Southeastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association, Inc.
54 Donald Street - Dartmouth, MA 02748 - Tel: 508-997-7070

Affiliated with:

Archived Announcements

• December 10th, 2007

Clambake a hit! Videos by Dave, W1DJG.

• December 8th, 2007

2008 Officers Elected

• November 19, 2007

The end of an era. The Round Hill Radar Antenna was razed today with explosives. A famous landmark for both radio enthusiasts and everyday citizens of the Southcoast area. See this article from Curt Brown from the Standard-Times along with a video of the demolition.

• November 19, 2007

Congrads to Andrew Guillotte, KB1PQF for passing his Technician Exam at the November 3rd VEC session at SEMARA. If his last name looks familiar, he is a chip off the old block, Ray, N1EBW's 10 year old son!

• November 19, 2007

VE Exam schedule updated thanks to Larry, AA1FS.

• November 16, 2007

Latest Installment of N1BLF's reading of World Radio (December 2007) is available in our audio section.

• November 7, 2007

Nominations for 2008 positions for officers, BOD, and trustee are open. Most incumbents are running for re-election but nominations are still being accepted for any position.

SEMARA Clambake Tickets are now available from Henry, W1GYL or Scott, W1EV. The bake is scheduled for Satruday, December 8th, rain or shine. Seating is limited to 50 so buy yours today! The cost is only $20 per seat.

• October 27, 2007 - SEMARA BBQ a Big Hit!

• October 25, 2007

Remote temperature and voltage monitoring now available via the APRS network. For the lastest observations, click here

• October 11, 2007

SEMARACAM is live and online!

Get Well to:

Chuck, KD1DA, who is still at St. Luke's in New Bedford.

Bob, K1KVV, who is recuperating from a knee replacement at home.

Chicken BQQ Set for October 27 at the SEMARA clubhouse. Tickets are available from Henry, W1GYL and Scott, W1EV.

Semara Tailgate Cancelled!

July Secretary's Report now online

NEWS FLASH!

And the Hut Came Tumbling Down!

See Photo Gallery

OIL SPILL ON OR ABOUT JULY 19, 2007 RESULTS

IN COSTLY DAMAGE AT SEMARA

See Photo Gallery

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR TAILGATE 2007 NOW

Sunday, September 9 - See the flyer

• General Call for Newsletter Content

The deadline for the August edition of ZeroBeat is right around the corner. Please contribute photos, stories, how you got started in the hobby, etc. Perhaps a short story regarding a project you are working on, a new radio or antenna or report on an event you attended recently. Contact our ZeroBeat editor, Bob, K1KVV today!

• July 17, 2007

On Thursday, July 19, 2007 in the late afternoon, the 147.000 repeater will be switched to its internal controller while maintenance is preformed.  The repeater will temporarily have no courtesy tone or access to IRLP or EchoLink.  Local QSOs may commence; just be aware that the courtesy tone will be absent.  Normal operation will be restored no later than Friday, July 20, 2007 late night.

This is being done in order to replace the VoIP computer which supplies the repeater with IRLP and EchoLink.  The repeater controller interface is also being modified to allow the alarm panel from the club house to be connected.

- Rick Cabral, W1RJC

• July 16, 2007

The nominating committee is recuiting candidates for the following elected positions:

Club Secretary - Remainder of 2007 term

Trustee - Remainder of 2010 term

If you are interested in running for either position (or both), please contact Tim Smith, N1TI for consideration by the nominating committee.

• July 15, 2007

The Cushcraft R5 vertical that recently came down during high winds had been stored in the locked fence surrounding the 80' log perodic antenna tower. As of Sunday, July 15 it was noticed missing. If a club member moved it somewhere on the grounds for storage, or took it mistakingly for parts or scrap, please contact any member of the Techical Committee. Just a reminder, that any club property, regardless of it's condition, has to be approved by either the BOD or the club membership depending on it's value before it can be removed from club property.

• July 13, 2007

The remaining all-band vertical was removed from the hut by Dave, W1DJG with Tim, N1TI providing ground support. After inspecting the antenna following the removal, the technical committee determined that extensive refurbishing will be required. The 75 meter resonator mount was rusted thru and two of the capacity hat elements came off. All inductor joints will need cleaning and reworking. A recommendation to the BOD was made that when the club is ready to install a new vertical, that we seek an alternative solution. The BOD will make it's recomentations at the next club meeting regarding the sale or auction of the vertical to an interested member.

