KG1U: “Radio Programming” at Genesis ARS Meeting, Plymouth, January 31, 2024

Michael Bennett, KG1U, writes on the GARS Now mailing list:
 
[The Genesis Amateur Radio Society] will hold its next meeting Wednesday, January 31 at 7 PM at the Plymouth Airport in the Admin Bldg. We hope to see you there. Short business meeting then a discussion on radio programming. I will help program radios if I have the cable and software.

73 for now,

Mike
KG1U

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Exercise – Operation Snow Globe Document – Saturday 2/3/24 1000 AM-1200 PM

Hello to all…

Please see the exercise document for the Saturday 2/3/24 1000 AM-1200 PM Eastern Massachusetts ARES Exercise – Operation: Snow Globe. This includes all frequency information and activities for the drill. Please note that this document will be updated once more with final changes and updates to the exercise document. Link to the exercise document is listed below:

https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EasternMA-ARES-Winter-Exercise-01-25-24-Draft-V1.4-1.pdf

While this is an ARES exercise based in Eastern Massachusetts, the exercise is open to all who would like to participate and you need not be a member of ARES or living in Eastern Massachusetts to participate. Many thanks for all those that participate.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
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Wellesley ARS Winter Field Day, January 27, 2024

Dan Brown, W1DAN, writes:

[The Wellesley Amateur Radio Society] will participate in Winter Field Day on Saturday, January 27. The club will operate from Elm Bank Reservation in Natick, in the first large parking lot on the left at the top of the hill.

Set up will begin at 1:00 P.M. Field Day starts at 2:00 P.M. The park closes at sunset. Teardown will be at 4:00 P.M. so we can be out of the park by 4:30 P.M.

https://www.mass.gov/locations/elm-bank-reservation

The Talk-In frequency, will be 146.58 simplex. This frequency will be monitored from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M, on an HT with a 1-2 mile range from the park.

If we need to make any last minute announcements, we will make them on the 147.03 repeater.

  • One or more HF antennas will be available for use.
  • A 12V 40 Ah battery with power-poles will be available for power.
  • Bill, N1WEN, has offered to bring an easy-up shelter with side panels.

If you would like to participate, just show up!

You may bring your own radio(s), coax, antennas, table and chairs. There is a large field nearby for erecting antennas. You are welcome to bring an additional pop-up shelter.

The club call, W1TKZ, will be used for the event. We will operate in the 2 transmitter Outdoor class. We would like to ask all participants to use the club call, W1TKZ, while operating from Elm Bank from 2 to 4 P.M. on Saturday.

All amateur bands, except the WARC bands, may be used, so bring your 2M radios, too.

This will be an outside event, so dress for the weather. I recommend warm boots, wool socks, long underwear, wool hat, heavy jacket, mittens and gloves. If there is precipitation (rain or snow) a waterproof layer will help keep you dry.

Just a reminder, if you operate during the club event using the club call W1TKZ, you are still eligible to operate during the contest from home or another site, under your own call, for the remainder of Winter Field Day.

If you participate in the W1TKZ Field Day you are not allowed to contact W1TKZ. But this should not be a problem since W1TKZ will only be set up for 2 hours on Saturday.

https://winterfieldday.org/

   -Leandra, AF1R

Massachusetts – Rhode Island STM Report for December 2023

The Section Traffic Manager’s report for December 2023 can be found at https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-rhode-island-stm-report-for-december-2023-2/ .  Note a recap of 2023 stats and events, NTS participation in February 3 section SET, traffic tip on service messages and spotlight on KC1KVY.

(Note page 2 of report can be found by placing curser over bottom of the page and clicking on page 2)

K9HI: “Project ASCEND” at New England Mentoring, Ham Development and Youth Outreach Group, January 22, 2024

Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB, writes on the New England Mentoring, Ham Development and Youth Outreach Group list:

We will hold the next meeting of the New England Mentoring, Ham Development, and Youth Outreach Group on Monday, January 22nd at 7:00 pm EST.

Agenda:

  • Project ASCEND – Phil Temples, K9HI – ASCEND, is a program that will provide the needed mentoring and connection with the active ham community to reach newly licensed or lapsed Technician class amateurs. It is a collaborative effort with the Northeast HamXposition and interested radio clubs and individuals.
  • Roundtable discussion – What are your plans for Mentoring in 2024

<…> 

Hope to see you there!

73,

Anita, AB1QB
New England Division Assistant Director for Mentoring, Ham Development, and Youth Outreach

[Zoom URL is available by joining ne-ham-dev, or email k9hi@arrl.org.]

Tom Walsh, K1TW, to be Honored at New England Sci-Tech in Natick, January 27, 2024

Tom Walsh, K1TWFormer Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Tom Walsh, K1TW, will be honored at an awards ceremony at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick, Massachusetts, on Saturday, January 27, 2024 shortly after 12 noon.   The public is invited.

A four-term Section Manager, Tom was elected to the position in January, 2015, succeeding Phil Temples, K9HI.  He currently serves as an Assistant Section Manager.  Tom wrote regular section news columns, successfully grew the local field organization, and brightened many a club meeting and field day event with his cheerful presence and demeanor.

New England Division Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, will award a plaque on behalf of  Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC. Current Section Manager Jon McCombie, N1ILZ, is expected to attend. 

“I’m proud to honor my colleague and best friend to commemorate a long and successful run as a leader in the amateur radio community,” said Phil Temples, K9HI. “More than anyone, I can appreciate the time and effort Tom invested in doing the job right.”

The award is but one of several activities planned that day at New England Sci Tech, the popular STEM / Maker space organization.   Also on the schedule will be public tours, maker activities, a “yard sale,” a StratoScience Workshop, and a Planetarium Show.  Guest Speaker Joe Barnard, a popular YouTuber and a founder of BPS.space, which develops model rocketry components aimed at closely matching the pace of advancement in the space-launch industry, will be a special guest in a Zoom talk that afternoon.

New England Sci-Tech’s amateur radio club, STARS, will set up an outdoor station and compete in the national Winter Field Day (WFD) event.  Marv Turner, WØMET, President of the Winter Field Day Association, is expected to attend the festivities at New England Sci-Tech and observe the WFD operation.

For additional information and a complete schedule of events, visit <https://nescitech.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=508616&module_id=658508>.

PART CW Training and Kit Purchase

PART of Westford logoPART of Westford President George Allison, K1IG, writes:

The Police Amateur Radio Team (PART) of Westford, MA, is getting ready for Field Day (only five months away!), and one of the things we’re doing is CW training. We’ll be running a course for CW newbies (probably using the CWOps curriculum), and our members show a lot of interest in learning.

We’ve also made a bulk purchase of Morserino kits for our members. If you haven’t seen a Morserino, it’s quite a gadget, incorporating a keyer, display, code reader, touch paddles, speaker, CW trainer, and LoRa transceiver. It’s about the easiest kit you’ll ever build; one hour is all it took me, and it worked the first time!

If bought individually through the Morserino website, these keyers are about $100 with free shipping (very slow, through the post office with no tracking), or about $130 with DHL shipping (about 5 days from Austria, with tracking). Since we ordered 20 kits, Morserino gave us a bulk discount, so the kits, with DHL shipping, cost $94 each. Shipping in bulk accounted for much of the savings: shipping one kit via DHL is $30, shipping 20 kits was $72. PART has a kit-building fund that subsidized some of the cost, so we offered the kits to members for $50 each, and they quickly sold. 

Other clubs may want to make a bulk purchase. It takes at least 14 to get a discount, and I found that corresponding directly with the head of Morserino (info@morserino.info) about a bulk purchase is more effective than ordering through the website. If one club can’t get enough orders, perhaps several clubs can get together.

I was surprised by the interest in CW, especially among the newer hams and the “no-code Extras,” and I’m looking forward to fights in the Field Day CW tent for operating time!

