Advanced Emer Comms Workshop NEW!

[Contributed by KD1CY] Amateur Radio Advanced Emergency Communications Workshop Saturday August 28th, 2004:

SEMARA Clubhouse

There will be an Advanced Emergency Communications Workshop on Saturday August 28th, 2004 from 9:00 AM-3:30 PM at the SEMARA (Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association) Club House on 54 Donald Street in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. This session is being put on by the ARES SectionStaff, the SEMARA Club, and SEMARA Club Emergency Coordinator and Assistant Emergency Coordinator, KD1CY-Rob Macedo and N1XRS-Tony Duarte. Also, W1EV-Scott Szala, from the SEMARA Activities committee will be providing a lot of assistance for this workshop. [Please press “read more” button —> ]This Advanced Emergency Communications Workshop will provide additional background in advanced emergency communication topics that will build on our general level emergency communications workshop course. Those who have not attended our general level emergency communications workshop course may attend this advanced workshop but must understand that many of the basic topics that are covered in our general level course will not be covered in this specific workshop.

Please bring a HT to the workshop as it may be utilized during the workshop.

Topics for this advanced workshop include the following:

Emergency Communication Applications of Voice Over IP Technology
Amateur Radio Digital Communications and Applications for Emergency Communications
How to Be a Participant and How to Be Net Control for a NTS Traffic Net
How to Deploy, Setup and Operate at an Existing EOC When Asked to Deploy
How to Deploy, Setup and Operate at a shelter or similar place of deployment

Please note that these topics may change slightly as we get closer to the workshop date.

This training will also feature a special 90 minute lunch that will be provided at no coerced cost to any Amateur who attends the session. The lunch will be Scott Szala’s “ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section” famous Chicken Barbeque that was done at the general Emergency Communications Workshop last year at SEMARA.
Where the SEMARA Club has their own club-house, there will be representatives from the club to give Amateurs a tour of the facility and the club’s plans moving forward. This will be especially good for those from other areas that may attend this workshop as the SEMARA Club is a signficant contributor to the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts section.

The Emergency Communications presentations will be given by other Amateur Operators well versed in the topics listed above. The training will be a worthwhile endeavor not just for emergency communicators but for anyone who is an amateur radio operator, and wants to learn more about the hobby.

Preregistration is required for this workshop so that the club can assure enough food is provided so please decide as soon as possible if you would like to attend this workshop.

Directions and a map to the SEMARA Club House:
http://www.semara.org/direct.htm

For any additional information and to preregister for the workshop, please contact:

N1XRS, Tony Duarte by email TDDuarte@comcast.net
KD1CY, Rob Macedo by email rmacedo@rcn.com
W1MPN, Mike Neilsen by email w1mpn@ema.arrl.org

This training should be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in learning more about emergency communications and amateur radio in general.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
EMa Deputy Section Emergency Coordinator
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES 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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

K1USN QRV For Int’l Museum Ships Weekend!

K1USN QSL cardInternational Museum Ships weekend is this weekend (7/16-18)! We expect to be operating K1USN continuously from Friday evening through Sunday evening.

We are also expecting approximately 20 scouts (ages 10-12) from 3pm to 6pm on Saturday.

If you have not visited the Salem before, this is a terrific opportunity. If you can be there between 2:30pm and 6pm, you can help with the scouts. Come early or stay after and get in some operating. We’re planning to have 3 HF and 1 VHF stations operating! Band conditions permitting, we expect pileups!

Please email me at W1AI@hamtestonline.com if you will definitely be there on Saturday from 2:30pm to 6pm and are willing to help with the scouts!

Thanks,

JC Cunningham, W1AI

USS Salem K1USN Radio Club Scouting Program Volunteer Coordinator
www.hamtestonline.com

New England Division Cabinet Meeting MInutes

EMA ARRL logoAttached are meeting notes from the New England Division cabinet meeting July 10, 2004. Thanks, K1TWF.ARRL New England Division
Cabinet Meeting
10 July 2004

I. Introduction
A. Round table introductions
B. HQ update – Tom
C. Amateur radio is not growing
1. 682,000 overall now, down 5,000
2. About 20,000 new hams per year – not enough
3. entry level license proposal is on the table
D. discussion of the ARRL board process
II. Open discussions
A. Some kudos
1. Thanks to the ARRL for QST articles on CW related things
2. Kudos to EM for the good Field Day site map
3. Big kudos to Bart and the ARRL VEC – turnaround is down to a week
4. standardization of license class testing would help – we could use more help from the League here
B. Working with new hams
1. discussion of encouraging new hams – Elmering/mentoring is key
2. note lots of GOTA stations this year in Field Day
3. training classes do well, but are a lot of work. How can the League help these? Materials, such as PowerPoint presentations, would be very useful
4. need a kids oriented entry level manual
5. Big Project addressing this to some degree – about 90 schools so far
6. Note that Maine (N1RY) has created a TV-based ham radio tutorial
C. What makes clubs successful
1. regular newsletter
2. classes
3. making money is tough – hams are cheap
4. costs to run repeaters (insurance, power) are very substantial
5. it’s important to run clubs as a business
6. there is some need for a for sharing ideas among clubs (ie., CEMARC)
7. it seems that in most clubs a few people do all the work. One club requires renewing members to sign up for at least one committee. Question, is this counterproductive by discouraging membership for some?
8. encourage on the air meetings, particularly for committees (ie., Field Day planning)
9. encourage bequests of equipment
10. some homeland security money is available, especially through states. Clubs should consider banding together to get access to this.
11. for grant related questions, start with Steve Ewald and Mary Hobart
12. note that Verizon gives grants for community related projects
III. Boxboro
A. note NE Spectrum management meeting
B. note NE volunteer meeting Saturday
IV. Scholarships, etc.
A. Tom announced some of the new scholarships from the Foundation
B. Jim/W1LLU announced the new YCCC scholarship program
C. YCCC DXpedition program – stipends to encourage youth to get into contesting by covering some of the expenses involved in sending them on DXpeditions – deadline for application is July 31
V. League Finances – suggestion – that QST have an article on how the League budgets and spends
VI. BPL
A. FCC NPRM comment period has run
B. Technical information provided to the FCC seems to be ignored
C. FCC has done some testing, but won’t make the results public
D. Clearly a disconnect between the technical realities and the political realities
E. League is working it’s way through the political channels
F. Where tests have been done, it is clear that the interference is real, not theoretical
G. Over 50 interference complaints pending with the FCC
H. The League should strengthen alliances with other affected radio services
VII. Book Auction – collected $210, even sold the box!
VIII. Big-E
A. runs until October 3 this year
B. N1JWF looking for volunteers
IX. Winlink
A. League board committee is working on close ties between NTS and emergency services (ARES)
B. Winlink (a digital store and forward using the Internet as a backbone) is being considered in this space. There are some issues in the details.
X. Bills in Congress
A. Spectrum protection – HR 713/SR 537 about 40 sponsors
B. ECOM Consistency Act – HR 1478
C. As always, write letters

Volunteers Needed For The DNC

DNC logoMike Neilsen, W1MPN, ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator writes on http://ares.ema.arrl.org:

“Requirements for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) continue to be developed by our clients. In particular, the American Red Cross has solidified their plans and what they are requesting from their volunteers. Amateur duties that the Red Cross is requesting include responding to the Red Cross chapters in Boston and Waltham during normal and potential incident operations.

Other duties expected from our cadre will range from maintaining net watches at home stations to passing status traffic messages directing mobilization. Teams supporting other served agencies such as the Salvation Army will be mobilized as required. [Full story]

Bristol County RA “Geek Fest” July 31, 2004

club logoRoland Daignault, Jr., N1JOY writes:

“Geek Fest is just around the corner!! July 31st is just 4 weeks away! If you are interested in attending, please contact W2DAN, or myself (N1JOY) for dinner and raffle tickets.

If you are a BCRA member and would like to help promote the event, please see W2DAN for dinner & raffle tickets to sell. Every ticket sold will help offset the cost of the great raffle prizes we have this year, and hopefully put a few dollars into the club treasury to help support our two repeaters.

Remember, dinner tickets are only available for approximately 3 more weeks as the food needs to be ordered ahead of time. Raffle tickets will be sold either until they are gone, or right up to the drawing at Geek Fest.

As in past years, your dinner choices will be a New England Clam Boil ($15 per plate), or Chicken BBQ ($10 per plate). For more details go to: http://www.qsl.net/bcra/geekfest2004.html.

Don’t forget we are also having a flea market in the parking lot, and vendor tables are FREE!!! C’mon down and set up a table and maybe make a few bucks, and please tell all of your friends! For more info on the
flea market, please contact Skip (KB1CNB) at: skip@newtestamentschool.org.

Please join us for a great time, plenty of food, and see all of your old acquaintances again!

SEE YA!!

Roland – N1JOY

CAARA Wins Lease Renewal For Club House

Cape Ann ARA club shackThe Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association successfully secured a new lease for its club house located at 6 Stanwood Street in Gloucester. (See “Cape Ann ARA Seeks New Lease on Club house“.) According to club president Charlie Anderson, WI1U, “We’re happy to report CAARA has a new lease for the building from the City… Our response to the Request for Proposal was accepted by the City with a request for an additional Insurance document, which was completed a few days ago. I am now just waiting for a final copy of the document.”

Anderson adds that the lease terms are identical to CAARA’s previous lease. The City charges CAARA an nominal fee of $1.00 per year.

—The Repeater On-line CAARA newsletter

Volunteers Needed for the DNC

DNC Logo Hello to all…..

***** Call for Volunteers Summary *****

(*Amateurs living outside of the EMa area, please see note below)

Requirements for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) continue to be developed by our clients. In particular, the American Red Cross has solidified their plans and what they are requesting from their volunteers. Amateur duties that the Red Cross is requesting include responding to the Red Cross chapters in Boston and Waltham during normal and potential incident operations.

Other duties expected from our cadre will range from maintaining net watches at home stations to passing status traffic messages directing mobilization. Teams supporting other served agencies such as the Salvation Army will be mobilized as required.

We are also looking for a large number of “stand-by” operators that will be ready to provide additional support if an incident occurs. As per our doctrine, Amateurs volunteering for this duty will always be asked to accept any further deployment, so please consider being part of our standby corps!

The Red Cross is requesting the following support during the week of the DNC to support their concept of “normal” operations:

[Please press “read more” button —>]-Two Amateur Radio Operators deploying to the Waltham Red Cross Chapter from 8 AM-4 PM Monday July 26th through Friday July 30th.
-Two Amateur Radio Operators deploying to the altham Red Cross Chapter from 4 PM-1 AM Monday July 26th through Thursday July 29th.
-One Amateur Radio Operator deploying to the Boston Red Cross Chapter from 8 AM-4 PM Monday July 26th through Friday July 30th.

It is noted that the DNC is still roughly one month away and these requirements listed above could experience several minor adjustments as we approach the week of the DNC.

A Net Control Command Center will be setup to support this activity utilizing the town of Bridgewater Emergency Operations Center (EOC). We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Herb Lemon, KC1ZW, Bridgewater Emergency Management Director and Chairman of the Board of Selectman for his support in allowing us to utilize the EOC for the week of the DNC. Carl Aveni, N1FY, newly named ARES District Emergency Coordinator for Plymouth County, will be coordinating the net control activity at the Bridgewater EOC.

As stated in the previous call to action, the day shift will be most challenging to fill, as the DNC will be taking place during the workweek. The ARES staff cannot ask anyone to take time off from work, but if you can arrange to donate a vacation day or two to help, it would be greatly appreciated. Amateur Operators that have already contacted us in the first DNC Volunteer Call to Action announcement will be contacted again within the next 7-10 days to discuss where they will be best suited to serve in this operation.

In the previous call to action, we asked about what ARES members have received any form of ICS training. While we are still asking ARES members to respond to this question (it would be greatly appreciated since it is not in our questionnaires), you do not need to be ICS trained to assist us in DNC operations. Frankly, we are rather looking for “good old-fashioned” Amateur Radio knowledge, good operating skills and most importantly, a sincere desire to serve the agencies that are requesting support, and being flexible with the situation and conditions of the deployment.

With this entire infrastructure being setup to support the DNC, as was done by the Red Cross and Salvation Army for Boston First Night New Year’s celebrations, it is important to remember that the most likely outcome is that nothing of consequence will happen during the DNC. This was what we experienced during the limited ARES Activation on New Year’s Eve.

In that scenario, this will lead to quite a bit of time where we are monitoring the event with nothing happening, and we are just sitting watching and waiting. While it may not be exciting or glamorous, the agencies we are serving view this stand-by and limited deployment by us as providing them a huge advantage in case something does happen. Moreover, serving in this capacity at these agencies’ request give us tremendous credibility with their organizations and is greatly appreciated. We ask that those that deploy to the served agencies to bring a book, game, or something to entertain them during this potential for large periods of “down” time. The ARES staff, however, will be utilizing the DNC as a great training opportunity to practice an ARES-MAT, fine-tune net control skills as we will have regular call-ups of nets every few hours, pass routine NTS status traffic messages. We will continue to exercise our net call-ups and regular NTS traffic nets every evening, and practice home station usage and message handling. If, on the low probability that some type of incident occurs (and an incident could range from a wide variety of different things through man-made or natural causes), activity could rapidly ramp up and quickly transition routine nets to heavy use for important and vital emergency traffic.

