ARRL New England Division “Town Hall,” September 5, 2024

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ARRL logoI would like to invite you to a Town Hall Meeting for ARRL New England Division Members on Thursday, September 5th at 7 pm where we will discuss the actions taken by the board, what we might expect next, hear your thoughts, and answer your questions.

We plan to spend a good deal of our time together answering your questions. If you’d like to send us a question in advance, you can do so via an email to ab1oc@arrl.org, or you can just plan to ask your questions during the Town Hall Meeting.

We will hold our Town Hall Meeting via a Zoom Webinar. You can get a personal link to join the Town Hall Meeting via the following link (please paste the link into your browser and register in advance) –

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Nmj7dgSbRyGoi7xf3Z0l8A

After registering, you will receive a follow-up confirmation email within a day containing information about how to join the webinar.

We hope to see you on September 5th.

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

ARRL Director

New England Division

ab1oc@arrl.org

Nashua Area Radio Society Fall License Classes

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The Nashua Area Radio Society will hold license classes for all levels this fall.  The classes will be online via Zoom web conferencing and will include an online exam session at the end of the class.  Our classes are based on the Gordon West License books. Here is the schedule:

  • Technician Class:  Saturday and Sunday, September 21st and 22nd
  • General Class: Saturday and Sunday, November 2nd and 3rd
  • Extra Class: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 6th, 7th, and 8th.

You can find more information at https://www.n1fd.org/amateur-radio-license-class/

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ARES, POTA “Go Box” Show and Tell at Nutmeg Hamfest, Meriden CT, October 13, 2024

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Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes on the ct-ares mailing list:

WHAT: ARES and POTA “GO BOX” Show and Tell

DATE: Sunday, October 13, 2024

HOURS: 8:30 am – 10:30 am

WHERE:

NUTMEG HAMFEST 2024
Maloney High School
121 Gravel Street Meriden, CT 06450

Open to ALL Hams

A Perfect excuse to “Get Organized” to “Go Portable”!
– Make Portable operations less of a hastle and chore.
– Eliminate the last minute hunting for gear before leaving.
– Banish the frustration of not having what you need at the operating site… because it is still back at the home QTH.
Note: For many hams on a budget, their “Go Box” does “double duty” as their Home Station.

The “Go Box” is probably the best way to organize your radio equipment for those times when you want to (or need to) “Grab-‘n-Go” for Portable Operations such as:
– Public Service Events
– ARES Drills/Exercises
– Real World Disasters
– Parks On The Air activations
– Day Trips to: the Park, Beach, Woods, or… the In-Laws.
– Weekend Get-Aways
– Vacations

Don’t Have a “Go Box”? BUILD ONE!
You can build/assemble your own “Go Box” in less than one day, and it will probably better than my Proof of Concept example.
See:  www.ctaresregion2.org/forum/prepared-to-go-go-go

BE CREATIVE!
Your creative design and build may be exactly the thing that get someone else to build his own “Go Box”… or modify their existing “Go Box”.

BRING IT!
Come with your “Go Box” to the Nutmeg Hamfest for Display, Judging, and Awards or Show & Tell

AWARDS
– Best ARES VHF/UHF “Go Box”
This will include Voice and Digital/Data capability (Winlink, “Classic” Packet Radio)

– Best ARES HF “Go Box”
This will include Voice and Digital/Data Capability (Winlink/HFVARA)

– Best ARES VHF/UHF/HF “Go Box”
This will include Voice and Digital/Data capability for each radio as appropriate.
(VHF/UHF Winlink, VHF/UHF “Classic” Packet Radio, Winlink/HF VARA)

– Best POTA 100w (max)  radio “Go Box” *

– Best POTA QRP “Go Box” *

* Where POTA “Go Box” includes: Cases, Backpacks, Camera Bags, etc.

Entry DETAILS @ 

https://www.ctaresregion2.org/forum/announcements/695-the-great-ct-ares-2024-go-box-show-and-tell-10-13-24#901

Maine QSO Party, September 28-29, 2024

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Maine QSO Party logoThe Maine QSO Party is designed to encourage Maine stations to expand their knowledge of DX propagation on the HF and MF bands, improve their operating skills, and improve station capability by creating a competition in which W/VE, and DX stations have the incentive to work Maine. [Details]

 

902 MHz Threatened

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Matt Penttila, NA1Q , writes:

If you are not aware there is a docket coming to the FCC, 24-240. This docket is not good for the current users on 902-92 MHz, which amateur radio operators have a secondary status. Not a lot of hams are on 902-928 MHz, but it is a very usable band, using repurposed commercial equipment from GE, Motorola, Uniden, Maxon, EF Johnson, and amateur equipment by Kenwood, Alinco and Retevis. Currently just in New England there are 16 linked repeaters for the NEAR900 network, and numerous others throughout New England and hundreds if not over a thousand of other 900 MHz repeaters across the US. Most are put up by clubs or individual amateurs, at thrir expense for the use by all amateur radio operators. 

