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In Memoriam




ELmer's Corner-
Hams Helping Hams


Antennas:


Foxhunting Computers:

Computer Safety
(Rob West's 4/09 Presentation)

Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer

Our Next Meeting Will Be on September 18th


The MTARA does not hold meetings in July or August. 

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Our Guest Speaker for September will be:

William Boutelle

William will present a brief history of Indian Motorcycles

Everyone is welcome! - Click Here for Directions to the meeting.
Doors open at 7:00 PM, the Meeting will begin promptly at 7:30PM

Please Note: Following the Guest Speaker's presentation,
there will be a vote taken on the Consitutional Amendment
presented at the May Meeting. All MTARA members are
encouraged to attend. Only current members in good standing
will be able to vote. 

For details on the amendment, please see your May Intermod, or click here.

Anyone up for a Foxhunt?

foxhuntPolish up yer guns- git yer dogs fed! Time to go git  the little critters! Naw... The weather is getting warmer and gas prices are a whole lot better- we are still interested in getting our hunts up and running! So, let's plan a Foxhunt!

If you would be interested in participating in Foxhunting, drop me an email and let me know! We will be planning an "entry level" (read as 'easy') hunt to start and increase the difficulty as we get better.

If there is enough interest, we can also plan a few seminars to get everyone up to speed!!

Hunts are held on the 146.94 repeater (146.340 input) so those at home can enjoy and join in the fun. Signal levels and/or other pertinent info from base stations are always welcome!

Click here for the MTARA Short-range Fox Hunt rules!


Are you a member of the MTARA???

Our repeater systems are costly to maintain! We depend upon your support
to keep our equipment running, and as we are doing now, to upgrade our machines.

While everyone is welcome to use our repeaters, we kindly request
that frequent users help support the system that they rely upon for their frequent
communications, personal and club announcements.

Would you like to help the MTARA? Would you like to help support the
system you use? Click here to join up! (html format)
 
Click here for .pdf format

 
Who are the members who
support our system?
Our Roster




MTARA Packet Seminar a Success!


As a result of the success of the recent session, a future
session is in the planning stages.
This next seminar will be aimed at
How to Work Packet as a Mode

Watch this space for more information as to
when this second seminar will be held.




Using the MTARA Repeaters-
Our Club requires users to uphold the FCC regulations
Please read our
Standard Operating Procedures & Repeater Etiquette

A compilation of operating procedures useful to the
 New and Not-So-New repeater user

Link to .pdf format

IRLP and EchoLink Node

The MTARA IRLP and EchoLink Nodes are ACTIVE on our 146.670 Repeater

The MTARA is participating in the IRLP and EchoLink Programs, allowing our repeater to be linked to other amateur radio operators across the world. You may hear amateurs from distant locations connecting into our system.

The ability to initiate a connection to other nodes is available to all MTARA members. Any member who would like to use this feature can request connection instructions by sending an email to Paul, N1FI 

Although EchoLink and IRLP are separate systems, our repeater participates in both on a first come-first served basis. This means that when our repeater is connected to one system it cannot connect to the other, thus maintaining the separation of the two systems. To learn more about these additions to our system-
Click here for IRLP
Click here for Echolink

Thanks to Dana-KB1AEV, Bob LaFlamme-W1SQ, and Ray Webber-KA1JJM for all their work in bringing this feature to our members.





Club Badges available!!

Click here to choose the design you would like!



Questions or Comments?

Please click here to email our Board of Directors
Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome!


MTARA Discussion Group

Do you have a topic you would like to discuss?
Have a technical question you need answered?
Want to sell some equipment or are you looking for an item?

Click here to visit the MTARA Forum



Public Service Events

June 14th - Hadley 350th Anniversary Parade  
July 4th
- East Longmeadow Fourth of July Parade
Sept 27th - ADA Walk, Look Park, Northampton    


Contact Eric, N1QKO if you would like to help out!


Disaster Preparedness

The Massachusetts Task Force for Emergency Preparedness and People
Requiring Additional Assistance has released its report, which was two
years in the making. Basil Maurice, KB1PQZ a member of the MTARA
and this Task Force, has made available a copy of this report
(in standard and large type) to us. For the elderly, those with disabilities
and anyone involved with Emergency Preparedness, please read
this well prepared and concise report.

PRAA Recommendations.pdf                       PRAA Recommendations Large Print.pdf



Many Thanks to our Donors!
We would like to thank the following individuals for their donations
in the calendar year 2007:

ROBERT WEST- W1AVK ALBERT & SUSAN GRIMALDI - KB1XG & MRS. BOB MENEGUZZO - K1YO
RON & LYNDA CARROLL - N1DJM & N1DOO PETER BEAUREGARD - KI1I PAUL & CINDY LOIERO - N1FI & K1ISS
RICHARD HODGE - KB1ONM DAN DRONEY - KB1NKP CHRISTINE STERRITT - K1CPS
JOHN W. PLASTER - K1VOI WARREN & JACQUELINE HUDSON - KB1NTQ GREG JARVIS - KA1KNW
ERIC TULLER - N1QKO RALPH GEDNEY - KB1LEW JOHN W. NOBLE SR. - W1JWN
STEVEN SEALS - AB1HG DONALD C. JOHNSON - K7UGQ EDWIN PUTNAM - K1UE
JOHN BENNETT - N1RHV RICK CHRISTIAN - N1JTB JEROME BYCUL - AK1Y
RICHARD ERICKSBERG - KB1JOP STEPHEN MCGRATH - N1EOE
SHAUN MURPHY - KB1GEH JEANNE KELLER - AB1FQ

To date in 2008, we are grateful for the donations we have received
 from the following members:

ED MELLO - KB1PLT JAMES & LUCY RAE - W1RAE & W1HOT JOHN BENNETT - N1RHV
DON TALBOT - W1DRT RICHARD GAGNE - NA1V HANS VANDERLEEDEN - N1LKC
LAD NAGURNEY - WA3EEC RON FOURNIER - KA1VWW NICK FLANNERY - KB1FRF
JOSEPH BOUDREAU, JR. - W1NMQ BOB SIANO - W1RFS STEVE McGRATH - N1EOE
TOM DOYLE - N1MUV BOB MENEGUZZO - K1YO JIM HARRINGTON - KB1JVF
MARY ELKINS - N1TOY RON & LYNDA CARROLL - N1DJM & N1DOO ELAINE GEDNEY - KB1LEZ
RICHARD HODGE - KB1ONM ED PUTNAM - K1UE CHRIS ERICKSON - WB1ACE
PETER BEAUREGARD - KI1I ALBERT & SUSAN GRIMALDI - KB1XG & MRS.
The following individuals have made donations to the MTARA in memory of Robert Decarolis, N1LKA, who became a silent key. Bob was a long-time member and supporter of the MTARA.
 EARL LIZOTTE
ROBERT AND SYLVIA CRAFTS JAMES AND JUDY FUNDERBURG
ERNEST AND MAE SMITH MATHEW AND THERESA KINLOCK CERNACK BUICK, INC.
ENACE AND JUDITH LOCOCO

 So far, the following members have made donations in 2009:
JEROME BYCUL - AK1Y JACK BENNETT - K1JAB BRADLEY SCOTT - KB1RRP
RON & LYNDA CARROLL - N1DJM & N1DOO RICHARD & CATHLEEN WHEELER - N1KXR & KB1REF DALE CUNNINGHAM - NK1D
PAUL KELLIHER - NF1G JOE BOUDREAU - W1NMQ PAUL & CINDY LOIERO -  N1FI & K1ISS
VINCENT MOTTO - K1AH STEVE McGRATH - N1EOE PAUL WING - K1WVX
JOHN GALLAGHER - KE4TND ROBERT MAREK - KB1MIL BRADLEY SCOTT - KB1RRP
DON TALBOT - W1DRT JOYCE & ROY LANE - KB1NOY & KB1MWH ERNIE BRAMUCCI - K1EJB
JOHN & CHRIS STERRITT - K1VOI & K1CPS KEN LABONTE - KB1RBX CHRIS ERICKSON - W1ACE
JOHN NOBLE - W1JWN BLAINE FORBORT - K1QV ARTHUR VON MARSCHALL - K1PUP
MARTY OPPENHEIMER - N2HLA MARK FARMER - KB1HCD RICHARD HODGE - KB1ONM
RICHARD GAGNE - NA1V RONALD FOURNIER - KA1VWW ROBERT ARNOLD - KB1QHI
ED PUTNAM - K1UI DAN DRONEY - KB1NKP LAD NAGOURNEY - WA3EEC
TOM DOYLE - N1MUV ALBERT & SUSAN GRIMALDI - KB1XG & MRS. GEORGE COLLINS - KC1V

These donations help to assure the viability of our organization and
the perpetuation of our service to the public.

Special thanks goes to Don Johnson, K7UGQ
who has donated a PC Projector to the Club!

The Board of Directors has been exploring the purchase of a projector since many of our monthly speakers format their presentation on a laptop and use a projector in their presentation. The unit Don donated is in pristine condition, and comes complete with a rolling case, all the necessary cables, remote control and user's manual. Thank you Don! 




Get your Bottomless Coffee Card!
Never seem to have enough spare change to satisfy your thirst at the meeting?
A Bottomless Coffee Card allows you to visit our coffee table for as many cups as you like!
  Blue Card - $10.00

Like the goodies to eat at the table?
Get a Coffee and Snack Card -
 Entitles you to a bottomless coffee and a snack!
  Red Card -  $15.00


Cards are valid for 1 Year
See Al, KB1XG or Sue (Mrs. KB1XG) at the meeting!


SCHEDULED MEETINGS AND EVENTS 

Date: Subject: Where:
7:30 PM
January 16th
MTARA Annual Meeting & Elections  Red Cross, 506 Cottage Street, Springfield, MA
Third Monday in January, April, July and October
License Exams
KD1XP Lic Exams
Amherst Machine, Cowles Road, Amherst MA - 7:00 PM SHARP
January 24th MTARA Packet Seminar Holyoke Community College, Holyoke MA 9:00AM - 1:00PM


GET ON THE AIR!
Here is a list of our current repeaters, their frequency and other pertinent info:
Freq
OffSet
Status
Location/Comments
146.940 Mhz
-
Active
MT. Tom, Holyoke, MA.PL 127.3Hz 
146.670 Mhz
-
Active
Provin MT, Agawam, MA PL. 127.3 IRLP node 4322 [Up]  Echolink node #21095 [up] 
147.000 Mhz
+
Active
Soapstone MT, Somers, CT  (link to 146.94 down)
223.820 MHz - Coming Soon! Soapstone MT, Somers, CT 
443.200 Mhz
+
Active
MT. Tom, Holyoke, MA PL 127.3 Hz
 

 
145.050 Mhz
0
Packet
Packet BBS MTM/K1MEA
145.050 Mhz
0
Packet
Packet BBS BBSMTM/K1MEA
 

 
144.390 Mhz
0
APRS
APRS Digi-repeater

Other Area Repeaters

Freq OffSet Status PL Tone Location/Comments
  53.350 - Active     71.9 Hz KD1XP Repeater  (More Info)
Located: Amherst Ma
145.130
-
Active
173.8 Hz
KB1NTK Repeater in the KD1XP Repeater
System Located: Deerfield Ma
146.460
Simp
Active
114.8 Hz
KX1X Irlp Node ( More Info )
Located: South Hadley Ma
146.715
-
Active
100.0 Hz

K1ZJH - Holyoke Soldiers Home
      Location: Holyoke Ma

146.790
-
Active
82.5 Hz
PVRA Vernon CT
146.910 - Active 162.2 Hz Northern Berkshire ARC (More Info)
Located: Mt. Greylock, Adams, MA
147.345 + Active  77.0 Hz KB1AEV Repeater System (More Info)
Located: Vernon CT
442.200 + Active 173.8 Hz KD1XP Repeater 
Located: Amherst Ma (linked to 443.450)
443.450 + Active 173.8 Hz KD1XP Repeater
Located: Deerfield Ma (linked to 442.200)



 

DIRECTIONS TO THE RED CROSS IN SPRINGFIELD


redcrossmap
Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross
506 Cottage Street
Springfield, MA 01104

From Route 90 Mass Pike: Take Exit 6 (Springfield Rte 291). At the traffic Lights beyond the toll plaza, take a LEFT onto Rte 291. Take Exit 5A. Take a LEFT at the bottom of the ramp and proceed to the traffic light at the top of the hill (Friendly's Restaurant will be on your left). Turn RIGHT at this light onto Industry Ave. Proceed over the railroad tracks to the next traffic light, turn LEFT at this light onto Cottage St. Proceed approx 3/4 of a mile and the RED CROSS facility is on the LEFT. The driveway is just beyond the building. Pull around to the parking lot at the back of the building. The entrance is up the stairs near the loading dock.

From Rte 91: Gain access to Rt. 291 West and proceed to exit 5 ( #1 on map ). Stay to the right on the ramp and you will be on Page Blvd in the right lane. Take your first RIGHT at the lights onto Industry Ave. (#2 on map )(On the corner you will see an oil truck filling station to your right and a "Friendly's Restaurant" to the left before the turn). Proceed over the railroad tracks to the set of lights. At the lights take a LEFT onto Cottage Street (#3 on map). Proceed on Cottage Street approximately 3/4 mile to the Red Cross building that will be located on the LEFT (#4 On Map). Take that left and proceed into the back parking lot. If you missed the Red Cross building and see the "W. W. Grainger" building then you went too far. Safe driving and hope to see you at the next meeting!






Thanks to Bob Laflamme, W1SQ for hosting this site.

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