SHAFTSBURY — Ham radio operators from the Southern Vermont Amateur Radio Club (SOVARC) and the Greater Bennington County Area will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 2 p.m. on Saturday until 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 28 and 29. The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/field-day), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States. [Full story]
Field Day
Don’t Miss These Bonus Points at Field Day!
Shawn Dodds, N1CVO, writes:
This year, your club can get up to an extra 200 points for sending formal messages (radiograms) from the Field Day site over amateur RF. Last year, I helped one club do this. This year, I’d like to do more.
I’ve been doing ‘Virtual NTS training’ (https://groups.io/g/VNTN) for the past couple of months over Zoom, and thought that maybe I could help other clubs in the area by doing an abbreviated training session focused on Field Day radiograms.
I’ve put a little web page at https://www.qsl.net/n1cvo/
It is intended for clubs in Massachusetts, but there is also interest from clubs in other states. We will be recording the Zoom meetings and posting the link to the FDNTS page referenced above. On Field Day Saturday, there will be a special Field Day traffic net on the MMRA network at 4pm, 6pm and potentially 8pm.
If you want a head start, there is a good intro to creating and voicing radiograms at: https://www.k8amh.com/wp-
73,
Shawn – N1CVO
Is Your Club on the Map?
Use the ARRL Field Day Site Locator to make in-person connections during the event! With a little more than a month to go until the big weekend, there are almost 650 sites listed on the locator. To search for a site near you, just go to the map and zoom in on your area. Click on the red map pins for details about each site. To add information to the locator, click on “Add a Station”
Check it out www.arrl.org/field-day-locator.
CT Insider: “These Connecticut residents are reaching out to people across the world through ham radio”
Rick Bressler [of the Greater Bridgeport (CT) ARC] has spoken to people in 310 countries since 2007, though “spoken to” is not the phrase he would use. Bressler would say he’s contacted, or “worked” operators in 301 countries. [Full story]
North Shore Radio Association (MA) Field Day!
From the North Shore Radio Association Facebook page:
K1EMS making a second attempt at an ISS pass #ARRLFD #hamradio #amateurradio
Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Coordination Message #2, June 21-23, 2024
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on SKYWARN_Announce:
Hello to all…
..The following is the second in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 20 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..This year’s Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend will feature the risk for Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It will remain warm and humid over most of Southern New England with some relief in Northeast Massachusetts Friday Afternoon into Saturday before warm and humid conditions resume there for Sunday. A Heat Advisory remains in effect through 7 PM for Northern Connecticut, Hampden, Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts for heat indices to 95 degrees.
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Western and Central Massachusetts, Connecticut and interior Rhode Island in a Marginal Risk for severe weather Friday. Threat timeframe between 1-8 PM Friday. SPC has placed Western, Central and interior Northeast Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut in a marginal risk for severe weather Saturday. Threat timeframe 1-8 PM Saturday as well. SPC has placed all of Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather. Timing will be better known for Sunday’s severe weather potential on Saturday..
..Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours leading to urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats this weekend..
..At this time, not every Field Day site will see a shower, thunderstorm or severe weather and a widespread washout is not expected. Some Field Day sites could be dry all weekend but other Field Day sites could be quite wet depending on where showers and thunderstorms develop. This will be monitored throughout the weekend..
..At this time, not every Field Day site will see a shower, thunderstorm or severe weather and a widespread washout is not expected. Some Field Day sites could be dry all weekend but other Field Day sites could be quite wet depending on where showers and thunderstorms develop. This will be monitored throughout the weekend..
..Any thunderstorms have lightning potential which is a safety hazard for all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to guard their local Amateur Radio SKYWARN frequency and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts during the course of this Field Day weekend including by cell phone/Internet and NOAA Weather Radio..
..Conditions will be warm and humid Friday through Sunday though not as hot as earlier this week particularly in areas of Northeast Massachusetts which will have less heat and humidity Friday and into Saturday before becoming warm and humid again. Portions of Western Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northern Rhode Island may continue to have heat similar to the previous days through Friday before conditions cool slightly Saturday but remain warm and humid over this time period..
..Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Friday Afternoon and Evening in interior Southern New England for the severe weather and flood potential and possible Saturday through this weekend. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend and activate as needed to guard Amateur Radio Field Day sites to provide weather information as well as to gather reports meeting SKYWARN reporting criteria throughout this weekend..
Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region.
Amateur Radio Field Day Information: https://www.arrl.org/field-day
Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: https://www.arrl.org/field-
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: https://ema.arrl.org/field-
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory: https://ema.arrl.org/field_
On Wednesday, severe weather activity which was expected to stay north of Southern New England spilled into Northwest and North-Central Massachusetts with pockets of wind damage and flooding noted across parts of Franklin, Hampshire and Northwest Worcester Counties. See the Amateur Radio Report log and Local Storm Report info below:
WX1BOX Amateur Radio Log:
NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report:
Thursday saw the severe weather coverage increase in area with pockets of wind damage and hail across Western, North-Central and Northeast Massachusetts. See the Amateur Radio Report log and Local Storm Report info below:
WX1BOX Amateur Radio Report log:
NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report:
For Friday as we enter into Amateur Radio Field Day weekend, the thunderstorm and greatest severe weather potential will be across Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and North-Central Rhode Island. For Saturday, the greatest severe weather potential is Western, Central and interior Northeast Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut and for Sunday all of Southern New England has the potential for thunderstorms and severe weather. Here is a breakdown of potential hazards by each day:
Friday Afternoon and Evening:
The Severe Thunderstorm potential maybe a bit more isolated, perhaps similar to Wednesday of this week. It will be dependent on the frontal position that will bring cooler air into Northeast Massachusetts and amount of shear that overlaps with greater instability in the marginal risk area. Threat timeframe is 1-8 PM. In addition to the severe weather and lightning potential, flooding from very heavy downpours will bear close watching for flooding issues in areas that get repeated downpours.
Saturday Afternoon and Evening:
This will depend on what occurs Friday and if the front that will be over the region separating warmer and more humid air from somewhat cooler air shifts northeast or holds its current position. If it shifts northeast, much of Southern New England would have thunderstorm and severe weather potential. If it doesn’t shift much, the current area of Marginal Risk denoted by SPC will be the impacted area and this will be updated in future updates. Threat timeframe is 1-8 PM like Friday.
Sunday Afternoon and Evening:
This could be a day where much of Southern New England has severe weather potential but will depend on prior day’s convection, cloud debris, frontal position/triggering mechanism etc. and will be better known as we get to Saturday. Wind shear profiles appear a bit stronger for Sunday. All of Southern New England has a marginal risk for severe weather per SPC. Hazard timing will be better known on Saturday.
While not as hot as earlier in the week, it will still be warm and humid for outdoor activities over the Field Day weekend period so Field Day sites should have plenty of liquids on hand and a place nearby to cool down whether it be a building or cars with AC to stay cool from the heat. Heat tips and safety guidelines are also included in this message. Northeast Massachusetts will have the most relief from the heat Friday into Saturday but the heat will return there as we get into Sunday.
SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Friday Afternoon and Evening in interior Southern New England for the severe weather and flood potential and possible Saturday through this weekend. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend and activate as needed to guard Amateur Radio Field Day sites to provide weather information as well as to gather reports meeting SKYWARN reporting criteria throughout this weekend. Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook, SPC Day-1, Day-2 and Day-3 Convective Outlooks and NWS Norton Heat Advisory Statement:
NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box
https://www.weather.gov/erh/
SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
SPC Day-3 Convective Outlook:
NWS Boston/Norton Heat Advisory Statement:
Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, monitor various cell phone weather apps where Amateur Operators may have those available and have a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN frequency for their area as a best safety and preparedness practice as there is a threat for thunderstorm development and any thunderstorm can be a threat to the safety of Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Also sites that have mobile Internet capability can utilize that capability as a way to monitor for weather information. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful as well. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
https://wx1box.org/southern-new-england-skywarn-frequency-list/ During setup and takedown of Amateur Radio Field Day sites and even while operating, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat accordingly. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat
https://wx1box.org/southern-
https://www.weather.gov/
With the thunderstorm threat for this weekend, now is the time to remind folks that lightning is a threat to any and all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Remember your lightning safety tips and details on lightning safety can be seen at the following link and we have also added a link from last year’s NWS Boston/Norton Lightning Safety Awareness Week and Public Information Statements on Lightning Safety and will update with this year’s statements in a future coordination message. See links below:
https://www.weather.gov/
The next Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day weekend coordination message will be posted by 10 AM Saturday Morning due to likely SKYWARN Operations this afternoon and evening. We hope the Amateur Radio community participating in Field Day has a great weekend!
Respectfully Submitted,Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio
The Berkshire Eagle: “Ham radio operators conducting field day”
“Ham radio operators from the Northern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22, until 1 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at the Agricultural Fair Grounds, 371 Old Columbia St., Adams, MA. [Full story]
