Hampden County RA/Franklin County ARC Potluck/Foxhunt/SOTA Event, September 19, 2021

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The Hampden County Radio Association is holding a Potluck/operating event at South Sugarloaf Mountain on Sunday, September 19, 2021 from 10:30 AM until 2:30 PM. 

“All members and friends of the Franklin County ARC and Hampden County Radio Association are welcome. Bring your spouse.  It’s a fun place for kids too.  Dogs are permitted on leash,” writes Larry Krainson, W1AST, HCRA President.

“Bring your [foxhunting] gear to Sunday’s Picnic & Radios. I plan on hiding a foxbox on the mountain somewhere. Foxbox 2 will be on 147.550 with a PL of 151.3. Pressing #1 on your keypad for a moment will activate the foxbox.  Take a picture of the foxbox or one with you in it and find me (W1AST) and show me.”

Parking on the summit is limited.  If you need a ride up, call on 146.52. RSVP to: <bc@councilman.com>.

“Please consider bringing something for the potluck.  We’ll be cooking burgers and hotdogs; bacon for the cheeseburgers while it lasts.  Also, please bring your favorite beverage (no alcohol).  Plenty of ice available,” Larry adds.

At 652′, South Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most accessible and popular scenic outlooks in the region. SOTA enthusiasts might want to activate nearby Pocumtuck Rock. <https://sotl.as/summits/W1/MB-015>.

Additional information about Mt Sugarloaf State Reservation can be found at: <https://www.mass.gov/locations/mount-sugarloaf-state-reservation>.

WBZ 100th Anniversary Special Event Operation, September 17-19, 2021

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WBZ 100 Year Anniversary logoLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

Just a reminder that this weekend is the WBZ 100th Anniversary special event! There will be four special event stations (W1W, W1B, W1Z & WB1Z) in total and a very nice QSL card will be made available whether you work one station or all four. Be sure to get on the air and work these stations this weekend! The event starts at 1300z/9:00 AM EDT September 17 and ends at 0359z September 20/11:59 PM EDT September 19. There will be operations on SSB, CW, FT8 & digital modes and satellites as well as all bands and all modes. You should hear the stations on FM, DMR and D-star too.

There will be many opportunities to work one or all of the stations and earn a very special QSL card commemorating the 100th anniversary of WBZ’s first transmission on September 19, 1921.

More info on the event at https://nediv.arrl.org/wbz100/ and on the QRZ pages for the four callsigns.

ChowderCon 2021 is a “Go,” Four Tree Island, NH, September 18

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Carl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes:

‘Chowdercon’ 2021 is looking good for this Saturday, September 18th on Four Tree Island New Hampshire. We’ll have the usual schedule that has been on-the-plate for decades.

– Friday the 17th: Socializing and Meet-‘N-Greet at Al’s Seafood and Fish Market on RT-1 in North Hampton at 5 PM for the diehard low-power radio amateurs that wish to partake in a WONDERFUL seafood dinner.

– Saturday the 18th is the BIG Day, 7 AM KICKOFF Breakfast at the Golden Egg on RT-1A in Portsmouth NH followed by a caravan of vehicles to Four Tree Island, arriving at approximately 8 AM.

+ Setup of individual stations (rigs & antennas) at the various rooftop-covered picnic tables around the Island.

+ At 12 noon, for those that need a lobster-roll and ‘CHOWDER’ (IT’S CALLED CHOWDERCON FOR A REASON), it’s a short walk to Geno’s Sandwich shop.

+ More operating from the Island after Lunch, and of course, SPRINTING/contesting in QRP Afield (CQ AF) which is always on the SAME DAY as Chowdercon.
https://www.newenglandqrp.org/qrp-afield-2018

+ Around 3 PM station operators start to breakdown and pack-up their gear, and, it’s time for the Annual “TUG-OF-WAR” of the QRPers (5W or less) against the QRPpers (*LESS THAN* 1 Watters)! ALWAYS A FUN TIME! 🙂

+ Caravan over to the historic Warren’s Lobster House at 4:30 PM, just a 5 minute drive from Four Tree Island. IT’S A TRADITION!!! The FAREWELL BANQUET usually finishes-up at approximately 6:30 PM+.

– *** SUNDAY from 8 AM through 2 PM is more operating from the Island for those DIEHARDS that, “FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED” (high-speed Morse-code that is!) 🙂 LOL

– AND, there is usually a final farewell meal at Statey’s, Portsmouth at around 3 PM+++ till the last person leaves/drops. 🙂

https://thestateybar.com/our-menu

‘Chowdercon’ is a TRADITION and a celebration of the END OF SUMMER / BEGINNING OF FALL. A few of us started doing this QRP Event back in 1987 and it grew. In 2006 it was dubbed “CHOWDERCON” … and the rest is history (and QRP tradition).

If you are up for it, please join-in on the, fun, excitement, and good times of Chowdercon. Participate in whatever tickles your fancy.

Sincere 7 3 and Happy Fall,

Carl

http://qrz.com/db/WA1ZCQ
wa1zcq@amsat.org

Request for Operators: The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’ Will Bike 4 Food, September 26, 2021

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Gary Roy, KB1AKU, writes on the Hampden County Radio Association mailing list:

The Amateur radio community  will again support and provide communication assistance for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts fund raising event on Sunday September 26th. Please check out their web site for this very important fund raising event: https://www.foodbankwma.org/events/will-bike-4-food/  They need our assistance in areas that have poor or no cell phone coverage. The routes will require us to cover the area in Vermont, extending through Leyden, Colrain, and Shelburne. In addition there is a small area in Whately and Williamsburg which includes the water stop in Williamsburg.

