Falmouth ARA Technician Licensing Class, March, 2018

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationBrent Putnam, W1NCH writes:

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) is holding a Technician class licensing course over the course of three Saturdays: March 17, 24 and 31 from 9 AM to noon at the Falmouth Fire Rescue Department headquarters, 399 Main Street (entrance on King Street), in the 2nd Floor EOC/training room.

The exam for the students will be held in the same location immediately after the May 31 session.

Cost of the class is $50 and includes:

  • Nine hours of classroom instruction
  • Manual
  • Online test practice and tutoring
  • Refreshments
  • Access to instructors for questions & tutoring
  • License exam
  • 1-year membership with FARA
  • Admission to the 2018 FARAfest
  • Radio (if the student passes)

This is a great value for anyone seeking to get their license, as the total cost of the individual items is well over $100.

Interested? Contact Brent Putnam, FARA President, at W1NCH@arrl.net.

K1YOW Wins QST Cover Plaque Award

(L-R): QST Cover Plaque Award recipient Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW; ARRL New England Division Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF.
(L-R): QST Cover Plaque Award recipient Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW; ARRL New England Division Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF. –photo courtesy K1TW

Nashoba Valley ARC member Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW was presented with ARRL’s Cover Plaque Award for his December, 2017 QST article entitled “Upper Level Lows and 6-Meter Sporadic E.” ARRL New England Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, presented the award to K1YOW at the February 15, 2018 NVARC meeting in Pepperell.

The QST Cover Plaque Award is given to the author or authors of the most popular article in each issue and is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page.

 

N1BLF Now Recording Eastern MA Section Audio News

Bob Zeida, N1BLF
Bob Zeida, N1BLF

A Dartmouth amateur is now producing audio recordings of monthly Eastern MA Section News.

For over thirty years, Bob Zeida, N1BLF has volunteered his time with the Talking Information Center, a nonprofit reading service that broadcasts newspapers, magazines, books, and special consumer information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to visually impaired and print-impaired listeners. Bob has also recorded ham-related materials from QST and CQ Magazine for the Courage Kenny Handiham System.

“It struck me that your section newsletter […] would be a nice opportunity for me to promote ham radio activities by inserting audio commentary about some of the local ham radio clubs throughout Massachusetts.” In addition to entire audio recordings, Bob will select certain materials from the section manager’s letter to include in his weekly TIC hobby program. “I would pick and choose by weekly broadcast time-frame those activities that would coincide with the audio airing date.”

N1BLF’s first recording of the January, 2018 Section News can be found online.

Marlborough Flea Market, Feb. 17, 2018

Agonquin ARC logoThe Algonquin Amateur Radio Club is again holding its Marlborough Flea Market on February 17, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the 1Lt Charles W. Whitcomb School, 25 Union St., Marlborough, MA. Talk-in is on the MMRA repeater, 147.27+ (PL 146.2).

A VE session will be held beginning at 9:00 AM. General admission is $5. Vendor tables are $15 before February 9, 2018, or $20 at the door if space is available. Each table includes one admission.

For more information, contact Tim Ikeda, KA1OS at 978-333-0067 (before 9:00 PM), email fleamarket@n1em.org or visit http://www.qsl.net/n1em/2018flier.pdf.

Clay Center ARC Courses in March, April 2018

Clay Center ARC logoThe Clay Center ARC has announced it will conduct three courses for the public, starting in late March and April, 2018.

“We have teamed up with Brookline Adult and Community Education (BA&CE) and Newton Community Education (NCE) to offer a radio Technician Class course for adults and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test.  Children who pass the test receive a free membership in the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club, the largest youth-oriented radio club in New England.”

Clay Center will also hold Technician and General Class “License In A Weekend” events.

For full details, visit http://www.cc-arc.org/courses/.

Plymouth Repeater Going Digital

Genesis ARS logoJack Buckley, W1AKN writes on the Genesis ARS list:

We are getting closer to operating on N1ZIZ (147.835 -600) in the digital (NXDN) mode. The first of March will be the official date for using NXDN on N1ZIZ. The N1ZIZ repeater currently is operating on the analog FM mode with the repeater configured to operate in mixed mode which allows for both digital and analog operation.

