Foxbox Deployed, Bolton CT, May 9, 2022

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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.]

Bill, NG1P and Jay, K1EHZ Propose MESH Naming for Connecting (Tunneling) Between MESH Systems

by

After successfully performing the first tunneling between New England MESH systems (Maine and New Hampshire,) Bill and Jay have developed a proposal to enable other MESH systems in New England to connect to each other via the commercial internet and experiment further.  This will better position the Division to connect using RF vs. the internet and create a true Division-wide intranet that would allow high speed communication even when the commercial systems are unavailable locally.  Any comments should be directed to Bill at ng1p@yahoo.com or Jay at jltaft@comcast.net.

Mobile App Available to Navigate 2022 Dayton Hamvention

by

screenshot of ARRL Events App for Dayton HamventionFrom ARRL News:

05/04/2022- Dayton Hamvention® is offering a free mobile app for smartphones and tablets to help attendees navigate the large-scale event, which runs May 20 – 22 at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. The app, which was introduced in 2019, is offered in a collaborative effort with ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®.

The free ARRL Events app is now available and already includes Hamvention’s full program, so attendees can browse and schedule forums, find affiliated events, and preview the extensive list of exhibitors. During the event, attendees can use other app features to follow the hourly prize drawings populated by the Dayton Hamvention Prize Committee, and browse building and site maps.

Attendees are also encouraged to tap on the MyProfile icon in the app to add their name and call sign, email address, and any additional information they would like to share with other Hamvention guests. Additionally, the MyBadge icon displays a QR code of your event badge that can be scanned by another attendee or exhibitor using the Scan Badge icon – instantly connecting shared contact information with other hams at the event.

The app is available for Apple and Android smart devices, or access the web browser version which is optimized for nearly any browser or other type of mobile device. Visit your app store to download the app (search “ARRL Events”) or access the links available on the ARRL EXPO web page. If you’re reading this article on a mobile device, click here to be redirected to the appropriate app store, or redirected to the web browser version (www.tripbuildermedia.com/apps/arrl). Please email hamventionapp@arrl.org with any questions about the app.

For more information, please visit these official websites: