Whitman ARC General License Class Begins December 10, 2019

Whitman ARC logoThe Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold a weekly General license class for eight sessions beginning Tuesday, December 10, 2019 from 7-9 PM at the Whitman Police Station. The class will conclude on January 28, 2020. A volunteer exam session will follow, date to be determined.  Material will be based on the ARRL General Class License Manual.

The course is offered free of charge; however students are responsible for acquiring their own textbooks. Interested parties are asked to contact the course instructor, Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG via email at bavarianradio@comcast.net or by phone at 781-447-9104 or visit http://www.wa1npo.org/training/training.htm for additional information.

Meet-and-greet the Director Candidates at Boxboro

We are pleased pleased to announce a last-minute addition to the Boxboro program line-up!

At the conclusion of the Saturday afternoon forums, incumbent ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and challenger Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, will face off in the Cotillion Room beginning at 5:00 PM. (It will be friendly—we promise.)

In addition, we’ll open the cash bar early. Be sure to stop by, grab your favorite beverage, and listen to Tom and Fred articulate their respective visions for the ARRL. There will be ample time for questions and answers.

Oh yes—be sure to vote in the election this fall!

Source: http://boxboro.org/meet-and-greet

Boxboro! Advance Ticket Registration, Hotel Room Deadline

Bob DeMattia, K1IW, writes on August 22:
 
There are only a few more days left before we close payments by US mail.  If you wish to use this option, please make sure to visit our website by this coming Friday.  We will continue to accept PayPal payments until September 5th.
 
If you are planning to stay overnight, rooms are available at the convention discount rate of $99/night.  Friday night is now sold out at this rate.  There are still a few rooms left on Saturday.  Call 978-263-8701 and use the discount code NEHAM!
 
 
See you there!
 
Bob – K1IW
Chairman – Boxboro 2018!

MMRA Announces Door Prizes at the 2018 Boxboro! Convention

MMRA logoIn keeping with a 10 year or so tradition, MMRA will be offering Door Prizes at the 2018 MMRA convention.

The prize winners will be announced at approximately noon in the MMRA room at the convention on Sunday September 9th.

All holders of MMRA memberships expiring in August 2020 or later are eligible to win.  Additional opportunities to win are provided for donations as follows:

7 tickets for every $10 donated
3 tickets for every $5 donated
1 ticket for every $2 donated

The prizes for this year are:

1st prize: Icom IC2730A Dual Band Mobile transceiver
2nd prize: Yaesu FT-70DR Dual Band Analog/Digital Handheld
3rd prize: More Arduino Projects for Ham Radio (ARRL Book)

See the MMRA website http://www.mmra.org for details, or visit us at the convention!

ARRL Represented at IEEE Symposium in Boston

VE2JBP/W1 operating N1P at IEEE AP-S Symposium in Boston
Robert Paknys, VE2JBP/W1 checks out 20m SSB from special event station N1P at the 2018 IEEE AP-S Symposium in Boston, Massachusetts

07/13/2018

ARRL was on hand in Boston July 8 – 13 for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antenna and Propagation Society (AP-S) Symposium, held jointly held with the US National Committee of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI). The ARRL exhibit included an Amateur Radio special event demonstration station, N1P, and more than a dozen volunteers staffed the ARRL exhibit.

“We had a very attractive booth in a great location,” said ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Assistant Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI. “Engineers and scientists in the fields of antennas and propagation who attended from all over the world stopped by the ARRL table to see and learn about Amateur Radio.”

Temples said ARRL Headquarters provided supplies for the booth as well as display copies of publications, “which doubled as door prizes for drawings,” he added. Complementing volunteers from the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section were radio amateurs attending the conference who donated their time between talks and seminars to assist with the booth and greet fellow attendees.

“It was clear to me that our presence at the symposium meant a great deal to the IEEE AP-S/URSI leadership,” Temples said. “It’s difficult to have a ‘live’ Amateur Radio station in an exhibit area of a major hotel, so we were indeed fortunate to have access to one of the premiere contesting stations in New England through a remote internet HF setup, courtesy of Yankee Clipper Contest Club member Greg Cronin, W1KM.” Temples said YCCC president Dennis Egan, W1UE, supplied an Elecraft K3 to use on site.

In addition, ARRL Volunteer Examiners conducted separate Amateur Radio licensing exam sessions over two days at the conference thanks to the efforts of the Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Group and Lou Harris, N1UEC. More than a dozen attendees took advantage.

“The IEEE AP-S/URSI hams who will organize next year’s event hope to secure the call sign N4P and recruit local volunteers when the symposium moves to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019,” Temples said. He expressed gratitude to Dave Michelson, VA7DM, an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia and who chaired the IEEE’s AP-S/URSI Joint Meetings Committee, for his help in coordinating the Amateur Radio display. “Thanks also go to San Diego Section Manager Dave Kaltenborn, N8KBC, and Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, who advised us following the 2017 ham radio effort.”

ARRLWebhttp://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-represented-at-ieee-symposium-in-boston

[Additional photos can be viewed on the Eastern MA ARRL Facebook page, at: https://www.facebook.com/EasternMaARRL/]

 

New Technician Class Element 2 Exams Will Take Effect for Exam Sessions Beginning July 1, 2018

From the ARRL VE Newsletter, June, 2018:

The newly revised pool, released in January 2018 (updated and re-released February 12, 2018) by the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the NationalConference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC), must be in use starting July 1. There are three graphics required for this pool and 423questions in this pool, down slightly from 426 in the previous pool.

