WX4NHC Will Be On The Air for Annual Communications Test, May 28, 2022

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WX4NHC logoWX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Communications Test

Saturday, May 28th , 2022 from 9AM- 5 PM EDT ( 1300z- 2100z)

This is our 42nd year of public service at the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The purpose of this event is to test WX4NHC Amateur Radio Equipment and Antennas at NHC as well as operator’s home equipment, antennas and computers prior to this year’s hurricane season, which starts June 1st and runs through November 30th. This event is good practice for ham radio operators worldwide to practice Amateur Radio communications available during times of severe weather.

We will be making brief contacts on many frequencies and modes, exchanging signal reports and basic weather data exchange (sunny, rain, temperature, etc.) with any station in any location. WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF, UHF, 2 & 30 meter APRS and WinLink wx4nhc@winlink.org subject must contain //WL2K.

We will try to stay on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency 14.325 MHz most of the time. Also 7.268 MHz depending on propagation. However, we will be operating different frequencies depending on QRM. You may be able to find us on HF by using one of the DX spotting networks, such as the DX Summit Web Site: http://www.dxsummit.fi/Search.aspx 

We will also be on VoIP Hurricane Net 4pm-5pm EDT (2000-2100z)

(IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). http://www.voipwx.net/

WX4NHC will also make a few contacts on local VHF and UHF repeaters as well as Florida Statewide SARNET system to test our station equipment.

QSL Cards are available via WD4R. Please send your card with a S.A.S.E. Please do NOT send QSLs directly to the Hurricane Center address, as it will get delayed.

Due to security measures and COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic:  NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC.

For more information about WX4NHC, please visit our website www.wx4nhc.org

Thank you for your participation in the WX4NHC Annual Station Test event.

73, Julio – WX4NHC/WD4R

 -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
 Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
 WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
 www.wx4nhc.org 
 Celebrating 42 years at the
 National Hurricane Center
 www.nhc.noaa.gov 

FCC Has Resolved Technical Issues and Resumes Processing Amateur Radio License Applications

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FCC sealFrom ARRL News:

(Updated 5/9/2022) – The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) reports that the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) electronic batch filing (EBF) system is back online and functioning normally. A message sent by the FCC ULS EBF Team to VECs explains that the technical issues with ULS EBF filing are resolved, and that VECs may resume submitting files containing amateur radio license applications. ARRL VEC has submitted most of the backlog of its files for applications processed on, or after, April 27, and expects to have all of the backlog submitted by the end of the day (May 9).

Foxbox Deployed, Bolton CT, May 9, 2022

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Dan Thayer, W1CDT, writes on ctfoxhunter list:

Greetings fox hunters,

FB-3 has been deployed, as of 1430 hours, 05-09-22.

146.550 MHz Simplex

CTCSS 114.8 Hz

It is located somewhere to the East (or Northeast or Southeast)  of Bolton Notch, where I-384/Route 6/Route 44 all come together.

 The “tune” played when you activate it is different, but the CW ID is correct. (This will be corrected prior to the next deployment.)

As there is no starting point for finding the FB, it is recommended that as you go about your regular travels, you periodically try to activate the FB.

You may also try from home.

To try to activate the FB, set your radio to the 2 meter simplex frequency of 146.550 MHz, with a CTCSS of 114.8 Hz. Next, key your transmitter, ID and then send a DTMF “1”. Having done that, unkey your transmitter and listen.

If the FB can hear you (and you can hear it) you will hear its very distinctive sound.

It will transmit for 30 seconds, ID and then go back to sleep.

Once someone has been able to hear it, please report that general location to the other fox hunters, by replying to this message (This needn’t be a place where you can hear it very well, just a place from where it can be heard.

You can make it transmit as often as you find necessary to locate the FB.  

You do not actually have to touch the box to claim finding it.

FBs are located within 500 feet of a safe place to park. While unimproved (dirt) roads may be involved, they will be ones that are passable using a regular passenger car.

Dan, W1CDT 

 

Four-Week, In-Person Technician Course Offered by Nashoba Valley (MA) ARC Beginning May 16, 2022

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Nashoba Valley ARC logoBruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

Please share this with friends and family members who are interested in getting an Amateur Radio License.

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) is offering a free amateur radio licensing course beginning on May 16th. The eight night course will prepare students for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Technician licensing exam that will be offered at the completion of the course. The Technician level radio operator’s license is the first of three amateur licenses offered by the FCC. Each license has increased levels of operator privileges.

The course consists of twice weekly sessions beginning on Monday, May 16th, and meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays for four weeks (May 16th through June 8th ). The course will be held at the Pepperell Community Center, 4 Hollis Street, Pepperell, MA 01463. Sessions will start at 7 PM and last for 2 hours. An FCC license exam will be scheduled for the end of the sessions. The course is free, but there will be an FCC required $15 testing fee if you take the exam. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, Level 1, Technician, 4th ed, will be the study guide used for the class. A limited number of study guides may be purchased from the instructor for $20 or online from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) or Amazon.

This course is open to all, there are no age limits. Pre-registration is required, no walk-ins will be allowed. To register you must contact the instructor, Bruce Blain at (508) 341-5124 or via email at bruce.blain@charter.net.  

Mentoring and Ham Development Group Meeting Rescheduled

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Assistant Director Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB, writes:

The May 7 meeting of the Mentoring and Ham Development group will be reschedules due to concerns about conflicts due to Mothers Day Weekend and one speaker who is under the weather.

Please hold Monday, May 23, 2022 for the next meeting.    I’ll send a reminder out with the Zoom and the Agenda the week before.

List of Potential RFI Sources to be Updated

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Assistant Director Rob Leiden, K1UI, writes:

A list of potential RFI sources is being maintained and will be updated as information becomes available as part of the New England Division RFI Troubleshooting Guide web page.  Any source determined to be emitting radio frequency interference should be forwarded to the RFI Team for your area, including audio and spectrum files if possible.  Audio and RF spectrum files will also be included as they become available.

Mystic Half Marathon and 10K, Mystic CT, May 15, 2022

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Communicators are still needed for next Sunday’s event!

We are still short of several positions.  

Nine communicators are still needed.  To date we still need nine more checkpoints covered, Net Control and a bicycle sweep. Operators will check in between 0830 – 0845 and the event ends about 11 AM for most emergency communications volunteers. Attached is a map of the route. 

The Mystic 1/2 Marathon and 10k is on May 15th and the race starts at 0700. Report time will be 0615 OR earlier. There is a three-hour race window so most checkpoints should be released by 11 am. 

This is a WONDERFUL opportunity to introduce newly licensed amateurs or people interested in getting licensed to public service.  Please ask someone to join you! If you are new, I will assign you to a position with one of our more experienced volunteers

If you are available, please send an email to: TimKC1TWR@gmail.com

Please include your cell and home phone numbers for the COMM Plan even if you have sent them for previous events.  Include your T-Shirt size as well.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

73,
Tim KC1TWR

 

Cape Cod ARES MESH Network Testing Successful

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Bruce, WA3SWJ, reports that ranges of 20 miles over Cape Cod Bay between the mid and outer Cape have been achieved with sufficient throughput to pass video.  5.8 GHz Ubiquity transceivers were used for the test.  The test was an important milestone for the Cape ARES group led by Frank WQ1O, the Cape DEC, Bruce and Lem, W1LEM.  More information about MESH networking in New England and progress towards interconnecting them into a New England-wide network is available on the Spectrum Protection and Utilization web page.

NH Field Organization Changes

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NH Section Manager Pete Stohrer, K1PJS, writes:

 
I wanted to mention a few changes in the NH Field Organization staff. John, K1UAF, is the new Section Traffic Manager in NH replacing Bill Noyce, AB1AV. 
 
All monthly PSHR and SAR reports should be sent to John, K1UAF, via the GSTN FM phone (146.94), NH Section Traffic and Training (3976 kHz) or VTNH CW (3539 kHz) nets. 
 
Joe Burke, W1INC has been appointed as Assistant Section Traffic Manager.
 
Many thanks to Bill, John and Joe for their continued support in NH Traffic handling and NTS.
 
73
 
Pete

Mentoring and Ham Development Group Meeting, May 7, 2022

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Assistant Director Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB, writes:

We will hold our next working group meeting of the Mentoring and Ham Development group this Saturday May 7th from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM.

We will have the following presentations:

  • Ray Lajoie, AA1SE – Licensing Classes
  • Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB – Ham Bootcamp
  • Larry Krainson, W1AST – The Big E

I will walk through the new content on the Mentoring and Ham Development web page and then we’ll have a discussion of new activities and projects.

[Contact Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB, at ab1qb@nediv.arrl.org for Zoom call information.]