Ham Callsign Plates Problematic For NH EZPass

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MA ham operator plate sampleGeorge Harlem, VA2EBI/ W1EBI writes on the YCCC list:

This is new.  I have had my callsign license plate for several years.  It seems always to be recorded at gas stations as “W1/EBI”, but that lightning bolt after the W1 is giving EZDriveMA trouble.  I got an invoice from NH EZPass for a trip through the Hampton tolls last month, based on their plate camera, but MA EZPass says there is nothing wrong with my transponder. 

The customer service rep told me my plate should not have been listed with a slash since that character can’t be processed by their computer!  We usually take my wife’s Jeep to Maine, but I know I have driven my Chrysler sedan to Maine numerous times and have never received an invoice from NH.  The rep at MA EZPass told me not to pay the NH invoice, she is going to have supervisor look into this.

So does anyone else in Massachusetts with their call sign license plate have a similar story?

George W1/EBI on the car, VA2EBI on the air

Field Day Promoted on WOON Radio in Woonsocket, RI

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Blackstone Valley ARCBob Jones, WB1P, writes on the Blackstone Valley ARC (RI) list:

For those who did not catch it,  Ron Blais, KB1RYT, made a fantastic presentation earlier today [June 11, 2021] promoting Field Day on Woonsocket’s WOON radio.  He covered all the aspects of the event and stressed the Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club‘s involvement in the activity including its purpose and  schedule.

Thank you Ron!!

Volunteer Wanted to Represent VTNH Occasionally to 1RN

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Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, writes on the ARRL Members Only List:
 
Dear New Hampshire and Vermont Members:
 
I’ve just read the First Region Net (1RN) Traffic Report for May 2021. Interestingly, out of the 62 sessions in May (one early, one late), “VTNH” (the two are counted together) was represented only in only 44 of the 62 sessions (combining the early and late sessions, a rate of 71%). The comparable number for Maine was 98%. As W1RVY, the manager of the net, says: “It is a great way to develop and hone CW skills. We are willing to train, too!” Furthermore, it is not too much of a time-sink, as the average minutes per session are 9.5 (early) and 7.9 (late). Under 10 minutes!
 
If this interests you, please contact Eric Wilhelm, ecwilcom@msn.com,
 
W1RVY.
 
——————————————————————–
ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Hopengarten, K1VR
——————————————————————–
 

First Region Net “Going Strong”

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NTS logoEric Wilhelm, W1RVY, writes: 

“I have been First Region Net (1RN) Manager for a couple years now. I’d like more hams to realize that NTS is active above the local level.  I’m proud to say that 1RN has been going continuously (as far as I know!), twice daily, since 1949.  Checking in and handling traffic is a great way to develop and hone CW skills.  We are willing to train, too!“

[June 2021 1RN Net Report]

 

For more information, contact Eric at ecwilcom@msn.com.

 

125th Boston Marathon Volunteer Registration Opens June 16, 2021

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The Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Communication Committee writes:

Volunteer registration for the 125th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday October 11th, 2021 will open on Wednesday June 16th 2021 at 1000 AM EDT.  Additional information can be seen on the hamradioboston.org web site at the following link:

Boston Marathon Volunteer Registration Date Announcement

 

 

New England Parks On The Air Activations, June 5, 2021

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Parks On The Air logoSeveral Parks On The Air (POTA) stations are currently on the air in New England, according to the POTA.app website. 

K-1674). Jeff was spotted on 7248 kHz.

In New Hampshire, Harry, W1HMM, is QRV from Urban Forestry Center State Forest (K-4973) on 14.303 kHz. 

KC1NDQ, Fran, and Mike, KC1LFF, are operating from Colt State Park K-2872 in Bristol, Rhode Island on 7246 kHz. According to their Facebook post, it’s Mike’s first HF contact! [See also: BCRA POTA Operation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI, June 5, 2021]

Contest and DX Activities Changing Venues at Dayton Hamvention in 2022

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Tim Duffy, K3LR, writes on the Contest Reflector:

Attention Contesters and DXers! Contest-related activities that have previously taken place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel during the Dayton Hamvention® are moving to the Hope Hotel beginning in 2022.

In May 2022, official Contesting activities will be at the Hope Hotel, including four nights of the Contest Super Suite, Contest University, The Top Band Dinner, The Contest Dinner and the KC DX Club CW copying competition. There may be additional related events as well.

The Hope Hotel is an excellent facility, well suited for Contesters and DXers. There is plenty of parking and it is located closer to the Hamvention than the downtown Dayton hotels. The Hope Hotel is adjacent to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Guests do not go through the security gate.

We have spent almost two years working on this project and we believe you will enjoy the change of venue.

Room reservations will be taken by the Hope Hotel starting on Tuesday June 8, 2021 at 9 AM EDT. Do not call them before that time. You can get room reservations by phone only. If you try to book on line you will see that there are no rooms for those dates. Every room in the Hope Hotel has been blocked for Contesters and DXers for Hamvention week.  Starting Tuesday June 8, 2021 at 9 AM EDT, you can call 937-879-2696 and ask for a reservation in the Contest University 2022 room block. There is no minimum night commitment. The room rate is $143 per night plus tax and that includes a hot buffet breakfast each day of your stay. The room rate is the same for a single queen, two queens or a single king with a pull out.