With the Technician class exam questions changing July 1, new test designs must be used effective that day. Previous ARRL VEC supplied Technician class exam booklet versions (2014 series) and computer-generated Technician class exams created from the 2014 question pool are only valid until midnight June 30, 2018. At that time VE Team leaders should destroy or throw away the old versions of the Technician exams (do not return them to VEC).To avoid a mix-up at the session, do not save old exam versions!

May 2018 Section News

MAY 2018: EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS (EMA) SECTION NEWS

Section news is available daily via our website and Facebook.  The section website is found at <https://ema.arrl.org/>.  EMA Facebook page is found at <https://www.facebook.com/easternmaarrl/>.

Section leadership is found at: <https://ema.arrl.org/organization/#Section_Leadership>

We begin the month with a staff reorganization announcement.  “Important ARES Leadership Reorganization in Eastern Massachusetts Section”:

https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/23/important-ares-leadership-reorganization-in-eastern-massachusetts-section/
As part of a renewed emphasis on ARES throughout the Eastern Massachusetts section, I have appointed Greg Bennett, KC1CIC as the new Section Emergency Coordinator. As Greg assumes his new role, I wish to thank outgoing SEC Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG for his service to the section for the past three years.

Eastern Massachusetts Staff Meeting at WGBH Studios On April 28, ten members of the EMA Section Leadership gathered in Boston to review and approve a section plan for 2018.  The plan includes the following projects some of which are already well along:

  • Our new web site at <https://ema.arrl.org> with new content added daily;
  • Our new EMA Facebook page found at https://www.facebook.com/easternmaarrl/;
  • NTS support statewide: Check out the daily cadence of NTS nets across our state at <https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/net-schedule/>; All are welcome to join.
  • Club Coordination: Andy KB1OIQ, EMA club coordinator has been assisting every EMA club update their information on the ARRL web site and soliciting applications for Special Service Club (SSC) recognition.  Contact Andy to learn more about the SSC program.
  •  Field Day promotion:  We are expecting Field Day proclamations and resolutions to be issued shortly from the Governor, Senate and House.
  • ARES: We devoted the most meeting time to outline plans and opportunities for greater ARES engagement and visibility section-wide.  Among the identified priorities:

(1) guiding and engaging newcomers
(2) developing a section emergency plan
(3) expanding ARES nets>
(4) additional training and exercise opportunities
(5) finding volunteers and future leaders, and
(6) ARES utilization of NTS as part of section emergency plans.

Much more will be forthcoming on these section projects. 

AMATEUR RADIO INVOLVEMENT IN IEEE CONFERENCE, BOSTON, JULY 8-12

Volunteers are still sought for this event. If you or your radio club would like to be involved in this high profile project, please register at <https://ema.arrl.org/hamradio-ieee-ap-s-2018-seeks-volunteers-july-8-12-2018/>.

FIELD DAY: June 23-24,2018

Make sure your club is listed on the Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Locator web site.  Go to <http://fd.ema.arrl.org/> and enter your information so others can easily find you.   

SPECIAL EVENTS

June 1-3, 2018: NE1PL on the USS Massachusetts 2018

The USS Massachusetts will participate on June 1-3 for “Museum Ships on the Air”. Anyone interested in coming out and operating please contact Rick, KB1TEE at <kb1tee@gmail.com>. In addition to radio operators they are seeking people to help log contacts, speak to guests and other duties. Check out the website <http://www.ne1pl.org> for updates on operations.  (Information via Rick Emord, KB1TEE)

“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT RADIO CLUB?”

The section staff is compiling information about Eastern MA radio clubs that are no longer active. Please visit <https://ema.arrl.org/affiliated-clubs/radio-clubs-of-yesteryear/> and send any information you might have to ASM Phil Temples, K9HI at <k9hi@arrl.org>.

THIS MONTH’S CLUB NEWS AND OTHER NEWS

Here is a recent sample of the club news you can find daily on our great Eastern Massachusetts section website. Just enter the URL to read the story:

Eastern MA 2018 Field Day Directory
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/09/eastern-ma-2018-field-day-directory/

Eastern MA Stations Active for Museum Ships Weekend, June 2-3, 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/30/eastern-ma-stations-active-for-museum-ships-weekend-june-2-3-2018/

Amateur Radio Technician License in a Weekend Course, Natick, June 29-30, 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/30/amateur-radio-technician-license-in-a-weekend-course-natick-june-29-30-2018/

Week-long Beginner Level Amateur Radio Course for Youth and Families, Natick, June 25-29, 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/30/week-long-beginner-level-amateur-radio-course-for-youth-and-families-natick-june-25-29-2018/

New NCS for Eastern MA 2 Meter Net
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/25/new-ncs-for-eastern-ma-2-meter-net/

Eastern MA Hospital Net, June 2, 2018<
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/25/eastern-ma-hospital-net-june-2-2018/

Rob Macedo KD1CY featured on ARRL Audio News
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/25/rob-macedo-kd1cy-featured-on-arrl-audio-news/

Breakfast and SKYWARN Training, Littleton, June 2, 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/24/breakfast-and-skywarn-training-littleton-june-2-2018/