Volunteer Registration for the 2024 Boston Marathon is Underway

We are about two-thirds of the way to our goal for Amateur Radio volunteers for the 2024 Boston Marathon. The registration deadline is Friday, February 2, 2024. It is a hard deadline. We’d like to make sure we achieve our goal and have reserves for the myriad of cancellations that we get as we near the event. We prefer folks to register now even if they are unsure they can do the event and if they can’t make it, they cancel within a reasonable period of time versus not registering because they aren’t sure if they can volunteer as after the deadline, we usually can’t accommodate any new registrants per BAA policy. The details on volunteer registration is listed below between the hashtags and please post these details as is to your various email lists (for any credit cited on the email, please credit the Boston Marathon BAA Amateur Radio Communications Committee):
 
###
 

Volunteer registration for the 2024 Boston Marathon is open. Returning volunteers have received an email from the BAA that included registration instructions. In order to make registration as smooth as possible, we are providing specific instructions for our Amateur Radio Operator (ARO) volunteers.

If you haven’t previously volunteered, or have a friend who would like to volunteer, please go directly to the Volunteer Registration page and follow the instructions for new volunteers.
 
Step by Step Sign Up Guide:
https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002497536-2024-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide

A few notes for volunteers:

Almost all amateur radio positions are single person assignments. We are not able to group people on a single assignment, but we will try to accommodate which segment you are assigned to in order to allow for similar start/end times.

Don’t delay! Volunteer registration closes on Friday, February 2 at 5:00 PM EST. It would help our planning processes if you could complete your registration by Friday, January 26.

Help us get the word out by forwarding this email to your club and other amateur radio operators who might wish to volunteer. Most volunteers first learn about the event through word of mouth. If you know new licensees who might like to join us, please make sure to let them know about it. Even just a quick mention at your club meeting can be a big help!

If you have any questions about the upcoming volunteer registration period, or the 2024 Marathon generally, please get in touch anytime. Volunteering at the Marathon is a big job and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts into it. We’re happy to do what we can to make your work fun, comfortable, and effective.

We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Thank you, and 73,

Boston Marathon Communications Committee
contact@HamRadioBoston.org

W1DYJ: “A 10m FM Antenna to Fit into My Attic” at the Minuteman Repeater Association Hybrid Meeting, January 17, 2024

MMRA logoThe Minuteman Repeater Association (MMRA) will hold its membership meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at New England Sci-Tech in Natick from 7:30—9:30 pm. Larry Banks, W1DYJ, will present “A 10m FM Antenna to fit into my Attic.”

This is a hybrid meeting:

Members: log into your account on MMRA.ORG to obtain the ZOOM info.
Non-members: send an email to contact@mmra.org to request the ZOOM info.

“In my role as the MMRA TIaOS Net Manager, I should be able to monitor all of our repeaters. I didn’t have 10m FM capability. 

“I have a homebrew 6m FM ground plane in my attic to monitor the MMRA 6m repeater. I decided to put a 10m FM antenna in my attic without adding another coax run. The attic height is ~5’ and a 10m ground plane is at least 8’ tall with ~16’ diameter radials, so I had to shorten both the height and the length of the radials.

“And how do I feed it in parallel with the 6m GP? This gave me an opportunity to learn about using coax as a matching network. This is the story.”

__
Larry was licensed in 1962 as novice KN1VFX and became W1DYJ in 1966. From 1969 to 1985 he was an engineer and project manager for Hewlett-Packard Medical R&D in Waltham and Andover MA, involved in developing diagnostic cardiac equipment. In 1985 he was asked to organized the cardiac R&D lab’s CAD environment and the SW Testing and Quality group, along with managing the Printed Circuit Layout group, the technical library, ongoing technical education, and ISO9001 as the R&D Section Manager for “R&D Process Improvement.” In 1993 he moved to HP Medical Education to be responsible for technical and project management training. When Agilent split out of HP in 1995, he became AgilenTechnology’s global program manager for their Learning Management System. He “retired” in 2005 and then consulted for Avago Technologies (now Broadcom) on eLearning technologies through 2012.

Larry holds three degrees in EE from MIT. He spends his time chasing DX and contesting in Woburn, traveling with his wife Maren and attending as many jazz and classical concerts as they can. He is the net manager and newsletter editor for the MMRA, publications editor for HamXposition, a member of the YCCC, and a member of the Merrymeeting ARA in mid-coast Maine where they used to have a second home in Harpswell.

Reminder: Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net – Monday January 8th, 2024 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater System

Hello to all…

Happy New Year to all! The January Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday January 8th, 2024 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. It is on the second Monday of the month due to the New Year’s holiday last Monday.

For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:
https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. We will have a number of announcements and items for this month’s net and we will continue the NTS practice message that we started doing in these nets in October 2023.

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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KC1TSA Fox Deployed, Allston-Brighton Neighborhood of Boston, January 7, 2024

The KC1TSA fox is now deployed.

Image of KC1TSA fox

Frequency: 446.025 MHz

Location: Lower Allston/Brighton Neighborhood
the area shaded red on the map

Map of KC1TSA foxhunt area

Transmission Schedule: Every 30 seconds Sunday (1/7) from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Disclaimer: The fox is NOT on private/residential, church, or school property. Looking in these places is not endorsed and discouraged. 
                     Further, I am not providing a starting location where the signal can be heard, but I will say that the fox is operating on pretty high power (UV5R Based), and
                     driving around the area or walking to high places should get you to the signal. 

Beginners: text me for additional hints, such as the best parking place or if you wish to borrow a directional antenna.

Happy New Year,

Chris, KC1TSA
617-378-2354 (text preferred)
christopher.laros001@umb.edu

Mass Rhode Island Phone Net expands to include Sunday sessions

According to Net Manager Ralph Devlin, N1LAH, effective Sunday January 7, 2024 the Massachusetts Rhode Island Phone Net will be adding  Sunday sessions to its regular weekly schedule. Look for the net daily at 1700 local time on 3978, +/- due to interference.  This net serves the three sections of East Mass, West Mass and Rhode Island with outlets to anywhere message traffic is legally permitted. All amateurs are welcome.

Navy Sea Cadets Navigate the Waves of Knowledge at Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association

Brandon Hockle, NQ1W, writes:

Amateur radio enthusiasts at Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association (CAARA) opened their refurbished training space in Gloucester to a group of eager Navy Sea Cadets. This event, made possible by CAARA (an Eastern MA Special Service Club operating since 1977 ) and a grant from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), aimed to provide the Sea Cadets with comprehensive education for their Technician Class amateur radio license.

Navy Sea Cadets are young men and women aged 10 through the end of high school who train in a disciplined environment and advance through ranks that mirror the Navy and Merchant Marines. They participate in a wide variety of training opportunities to introduce them to the maritime services and a variety of career fields. 

CAARA has a long-standing relationship with the Sea Cadet program in Gloucester, and was ready to provide a day of hands-on experience in its new education center. The space, reimagined and modernized thanks to the ARRL grant, provided an optimal environment for this large group’s session.

On December 3rd, 2023, the training room buzzed with excitement as nearly two dozen Sea Cadets, donned in their uniforms, arrived ready to delve into the world of ham radio. The training covered essential topics, including radio operation, regulations, and practical skills necessary for obtaining their Technician Class licenses.

Paul Krueger N1JDH, a seasoned ham radio operator and instructor, led the Sea Cadets through the intricacies of radio communication. His wealth of knowledge and passion for amateur radio were evident as he engaged the cadets in a dynamic learning experience.

The refurbished training space, a result of the ARRL grant, offered modern amenities and up-to-date equipment, enhancing the learning experience for both the Sea Cadets and CAARA members. The collaboration between the ARRL and CAARA showcased the dedication to fostering education and community within the amateur radio sphere.

Throughout the day, Sea Cadets had the opportunity to practice their new skills under the guidance of experienced CAARA members. The camaraderie and mentorship displayed during the event reflected the heart of the amateur radio community – sharing knowledge and fostering the next generation of radio enthusiasts.

As the event concluded, the Sea Cadets left with not only a deeper understanding of amateur radio but also a sense of accomplishment. The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association, supported by the ARRL grant, succeeded in creating a vibrant space for learning and collaboration, ensuring the continued growth of amateur radio in the community.