If you have 2022 reservations at the Crowne Plaza (now the Radisson Hotel Dayton) you can contact the Radisson  at (937) 224-0800 to cancel and obtain any refunds. The Radisson is aware of the venue change for our activities.

Please spread the word to all Contest Club reflectors, etc.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday night, May 18, 2022, for the first night of the 2022 Contest Super Suite at the Hope Hotel.

https://www.hopehotel.com/ 

73,

Tim K3LR

For the Contest Hotel Committee

New England Digital Swap Net, Time Change

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From Algonquin ARC QRZ Newsletter, June 2021:

Please note the time change for the DMR New England Digital Swap Net:

WHEN: MONDAY NIGHTS at 7:30 PM for 1 hour

WHERE: NEDECN “NEW ENGLAND WIDE” 3181 TALK GROUP

NET CONTROLS: K1NR, WA1NVC, N1JAF, NE1B

https://groups.io/g/NewEnglandDigitalSwapNet

You can read the For Sale items and if you join, you can post For Sale items.

Foxbox-1 Has Escaped the Den and is in Hiding Once Again, Chicopee MA Vicinity

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Hampden Co RA logoKen Dion, KD1KU, writes on the HCRA mailing list:

Attention Foxhunters!

As of 1500 hrs, June 4th, HCRA Foxbox #1 has escaped from the den and has gone back into hiding!

That sneaky fox is running one watt into an 18-inch antenna. I was able to wake it from its slumber with 50 watts in my mobile at the intersection of Memorial Drive & Pendleton Ave in Chicopee, MA., co-ordinates 42.18646, -72.57745. FB1 is running one watt into an 18-inch antenna. To activate the FB1 go to the simplex frequency of 147.550 MHz (PL 100.0Hz), key your transmitter, identify yourself with your callsign then press the DTMF “1”.

If the Fox can hear you (and you can hear it) you will hear its very distinctive sound. It will transmit for 30 seconds, ID and then repeat 2 more times and then go back to sleep. You can make it transmit as often as necessary to locate it.

This is a good opportunity for base stations to get in on the fun. If you can hear the fox please give its signal strength and direction if possible. Please do not reveal its location, just a location where you can hear it from, this then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use. It’s just as important for the hunters to know where it CANNOT be heard as well as where it CAN be heard!

If you locate the Foxbox, you do not have to touch it to claim finding it. Eyeball contact is sufficient but please post a photo (not revealing its location) as there may be other hunters still out there. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location.

Announce it and post the photo here on this group and on thegroups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters
<http://groups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters?fbclid=IwAR30fmV8_w0SOPK2qsnFm-0lIJCd9WJs-LY7xr2hGh57mRg9K6a9L-6A7mM> group that you found it along with any comments and a pic of FB1 (not showing its location). We want to know who has found it. It’s in a publicly accessible location with nearby safe parking. Getting to either FB may require a short walk on mostly flat ground. Please do not post the frequency or PL on social media, websites, or email lists.

ALL Fox Hunters are welcomed to participate regardless of affiliation!

Happy Hunting!

Ken, KD1KU

Call for Section Manager, Director, Vice Director Nominations

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ARRL logoARRL Members in the Western Massachusetts Section will have the opportunity to choose a Section Manager, Director, and Vice Director, while members in other New England sections will have the opportunity to choose a Director and Vice Director. Nomination notices were published in the July 2021 issue of QST on page 67 and 68 for Section Manager, Director, and Vice Director along with instructions for submitting nominating petitions.

In Western Massachusetts, Section Manager nomination petitions must contain the signatures of five or more full ARRL members residing in the section. A sample nomination petition is available on the ARRL website at <http://www.arrl.org/sectio-terms-nomination-information>. Petitions must be received by September 10, 2021. If more than one member is nominated, ballots will be mailed from Headquarters no later than October 1, 2021 to full members of record as of September 10, 2021. Returns will be counted November 23, 2021. A Section Manager elected as a result of this procedure will take office on January 1, 2022. If only one valid petition is received from a Section, that nominee shall be declared elected without opposition for a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2022.

In New England, ARRL members will have the opportunity to choose a Director and a Vice Director to represent them for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2022. Any full ARRL member may request official nominating petitions starting July 1, 2021 by letter or email to <cpereira@arrl.org>. Requests must be received no later than August 13, 2021, and completed forms received no later than August 20, 2021. If there is only one eligible candidate for an office, that candidate shall be declared elected for a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2022. If there are multiple candidates, official ballots and candidates’ statements will be mailed no later than October 1, 2021. Completed ballots must be received by November 19, 2021. The Director and Vice Director candidate(s) receiving the most votes will be declared the winners that day.

The incumbent Western Massachusetts Section Manager is Raymond Lajoie, KB1LRL, Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

The incumbent New England Division Director is Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, Lincoln, Massachusetts.

The incumbent New England Division Vice Director is Phil Temples, K9HI, Watertown, Massachusetts.

 

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