Field Day Safety Officer Checklist
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/23/field-day-safety-officer-checklist/

New England Wireless and Steam Museum Hours, Summer 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/21/new-england-wireless-and-steam-museum-hours-summer-2018/

Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association Field Day 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/20/pilgrim-amateur-wireless-association-field-day-2018/

Whitman ARC Field Day 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/20/whitman-arc-field-day-2018/

New Fox Hunting Listserv Now On-line
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/16/new-fox-hunting-listserv-now-on-line/

NWS: “Damage at NEAR-Fest the Result of a Tornado”
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/15/nws-damage-at-near-fest-the-result-of-a-tornado/

Boston ARC Public Service Events, June 24 & July 3, 2018
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/10/boston-arc-public-service-events-june-24-july-3-2018/

More news is added daily to the website at <https://ema.arrl.org>.  Please visit often and enjoy!

Does your club need a speaker for a meeting? Here is a helpful resource, <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/16/eastern-ma-club-speakers-list/>.

NTS

Contact Marcia, KW1U, at kw1u@arrl.net or join one of the many nets below to learn more about traffic handling.

The National Traffic System (NTS), April 2018 Recognitions:

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) April: 

W1RVY, KC1CIC, KW1U, N1TF, N1IQI, N1SYC, N1LAH, K1BML, KC1HHO, NV1N and WA1LPM.

Brass Pounder League (BPL) April:

KW1U, N1IQI

See the monthly “Public Service” column in QST for more information about the BPL and PSHR recognitions.

NTS NETS (COMBINED EMA/WMA)

EMA/WMA NTS Nets are listed below. Please support the nets and check in.

EM2MN   145.230 MHz      8PM      Daily
MARIPN  3978 KHz         6PM      Tu, Th, Sa
HHTN    MMRA Repeaters   10PM     Su, M, W, F
CITN    147.375 MHz      7:30PM   M, Tu, Th, Sa
MARI    3565 KHz         7PM      Daily
CM2MN   146.970 MHz      9PM      Daily
WMTN    146.910 MHz      10AM     Daily
WMTN    146.910 MHz      1PM      Daily
WMEN    3944 KHz         8:30AM   Su
NEPN    3945 KHz         8:45AM   Su                   

FIRST REGION NET (1RN/FRN) APRIL 2018 REPORTS (NTS)

Bill, W1KX, manages 1RN Cycle 4, the evening CW net. Bill reports in April there were 59 sessions, 123 pieces of traffic and 190 check-ins.

Betsy, K1EIC, manages FRN Cycle 2, the daytime SSB net. Betsy reports in April there were 60 sessions, 134 pieces of Traffic and 223 check-ins.

SILENT KEYS

The Cape Ann ARA reports the passing of Joe Pallazola, WB1CHJ of Gloucester.

The key of Carl Johnson, NS1N, Scituate, has gone silent, reports the Genesis ARS.

The Pilgrim ARC reports that friend and former member Paul Kozar, KI4WLB, Harwich, has passed away.

73 until next month,

Tom, K1TW

——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

ARRL New England Division Cabinet Meeting, Boxboro, June 30, 2018

ARRL flagNew England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI writes:

To: New England Division Affiliated Club Presidents, Section ManagersAdvisory Committee members and Assistant Directors
 
Subject: New England Division Cabinet Meeting – Saturday, June 30, 2018
 

I’d like to invite you to the next ARRL New England Division Cabinet meeting on Saturday, June 30, 2018 (the Saturday after Field Day).  We’ll be the Boxboro Regency Hotel in Boxboro MA (the same place where the New England Division convention is held in the Fall).

We usually have 30+ people attending from clubs across New England – this will be an opportunity for you to provide direct input to the ARRL on policy issues.  The meeting will run from 9:00am until 4:00pm, with coffee/snacks at 8:30am and a break for lunch at noon – and as in the past we’re asking for your contribution of $15 to help cover some of the cost for breaks and for lunch.   If can’t make it yourself, consider sending someone in your place.

There is an ARRL Board meeting scheduled for July 20-21 – this cabinet meeting will give us a chance to talk about issues you think the Board should be considering. What would you like to see on the agenda for our meeting?
 
The meeting will be at the Boxboro Regency, 242 Adams Place, Boxboro, MA 01719.  The hotel is right off I-495, northwest of Boston.   http://www.boxbororegency.com/
     
The hotel has reserved a few rooms for us for Friday night if anyone wants to get there early – the rooms are $89.   Make your reservation by June 18th at (978) 263-8701.

Please let me know by June 26th (earlier is better!) if you will be coming so we can plan for a big enough room and enough food.   Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, and I are looking forward to seeing you there!
 
Very 73!

       — Tom

PS:  Sometimes the ARRL database hasn’t been updated with current information about your club.  If you’re not the current club president – please pass this on to the right person!    You can make updates or corrections to your club’s listings by selecting your club from this page on the ARRL web site, then submitting updated information:  http://www.arrl.org/club-update

New Technician Class Pool to Take Effect July 1, 2018

ARRL VEC logo/bannerOn July 1, 2018 a new Element 2 Technician class question pool will take effect for examinations. VECs and VEs will have new test designs available for use at exam sessions effective that date. 

The newly revised pool released in January 2018 (updated and re-released February 12, 2018) by the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) must be in use starting July 1. There are three graphics required for this pool and 423 questions in this pool, down slightly from 426 in the previous pool.

ARRL VEC will be supplying all its (near 1,000) Field Stocked VE teams with new test booklets about the 3rd week in June.  Do not destroy the 2014 versions of the Technician exams until June 30!

With the Technician class exam questions changing July 1, new test designs must be used effective that day. Previous ARRL VEC supplied Technician class exam booklet versions (2014 series) and computer-generated Technician class exams created from the 2014 question pool are only valid until midnight June 30, 2018. At that time VE Team leaders should destroy or throw away the old versions of the Technician exams (do not return them to VEC). To avoid a mix-up at the session, do not save old exam versions!

Field Stocked teams that no longer meet the field stock requirements or who have not conducted a session in the past year and non-field stocked teams that have been keeping supplies without qualifying through the VEC will not receive an updated package. Non-stocked VE Teams should be returning their exam packages and supplies to ARRL VEC after each session is completed. The officially stocked VE Teams receive their exam supplies in a large box which is a 6-month-to-1-year supply depending on the team’s activity levels. To see if your team qualifies to be field stocked with a bulk quantity of our test materials visit http://www.arrl.org/field-stocked-ve-teams

The question pools review is part of a regular process and each question pool is reviewed and updated on a four year rotation. The General pool is scheduled for an update in 2019. All current question pools and useful information pertaining to the pools can be viewed on the ARRL Web atwww.arrl.org/question-pools. To view all three questions pools, visit the NCVEC web site at www.ncvec.org/

–ARRL VE Newsletter, May 2018

April 2018 Section News

 

APRIL 2018: EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS (EMA) SECTION NEWS

This monthly section news is only a part of how we regularly communicate with ARRL members in the Eastern Massachusetts section.  Much more news is available daily via the website and Facebook. 

Visit our new section website for up-to-date section news. <https://ema.arrl.org/>.

Visit us on Facebook at <https://www.facebook.com/easternmaarrl/

Find a list of section leaders at: <https://ema.arrl.org/organization/#Section_Leadership>

AMATEUR RADIO INVOLVEMENT IN IEEE CONFERENCE, BOSTON, JULY 8-12

Special events call sign “N1P” has been approved for use at the IEEE AP-S/URSI conference in Boston July 8-12 by the ARRL 1×1 Callsign Coordinator.  If you or your radio club would like to be involved in this high profile project, please register at <https://ema.arrl.org/hamradio-ieee-ap-s-2018-seeks-volunteers-july-8-12-2018/>.

FLEA MARKETS

May 4-5, 2018

Near-Fest, Deerfield NH

http://www.near-fest.com/

May 20, 2018

The Flea at MIT

<http://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit>

SPECIAL EVENTS

May 5-6, 2018

New England QSO Party <https://neqp.org/>

May 5, 2018:

Volunteers Requested, Ham Radio Demo at Boy Scout Camp Squanto.  Details at https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/17/volunteers-requested-ham-radio-demo-at-boy-scout-camp-squanto-may-5-2018/

May 31, 2018: Invitation to Meet and Greet Princess Elettra Marconi

Here is your opportunity to meet a real princess! Guglielmo Marconi’s daughter, Princess Elettra Marconi will visit Cape Cod National Seashore to tour the site of her father’s historic wireless station. Details are at <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/26/invitation-to-meet-and-greet-marconis-daughter-princess-elettra-marconi-may-31-2018/>.

June 1-3, 2018: NE1PL on the USS Massachusetts 2018

The USS Massachusetts will participate on June 1-3 for “Museum Ships on the Air”. Anyone interested in coming out and operating please contact Rick, KB1TEE at <kb1tee@gmail.com> In addition to radio operators they are seeking people to help log contacts, speak to guests and other duties. Check out the website <www.ne1pl.org> for updates on operations.  (Information via Rick Emord, KB1TEE)

THIS MONTH’S CLUB NEWS

Does your club need a speaker for a meeting? Here is a helpful resource, <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/16/eastern-ma-club-speakers-list/>.

“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT RADIO CLUB?”

The section staff is compiling information about Eastern MA radio clubs that are no longer active. Please visit <https://ema.arrl.org/affiliated-clubs/radio-clubs-of-yesteryear/> and send any information you might have to ASM Phil Temples, K9HI at <k9hi@arrl.org>.

Algonquin Amateur Radio Club:

On April 14, The Algonquin Amateur Radio Club supported the Hudson-Marlborough Household Hazardous Waste Collection day. See their full report at <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/15/household-hazardous-waste-collection-day-report-14-april-2018/>.

Barnstable ARC (BARC):

BARC held an exam session at the local school resulting in two new Technician licensees. Members supported the Titanic memorial station on the air.  The Titanic / Marconi Memorial Radio Club of Cape Cod has just completed a 3+ day tribute to the Titanic and to those effected by the extreme loss of life.  “We operated for an extra day this year in anything but good band conditions. 40 m was the only place that consistently held its own throughout the event.” Barry, KB1TLR reported 612 confirmed contacts.  (Information via Mark, WA1EXA and Barry, KB1TLR)

Billerica ARS (BARS):

Kevin Fallon from Billerica Emergency Management is the BARS Guest speaker on May 2. Details at <https://www.w1hh.org/>.

Cape Ann ARA (CAARA):

Congratulations to the Cape Ann ARA on gaining approval for another two years as an ARRL Special Service Club.  Clubs holding SSC status are recognized for their outstanding achievements.   

Falmouth ARA (FARA):

Members of FARA and the Barnstable ARC participated in the Cape Cod Maker Faire in Mashpee on April 28, 2018.

Genesis ARS (GARS):

GARS is planning to have a booth at the Plymouth Air Show on August 11, 2018.

Harvard Wireless Club (HWC):

Five members of the HWC formed a team to participate in the BAA 5K race. Bill, W1PL remarked, “It was a beautiful sunny day with very few incidents.”

Massasoit ARA (MARA):

KB1TEE and other MARA members operated W1BSA to commemorate the birth of the Boy Scouts of America on April 28, 2018 aboard the museum ship USS Massachusetts in Battleship Cove.

Nashoba Valley ARC (NVARC):

The April meeting featured Jim, N8VIM, with a presentation about installing backup/alternative power for his station. Jim has an extensive solar panel system installed and has lots of experience with these systems.

PART of Westford:

The April meeting featured a show and tell of projects and equipment by the members.

Quannapowitt Radio Association (QRA):

Field Day planning is underway at QRA.  The March guest speaker Mike Rioux, W1USN, showed a slide presentation on the UBIXT transceiver and displayed the actual transceiver and all of its functions.  Mike also explained all the future upgrades and the available open software that allows one to perform upgrades.

Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC:

The SMH ARC will host SKYWARN training at its regular general meeting on May 15. Details at <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/26/skywarn-training-at-sturdy-memorial-hospital-arc-may-15-2018/>.

Whitman ARC:

WARC is currently conducting an Amateur Extra licensing class. It will culminate in a VE session on May 29, 2018.

NTS

Contact Marcia, KW1U, at kw1u@arrl.net or join one of the many nets below to learn more about traffic handling.

The National Traffic System (NTS), February 2018 Recognitions:

(1) Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)March: 

KC1CIC, KW1U, N1IQI, N1TF, W1RVY, N1LAH, N1SYC, WA1LPM, KC1HHO, and NV1N.

(2) Brass Pounder League (BPL) March:

KW1U, N1IQI

See the monthly “Public Service” column in QST for more information about the BPL and PSHR recognitions.

NTS NETS (COMBINED EMA/WMA)

EMA/WMA NTS Nets are listed below. Please support the nets and check in. 

EM2MN   145.230 MHz      8PM      Daily

MARIPN  3978 KHz         6PM      Tu, Th, Sa

HHTN    MMRA Repeaters   10PM     Su, M, W, F

CITN    147.375 MHz      7:30PM   M, Tu, Th, Sa

MARI    3565 KHz         7PM      Daily

CM2MN   146.970 MHz      9PM      Daily

WMTN    146.910 MHz      10AM     Daily

WMTN    146.910 MHz      1PM      Daily

WMEN    3944 KHz         8:30AM   Su

NEPN    3945 KHz         8:45AM   Su

FIRST REGION NET (1RN/FRN) MARCH 2018 REPORTS (NTS)

Bill, W1KX, manages 1RN Cycle 4, the evening CW net. Bill reports in March there were 56 sessions, 181 check-ins, and the handling of 83 pieces of traffic.

Betsy, K1EIC, manages FRN Cycle 2, the daytime SSB net. Betsy reports in March there were 62 sessions, 282 check-ins, and the handling of 119 pieces of Traffic

SILENT KEYS

Bruce Hansen, W1BPH and Ernest Senter, W1SIX, both of Haverhill, have passed. (Pentucket RA).

Paul Augustine, W1BMQ, of Somerset, is a silent key (From SEMARA).

Gene Hastings, W1VRK, of Marblehead has become a silent key.  Gene was a long-time champion of the New England Division Convention and a Director Emeritus of the ARRL Foundation. You can read more about Gene at <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/30/gene-hastings-w1vrk-silent-key/>.

73 until next month,

Tom, K1TW

 

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR MARCH 2018

Attached here is the section traffic report for both East and West Mass. It is good to know that the nets are not dependent on any one person and function very well such as when your STM was off the air. As many of you know my station has had its problems for the past few months and I have had to replace various pieces of equipment. Many improvements including a new antenna are now in place thanks to Greg KC1CIC (and the N1OTC bow and arrow), to whom I am greatly indebted. I am now back and hopefully with an almost entirely new station I will be in business for another couple years or more.
I would also like to mention an article now posted on our section website written by our own KC1CIC regarding his experience during a recent New England nor’easter and all his emergency preparations prior to the storm. Good reading and good advice. Look for it at https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/13/gaining-experience-and-confidence-through-a-storm/.   Thanks to all for your support of the nets.

