a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
Current weather models suggest that Tropo-Ducting and Tropo-Enhancement conditions will persist after the Friday cold front into Field Day weekend, through the normal end of contest 18Z Sunday (as opposed to official end 21Z for late starters). 146.550 FM Simplex, the 2m SSB calling, and 220/440 are worth trying for DX. There may even be 6m Tropo openings.
Bill N1VUX
[Article contributed by our SKYWARN Coordinator, Rob, KD1CY]
Hello to all….
Since there will be many Amateurs out this weekend setting up these stations, many of which outdoors, we would like to briefly discuss the weather for Field Day weekend. At this time, the threat for thunderstorms and the potential for at least scattered severe weather is confined to Friday Afternoon and Friday Night from roughly Noon-9 PM. There is the potential for at least scattered severe weather tomorrow with at the very least pulse type activity. In any event, thunderstorms are a good bet for much of the region. Any Field Day sites planning to do setup on Friday should pay close attention to the weather and if threatening weather approaches seek safe shelter immediately. Even if severe weather does not occur at your specific site setup, lightning is one of the biggest threats to setup of these sites. Do NOT take chances. If thunderstorms approach, stop setup work and seek safe shelter. Lightning can strike as much as 20 miles away from the parent thunderstorm. Also, if you have antennas setup make sure they are properly grounded to avoid the loss of antenna equipment as best as possible. The current forecast now has the Saturday and Sunday dry with no threat of thunderstorms.
SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to even likely for Friday. Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day setup tomorrow should have a way to stay in contact with their local SKYWARN Repeater where SKYWARN Net Controls and perhaps even our Ops at NWS Taunton will be on the air looking for reports and we can higlight location of the storms for all concerned. For Saturday and Sunday, no thunderstorms are expected but if the forecast changes, Field Day sites should make an effort to monitor their local SKYWARN repeater. Severe Weather Coordination messsages for severe thunderstorm potential on Friday will most likely be issued this evening if conditions look the same as they do this morning.
This week is also lightning safety awareness week nationwide. Information on lightning safety can be obtained from the following web-site:
Also, local NWS Forecast offices are issuing statements on lightning safety. Below are the last 4 statements issued by NWS Taunton for lightning safety awareness week:NOUS41 KBOX 231348
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
945 AM EDT MON JUN 23 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART ONE – LIGHTNING SAFETY OUTDOORS…
EACH YEAR ABOUT 400 CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE WORKING OUTSIDE…AT SPORTS EVENTS…ON
THE BEACH…MOUNTAIN CLIMBING…MOWING THE LAWN…OR DURING OTHER
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. ABOUT 80 PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND SEVERAL HUNDRED
MORE ARE LEFT TO COPE WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES. MANY OF THESE
TRAGEDIES CAN BE AVOIDED. FINISHING THE GAME…GETTING A TAN…OR
COMPLETING A WORK SHIFT ARE NOT WORTH DEATH OR CRIPPLING INJURY.
LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES AS MUCH AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM ANY RAINFALL.
THERE HAS EVEN BEEN A DOCUMENTED CASE OF LIGHTNING STRIKING 34 MILES
AWAY FROM THE RAIN IN THE THUNDERSTORM. AT LEAST 10 PERCENT OF
LIGHTNING OCCURS WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE CLOUDS IN THE SKY…JUST BLUE
SKY. MANY OF THE LIGHTNING FATALITIES OCCUR AHEAD OF THE STORM
BECAUSE PEOPLE TRY AND WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE SEEKING
SHELTER. YOU ARE IN DANGER IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER…THAT MEANS
THAT LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT IT COULD STRIKE YOUR LOCATION AT
ANY MOMENT.
ON AVERAGE 20 PERCENT OF LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS DIE…80 PERCENT
SURVIVE BUT 70 PERCENT OF THEM SUFFER SERIOUS LONG-TERM EFFECTS.
HERE ARE SOME SAFETY RULES…MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
ON THE WEB AT WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV
1. POSTPONE ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY AND DON/T WAIT FOR THE RAIN. GO
QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING…NOT A CARPORT…OPEN
GARAGE…OR COVERED PATIO. IF NO ENCLOSED BUILDING IS AVAILABLE…
GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED METAL VEHICLE. THE STEEL FRAME OF THE
VEHICLE PROVIDES PROTECTION IF YOU ARE NOT TOUCHING METAL.
