New England QSO Party

The New England QSO Party will be held on May 2nd and 3rd.  Now’s your chance to be the sought after stations instead of the other way around!

The NEQP is a great time to check out antenna systems and offers a moderately paced opportunity to work new states and countries. You’ll find a wide variety of participants, from newcomers to experienced contesters, all interested in making contacts with New England stations.

We’re working to make sure that all of the New England counties are active again this year and would appreciate your help. Get on for at least an hour or two and join in on the fun. Please let me know if you can put in any time at all so we can work on activity from the rarest counties. Will you be QRV? Let us know by email which county you’ll be on from.

Oh yes, the NEQP is also lots of fun when mobile. Every time you cross a county line the action starts over again. It’s amazing what a 100w radio and mobile whip can do.

The QSO Party is 20 hours long overall, in two sections with a civilized break for sleep Saturday night. It goes from 4pm Saturday until 1am Sunday, then 9am Sunday until 8pm Sunday. Operate on CW, SSB and digital modes on 80-40-20-15-10 meters. For each QSO you’ll give your callsign, a signal report and your county/state. Top scorers can earn a plaque and everyone who makes 25 QSOs and sends in a log will get a certificate.

The full NEQP rules are here. Hope to hear you on the air during the contest!

CMARA Breakfast Net Helping Fellow Hams

The Central MA Amateur Radio Association has recently started up a new Breakfast Net.  The net runs on their W1BIM repeater system every day at 9 AM local as well as on 80m on 3982 kHz at 10 AM local.

The purpose of the Breakfast Net is twofold.  First is to reach out to all hams in the area and keep us socially connected during these times of physical isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and enjoy some easy-going conversation.  The second is to check in and see if anyone needs help during these times, with special attention towards older folks whom are more at risk from the virus.  In many cases, the net arranges for others that are already going to be out and about to help get groceries or other supplies and deliver them to those more at risk.

All are welcome to check in on either the repeater or the HF versions of the net.  See you there!

Looking for Local Net Information

Hi everyone,

I am looking to add to our website a listing of all the nets in the state as well as within the listening footprint. These can be casual, emergency, hf or repeater nets. The Eastern Ma website has a good one available and want to combine them with what we get so anyone has a means to see whats there for nets.

The purpose is to give new hams a resource to use nets for on-air experience, also given the current situation it can give all hams a reliable, active resource in which to participate in various nets. The league has listings but they have not been updated in some time. Having ours on our website we can maintain it better.

Send me what you have to rplajoie@comcast.net. Even though I may already know it send it along. Include any nets you regularly participate in even if it’s from another state. The more, the merrier.

Thanks and stay safe and sane.
Ray KB1LRL

HamExposition Postponed Until Nov 6-8

I hope this messages finds you safe and healthy.   After long consideration, the convention committee has decided to postpone the 2020 convention to the week of November 6 through 8. 
 
There are several reasons for this, the first and foremost is the health and well-being of our attendees.   In addition, there are many logistical problems with holding the convention in July, even under the most favorable conditions of the pandemic emergency being over by then.
 
1. We believe it is unlikely that the state’s ban on large gatherings will be completely lifted by the end of July.
 
2. Even if it were, we believe attendance will be severely impacted due to lingering (and quite appropriate caution).
 
3. Almost all of our exhibitors are unwilling to commit to anything prior to June.
 
4. The convention is subject to penalties for cancellation.  The penalties increase as we get closer to the convention date.  By moving to November, we move out the schedule on these penalties.  This will allow us to reassess the viability of the convention in early August.  By then we will have further insight into  prevailing conditions.
 
5. The November weekend was the only one available to us – and could be lost to another group if we did not act on it.
 
We know that many look forward to attending each year, and have probably grown weary of all the cancellations of events like these.  However, given the reality of the situation, we believe it is in everyone’s best interest to postpone.
 
 
Stay safe & 73,
 
Bob – K1IW
Chairman
Northeast HamXposition 2020

New Amateur Licensees – March 2020

Congratulations to the latest new hams of Western Massachusetts:

Antonio J Costa, KC1MTR
320 S East St
Amherst, MA 01002-2615

Daniel P Lesperance, KC1MTS
63 Laskowski St
Chicopee, MA 01020-3577

Joseph P Gomes, KC1MTM
PO Box 24
Cummington, MA 01026-0024

Robert Denault, KC1MXD
36 Lombard Ave
East Longmeadow, MA 01028-1641

Mark Bouchard, KC1MTO
267 Parker St
East Longmeadow, MA 01028-2614

Sarah K Oelker, KC1MTX
75 Evergreen Dr
Holyoke, MA 01040-1619

Matthew Chipman, KC1MTQ
1 Chatham Way
South Hadley, MA 01075-7517

Peter G Goodale, KC1MTW
180 Stony Hill Rd
Wilbraham, MA 01095-1510

Gary G Boyd, KC1MTP
78 Lumae St
Springfield, MA 01119-2506

Craig A Melchiori, KC1MTN
42 Edgemere Rd
Dalton, MA 01226-2012

Samantha Wood, KC1MTY
188 Silver St
Greenfield, MA 01301-1804

Ronald T Malotte, KC1MWX
176 Maple Ave
Apt 5-01
Rutland, MA 01543-1337

Igor Leib, KC1MWJ
94 E Main St
Westborough, MA 01581-1417

Damien M Lapierre, KC1MUT
11 Westview Dr
Sutton, MA 01590-1848