MA STM REPORT       MARCH 2018    
               
               
NET SESSIONS  QTC QNI QTR NM FREQ Net Time
WMTN C1 29 5 294 160 KD2JKV 146.91 10:00 Daily
WMTN C2 26 10 184 174 N1YCW 146.91 13:00 Daily
MARI 30 73 89 391 KW1U 3565 KHz 19:00 Daily
EM2MN 31 154 228 737 KC1CIC 145.23 20:00 Daily
CM2MN 27 45 272 278 KK1X 146.97 21:00 Daily
MARIPN 14 7 45 122 N1LAH 3978 KHz 18:00 Tu,Th,Sa
CITN 23 1 70 277 N1SYC 147.375 19:30 M,T,T, F,Sa
HHTN 17 14 65 208 W1HAI MMRA Rptrs 22:00 Su,M,W,F
WMEN 4 0 97 NA W1JWN 3944 KHz 08:30 Su
WARPSN 4 8 76 NA N1IQI 147.225 08:30 Su
               
               
SAR ORG REC SENT DEL TOTAL BPL  
KW1U 0 397 348 5 750 X  
N1IQI 0 95 435 3 533 X  
KC1CIC 0 105 70 11 186    
N1TF 0 45 61 3 109    
WA1LPM 0 26 46 0 72    
N1LAH 0 32 35 1 68    
W1RVY 0 30 34 4 68    
KC1HHO 0 25 21 21 67    
NV1N 0 17 32 0 49    
N1LKJ 0 17 23 0 40    
N1SYC 0 10 15 6 31    
W1PLK 0 6 4 3 13    
K1BML 0 2 0 1 3    
               
               
PSHR  (Min 70 Points) 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL
KC1CIC 40 40 30 5 0 20 135
KW1U 40 40 30 0 0 20 130
N1IQI 40 40 10 10 15 10 125
N1TF 40 40 30 5 0 0 115
W1RVY 40 40 20 0 5 0 105
N1LAH 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
N1SYC 40 31 20 5 0 0 96
WA1LPM 40 40 10 0 0 0 90
KC1HHO 30 40 10 0 5 0 85
NV1N 34 40 10 0 0 0 84
K1BML 27 1 10 0 0 0 38
               
               
DRS RCV FWD TOTAL        
KW1U 870 1265 2135        
N1IQI 95 435 530        
KC1CIC 42 33 75        
KC1EGK 0 5 5        
W1RVY 3 2 5        
               
BPL = 500 POINTS EARNED              
               
MARCIA FORDE STM MA            
GREG BENNETT KC1CIC ASTM            

New England QSO Party, May 5-6, 2018

New England statesTom Frenaye, K1KI writes:

I’d appreciate your help in publicizing the upcoming New England QSO Party on May 5th and 6th.    Please mention it at your next club meeting and in your newsletter.

The NEQP is a great time to check out antenna systems and offers a moderately paced opportunity to work new states and countries.   You’ll find a wide variety of participants, from newcomers to experienced contesters, all interested in making contacts with New England stations.

We’re working to make sure that all of the New England counties are active again this year and would appreciate your help.  Get on for at least an hour or two and join in on the fun.  Please let me know if you can put in any time at all so we can work on activity from the rarest counties.   Will you be QRV?   Let us know which county you’ll be on from with a message to info@neqp.org.

Oh yes, the NEQP is also lots of fun when mobile.  Every time you cross a county line the action starts over again.   It’s amazing what a 100w radio and mobile whip can do.

The QSO Party is 20 hours long overall, in two sections with a civilized break for sleep Saturday night.  It goes from 4 PM Saturday until 1 AM Sunday, then 9 AM Sunday until 8 PM Sunday.  Operate on CW, SSB and digital modes on 80-40-20-15-10 meters.   For each QSO you’ll give your callsign, a signal report and your county/state.   Top scorers can earn a plaque and everyone who makes 25 QSOs and sends in a log will get a certificate.

Last year we had logs from 177 New England stations and 460 more from around the country and world.

The full NEQP rules can be found at  http://www.neqp.org/rules.html.

The 2017 results are posted and the results since 2002 are also available  at http://www.neqp.org/results.html.

It’s just about a month until the 2018 NEQP.   Please make some QSOs even if you don’t want to send in a log.

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR JANUARY 2018

The big news of the day is our new section website which Phil K9HI has spent many hours getting ready for us.  Many thanks to Phil and to Tom K1TW, our section manager for his inspiration in bringing this project to fruition.  It is bringing all the section activities together in one place and I hope you will find it interesting, helpful and easy to use.  Any suggestions on topics for the NTS page can be addressed to kw1u@arrl.net. This is your page for training and news in the world of message handling.

To those in the West Mass section (and that includes the folks in central Mass) we welcome a new Section Manager, Ray Lajoie KB1LRL. Ray has been active on the CM2M Net.

New amateurs are becoming involved in the traffic nets and they are most welcome. Congrats to Peter KC1HHO on his new ORS (Official Relay Station) appointment.

Below is the traffic report for East and West Mass sections with thanks to Greg KC1CIC for it’s compilation. You all are great. Keep up the good work.

Marcia KW1U STM East and West Mass

MA STM REPORT       JANUARY 2018    
               
               
NET SESSIONS  QTC QNI QTR NM FREQ Net Time
MARI 28 27 61 267 KW1U 3565 KHz 7PM Daily
EM2MN 31 142 225 740 KC1CIC 145.23 8 PM Daily
CM2MN 29 24 198 279 KK1X 146.97 9PM Daily
WMTN C1 31 3 249 198 KD2JKV 146.91 10AM Daily
WMTN C2 31 7 256 203 N1YCW 146.91 1PM Daily
MARIPN 12 0 18 60 N1LAH 3978 KHz 6PM Tu,Th,Sa
HHTN 18 21 72 219 W1HAI MMRA Rptrs 10PM Su,M,W,F
CITN 22 10 65 284 N1SYC 147.375 7:30PM M,T,T, F,Sa
WMEN 3 0 82 NA W1JWN 3944 KHz 8:30AM Su
WARPSN 4 8 69 NA N1IQI 147.225 8:30AM Su
               
               
SAR ORG REC SENT DEL TOTAL BPL  
KW1U 0 257 201 0 458    
KC1CIC 0 76 52 11 139    
N1LAH 0 49 56 3 108    
N1TF 0 32 59 1 92    
NV1N 0 14 46 0 60    
N1SYC 0 21 22 10 53    
W1RVY 0 18 26 0 44    
W1PLK 0 5 3 2 10    
KC1HHO 0 2 5 2 9    
               
               
PSHR  (Min 70 Points) 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL
KC1CIC 40 40 30 5 0 20 135
KW1U 40 40 30 0 0 20 130
N1TF 40 40 30 5 0 0 115
N1SYC 40 40 20 10 5 0 115
W1RVY 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
N1LAH 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
NV1N 38 40 10 0 0 0 88
KC1HHO 28 7 30 0 0 0 65
               
               
DRS RCV FWD TOTAL        
KW1U 741 953 1694        
KC1CIC 13 42 55        
KC1EGK 0 4 4        
W1RVY 0 0 0        
               
BPL = 500 POINTS EARNED              
               
               
MARCIA FORDE STM MA            
               

FEBRUARY 2018 SECTION NEWS

Visit our section website for up-to-date section news.
<https://ema.arrl.org/>.

Section Leadership may be found at
<https://ema.arrl.org/organization/#Section_Leadership>

NEW EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARRL SECTION WEBSITE

Visit the new Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section website at <https://ema.arrl.org>. We have completely replaced the old website which served our section for more than a decade.

The new website offers many advantages including improved organization and a consistent look-and-feel across all section activities. There is now just a single URL for the section as we have integrated our separate ARES, NTS, and State Government pages into one unified site.

We have improved graphics and added tags to facilitate searches for specific topics such as #arrl or #public-service.  Try it out!

Want to see “ALL” the latest news posts? Look at “Posts by Date” on the right side, or select “Posts by Category” followed by “ALL” if you prefer to see the latest news on a page by itself.

Interested in events happening near you?  Then check out the Events Calendar!  Nets, club meetings, and other events are displayed in Agenda, Week, and Month formats.  To request listing of an activity, send an email with date, time, and event name to <emaarrl@gmail.com>.

This site is a major improvement to the section. Phil K9HI, with support from Jesse W1DEA, invested significant time and effort to create the new web presence. They had additional help from Phil, N1XTB. The transition was finished around the middle of February and the new site is now live. My sincere thanks to everyone involved for their hard work, and to the many other hams who provided feedback and guidance along the way.

ARES “ICE ASSAULT” EXERCISE COMPLETED

Congratulations to Frank O Laughlin, WQ1O (DEC, Cape and Islands); Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG (SEC); and all participating members of Eastern Massachusetts ARES on the “Ice Assault” Exercise this month.

As reported by Marek: Eastern MA ARES held a section-wide exercise on February 10th, dubbed “Operation Ice Assault”. Cape Cod and the Islands simulated a severe ice storm causing widespread fixed infrastructure damage to the region. The Cape field teams ran on generators using only equipment they brought with them. Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, Cape Cod & Islands DEC organized field stations that were set up at the Sandwich EOC (outside in the parking lot), Falmouth Hospital, Falmouth High School, Cape Cod Tech School in Harwich, and the Falmouth ARA on Joint Base Cape Cod. Marek Kozubal, SEC KB1NCG coordinated activity outside of the Cape and Islands. EOC and field sites included the Marlborough EOC (also designated off Cape command), Stow EOC, Cape Ann ARA in Gloucester, Walpole field EOC, South Shore Hospital, Acushnet EOC, and the MIT Radio Society. Stations communicated within, throughout, and outside of the section utilizing 80m and 40m USB, 2m and 70cm FM simplex & repeater communications. HF communications were established between Marlborough, Stow, Acushnet, and Cape Cod stations including Nantucket, as well as stations as far away as New York and Ohio.

SECTION MANAGER TRAVELS
February isn’t quite finished yet!  First, I enjoyed visiting the Nashoba Valley ARC (NVARC) meeting on February 15.  I followed that up with a visit to the always exceptional Algonquin Amateur Radio Club (AARC) Flea Market in Marlborough on February 17.

FLEA MARKETS

Sunday, April 8, 2018, 9 AM to 12 noon

Framingham ARA flea market at the Keefe Technical School. Go to <www.fara.org/flea> for more info.

SPECIAL EVENTS

APRIL 12, 2018: “The 103rd Anniversary of the Titanic Sinking”

A special event station will be set up at the old Coast Guard Station in Eastham on Cape Cod from April 12th until 1:46 AM on the 15th to commemorate this tragic loss.  This event is put on by the Titanic / Marconi Memorial Radio Assoc. of Cape Cod and hosted by the Cape Cod National Seashore. The event will be open to the public on Saturday the 14th.  (Info via Barry/ KB1TLR; Trustee / W1MGY)

April 28, 2018:  W1BSA on the USS Massachusetts

The annual W1BSA event will take place April 28, 2018, from 10:00-15:00.  Visit the USS Massachusetts ward room to operate this great event. (Info via Rick Emord, KB1TEE)

June 1-3, 2018: NE1PL on the USS Massachusetts 2018

The USS Massachusetts will participate on June 1-3 for Museum Ships On The Air. Anyone interested in coming out and operating please contact Rick, KB1TEE at <kb1tee@gmail.com> In addition to radio operators they are seeking people to help log contacts, speak to guests and other duties. Check out the website <www.ne1pl.org> for updates on operations. (Info via Rick Emord KB1TEE)

THIS MONTH’S CLUB NEWS

Barnstable ARC (BARC): <https://www.barnstablearc.org/>

The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC), sponsor of an Amateur Radio Explorer Club at the Lighthouse Charter School in Harwich, is now conducting a Technician Radio License Seminar at the school for interested students along with semi-monthly club meetings. This seminar will be completed in March. BARC will also be taking part again in the ARRL’S ‘School Club Roundup’ event in February. (Info via Paul Laconto-W1NP club advisor)

Billerica ARS (BARS): <https://www.w1hh.org/>

The February Billerica ARS (BARS) meeting was postponed due to inclement weather. ARRL New England Division Vice Director Mike Raisbeck K1TWF, will speak at the March 6 BARS meeting in Chelmsford about the January ARRL Board of Directors meeting.

The Billerica ARS now has a new and much improved website at <https://www.w1hh.org/>.

Falmouth ARA: <http://www.falara.org/>

The Falmouth ARA tells us that planning for the Falmouth road race and Cape Cod Marathon is already in progress.

PART OF WESTFORD <http://www.wb1gof.org/>

Lots of news from PART this month including:
– starting Saturday, March 3rd, the monthly breakfast will move to Paul’s Diner, 6 Carlisle Road, Westford.
– PART is planning a kit building activity, tentatively scheduled for March 10th, 2018.  We will be building the Cricket80A QRP CW transceiver for the 80m band.
– Kit info here:  http://www.4sqrp.com/cricket.php.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Andy (KB1OIQ) at
kb1oiq@arrl.net.
– The speaker at PART’s February 20 meeting, Frank (KC1HSC) planned a display, presentation and discussion of military radios from World War II to Vietnam.

MONTHLY SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR REPORT

SEC Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG reports 670 registered Eastern MA ARES members, 17 active nets and 5 DECs reporting in January. Contact Marek KB1NCG, at <kb1ncg@gmail.com> to register with ARES.

MONTHLY SECTION TRAFFIC MANGER REPORT

Contact STM Marcia Forde, KW1U, at kw1u@arrl.net or join one of the many nets below to learn more about traffic handling.

The National Traffic System (NTS) January Recognitions:

(1) Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR): Recognition for January:  KC1CIC (135), KW1U (130), N1TF (115), N1SYC (115), W1RVY (100), N1LAH (100) and NV1N (88).

(2) Brass Pounder League (BPL): Recognition for January: None this month

See the monthly “Public Service” column in QST for more information about the BPL and PSHR recognitions.

NTS NETS (COMBINED EMA/WMA)

EMA/WMA NTS Nets are listed below. Please support the nets and check in.

EM2MN        145.230 MHz        8 PM Daily
MARIPN       3978 KHz           6PM Tu, Th, Sa
HHTN            MMRA Repeaters  10PM Su, M, W, F
CITN            147.375 MHz     7:30PM M, Tu, Th, Sa
MARI            3565 KHz        7PM Daily
CM2MN        146.970 MHz        9PM Daily
WMTN            146.910 MHz     10AM Daily
WMTN            146.910 MHz     1PM Daily
WMEN            3944 KHz        8:30AM Su
NEPN            3945 KHz        8:45 Su

FIRST REGION NET (1RN/FRN) JANUARY REPORTS (NTS)

Bill, W1KX, manages 1RN Cycle 4, the evening CW net. Bill reports in January there were 62 sessions, 179 check-ins, and 82 pieces of traffic handled.

Betsy, K1EIC, manages FRN Cycle 2, the daytime SSB net. Betsy reports in January there were 62 sessions, 268 check-ins, and 125 pieces of traffic handled.

Until next month,

73,

Tom, K1TW

——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

SEMARA Debuts New Station

photo of newly renovated SEMARA club shack, Feb. 13, 2018After months of work, Southeastern MA Amateur Radio Association members are putting the finishing touches on their new station at the clubhouse at 54 Donald Street in Dartmouth.

According to SEMARA member Don Rosinha, WA1BXY, the shack now features a Kenwood TS-570 and an Elecraft, as well as new computers and accessories.

A radio room showing and tutorial event for club members scheduled for last month was postponed by winter weather conditions. It will occur in the near future.

Congratulations to SEMARA for constructing an elegant and functional station for its members.

PART of Westford Kit Building Session, March 10, 2018

PART of Westford logoPART of Westford is holding a kit building session on Saturday, March 10, 2018, according to PART club president Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ.

“The club has chosen the Cricket80A QRP CW transceiver for the 80 meter band,” Stewart says. “I’m looking for a building chairman, two to three Elmers to help and encourage kit builders, a technical person to spend a few minutes explaining the circuit theory, and people who want to build the kit!”

Interested parties should contact KB1OIQ at kb1oiq@arrl.net.

More information about the Cricket80A kit can be found at http://4sqrp.com/cricket.php.