More updates to this call to action will follow over the next few weeks. We ask that interested Amateurs please contact Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, and Robert Macedo, KD1CY during this timeframe if you live in the Eastern Massachusetts section via email. Their email addresses appear below:

W1MPN-Mike Neilsen: w1mpn@ema.arrl.org
KD1CY-Rob Macedo: rmacedo@rcn.com or kd1cy@comcast.net

*Amateur Radio Operators outside the Eastern Massachusetts section should first contact their ARES Section Emergency Coordinator. Their response to you will depend on how much support is received from inside the Eastern Massachusetts section, before we ask for support outside the section.

The ARES Staff would like to extend our sincere thanks in advance for your efforts!

Respectfully Submitted,

Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
Eastern Massachusetts
Section Emergency Coordinator
w1mpn@ema.arrl.org
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
978.562.5662 Office
978.389.0558 FAX

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
Deputy Section Emergency Coordinator
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SAMARA ARES 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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

rm

Severe WX Coor Msg (expired)

SKYWARN Logo Hello to all….

….After Two Rounds of Isolated to Scattered Severe Thunderstorms (one
round Thursday Afternoon and a second round from 1:30-6:30 AM Friday
Morning), a more widespread severe weather event is possible today across
Southern New England with Damaging Winds and Large Hail the Primary
Threats….
….SPC has placed Practically All of Southern New England and Central and
Eastern New Hampshire in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather with Damaging
Winds and Large Hail the primary threats….
…..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton is expected today. Spotters
and Coordinators should be prepared for activation again later today
possibly beginning as early as late morning but more likely toward early-mid
afternoon….

NWS Taunton and the Storm Prediction Center are in agreement on a Severe Weather risk for much of Southern New England today with damaging winds and large hail the primary threats. Threat today is for a multicellular line of thunderstorms with the threat for isolated supercells. Convective boundaries from the thunderstorms that affected much of Southern New England overnight will enhance severe potential. Any cloud cover and convective debris from the previous line of thunderstorms that affected the area will dissipate rapidly. Sun and daytime heating will rapidly destabilize the atmosphere once again over Southern New England and as a cold front approaches, the ingredients will most likely be in place for another round of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail the primary threats.

The timeframe for this threat would appear to be anytime after 2 PM but it is noted that activity could start as early as late morning. SKYWARN Spotters and Coordinators should be prepared for activation today and a portion of the activation could occur during work hours so if possible spotters are asked to forward reports if possible today if the event occurs during work hours. The highest risk area is over Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Southern and Eastern New Hampshire and Eastern Connecticut but keep in mind that practically all of Southern New England is in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather today.

This will most likely be the only coordination message on this event. Pages will be sent throughout the day to update the threat. Below is the NWS Taunton Area Forecast Discussion, Hazardous WX Outlook, and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook: [Please press “read more” button —>]

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES 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://users.rcn.com/rmacedoFXUS61 KBOX 020807
AFDBOX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
405 AM EDT FRI JUL 2 2004

…A ROUND OF SMALL HAIL…GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN IN MORNING
TSTMS…THEN REGENERATING THIS AFTERNOON WITH LARGER HAIL AND
STRONGER WINDS POSSIBLE…

.SHORT TERM (TODAY AND TONIGHT)…
LINE OF CONVECTION MOVING ACROSS THE REGION EARLY THIS MORNING
PRODUCING MANY REPORTS OF SMALL HAIL…GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY
RAIN. THUS FAR ONLY ONE REPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER…NICKEL SIZE HAIL
IN HARTFORD COUNTY AT 225 AM. EXPECTING CONVECTION TO CONTINUE
MOVING EAST AND EXIT EASTERN MA 10-12Z.

CONVECTION WILL REFIRE BEGINNING AROUND MIDDAY…AS SURFACE FRONT
REMAINS WELL WEST (NY STATE & PA) OF THE REGION THIS MORNING. IN
ADDITION…LEFTOVER BOUNDARIES FROM MORNING CONVECTION WILL FURTHER
AID AFTERNOON TSTM DEVELOP. ATMOSPHERE FURTHER DESTABILIZES TODAY
WITH ALL CONVECTIVE INDICES AND MODEL SOUNDINGS INDICATING MODERATE
INSTABILITY. STRONG LOW LEVEL MOISTURE CONVERGENCE ALONG AND AHEAD
OF APPROACHING FRONT WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FORCING COUPLED WITH
MODERATE INSTABILITY FOR NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS AND THE RISK OF
SEVERE WEATHER.

HIGHEST RISK WILL LIKELY BE EASTERN CT…RI…SOUTHEAST NH AND
EASTERN THIRD OF MA. FARTHER WEST…LOW LEVEL WINDS BEGIN VEERING
TO WEST BY MIDDAY…AS FRONT ENTERS CT RIVER VALLEY. THIS WILL
LIMIT LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE…THUS LOWER CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER CT
RIVER VALLEY. GIVEN MAGNITUDE OF INSTABILITY AND WET BULB ZERO
HEIGHTS OF 8500-9000 KFT…THREAT OF LARGE HAIL EXIST. WIND FIELD
NOT VERY STRONG…HOWEVER MODERATE INSTABILITY SUGGEST STRONG
UPDRAFTS AND DAMAGING WINDS POSSIBLE WITH COLLAPSING CELLS. WE WILL
ISSUE A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT (SPS) LATER THIS MORNING TO ADDRESS
THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL.

CONVECTION WILL EXIT THE REGION THIS EVENING AS UPPER LOW AND
ASSOCIATED SURFACE FRONT MOVE OFFSHORE. DRIER AND LESS HUMID
AIRMASS BEGINS TO ADVECT ACROSS THE AREA LATER TONIGHT.

.LONG TERM (SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)…
GIVEN ONGOING CONVECTION THIS MORNING AND POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE
WEATHER TODAY…DID NOT SPEND MUCH TIME WITH THE EXTENDED FORECAST.
DATABASE MATCHES UP WELL WITH LATEST 00Z MODEL GUIDANCE…SO NO
CHANGES PLANNED.

&&

.MARINE…
IN THE SHORT TERM…ONLY CONCERN ARE WINDS APPROACHING 25 KT TODAY IN
SOUTHWEST FLOW. HIGHEST WIND WILL BE ALONG THE SOUTH COAST AND NEAR
SHORE GIVEN STRONG SURFACE HEATING AND CORRESPONDING AFTERNOON
TEMPERATURES. VSBY LOWERING THIS MORNING IN PATCHY FOG AND IN
TSTMS.

