Author: k9hi

Licensing Education & Training

Nashoba Valley ARC General Class a Success!

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Nashoba Valley ARC logoBruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

NVARC recently completed our first ever General upgrade class, with our first volunteer exam (VE) session at the completion of the classes. We would like to congratulate the following upgrades to General class:

Kartik, K1AKP
Dan, KB1OPO
Ottavio, KC1PFU
Libby, KC1RKH
John, KC1VTD
Patrick, KC1WNU
Matt, KC1YLN
Phil, KC1YNF
John, W1JHK

Additionally, Patrick, KC1WNU, and John, W1JHK, also upgraded to Extra class! And John, KC1YTJ, who participated in our recent Technician license classes, passed the Technician exam at the exam session.

Classes were organized by Bob, N1DVC, and Bruce, K1BG, and were held at Grady Research in Ayer.  Volunteer Examiners were Ray, AA1SE, Les, N1SV, Skip, K1NKR, John, KK1X, and Bruce, K1BG.

Please congratulate all of the students!  And thanks to all those who helped with the license classes and the VE session.

Flea markets & Conventions

2026 HamX: Call For Speakers

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2026 HamX logo

 

HamX is the largest amateur radio convention in the Northeast!  With close to 1,800 attendees each year, HamX draws radio amateurs from all over and is an ideal venue to present your ideas and experiences.

This is a call for speakers on topics of general interest to the amateur radio community.  Some examples include: Operating practices, contesting, DXing, mobile stations, emergency communications, emerging activities, STEM outreach, club improvement, radio history, restoring antique gear, test equipment, kit building, antenna design, AI in amateur radio, VHF/UHF/Microwave/Mesh, EME and more.  If you have a story to share, we would like to hear about it.

To submit a talk proposal, please go to the following website and enter the requested information. 

 https://registration.hamx.org/speaker/

If you have any further questions, please reach out to the program chair at the e-mail address listed below.

We look forward to your contribution at HamX 2026!

Mark Noe KE1IU

HamX Program Committee Chairperson

ke1iu@hamx.org

Operating

2026 ARRL Celebration of the USA 250 Semiquincentennial

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America 250 logoDear Massachusetts Hams,

I am reaching out to you, to see if you would like to be part of the 2026 ARRL Celebration of the USA 250 Semiquincentennial Special Operating Event. This is part of the Year of the Club and the 100th Anniversary of the ARRL Field Organization along with a year long Worked All States (WAS-250).

I am the state manager for Massachusetts.

For two weeks in 2026, there is the ability for stations located in Massachusetts to operate as W1AW/1. ARRL membership is not required. The weeks are as follows:

• February 11-18
• August 12-21

August 14th & 15th will be an SSB operation from the New England HamXposition in Marlboro. They will have precedent in choosing the band and mode (probably SSB) for a block of time.

We are looking for ops that can get on multiple times during this week, from your club, home, mobile or portable stations and work stations that will be hunting you. Your transmitter MUST be in Massachusetts.

Modes that can be operated are:
• SSB
• CW
• Digital
• Satellite

ALL Logging MUST be done with computer logging that can export in ADIF format. The log will be sent to me once your operating has completed.

All volunteers will need to work together and share operating times with the team of ops.

There will be an operation guide emailed a few weeks before the operating week to all volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering for the first Massachusetts operating in February, please contact:

Larry Krainson, W1AST
FunHamRadio@gmail.com

Clubs

W1 QSL Sorting Party at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, Pepperell, November 20, 2025

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Nashoba Valley ARC logoThe Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club‘s November meeting is Thursday, November 20th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts. The November meeting is traditionally our W1 QSL Bureau night where the club sorts several thousand QSL cards for the incoming W1 QSL Bureau. Come and learn about “QSLing” and how cards move between bureaus all over the world.  Pizza and soft drinks follow the card sort, as well as socializing with other club members and friends.  It is, by far, my favorite club meeting of the year.  It’s a social experience you won’t want to miss, and it’s a lot of fun. 

Additionally, one of the benefits of NVARC membership is that the club PAYS the cost for its members to send their cards through the outgoing ARRL QSL bureau.   <https://www.arrl.org/outgoing-qsl-service>
https://www.arrl.org/outgoing-qsl-service.    The ARRL requires that you are a member to use the outgoing bureau.  You can prove this in several ways – take a copy of the front cover of your current edition of QST (the label has your Member Number and expiration date on it).  Or log-in to the ARRL website and click on your name just to the right of “Hello” at the top of the page.  Print the page (which contains your Member Number and your expiration date).  Then “follow-the-rules”:  <https://www.arrl.org/files/file/QSL/OUTGOING_QSL_SERVICE_2025.pdf> https://www.arrl.org/files/file/QSL/OUTGOING_QSL_SERVICE_2025.pdf.  NVARC will handle packing and payment, but you must sort the cards and provide proof of membership.

As always, feel free to bring a friend.

Come and join the fun!

If you need directions to the club meeting, please click  <http://binged.it/smoogg> here and put your own address in box
“A”.

Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG
978-772-2773 or  <mailto:bruce.blain@charter.net> bruce.blain@charter.net

Emergency Communications

IMPORTANT: Clear Frequencies for Caribbean Hurricane Impacts

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hurricane flagsBrian Szewczyk, NJ1F, writes on the YCCC list:

Some very important information about frequency to keep clear this weekend..

As the Caribbean faces potential hurricane impacts, IARU Region 2 has activated emergency nets on the following frequencies:

  • 40 meters: 7.198 MHz and 7.098 MHz
  • 20 meters: 14.198 MHz

If the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activates, they will be operating on:

  • 14.325 MHz
  • 7.268 MHz

The amateur radio station at the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC, will also be monitoring the HWN frequencies for real-time weather and situation reports.

This weekend coincides with the CQ World Wide SSB Contest, one of the busiest times on the bands. All operators are urged to exercise extra vigilance and avoid transmitting on or near these emergency and hurricane watch frequencies.

These nets are providing critical communication links supporting the Caribbean Islands and affected regions. Please ensure they have clear and reliable access to designated frequencies.

In summary:

  • Keep clear of 7.198, 7.098, 7.268, 14.198, and 14.325 MHz
  • Be aware of possible emergency or health-and-welfare traffic on nearby frequencies
  • Operate responsibly and help maintain open frequencies for those supporting hurricane response efforts.

Updates at https://www.arrl.org/news/tropical-storm-melissa-update

Brian

NJ1F

Clubs

“The Sport of Radio Orienteering” at Sci-Tech ARS Meeting, October 21, 2025

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New England Sci Tech logoTuesday, October 21: “The Sport of Radio Orienteering” by Eduard Nasybulin. (In-person at NEST)

Description: Radio Orienteering combines traditional orienteering with radio signal direction finding. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the sport’s history and origins, followed by its key principles and rules. Selected courses from recent U.S. and World Championships will be highlighted. In addition, participants will see demonstrations of radio receivers, transmitters, sports maps, and other essential equipment.

Bio: Eduard Nasybulin has been involved in radio orienteering since the late 1990s, beginning as a high school and college student. After a break, he returned to the sport in 2017 and has since competed in every U.S. Championship, as well as three World Championships. Professionally, Eduard has a background in materials science and engineering, with over 20 years of experience in electrochemical energy conversion and storage.

Clubs

K1BG: “Radio Contesting for Beginners” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, October 16, 2026

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Nashoba Valley ARC logoBruce Bain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s October meeting is TOMORROW, Thursday, October 16th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts.

Yours truly, Bruce, K1BG, will give a presentation on Radio Contesting for Beginners.  Due to our recent license classes, we have a lot of new hams in the club who are discovering what amateur radio is all about.  The presentation will focus on what amateur radio contesting is, show everyone how they can participate, and remove any misconceptions or reservations they might have.  There should be something for everyone – experienced or not – during the talk.

I look forward to seeing you there.

If you need directions to the club meeting, please click  <http://binged.it/smoogg> here and put your own address in box “A”.

Thanks, and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG
978-772-2773 or  bruce.blain@charter.net

Organization

Pass the Bill! Have you Sent Your Letters?

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ARRL logoARRL’s push to pass the bill has great momentum, but we need EVERY radio amateur in the United States to send their letters.

Your participation can make the difference in passing this legislation.

It only takes seconds. If you’re a licensed ham in the US, go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/, enter your call sign, validate your address, and click the red SEND MY LETTERS button. It really is that easy!

In less time than it takes to make a single QSO, your letters will tell Congress to remove the legal restraints on hams living in restrictive HOAs to put up an antenna.

Follow the link at https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ to send your letter now!

What it is:

The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (see ARRL News 02/07/2025) is a pair of bipartisan bills — H.R.1094 in the House and S.459 in the Senate – which are designed to prevent restrictive homeowners’ association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when such antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles.

Se Habla Español – Pasar el proyecto de ley

Si su lengua materna es el español, ARRL ha creado instrucciones y una página web para que envíe sus cartas al Congreso.

Descargue las instrucciones aquí:

https://send-a-letter.org/espanol/

 

Clubs

N1QD: “Digital Mobile Radio” at Boston ARC Hybrid Meeting, October 16, 2025

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Boston ARC logoThe Boston Amateur Radio Club’s Ham Radio Basics speaker series continues in October with Joe Harris, N1QD, giving a presentation on Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). The talk will cover an overview of digital voice for ham radio as well as a discussion on how to program your radio to work with the club’s 449.175 DMR repeater.

The BARC general meeting will be held on Thursday October 16th at 7:30 pm at the Artisans Asylum and on Zoom.

[Email w1bos@arrl.net for Zoom information.]
Clubs / Youth

KC1TCM: “Summer Field Trips in Ham Radio, Computers, and Engineering” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, October 7, 2025

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KC1TCM at YOTA 2025
Oliver Johnson, KC1TCM at the YOTA-Junior campus at the Voice of America station

Join by Oliver Johnson, KC1TCM, for  “Summer Field Trips in HAM Radio, Computers, and Engineering” at the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society hybrid in-person/Zoom meeting, 16 Tech Circle in Natick, MA at 7 PM on October 7, 2025. [Email info@nescitech.org for Zoom details]

Description:

Oliver was one of twelve young hams to attend the first-ever YOTA-Junior camp in summer 2025 at the Voice of America Museum in West Chester, Ohio. YOTA and YOTA-Junior campus are focused on increasing youth engagement with Ham radio. Oliver will present photos and experiences from YOTA-Junior and lessons for increasing youth engagement. He will also present other radio and computer summer experiences including Try Engineering Camp at University of Pennsylvania, a visit to the Wright-Patterson Air Force museum and a visit to the National Electronics Museum and Computer Systems Source in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Bio: 

Oliver Johnson, KC1TCM, went from Tech to Amateur Extra at age 13 via New England Sci–Tech (NEST) classes. He regularly participates in STARS, operates at W1STR, and performs projects at NEST. In 7th grade he ran a fundraiser to buy soldering stations and kits and start an electronics club at Holliston Middle School, so far teaching more than a dozen students to solder and build kit projects. Andrew Johnson, KC1TDZ, has published more than 250 scientific papers and is a Tenured Professor in Biomedical Sciences, but mainly he’s just Oliver’s Dad and along for the ride.

Clubs

W1DAN: “SIGSALY: ­Pioneering Digital Techniques in WWII” at Algonquin ARC Meeting, Marlborough, October 9, 2025

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AARC logoThe next Algonquin Amateur Radio Club meeting will be held on September 9th at 7:30 pm in the library of the 1st Lt. Charles W. Whitcomb School, 25 Union St, Marlborough, MA. Enter from Agoritsas Drive next to the police station and use Door #1 at rear of building.

Dan Brown, W1DAN, will present: “SIGSALY: ­Pioneering Digital Techniques in WWII.”

Foxhunting

MBTA Accessible Fox Hunt, Alewife-Cambridge Vicinity, September 27-28, 2025

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MBTA logoEliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list and Boston ARC mailing list:
 
The W1MJ fox will be deployed this weekend (September 27-28) on public land near Alewife Station, which is on the MBTA Red Line and several bus routes.  
 