2. BE THE LOWEST POINT. LIGHTNING LIKES TO STRIKE THE TALLEST
OBJECTS. IF HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ABOVE THE TREELINE…YOU
ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT. QUICKLY GET BELOW TREELINE AND GET INTO A
GROVE OF SMALL TREES. ASIDE FROM THIS SITUATION HOWEVER…YOU
SHOULD AVOID TREES. IF YOU ARE IN AN OPEN FIELD…LIKE A FARM OR A
BASEBALL OR SOCCER FIELD…YOU ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT. DUGOUTS OR
GAZEBOS AFFORD LITTLE PROTECTION. IF YOU CANNOT GET TO AN ENCLOSED
BUILDING OR VEHICLE…CROUCH DOWN ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET.
3. KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY FOR DARKENING CLOUDS AND LISTEN FOR
THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR IT…GO TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
4. GET OFF BICYCLES…MOTORCYCLES…AND DO NOT LEAN ON VEHICLES.
5. WATER IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY. GET OUT OF THE WATER
IF BOATING OR SWIMMING. GET OFF THE BEACH. DO NOT STAND IN
PUDDLES…EVEN IF WEARING RUBBER BOOTS.
6. AVOID METAL. DO NOT HOLD GOLF CLUBS…FISHING RODS…TENNIS
RACQUETS…OR TOOLS. LARGE METAL OBJECTS CAN CONDUCT LIGHTNING.
SMALL METAL OBJECTS…SUCH AS BELT BUCKLES…CAN CAUSE BURNS.
7. STAY SEVERAL YARDS AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE. DO NOT SHARE A
BLEACHER BENCH OR HUDDLE IN A GROUP.
8. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO…FIRST TO FIND OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS
ARE IN THE FORECAST. NEXT TO HEAR ANY SHORT TERM FORECASTS ABOUT
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. ALSO…TO HEAR IF THE WARNING ALARM TONE IS
ACTIVATED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL IN ADDITION TO LIGHTNING STRIKES.
$$
GAF
NOUS41 KBOX 241858
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
257 PM EDT TUE JUN 24 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART TWO – LIGHTNING SAFETY FOR BOATERS…
SMALL BOATS ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES AND
ALSO TO STRONG WAVE ACTION. OBVIOUSLY…THE BEST THING TO DO IS NOT
TO VENTURE FAR FROM PORT WHEN BAD WEATHER IS IN THE FORECAST AND TO
RETURN TO PORT IF BILLOWING CUMULUS CLOUDS…SOON TO BE
THUNDERSTORMS…ARE SEEN IN THE DISTANCE. IF YOU ENCOUNTER STRONG
CHOPPY WAVES ON THE WAY BACK TO SHORE…YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO
QUARTER THE WAVES. IN OTHER WORDS…DO NOT CUT ACROSS THEM
PERPENDICULARLY…RATHER CUT ACROSS THE WAVES AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE.
IF UNABLE TO RETURN TO SHORE BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES…SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE…
…STAY LOW IN THE CENTER OF THE BOAT. DO NOT BE A STAND-UP HUMAN
LIGHTNING MAST.
…SHORTEN THE SAILS.
…KEEP ARMS AND LEGS IN THE BOAT. DO NOT DANGLE THEM IN THE WATER.
…DISCONNECT AND DO NOT TOUCH MAJOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT…SUCH AS
THE RADIO…UNTIL THE STORM HAS COMPLETELY PASSED. REMEMBER THAT
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE AHEAD OF OR BEHIND THE STORM BY AS MUCH AS 10
OR MORE MILES AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA.
IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO ALWAYS HAVE INDIVIDUALS ON BOARD WHO ARE
COMPETENT IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) AND FIRST AID.
A LIGHTNING PROTECTIVE MAST CAN BE PURCHASED. THESE GENERALLY
DIVERT A DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKE WITHIN A CONE-SHAPED RADIUS TWO
TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE MAST. THEREFORE…THE MAST MUST BE PLACED
SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO PLACE ALL PARTS OF THE BOAT UNDER THIS
CONE-SHAPED ZONE OF PROTECTION. IN ADDITION…PORTABLE LIGHTNING
PROTECTION SYSTEMS EXIST. THESE CONSIST OF MASTS AS JUST
DESCRIBED…CONNECTED BY A FLEXIBLE COPPER CABLE TO A SUBMERGED
GROUND PLATE OF AT LEAST ONE SQUARE FOOT. THE MAST IS MOUNTED NEAR
THE BOW AND THE GROUND PLATE IS DROPPED OVERBOARD. THE CONNECTING
COPPER CABLE SHOULD BE FULLY EXTENDED AND STRAIGHT. THE BOATERS
SHOULD STAY LOW IN THE MIDDLE OR AFT PORTION OF THE BOAT.
