All

Western MA March 2022 Section Managers Report

by

WMA Section logoWestern MA Section Manager Ray Lajoie, AA1SE, writes on the WMA ARRL Members list:

Happy March everyone! Spring is almost here. My March report is now online at <https://wma.arrl.org/blog/2022/02/28/section-managers-report-march-2022/>.

Keep your clubs healthy, get involved! Volunteer, teach, mentor.

The Marlboro Convention web is now online. Ticket are on sale May 1st.

Hope to see you at the Mt. Tom Hamfest.

Have a great month

73, Ray AA1SE

——————————————————————–
ARRL Western Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Raymond P Lajoie, AA1SE
aa1se@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

Joe Reisert, W1JR, Wins the February 2022 QST Cover Plaque Award

by

Feb. 2022 QST coverFrom ARRL Web:

02/28/2022 – The winning article for the February 2022 QST Cover Plaque award is “12- and 17-Meter Antenna Design,” by Joe Reisert, W1JR [from Amherst, New Hampshire].

The QST Cover Plaque Award — given to the author or authors of the most popular article in each issue — is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article today!

W2NAF: “Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop,” RATPAC Zoom Presentation, March 2, 2022

by

RATPAC logoWednesday, March 2, RATPAC Zoom Presentation 

Starts 10:00 PM AST / 9:00 PM EST / 8:00 PM CST / 7:00 PM MST / 6:00 PM PST / 5:00 PM AKST / 4:00 PM HST

TOPIC: Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop  https://hamsci.org/hamsci2022

Speaker/Presenter: Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF
                                 Assistant professor at the University of Scranton Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering

Be sure to check our future RATPAC scheduled presentation below.

  • This meeting will be recorded. By participating you consent to being recorded. 
  • Please change your display name to Your First Name, Call Sign (or organization) and Location, e.g. Dan K7REX Idaho. 
  • Please stay muted until ready to speak. Your space bar works like a PTT for unmuting
  • You may ask questions in chat; Please precede any questions with a Q:

Please Join Wednesday’s Zoom Meeting
Join Wednesday Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2128884758?pwd=VTE0ajAraG0rMyticmtwN2ZCdHZ3Zz09

Meeting ID: 212 888 4758
Passcode: WEDNESDAY

One tap mobile
+13462487799,,2128884758#,,,,*595910091# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,2128884758#,,,,*595910091# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 212 888 4758
Passcode: 595910091

Comment Period to be Re-Opened on Forest Service Fees

by

David Siddall, K3ZJ, writes:

The Forest Service sent a Notice to the Federal Register yesterday announcing that they will re-open the window for comments on the proposed new $1400 annual administrative fee.  This means that amateurs that may have missed the earlier comment period, or who wish to file additional arguments and information,  can submit new filings between March 1 and March 31.   A copy of the Notice to be published on March 1 is here: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-04254.pdf.  (This is completely public information.)

I notice that in several of the amateur comments sent me that there appears some confusion.  The proposed fee is a new and separate fee, not an increase to fees (such as rent) already being paid.  If adopted, the existing fee(s) – which generally have been around $130-140 annually for amateur uses – would have to be paid in addition to the new proposed annual administrative fee of $1400.  IMHO, the fee would be so high because the proposal is to include amateur uses equally with those of commercial wireless entities such as broadcasters, cellular providers and broadband entities that require a much more significant presence and greater Forest Service support than amateurs.  

[ARRL’s filed comments can be viewed at <https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FS-2022-0001-0749>.]

[Note: Beginning March 1, 2022, comments can be filed at <https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2022-0001-0001>.]

See also: ARRL to Oppose Forest Service Administative Fees for Amateur Facilities

Greater Bridgeport ARC’s New “CARES” Program to Provide Continuous Training to its Members

by

Greater Bridgeport ARC loogoThe Greater Bridgeport (CT) Amateur Radio Club has established a new program to provide continuous training to its members–both in the classroom and with on-air activities. 

“The program is called “CARES – Continuing Amateur Radio Education & Skills,” says GBARC Public Information Officer and Past President Emily Starbrook, N1DID. “It’s our commitment to our members to help them achieve their goals. CARES believes that no ham should be left behind. Once someone has made the commitment to become a ham, we will make sure they have the skills and technical access to make the most of ham radio.”

CARES will consist of two “tracks.” Track A will target new hams, while Track B will be for ham who are on the air:

 

Typical Track – Classroom Topics

Track A – Basic Skills

● Buying a handheld radio
● Programming your radio
● Power Supplies
● VHF/UHF Antennas
● How to make a tape measure
Yagi Antenna
● Introduction to Foxhunts
● DMR/D-Star/Fusion
● Q-Codes
● Moving on to your General
Class License

Track B – Skill Building

● HF Privileges for Technicians
● Intro to Soldering
● Make a Cable with PL-259s
● Baluns and Chokes
● How to make a J-Pole Antenna
● Building an arduino based
foxhunt transmitter
● CW keyers and decoders
● Operating digital modes
● Building a multi-band antenna
● APRS and Packet

 

Typical On-Air Track Activities

Track A – Basic Skills 

● Your first simplex contact
● Your first repeater contact
● New Ham Nets
● New Ham Ragchews
● Rookie Roundup Contests
● POTA/SOTA

Track B – Skill Building

● Simplex Nets
● Simulated Emergency Tests
● On-Air Group activities
● New England QSO Party
● Group POTA/LOTA
● Winter Field Day/Field Day
● Antenna Ranging

“The CARES program is for continuing education which doesn’t leave out the possibility of VE sessions,” says Starbrook. “But so much of what VEs do has moved online, so it is unlikely to become an in-person testing service anytime soon. Much self-paced training is available online that is highly effective for people who are motivated.” N1DID feels that GBARC will be much more effective in “offering help to people to navigate questions they have after they take advantage of those online resources.”

Amateur Radio in Ukraine Ordered Off the Air in State of Emergency

by
Ukrainian flagFrom ARRL Web:
 
02/24/2022 – A state of emergency was declared in Ukraine just prior to the Russian military invasion. Among other things, the February 24 decree from President Volodymyr Zelensky will remain in effect at least for 30 days and may be extended. As published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s unicameral legislative body, the state of emergency includes regulation of TV and radio activities and “a ban on the operation amateur radio transmitters for personal and collective use.”The decree also imposes a ban on mass events and on strikes and authorizes checking the documents of citizens, and if necessary, conducting searches on persons, vehicles, cargo, office space, and housing. A curfew could be imposed. “The situation changes rapidly,” IARU Region 1 Secretary Mats Espling, SM6EAN, said. “IARU Region 1 continues to monitor the development and expect all radio amateurs to follow their national laws and regulations.” 

 
 

FCC: Amateur Service Licensees May Not Use Radio Equipment to Commit Criminal Acts

by
FCC sealFrom ARRL Web:
 
02/24/2022 – The FCC Enforcement Bureau has re-issued an earlier reminder that licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services are prohibited from using radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts. The FCC did not indicate what, if anything, prompted the renewed Enforcement Advisory or if it was just a routine announcement.“The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted and socially beneficial purposes, including emergency communications and speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution,” the FCC said. “Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes.”

As it did in advisories in 2021, the Enforcement Bureau is reminding amateur licensees that they may not transmit, “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act” or “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.”

“Likewise, individuals operating radios in the Personal Radio Services, a category that includes Citizens Band radios, Family Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, are prohibited from using those radios “in connection with any activity which is against Federal, State or local law.

“Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal Radio Services in this manner may be subject to severe penalties, including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and, in some cases, criminal prosecution.

“To report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office or the FBI,” the FCC advised.