Phil Temples

Prepare for Henri

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SKYWARN logoEastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator and SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on Facebook on August 20, 2021:

If you live in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, now is the time to prepare for Henri and expected far reaching impacts. Along and east of the track – damaging winds, possibility for severe weather and coastal storm surge flooding. And yes, even though the official track is over near the eastern tip of Long Island NY to the CT/RI border, a hurricane is not a point and we will be on the stronger east side of the system.

Remember Irene, Sandy and even Isaias last year. There will be impacts in the region. On what degree or scale, still subject for change but we should be prepared. If it ends up being less than full significant potential, we will be ready for the next big potential weather event. Also, with the current weather pattern in place, I would not be surprised if we are doing this again for another tropical system between now and mid-October so take the time to prepare.

For my friends that are SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators, were counting on you to deliver again with the reports, pictures, videos etc. per the SKYWARN reporting criteria and gives the ground truth of what’s really happening with Henri in our region.

Stay safe, get prepared and hope to talk to many of you during Henri Ops. I’ll try and update again as we get closer to operations time.

[Monitor the latest bulletins about Henri and other severe weather in Southern New England by visiting http://wx1box.org/.]

FCC Application Fees Unlikely to Go into Effect Until 2022

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From ARRL Web:

08/16/2021 – The schedule of FCC amateur radio application fees likely will not go into effect before 2022. FCC staff confirmed during a recent virtual meeting with Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) that the agency is still working on the necessary changes to the Universal Licensing System (ULS) software and other processes and procedures that must be in place before it starts collecting fees from amateur applicants. Earlier this year, the FCC said it would not start collecting fees from amateur applicants before this summer. The new estimate is that the fees won’t go into effect until early next year.

Once it’s effective, the $35 application fee will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. All fees will be per application. Administrative update applications, such as those to change a licensee’s name, mailing, or email address, will be exempt from fees. ARRL VEC manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not face the burden of collecting the $35 fee.

“Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the exam session fee to the VE team as usual, but they’ll pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC using the FCC Pay Fees system,” she explained. When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10 days from the date of the email to pay.

After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link will be good for 30 days. Licensees also will be able to view, download, and print official license copies by logging into their FCC ULS account. The FCC no longer provides printed licenses.

Licensees can log into the ULS with their 10-digit FRN (FCC Registration Number) and password at any time to view and manage their license and application, print their license, and update anything in their FCC license record, including adding an email address.

FEE SCHEDULE

INDIVIDUALS

$35 FEE: New, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. All fees will be per application.

NO FEE: Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, or license cancellation.

AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS

$35 FEE: New, renewal, trustee change, and vanity call sign applications. All fees will be per application.

NO FEE: Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, or license cancellation

NZ1J: POTA Operation from Sleeping Giant, Wharton Brook State Parks, August 14, 2021

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Dave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the Meriden (CT) ARC Facebook group:

We had a [Parks On The Air] activation at Sleeping Giant [K-1717] and Wharton Brook [K-1728]  simultaneously today.

Rob, K1RCT, hunted both activations from the EOC. The parks are only two miles apart and the EOC is four miles from each park. At these short distances, even with portable antennas, we were able to work every band from 160 meters to 70cm on each of the three paths. That, along with QSOs with quite a few club members, resulted in about 200 total QSOs. For anyone who wants to get on the air more, Parks on the Air is a very good way to do it. 

map of POTA operations

YCCC Meeting Agenda Announced at HamXposition

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Yankee Clipper Contest Club logoThe Yankee Clipper Contest Club has announced its meeting agenda for the YCCC Forum at the Northeast HamXposition (a.k.a. New England ARRL Division Convention) on September 11, 2021:

Hosts: Charlie – N1RR and Ken – WO1N
1:00 – 1:10 Intro and greeting by WO1N
1:10 – 1:20 Club Business as required by N1RR

– Secretaries Report
– Treasurer Report
– New Members
o Intro
o Vote
– Other Club Business

1:20 – 1:25 Transition

1:30 – 2:55 Contesting Activities for Young People, Helping to Create the Next Generation of Contesters

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
Fred will share some contesting activities he has employed that have helped to get young people to begin participating in Amateur Radio Contests. He will share activities that have proven successful and use this forum and panel discussion as a place to exchange ideas to encourage young hams to try contesting, have fun, build their skills and beat the old timers at their game. The panel of youth contesters will be available for questions and answers and offer their opinions on what has worked for them to improve their contesting skill and the future of contesting as they see it.

