Tag: #clubs

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Genesis ARS Tech Course Begins April 7, 2018

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Genesis ARS logoChris Johnson, N1IR writes on the Genesis ARS list:

The Tech course for April 7, 21 and May 5th is a go! We are located at the Plymouth Airport Community Room have 6 students so far and the list is growing, again of you know anyone who is interested in taking the tech course please pass this on. Thanks to all that volunteer without your effort the hobby and this class would not be a success.

Call out to volunteer instructors, anyone wish to teach a section please email me.

Saturday April 7, 2018
09:00 – 9:15 Setup, Introduction, Books Materials
09:15 – 10:00    T1 (FCC Rules Part A)
10:00 – 10:45    T1(FCC Rules Part B)
10:45 – 11:30    T2 (Operating Procedures)
11:30 – 12:15    Lunch
12:15 – 13:00    T3 (Radio Waves and Propagation)
13:00 – 13:45    T4 (Station Setup and Operation)
13:45 – 14:00     Breakdown

Saturday April 21, 2018

09:00 – 09:15     Setup
09:15 – 10:00     T5 (Electrical and Electronic Principal)
10:00 – 10:45     T6 (Electrical Components and Functions)
10:45 – 11:30     T7 (Operating Procedures)
11:30 – 12:15     Lunch
12:15 – 13:00     T8 (Operating Modes and Special Operation)
13:00 – 13:45     T9 (Antenna and Feed Lines)
13:45 – 14:00     Breakdown

Saturday May 5, 2018
09:00 – 09:15     Setup
09:15 – 10:00     T10 (Electrical and RF Safety)
10:00 – 10:30     Q + A / VEC Setup
10:30 – 12:30     VE TESTING

All / Clubs / Operating

SEMARA Debuts New Station

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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.

All / Clubs / Technical

PART of Westford Kit Building Session, March 10, 2018

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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.

All / Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Falmouth ARA Technician Licensing Class, March, 2018

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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.

Clubs / Technical

Zola Center Kit Building Workshop, Feb. 17

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Members of the Zola Center ARC are participating in a kit-building workshop on February 17, 2018 at the Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities in Newton Highlands.

According to Zola Center ARC’s Bob Druk, WA1UIY, “the group will build continuity testers as a club project. At the December meeting we held a soldering workshop where we they learned the basic fundamentals of soldering. At the end of the session each participant was able to successfully solder the ends of wires together.” Many of the current Zola members are either legally or totally blind.

WA1UIY adds: “The continuity tester project is the next step in their progression. Their goal is to build an AM/FM radio from an Elenco kit which they hope to start by April.”

Additional volunteers are sought to assist in this project.

Dan Brown, W1DAN, Eastern Massachusetts Technical Coordinator and president of the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society will conduct this week’s session.

Clubs

Marlborough Flea Market, Feb. 17, 2018

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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.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Clay Center ARC Courses in March, April 2018

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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/.

Clubs

Plymouth Repeater Going Digital

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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!

Clubs / Youth

Clay Center Robotics Talk, Feb. 6, 2018

- by k9hi

The Clay Center ARC will feature guest speaker Russel Nickerson of Collabots on February 6, 2018 at 6:30 PM.

“Robotics is a combination of technology that changes life as we know it. Transistors increased the adoption of radios in the past; now there are other technologies that are making robotics a reality.”

The Clay Center is located at the Dexter School at 20 Newton Street, Brookline, Massachusetts.

via Clay Center ARC e-newsletter

Clubs

Whitman ARC Winterfest, January 20, 2018

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Whitman ARC logoThe Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold its Winterfest on January 20, 2018 from 9 AM until 1 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Route 18, in Whitman. A VE testing session will be conducted at the event. Admission is $5; tables cost $15. Raffle prizes will be drawn at noon. Talk-in will be provided on the Whitman ARC repeater: 147.225Mhz+ PL67. For vendor information, call: 781-523-5010 or visit http://www.wa1npo.org.

 

Clubs

Waltham ARA Holiday Party

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Waltham ARA logo Eliot Mayer, W1MJ writes:

The Waltham Amateur Radio Association invites all hams and friends for a festive Holiday Dinner! It’s a great time to get that “eyeball” QSO with some of the folks we’ve been talking to all year. Spouses / friends / prospective hams are all welcome! No RSVP necessary. Cost is $25 per person at the door which includes the buffet and 1 ticket for the door prizes. Membership renewal will also gain you an extra ticket for the door prize. See you there!

WARA Holiday Dinner
at Sichuan’s Garden, 411 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA
Wed, Dec 20, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

 

Emergency Communications

October 7th,2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net

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Good Evening,

Net Control for the October 7th,2017 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:AM using the following repeaters in the order listed. 

1.Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5

2 Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0

3.Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5

 

Simplex 147.42

 

The Net will than return to the Plymouth Repeater for final comments and 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 the EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.

Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.

We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control duties. If you are interested please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month.  More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.

REMINDER: The BARC Repeater is now using split tone. Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0


Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)
Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2

Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0

Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0  
Fairhaven 145.490 tone 67.0    
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9  

Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0

Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0

Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0      
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8        
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5    
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)

W. Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244 
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2

We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.