Unfortunately the window is rather short for comments right now, but if it does go into effect,  comments are to be filed by September 5th 2024 and replies to comments filed by September 20th 2024.

 

More info on the effect of this is on the website:

https://www.n1wbv.net/response-to-the-nextnav-fcc-petition.html

Also attached is a PDF comment letter from David Tucker, N5ZDT, to the FCC about this docket.

Remember a similar thing happened in back in 1988 and we lost 220-222 MHz. Even if you are not active or do not use the band, please write a comment, even if it is to click and paste parts from these sources. Let’s not lose this band to one commercial interest.

Thank you, 73, 

Matt Penttila, NA1Q

Past President Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club 
Past President Quaboag Valley Amateur Radio Club 
Past Member CMARA
Past Member Mohawk ARC
Past Member MTARA
Past Member ECARA
Lifetime member ECARS 10201
ARRL Member

Response-to_Docket_24-240

New England Club Newsletter Award 2024

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Earlier this year, during one of the regular HamXposition meetings, Bruce, K1BG, and I were talking about doing some sort of club-centric meetings From that discussion came the Clubs forum which occurred Friday at the 2024 HamXpo.

Most of us know that clubs are the backbone of a healthy and active ham radio community. An active club most often has a newsletter that members get every month informing them of club activities and ham radio events. From this, we created the Club Newsletter Award.

Any club in New England could enter and was encouraged to do so. Newsletters would be ranked on design, layout, and information. The judge would be someone outside of New England. The top three newsletters would then be able to post the appropriate logo on their newsletters for the next year. The newsletter had to be from the second quarter of 2024 and submitted by July 5th.

The top 3 club newsletters would then NOT be able to submit again the following year, giving other clubs a chance to win the award.

I would like to thank the following clubs for submitting their newsletter this year:

 

Club Newsletter State
Algonquin Amateur Radio Club QRZ MA
Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club the A.C.O.R.N. ME
Billerica Amateur Radio Society BARS MA
Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club Messenger RI
Candlewood Amateur Radio Association CARA Capers CT
Central NH Amateur Radio Club Communicator NH
Franklin County Amateur Radio Club The Communicator MA
Hampden County Radio Association Zero Beat MA
Housatonic Amateur Radio Club Direct Currents CT
K1USN Radio Club K1USN HAPPENINGS MA
Meriden Amateur Radio Club KEYKLIX CT
Merrymeeting Amateur Radio Association SQUELCH TALES ME
Minuteman Repeater Association The Minuteman MA
Wellesley Amateur Radio Society The Spark Gap MA

 

From this list, I’d like to congratulate the following clubs:

#3 – Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club from Rhode Island
#2 – Billerica Amateur Radio Society from eastern MA
#1 – Hampden County Radio Association from western MA

 

1st, 2nd, 3rd place icons for newsletter contest

 

I would like to thank Bob, WA3PZO, our outside New England judge and Nels, K1UR, for his award design.

We’re going to do this again next year. I hope you will urge your club to submit your club’s newsletter.

73,

 

Larry, W1AST

W1AST@hamXposition.org

 

[The winners were announced in the Club Forum on August 23, 2024 at the Northeast HamXposition.]

 

MessengerCurrent (1)

 

BARC May_2024_final

 

HCRA may24

 

 

 

 

Candidates Named for ARRL Director and Vice Director Elections

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From ARRL News:

08/19/2024

ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® has announced that the candidates for the 2024 ARRL Division elections are now official. ARRL members will choose between two candidates for Director in the Hudson, New England, and Northwestern Divisions. The sole candidates in the Central and Roanoke Divisions for both Director and Vice Director are unopposed. The Vice Director incumbents in the Hudson, New England, and Northwestern Divisions are also unopposed.

Declared Elected without Opposition

In the Central Division, candidate and current Vice Director Brent Walls, N9BA, will be the next Director having served as Vice Director since 2021, and candidate Josh Long, W9HT, will be the next Vice Director, both candidates running unopposed.

In the Hudson Division, Vice Director David Galletly, KM2O, who has held the seat since 2024.

In the New England Division, Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, who has served in the role since 2020.

In the Northwestern Division, Vice Director Michael Sterba, KG7HQ, who has served in the role since 2024.

In the Roanoke Division, Director Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, who was elected back to the board in 2022, and Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, who has held the seat since 2016.

Contested Seats

In the Hudson Division, Director Ed Wilson, N2XDD, will face challenger John Crovelli, W2GD for the seat.

In the New England Division, Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, will face challenger Tom Frenaye, K1KI, who has previously held the positions of Director and Vice President.

In the Northwestern Division, Director Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, will run against Dan Marler, K7REX, who is currently a Section Manager.

Balloting for contested seats will take place this fall. Votes will be counted, and successful candidates announced, in November. Candidates declared elected will assume their roles for terms beginning January 1, 2025.

ARRL is governed by its Board of Directors. Elections are held for five of the 15 ARRL Divisions each year, for terms of 3 years.

Fox Boxes Deployed in Wallingford CT, August 18, 2024

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Rob Cichon, K1RCT, writes on the ctfoxhunter mailing list:

At 09:30 one to four Fox Boxes will be switched on. They’ll be switched off at 11:00 or so. One or up to four frequencies will be used.

145.7, 700mW Beacon activated by DTMF-1
145.605, 1W Beacon
145.3, 12mW Beacon
145.2, 1W Beacon (new batteries)

The Fox will listen on our Repeater 147.36 (+600, 162.2) and 144.97 simplex. Did I mention it will be in Wallingford? APRS users may be able to ascertain a clue. Maybe not.

ARRL Urges Protecting the Amateur Radio 902-928 MHz Band

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From ARRL News:

08/15/2024—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) accepted for public comment a Petition for Rulemaking filed by NextNav Inc., a licensee in the 900-MHz Location and Monitoring Service (LMS), to completely reconfigure the 902-928 MHz band and replace the LMS with high-powered 5G cellular and related location services.

The FCC Notice requested comment on the effects that NextNav’s proposals would have on amateur radio operations in the band. ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® is preparing comments urging protection of existing and future amateur uses in this band and urges all amateurs to file their own comments describing their activities in this band and the expected effect of the proposed changes. Click here for a guide to filing comments.

NextNav currently holds licenses in the 900-MHz band that authorize it to provide services limited to determining the location and status of mobile radio units. NextNav ties its request to provide high-power broadband, cellular and location services to the vulnerabilities of the current satellite-based GPS system and argues that implementation of its proposal would complement GPS by providing an alternative nationwide terrestrial location system in addition to cellular and broadband services. Under its proposal, NextNav would be designated the sole nationwide licensee for this spectrum in exchange for its more limited licenses.

The new nationwide license would authorize NextNav to provide much higher-powered traditional broadband and 5G cellular services as well as the related location service occupying 15 of the total 26 megahertz available in the band. The reconfiguration proposed by NextNav would create a 5-megahertz-wide uplink subband at 902-907 MHz paired with a 10-megahertz downlink subband at 918-928 MHz.  The 5-megahertz uplink subband would be limited to use by mobiles with a maximum of 3 watts ERP.  On the 10-megahertz downlink subband, up to 2000 watts ERP would be permitted in rural areas and 1000 watts ERP in urban and suburban areas, radiating from tower structures that could reach 1000 or more feet above average terrain. These configurations reflect the FCC’s rules for standard cellular configurations that have been adopted to govern a number of other bands used for similar 5G and like services.

Although uses by the Amateur Radio Service in this band are secondary to LMS, NextNav is proposing substantial technical and use changes that would completely alter the foundation upon which the current rules and spectrum sharing arrangements rely and undercut shared use of the band by amateurs as well as a variety of other users. In addition, NextNav proposes deletion of a specific interference provision in the Commission’s rules that was adopted to encourage and protect continued sharing with amateurs and other secondary users.

NextNav, in its petition, argues without evidence that the changes that it proposes to the 902-928 MHz band “will not impede amateur operations.”  In an 8-page description of NextNav’s proposal released by the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the FCC staff asks a series of questions that would clarify the proposal and help the Commission ascertain the likely effect of the proposed changes on existing users if the requested changes were adopted.  Comment was specifically requested on the extent of amateur operations in the band, the potential impact of the proposed changes, any other spectrum options that may exist, and the costs for relocations if other options exist.

ARRL is preparing comments urging protection of existing and future amateur uses in this band.  ARRL urges all amateurs to study the proposal and file their own comments describing their activities in this band and the expected effect of the proposed changes. The filing deadline is September 5, 2024.  Replies to comments are due by September 20, 2024.  Click here for a guide to filing comments.