Section Manager Report December 2023

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TOO LATE!!! You blinked your eyes! Another Holiday Season is upon us! Seems like a few days ago I was having surgery and looking forward to the warm, summer days. Oh well!

The one thing I need to do is apologize for not visiting the clubs as often as I usually do. I hope to catch a few this month. One I am going to visit is the Hampden County Radio Association as they will be celebrating 75 years as an affiliated club. Their efforts and participation over the years demonstrates what a club can do to make it last for so long. Congratulations to you on your achievement. There are other clubs that are also getting close. WPIWA in Worcester has over 100 years under their belt. Sadly, efforts to contact them have gone by the wayside despite multiple efforts.

How is your club doing? The league has continued to look at ways to help clubs grow. One thing I found is the Active Club Primer. This guide is a good read to give you some pointers on running and growing your club. Reminder, make sure you go to the League’s website and do your annual update if you have not done so. This keeps your affiliation active.

In October we had our SET exercise and afterwards Chuck WS1L sent a survey to get feedback and the big response is they were not aware of it. Hmmm, were we not communicating enough? This is also an indication that not many people are looking at the WMA website as there was mention of the event there as well as I send stuff to the ARRL WMA email reflector. Chuck has also set up an email group so anyone in WMA ARES will receive a notification if anything comes up. We will work to communicate more; you also need to read what we send. Hopefully the next SET will have better participation.

It is good to see clubs getting active in giving license classes and testing again. Covid slammed the brakes on it and things were quiet for some time. The one thing to consider when you have that new ham on board is to welcome them and do some follow up to make sure a club or mentor is getting them on the air. Giving them an information handout after they passed will give them a good start at finding a club and basic information. Back issues of QST and other magazines are good also.I truly hope each one of you will have a wonderful, warm, happy Holiday season and a fabulous New Year. Remember, Santa Ham comes to the good operators and gives them presents! Take care everyone.

73 de Ray, AA1SE

WX1BOX SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) 2023 Friday Evening 12/1/23 700 PM ET to Saturday Evening 12/2/23 700 PM ET

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Hello to all..

**Our apologies for the delays in getting this SRD update out as the 2 storm events from just before Thanksgiving, Monday Morning and some ongoing marginally strong wind gusts have been the focus of the volunteer efforts over the last week or so.**

**SKYWARN Recognition Day 2023 will occur from Friday Evening December 1st, 2023 at 7 PM through Saturday Evening December 2nd, 2023 at 7 PM with a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters more with 2022’SRD. Also new for this year is that we will utilize a Zello channel that is at our disposal for contact with non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters who have access to the system. We will announce details and timing there in our final announcement on Friday.**

**SRD Numbers will be issued automatically to non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters that register via the Google form on the SRD web site. For 2023, SRD Numbers are not being generated for Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters because some in the Amateur Radio Community felt it was unnecessary.**
**We encourage Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters to register for SRD in the Google form and the spotter mapper registration form via the links below and we will have activities on Amateur Radio and Social Media for all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. This announcement will be updated by Friday Morning 12/1/23 with additional and finalized information.**

SKYWARN Recognition Day 2023 will have Ops at NWS office with volunteer Amateur Radio Operators, however, the scale of what is done inside the office for SRD will be more limited as we will have limited Amateur Radio Operators in the facility similar to 2022.

Also, all participants are welcome to register on the SRD web site. SRD Numbers will be issued automatically to non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters that register via the Google form on the SRD web site. For 2023, SRD Numbers are not being generated for Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters because some in the Amateur Radio Community felt it was unnecessary.

For WX1BOX Amateur Radio operations, we will cover the typical SKYWARN repeaters on VHF/UHF as well as simplex. HF for this year may or may not be done because for 2023 we plan to run all operations from WX1BOX, the Amateur Radio station at NWS Norton on Saturday 12/2/23 from 9 AM-7 PM EST and run operations remotely on Friday 12/1/23 from 7 PM-12 AM EST. The HF setup at NWS has had some issues so it may limit our on-air presence on HF. We will distinguish between in-office Amateur Radio Operations and remote operations by using WX1BOX-portable for our remote operations. In addition, contacts with other Amateur Radio SKYWARN stations will count towards NWS certificates. Similar to the last few years, there will be a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters alike.

Additional details on SKYWARN Recognition Day including a registration link opened up to all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio Operators can be found via the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

As mentioned previously, this year’s Google registration form also auto-issues SRD Numbers to participant non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. The form can be found off the SKYWARN Recognition Day web site and can be see at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsiwFThctxPqEht9r7j1V1OLBNiAQjt-yJe7z3-XFMwiIx-w/viewform

There is also a SKYWARN Spotter mapper form that plots all spotters on an ARCGIS map. We would love to see all of Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters take a few moments to register on this spotter map. The registration form for the spotter map is at the following link:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/6af367236b8b499f8a3c40110e58a596

There is also a SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) Facebook group open to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators. The Facebook group link is listed below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/srd2021

Similar to last year, we’d like to conduct an experiment to test and experiment with a radio email system known as Winlink. We would like to have Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters test sending email to a radio based email. This system allows for emails to be retrieved over Internet but also over radio. You do not have to be an Amateur Radio Operator to be involved in this experiment. During the SRD period from Saturday 12/2/23 from 0000-2400 UTC (Friday Evening 12/1/23 7 PM EST-Saturday 12/2/23 7 PM EST), we’d like people to do the following:

1.) Compose an email with a report in text format or using one of the Winlink system specific weather or other forms to wx1box@winlink.org with either a current observation from the SRD time period or a prior severe weather event that occurred dring the last 2 years. Do “not” include file attachments. For Amateur Radio Operators who have winlink setup, please go ahead and use winlink. For other Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters who do not have Winlink setup, feel free to use your normal email client but only use text and no attachments in the report.
2.) Put in the subject of the email //WL2K as this will allow for emails to get filtered through the built-in spam protection of the winlink system

We will acknowledge all emails as a contact and publish results of this work as part of the SRD’2023 report.

The SRD’2023 schedule for repeater rotation and WX1BOX coverage has now been included with this update. See below:

Friday December 1st, 2023 (All remote operations):
7:00-7:30 PM: 146.970-Paxton Repeater (PL: 114.8 Hz)
7:30-8:00 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
8:00-8:30 PM: 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
8:30-9:00 PM: 146.955-Westford Repeater (PL: 74.4 Hz)
9:00-9:30 PM: 146.790-Vernon, CT Repeater (PL: 82.5 Hz) (via IRLP or via W1HDN-R Echolink)
9:30-10:00 PM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater (PL: 156.7 Hz) (via K1MUJ-R)
10:00-10:30 PM: 145.470-Danvers, MA Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)
10:30-11:00 PM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)

**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.
**It is possible we may switch off to different repeaters or simplex during time slots if we run out of contacts.

Saturday December 2nd, 2023 (WX1BOX In-Office operations with remote operations being signified by WX1BOX-portable):
9:00-9:30 AM: 145.230-Boston Repeater (PL: 88.5 Hz)
9:30-10:00 AM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
10:00-11:00 AM: We will participate in the Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net
11:00-11:30 AM: 146.790-Vernon, CT Repeater (Linked via IRLP.)
11:30-12:00 PM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater (PL: 156.7 Hz)
12:00-12:30 PM: 145.470-Danvers Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)
12:30-1:00 PM: 146.895-Walpole Repeater (PL: 123.0 Hz)
1:00-1:30 PM: Tentative: MMRA Repeater System in ARES Configuration – See https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)
1:30-2:00 PM: 145.37-Gardner/145.45-Fitchburg/147.39 Repeaters via IRLP 9122
2:00-2:30 PM: 146.685-Plymouth Repeater (PL: 82.5 Hz)
2:30-3:00 PM: NB1RI Repeater System – Note the main hub repeater link for this system is down – so we will rotate across the NB1RI repeaters during this timeframe
3:00-3:30 PM: 146.970-Paxton Repeater (PL: 114.8 Hz)
3:30-4:00 PM: 146.955-Westford Repeater (PL: 74.4 Hz)
4:00-4:30 PM: 146.955-Barnstable (PL: 88.5 Hz) or 147.375-Falmouth Repeater (PL: 110.9 Hz)
4:30-5:00 PM: NB1RI Repeater System – Note the main hub repeater link for this system is down – so we will rotate across the NB1RI repeaters during this timeframe
5:00-5:30 PM: 146.760-Scituate, RI Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
5:30-6:00 PM: 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
6:00-6:30 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
6:30-7:00 PM: 147.225-Whitman Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.

The VoIP Operations on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system will take place once again for 2023’SRD. Also, through the Sunflower network, the system will is also accessible through the following modes:

Allstar 28848
Echolink KC5FM-R 906281
Hamshack Hotline 94032
DMR TGIF 31207
P25 31207
DSTAR XLXOKL C
Yaesu Fusion 31207
M17-SUN module A

Here is the info regarding Echolink/IRLP operations as of Wednesday Morning:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: N0NWS (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Time slot from last year)
0200-0300: WX7SLC (Time slot from last year)
0300-0400: WX4HUN (New time slot for this year)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Time slot from last year)
0500-0600: Open
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Time slot from last year)
0700-0800: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0800-0900: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0900-1000: Open
1000-1100: WX7SLC (Time slot from last year)
1100-1200: WX1GYX (Time slot from last year)
1200-1300: Open
1300-1400: WX7SLC (Time slot from last year)
1400-1500: WX1AW (Time slot from last year)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Time slot from last year)
1600-1700: WX4NC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1700-1800: WX4JKL (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1800-1900: WX6LOX (Time slot from last year)
1900-2000: Open
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2300-2400: Open

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Boston/Norton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years and have multiple reflector channels and Echolink conferences available. There is reflector 9250/Echolink Conference *HI-GATE* node: 357564, IRLP 9251 and the *WORLD* Echolink Conference node: 479886, IRLP 9257/*DCF-ARC* Echolink Conference node: 336037 and IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 152566 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG3* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system. The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at https://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, Allstar 28848 along with DMR/DSTAR and other modes provided by VK3JED-Tony, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their support!

Thanks to all for their continued support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box

Sutton Chain of Lights

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President Valerie Moore KC1COQ of the Worcester EmComm Team writes:

Craig Shea from the Sutton Chain of Lights is again requesting assistance with communications to coordinate the trolleys for their annual event. We’re looking for about 10 amateur radio operators to ride the trolleys and help keep them on schedule moving people around between stops. For more information on the event and the trolley Stops this year click here.

We will meet at 08:30am on Sat 12/2/2023 in Sutton (location TBD – likely the Sutton High School). The event runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm, although the final trolley drop off may be as late as 5:00pm. If you are only available for part of the day, we can cycle you in and out as necessary.

If you are available to help out, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/iP4ZZ8igaJ2SUKNx8

New WMA Amateurs from October 2023

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Please welcome the recently licenses amateur radio operators in the WMA section!

Daniel J Dineen, KC1TQH
374 Turkey Hill Rd
Belchertown, MA 01007-9635

Jeffry Ross, W1JTR
49 Belgian Way
Fitchburg, MA 01420-8935

Robert F Holloway, AC1QA
38 SW Main St
Douglas, MA 01516-2502

James H Cost, KC1TPP
29 Public Rd
Lancaster, MA 01523-1705

Pamela J Welsh, KC1TNG
3 Sneade Dr
Oxford, MA 01540-2739

Ethan M Katz, KC1TNK
20 Saint Kevin Rd
Worcester, MA 01603-1727

Thomas Tjokro, KC1TNC
57 May St
Worcester, MA 01610-1351

Adam Chace, KC1TQC
36 Hopedale St
Mendon, MA 01756-1013

Luka Slovic, KC1TNO
3A Spring Brook Ct
Mendon, MA 01756-1334

Section Manager Report November 2023

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Hello, I see that all those green leaves have fallen off the tree’s and landed on my yard! Yep, bust out the coats and jackets, winter is coming. I’m sure some of you are rustling in the leaves and making sure your antennas are ready to withstand winter’s wrath. Now the indoor projects will take priority and hopefully you get on the air with them. I have been working on setting up various digital modes like Winlink, FLDigi, etc. This can be pretty challenging in trying to get Computer and radio to talk to one another. There is no one size fit’s all scenario!

WMA had our SET and it has taught us a lot. If ARES is to grow and attract operators and also area leaders, we need participants! Gee, same old song. This exercise was set up to be very minimal effort. We are discussing getting some activities together to give us practice, to gather information, and hone our skills. NTS has been getting reworked, that may play a part in this.

The other part in all this is I do not feel people are getting informed about what’s going on effectively. I could use your help in getting information out to more people. Not just hearing me, going ho-hum and going back to your smartphone! I know people care about many aspects of the hobby, the league, and the section. I’ve heard it! Mentor, communicate, participate!

If you have not heard already, the FCC is currently acting on a couple of items that have been sitting on their inbox gathering dust. One is the proposed change on 60 meters. Going to 15 watts and allowing the use on that little slice and not channelized. The comment time has been extended to Nov. 28, Also they will be voting on the change on the symbol rate to 2.8 KHz. This one has been sitting for a long time. This will allow digital modes like Pactor 4 to be used and the need to ask for exemptions in times of disaster will not be needed. There are still others waiting, hopefully things are starting to move at the FCC again.

I have been realizing that I have not been making club visits lately and I apologize. This year has not been fun for me personally. Sadly, I had to miss yet again Near-Fest due to a death in the family. The one time the weather cooperated!

So, once again, I am making a call out looking for active, willing participants who could put in some time to help out WMA. Jiminy Cricket can’t do it all and neither can Facelessbook and smart phones. I need you! I have many open positions including assistant section manager’s and emergency coordinators, DEC’s, EC’s, Government Liaison. Public information, Traffic manager, and more. I have been struggling with this ever since I took over as section manager. There is also a need to help out with the website. Your silence is speaking to me very loudly. Other sections are very active in many aspects. I haven’t found the right magic dust to use.

I do hope everyone has a happy, safe Thanksgiving.

73 de Ray AA1SE

BAA Half Marathon – Sunday 11/12/23 – Volunteers Still Needed

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NN1C-Marty Sullaway – Amateur Radio Team Captain for the BAA Half Marathon

Hi Folks,

The BAA Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2023. I am serving as the Amateur Radio Team Captain for the event.

The start and end of the race are in Franklin Park in Boston, and the route is a pretty gorgeous, and turns around in the Fenway.

We are still looking for more amateur radio operator volunteers who will staff spotter stations along the course, and shadow key event officials. Reporting time will be approximately 6:00 AM, and assignments should secure before noon.

Here is the volunteer registration link. If folks have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out, and I am happy to answer any questions people might have.

Best,

Marty Sullaway, NN1C
Amateur Radio Team Captain, BAA Half Marathon

Western Massachusetts Amateur Radio Emergency Service to hold annual emergency test

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UPDATE 10/15 08:51 AM: ICS form download updated to version 3.

The Western Massachusetts section of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service will hold their 2023 Simulated Emergency Test from 10:00 AM local time on Saturday, 21 October to 10:00 AM local time on Sunday, 22 October 2023.  This test will involve ARES members attempting to receive and report airport weather information to the Department of Defense via the US Army Military Affiliate Radio System.  

The Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Situation is as follows:

“Repeated patterns of wet weather have been experienced throughout the Western Massachusetts section, leaving soils saturated and incapable of absorbing additional rainfall.  Several instances of flooding have already led to road washouts impacting the transportation sector.
The first arctic cold front of the season approaches with a large pressure differential producing a sudden onset of high winds.  With root systems already weakened in soft soil, large numbers of trees are felled throughout the section.  Multiple roads become impassible.  Wire and cable damage has lead to degradation of the Public Switched Telephone and cellular networks.  Calls placed without GETS/WPS are taking up to one hour to complete.
Resource requests for high priority items are ready to transport via air to local airports but with no ability to receive local weather conditions at those airports ARES has been tasked with reporting local airport weather information.”

The ARES Mission for the SET is as follows:

“WMA ARES members will attempt to receive local airport weather information broadcast on the VHF-AM Aviation Band of 119-136 MHz.  Any weather reports received will be transcribed for later reporting.  WMA ARES members will report the information received during ARES nets to be held within the 24-hour exercise period.  US Army MARS stations will attempt to check in to these nets and receive these reports.  Reports may also be sent via WinLink.”

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.  For more information, visit wma.arrl.org.

Important Exercise Documents for Download

2023-SET-ICS-Forms-V3Download
SET-Ops-OrderDownload

New WMA Amateurs from September 2023

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Please welcome the recently licenses amateur radio operators in the WMA section!

Donald A Shebell, KC1TJT
7 Meadow St
Gill, MA 01354-9708

Catherine A Stone, KC1TJU
9 Forest Dr
Auburn, MA 01501-2116

Earlsworth A LeBlanc, KC1TLQ
106 Green St
Northborough, MA 01532-1012

Edward B Boulter, KC1TKD
12 Westview Ave
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2211

Horace V Dufresne, KC1TJX
16 Cotton Mill Way
Uxbridge, MA 01569-2626

John Casey, KC1TLD
326 Purchase St
Milford, MA 01757-3800

Ham Radio General License Class!

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The Western Mass. Train & Test Group would like to invite you to a FREE on-line course so you can earn your Amateur Radio General Class License.
Free On-Line classes will start Tuesday Oct. 17 on Zoom
Classes will be Tuesday and Thursday Evenings starting at 7 PM
Sign Up with sign-up form: https://forms.gle/uMunRUaLXST4wyLz8
Questions, contact Ray Lajoie via e-mail — ray.aa1se@gmail.com.
Upgrade to General and discover the excitement of operating on the HF Bands!
*** Purchase of the ARRL General manual required