Month: September 2021

Navy History Day Morse Code Demo, Portsmouth NH, September 18, 2021

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Sign for USS-Albacore Submarine Park, Portsmouth NHKriss Kliegle, KA1GJU, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

Saturday, September 18th at the USS Albacore Submarine Park is Navy History Day.

We have been asked to demonstrate Morse code to the younger (and possibly older) visitors to the park.

Hours are from 10 AM to 3 PM and some knowledge of Morse code would be essential. With a code oscillator (I have one) we can demonstrate code and interact with visitors.

Would be better if we break up the times so one of us doesn’t have to be there all day. Any takers? 

Thank you!
73 Kriss KA1GJU

Hampden County (MA) RA FoxBox Deployed, September 4, 2021

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Ken Dion, KD1KU, writes on the HCRA mailing list:

A challenge has been issued to all hunters to find both Foxboxes! Who will be the first to find either FB1 or FB2?

As of 1700hrs, September 4th, HCRA Foxbox-1 has gone into hiding over the Labor Day Weekend and into next week!

It’s about time we get both HCRA Fox Boxes back into hiding so hunters from the HCRA are out trying to locate that diabolical fox!

HINT, I was able to wake it from its slumber with 50 watts in my mobile from a few areas along Memorial Drive (Rte.33) in Chicopee, MA.

FB1 is running one watt into an 18-inch antenna. To activate FB1 go to the 2-meter simplex frequency of 147.550 MHz (PL 100.0Hz), key your transmitter, identify yourself with your call sign 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 before going 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!

When you locate the Fox Box you do not have to touch it to claim finding it. Eyeball contact is sufficient with a photo for good measure. The photo should not reveal its location as there might be other hunters out there still trying to find it. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location. Announce it and post a photo on the https://groups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters and the HCRA Facebook Group that you found it along with any comments other than its location. We want to know who has found it and who hasn’t.

I can tell you it’s in a publicly accessible location with nearby safe parking. Getting to FB-1 may require a short walk on mostly flat ground.

Please do not post the frequency or PL on social media, websites, or email lists.

Note: Larry, W1AST will be hiding FB-2 first thing Sunday morning, so watch for his announcement.

ALL Fox Hunters are welcomed to participate!

Happy Hunting!

Ken, KD1KU

Fox Active in Nashua NH, September 4, 2021

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Wayne Grant, KB1HYL, writes on the Granite State ARA list at 8:11 AM on September 4, 2021:

Just letting you know that the fox is out of its cage.  It’s in Nashua, Mine Falls Park, west of the Everett Turnpike.

When you find it, would you please sign the log book with your name, call sign, date and time.  Then, if you would, please replace the camouflage over it to make it not too obvious for the next person.

 I’ll be shutting it down around 7 PM today.  (If I can find it ;^)

73

Wayne – KB1HYL

 

ARRL Responds to Story of Radio Amateur Told to Remove His Antenna

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From ARRL Web:

09/02/2021 – ARRL has responded to an Orlando, Florida, news story on August 23, 2021 by WFTV Channel 9 alleging a radio amateur was told to remove his antenna by the management of his subdivision following a complaint made by a neighbor.

“The news story appears to stem from a 2-year-old complaint from a neighbor who believed her insulin pump had malfunctioned due to the radio amateur’s operations ‘a few doors down,’” said ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. “The story is lacking any details or timeline, so I contacted the radio amateur involved for information, and volunteered ARRL’s assistance.”

Hare explained that medical devices such as insulin pumps are regulated by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) purposes and are expected to be capable of operating in all the RF environments likely to be encountered by consumers. FDA published guidance for its staff and industry defines EMC with respect to electrically powered medical devices “as the ability of a device to function safely and effectively in its intended electromagnetic environment, including immunity to electromagnetic disturbance (interference).” FDA review of EMC information submitted with a device for approval “is based on the risk associated with EMC malfunction or degradation of the device under review, as well as the use of appropriate FDA-recognized standards or appropriate consensus standards.”

Hare noted there is an FDA recall for the model number of the insulin pump in question, in approximately the same time frame. “But with so few details, there is no way of knowing whether that recall applies to the serial number used or whether the exact unit has the mechanical defect indicated in the recall notice that could cause the malfunction,” explained Hare.

It also became apparent that there is no actual evidence connecting the amateur’s transmissions to operation of the insulin pump. Hare was told that the amateur agreed to run tests to establish whether there was a cause and effect, but the neighbor declined. 

Hare commented, “While there are no requirements for a radio amateur to stop transmitting due to alleged interference to a non-radio device, the preferred path with any complaint is for neighbors to work together.”

 

Tally-Ho! Fox is Hiding in Windsor, CT Vicinity, September 3, 2021

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Rod Bungard, N1RUU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on September 3, 2021 at at 4:42 PM:

Greetings Fox hunters, Happy Labor day weekend!
 
Fox #5 PL 123.0
 
Is out hiding, the fox is running 1.5 watts into a 18 inch antenna. Your first try may be from home. You do this by going on the 2-meter simplex frequency of 146.550 MHz (PL 123.0), key your transmitter, ID and then send a DTMF “1”. If the FoxBox can hear you and you can hear it, you will hear its very distinctive sound. It will transmit for 30 seconds, ID and then go back to sleep. You can make it transmit as often as necessary to find it.

Once someone has been able to bring it up and hear it, please report that information to the other fox hunters. Feel free to reply to the group. Do not reveal its location, just a location (and direction if possible) from which you are able to hear it. This then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use.

You do not actually have to touch the box to claim finding it. If you hunt the Fox please log to this group even if you don’t find it.

Hint: Located in the Town of East Windsor.

2021 Surftown Half Marathon, Westerly, RI, September 12, 2021

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Surftown Half Marathon mapFrom the RASON mailing list:

Almost two dozen amateurs will participate in providing communications for the Surftown Half Marathon, east of the Misquamicut State Beach in the vicinity of the new Wuskenau Westerly Town Beach, 311 Atlantic Ave., and Sam’s Snack Bar. 

“Look for the Westerly Police Mobile Command vehicle.  Please make sure your radios are programmed and remember to get in early because of the road closures.  See the attached maps and notices for details,” writes Jim Creamer, KB1MAO, Washington County DEC and RI Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator.