Sutton Chain of Lights

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

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

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

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

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

New WMA Amateurs from September 2023

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!

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

NEAR-Fest, Deerfield NH, October 13-14, 2023

he New England Amateur Radio Festival (NEAR-Fest) will be held Friday October 13 and Saturday, October 14 at the Deerfield, New Hampshire, Fairgrounds. Besides the flea market, we will have a full slate of forums during the day on Friday. While we encourage everyone to attend the show, the forums will also be available to view on-line for those who cannot be present. The schedule (subject to change) can be viewed at: http://hamclass.net/nearf23.html. Details for viewing on line will appear the day before.

Further details on NEAR-Fest can be found at: https://near-fest.com/.

Section Manager Report for October 2023

Hello Western Mass! I must be doing a great job or no one is paying attention or ….? My re-election was another landslide again. Yup, no one else stepped up. So, your stuck with me for another 2 years.

I am a tad late getting this out as we have wrapped up the Big E for another year. I considered it another success as there was some good interest in radio. Over 100 people have signed up interested in taking classes and will go to those who conduct classes to reach out to them. (I will be starting a General class on October 17.) So, now we take a breather, and see what this event will do next year. There were a number of challenges that more helpers could overcome. Time will tell.

October brings cooler weather, fall foliage and Near-Fest. I hope you are praying to the weather gods now considering the weather we had. Most of the weekends were washouts as far as outdoor stuff was concerned. October 13 and 14 are the days.

October is also the month of the annual SET conducted by those in EMCOMM. Chuck WS1L our SEC has been working on one for us. This will be a first in a very long time. Please consider taking a part in it. Details to follow.

I have been working with others revamping NTS called NTS 2.0. We have been updating the ICS 213 and looking at ways to get more activity, awareness injected back in to encourage newer hams to take part in this. This is a national effort and great progress is being made. Tuesday 10/3 was the official launch of the NTS newsletter sent out monthly from the league. If you want to receive it you log in to the leagues website and go to the opt in/out and edit your selection. Not only are we going to provide updates to our project, we are also going to have training tips, traffic related news. This project is supported by the ARRL.

On October 4, 1948 the Hampden County Radio Association became an affiliated club with the ARRL. That makes them 75 years old! I hope you take a moment to send a note (or a piece of traffic) to the club and offer congratulations. They have been a lively active club taking part in many activities and has a membership of over 125 members. Congratulations HCRA!

That all for now. Hope to see you or hear from you. Remember, let me know what’s happening in your neck of the woods.

73
Ray, AA1SE