The PL 82.5 must be reprogramed to the new PL 131.8. Anyone wishing to have assistance with this reprograming is invited to drop in next Sat Feb. 17. Come with the rig in question and we will see if we have the cable (bring the programming cable if you already have one) You may bring your cable and software (we will attempt to employ Chirp program, but cannot guarantee the rig is included in Chirp app yet) If you wish to get the app setup on your PC, bring your PC in (we are conducting GARS Linux training but you can bring MS for this session) You must have adapter and AC cord along with an extension cord to power you rig

Bottom Line N1ZIZ is configured as follows:

  • Both PL 82.5 and 131.8 are configured on the repeater right now
  • Only 131.8 will be supported post March 2018
  • Mixed Mode = NXDN to NXDN and or Analog to Analog
  • PL of less than 100 has been shown to be unreliable on the Icom Commercial FR5000 repeaters (this includes N1ZIZ)
  • PL 131.8 will be supported going forward

As always:

Please come join us at a Genesis ARS business meeting they are conducted every last Monday of each month.

GARS Business Meetings are at Plymouth Airport, Gate #2, Community Room AKA: precinct voting room, 7PM – 8PM with speakers most meetings!

ARES Exercise: Operation “Ice Assault” Feb. 10, 2018

Hello everyone!

This Saturday, February 10, 2018 from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon EMA ARES will be having an operational exercise simulating a severe ice storm hitting Cape Cod. This will be a Cape Cod and Islands centric exercise, however the entire section will be participating and practicing various communications skills. Field sites will be setting up around 9 am.

The operational guide for the exercise is located at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w4eFcma-juG_-vySsXgpw_58GYnD8HrH/view?usp=sharing

Please read the entire document as it contains important information about how the exercise will be conducted. There is an addendum at the end for stations operating on the main land and at the end is an ICS-205 with the frequencies that will be in play for the exercise.

A quick summary of the goals for this exercise are practicing and testing communications on and off the Cape via HF and VHF, collection of weather and infrastructure status back to a central location off the Cape, practice operating on a net, and moving traffic between nets.

We look forward to any and all stations, whether ARES affiliated or not, to get onto our nets and help relay traffic, especially on the HF bands which have had very poor location propogation recently.

A sample of locations with official ARES stations that will be on the air for this drill:• Sandwich

  • Falmouth
  • Acushnet
  • Walpole
  • Marlborough
  • Stow
  • Gloucester

And again to see what frequencies we will be using consult the ICS-205 at the end of the linked PDF document above.

For any questions about the exercise please contact Frank, WQ1O, wq1o@comcast.net for Cape and the Islands items, and contact Marek, KB1NCG, kb1ncg@arrl.net for the rest of the section.

Marek, KB1NCG

Eastern MA ARES SEC

 

Reminder: Monthly EMA ARES Net 2/5 8:30pm

Hello to all…
We will be continuing our monthly ARES Net in February. The monthly ARES Net for February is Monday the 5th, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. 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:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html


Make this first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety), interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator

TRAFFIC AND TRAINING SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10

Here is an opportunity to learn more about basic traffic handling techniques, net operation with an introduction to the use of Winlink in Emergency Comms.  It is presented by the New Hampshire traffic folks, but anyone interested is invited to register.  This is a half day event in Concord NH.  I plan to be there and hope I can see some folks from Massachusetts there as well.  Note the information below.

73, Marcia KW1U STM EMA/WMA

The 2018 NH Traffic and Training Symposium will be  held Saturday, February 10 from 9a until noon at Concord Bible Fellowship 25 Rockingham St. in Concord, NH. This year’s symposium will focus on basic traffic handling techniques, net operation and an introduction in the use of Winlink in Emergency Communications.  Registration is requested. Simply send an email to peter@k1pjs.com with “I would like to attend” in the subject line.