The 100 mile route begins at 7am, but will not arrive in the Vermont area that we cover until sometime after 9am. The Whately area will not need coverage until later in the morning, possible 10am or 11am. These times will be better determined in the next couple weeks. We will need volunteers to cover the above route areas and net control. We also need riders with the Food Bank volunteer route monitors and at the Guilford water stop.

Net Control will set up next to the Hatfield Library at the entrance to this event headquarters located at the Lions Club Pavilion 15 Billings Way Hatfield. The KB1BSS repeater in Leyden, Mass on 146.985 Mhz, negative offset, with a PL of 136.5 hz will be used.

Please contact me if you can assist with the Will Bike 4 Food Event.

My email is: groy773@gmail.com

Thank You,
Gary Roy
KB1AKU

K1IR: “Tower Safety” at RATPAC Online, September 15, 2021

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RATPAC logoWednesday, September 15, 2021, RATPAC Zoom Presentation 

Starts 9:00 PM AST / 9:00 PM EDT / 8:00 PM CDT / 7:00 PM MDT / 6:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM AKDT / 3:00 PM HST

TOPIC:  Jim Idelson, K1IR

Be sure to see future RATPAC scheduled presentations below

  • This meeting will be recorded. By participating you consent to being recorded. 
  • Please change your display name to Your First Name, Call Sign 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 stay on topic while using chat.

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)
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 212 888 4758
Passcode: 595910091

George Lillenstein, AB1GL, Appointed New Connecticut Section Emergency Coordinator

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CT ARES logoCongratulations to George Lillenstein, AB1GL, who has been appointed Section Emergency Coordinator for the Connecticut Section.  Lillenstein was formerly the District Emergency Coordinator for District 3 in Connecticut. He replaces outgoing SEC Mike Walters, W8ZY, who resigned the post after accepting employment at ARRL Headquarters. 

Jamboree On The Air, October 15-17, 2021

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JOTA-JOTI logoFrom the JOTA-JOTI website:

JOTA-JOTI (Jamboree-on-the-Air-Jamboree-on-the-Internet) is the world’s largest digital Scout event taking place on October 15-17, 2021, on the Internet and over the airwaves. Held every year in October, the event connects millions of young people around the world for a full weekend of online activities that promote friendship and global citizenship. JOTA-JOTI enables young people and volunteers to participate in fun and engaging group activities over the Internet and amateur radio focused on developing 21st century skills through Scouting. 

JOTA-JOTI 2020 took place from 15 to 17 October. The dynamic program comprised a variety of non-formal education activities, including webinars, global campfires, talent shows, live shows, fun challenges and more through an interactive 3D campsite. JOTA-JOTI aims to support young people of all ages to learn about communications technology, the values of global citizenship, and their role in creating a better world.

 

Navy History Day Morse Code Demo, Portsmouth NH, September 18, 2021

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Sign for USS-Albacore Submarine Park, Portsmouth NHKriss Kliegle, KA1GJU, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

Saturday, September 18th at the USS Albacore Submarine Park is Navy History Day.

We have been asked to demonstrate Morse code to the younger (and possibly older) visitors to the park.

Hours are from 10 AM to 3 PM and some knowledge of Morse code would be essential. With a code oscillator (I have one) we can demonstrate code and interact with visitors.

Would be better if we break up the times so one of us doesn’t have to be there all day. Any takers? 

Thank you!
73 Kriss KA1GJU

Hampden County (MA) RA FoxBox Deployed, September 4, 2021

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Ken Dion, KD1KU, writes on the HCRA mailing list:

A challenge has been issued to all hunters to find both Foxboxes! Who will be the first to find either FB1 or FB2?

As of 1700hrs, September 4th, HCRA Foxbox-1 has gone into hiding over the Labor Day Weekend and into next week!

It’s about time we get both HCRA Fox Boxes back into hiding so hunters from the HCRA are out trying to locate that diabolical fox!

HINT, I was able to wake it from its slumber with 50 watts in my mobile from a few areas along Memorial Drive (Rte.33) in Chicopee, MA.

FB1 is running one watt into an 18-inch antenna. To activate FB1 go to the 2-meter simplex frequency of 147.550 MHz (PL 100.0Hz), key your transmitter, identify yourself with your call sign 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 before going 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!

When you locate the Fox Box you do not have to touch it to claim finding it. Eyeball contact is sufficient with a photo for good measure. The photo should not reveal its location as there might be other hunters out there still trying to find it. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location. Announce it and post a photo on the https://groups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters and the HCRA Facebook Group that you found it along with any comments other than its location. We want to know who has found it and who hasn’t.

I can tell you it’s in a publicly accessible location with nearby safe parking. Getting to FB-1 may require a short walk on mostly flat ground.

Please do not post the frequency or PL on social media, websites, or email lists.

Note: Larry, W1AST will be hiding FB-2 first thing Sunday morning, so watch for his announcement.

ALL Fox Hunters are welcomed to participate!

Happy Hunting!

Ken, KD1KU