SOME OF THE PRECEDING MESSAGE WAS EXCERPTED FROM A PAPER WRITTEN BY
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH.
$$
MCJ
NOUS41 KBOX 251239
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
840 AM EDT WED JUN 25 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART THREE – THE SCIENCE OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE…
AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THERE ARE 1800 THUNDERSTORMS IN PROGRESS
SOMEWHERE ON THE EARTH…WHICH AMOUNTS TO 16 MILLION THUNDERSTORMS
EACH YEAR! LIGHTNING RESEARCHERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TODAY
OF THE PROCESS THAT PRODUCES LIGHTNING…BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH TO
LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE OF SOLAR FLARES IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE…THE
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD OF THE EARTH…AND ICE IN STORMS. WE KNOW THE
CLOUD CONDITIONS NEEDED TO PRODUCE LIGHTNING BUT CANNOT FORECAST THE
LOCATION OR TIME OF THE NEXT STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
LIGHTNING OCCURS IN VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS…INTENSE FOREST FIRES…
SURFACE NUCLEAR DETONATIONS…HEAVY SNOWSTORMS…AND LARGE
HURRICANES…BUT IT IS MOST OFTEN SEEN IN THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS FORM IN AIR THAT IS MOIST…UNSTABLE…AND HAS A
TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THE AIR TO RISE…SUCH AS A COLD FRONT. RISING
MOTIONS IN THE STORM BUILD THE CLOUD TO AS HIGH AS 6 TO 10 MILES
ABOVE SEA LEVEL. ICE FORMS IN THE HIGHER PARTS OF THE CLOUD.
THE ICE PARTICLES VARY FROM SMALL ICE CRYSTALS TO LARGE HAILSTONES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COLLISIONS BETWEEN THE PARTICLES WHICH CAUSES A
SEPARATION OF ELECTRICAL CHARGES. POSITIVELY CHARGED ICE CRYSTALS
RISE TO THE TOP OF THE STORM AND NEGATIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES AND
HAILSTONES DROP TO THE MIDDLE AND LOWER PARTS OF THE STORM.
ENORMOUS CHARGE DIFFERENCES DEVELOP.
A MOVING THUNDERSTORM GATHERS ANOTHER POOL OF POSITIVELY CHARGED
PARTICLES ALONG THE GROUND THAT TRAVEL WITH THE STORM. POSITIVELY
CHARGED PARTICLES RISE UP TALLER OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES…HOUSES…
AND TELEPHONE POLES. THE PARTICLES CAN EVEN MOVE UP YOU…HAVE YOU
EVER BEEN UNDER A THUNDERSTORM AND HAD YOUR HAIR STAND UP? IF SO…
YOU MAY BE THE LIGHTNING TARGET.
THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA IN THE STORM SENDS OUT A CHARGE TOWARD
THE GROUND CALLED A STEPPED LEADER. IT IS INVISIBLE TO THE HUMAN
EYE. WHEN IT GETS CLOSE TO THE GROUND…IT IS ATTRACTED BY ALL OF
THESE POSITIVELY CHARGED OBJECTS AND A CHANNEL DEVELOPS. YOU SEE
THE ELECTRICAL TRANSFER IN THIS CHANNEL AS LIGHTNING. THERE MAY BE
SEVERAL RETURN STROKES OF ELECTRICITY WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED CHANNEL
THAT YOU WILL SEE AS FLICKERING LIGHTNING. THE LIGHTNING CHANNEL
HEATS RAPIDLY TO 30,000 OR MORE AND THE RAPID EXPANSION OF HEATED
AIR CAUSES THE THUNDER. SINCE LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN SOUND IN
THE ATMOSPHERE…THE SOUND IS HEARD AFTER THE LIGHTNING. IF YOU SEE
LIGHTNING AND HEAR THUNDER AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME…THE LIGHTNING
IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
NOT ALL LIGHTNING FORMS IN THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA LOW IN THE
THUNDERSTORM CLOUD. SOME ORIGINATES IN THE CIRRUS ANVIL AT THE TOP
OF THE STORM WHERE THERE IS A LARGE POSITIVE CHARGE. A STRIKE
ORIGINATING IN THIS AREA IS CALLED A POSITIVE FLASH. IT IS
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL REASONS. IT FREQUENTLY STRIKES
AHEAD OF OR BEHIND A THUNDERSTORM…AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA…THUS
CATCHING PEOPLE BY SURPRISE…LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. POSITIVE
STRIKES TYPICALLY LAST LONGER…SO FIRES ARE MORE EASILY IGNITED.
