CAARA, an ARRL affiliated club, operates the 2 meter W1GLO repeater on 145.130 MHz with antennas located on the Cingular tower in the Blackburn Industrial Complex in Gloucester Massachusetts. It has an average effective radius of 60 miles, and serves eastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and maritime mobile stations. CAARA also operates the W1GLO repeater on 224.900. The W1RK 443.700 repeater with antennas located in Magnolia is owned and operated by club member Ralph Karcher and it too is available for club use.
The Association is one of the few amateur radio clubs that has its own clubhouse. Located at 6 Stanwood Street in Gloucester, it includes a permanent HF station with rotating beam and vertical antenna along with a 2 meter packet station and 2 meter voice and 220 MHz transceivers. See directions and a map to our clubhouse.
Amateur radio exams are held on the second Sunday of each month at 12:00 noon at the CAARA clubhouse. Anyone who is considering a new license or an upgrade, is welcome to test with us. There is no pre-registration necessary. Contact the head of our VE team Bob Quinn if you have any questions about monthly testing.
Monthly member meetings are held on the Second Wednesday of the Even Numbered months.
Each Sunday evening at 9:00pm, the club operates a 2 meter net on 145.130. This is an open and informal net which disseminates club news and prepares operators for emergency communications work. All are invited to check into the net as club membership is not a requirement. The Sunday night nets are streamed live on the Internet.
This is a special event callsign being used for a one day (16Aug2008) expedition to Thacher Island. The event is being organized by the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association (www.caara.net), W1GLO. Transportation & hospitality being provided by the Thacher Island Association (www.thacherisland.org).
Operation will be from the North Tower, (ARLHS USA-1027). Island's North Tower is located 42.38.21N/70.34.29W , Grid: FN42rp;
The club operates a 2 meter net on 145.130. This is an open and informal net which disseminates club news and prepares operators for emergency communications work.
All are invited to check into the net as club membership is not a requirement.
If you aren't near a radio and want to just listen to the CAARA net on the Internet, click the Live repeater stream
link and listen through iTunes or your favorite streaming audio program.
CAARA Logo Store
It's summer and now is the time to stock up on CAARA logo items. From the typical white t-shirt, to yellow, and vibrant green, the CAARA logo store has what you need. Sweatshirts, t-shirts, mugs, bags, and hats all carry the CAARA signature. Visit the official CAARA store to get a varied selection of club logo apparel courtesy of CafePress.
And the best part besides getting cool club logo stuff-- a portion of the price of each item sold goes directly to the club!
Below are just two of the many styles available. You can purchase either by clicking on their image.
Emergency Communications Group
GLOUCESTER CRUISEPORT, MARCH 27, 2008 -- 7:00 AM-3:00P.M.
Today, there was an exercise at the Cruiseport Terminal Building in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The Region drilled in case there was a Pandemic Flu outbreak for ny of the communities of Cape Ann, (Manchester-By-The-Sea, Essex, Gloucester and Rockport).
Upon arrival at 7:00a.m., each individual signed and was assigned a table. The participants were given a 'mock scenario' of which the participants discussed different ways of handling the situation. We took a 15 minute break and then we were given the exercise scenario for the drill.
Thirteen radio operators from the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association were in attendance at the request of the Gloucester Pandemic Flu Group. We would be required to pass traffic on the computer using WEBEOC, and if communications failed either by radio or messenger.
The drill lasted several hours. Participants were served lunch during the drill. The participants were passing messages that involved logistics for Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and Public Works.
The concept of WEBEOC was utilized for the drill, this program allowed participants to view record traffic entered in the the computer terminals and there were multimediia projectors around the room so that the participants could see messages going in and out.
Of course 'Murphy Strikes' and computer terminals were disabled. We then had to use radio or messenger services to complete the message forwarding and reply.
During the 'Question and Answer Period' upon the completion of the drill, Mr. Kevin Tully from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Region ONE Office in Tewksbury, Mass. was in attendance. During a 'Real Time' scenario, Mr. Tully's agency would be assissting commmunities to gather resources for their area.
A tip of the hat to the following members of CAARA's Emergency Communications Group: Ron Beckley, N1RJB; Paul McDonough, W1LPM; Dr. Curtis Wright, AA3JE; Chuck Downey, N1OCT; Dr. Hank McCarl, W4RIG; Bill Canty, W1OKD; Bill Poulin, WZ1L; Don Calnan, KB1NWL; Briggs Longbotham, AB2NJ; Dick Copithorne, KR1G; Linda Wright, KB1MWG; Jon Cunningham, K1TP and one other gentleman who I did not get his call/name prior to his departure.
The attached photo shows the aforementioned operators before a computer which was running 'WEBEOC' and various radio equipment needed to provide the necessary communications for the exercise.
The Cape Ann Amateur Radioi Association's Emergency Communications Group will be debriefing and gathering 'Lessons Learned' for future drills at their upcoming meeting on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 7:30p.m. Please come and listen to the comments. We would gladly accept any member in good standing to become a member of this group.
Respectfully submitted,
BILL POULIN, wZ1l
Member, CAARA Emergency Communications Group
Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association
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