Operating

K2H, Massachusetts 13 Colonies Special Event, July 1-7, 2021

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2021 K2H QSL CardLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

Are you looking for that perfect, post Field Day ham radio activity? Then working the 13 Colonies special event stations is perfect for you!

Each July 1 through July 7, the 13 original colony states activate on all bands and modes for you to work them. Plus you can chase the three extra 13 Colonies stations where there is one each in Philadelphia, England and France.

This is a very fun activity. The action the first few days can create some overwhelming pile ups. If you can not get through, please be patient and try again later or another day. All the ops are trying to work everyone they can hear. They want to work you and will make every effort to do so.

If you work them all, it’s called a “clean sweep.” You can earn a certificate by sending $5 to KU2US. You can also send an SASE to each of the states to get back a unique QSL card. Each year there is a different theme and a new card is created. Combining the certificate with the QSL cards makes for some fancy wall paper!

But you can receive a certificate by working just one of the 13 colony stations. You do not need a clean sweep to get a certificate.

This year Massachusetts will be active once again as K2H. There are 20 operators all over the state. You’ll hear us on CW, SSB, FT8 and other modes. Work us and send in your SASE QSL request to the info on the K2H QRZ.com page.

Team K2H looks forward to hearing and working you on the bands between July 1 and July 7, 2021!

N1JUR: POTA Activation, Maudslay State Park K-2447, Newburyport, MA

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Today, Eric Pfiefer, N1JUR, of Merrimack, NH, activated Maudslay State Park K-2447 in Newburyport, MA for Parks On The Air. He operated on 20 meters around 14.241 MHz. “Twenty meters was difficult today. I was able to just get the park activated. Whew!”
 
Eric hopes to activate Salisbury Beach State Reserve (K-8428) tomorrow (June 18, 2021). 
 
“If anyone’s around I’ll spot myself on the POTA.app.”

Mt. Agamenticus, K-8448, Ogunquit, ME Activated for Parks On The Air

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AB1DQ vehicle on Mt. Agamenticus for POTA activationJames Surprenant, AB1Q, writes on the Meriden ARC Facebook page:
 
Thanks to everyone who worked or tried to work my first POTA activation today at Mt. Agamenticus in Ogunquit, ME (K-8448).
 
In two hours I made 18 contacts, not stellar, but not bad. All contacts were on 40M at 7.232 MHz, running 100 watts from my mobile installed FT891 to either a Buddistick or my lip mounted ATAS-120 on the rear hatch of my MINI.
 
5 contacts were with Ontario stations, 4 were with NY operators, 2 with ME and PA stations , and 1 each with hams in DE, MD, NJ, OH and TN.
 
It was an absolutely gorgeous morning atop the mountain (well, the peak is less 1000 feet ASL, but who am I to judge?). Mega thanks to KC1NQE, NZ1J and WB8IMY for showing me the way!
 
This could become habit forming!
 
73 de AB1DQ/James

Meriden ARC Fox Hunters Get It Done

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Meriden ARC fox huntersDave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the Meriden ARC Facebook page:

Bart, N1BRL, and Joe, K1JCF, were the Foxes this week. They both did a very good job of staying out of sight while keeping an eye on the transmitters.

Gunner, KC1OSR, got four apprentice Fox Hunters to join him today. It’s great to see so many new faces on a hunt.

As is often the case, more than half the hunters were somewhere else when we posed for the photo. -NZ1J

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]

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

Norfolk County (MA) Radio Association Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary With Special Event Operation

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From ema.arrl.org;

The Norfolk County Radio Association is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a special event operation from 0000 UTC June 5 to 2359 UTC June 12, 2021 on the suggested frequencies of 3.825, 7.225, 14.235, 21.285, and 28.325 MHz as well as other frequencies at the discretion of club members.  Club members will operate their own stations using the club call W1AGR during this operating event. A special QSL will be available with an SASE to the club station trustee, K1HC, 422 Everett Street, Westwood, MA 02090. 

The club had its beginnings in Norwood, MA in 1921 when a group of young radio amateurs gathered to exchange ideas and help each other build their home-made radio equipment.  It originally became affiliated with the ARRL two years later, in 1923.  The club grew to include hams from local area towns and then re-organized in 1932, calling themselves the Norfolk County Radio Association.  The spirit of those early years continues today; its members are always ready to help others and mentor new hams getting started in amateur radio. NCRA members have made memorable contributions to amateur radio in technology and communications, including support for various public service needs such as municipal events, SKYWARN reporting, Red Cross, and local disaster training. 

Congratulations to the Norfolk County Radio Association for reaching this historic milestone. 

 

HCRA Foxboxes Deployed in Chicopee, MA Vicinity, May 28, 2021

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Hampden Co RA logoKen Dion, KD1KU, writes on the Hampden County RA Facebook page on May 28, 2021 at 2:45 PM:
 
Attention all fox hunters: HCRA Foxbox1 and Foxbox2 have gone into hiding! Both are located somewhere within the City of Chicopee, MA.
 
I would like to issue a special challenge to all hunters (and future hunters) to locate both Foxboxes this Memorial Day weekend! Are you up to the task?
 
FB1 and FB2 are transmitting on the 2-meter simplex frequency of 147.55 with one watt into a duck-type antenna. PL tones and additional details can be found at the link below.
 
For more details go to https://groups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters.
 
Happy Hunting!?