help and resources to where they need to be.
If you know someone who would benefit from being on this list, please have them contact me at WC1MAB@gmail.com and I will add them to this distribution. Thank you all!
If anyone has any questions or comments I can be reached by e-mail or cell phone. Thanks for being a part of our team and I look forward to hearing back on who can participate this month.
Sincerely,
Michael Leger (N1YLQ)
MEMA Region #2 RACES Officer
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 Mar 2024, the RACES nets will be held on Mon Mar 4 at:
********************************************************************************
The HF net will start at 6:45 PM ET: using the following frequency plan:
We will start at 3930 KHz moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency,
Marc Stern WA1R 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 Rolph using WA1PLE will be net control.
********************************************************************************
HF 80 meters NBEMS net:
7:00 PM ET
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 Rolph 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 Mar 4 and 2400 Monday Mar 4.
We look forward to you checking in!
—
73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph
Jeff N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes:
Good Evening,
On Saturday March 2, 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. Sharon Repeater 146.865 tone 103.5
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
Rich Comer, K1RBC, writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list:
The next meeting of the Waltham Amateur Radio Association will be on February 28, 2024 at 7:00 pm via ZOOM. (Zoom opens at 6:30 PM.)
We will start with a short business meeting. In the interest of time, the DRAFT minutes from the Jan 2024 meeting are provided below and will not be read during the meeting. Please take a minute and review.
+++++++
Following club business, Greg/WA1JXR will give a presentation: Introduction to the NanoVNA Vector Network Analyzer
The presentation is on the NanoVNA Vector Network Analyzer, an inexpensive unit used to measure antennas and other RF devices. The presentation will introduce the NanoVNA and show you how it works and performs RF measurements. Finally we will perform a measurement on an actual Amateur Radio Antenna and demo the free NanoVNA software.
<…>
73,
Rich, K1RBC
Club Treasurer
The February 2024 Section Newsletter is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/february-2024-section-news.
Rusty Moore, K1FVK, writes on the Sci-Tech ARS mailing listL
We just passed the one year anniversary of the great 2023 balloon turkey-shoot, during which the USAF downed a Chinese spy balloon plus three small unidentified balloons, one of which was almost certainly K9YO-15, a radio-equipped pico balloon flown by the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade. Today the press reported that NORAD is currently tracking another small unidentified balloon, but has determined that it poses no threat to national security. As soon as I heard about this I did a quick check of SondeHub and whatddaya know, there’s K9YO-7 on the same track, over the same area, and at the same altitude as the mysterious unidentified balloon everyone is talking about. The media reports characterize it as a small Mylar balloon, about 50 feet tall (which I take to be the estimated overall height from payload to top of balloon), with a 2-foot square box hanging underneath. None of the news stories I saw mentioned anything about the K9YO balloon’s presence, or about the existence of amateur balloons in general. Surely NORAD would be checking the amateur ballooning maps, wouldn’t they? For that matter, so should serious news teams. Journalism ain’t what it used to be.
CBS News report on the balloon: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/
—K1FVK
The [Barnstable ARC] W1MA wide-area repeater lost commercial power last week following the loss of a 4000 volt private line feeder. After several days of BARC repeater committee members backing up the W1MA BARC repeater’s batteries with a generator, Eversource has repaired, at its own expense, a failed insulator on a pole feeding 4000 volts to the repeater site in Dennis on Cape Cod. The insulator failed after a snow storm but had likely been in service for 70 years. The repeater is a primary Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) facility on the Cape and is used for a variety of other purposes as well, including a 6 AM weather net that many public service officials listen to.
The BARC repeater committee also determined that the affected lines were in contact with some evergreens on the property and those trees had to be trimmed before the line could be re-energized. It was also determined that the failed component was unable to be serviced with a man-lift and there was only one contractor, not employed by Eversource, who was qualified to climb the affected pole and perform the repair. Eversource has those qualified people and no additional Eversource or other inspection is required for Eversource work.
Long-time BARC member and past President Steve Boyson, N1VLG, used his contacts with Eversource to arrange for the repair at no cost to the ham community (saving thousands of dollars) and also arranged for the trees to be quickly trimmed. With Steve’s quick action and the work of the BARC repeater committee, the repeater has been returned to full service after only a week on battery/generator power.
This is the second time Steve has enlisted Eversource to help the ham community. Eversource donated the installation of three poles to support the antenna at the Scout Camp Greenough where BARC is installing an amateur radio station using an ARRL club grant. Eversource showed by its quick response and willingness to help that it supports the ARES mission of amateur radio.
Thanks to the repeater committee work together with the outstanding individual contribution by Steve, N1VLG, the BARC repeater is again performing its work on Cape Cod.