ALSO…THEY USUALLY CARRY A HIGH PEAK ELECTRICAL CURRENT WHICH
INCREASES THE LIGHTNING RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
$$
FIELD
NOUS41 KBOX 261218
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1000 AM EDT THU JUN 26 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART FOUR – MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTNING…
THE UNITED STATES AVERAGES 73 REPORTED LIGHTNING DEATHS PER
YEAR…WHICH MAKES IT THE SECOND LARGEST STORM RELATED
KILLER…EXCEEDED ONLY BY FLASH FLOODS. A LIGHTNING STRIKE CAN
RESULT IN CARDIAC ARREST AT THE TIME OF THE INJURY…BUT SOME DEATHS
CAN OCCUR A FEW DAYS LATER IF THE PERSON IS RESUSCITATED BUT
SUFFERED IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE. BECAUSE THIS MAY OCCUR DAYS
LATER…THE NEWS STORY MAY NOT MAKE THE NEWSPAPER OR OTHER MEDIA
OUTLETS. THUS…THERE IS AN UNDER REPORTING OF INJURIES AND DEATHS
FROM LIGHTNING. THE FIGURES MORE REALISTICALLY ARE ABOUT 100 DEATHS
PER YEAR NATIONWIDE.
HOW DO LIGHTNING INJURIES AFFECT PEOPLE? LIGHTNING TENDS TO BE A
NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURY AND MAY AFFECT THE BRAIN AND BOTH AUTONOMIC
AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS. WHEN THE BRAIN IS AFFECTED…THE
PERSON OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY WITH SHORT-TERM MEMORY…MULTI-TASKING…
AND CAN BE IRRITABLE…EASILY DISTRACTED…AND HAVE A PERSONALITY
CHANGE. SURVIVORS INITIALLY MAY COMPLAIN OF INTENSE HEADACHES…
RINGING IN THE EARS…DIZZINESS…NAUSEA…VOMITING…OR OTHER
POST-CONCUSSION TYPES OF SYMPTOMS. IRREGULAR SLEEP PATTERNS MAY
OCCUR. SEIZURE-LIKE ACTIVITY MAY OCCUR WEEKS TO MONTHS AFTER THE
INJURY.
PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP AFTER THE INJURY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
EXPRESS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM AND MAY BECOME EMBARRASSED WHEN THEY
CANNOT CARRY ON A CONVERSATION. AS A RESULT THEY MAY ISOLATE
THEMSELVES AND BECOME EASY TO ANGER. DEPRESSION BECOMES A BIG
PROBLEM. SURVIVORS OFTEN BECOME EXHAUSTED AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS OF
WORK AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED JOB TASKS.
ANOTHER COMMON…OFTEN DELAYED…PROBLEM FOR SOME SURVIVORS IS
INTENSE PAIN. THE PAIN MAY NOT BE FROM HEADACHES BUT IN THE
BACK…PERHAPS FROM COMPRESSION AND DISC INJURY FROM THE INTENSE
MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS WHICH MAY THROW A PERSON SEVERAL YARDS AT THE
TIME OF THE INJURY. THE PAIN MAY ALSO OCCUR IN AN EXTREMITY…AS
NERVES BEGIN TO SLOWLY REGENERATE. DECREASED LIBIDO AND IMPOTENCE
OFTEN ARE REPORTED.
ANATOMIC TESTING…SUCH AS AN X-RAY…CT SCAN…MRI…OR BLOOD TEST
OFTEN SHOW UP AS NORMAL. SOMETIMES FUNCTIONAL TESTS ORDERED ARE
TESTING THE WRONG THING. AN ELECTROMYOGRAM…OR EMG…MEASURES ONLY
THE MOTOR FIBERS…WHICH ARE SELDOM AFFECTED BY LIGHTNING INJURY.