&&

.AVIATION…
LIFR CEILINGS ACROSS SOUTH COAST THIS MORNING. STRATUS WILL ERODE
LATER THIS MORNING WITH CEILINGS LIFTING TO VFR CONDITIONS. PATCHY
FOG WITH MVFR VSBYS WILL BURN OFF TOWARD MIDDAY AS WELL. MVFR
CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON IN TSTMS…WITH IMPROVING CONDITIONS THIS
EVENING FROM WEST TO EAST.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES…
CT…NONE.
MA…NONE.
NH…NONE.
RI…NONE.
MARINE…NONE.

$$

NOCERA/STRAUSS

FLUS41 KBOX 021010
HWOBOX

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
609 AM EDT FRI JUL 2 2004

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-030930-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-
WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT-
609 AM EDT FRI JUL 2 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT…MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY…SOUTHWEST NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)…
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL…GUSTY WINDS
AND HEAVY RAIN WILL EXIT CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS BY 8 AM. A COLD
FRONT ACROSS EASTERN NEW YORK STATE WILL MOVE INTO NEW ENGLAND THIS
AFTERNOON…TRIGGERING ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS. A FEW OF
THESE STORMS MAY TURN SEVERE…WITH HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. THE
HIGHEST RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON APPEARS TO BE
ACROSS EASTERN CONNECTICUT…RHODE ISLAND…SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
AND MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS…EXCLUDING THE BERKSHIRES.

THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE OFFSHORE TONIGHT…BRINGING AN END TO THE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS…AS WELL AS USHERING IN A DRIER AND LESS
HUMID AIRMASS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)…
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY
AS ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE WEST.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT…
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS DEFINITELY REQUESTED FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
THANKS SKYWARN!

THIS PRODUCT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEB SITE…WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ER/BOX

$$

NOCERA

SPC AC 020544

DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1244 AM CDT FRI JUL 02 2004

VALID 021200Z – 031200Z

…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE TSTMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NEW
ENGLAND…

…NEW ENGLAND…

SLOW MOVING UPPER TROUGH AXIS WILL SHIFT EWD ACROSS NEW ENGLAND
DURING THE PERIOD FORCING SFC FRONT TO MOVE ACROSS ALL BUT IMMEDIATE
COASTAL AREAS BY LATE AFTERNOON. AS THIS OCCURS…SWLY BOUNDARY
LAYER FLOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE WARM SECTOR ENSURING A RAPID WARM
UP BY EARLY AFTERNOON AHEAD OF COLD FRONT. FORECAST SOUNDINGS
SUGGEST CONVECTION SHOULD READILY DEVELOP BY 18-20Z IN RESPONSE TO
STEEPENING LAPSE RATES AND FOCUSED LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG WIND
SHIFT. DEEP LAYER VERTICAL SHEAR SUPPORTS MULTICELL AND ISOLATED
SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT. LARGE HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGEST
STORMS ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS. TIMING OF
FRONTAL ZONE SUGGESTS THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF STORMS WILL MOVE
OFFSHORE DURING THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.

..DARROW.. 07/02/2004

…NOTICE…
FOR USERS DECODING THE POINTS PARAGRAPH HEREIN…LATITUDE AND
LONGITUDE POINTS FOR THE CATEGORICAL AND PROBABILISTIC OUTLOOK
GRAPHICS ALSO ARE LOCATED IN A SEPARATE PRODUCT UNDER THE WMO
HEADINGS WUUS01 PTSDY1…WUUS02 PTSDY2…AND WUUS03 PTSDY3. THE
INCLUSION OF POINTS IN THIS PRODUCT WILL EVENTUALLY BE DISCONTINUED.

NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED FOR 1300Z

New England Area Flea Markets July 1, 2004

New England Area   Ham - Electronic  Flea Market  ***  DATES  *** 2004 P 1 of 2
All events are Ham Radio/ Electronic related except ~_____~
*******************************************************************************
2004 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 July Union ME PBARC Scott KB1DSW 207 354 6809 A

10 July Charlottetown PEI SARC @FlyClb $3@10 $5/T@8 Bill VY2FF 902 859 1485 R+

17 July Nashua NH NE Antique RC $15/T@7 $2@9 @StStan's Marty 603 938 5051 F

18 July Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F
Third Sunday April thru October

31 July Swansea MA BCRA @Am Legion $2@8 Sell Free Roland N1JOY 508 678 6331

14 Aug St Albans ME PARC George WA1JMM 207 965 8864 A+

14-15 Aug Boxboro MA NE Conv Mike K1TWF 978 250 1235

15 August Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F

22 Aug Adams MA NBARC @Bowe Field $3@8 $5/T@6 Alan K1SAV 513 743 1619 F

11 Sept BallstonSpa NY SCRACES fri6P $5+5/T+15cmp Darlene N2XQG 518 587 2385

11 Sept Windsor CT VintgeR Museum @33MechanicsSt $10/S@6AM John 860 673 0518

12 Sept Newtown CT CARA @TownHall $5@8:30 $12.5/T Bill N1PJG 203 798 2831 F

12 Sept Bethpage NY LIMARC Diane K2DO 631 286 7562 A

12 Sept S Dartmouth MA SMARA $2@7 Sell@6A Tim N1TI 508 758 3680 F

18 Sept Forestdale RI RIFMRS @VFW rt146 8A flea+auct Rick K1KYI 401 725 7507

18 Sept Alexander ME SCVARC Skip KB1HXC 207 454 2156 A+

18 Sept Shediac NB MAARC @HS Mike VE9MCA 506 383 9632 R+

19 Sept Cambridge MA FLEA at MIT Nick 617 253 3776 F

25 Sept Drummondville PQ CRADI @Col St-Bernard Jacques 819 478 2847 R+

1.2 Oct Hopkinton NH HossTraders @FG x7 I89 Joe K1RQG 207 469 3492

8,9 Oct Lake Placid NY NNYARA $5@2PM inc 1sp Tom WB2KLD 518 827 4800 W

9 Oct Nashua NH NE Antique RC $15/T@7 $2@9 @StStan's Marty 603 938 5051 F

9 Oct Orange MA MARC John AE1B 978 355 0019 A

10 Oct Wallingford CT Nutmeg Conv Sell@6 Buy@9 Andrew N1XXU 203 235 8440 W

10 Oct Queens NY HoSARC $5@9A $10/S@7:30 Stephen WB2KDG 718 898 5599 W

16 Oct Greenwood NS GARC @CommCtr $3@10 Sell@8 Guy VE1NC 902 825 6151 R+
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAST UPDATE 6-26-04 de W1GSL http://www.swapfest.us P 1 of 2
*******************************************************************************
Additions/ Corrections via e-Mail w1gsl@mit.edu ***
Page 3 Electronic distribution only. This page has the overflow if any P3
from the paper version.
*******************************************************************************
2005 Contact Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAST UPDATE 6-26-04 de W1GSL P 3
List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version
Additions/ Corrections via Internet w1gsl@mit.edu
US Mail W1GSL POB 397082 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139
(c)2004 W1GSL http://www.swapfwst.us SASE for updated copy as issued.
unlimited reproduction permitted in entirety
*******************************************************************************

