You will be hearing some new voices among the Net Controls for the New England Weather Net!
From W1AYX, Madawaska, ME
The weather has finally turned warmer here in northern Maine and the ice along the St. John River has started to flow. Here is some aerial footage filmed on a Phantom 3 4K drone at Grand Isle, Maine on April 10, 2017.
We just want to update our members and let them know that the New England QSO Party is coming up on the weekend of May 6-7, 2017.
This contest is great way to make contacts quickly from around the world. Especially if you are located in one of those hard to get counties or grids.
For more information see the official New England QSO Party web page at:
Rules
Object: To contact as many New England stations (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) in as many New England counties as possible on 80-40-20-15-10m. (New England stations work anyone)
Date: First full weekend of May (May 6-7, 2017)
Contest Period: 2000Z Saturday until 0500Z Sunday (4pm EDT Saturday until 1am EDT Sunday) and 1300Z Sunday until 2400Z Sunday (9am EDT Sunday until 8pm EDT Sunday).
Categories: Single-operator high power, low power(150w or less) and QRP(5w or less) categories, plus multi-operator, single transmitter. Same four categories for mobiles.
Contest Exchange: Send signal report and state/province (DX stations send signal report and “DX”). New England stations send signal report, county and state.
Valid Contact: Work New England stations once per band/mode. New England stations work anyone(and must copy the county for New England stations worked. CW contacts must not be made in the phone band segments. Mobiles that change counties are considered to be new stations, and can be worked for both multiplier and QSO Point credit. County line QSOs should be logged as two separate QSOs. Crossmode, crossband and repeater QSOs are not permitted.
QSO Points: Count one point per phone QSO, two points per CW (includes digital modes)QSO.
Multiplier: Stations outside of New England use counties as multipliers for a total of 67 (CT/8 MA/14 ME/16 NH/10 RI/5 VT/14). New England stations use states(50)(Count DC as MD), Canadian provinces(14) and DXCC countries as multipliers.
Scoring: Total score is QSO points times the multiplier. Mobiles count QSO points per county and multipliers from all counties (counted once).
Suggested frequencies: CW – 3540 7035 14040 21040 28040, SSB – 3850 7180 7280 14280 21380 28380.
Reporting: Logs should indicate times in UTC, bands, modes, calls and required contest exchange. All stations include your club’s name in the log header or summary. Entries must be submitted within 30 days and sent to NEQP, P.O.Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 or via e-mail to logs@neqp.org (Cabrillo format preferred).
Awards: Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers (25 QSO minimum) in each New England county, U.S. state, Canadian province and DXCC country. A number of special plaques will also be awarded to top scorers (check the Web site for a current list).
More information: The New England QSO Party Web site is at http://www.neqp.org. Check there for information on planned fixed-station and mobile activity from New England counties, contest software information, county abbreviations, plaques to be awarded and information on New England state county awards. NEQP results will be posted on the web site when they are complete. Questions can be addressed to info@neqp.org.
Rules updated 4/2/17
From Tom, WA1KDD, in Acushnet MA
A much colder than normal March here in the northern part of Acushnet, with below normal precipitation. Snowfall was a little above normal for the month. Cold and windy made go fly a kite out of the question.
March 2017 with a mean temperature of 34.6 degrees was slightly colder than any of the previous Winter Season months. Winds gusted to over 40 mph three times during the month and almost half of the month saw winds gusting above 25 mph. Plenty of pick up sticks.
The low barometer of 28.86″ during the March 14th. snow by rain by noon event at my location was the third lowest March barometer reading on my records. The March 14th.Blizzard of 1993 saw a 28.50″ low barometer and a rain to snow event on March 8th.. 2005 saw 28.68″
March 2017 Acushnet, Mass. 41deg,44min N 70deg,55min W
Ave High 43.5 deg. Ave Low 25.6 deg. March Mean 34.8 deg. is 3.8 deg. below normal
High Temp 57 deg. on March 21st. Low Temp 08 deg. on March 12th.
Days 0 or below 0
Total Precip. 3.71″ is 1.80″ below normal
Max 24hr. Precip. 1.53″ on March 14th.
Snowfall 9.0″ is 2.3″ above normal
Max 24hr. Snowfall 5.5″ on March 10th.
Total 2017 Precip. 12.51″ is 1.29″ below normal
Season Snowfall (dec-mar) 46.3″
T-Storm Days 1
High Wind Gust 49mph on March 11th.
Heating Degree Days 952
Cooling Degree Days 0
High Barometer 30.53″ on March 24th.
Low Barometer 28.86″ on March 14th.
Tom Carr