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2017

I hope everyone is enjoying a good start to the new year despite the cold and low number of sun spots.  December turned out to be a good month traffic-wise. It seemed holiday messages increased over the past few years and that was nice to see.   This station continues to have issues with 80 meters and therefore not able to make evening HF nets but efforts continue to find a solution.  Thanks to all who are covering.  We in Eastern Mass are seeing some new folks checking into our local nets and handling traffic.  This is always most welcome and we especially welcome Peter KC1HHO, John W1JWM and Paul KC1HHK.  Just remember making mistakes is not a bad thing.  It is how we all learn.  Fellow traffic handlers are glad to help.  So jump in, learn and get experience.  If it is ever called for you will be ready, and you can have fun in the process making friends. See you on the nets.
73, Marcia KW1U

 

MA STM REPORT DECEMBER 2017
NET SESSIONS QTC QNI QTR NM FREQ Net Time
WMTN C1 30 3 227 233 KD2JKV 146.91 10:00 Daily
WMTN C2 31 7 185 153 N1YCW 146.91 13:00 Daily
MARI 30 103 91 531 KW1U 3565 KHz 19:00 Daily
EM2MN 31 139 199 688 KC1CIC 145.23 20:00 Daily
CM2MN 23 20 129 212 KK1X 146.97 21:00 Daily
MARIPN 14 7 51 129 N1LAH 3978 KHz 18:00 Tu,Th,Sa
CITN 22 7 44 232 N1SYC 147.375 19:30 M,T,T, F,Sa
HHTN 18 31 67 214 W1HAI MMRA Rptrs 22:00 Su,M,W,F
WMEN 4 0 113 NA W1JWN 3944 KHz 08:30 Su
WARPSN 5 10 83 NA N1IQI 147.225 08:30 Su
SAR ORG REC SENT DEL TOTAL BPL
KW1U 0 419 395 2 816 X
N1IQI 0 92 570 4 666 X
KC1CIC 0 79 61 21 161
N1TF 0 38 65 12 115
NV1N 0 21 66 0 87
W1RVY 0 33 41 1 75
N1LAH 0 29 25 5 59
N1SYC 0 19 25 7 51
W1PLK 0 6 5 5 16
PSHR (Min 70 Points) 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL
KC1CIC 40 40 30 20 0 20 150
N1IQI 40 40 10 10 20 10 130
KW1U 40 40 30 0 0 20 130
N1SYC 40 40 20 20 0 0 120
N1TF 40 40 30 5 0 0 115
N1LAH 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
W1RVY 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
NV1N 39 40 10 0 0 0 89
DRS RCV FWD TOTAL
KW1U 1137 1568 2705
N1IQI 92 570 662
KC1CIC 29 12 41
KC1EGK 0 10 10
W1RVY 0 1 1
BPL = 500 POINTS EARNED
MARCIA KW1U STM
GREG KC1CIC ASTM

Whitman ARC General License Class, January 9, 2018

Whitman ARC logoThe Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold a weekly General license class beginning Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 7-9 PM at the Whitman Police Station. The class will conclude with a volunteer exam session on February 27. Material will be based on the ARRL General Class License Manual.

The course is offered free of charge. 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.

ARES Stand Down for Winter Storm/Blizzard

Hello to all…

*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES IS STANDING DOWN ITS STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY ***

Eastern Massachusetts ARES is standing down from its standby status that began on January 4, 2018 at 06:00AM. A Major Winter Storm/Blizzard impacted the region Thursday 1/4/18 with one of the more significant coastal flood events in recent memory in East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and the Islands. Also there was significant snowfall away from Cape Cod and the Islands with whiteout and near blizzard conditions as well as pockets of tree and power line damage from damaging wind gusts and wet snow on trees and power lines. No requests for ARES support have been requested.

I would like to thank everyone who offered their time and gave their availability for deployment either locally or in an ARESMAT scenario. Even though no deployments were required I hope everyone took this opportunity to check their go-kits, check your supplies, and know that the call could come at anytime.

The NWS Taunton SKYWARN final summary can be seen at:

http://www.wx1box.org/node/4021

What is ARES Stand-By mode?

ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Marek Kozubal (KB1NCG)
ARES Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator

ARES Stand-by Activation 0600 Thursday for Winter Storm/Blizzard

*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 0600 THURSDAY, JANUARY 4TH UNTIL CANCELED DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD ***
*** BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EASTERN ESSEX, SUFFOLK, EASTERN NORFOLK, PLYMOUTH AND SOUTHERN BRISTOL COUNTIES OF MASSACHUSETTS FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM THURSDAY ***
*** WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM 10 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM FRIDAY FOR CAPE COD AND MARTHAS VINEYARD ISLAND ***
*** HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM 7 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM FRIDAY FOR CAPE COD AND ISLANDS FOR WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH WITH ISOLATED HIGHER WIND GUSTS ***
*** WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AREA EXCEPT FOR NANTUCKET ISLAND FROM 1 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM FRIDAY ***
*** COASTAL FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDING CAPE COD AND ISLANDS FROM 11 AM TO 4 PM THURSDAY FOR MODERATE TO ISOLATED POCKETS OF MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING ***
*** EXPECTED IMPACTS ARE HEAVY SNOW AND DAMGING WINDS AFFECTING TREES AND POWER LINES CAUSING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AS WELL AS POST-STORM COLD TEMPERATURES ***
*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 0600 THURSDAY ***
*** MEMA STATE EOC MOVING TO LEVEL-2 PARTIAL ACTIVATION AT 0600 THURSDAY ***

A major storm will be impacting the region on Thursday. All amateurs are asked to prepare for blizzard conditions and to notify ARES leadership of their availability to deploy for any post storm support. All amateurs during the storm are asked to shelter in place and monitor their local SKYWARN repeaters to help relay damage, snow fall amounts, any updates or relays from ARES/SKYWARN leadership, and any other pertinent information. ARES members are advised to continue to maintain readiness at home and check your emergency power and antenna situation. Secure any loose objects that can blow around easily.

The list of SKYWARN repeaters can be found at: http://wx1box.org/node/37

The latest SKYWARN coordination message for this storm is at: http://wx1box.org/node/4020

…with the next update expected Thursday morning. For the latest SKYWARN bulletins please visit http://wx1box.org/ For the latest ARES updates please visit http://ares.ema.arrl.org/

In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC (SEC/DEC listed below) of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime through the weekend. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT (ARES Mutual Aid Team) deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NWS Storm Survey Teams, and hospitals as required. Keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies for any updates on this developing situation.

When sending your availability, please send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. Also, please let us know if you can do an ARESMAT to another part of the Eastern Massachusetts section as this will be a large area impact storm for this anticipated blizzard. We ask that as you contact your DEC/EC, please send a copy of the message to blizzard@nsradio.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability.

What is ARES Stand-By mode?

ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Marek Kozubal (KB1NCG)
ARES Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator

SEC/ASEC:
SEC – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net
ASEC – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
ASEC – KD1CY – kd1cy@comcast.net

DECs:
Essex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Middlesex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Metro-Boston – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net
Norfolk County – W3EVE – w3eve@arrl.net
Bristol County – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Plymouth County – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2017

I hope everyone is enjoying a good start to the new year despite the cold and low number of sun spots.  December turned out to be a good month traffic-wise. It seemed holiday messages increased over the past few years and that was nice to see.   This station continues to have issues with 80 meters and therefore not able to make evening HF nets but efforts continue to find a solution.  Thanks to all who are covering.  We in Eastern Mass are seeing some new folks checking into our local nets and handling traffic.  This is always most welcome and we especially welcome Peter KC1HHO, John W1JWM and Paul KC1HHK.  Just remember making mistakes is not a bad thing.  It is how we all learn.  Fellow traffic handlers are glad to help.  So jump in, learn and get experience.  If it is ever called for you will be ready, and you can have fun in the process making friends. See you on the nets.
73, Marcia KW1U

 

MA STM REPORT       DECEMBER 2017    
               
               
NET SESSIONS QTC QNI QTR NM FREQ Net Time
WMTN C1 30 3 227 233 KD2JKV 146.91 10:00 Daily
WMTN C2 31 7 185 153 N1YCW 146.91 13:00 Daily
MARI 30 103 91 531 KW1U 3565 KHz 19:00 Daily
EM2MN 31 139 199 688 KC1CIC 145.23 20:00 Daily
CM2MN 23 20 129 212 KK1X 146.97 21:00 Daily
MARIPN 14 7 51 129 N1LAH 3978 KHz 18:00 Tu,Th,Sa
CITN 22 7 44 232 N1SYC 147.375 19:30 M,T,T, F,Sa
HHTN 18 31 67 214 W1HAI MMRA Rptrs 22:00 Su,M,W,F
WMEN 4 0 113 NA W1JWN 3944 KHz 08:30 Su
WARPSN 5 10 83 NA N1IQI 147.225 08:30 Su
               