SMALLER PAIN CARRYING NERVE FIBERS ARE NOT TESTED BY EMG. THUS A
NORMAL EMG RESULT CAN MEAN LITTLE FOR SOMEONE WITH PAIN. LIKEWISE…
THE STANDARD EEG PRIMARILY MEASURES SURFACE READINGS OF THE BRAIN
AND MISSES SEIZURE ACTIVITY IN SEVERAL DEEPER REGIONS.
MORE USEFUL IS A FUNCTIONAL TEST OF HOW A PERSON/S BRAIN IS
WORKING…NEUROCOGNITIVE OR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. THESE TESTS
ARE ADMINISTERED BY A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST FAMILIAR WITH LITERATURE IN
THIS AREA…NOT BY A PSYCHIATRIST. THESE ARE PEN AND PAPER TESTS
LASTING 6 TO 8 HOURS AND TEST MEMORY…IQ…ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY…
ETC. LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS USUALLY HAVE A CHARACTERISTIC
PATTERN OF DEFICITS.
HELP DOES EXIST FOR LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS AND PHYSICIANS
ALIKE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB…GO TO WWW.LIGHTNING-STRIKE.ORG
OR CALL 1-910-346-4708.
$$
FIELD
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
The Massachusetts National Guard is drilling its communications capabilities in a rather unusual way this Field Day weekend: by utilizing ham radio! KB1IIF, the Massachusetts National Guard Amateur Radio Club, will be operating their first Field Day effort this weekend. The club, based in Milford, MA, will be setting up in their new Mobile Command Center at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod. Unfortunately, due to the heightened security level here in the U.S., there will not be any public access to the site. Jim Oliveto, WB1DSF is the Trustee of the club station and will be sending us photos of the event. Watch for a follow up story after Field Day. Best of Luck to this new group on their first Field Day!
It was 10:40PM on the Heavy Hitters Traffic Net. John W1ZNY (now a silent key) listed a
piece of traffic for Quincy. I had been checking into the Traffic Nets for about 2 weeks
and I finally built up the courage to take a piece of traffic.
I jumped in at the next listing of traffic and said, “N1LKJ for Quincy”. The Net Control
quickly replied, “N1LKJ for Quincy”. “W1ZNY please call N1LKJ and pass 1 Quincy
on frequency”. “Roger” came the reply from W1ZNY. “N1LKJ from W!ZNY are you
ready to copy”? “Yes” I replied “But go slow, its my first time”. “No problem” said
John. “Please copy message ” and he passed me the message at a copyable pace.
Shortly after that I was cleared from the Net. It was now about 10:45PM and I was very
proud of myself and quickly reached for the phone to deliver the traffic. After several
rings the phone was answered by a female voice, who the message was indented for.
I introduced my self and told her I had a message for her from Courage Handy Hams in
Golden Valley Minnisota. I then proceeded to give her the message. She thanked me for
the message and then said. “Please don’t deliver me any more messages after 10 o’clock
because I am a handicapped person, confined to a wheelchair and dependent on others
to put me into bed”. My stomach fell to my feet and I profusely apologized to her.
She quickly accepeted my apology. I told her it was my first piece of traffic I ever delivered
and after that she asked me questions about Ham Radio and we talked for a few minutes.
Needless to say I learned a very important lesson. I never delivered another piece of traffic
after 9:00PM, except of course if it was emergency traffic or Mars Traffic.
The women became a regular user of the NTS, for sending out greetings to friends and
relatives all over the country. Sadly she passed away a few years ago, but I will never
forget that first piece of traffic.
Jim Ward N1LKJ STM-EMA
TO CEMARC cc BARC-LIST and SKYWARN Coords — [from N1VUX EMa FD Coordination Editor and SKYWARN NCS]
Current forecast (see statement below) looks like coming the heat-wave *should* break before Field Day, with only chance of showers and warm-spring… but timing is always the problem. If this heat-wave slips/stalls, Field Day could be grueling. Keep an eye to the forecasts.
Note that all Field Day encampments should monitor their SKYWARN repeater as well as NOAA Weather Radio (alert mode) and an AM radio set to a dead channel(as a lightning early-warning alarm).
— Bill N1VUXSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
National Weather Service Taunton MA
908 PM EDT Mon Jun 23 2003
www.nws.noaa.gov/er/box/fcsts/BOSSPSBOX.html
A 3 to 4 day heat wave is expected for the Connecticut River Valley and parts of Southern New Hampshire Eastern Massachusetts and interior Rhode Island this week.
The first 90 degree heat of the year will occur across most of Southern New England by 2 PM Thursday.