This list has been posted... as a service of the individual home page
owners, to the following WWW sites.

http://flealist.senie.com/
http://mit.edu/w1gsl/Public/ne-fleas
http://www.k1ttt.net/flea.html
http://www.connix.com/~wz1v/ne-fleas.html
http://www.k1dwu.net/flealist.html
http://www.mmra.org/~mmra/flealist.htm
http://www.qsl.net/vhfnews/ne-fleas.html
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~newsvhf/ne-fleas.html

List is normally updated twice a month - look for the latest version

Be sure to check for the latest version as updating is under the control
of the page owner.

* You can have the list e-mailed directly to you as it is updated. *
* Just send a request to be added to the distribution to w1gsl@mit.edu *

73 Steve F
W1GSL

***********************************************************************
New England Area Ham - Electronic Flea Market *** DATES *** P4
Links to New England Hamfest Web Sites (c) 2004 W1GSL
***********************************************************************
This section is only included in the electronic distribution.

Cambridge MA Flea at MIT http://www.swapfest.us

Hopkinton NH Hosstraders http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg/

Amherst MA Mt. Tom ARC http://www.mtara.org/hamfest/flea.html

Adams MA N BerkshireARC http://www.nobarc.org/hamfest

Boxborough MA NE ARRL Conv http://www.boxboro.org/

Framingham MA FARA http://www.fara.org/

Newton MA Waltham ARA Auction http://www.wara64.org/auction/

S Dartmouth MA SEMARA http://www.semara.org/flea/fleamkt.htm

Whately MA FranklinCARC http://www.fcarc.org/flea.html

Enfield CT VHF/UHF Conf http://www.newsvhf.com

Southington CT SARA http://www.chetbacon.com/sara.htm

Wallingford CT Nutmeg CT Conv http://www.nutmeghamfest.com

Windsor CT Vintage R Mus http://www.NationalCommunicationsMuseum.org/

Lewiston ME AARC http://www.dlois.com/mainearrl/convent.htm

Portland ME PAWA http://www.qsl.net/pawa/fleamarket.html

Henniker NH CVRC http://www.qsl.net/k1bke/

Bergen NJ BARA http://www.bara.org/

Lake Placid NY NNY ARA http://www.northnet.org/nnyham/hamfest_flyer2004.htm

Lindenhurst NY ToB ARES http://www.tobares.org/hamfest.html

Long Island NY LIMARC http://www.limarc.org/fest.htm

Massapequa NY GSB ARA http://www.gsbarc.org/

Queens NY Hall of Science http://www.qsl.net/hosarc/hamfest.html

Rensselaer NY E Greenbush ARA http://www.com-tech.org/EGARA.html

Rochester NY AWA http://www.antiquewireless.org/

Greenwich RI Fidelity ARC http://users.ids.net/~newsm/dates.html

Essex Junction VT Burlington ARC http://www.vtstetson.net/fest02.pdf

Milton VT RANV VT Conv http://www.ranv.org/milton.html

Montreal PQ MARC http://www.marc.qc.ca/fest/fest.html

Montreal PQ WIARC http://www.pubnix.net/wiarc/hamfest.htm

Montreal PQ MS-SARC http://www.ve2clm.ca/hamfesta.htm

Sorel-Tracy PQ CRAS-T http://www.hamfest.qc.ca/

St Therese PQ CRALL http://www.ve2crl.qc.ca/hamfest2002.htm

Halafax NS HARC http://www.halifax-arc.org/

Canada RAC List http://rac.eton.ca/data/racfleas.taf?function=form

Phila. Area VARA List http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/hamfest.html

USA ARRL List http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html

NESMC Seeking Nominations For General Election

Bob DeMattia, K1IW writes:

The New England Spectrum Management Council, which is the frequency coordination body for the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, will be holding its General Meeting and election at the Boxboro Convention on Saturday, August 14, 11AM. In anticipation of this, we are seeking nominations for each of the NESMC board positions:

New England Spectrum Management Council logoPresident
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Eastern Mass. Director
Eastern Mass. Vice-Director
Maine Director
Maine Vice-Director
New Hampshire Director
New Hampshire Vice-Director
Rhode Island Director
Rhode Island Vice-Director
Western Mass. Director
Western Mass. Vice-Director

Additional information on the nomination process is available at http://www.nesmc.org/nominate.html.

We would like this information to reach as many amateur radio operators as possible, please feel free to forward this message on to club mail lists or through whatever channels you have at your disposal.

73,
Bob DeMattia – K1IW
NESMC Vice-President
for the NESMC board

New England Public Service List June 30, 2004

      PSLIST                                              June 30, 2004

Public Service Volunteer Opportunities in the New England Division

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

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

**** Every event listed is looking for communications volunteers ****

Date Location Event Contact Tel/Email

Jul 4 Westminstr MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Ralph KD1SM 978-582-7351
kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul 5 Fitchburg MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Ralph KD1SM 978-582-7351
kd1sm@arrl.netSep 10 Hyannis MA MS Challenge Walk John N1PYN 508-588-3250
to Brewster n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 11 Brewseter MA MS Challenge Walk John N1PYN 508-588-3250
to Easthamr n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 12 Brewster MA MS Challenge Walk John N1PYN 508-588-3250
to Dennis n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 18 Madison CT MS Tour 150 Scott AA1WM 203-676-1016
to Modus CT sbicycles@comcast.net
Sep 18 Modus CT MS Tour 150 Scott AA1WM 203-676-1016
to Madison CT sbicycles@comcast.net

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

(via packet) KD1SM@K1UGM.#EMA.MA.USA,
(via Internet) KD1SM@ARRL.NET.

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

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

Cell Phone Ban Provision Passes in Massachusetts Senate Committee

MA StatehouseShawn O’Donnell, K3HI, EMA State Government Liaison writes:

On Monday, June 28, the Senate Long-Term Debt and Capital Expenditures Committee passed a transportation bond bill, H4771, that includes a provision to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. This bill does not appear to be a direct threat to mobile amateur operation, but we should keep an eye on the bill to make sure it isn’t amended to make things worse.

The bill bans the use of hand-held cell phones, only. Cell phone use with a headset will still be legal, and the bill says nothing about two-way radio systems.

Last year, several House committees approved a cell phone ban in bill H3919, but that bill has been stuck in the House Ways & Means committee since last July.

H4771 now goes to the Senate Ways & Means Committee for review. This bill originated in the House and is undergoing review in the Senate, so it is still a few steps away from becoming law. See the “Ham’s guide to legislation” at http://www.userstudy.com/ARRL/Guide_to_MA_legislation.pdf . We’re currently in the “Three readings” stage in the Senate, in the middle row of the diagram.

The cell phone ban, along with a primary-enforcement seat belt law, were attached to a finance bill by the Long Term Debt committee. Given the controversial nature of the seat belt and cell phone laws, it is possible that either or both provisions will be eliminated from the bill as it passes through other committees. Also, the House will have to approve the amendments, since it passed a different version of the bill.

The provision attached to H4771 uses the same language as H3919 (typos and all,) minus the passage in H3919 that would have made it illegal for junior drivers to use any type of cell phone.

For more information, including text of the bill and tips on contacting your representatives on Beacon Hill, visit http://sgl.ema.arrl.org/.

73,

Shawn O’Donnell K3HI
ARRL EMASS State Government Liaison
k3hi@arrl.net

The “Ultimate Fox Hunt”

DNC logoRick Zach, K1RJZ by way of W1NAU writes:

Everyone @ gemoto.com listserv:

Hello folks. If appropriate please forward this email via your ham club’s email listserv system.

Today I met with technical officials who will work at the Boston DNC convention. This same team will work at the Republican Convention so this group’s roots are philosophically agnostic.

These folks are the official frequency coordinators who are acknowledged by the Broadcast Media and FCC as having authority to coordinate, minimise interference and enforce the proper use of coordinated RF frequencies for:

– short haul microwave
– wireless mikes
– two way radios and repeaters
– remote controls
– anything that sends or receives RF

This technical group is looking for technical RF-oriented volunteers before and during the actual DNC convention. (July 22-29)

That being said, the local broadcast community is flat out working on their own projects. The official DNC frequency coordinator, Louis Libin has asked me to solicit help from two local communities:

1) The local chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (ch-11)

2) The local ham radio community

If you are in a position to work on “The Ultimate Fox Hunt”, please contact Louis Libin at louislibin@broad-comm.com or via phone at 516-816-8661.

The only pay will be the appreciation of a grateful community and an incredible learning experience! Volunteers will receive DNC credentials after the appropriate checks and training.

The volunteers will need to possess:

* significant real world RF and foxhunt experience from 30 MHz to 23 GHz.

* significant tact and real-world human relations experience

The DNC frequency coordination group will have some test gear available.

A dedicated 451-range UHF repeater pair will be used to manage this coordination effort. Many of the world’s major media outlets will depend on this small group of volunteers to detect interference and protect many major lines of communications.

If interested, please contact Louis Libin at louislibin@broad-comm.com or via phone at 516-816-8661

via,
Rick Zach, Chief Engineer WCVB-TV ch5
aka K1RJZ

USS Salem Activities June 26—Volunteers Sought

K1USN QSL cardJC Cunningham, W1AI writes:

We are expecting 40 scouts this coming weekend. They will probably be split into 3-4 small groups.

Can I get some volunteers to work with the scouts from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday (6/26/04)? (Volunteers should plan on arriving around 2:30 to assist with setup.)

Most of our regular volunteers will be participating in Field Day, so if you’re not, please consider helping out this weekend!

Email me at W1AI@hamtestonline.com if you can help! (I have to let the ship know by Friday morning whether we can accommodate!)

Thanks,

JC Cunningham, W1AI
USS Salem K1USN Radio Club Scouting Program Volunteer Coordinator
http://www.hamtestonline.com/

ISS Talking On Field Day Weekend (Maybe)

Int'l Space StationMiles Mann, WF1F writes on BARS mailing list:

This weekend it may be possible to listen to the Crew on board the ISS. And if you are a licensed Ham, you may even get a chance to talk to them directly by ham radio, too.

Voice Tips:
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/issvoicetips.html

Packet Tips:
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/isspacketmanual.html

The Space Station will be transmitting on 145.800 FM. If you have a proper licens you can try to call them using the posted Uplink channel. The uplink channels are different depending on what part of the world
you are located in.

Channel 1 145.800.0 RX 144.490.0 TX Voice North America
Channel 2 145.800.0 RX 145.990.0 TX Packet (Worldwide)
Channel 3 145.800.0 RX 145.200.0 TX Voice (Region 1Europe, Africa)

Audio from the 2002 field day links with Susan Helms on ISS

http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/issaudiofiles.html


From the Amsat BBS June 22, 2004

by Scott H. Stevens / N3ASA

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station may participate in Field Day operations this year. Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, and Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, may participate in Field Day activities as time permits.

Fincke should be operating as NA1SS, 1 Alpha, ISS. If Padalka can participate then he should sign RS0ISS, 1 Alpha, ISS.

ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth G. Ransom, N5VHO, sent Field Day operating instructions and pass times to the ISS support team at Johnson Space Center for relay to Fincke. Best pass times sent to Mike are for June 27 and include:

07:53 – 08:11 UTC Southern & NE U.S.
09:27 – 09:47 UTC Western U.S.
11:03 – 11:23 UTC Northwest U.S.
14:15 – 14:35 UTC Northeast U.S.
15:51 – 16:11 UTC Central U.S.
17:27 – 17:43 UTC Southwest U.S.

The plan is for Fincke to be on voice using the standard ISS voice frequencies for contacts in ITU region 2 of 144.49 up and 145.80 down in the FM mode. If Padalka participates, he will also operate on the same 2 meter frequency set and they will probably trade off on passes.

The prospect of two operators being available and operating simultaneously is possible since ARISS now has 2 radios on board. One of them is a dual band and that makes activation of another band possible though not guaranteed. If we are fortunate enough to have 2 operators on at the same time, one of them would operating on 437.55 simplex in the FM mode while the other is on the standard 2 meter FM split voice frequency. Keep in mind that the Doppler shift in the 70 centimeter band is significantly greater than on 2 meters.

Doppler will be the biggest challenge for earthbound hams trying to work ISS on 70 cm. The Doppler on 70 cm is plus or minus 10 kHz. Most radios include 5-kHz tuning steps, and to work ISS on voice you will need to get within 3 kHz of the ISS receiver frequency. Setting up memories on a 5kHz stepped radio would require 5 memory channels. Start with channel 1 at the beginning of the pass and proceed to the next as the pass progresses.

TX Channel RX Channel Doppler
1 437.540 437.560 +10
2 437.545 437.555 +5
3 437.550 437.550 0
4 437.555 437.545 -5
5 437.560 437.540 -10

Ideally, you would be able to have tuning steps of 2 kHz and the table would look like this:

TX Channel RX Channel Doppler
1 437.540 437.560 +10
2 437.542 437.558 +8
3 437.544 437.556 +6
4 437.546 437.554 +4
5 437.548 437.552 +2
6 437.550 437.550 0
7 437.552 437.548 -2
8 437.554 437.546 -4
9 437.556 437.544 -6
10 437.558 437.542 -8
11 437.560 437.540 -10

As with any amateur radio operation aboard the ISS, the crew gives of their free time to participate and as such may not be available on every pass or more pressing events may preclude any participation at all. It is planned that if the crew is unable to participate that the packet station will be on and available for ground stations to work each other via the packet digipeater using ARISS as the alias for the callsign in UNPROTO mode using 145.99 up and 145.80 down.

Keep in mind that an EVA is scheduled just a few days before Field Day and the crew will still be in the process of getting back to a normal schedule when Field Day is in full swing.

73 & good luck on Field Day!
Scott H. Stevens / N3ASA

NNNNNNNN

Marexmg Web page
http://www.marexmg.org

Information on the crew’s activities aboard the Space Station, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG

Until we meet again

DOSVIDANIYA Miles WF1F

Cohasset EOC Active For RACES Hurricane Drill

Cohasset EOC during recent RACES drillAmateurs operating at the Cohasset Emergency Operations Center were featured in a recent newspaper article and accompanying photo in the Cohasset Mariner. The June 7 RACES drill simulated the devastating effects of a hurricane in Cohasset and other towns in Sector 2B.

Pictured are: Bob Callahan, W1QWT; Hal Coughlin, WA1J; and Arthur Lehr, Cohasset Emergency Management Director. —Thanks, W1QWT

Norwood ARC Demos Ham Radio At Walpole Village Fair

Norwood ARCMembers of the Norwood Amateur Radio Club set up a station to demonstrate Amateur Radio to fair goers at the Walpole Village Fair June 12.

According to Dave Doe, K1HRV, “Many came by to inquire or chat about Amateur Radio… We were also interviewed by the Daily News Transcript. They took our picture to accompany the story.”

The exhibit station signing the call sign N1OP featured Norwood ARC’s new club banner. “It was quite visible—even from across the street,” commented Doe.

NARC’s station included an Icom IC-2720 dual-band UHF/VHF transceiver and an Icom IC-706MKII HF rig feeding a 2-meter/440 MHz vertical atop and a 20-meter inverted “V” atop a 20-foot mast.

Those who operated the special events station or visited, included: W1PNH, K1BFD, KB1KRN, N1NWZ, K5OTY, W1ZSA, and K1HRV. —Thanks K1HRV and Norwood ARC Newscarrier

Hurricane Drill (update)

RACES Logo A Hurricane Drill will be held on Monday 21 June at 1900 throughout the Commmonwealth. Please use your RACES repeater. Please press the “read more” button below to view the exercise including action “envelopes” that are to be reacted to during the exercise. Any questions please contact Tom at n1cpe@amsat.org, or leave message at 508.820.1428. Good luck!RACES/ARES Hurricane Drill

June 21, 2004, 7 – 9 p.m.

Scenario: Hurricane Yolanda is making its way up the coast at a rapid pace. The East Coast is bracing for a category 3 Hurricane as it is moving North- Northeast and is just 50 miles offshore of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Procedure: The drill will be conducted in 3 stages: beginning (checking in and reporting preparedness status), middle (at the height of the hurricane), and end (wrap-up and status reports). Each stage is described in a separate section below, together with the expectations for RACES and ARES participants.

Notes: Primary communication will be on the frequency listed as primary for your community in the Massachusetts State RACES Plan. Get the Massachusetts State RACES Plan here, or at http://www.qsl.net/n1cpe/racesplan.pdf. The drill will also be held on HF (75 meters likely, 40 meters possible). Stations capable of using packet are encouraged to do so, particularly with lengthy or summary traffic. Refer to the RACES plan for details on frequencies being used.

Every message should begin with the words “THIS IS A DRILL” as part of the text, and [all] other radio communication pertaining to the scenario should [be preceded with] include this qualification as well. If the ham operator is working this drill with the representative of his/her served agency (for example, the local EMA Director), messages should be signed by that representative’s name and title. If the ham operator is working alone, messages should be signed by the title only (no name) of the served agency’s representative.

Examples:

Signed, Jane Doe, EMA Director, Town of Smallville Signed, EMA Director for Smallville
All RACES traffic is addressed to and signed by a government official. The objective of this drill is to exercise the system, provide practice in order to improve emergency readiness (for EMA directors and served agencies as well as hams), and discover opportunities for improvement. Your feedback after the event is welcome. And your participation is deeply appreciated!

STAGE 1

TO: Massachusetts EMA Directors, ARES Served Agency communications coordinators,
ARES Members

FROM: Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

WHEN: Beginning of exercise (7:00 – 7:15 p.m.)

The National Weather Service in Taunton Massachusetts in conjunction with the National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida has issued a Hurricane Warning for all coastal areas of Massachusetts. The National Weather Service in Taunton Massachusetts has issued an Inland High Wind Warning for Hurricane Force Winds for all interior areas of Massachusetts. A Tornado Watch is in effect for the entire state of Massachusetts. A Flash Flood Watch for rivers and streams is also in effect for the entire state of Massachusetts. Hurricane Yolanda is presently located near latitude 40.1 North, longitude 74.0 West, or a little less than 100 miles South-Southwest of Long Island, New York. Hurricane Yolanda is moving toward the North-Northeast at 25 MPH with winds up to 125 MPH, and the present movement is expected to continue for the next several hours with the center passing over Narragansett Bay into Southeast Massachusetts. With the center passing over Southeast Massachusetts, heavy rains of 6-10” with higher amounts are expected with significant river and stream flooding expected across Western, Central and Northeast Massachusetts. This includes Berkshire County. The strongest sustained straight-line winds and wind damage with possible structural damage is expected across Eastern Massachusetts with 2-6” of rain expected with locally higher amounts in interior areas. Lower rainfall amounts are expected across the South Coast of Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands but this area has the greatest threat of significant wind damage affecting structures along with a 12-18 foot coastal storm surge across south and east facing beaches. Severe Weather with pockets of wind damage from microbursts, macrobursts and isolated tornadoes is possible anywhere in the state of Massachusetts.