• June 22, 2007

The June Secretary's Report is available for viewing.

• June 8, 2007

It was determined at the June 7, 2007 SEMARA Business Meeting that a voted taken at the May Business Meeting on the subject of New Building Guidance was deemed invalid by concerned members. The Board of Directors supported this determination and agreed to send out an informational mailing regarding the pros and cons of going with Building Option A or Building Option B. Details for both options will be forthcoming on the website soon.

A general mailing to the membership will provide the details.

It was decided that due to the holiday week and anticipated low turnout that the Building vote be delayed until the August Business Meeting.

• May 6 , 2007

May 2007 Secretary's Report available for review

• May 4, 2007

Members attending the regular business meeting listened to the pros and cons of two building expansion options presented by the New Building Committee Chairman, Dave Dean - W1JGV as well as several members weighing in on the discussion. After nearly a one hour dicussion the membership voted for "Option B", a plan to proceed with developing a plan to add to the existing structure and to make necessary repairs to the existing structure. "Option A" promoted the razing of the existing structure and starting fresh with an open floorplan metal structure . This meeting did not authorize spending at this time but merely defined the path that SEMARA takes. PROGRESS! Special thanks go to the new building committee for taking the bull by the horns and moving the agenda forward.

• May 1 , 2007

April 2007 Board of Director's Report available for review

Updated Member Directory now online

Updated local net schedules in the Events area

• April 21 , 2007

April 2007 Secretary's Report available for review

• April 11 , 2007

Spring '07 QCWA Digest online for the reading impaired.

• March 21 , 2007

Taped interview with W1RC on WBCQ Radio about the upcoming NEARFEST in Deerfield, NH - 14 Minutes

• March 18 , 2007

K1IBR Memorial Dinner set for April 14th -Please RSVP to Scott, W1EV

March Secretary's Report available for viewing

Updates in the Audio Programming section...feed that iPod some new info to listen on the road!

"Deerfield" is back! Back to the old familiar Deerfied, NH farigrounds where the Hosstraders event was at it's best. The tradition continues under a new organization, NearFest (New England Amateur Radio Fest). Mark May 4th and 5th on your calendars now!

• March 8 , 2007

Interested in following the progress of the New Building Study Committee? Click here!

• February 6 , 2007

It is with deep sadness that we report the loss of SEMARA members this month. Ken Gillum, W1QJR , Bob Kish, KA1YON and Richard Houghton, WA1CXG.

• February 5 , 2007

It is with deep sadness that we report the loss of Bill Miller, K1IBR earlier today. A tribute can be seen here. He will be missed....

• February 2 , 2007

	FOX HUNT SCHEDULED FOR FEB 15 In lieu of the secheduled Tech Talk, we will have out first FOX HUNT for 2007. Meet at the club hall at 7:00 PM for a brief meeting and rule review. Shortly after we send the fox on his way to hide, we will discuss hunting techniques and organize the "release of the dogs". No experience or special equipment is required.

• February 1, 2007

Membership Roster is now online in various sort orders as downloadable PDF documents.

"Order of Business" guides are available to follow proper order in business meetings.

• January 25, 2007

Latest Readings by N1BLF with February editions of QST and World Radio uploaded to Audio Programming Section

• January 12, 2007

	CLUB VANDALISM Earlier this week it was noted that club property was vandalized. The sign marking the driveway, "Wm. M. Miller, Jr. Way" was removed. Anyone having information about this should contact the SEMARA Board of Directors so that the appropriate Dartmouth Police reports can be updated.

• January 11, 2007

SEMARA's EchoIRLP node is back up as today. Our IRLP node number is 4347 and our Echolink node is 44347. This is an open system available for inbound and outbound connections. New hardware will be installed soon that will improve overall reliability.

• January 10, 2007

BPL System Could Be Deployed In Concord

	Amateurs in Concord, MA are closely monitoring plans by the Town's electric utility to implement a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) system supplied by PowerGrid Communications of Meridian, Idaho. See complete story by Phil Temples, K9HI at the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Web.

• January 9, 2007

Echolink is down. IRLP node number 4347 is up and working.

• January 1, 2007

	"It Seems to Us . . ." We Go to Court The ARRL is suing the Federal Communications Commission. Here is what led to this decision, why it is the right thing to do, and how you can help. Good reading for those of you following the BPL controversy.

• December 31, 2006

Happy New Year to all from SEMARA!

Got nothing else better to do New Year's Eve? Check out the Live Web Cams in Times Square!

This is a reminder to all members that the first business meeting for 2007 is this coming Thursday, Janaury 4th at 7:00PM. Visitors welcome! Here are the directions to the club.

• December 26, 2006

Special Operating Event Announcement from W1AA by SEMARA member K1VV

Hello CLIMAX Event Dec 29 - 30

Reginald A. Fessenden 100th Anniversary Event, Hull, Massachusetts.

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the First Voice Broadcast.

W1AA (Marconi Radio Club) will represent and operate from near the Station
Point Allerton Life Saving Station in Hull, Massachusetts on December 30,
2006. The W1AA operation will recognize the contributions to marine safety
at sea made by Reginald A. Fessenden's invention of voice communication.

W1AA is a member of the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society, and has activated
54 lighthouses and lightships in Massachusetts and Rhode Island over the
last three years.

Operation will be from 7:00 AM EST(2000 UTC) to 4:00 PM (2100 UTC).
W1AA will start on 80 SSB, check 3996.0. Look for W1AA between the nets,
most likely below 7270, down to 7225. Check "7234". 20 phone later in the
morning above 14310, or 17 meters above 18150. We will return to 40 phone
about 1530 to 1600 UTC, about noon local time. CW operation will be conducted
roughly on the half hour but could happen any time, 7035, 10116, 14035 and
18080 kHz, plus or minus QRM.

A special Point Allerton Life Saving Station photo QSL will be provided.

QSLs are via the W1 QSL Bureau and stateside are via W1AA please with an SASE

Watch the live DX Cluster (HF DX Spots) and look for W1AA spots

Visit W1AA, Marconi Radio Club Web Site

Visit the Point Allerton Life Saving Station Museum

Listen to Fessenden's first voice transmission on December 23, 1900 -- he says,

"Hello! Test, 1, 2, 3, 4. Is it snowing where you are Mr. Thiessen?"

Play file using Quicktime or Windows from the Hello-Radio website

• December 23, 2006

The club's internet service has been restored as of December 23rd. Internet access is now available again from the club computer in the meeting hall as well as in the radio shack. Echolink and IRLP have not been restored due to a problem encountered with the ethernet card of the link computer (ethernet was tested down to the repeater hut ok). As soon as the holiday activities subside, we'll have a closer look. 73 & Happy Holidays.

• December 22, 2006

Slide Show from the Christmas Party at the Century House

• December 21, 2006

Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle Solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 "looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He and colleague Robert Wilson presented this conclusion last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

• December 19, 2006

FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES, ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND ADDRESSING ARRL PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION

The FCC has decided to drop all Morse code testing requirements for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States. This means that Technician and Technician Plus will have identical privileges, and there will be no code exam required for General and Extra Class. Presumably, those who now have General Class theory CSCE's will be allowed to upgrade to General. This change brings the United States into line with many other countries worldwide that have eliminated a Morse requirement. In addition, the FCC affirmed its recent expansion of phone privileges on the 75 meter band.

Report and Order from the FCC

ARRL News Release

• December 18, 2006

Received several reports of messages bouncing on the DISCUSSION list. Mail list is working fine according to Jaguar (our internet host). Have been working on setting up list alternatives avoid the spam blocks. Visit this page for future announcements regarding changes to the list.

• December 7, 2006

SEMARA ANNUAL ELECTION COMPLETED

Incoming Officers for 2007 are:

President - Louis, W1CH

Vice President - Bob, K1KVV

Secretary - Armand, W1BUG

Treasurer - Mike, KB1NB

Board of Directors - Marty, KA1YFV; Ed, WA1ZCB; John, W1ZYV

Trustees - Dave, K1JGV (4 years); Tim, N1TI (5 years)

Official tally will be available in the January edition of ZeroBeat

Web Site Convention, Email and Spam Policy

SEMARA will make every effort to reduce SPAM and unnecessary solicitations. All Mailing Lists are subscriber initiated and available to it's membership. External email links available to the public are modified to prevent spam bot and crawlers from harvesting email addresses to add to their spam list. If you encounter a web email address on this site, you will need to modify it's form from the [name*site.ext] to [name@site.ext] for it to be useable.