Youth Contesters Panel
Moderator: Marty Sullaway, NN1C
Contesters: Abby Finchum, AB1BY, Brayden Ebare, KC1KUG

2:55 – 3:00 Transition

3:05 – 3:50 Building an entry level, multi radio contest station

Jeff Demers, N1SNB
Jeff describes his quest to build a HF contesting station that is stealthy and capable. Jeff’s station goals included SO2R capability, mode flexibility, high power capable and covering all HF bands. Join Jeff’s talk to hear of some of the lessons from his journey and how this effort enhanced his enjoyment of the hobby.

4:00 – 4:50 Why Join the YCCC?

Ken Caruso, WO1N
Ken will talk to the YCCC value proposition. What does joining the YCCC have to offer? Ken will review its community presence, activities and history. Membership applications will be entertained during the entire meeting. Stop by and join up!

4:50 – 5:00 Wrap up

Following Earthquake in Haiti, Radio Amateurs Asked to Keep Frequencies Clear

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From ARRL Web:

08/14/2021 – In a statement received by ARRL on August 14, 2021, Region 2 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU-R2) has requested that radio amateurs in the Americas keep the following frequencies clear to support emergency communications in Haiti following an earthquake this morning: 3750 kHz, 7150 kHz and 14330 kHz. The statement came from IARU-R2 Emergency Coordinator (EMCOR) Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC.

According to preliminary information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on August 14, 2021 at 1229 UTC, about 12 kilometers northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 33 kilometers to the east-northeast of Les Cayes, Haiti; 18.352 degrees north and 73.4801 degrees west at a depth of 10 km.

Mr. Jean-Robert Gaillard, HH2JR, President of the Radio Club of Haiti, reported significant structural damage.

International news reports fear high casualties.

ARRL Headquarters Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Connecticut Firefighter, KB1YYG/SK

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ARRL logoARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, writes on August 12, 2021:

It is tough when we lose young hams.  

An historic building in nearby New Hartford went to a 3-alarm fire on Tuesday morning.

As a result of risking his life to fight the fire, 26-year-old Burlington firefighter, Colin J. Mcfadden, KB1YYG, from Bristol, Connecticut has died from an injury he sustained.

Colin was an ARRL member.

We are flying the ARRL HQ flags at half-staff in acknowledgement and appreciation of his bravery and membership.

David Minster, NA2AA, CEO

Franklin Co. (MA) Members To Provide Public Service Communications for Two Events

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From wma.arrl.org:

Aaron Addison, KF1G, writes:

The Franklin County Amateur Radio Club will provide communications for two events soon to take place in our area. We welcome licensed amateurs who would like to join us.

On 20 August, the Franklin County Land Trust will host an off the beaten path bicycle tour, called the Deerfield Dirt Road Rondonee (D2R2). It is part of their fund raising efforts. As the name of the tour suggests, it is mostly over dirt roads, in rural towns of western Franklin County and up into southern Vermont. Radio communications are necessary for key points along the tour where cell phone service is not available. At those points, our communicators will be the only way the Franklin Land Trust staff can send or receive messages to and from the base for the race in Deerfield.

The tour consists of three routes: 100k, 160k, and 180k. The first group of riders start at 6 AM, and the last rider may return as late as 6 PM. We will not cover that entire time period. We will ask radio volunteers to work in shifts. Volunteers may occasionally be asked to bring equipment, water, or food to remote stops along the way

On 29 August, the Connecticut River Conservancy and the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club sponsor a traditional, 26 mile marathon. It starts at the campus of the former Marlboro Community College, in Marlboro, VT, and follows a path along the banks of the Green River, over mostly dirt roads. Our club members, with help from others, will help with the needs of the race staff, many positioned at water stops along the way. We are also there to call for help if needed by runners in distress.

For the D2R2, contact Al Woodhull, N1AW, at aswoodhull@yahoo.com, or 413-773-3522.
For the Green River Marathon, contact Chris Myers, KB1NEK, at camyers@protonmail.com, or 413-625-0344
More information on the Groups.IO site, at FCARC-MA, in the FILES section.