Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

Members of the Massassoit Amateur Radio Association heard a presentation at its October meeting by Tom Sowdon, Superintendent, Emergency Preparedness for the Entergy Nuclear Generating Company in Plymouth. Sowdon discussed the plant’s reinforced containment features and outlined the ongoing security measures at the plant that have been enhanced over the years. These include measures such as palm readers for access and expanded perimeter no-trespassing zones—especially over water.

Sowdon explained the notification procedures for the surrounding area in the event of an “Unusual Event” that could lead to a General Emergency triggering an evacuation of all the residents within a specific area around the plant. The area in question, said Sowdon, would be key-shaped and would include a larger section in the direction of the prevailing winds. Residents—including children in schools—would be sent to host facilities in Bridgewater, Taunton and Braintree.

Members of the Massasoit ARA and the Whitman ARC have volunteered to assist local emergency management agencies in the nuclear power plant evacuation plan. —Thanks, MARA News

The Harvard Wireless Club will join with a Cambridge public school in filing an application for a Stations in Schools grant under the League’s Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program (a.k.a. “Big Project”), according to Mike Manafo, K3UOC and Tim McBride, N1QZY.

“The application was authored by Dr. Peg LeGendre, Science Mentor Teacher for the Cambridge Public Schools,” said Manafo, a Harvard alum and former HWC station manager. McBride, who is HWC’s current station manager, is coordinating efforts on behalf of Harvard Wireless Club.

The application, entitled Tobin Girls Ham it Up, outlines a comprehensive amateur radio educational program involving 16 elementary level girls at Tobin School in Cambridge, according to Manafo. “As we all know, it is becoming increasingly difficult to create interest among our youth in ham radio. With computers and many competing interests for our kids’ time, radio is a tough sell these days. Dr. LeGendre has, with Tim’s able input, proposed an amateur radio program that will appeal to elementary school-age children, specifically to girls. Many of them are minority children.”

Two teachers from Tobin Elementary School attended a productive meeting at Harvard Wireless Club on November 5.

“Peg LeGendre sent the application in and has already received some good feedback from ARRL,” said McBride. “If it’s approved, the ARRL will provide the girls with a radio and teaching materials.”

While many of the HWC members have indicated their interest, McBride is looking for as many people as possible to volunteer.

Contributed by Jim, N1IV, EMa PIC

THIS IS A DRILL. This is WX1BOX… the National Weather Service in Taunton. We have a Winter Storm Warning for interior sections of Southeastern Massachusetts. A High Wind Warning is in effect for interior Southeast Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands. A low-pressure system has formed over the Atlantic, 25 miles southeast of Nantucket. The system brings with it, heavy wet snow with possible accumulations of 1-2 feet in the Winter Storm Warning area. Also expect strong, damaging winds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts to 60-65 MPH. The combination of strong gusty winds and heavy snow will cause power outages due to trees and power lines being knocked down. Coastal flooding is likely on all north and east facing beaches with the worst being Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and East Coastal Massachusetts. THIS IS A DRILL.”No, this wasn’t TV Weather; it was Amateur Radio operator, Rob Macedo – KD1CY, who operates the Skywarn Amateur Radio equipment at the National Weather Service’s Taunton, MA office. Rob sends the word out to and compiles data from numerous Skywarn trained Amateur Radio Operators throughout Southern New England during severe weather events. Rob is also the ARRL District Emergency Coordinator for Plymouth and Bristol Counties. This advisory was the actual opening message for the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section’s annual Simulated Emergency Test.

The exercise, a test of ARES emergency communications capabilities and procedures, is held annually to practice and train ARES personnel. ARES Teams from many area Amateur Radio Clubs, amateur radio communications volunteers for the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Massachusetts Emergency Management RACES radio operators, all take part in the drill. As noted in the NWS Announcement, a major Nor’easter was on the way! Station WC1MA at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in Framingham liaised with Regional MEMA headquarters across the state, and with the ARES Metro headquarters station, W1MSA, at the Salvation Army in Boston. Several dozen pieces of message traffic were sent and received on HF and VHF. Operators at WC1MA included: State RACES Officer Tom Kinahan – N1CPE, RACES Operator, Dennis Brothers – KE6DPL, Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator, Mike Neilsen – W1MPN and Eastern MA Section Manager Phil Temples – K9HI. “I heard a lot of good on-air procedure throughout the morning,” said Section Manager Temples. “This SET underlined the importance of proper radiogram procedures. Knowing how to send written messages in a timely fashion that can be copied correctly the first time is crucial. And knowing how to properly ask for “fills” is even more important. We as Amateurs do this better than any public service agency. But there’s always room for improvement.”