RACES Stations: Now please go to your EOC and report to your MEMA Region Headquarters:
(1) your community
(2) status of your EOC
(3) number of shelters currently open
This message should be formatted in NTS format per the Massachusetts RACES Plan.
ARES Stations: Please report now to your Section Emergency Coordinator or designee. Use an NTS
Format message to report:
(1) your ARES appointment (if any)
(2) what frequency you will monitor during this activation/exercise
(3) what served agency you are supporting (if any)
Training Opportunity: Emergency Managers and Served Agencies should use this time to discuss
their present course of action. Discussions should include reviewing your plans, checklists, and
resources. For ARES groups, this would mean having go-kits prepared for shelter and other public
safety communications.

STAGE 2

TO: Massachusetts EMA Directors, ARES Served Agency communications coordinators,
ARES Members

FROM: Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

WHEN: Middle of exercise (7:45 – 8:15 p.m.)

The full force of Hurricane Yolanda has hit Massachusetts with winds of 115 to 130 miles per hour with higher gusts. Governor Romney has declared a State of Emergency for Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has been fully activated. There are widespread
commercial power and telephone outages. Torrential downpours have caused localized flooding, and coastal flooding will be a serious threat with the approach of high tide. In the central and western parts of the state, funnel clouds have been sighted. Wind damage has downed trees and power lines in pockets across numerous communities in this area. Many downed electrical wires are alive and dangerous. Emergency Management Directors /RACES Stations: You now have the option to pick another local
action or happening to go along with Hurricane Yolanda. This incident may be large or small and may be directly or indirectly related to the hurricane itself. Please pick one of the following:
HAZMAT Spill
Fire
Public safety communication outage needing full ham radio backup
Tornado
River or stream flooding
Coastal storm surge flooding
Microburst or macroburst wind damage
Medical emergency at a shelter
Other (feel free to be creative)
After you decide, notify your MEMA Region Headquarters of the type of emergency/disaster. Use Massachusetts RACES Radiogram format to report the type of event and (if appropriate given the scenario you select) the number of residences affected. Optional: initiate other traffic that might be expected in an actual emergency situation. For example, contact the EMA Director of a neighboring town to request additional shelter supplies.
ARES Stations: Report your personal availability to staff a Shelter for individuals affected by
Hurricane Yolanda or other events that may happen as a result of the storm to your Section
Emergency Coordinator or designee in the form of an NTS Message.
Training Opportunity: Emergency Management Directors should be using this time to combat the
effects of Hurricane Yolanda. The Emergency Management Directors should also be coordinating the
local effects of any other emergency/disaster put into the exercise working with ARES groups as
required.
ARES groups backing up RACES and Emergency Management, supporting SKYWARN efforts, Red
Cross, Salvation Army and other agencies can work based on the scenarios picked and combat the
issues that these specific scenarios would cause. This would include insuring solid radio
communication and being able to communicate shelter needs and issues.

STAGE 3

TO: Massachusetts EMA Directors, ARES Served Agency communications coordinators,
ARES Members

FROM: Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

WHEN: End of exercise (8:45 – 9:00 p.m.)

The National Weather Service has canceled all warnings and watches. Hurricane Yolanda is no
longer a threat to Massachusetts residents. Recovery missions have already begun in numerous
communities.
RACES Stations: Now please report to your MEMA Region Headquarters in Massachusetts RACES
Radiogram format the following information:
(1) your community
(2) number of homes destroyed
(3) number of homes damaged
(4) any additional status reports as needed.
ARES Stations: Please report to your SEC or DEC in NTS Format:
(1) the name of your served agency, if any
(2) whether it is activated in the aftermath of Hurricane Yolanda
Training Opportunity: Emergency Management Directors and other served agencies should use this
time for recovery discussions. Please stress damage assessment and documentation. Discussion
should highlight Federal/State Disaster Declaration reimbursements.
ARES Groups should report their activity to their local EC, DEC, or SEC where appropriate and
communicate any issues that they had during the event. The report should include what went well
and what went poorly and ways to improve what did not go as expected.

Field Day Info!

Field Day 2004 The 2004 EMa Field Day page is now up and running at the Section Field Day page. Thanks to a tremendous amount of effort and hard work by Bill Ricker, N1VUX with additional assistance from Peter Grace, KB1CVH, the Field Day page is a wonderful compendium of every resource one could want: directories of all clubs and groups operating in the section, including past scores, maps, locations (GPS coordinates, too!) and contact numbers. Also included is a full description of the Field Day rules. Be sure to check this out!

Current and past field day information appears in this area. The date for Field Day 2004 is Sat/Sun 26-27 June 2004. You can view the rules (w/o forms) at http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/index.html#FD

The 2m simplex frequency to meet other FD stations is 146.550. Remember 146.52 is offlimits during the FD weekend.

=== Note from N1VUX ===

To Club Officers and FD Chairs:

Please review the information I have on your radio club on the EMA ARRL Field Day website. In particular, please note if your current site is correctly described. Proof read the driving directions (which the EMA SM or his Staff and possibly the NE Div staff will you to find your site, along with maps based on Lat-Long) Click the Topo link if your listing has one to check the Lat-Long pos. If the Red Cross doesn’t come up exactly on your site (unlikey unless we nailed it last year), please click on your exact site on the topo map and mail me back the URL of the topo when you’ve got the red-cross just where you want it. If your site doesnt have a Topo link, you can give me the street address and which side of the building / parking lot, or you can browse around on Maps.Yahoo.com or Topozone.com or any similar mapping program and mail me the URL. Or read the Lat-Lon off your GPS or Map. This website is no longer tracking official club contact information for ARRL Affiliate clubs. You can now make those corrections online. The EMA FD website would like updates for club FD contacts, contact info for non-Affiliated clubs (although we’d encourage you to become Affiliated Clubs of course!). If you will have special technology demonstrations or modes (PSK31, Satelite, …), you can note that. Note the “Visits” entry … this shows who from ARRL/ARES staff think are going to visit you … that have told me. Check it again closer to FD too.

Thanks,

Bill Ricker N1VUX
n1vux

Note For GPS & APRS users
All Lat/Long coords are either Topo NAD27 or unknown; to get WGS84/NAD83 Lat/Lon (native mode for GPSs), use the CoordXvert link courtesy of jeEep.com which will give you all three formats (D.dd, D.M.m, DMS.s) for both grids (or toggle your GPS into NAD27 mode while entering ’em by number, same as you would reading off a topomap if you want to be really accurate).

Updates to n1vux [please]