The heat wave will probably reach its most intense stage Thursday afternoon with temperatures well up in the 90S and heat indices projecting to reach near 105 degrees for an hour 2 away from the coast.
Temperatures will be just shy of the near 100 degree records for June 26th, nevertheless Hartford, Springfield and Nashua may reach 97 before this week is out.
The heat wave will probably begin Tuesday afternoon in Hartford, Springfield and also in Manchester and Nashua New Hampshire, lasting through Friday there.
Three day heat waves are probable for parts of Eastern Massachusetts and interior northwest Rhode Island beginning Wednesday.
Be prepared for a huge change in weather conditions.
Air conditioned facilities should be used late each morning through the evening hours, drink plenty of non alcoholic beverages and eat small meals, dont lock pets or animals in parked cars with windows rolled up, and check on your elderly neighbors, especially those who may not have air conditioning.
Frank Murphy, N1DHW writes on CEMARC list:
Mark your HF future event calendar for the “Museum Ships Weekend” commencing July 19th 0001Z thru 23:59 Z July 21st. Operating modes, and bands, will vary by ship, but all will operate SSB and CW. This will be a QSL card, special certificate event.
Here’s an event that honors the service of both military and merchant vessels that have been preserved as Museum Ships around the world. Here in the Northeast U.S., we’re fortunate to have at least four ships that will be on the air for the event weekend. In fact there are 57 registered participant Museum ships thus far, with more expected to join before the event.
This years event is sponsored by the USS Cassin Young radio group, callsign “WW2DD”. The ship is berthed in Charlestown Navy Yard, directly across from Old Iron Side, and is open to public tours thru the National Park Service. (click on NPS link on ships page below)
For more information, visit: http://www.qsl.net/ww2dd/event.html
If you haven’t worked “Museum Ship’s Weekend” before, be aware it’s more of a challenge than you think to get all the ships. But great fun. Give it a try.
These local ships would also be a great club visit event.
The 2003 EMa Field Day page is now up and running at http://ema.arrl.org/fd/. 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!
The 2003 EMA Field Day page is now up and running at http://ema.arrl.org/fd/. 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!
From the ARRL:
When the five new 60-meter channels become available to US Amateur Radio operators at midnight (12 AM) local time on July 3, the rules will impose a new record-keeping requirement for hams. The requirement applies only to those using something other than a simple half-wave dipole on the 5 MHz allocation.
According to Part 97.303(s), a half-wave dipole on the 5 MHz allocation will be presumed to have a gain of 0 dBd. ”Licensees using other antennas must maintain in their station records either manufacturer data on the antenna gain or calculations of the antenna gain,” states the newest addition to the FCC’s Amateur Service rules.
Because the new rules also require hams to run no more than 50 W effective radiated power (ERP) on the new channels, the choice of antenna becomes an important compliance factor. The FCC rules stipulate, ”For the purpose of computing ERP, the transmitter PEP will be multiplied (by) the antenna gain relative to a dipole or the equivalent calculation in decibels.”
ARRL has posted a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ)concerning 5 MHz operation on the ARRL Web site, www.arrl.org/fandes/field/regulations/faq.html#sixty .
***** Update on EMa ARES website *****
I’m pleased to report that our website is back on line as of sometime yesterday afternoon. I have worked on it since then and it working properly.Apparently, our site suffered a brutal attack as part of a larger denial of service scheme, which is all too prevalent in today’s environment. Our website host, Phil Temples, worked very hard on the problem yesterday to excise the demons from the server.
He is advising, however, that more permanent fixes need to be affected to the system which may require some periodic downtime in the next week or so. Please remain patient while he completes this hardening process. In the meantime, if you encounter an outage, please return a little later. If you need anything quickly, contact me by return email and I will accommodate you. I have copies of most pages ready to go.
This note applies to our section site ema.arrl.org and the nts.ema.arrl.org as well.
I apologize for any inconveniences. 73,
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN, EMa SEC
978.562.5662 Voice
978.389.0558 FAX/Secondary Voice
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
N1XRS wrote on semara-ares:
The ARC New Bedford Area Office announced upcoming disaster training opportunities in Wareham and New Bedford:
WAREHAM (Church in the Pines)
July 12:
9-12 Introduction to Disaster
1-4 Mass Care
July 19:
9-12 Shelter Operations
1-4 Damage Assessment
NEW BEDFORD (ARC Office)
July 26:
9-12 Introduction to Disaster
1-4 Mass Care
Aug. 2:
9-12 Shelter Operations
1-4 Damage Assessment
Note: Intro to Disaster is a prerequisite for all other ARC disaster courses.
If anyone would like to take these classes please let me know. I will also post these dates at the club. I will be attending the Wareham trainings.
Antone D Duarte Jr N1XRS
Assistant Coordinator
SEMARA ARES Team
tdduarte@attbi.com
I am pleased to announce that Governor Mitt Romney has declared June 28, 2003 “Amateur Radio Day” in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Governor Romney granted the proclamation today, in recognition of the more than 13,000 Massachusetts “Communications Volunteers” that give of their time and expertise in disaster situations and during public service events, statewide. Phil Temples – K9HI, asked that we request this proclamation of the Governor to coincide with Field Day 2003, our annual emergency preparedness exercise. [Please see picture of EMa leadership and State RACES Radio Officer accepting proclamation at the EMa Section Website.
I’d like to thank Phil for his encouragement and advice, Mike Neilsen – W1MPN for his input and data, Shawn O’Donnell – K3HI for his experience with Government Relations and Tom Kinahan – N1CPE forproviding a means to get the information into the Governor’s Office. We’d also like to sincerely thank Peter Judge, M.E.M.A. Public Information Officer, for delivering the request and press releases to the State House and Senator Cheryl Jacques for helping to push this proclamation through the proper channels. Congratulations to all those Massachusetts “Hams” that have worked very hard to give us the reputation that made this proclamation a reality. Enjoy your Field Day with a deserved sense of accomplishment!
Thanks and 73,
Jim Duarte – N1IV
ARRL Public Information Coordinator
Eastern Mass Section
K1TW wrote via bars-list:
WBUR Boston, 90.9 MHz, plans an hour on their program called “The Connection” devoted to Ham Radio at 11 AM EDT, Thursday June 12, 2003. It will be repeated at 10 PM. If you aren’t in range of the signal, you can listen live on RealAudio by going to their web site, http://www.wbur.org.
Lots of NPR stations around the country also carry this program. You can check the list at http://www.theconnection.org/stations/.
If you miss the program, it is archived so you can still hear it. Following the broadcast you can the archives at http://www.theconnection.org/shows/.
Finally, here is the description of the program from the WBUR web site:
Tuning in to the World
Host: Richard Gordon
Far-flung frequencies. Long before the Internet brought the global village home, ham radio connected counties, and continents. Why digital age hams still thrill to a ride on radio’s bandwidth.
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This is going to be fun,
7e,
Tom K1TW
June 11, 2003 – Boston, MA – Governor Mitt Romney issued a proclamation declaring June 28, 2003, “Amateur Radio Day” this morning. The Governor made this proclamation in recognition of the more than 13,000 amateur radio operators in the Commonwealth. These volunteers play a valuable role in Emergency Communications, National Weather Service “Severe Weather” spotting and Public Service in the Commonwealth. They are involved with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, several Massachusetts branches of the American Red Cross and other important served agencies.
Phil Temples – K9HI, ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager, charged his newly appointed Public Information Coordinator with the task of requesting this of the Governor. Jim Duarte – N1IV, in conjunction with Shawn O’Donnell – K3HI, the ARRL State Government Liaison and Tom Kinahan – N1CPE, Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer, petitioned the Governor with a letter and several press releases. The press releases outlined amateur radio involvement in many recent disaster situations, severe weather incidents and public service events including the Boston Marathon. Tom, with the help of Peter Judge, MEMA Public Information Officer, delivered the package of information to the Governor’s Office. Mike Neilsen – W1MPN and Rob Macedo – KD1CY wrote press releases regarding specific recent involvement within our state.
Congratulations to all those Massachusetts “Hams” that have worked very hard to give us the reputation that made this proclamation a reality. Enjoy your Field Day with a deserved sense of accomplishment! We’d like to invite all the clubs in Massachusetts to celebrate this Proclamation and get the word out to the public about Amateur Radio. All our affiliated clubs are welcome to use the information in their Field Day press releases and any other PR efforts.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Governor Romney and his staff for generating this proclamation and Senator Cheryl Jacques for assisting with getting the paperwork pushed through. We know that there are more than 13,000 amateur radio volunteers in this state and we’re certain they appreciate the recognition you’ve shown them. We would also like to thank Tom Kinahan and Peter Judge for their spirit of cooperation in assisting the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section staff with this very worthwhile project.
Jim Ward, N1LKJ wrote:
The NTS Training Session conducted by Mark, W2EAG was completed the end of May. The 13 week course met once each week. Those who completed the course were: Bill Mcinerney, N1KBV of Bourne; Ed Maccaferri, KB1ERV of Plymouth; John Mahon, N1PYN of Brockton; Kenton Bradshaw, KB1ESG of Falmouth; Andrew Bullington, W1AWB of Siaconset; George Allen, N1NBQ of Nantucket; John Dehahy, Jr., W1ABS of Centerville; Kenneth Pereault, N1KP of Swansea.
We congratulate all who completed the course. We also wish to commend their instructor, Mark Rappaport, W2EAG for the great job he did in presenting the course. All stations who completed the course received a Certificate of Achievement from Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ.
Everyone can anticipate another class in the Boston area sometime in the fall.
-Jim Ward N1LKJ, STM-EMA
The May, 2003 section traffic totals have been posted to http://nts.ema.arrl.org by Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ. Congrats to W1GMF, KW1U and N1IQI for their stellar station activity report totals in May.
The Town of Plainville, MA will be operating from their Emergency Operations Center during Field Day 2003.
According to SMHARC PR Manager, Jim Duarte – N1IV, the Field Day station will sign WC1PLV under the leadership of Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC’s Bruce Bumpus, N1OFC, Plainville EMA Director. Bruce will be assisted by Rick Myers, KB1FLR and a few members of the Sturdy club.
The WC1PLV operation will be on the air from 2:00 pm Saturday until around 7:30 pm, then again on Sunday from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.
Duarte noted that SMHARC will also conduct its traditional Field Day effort as W1SMH in North Attleboro, MA.
From: Tom Frenaye, K1KI, ARRL New England Division Director
To: New England Division Section Managers, Assistant Directors, Advisory Committee members, and Affiliated Club Presidents
I’d like to invite you to an ARRL New England Division Cabinet meeting on Sunday, July 13, 2003 in Portsmouth NH. We usually have 30-35 people from all ends of New England – this will be an opportunity for you to provide direct input to the ARRL on policy issues. The meeting will run from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM, with a break for lunch at noon – and as in the past we’re asking for your contribution of $15 to help cover part of the cost for the room, snacks and for lunch.
There is an ARRL Board meeting scheduled for July 17-18 (and starting a strategic planning review on July 16th) – this will give us a chance to talk about issues you think the Board should be working on. What would you like to see on the agenda for our meeting?
By meeting time we will know what the results are from the ITU’s WRC-2003 conference maybe we’ll have good news about the 40-meter band. Other “hot” topics as this is written include the FCC’s continuing effort to add unlicensed (Part 15, UltraWideBand, WiFi, Power Line Communications) devices to spectrum used by licensed services in a way that will likely cause interference problems to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services.
The meeting will be at the Comfort Inn Yokens (800-552-8484) at 1390 Lafayette Road (Route 1) in Portsmouth NH. Take Interstate 95 to Portsmouth and at exit 5 follow the signs for Route 1 Bypass South — the Comfort Inn – Yoken’s Conference Center is about two miles to the south on the right side.
Please let me know by July 8th (earlier is better!) if you will be coming so we can plan for a big enough room and enough food. Both Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, and I are looking forward to seeing you there!
Very 73!
— Tom
Last month’s Wellesley ARS meeting featured a highly informative presentation by Gary Schwartz, N1ZCE about the Global Positioning System, or GPS and its many applications for general and Amateur Radio use. Schwartz described how the constellation of satellites can pinpoint objects and is used in boating, automotive travel, hiking, and outdoor activities. He also explained how Amateur Radio can be ehanced by GPS as part of packet radio (APRS) emergency response, search and rescue, and public service events. —Wellesley ARS The Sparkgap
The Algonquin ARC station, N1EM will be on the air during Field Day from the Marlborough Emergency Operations Center at the Central First Station at 215 Maple Street (Route 85), according to KD1QS and KV1J.
“This will be a joint Algonquin Amateur Radio Club and Marlborough EMA activity highlighting the cooperative relationship between the two groups,” said Eric Williams, KV1J. He added, “Our goal is to increase awareness and to give area hams and hams-to-be a chance to get on the air.
The club will operate Field Day as a one-day event. Setup begins at 10:00 am Saturday; the station will operate from 2:00 pm until about 6:00 pm in the classroom at the Fire Station where the EOC is located.
—QRZ newsletter