The success of this training session highlights the positive impact that collaboration between organizations like the ARRL and local radio clubs can have on fostering education and enthusiasm for amateur radio. The waves of knowledge continue to ripple through CAARA, leaving a lasting impact on the Sea Cadets and the amateur radio community at large. 

Photo of Sea Cadets at Cape Ann ARA

Massachusetts RACES Nets – Monday 1/8/24 for HF, Region 2D VHF, NBEMS & Winlink – Times and Details Below

Don Rolph, AB1PH, Walpole area ARES Emergency Coordinator writes:

The MEMA RACES nets are held on the first Monday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, when it is delayed one week, since Monday Jan 1 was a holiday, the RACES nets for Jan will be held on Mon Jan 8 at:

********************************************************************************

The HF net will start at 6:45 PM ET: using the following frequency plan:
We will start at 3930 KHz moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency,
Marc Stern WA1R will be net control.

*********************************************************************************

Region 2D VHF net:
7:30 PM ET VHF net on 146.865 MHz PL 103.5 (Sharon Repeater)
We will have a general call up of any RACES, ARES, or other interested stations. If there is time, we will have a simplex test.
Jeff Marden N1JCM will be net control.

********************************************************************************

HF 80 meters NBEMS net:
7:00 PM ET
Dial Frequency: 3584.5 MHx
Center Frequency: 1500 Hz
Initial mode: THOR22

We will have checkins, followed by an ICS-213 format message using FLMSG.
Alan Richard WA1AR will be net control.

*********************************************************************************

Winlink Net:
Bryan Marcotte KF1D will be. net control.
Send a winlink checkin form to KF1D, copy AB1PH, between 0600 Monday Jan 8 and 2400 Monday Jan 8.

We look forward to you checking in!

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph

Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net (EMHN) – Saturday 1/6/24 1000 AM

John O’Neill-K1JRO, Eastern Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator – Hospital Liaison writes:

Good Evening,

On Saturday January 6, 2024, the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM.

We realize that some locations, individuals, and groups may be subject to COVID restrictions. We encourage everyone who is affected by these restrictions to utilize their home or mobile stations to check into the net if possible. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can.

We will use the following repeaters in the order listed.
1. Plymouth​ 146.685 tone 131.8
2. Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
3. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, Hingham 146.430 -1.5M CC:1, Sagamore 145.200 – 0.6M CC;10, Dennis 146.470 -1.5M CC:11, East. Falmouth 145.210 -0.600 CC:9, Martha’s Vineyard145.180 -0.600 CC:10, and Walpole 145.380 -0.600 CC:12.
4. Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5

Return to the Plymouth Repeater for Net closing.

NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check-in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give your or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.

We extend an invitation to any health care facility, EOC of any city or town as well as RACES or ARES members to check in during the NET.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand at Net Control please let us know. We can be reached by sending an email to ssharg@outlook.com or replying to this message. The goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many individuals and groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct these monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event.

We hope to hear you Saturday.

73,John O’ K1JRO and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH

Eastern MA Individual, Club VOTA Competition

Volunteer On The Air logoEastern MA Section Manager Jon McCombie, N1ILZ, writes on the ARRL Members list:

First and foremost, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season and you’re enjoying a productive New Year 2024!

And I hope everyone in the Section had a good time with the ARRL Volunteers On The Air (VOTA) program in 2023, making lots of QSOs and racking up lots of VOTA points! Now that the event is ended, it’s time to wrap up and name the award winning individual and club.

If you haven’t already, upload all your QSOs to LoTW. The one Eastern MA ARRL member with the highest VOTA point total (per the VOTA Leaderboard, https://vota.arrl.org/leaderboard.php?state=MA&submit=Filter+by+State) will receive a softcover copy the of the ARRL-100 Antenna Book, compliments of ARRL. On Jan 10, 2024, I will award the Antenna Book to the EMA-Section ARRL member who has the highest VOTA point total per the VOTA Leaderboard.

