“Westfield ham radio operator logs contacts from across country at scenic river”

POTA activation, "MassLive.com"From MassLive.com:

HUNTINGTON — Ham radio enthusiasts Roy Thompson (call sign KD1RT) of Westfield and Tom Barker (WA1HRH) of New Hampshire were at a pulloff by the Westfield River in Huntington this week, activating a portable site in the back of their car for Parks on the Air, a nonprofit that promotes the use of amateur radio in state and national parks. [Full story]

New England QSO Party, May 6-7, 2023

New England state mapMark your calendars for the New England QSO Party on May 6-7, 2023. The object is to contact as many New England stations (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) in as many New England counties as possible on 80-40-20-15-10m. (New England stations work anyone.)

Station categories include single-operator high power; low power (150w or less); and QRP (5w or less), plus multi-operator, single transmitter. Same four categories for mobiles in New England. Use of spotting assistance is permitted in all categories. But self-spotting is not permitted.

For more information, visit <https://neqp.org>.

Revised NH ARRL Website Needs Your Pictures

One of the goals of the New Hampshire ARRL field organization is to promote Amateur Radio. This includes sharing the accomplishments, capabilities and interests of both New Hampshire individuals and clubs to those outside of Amateur Radio.

We are in the process of revising the New Hampshire Section website (www.NHRADIO.org) and we need your help.

There is nothing better to spark interest in our hobby than through photos of hams in action. With this goal in mind, I am calling on individuals and clubs to submit digital photos for possible use as page backgrounds or to be highlighted in our photo gallery. We have created a way to easily upload your photos. Go to this link…

https://www.nhradio.org/nhimages/

The photos must be appropriate for publication and should “tell a story at first glance.” We are especially interested in action photos, but all pictures of Ham Radio activities are welcome for consideration. We will give credit to the photographer or the person/club who submitted the picture. Please only submit pictures that you took, or that you have permission from the photographer to submit.

Have an original story to tell along with your photo? You should direct it to Al Shuman at akshuman@comcast.net.

——————————————————————–
ARRL New Hampshire Section
Section Manager: Peter J Stohrer, W1FEA
w1fea@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Port City ARC Fox Hunt, Portsmouth NH Vicinity, April 15, 2023

Port City ARC logoNeil Collesidis, AA1SB, writes on the Port City ARC (NH) mailing list:

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Fox Hunt this Saturday, April 15, 2023 10am local.

I figure I’ll go somewhere within a certain radius—say, 7 miles?—from the W1WQM clubhouse and turn on the fox beacon at 10 AM.

I’ll use the simplex frequency of 146.445. (Unless someone says “NO! You shouldn’t use that! Use xxx.xxx!”)

Sound reasonable? I’ll also monitor the club repeater to see who is participating and who is left looking for me. 

If it ends up being quick, we can do a second round. 

72,

Neil AA1SB/fox

Massachusetts VOTA Week, April 12-19, 2023

Volunteer On The Air logoFrom ema.arrl.org:

Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

Massachusetts is ready and anxious to work everyone during its spring VOTA (Volunteers On The Air) week starting Wednesday, April 12th and going through Tuesday, April 19th.

We have a team of 17 amateurs that will be operating on all bands on multiple modes. We even have hams located in “other” states remoting through transmitters located in Massachusetts through K1TTT and some other stations.

We will be operating as W1AW/1 and per VOTA rules, each contact will be worth 5 points. Those of the team ops that have field or other positions may also be running their own call alongside the W1AW/1 to give you additional points as well. For example, if I am operating I can also run as my own call W1AST and not only give you the state W1AW/1 for 5 points contact but a 30-point contact as well. This is up to each VOTA MA op if they decide to do so.

All the points are calculated via LOTW submissions. There are no paper logs and no physical QSL cards; it’s all done via LOTW.

Watch for the spots being posted and find W1AW/1 and work us. I hope to hear you on the air!

73,

Larry, W1AST
VOTA MA Manager

Fox Hunt, Colchester CT, April 8, 2023

Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list:

A foxhunt is a high-tech game of hide and seek where you use direction finding equipment to locate hidden transmitters. SECARS will be hosting a foxhunt on Saturday, April 8 at noon – at Zagray Farm – 544 Amston Rd., Colchester, CT. This foxhunt will have several transmitters hidden around the field at varying levels of difficulty to enable beginners and challenge experienced foxhunters. This will be an on-foot foxhunt. For those who have never tried foxhunting before, there will be experienced hunters to help you. You do not need to bring gear if you do not have it – we have extra equipment that we can loan you and show you how to use. Transmitters will be hidden in accessible areas – minimal to no bushwhacking will be required. Transmitter frequencies and other parameters are listed below.

If you have any questions, please contact Mark KE1IU at KE1IUMark@gmail.com.

Many thanks,

-Mark

 
Fox  Owner  Frequency (MHz)  3rd Harmonic (MHz)  Input PL  DTMF Activation  Power  Information
 C  K1DCT 147.455 442.365  CS  –  81 mW  3 sec. ON / 3 sec. OFF or ON 100%
 H  KE1IU 146.335 439.005  CS  –  1 mW  Tx ON 100% – 300 ft range + CW ID
 I  KE1IU 145.910 437.73  CS  –  25 mW  Tx ON 100% – 1 mile range
 J  KE1IU 146.585 439.755  CS  –  0.5 W  Tx ON one min; 5 seconds off – 2 mile range – CW ID
 K  KE1IU 146.565 439.695  CS  –  1 W  Tx ON one min – 5 seconds off – 2 mile range – CW ID
 L  K1DCT 147.420 442.26  CS 1 1 W  

NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training in New England

SKYWARN logoRob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SKYWARN_Announce list:

For the first time since the COVID19 pandemic started in March 2020, NWS Boston/Norton is now offering live/in-person classes for 2023. In addition, one virtual SKYWARN Class will be offered as well.

Additional SKYWARN Training classes are in planning. This includes the following locations:

New Bedford/Acushnet Mass area
Gardner MA
Walpole MA
Northeast HamXposition in Marlborough, Mass (Late August 2023)

The following is the current 2023 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training Class Schedule for the spring season. Please distribute widely to anyone interested in becoming a SKYWARN Spotter and we will update as additional classes are confirmed! We also noted that 1 class is full and waitlisted and we may consider additional classes near those areas later this year. Links to the schedule showing the full class list and the full class list appears below:

SKYWARN Training Schedule – 2023 – WX1BOX Link: https://wx1box.org/skywarn-training-schedule-2023/

SKYWARN Training Schedule – 2023 – NWS Boston/Norton Link: https://www.weather.gov/box/skywarn#fragment-2a

Full SKYWARN class list below:

Tuesday April 18th, 2023 – 630-830 PM:
Sandwich Police Department
255 Cotuit Road
Sandwich MA 02563
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581484685347

Wednesday April 19th, 2023 – 630-830 PM:
Spencer Town Hall – Great Hall
157 Main Street
Spencer, MA 01562
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581490302147

Thursday April 20th, 2023 – 600 PM-800 PM:
UMASS – Lowell Mark & Elisia Sabb
Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center
40 University Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581490673257

***This class is geared toward the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community***
Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 – 630-830 PM:
The Learning Center for the Deaf
848 Central Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581492599017

***This class is geared toward the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community***

Thursday May 4th, 2023 – 500-700 PM:
Providence Emergency Management Agency
591 Charles Street
Providence, RI 02904
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581492087487

Saturday May 6th, 2023 – 930-1130 AM:
Whitman Police Department
20 Essex Street
Whitman, MA 02382
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-597779242807

**Class Full – Join Wait List**
Tuesday May 9th, 2023 – 600-800 PM:
Springfield Public Safety Complex
1212 Carew Street
Springfield, MA 01104
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581494203817

**Class Full – Join Wait List**

Saturday May 13th, 2023 – 930-1130 AM:
Virtual SKYWARN Training Webinar via GoTo Webinar
Registration is required through the GoTo Webinar process at the
following link:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4366456872229693022

Tuesday May 16th, 2023 – 500-600 PM (Note: This class is limited to one
hour due to facility time constraints):
Oak Bluffs Public Library
56R School Street
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581495517747

Tuesday May 30th, 2023 – 600-800 PM:
Elmwood Community Center
1106 New Britain Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06110
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/west-hartford-skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-597918258607

Again, we will provide updates when new SKYWARN training classes are added to the schedule. Also, if specific groups are interested in a live or virtual class, the Amateur Radio Coordinator team would be able to support those groups as needed. Thanks to all for their support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wx1box

Seacoast Flea Market, Hampton NH, April 8, 2023

Port City ARC logoThe Port City Amateur Radio Club hosts an annual hamfest and flea market in April at the Saint James Masonic Lodge on 77 Tide Mill Road, Hampton, NH. Admission is $5 per person and children under 12 are admitted free. There are hourly door prize drawings as well as a grand prize drawing. All ticket holders are eligible to win, additional prize drawing tickets may be purchased for $5 each.

We have indoor and outdoor table space available and pre-registration is recommended. You can purchase table space using the seller’s application found at the bottom of this page.

The next hamfest/flea market will be held on April 8, 2023 from 8 am to 12 pm.

A VE Session will follow right after the flea market beginning at 1 pm.

For additional information, see https://w1wqm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-FLEA-MARKET-FLYER.pdf.

Fox Box 2 Deployed in the Manchester CT Vicinity, April 3, 2023

Gregory J Vinci, N1ZXL, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on Apr 3, 2023 at 2:13 PM:

Greetings Fox hunters,

Fox #2 PL 100.0

At its new location, the fox is running the usual 1 watt into a 18-inch antenna. Since there is no starting place for finding the hidden transmitter, all you can do is while going about your travels, periodically try to activate the hidden transmitter. Your first try may be from home. You do this by going on the 2-meter simplex frequency of 146.550 MHz (PL 100.0 MHz), 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. Eye ball contact is sufficient. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location. 

Good luck in the wilds of Manchester