Both RACES and ARES enjoy a close working relationship in the Commonwealth. The leadership of RACES and ARES hold regular meetings to coordinate their activities. “As many as 20 or more individual communities across the state opened their local EOC’s and simulated a response to a winter storm,” said Tom Kinahan, N1CPE. “Even though Massachusetts has 2 ARRL Sections, communities, ARES Groups, and individual hams from both sections took part in the SKYWARN, ARES and RACES components of the drill, as though it were a single event as would happen if it were real.” Region II – MEMA with Bob Mims – WA1OEZ at the controls, operated from 09:00 until 12:00, providing a link between the communities and state headquarters. Bob operated on 40 meters, 6 meters and 2 meters, contacting Western MA, State Headquarters in Framingham and several communities involved in the exercise. He also established communications with Nantucket, Hyannis and Sandwich on Cape Cod. Western Massachusetts also participated and the Worcester Emergency Communications Team, or W.E.C.T., tried their new “Send Word Now” activation system.

Dick Bedard, W1FIX, Deputy Director of Worcester Emergency Management activated the system at approximately 11:00 AM and it sent multiple notifications to most of their key personnel. They were instructed to check in with the EOC by phone or radio. Of approximately 53 names on their roster, they received 42 responses and all within minutes! “One team member, who was traveling in California”, said Mark Rubin – WB1ARZ, Worcester RACES Radio Officer, “actually called in when he received the notification… now that’s dedication!”

“During the drill, we had an actual incident activating ARES in my district,” said Rob Macedo – KD1CY. “A major gas leak occurred in Bridgewater. This caused an evacuation of a 3 to 4 block area.” Carl Aveni – N1FY, ARES Emergency Coordinator for the area, was already at the Town of Bridgewater EOC with Phil McNamara – N1XTB. A shelter was opened and another Amateur Radio Operator was sent to the shelter. The situation was monitored until roughly 2:00 PM when the Emergency Management Director for the Town of Bridgewater, released the Amateurs from the activation at the shelter and the EOC. Frank Murphy – N1DHW, Eastern Mass. Section ACC and Massachusetts SATERN Coordinator, noted that the Boston SATERN team operated two Net Control Stations at the Boston Salvation Army EOC. ARES, RACES, SATERN, Red Cross and MEMA… a fine piece of work and a tremendous showing of dedication and teamwork. The November Eastern Mass Simulated Emergency Test was a total success thanks to the many dedicated and trained Amateur Radio Communications Volunteers.

Please note the following change and annotate your copy.

Please change 147.05 to 147.405 in RACES/ARES/SKYWARN simplex frequency listing.

This change has already been entered in the “Comprehensive Frequency Listing” (RACES/ARES/SKYWARN/Simplex Freqs)
webpage link to the left.

As our Fall Simulated Emergency Test was in full swing, a message came across 7245 Mhz, “This is not a drill – I repeat, this is not a drill”, the message said. “There is a major natural gas leak in the Town of Bridgewater and people are being evacuated as we speak”! The leak caused the evacuation of a 3 to 4 block area. Carl Aveni-N1FY, ARES Emergency Coordinator for the area, was already at the Town of Bridgewater EOC with N1XTB-Phil McNamara.There were also several other Amateurs from Carl’s team available and ready to assist. The Sturdy Hospital ARC and SEMARA ARES teams were placed on stand-by status to provide additional Amateur Radio Operators to assist if necessary. Word was passed as a priority message via the HF 40 Meter Net on 7245 KHz to MEMA Framingham to both Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer Tom Kinahan-N1CPE and Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Mike Neilsen-W1MPN. A shelter was opened and an Amateur Radio Operator was sent to the shelter. The shelter did not get any people as most of the people who were evacuated went to friends or other family members homes. The situation was monitored until roughly 2:00 PM when the Emergency Management Director for the town of Bridgewater released the Amateurs from the activation at the shelter and EOC.

Look for a story on the actual S.E.T. exercise, later in the week.

N1IV – EMA PIC

Please change 147.05 to 147.405 in RACES/ARES/SKYWARN simplex frequency listing.

The following are updates to the 2003 SET frequency plans found in the main SET announcement below:

Middlesex District:

146.955/74.4 Pri
147.270/146.2 Sec
146.640 Liaison

53.31/71.9

3943, 3937, 7232, 7275

Stow and Westford EOCs will use VHF as listed plus any local freqs as needed

Cape Cod and Islands:

CCARES Guard Frequencies

From KD1CY…
Hello to all…

In addition to narrative reports or other report forms that are utilized for
after action reports in the drill, we should utilize the following SET forms
as attached in this email. I attached the two files but they are simply the
same form just in different formats. We can have EC’s, where possible, fill
out the information and if there aren’t EC’s available to fill out the info,
the DEC’s can do it. With these forms, all the data can be tabulated to come
up with district and then a section total for points and record keeping and
then Mike can send it to the ARRL. This should ease the burden on Mike and
if we can push it down to our EC’s, it eases the burden on all of us.Instead of sending this directly to “the first of the first responders” at
ARRL HQ in Newington, CT as instructed in the form, we should request the
EC’s to send the reports to the DEC’s and then we can give them or send them
to Mike to be sent to the ARRL. This way we follow “incident command” as
Mark would like to see.

This is NOT a replacement for our other more meaningful forms and narrartive
reports. Its just a way to record the needed info for ARRL HQ and make Mike
look awesome to our “superiors” or “the first responders”. 😉

Let me know if anyone has any questions. Thanks!

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/rmacedo

Mark Duff, KB1EKN writes:

“Thanks to the efforts of the Eastern Mass Public Relations Section Staff, tomorrow’s (11/8/03) Simulated Emergency Test will be mentioned on WBZ Radio. Yours truly was interviewed today over the telephone for a news release to be aired tomorrow morning. While you are sitting at home reporting the snow totals, you may also want to tune in 1030 AM [that’s frequency, not time] and enjoy the show.”

Mark J. Duff/KB1EKN
Metro-Boston DEC

Thanks to Bill McIninch – KA1MOM, ARRL Metro Boston PIO, for his work in making this interview happen. …N1IV

Contact: Henry Brown, K1WCC , Publicist 508-274-5644
Falmouth Amateur Radio Association

FALMOUTH HAMS USE HIGH TECH DEVICES TO TRACK RUNNERS

Members of the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association combined GPS (Global Positioning System), ham radio and a laptop computer to track the location of the “tired runner” vans during the recent Cape Cod Marathon in Falmouth.

The system, called Automated Position Reporting System or APRS, was developed by a Maryland ham for automated weather and vehicle tracking by amateur radio operators.
Falmouth club members installed the operation in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Falmouth Fire and Rescue headquarters on Main St. Each tired runner van had an amateur operator on board as well as a VHF radio and GPS receiver. The VHF radio broadcast the van’s GPS position via the club’s repeater at Falmouth Hospital to the computer at the EOC. A large map of Falmouth was projected on a wall screen by the computer, with the location of each van indicated on the map within a few feet of its actual position. Knowing the exact location of the vans enabled radio operators at the EOC to more efficiently dispatch the vans to the nearest tired or injured runner. The system updated the van position every 30 seconds.

In addition to the vans, a club member roamed the race course in his own vehicle, also equipped with a GPS/radio combination.

Active during the race were 6 club members at the EOC and 26 more on the race course and at medical facilities as primary communications providers for event. The emergency amateur station at the Falmouth Hospital Emergency room was also activated.

The Falmouth Club decided to invest in the APRS equipment to enhance their capabilities during emergencies and special events such as the Cape Cod Marathon and the Falmouth Road Race. The actual APRS hardware in each van is extremely compact and unobtrusive.

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association has long been primary communications provider for the Cape Cod Marathon, and also assists at the Falmouth Road Race, special events on Cape Cod and works with Falmouth Emergency Management during emergencies.

Anyone interested in learning more about amateur radio and its role in Falmouth is invited to attend the monthly club meetings held in the basement of Town Hall on the last Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM. FARA is one of the largest amateur radio clubs in New England, with over 200 members.

The Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC will operate Special Event Station “W1S” from 00:00Z November 19 until 23:59Z November 23. They will be operating from the W1SMH Club Radio Room at Sturdy Memorial Hospital to celebrate their 25th Anniversary as an Amateur Radio Club. Approximate frequencies are 28.350, 21.400, 14.300, 14.050 and 7.250… these will probably vary. A nice Certificate will be available to anyone working the Station. Please send S.A.S.E. (9″x12″) and QSO info to our W1SMH Callbook address. More info is available on the club’s web site at www.w1smh.com

The Waltham Amateur Radio Association and the 1200 Radio Club will hold its annual Amateur Radio and Electronics Auction on Saturday, November 15, 2003, 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Newton Masonic Hall (second floor), 460 Newtonville Avenue, at the corner of Walnut Street, in Newtonville. (This is a large red brick building. It is near the Star Market that stands astride the Mass. Turnpike.)

Seller check-in starts at 9:00 a.m. Free parking is available in municipal lot across Walnut Street; metered parking on street. Please do NOT park in the lot next to the Masonic Hall, or in the Star Market parking lot. (They tow!)

For auction rules and additional information, please see http://www.walthamara.org/auction/index.htm.

[Above: K1OJH actioning off an oscilloscope at the 1998 Waltham ARA/1200 RC Auction. Photo courtesy WARA]

It was announced today that Tim Lewallen – KD5ING has been chosen to receive the 2003 Phillip J. McGan “Silver Antenna Award”. Lewallen has been licensed since 1999, and is an ARRL Public Information Officer (PIO) for the League’s North Texas Section. He also serves as a PIO for the Nacogdoches Amateur Radio Club.

Tim handled a tremendous amount of PR responsibilities for the Nacogdoches, TX club in the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. He brought Amateur Radio’s role to light on a Local, State and National level and continues to promote our hobby/service. Congratulations to Tim on his award!Complete ARRL Story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/11/05/3/?nc=1

The Minuteman Repeater Association’s repeater linking capability has been greatly improved, thanks to the efforts of Bob De Mattia, K1IW. According to MMRA President Kevin Paetzold, K1KWP, De Mattia has been working on the repeater controller firmware to “make the local linking capability at Weston 146.82 and 224.70 more accessible, fix the timeout defaults for the user link codes, and [correct miscellaneous] bugs.” Thanks, The Minuteman, November 2003

Don’t miss the Framingham Amateur Radio Association’s Fall Flea Sunday, November 2, 2003 at the Walsh Middle School in Framingham. Doors open at 9 a.m. Admission for buyes is $5 (under 12, free accompanied by adult). A volunteer exam session will be conducted on the premises. Door prizes will be drawn; the winner of the grand prize will win a new two-meter HT.

For further information and directions, see http://fara.org/flea/.

Chris Smith, K1CJS writes:

“There will be an simulated emergency communications drill on November 8th between 9 AM and 1 PM that is being staged by the SE Mass ARES/Skywarn leadership. [The Bristol County Repeater Association] will be participating and will be providing input to the National Weather Service in Taunton.

The club emergency communications group and anyone else who is interested in participating is welcome to do so.

We will be utilizing the 440 machine primarily for the exercise as a test of the effective communications coverage in the city (especially the waterfront and low lying areas) and will use the 2 meter machine if needed for backup and for any participant who doesn’t have 70 cm capability.

Further details of the exercise will be posted on the reflector in the coming week, as well as the area frequencies that will be used.

73 and take care,
Chris, K1CJS

The Patriot DX Association has decided to rename itself the New England DX Century Club, according to the club’s PR officer, Jim Tumelty, W1CWU. NEDXCC offers the latest DX videos, DXCC card checking, as well as information on sunspots and propagation.

According to the club’s web site, “This name was chosen to reflect the current trends of the organization to move toward a regional from a more local organization.”

The NEDXCC is sponsoring a “DX Challenge” from Oct. 20-26 and Nov. 24-28, 2003. It meets at 221 Cabot Street, Beverly at 7 p.m. The next two meeting dates are November 24 and December 22.

For more information, visit http://www.nedxcc.org.