The one EMA ARRL-Affiliated club with the highest combined VOTA point total will receive the 6-volume ARRL-100 Handbook, to do with as they please. A club might raffle the Handbook to a member at a meeting, or donate it to a club or public library, or … the club calls it.

To enter the club competition: make sure your club members have uploaded all contact to LoTW; on or after Jan 10, 2024, send an email to n1ilz@arrl.org and attach a spreadsheet listing the callsigns of club members and their claimed VOTA scores. I will confirm VOTA scores from the VOTA Leaderboard, and the winning club will receive the Handbook.

Questions? Email me at n1ilz@arrl.org.

73 de

——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Jon W McCombie, N1ILZ
n1ilz@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

WØMET: “Winter Field Day” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, January 2, 2024

New England Sci Tech logoThe New England Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society will meet on-line and in-person on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7 PM and feature: “Winter Field Day” by Marvin Turner, WØMET.

Description: In this engaging and timely presentation, Marvin will share insights into the annual Winter Field Day event that brings together amateur radio enthusiasts in a unique cold-weather setting. Winter Field Day is not just a contest—it’s a community-building experience that challenges operators to set up temporary stations in winter conditions, fostering camaraderie and testing one’s skills. As the president of the Winter Field Day Association, Marvin provides a firsthand look into the planning, activities, and the sense of adventure that makes Winter Field Day a highlight on the ham radio calendar. Please join Marvin on a journey through snow-covered landscapes and radio waves, where passion for communication meets the beauty of winter.

Bio: Marvin has been active in amateur radio for over 25 years. In 2022, he became the president of the Winter Field Day Association. As the host of “The Ham Radio Guy Podcast,” he shares his insights, experiences, and interviews with fellow ham radio enthusiasts. By day, Marvin serves as the IT Support Manager for a prominent healthcare company in Nashville, leveraging his technical skills to ensure the smooth operation of critical systems. Marvin loves to travel and explore, is happily married to his wife Heidi, and is accompanied by Otto, his loyal canine companion, on his ham radio adventures.

Quincy Radio Club New Year’s 2024 Special Special Wooden Nickel Event

The Quincy Radio Club (KW1NZE) will be on the air from Sunday, December 31 19:00 EST (0000 UTC) to Monday January 1 18:59 (2359 UTC). HF (SSB, CW, FT8) Wires-X Quincy Room #63826.

We will be welcoming in the new year from the city of Quincy Massachusetts, home of Dunkin Donuts, John Adams, John Hancock, the first commercial railroad in the US, Howard Johnson’s, surf guitarist Dick Dale, Academy Award actress Ruth Gordon and the location of the largest Flag Day parade in the USA. These are but a few of the extraordinary people, events and institutions that have come from our great city.

All stations that work KW1NZE during this event are encouraged to send a SASE to the above address and receive a highly collectable wooden nickel. Hope to get you in the log!!

Getting Winlink pat, VARA, and ARDOP working on M1/M2/M3 Macs

Hi all,

I’m sure there are other modern Mac owners who would like to join the Winlink network. As part of my work with the West Middlesex ARES group here in Massachusetts, I worked out a pat configuration that is fully functional with ARDOP and VARA HF modems, despite their being Windows-only applications.

I’ve had this working for about 6 months now, and I’ve finally gotten around to writing the instructions necessary for others to try out. They are in a blog post on my web site at:
https://www.wg1v.org/posts/2023-12-27-Winlink-and-Pat-on-M1-Mac/

It’s also the most recent blog post on my ham radio site, wg1v.org.

A caveat: Before folks get too excited, this does involve a piece of payware software called Crossover, which is a commercial version of WINE. It’s available from codeweavers.com and costs $74, but it is available as a 14-day evaluation for you to see if it’s worth paying the money. I suspect that it is now possible to make this work with the open source version of WINE, but 1) I haven’t done that, and 2) I’m happy to pay the Codeweaver folks who make running Windows stuff on Macs easier.

I’ve made this configuration work with both an Icom IC-7100 and a Flexradio 6600, so I’m pretty certain it’s adaptable to most modern radios with a USB audio and CAT interface.

I hope hams using modern Macs find this useful.
Carl, WG1V