If coming by car, start at one of the following parking lots:
 
Hours of Operation:
Saturday:  10:00 AM until 7:00 PM
Sunday:  7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 
Frequency:  147.54 MHz
 
The fox is running 4 watts to a roll-up J-pole antenna, so bring your attenuator.  Depending upon how well shielded your radio is, hunting with no antenna may prove helpful.  Hunting on the 3rd harmonic (442.62 MHz) may also be helpful when you get very close.  For more information about this fox, see https://www.w1mj.com/fox/.
 
Regulation & Advocacy

Send-A-Letter Campaign: Ask Your Representative and Senators to Co-sponsor and Support H.R. 1094 and S. 459

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ARRL logoYOU CAN HELP US CHANGE THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF AMERICAN HAMS

The ARRL is focused on reducing legal restraints on the ability of American Amateur Radio Operators to engage in the active practice and enjoyment of Amateur Radio.  One of the most insidious and increasing threats to the survival of Amateur Radio and our ability to serve our communities and Nation, as we are required to do by Federal regulation, is the proliferation of private land use restrictions that prohibit the installation of outdoor antennas and that sometimes actually deny Federally licensed Amateurs from operating any amateur radios, regardless of where their antennas are located — in their attics, hidden in trees, or mounted on their vehicles.

Federal law — since 1996 — has guaranteed to every American — except Amateur Radio Operators — the right to erect antennas outside or on their residences for the purpose of TV reception, satellite TV and internet access, wireless internet access and even wireless internet redistribution. But Amateur Radio operators are denied the equal right to erect comparable antennas.

Since 2005 Federal law has also guaranteed to every American the right to proudly display the American Flag by installing flagpoles in their yards. But, despite that right to install vertical poles in their yards — American Radio Amateurs are denied the right to use those vertical flagpoles as vertical antennas.

We believe the denial — to licensed Amateur Radio Operators — of the rights guaranteed to all non-Amateur Radio licensed American homeowners — the right to install antennas on the land they own — is without justification and should not be permitted to continue.

To eliminate these private land use restrictions, the ARRL has worked over the past several years with our elected officials to draft Congressional legislation — H.R. 1094 in the U.S. House of Representatives and S. 459 in the U.S. Senate — that when passed will extend to all Hams the right to operate from their homes and the right to install antennas on the land they own. We have bipartisan support for this legislation.

BUT, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION!

How can you help? By sending a letter to your Representative and Senators asking that they co-sponsor and support H.R. 1094 and S. 459.

How can you send these letters? It is easy.

Go to — https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ — enter your call sign and click on “Send My Letters” and your letters will be delivered to our Washington legislative team for hand delivery to your Representative and Senators.

Does your individual letter matter? YES.

Your Representative and Senators need to know that the passage of this legislation is important to you.

Your letter could be the difference in whether we are able to pass H.R. 1094 and S. 459.  

Go to — https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ — and help us by sending your letters to your Representative and Senators.

Clubs

KO8SCA: “Bouvet I. DXpedition” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, September 18, 2025

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Nashoba Valley ARC logoThe Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club‘s September meeting is Thursday, September 18th (the day after tomorrow), at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts.

We have a real treat in store for you at the September meeting.  Adrian Ciuperca, KO8SCA, will talk about the upcoming Bouvet Island DXpedition.  In February 2026, an international team of very courageous amateur radio\ operators will land on Bouvet Island. Bouvet is a Norwegian overseas territory and lies in the South Atlantic Ocean, with 93% of its surface covered by ice and snow. It sets the record as the Most Remote Uninhabited Island  on Earth and currently ranks #10 on the Most Wanted DXCC listing at ClubLog.

I’m sure this will be a really interesting presentation.

If you need directions to the club meeting, please click  <http://binged.it/smoogg> here and put your own address in box “A”.

Thanks, and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Bruce, K1BG
978-772-2773 or  <mailto:bruce.blain@charter.net> bruce.blain@charter.net

Clubs

K8ZT: “Technicians, Life Beyond Repeaters” at Minuteman Repeater Association Hybrid Meeting, September 17, 2025

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MMRA logoMembership Meeting: Wednesday, 17 September 2025 ~7:30 – 9:30 pm

“Technicians, Life Beyond Repeaters,” Anthony Luscre, K8ZT

This is a Hybrid meeting: New England Sci-Tech + ZOOM
New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760

Members: log into your account on MMRA.ORG to obtain the ZOOM info.

The session will examine the historical and current status of Technician Class allocations and operating in the USA. We also explore operations beyond VHF/UHF Repeaters, including:

*  Technician HF Allocations: 10 M SSB & Data | 80, 40, 15 & 10 M CW
*  VHF/UHF Activities: Simplex (FM, SSB) | Digital (FT8/FT4, VARA FM)
*  Satellites | 6 Meters | EchoLink | APRS | Fox Hunting | EME (Earth-Moon-Earth)
*  Contesting
*  Amateur Radio Mash Ups

First licensed in 1981 as KA8NRC, Anthony has been a QRP operator from his very first QSO and became K8ZT in June 2000 after updating to Extra Class. His favorite Ham activity is operating! Whether it is contesting, DXing or rag chewing, satellites, etc. CW Phone or Digital, the QRP contacts have added up and now top 115,000. First drawn to contesting by his love of working DX, he has consistently finished in the top ten of various major contests and finished first in the World and US in both CQ Worldwide Phone and CW QRP categories multiple times. As a bonus, his QRP DXCC total recently topped the 328 mark, and he has completed 11-band WAS QRP.

Now retired, Anthony’s background includes 20 years as a Medical Technologist working in Clinical Microbiology and private computer consulting and 20 years as a Computer Technology Coordinator, most recently as a Technology Integration Specialist for 30 school districts. His retirement activities include volunteering as a Trainman on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. His small suburban lot is cramped with a modest array of antennas, proving that you can be competitive in contests without acres of aluminum if you choose your entry category carefully.

Anthony currently serves as ARRL Ohio Section Youth Coordinator. He enjoys sharing his Amateur Radio interests with others by maintaining a website, k8zt.com, writing articles for various publications, the D Engineering blog “On All Bands,” and developing an online course, “Introduction to Contesting,” for the ARRL. He has done over 400 club presentations and classes virtually in multiple states and countries.

In 2024, Anthony was awarded the Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award for his work in presentations to clubs around the world.

Clubs

Boston ARC’s Ham Radio Basics Series: “FT8 with W1DYJ,” September 18, 2025

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Boston ARC logoThe Boston Amateur Radio Club will hold its regular General Meeting on September 18, 2025, at both Artisans Asylum and Zoom. We will begin with a period of socializing at 7:00 and the meeting proper will begin at 7:30. 

Join us as veteran operator Larry Banks, W1DYJ, presents an engaging overview of FT8, one of the fastest-growing modes in amateur radio. Larry will cover the history of FT8, how to get started with WSJT-X, tips for interfacing your rig with your computer, and insights from logging nearly 6,000 FT8 contacts. Whether you’re new to digital modes or just curious about what makes FT8 so popular, this talk is for you!

[Contact Brendan Baldonado, NW1S for Zoom information]

Clubs / Youth

Northeastern Univ. Wireless Club Kickoff and College of Engineering Club Fair

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From NU Wireless Club mailing list:

2025 NU Wireless Club College of Engineering Club Fair
Hey everyone and thank you for coming to our lively kickoff meeting last Thursday! It was great meeting new members and seeing our seasoned folks come back.

Yesterday, we also tabled at the College of Engineering Club Fair! Thanks to everyone who came by, even though they put us in the back corner 🙁 We’d love to see you again at our first speaker talk of the semester:

This week, we are proud to host Joe Chapman NV1W, the ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Emergency Coordinator for the Boston Metro area, for a presentation on Emergency Communication. Join us at 7pm on Thursday in 503 Hayden Hall to learn about how amateur radio operators facilitate communication when the cell network and internet are not functional. Pizza will provided as always.