Respectfully,

John O’Neill
K1JRO

— 

South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
c/o Volunteer Services
Clubs

Noted Media Historian to Speak at North Shore RA, Sept. 18, 2017

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North Shore RA logoNSRA General Meeting on September 18th, 2017
NOTE: Third week this month
Doors open at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30pm
Link to Meeting Location

Speaker:
Media Historian, Professor, & Former broadcaster
Dr. Donna Halper

Speaking on:
How the Amateurs Created Commercial Radio… and what happened after that

Today, people can listen to radio in a number of ways– online, in the car, at home, even on their smartphone. But there was a time in the early 1920s when radio was new, and there was only one way to listen– in your “radio room.” In those early years, one group of people helped to keep your favorite stations on the air– ham radio operators.

Join media historian, professor, and former broadcaster Donna Halper on September 18th, as she brings along her rare radio memorabilia and takes you back in time. She will introduce you to some pioneering hams who kept a foot in both amateur and commercial radio (without them, there would have been no stations like WBZ or WEEI or the first station in Massachusetts– 1XE/WGI).

Dr. Halper will also share some interesting facts about the history of Boston radio, including why radio today isn’t as good as what many of us remember from when we were growing up. And she will tell you about some performers and announcers who came from the North Shore.

Public Service

Wellesley Veterans Parade, Amateur Volunteers Needed, May 21, 2017

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David Wolfe, KG1H writes:

The Wellesley Veterans Parade will be held on Sunday, May 21 and we hope you will be able to help.

The time commitment is: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 21st in Wellesley.

We meet at 11 a.m. at the Wellesley Community Center at 219 Washington Street.

The duties are to get the 125 units in order. The units arrive at Noon and they are told prior to arrival to go to a specific street and location. We need to check off that the unit has arrived and that it is in the proper location. Then we need to start the parade at 1 p.m. and key the units in order down the street.

A radio communications plan has been developed.

Are you able to help?

Please let Carl Nelson know if you can join the team. His email is cnelson111@comcast.net His cell phone is 781-929-9095.

Thank you for your service and help to our veterans.

Carl Nelson

Technical / Youth

NASA Chooses Six Local Student Projects

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Clay Center ARC logoBob Phinney, K5TEC writes in the Clay Center ARC mailing list:

Six student projects were chosen by NASA to fly in a rocket or high-altitude balloon this summer. As part of the activities offered by the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club (CC-ARC) at Dexter Southfield School, students designed projects for the NASA “Cubes in SpaceTM” program, the only program in the world to provide students (ages 11-18) with a free opportunity to design experiments to be launched into space on a NASA rocket or balloon.

Lead members include Julie KC1GMW, Morgan KC1GRZ, Nathan KB1RD, Hardy KC1ESU, Raif KC1GRX, Jason KC1GBV, Conrad KC1GBW, Rishi KC1BKX, and Sean K3FAY. Thanks to adult supervisors Christy KC1GAF, Bruce N9JBT, John AB1ZV, Ted KB1NTJ, Marlene Schwarz, and Dan Sage.

 

 

 

All / Public Service

Volunteers Sought for Groton Road Race, April 30, 2017

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Ralph Swick, KD1SM writes:

The April First snow shall not delay the 2017 Groton Road Race. I’m told by a reliable source at National Weather Service that we’re unlikely to still have snow on the ground (or road) by April 30 when the 26th Annual Groton Road Race will be held.

As we’ve done for the past 24 years, the race committee is again asking the Amateur Radio community to provide the logistics and safety communications for the Race.

This is our major event for Amateur Radio in North Central Massachusetts. Those of you who have joined us in the past years know that the runners sincerely appreciate our presence. Many say so as they run past. This event is so large that Police Departments and other public safety agencies from several other communities come to assist the Groton PD. Part of our role is to provide the communications from the Groton Police to these out-of-town officers who come to help with this event.

The change in 2015 to run the 5k and 10k races simultaneously will be repeated this year. This change increases the number of radio operators needed but also allows us to secure all stations earlier in the afternoon. The courses themselves will be the same as the last two years. The maps, etc from previous years are available on the NVARC Public Service Events page.

Contributing to the public good is one of the reasons Amateur Radio exists. Our public service events are a key opportunity for us to show our colors, volunteer our skills and equipment, and demonstrate why it is in the public’s interest to continue to allocate precious RF spectrum to our the Amateur Radio Service. The Groton Road Race is a low-stress event and a great way to gain more experience with the public service aspect of amateur radio. Please consider joining us on the 30th.

If you are interested in helping at these events but unsure of what is expected of you or what equipment you may need, please ask me, Stan KD1LE, or John KK1X.

The Squannacook River Runners and the Groton Police Department repeatedly praise and express their appreciation for your assistance in providing communications for this event. I do hope you will be able to join us this year; please let me know.

Thanks and 73,

Ralph KD1SM
kd1sm@arrl.net

Licensing Education & Training

Cape Ann ARA Tech In A Day, May 13, 2017

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Rick Maybury, WZ1B writes on caaramail:

Do you know anyone who may be interested in becoming a ham? CAARA is holding another Tech in a Day study session on 13 May, Saturday. This is a great opportunity for a new prospective ham to get their Tech license and a way to recruit new members. … We currently have 17 people signed up for this class.

73, Rick

email: rmaybury@ppg-i.com