               
SAR ORG REC SENT DEL TOTAL BPL  
KW1U 0 419 395 2 816 X  
N1IQI 0 92 570 4 666 X  
KC1CIC 0 79 61 21 161    
N1TF 0 38 65 12 115    
NV1N 0 21 66 0 87    
W1RVY 0 33 41 1 75    
N1LAH 0 29 25 5 59    
N1SYC 0 19 25 7 51    
W1PLK 0 6 5 5 16    
               
               
PSHR (Min 70 Points) 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL
KC1CIC 40 40 30 20 0 20 150
N1IQI 40 40 10 10 20 10 130
KW1U 40 40 30 0 0 20 130
N1SYC 40 40 20 20 0 0 120
N1TF 40 40 30 5 0 0 115
N1LAH 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
W1RVY 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
NV1N 39 40 10 0 0 0 89
               
               
DRS RCV FWD TOTAL        
KW1U 1137 1568 2705        
N1IQI 92 570 662        
KC1CIC 29 12 41        
KC1EGK 0 10 10        
W1RVY 0 1 1        
               
BPL = 500 POINTS EARNED            
               
MARCIA KW1U STM              
GREG KC1CIC ASTM

 

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2017

Holiday greetings to all. It has been a busy time on the nets in December.  There has been a lot of activity and the nets and the digital network have been bustling.  It has been fun to see all the activity, and I wish to thank each one of you for your participation and support. I hope the new year brings good things and good times to all.

Just an FYI to those CW folks.  The MARI CW net has an alternate frequency on 160 meters of 1810 Khz.  Conditions on 80 meters have often made communication within the section impossible.  Net Control stations have been advised to begin calling on 3565 Khz, but if not hearing or copying anyone there to move to 1810 Khz.  Five of our regulars have 160 meter capability and others are encouraged to try this band if feasible.

Below is the November traffic report, with the usual many thanks to KC1CIC for it’s compilation.  Good job all.

73, Marcia KW1U STM EMA/WMA

 

MA STM REPORT       NOVEMBER 2017    
               
               
NET SESSIONS QTC QNI QTR NM FREQ Net Time
EM2MN 30 105 189 591 KC1CIC 145.23 8 PM Daily
MARIPN 13 39 42 184 N1LAH 3978 KHz 6PM Tu,Th,Sa
WARPSN 4 8 59 NA N1IQI 147.225 8:30AM Su
HHTN 17 16 52 171 W1HAI MMRA Rptrs 10PM Su,M,W,F
CITN 21 9 49 244 N1SYC 147.375 7:30PM M,T,T, F,Sa
MARI 30 77 99 454 KW1U 3565 KHz 7PM Daily
CM2MN 20 6 106 169 KK1X 146.97 9PM Daily
WMTN C1 30 5 252 207 KD2JKV 146.91 10AM Daily
WMTN C2 29 6 178 170 N1YCW 146.91 1PM Daily
WMEN 2 1 50 NA W1JWN 3944 KHz 8:30AM Su
               
               
SAR ORG REC SENT DEL TOTAL BPL  
KW1U 0 281 284 0 565 X  
N1IQI 0 45 320 0 365    
KC1CIC 0 58 38 17 113    
N1TF 1 38 52 3 94    
NV1N 1 15 54 2 72    
N1LAH 0 32 25 7 64    
W1RVY 0 29 29 2 60    
N1SYC 1 10 18 2 31    
W1PLK 0 7 7 4 18    
AC7RB 0 0 6 0 6    
               
               
PSHR (Min 70 Points) 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL
KC1CIC 40 40 30 20 0 20 150
KW1U 40 40 30 0 0 20 130
N1TF 40 40 30 5 0 0 115
N1IQI 40 40 10 10 0 10 110
N1SYC 40 31 20 15 0 0 106
W1RVY 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
N1LAH 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
NV1N 35 40 10 0 0 0 85
K1BML 27 0 10 0 0 0 37
               
               
DRS RCV FWD TOTAL        
KW1U 944 1442 2386        
N1IQI 45 320 365        
KC1CIC 0 17 17        
KC1EGK 5 5 10        
W1RVY 2 6 8        
               
BPL = 500 POINTS EARNED              
               
               
MARCIA FORDE STM MA    

MASSACHUSETTS TRAFFIC REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2017

Hard to believe Thanksgiving is almost here.  After a rather summer-like fall we are finally seeing some wintry weather but the holidays have stealthily crept up on us.  It would sure be nice to see some holiday greeting radiograms on our traffic nets.  I hope folks will consider this unique way of letting families and friends know you are thinking of them.

It is always nice to see newcomers handling messages on the nets and we welcome Peter KC1HHO to those ranks of traffic handlers.  Peter is in Quincy and I’m sure he would like to see some messages coming his way.

Propagation on HF has hit a winter low again.  Our section nets have seen some difficult times at net time.  The CW net which normally meets on 3565 Khz at 7PM has occasionally moved to 1810 Khz on the 160 meter band.  We are fortunate to have several folks with capability on that band and we have had success in moving traffic there.  Keep tuned to 3565 however as we will always start there then move as necessary.

Below is the traffic report for October.  Thanks to all participants for your support.

Marcia KW1U STM and
Greg KC1CIC ASTM

 

MA STM REPORT       OCTOBER 2017    
               
               
NET SESSIONS QTC QNI QTR NM FREQ Net Time
EM2MN 31 92 185 553 KC1CIC 145.23 8 PM Daily
MARIPN 13 32 52 170 N1LAH 3978 KHz 6PM Tu,Th,Sa
WARPSN 5 10 58 NA N1IQI 147.225 8:30AM Su
HHTN 18 23 72 202 W1HAI MMRA Rptrs 10PM Su,M,W,F
CITN 22 19 55 270 N1SYC 147.375 7:30PM M,T,T, F,Sa
MARI 31 133 128 618 KW1U 3565 KHz 7PM Daily
CM2MN 23 14 141 197 KK1X 146.97 9PM Daily
WMTN C1 31 8 334 293 KD2JKV 146.91 10AM Daily
WMTN C2 31 7 219 234 N1YCW 146.91 1PM Daily
WMEN 5 0 113 NA W1JWN 3944 KHz 8:30AM Su
               
               
SAR ORG REC SENT DEL TOTAL BPL  
KW1U 0 363 365 6 734 X  
N1IQI 0 50 631 4 685 X  
N1TF 1 62 88 4 155    
KC1CIC 0 83 37 16 136    
NV1N 0 18 67 3 88    
W1RVY 3 23 29 3 58    
N1LAH 1 25 22 6 54    
N1LKJ 0 18 32 2 52    
N1SYC 3 11 17 3 34    
W1PLK 0 13 4 5 22    
AC7RB 0 1 9 0 10    
K1BML 0 5 0 3 8    
               
               
PSHR (Min 70 Points) 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL
N1LAH 40 40 20 45 0 0 145
KC1CIC 40 40 30 10 0 20 140
KW1U 40 40 30 0 0 20 130
N1IQI 40 40 10 10 20 10 130
N1TF 40 40 30 5 0 0 115
N1SYC 40 34 20 10 0 0 104
W1RVY 40 40 20 0 0 0 100
NV1N 36 40 10 0 0 0 86
N1LKJ 21 40 10 0 0 0 71
K1BML 29 5 10 0 0 0 44
               
               
DRS RCV FWD TOTAL        
KW1U 1195 1202 2397        
N1IQI 50 631 681        
KC1CIC 36 3 39        
KC1EGK 8 0 8        
W1RVY 1 4 5        
KC1ETB 0 0 0        
               
BPL = 500 POINTS EARNED              
               
               
MARCIA FORDE STM MA              
     

Reminder: Monthly EMA ARES Net 11/6 8:30pm

Hello to all…
We will be continuing our monthly ARES Net in November. The monthly ARES Net for November is Monday the 6th, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. 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:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html


Make this first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety), interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator