Author: k9hi

Clubs / Public Information

“Small Talk, From Afar”

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

W1AF ham shack

From Harvard Magazine, May-June 2025:

“As Leo Koerner ’26 trudged upstairs with Declan Deady ’27, a three-minute timer started in his head. Once Koerner opened the door to the “radio shack,” its walls paneled with wood veneer and plastered with Soviet-era maps, he had just a few moments to convince Deady that this endeavor was magical.

“Koerner is trying to revive the Harvard Wireless Club, a group of amateur (“ham”) radio enthusiasts. Unlike the student DJs at WHRB, Koerner’s crew operates two-way radios: essentially superpowered, imprecise walkie-talkies. Harvard’s ham radio station is the sixth-oldest in the country, founded in 1909. But this 116-year-old club is at risk of disappearing. Few young people express interest in amateur radio, with waves (generally) full of old men. Can Koerner keep this time capsule alive?”

[Full story]

 

Public Information

UPDATED: World Amateur Radio Day Open House and Club POTA at PART of Westford, May 3, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

PART of Westford logo

Courtesy PART of Westford website:

 

Due to inclement weather, the PART POTA event scheduled for April 26 has been moved to May 3, 2025. All other details remain the same.

World Amateur Radio Day is Friday April 18th, celebrating the founding of the IARU 100 years ago.  ARRL has suggested that member clubs hold “open house” events in April in recognition of the event, and in collaboration with HamSCI and SciStarter for “One Million Acts of Science” in April.

Conveniently, PART POTA [Parks On The Air] activators had been looking for a time to hold a first Club POTA activation, so we’re combining the events on a Saturday in April (weather permitting).   Given our past activation experience, we’ll activate Great Brook Farm State Park (US-2435), at the area near the ski barn / ski touring center parking lot at 1018 Lowell Road, Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, MA. 

We anticipate setting up three stations at the Park, to welcome both club members and the public to the Open House and POTA events. 

[More]
Licensing Education & Training

Barnstable ARC General Class Course, Brewster, May 24-25, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Barnstable ARC logoThe Barnstable Amateur Radio Club will conduct a General Class course for Technician license holders on May 24 and 25 from 8 AM to 5 PM, at the Brewster Police Station Community Room, Route 124, in Brewster.

Online registration is now open at: HamStudy.org: Exam details.  Once you obtain a copy of the ARRL General Class License Manual as a reference, you will need to complete the open book exam .  The link for that is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5VZPhL8nIafSX17jYBATcS6MpLtQ_zFYp9KIdhuNdyKQgPg/viewform?usp=dialog.

Email robleiden@comcast.net with any questions.

73,

Rob Leiden, K1UI 

Operating

New England QSO Party, May 3-4, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The New England QSO Party on May 3rd and 4th is a great time to check out antenna systems and offers a moderately paced opportunity to work new states and countries. You’ll find a wide variety of participants, from newcomers to experienced contesters, all interested in making contacts with New England stations.

Our goal is to get every one of the counties in New England on the air so we hope you will encourage your members to join in the fun! Even if you can join the fun for a couple of hours, we’d appreciate it!  Will you be QRV? Let us know with a message to info@neqp.org.

The New England QSO Party is 20 hours long overall, in two sections with a civilized break for sleep on Saturday night.  It runs from 4 pm Saturday until 1 am Sunday, then 9 am Sunday until 8 pm Sunday.  Operate on CW, SSB and/or digital modes on 80-40-20-15-10 meters.  For each QSO you’ll give your callsign, a signal report and your county/state.  Top scorers can earn a plaque and everyone who sends in a log with 25 QSOs or more will get a certificate.  The goal is to work stations anywhere in the world – and their goal is to work New England stations, so you’ll be very popular!

Last year we had logs from 212 New England stations and 516 more logs from around the country and world. 

The full rules are here -> https://neqp.org/rules/ 

The 2024 results were posted last weekend -> https://neqp.org/2024-new-england-qso-party/ 

It’s just under three weeks until the 2025 NEQP. Please make some QSOs even if you don’t want to send in a log!

Thanks!

    73 Tom/K1KI

—

www.neqp.org    May 3-4, 2025

Tom Frenaye, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093. c: 860-597-4539  h: 860-668-5444

Public Service

Twin Lights Race, Gloucester-Rockport, May 4, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

CAARA logoChris Winczewski, W1TAT, writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:

Please consider volunteering for Twin Lights Race in Gloucester and Rockport on Sunday May 4th.
 
We’re doing great filling positions for the year, but we still need 2 more volunteers for May 4.
 
Please consider volunteering and Email me to sign up, W1TAT@outlook.com.
 
You can check the staffing sheet for open checkpoints for  future races too.
 
 
Please consider helping.
 
Many thanks & 73,
Clubs

K1KI: “Goings-on at ARRL Headquarters” at Nashoba Vally ARC, Pepperell, April 17, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nashoba Valley ARC logoThe Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club‘s April meeting is Thursday, April 17th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts.

April’s speaker will be ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI.  Tom will provide a “current events” talk about the goings-on at ARRL headquarters.

NVARC annual elections also take place at the April meeting, making it a “Special Meeting” as defined in the club’s Constitution and Bylaws.

We’ll also be discussing upcoming events that NVARC participates in – the Groton Road Race, Field Day, POTA activations, etc.  In addition, we will also talk about major updates and plans for the N1NC / N1MNX repeater system.

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

BTW, if you would prefer to not get these announcements, please let me know
and I will take you off the list!

 
Clubs / Public Information

Massasoit ARA Open House, April 26, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Massasoit ARA logoThe Massasoit Amateur Radio Association will hold an open house on April 26, 2025 at the Bridgewater Public Library, 15 South Street in Bridgewater from 10 AM until  3 PM.

Weather permitting, club members will set up a station outside in back of the library near the pavilion. In the event of inclement weather, the Judith Gabriel Room will be used.

“We hope to set up a HF Parks On The Air (POTA) station which is a ham radio activity to establish contacts with parks all over the US. We will also have portable radio go-kits and should have at least one of them talking to the local repeater.”

The group also intends to distribute flyers with information about amateur radio and, possibly,  have a portable solar power supply on hand for the radios. The equipment will showcase how amateurs can communicate in situations where power, phone and internet are unavailable.

Technical

K1TT Balloon Tracking Over Atlantic, April 10, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
CAARA logoBrandon Hockle, NQ1W, writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:
 
Looks like Jim [Barber, K1TT] got a balloon off over the water this morning! Congratulations to K1TT on a successful launch!
 
If there is data on any subsequent launch I will send out an update. As of this posting it was out over the Atlantic and climbing through 11,942 feet.
 
Once again nice job Jim Barber K1TT. Hopefully he will share pictures of the launch.
 
You can track the progress here:
https://traquito.github.io/search/spots/dashboard/?band=20m&channel=540&callsign=K1TT&dtGte=2025-03-11
Operating

13 Colonies Massachusetts K2H Seeks Operators, July 1-7, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
2021 K2H QSL card design

Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

13 Colonies Massachusetts, is looking for a few new ops to join Team K2H.

13 Colonies takes place every July 1-7. We’re looking for volunteers who can operate for at least 2 hours per day for at least 4 of the 7 days.

Operating as K2H is a blast. You become the DX, and stations want to work you. You don’t have to be a contest op to volunteer. Anyone interested and available is welcome. As part of team K2H for the past few years, we have made around 20,000 contacts. 

If you are interested, please contact Larry, W1AST, 13 Colonies Massachusetts state manager, at W1AST@arrl.net before May 15th.

Thanks and 73,

Larry, W1AST
ARRL WMA Affiliated Club Coordinator
Northeast HamX Committee Member: W1AST@HamX.org
Team K2H – 13 Colonies Massachusetts State Manager
Proud Member of ARRL, HCRA, FEMARA & YCCC
413-348-3289
WB1DBY@gmail.com
I hope to see you at this year’s HamX! – www.HamX.org

Public Service

Groton Road Road Race, May 4, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nashoba Valley ARC logoFrom Nashoba Valley ARC Signal, April 2025:

The Groton Road Race Committee has requested the assistance of the Amateur Radio community for the Race on May 4. NVARC and the ham community have been providing situational awareness, health and safety communication for this event for over three decades.

The course circles Groton Hill, starting and ending at the Groton Hill Music Center. This is the third year the Race has followed this course.  The planned event schedule this year is similar to 2024; the two main races start shortly after 10am. The communications support that we provide is expected to start around 9am and we should be done shortly after 1pm. 

The Groton Road Race continues to be a major event for Amateur Radio in North Central Massachusetts. Those of you who have joined us in previous years know that the runners sincerely appreciate our presence. Many say so as they run past. This event is so large that Police Departments and other public safety organizations from several communities come to assist the Groton PD. Part of our role is to provide the communications from the Groton Police to these out-of-town officers who come to help with this event.

Contributing to the public good is one of the reasons Amateur Radio exists. Our public service events are a key opportunity for us to show our colors, volunteer our skills and equipment, and demonstrate why it is in the public’s interest to continue to allocate precious RF spectrum to our the Amateur Radio Service. The Groton Road Race is a low-stress event and a great way to gain more experience with the public service aspect of amateur radio. Please consider joining us on the 4th.

If you are a new Ham or know of another Ham who is interested in helping at these events but unsure of what is expected or what equipment may be needed, please do not hesitate to introduce yourself (or them) to me.

The Groton Road Race Committee and the Groton Police Department repeatedly praise and express their appreciation for our assistance in providing communications for this event for many years. I do hope you will be able to join us this year; please let me know.

Thanks and 73,
Ralph, KD1SM

[1] http://www.n1nc.org/Events/
[2] http://grotonroadrace.com/
[3] https://grotonhill.org/

Youth

Hudson High School “STEM Night,” April 9, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Hudson High School W1HUD group photoKen Horton, KA1GFN, writes on the Algonquin ARC mailing list:

Hudson High School will hold a STEM night on April 9 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.

Students will have the opportunity to use FT8 and talk on the 446.675 repeater. [Algonquin ARC] Members can monitor the repeater and maybe have a chance to talk to the students and possibly answer some trivia questions. It’s not known when an interested student might show up during the time period, so just listen and wait.

Clubs

KK1RZ: “Comparing all Five Digital Modes Found on New England Repeaters” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, April 15, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoRich Zack, KK1RZ, will present “Comparing all Five Digital Modes Found on New England Repeaters” at the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society hybrid meeting on April 15, 2025 in Natick and online.

Biography: Rick was first licensed as a ham in 1966.  His late father was a ham, as is his son, K1DRZ.  Rick also holds an FCC First Class commercial license.  His career includes an RF consulting business; Chief Engineer for WCVB-TV in Boston; Chief Engineer of Television for WBIN-TV; VP of System Engineering for a high-end microwave equipment manufacturer; Land-mobile dealer and commercial repeater system operator; and Consulting Engineer for the FCC on the TV Spectrum Repack Project.  He recently retired as an IT System Administrator for Gunstock Mountain Resort.  Rick holds a USCG commercial Captain’s License and his hobbies include snowmobiling, boating, downhill skiing, hiking, and many diverse aspects of amateur radio.  Rick is currently President of the Central New Hampshire Radio Club.

Public Service

Volunteer Opportunity: Run Of The Charles, April 27, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Run Of The Charles photo, courtesy CRWA.orgBrett Smith, AB1RL, writes:
 
The Run of the Charles is running again this year on April 27. After being on hiatus for a few years, this event returned last year with streamlined organization, and they’re keeping that for this year. Still, the event can always use more amateur radio volunteers to watch out for participants’ safety and help keep tabs on event logistics.
 
There are assignments available for a variety of times and locations along the Charles River from I-95 into Boston. If you can join us, please just write back to let me know if you have any assignment constraints or preferences, and we’ll work it out. Feel free to share the word with other amateur radio groups you know—we’re still building back after the hiatus.
 
Whether you can join us or not, thanks for your support and consideration.
 
73,
Brett Smith, AB1RL
Public Information / Youth

Girl Scout STEM Festival, Waltham, May 3, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Jessie Kneeland, KC1SLQ, writes:
 
Call for Volunteers! The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is hosting a STEM Festival on Saturday May 3rd from 9 am – 1 pm at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham MA, and local hams will be hosting an amateur radio themed event station. We are looking for more on-site volunteers to answer questions about amateur radio and help event participants format and send radiogram messages to their family members. No prior experience in traffic handling is needed, just your presence and enthusiasm. We expect more than 300 Scouts to participate and would love more volunteers to represent the hobby. Contact me (Jessie KC1SLQ at kc1slq@gmail.com ) for more information or to volunteer!
Clubs / Emergency Communications

Algonquin ARC Winlink Node On The Air

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

AARC logoFrom Algonquin ARC QRZ Newsletter, April 2025:

The project to deploy a Winlink node at our Marlborough repeater site was completed this past month. George, N1ABC, led the project that was sponsored jointly by the Algonquin Amateur Radio Club and the Marlborough Emergency Management Agency. The Winlink system provides message forwarding communications via radio worldwide. It is an integral part of our amateur radio traffic system that supports our regional Emergency Management services. This new node provides coverage to the western Middlesex county and eastern Worcester county areas.

The node is located at our N1EM/R repeater location on the Sligo Hill water tower.
Frequency: 145.090 MHz
Call: N1ABC­10

The AARC provided the funding for the Motorola radio, modem and internet hardware. Marlborough Emergency Management provided the antenna, feedline and their installation. Thanks to the Minuteman Repeater Association for providing the internet access. Also thanks to Stu, W1SHS, for his help understanding the software, Roger, WA1NVC, for the help with the radio programming, and Ron, N1CNG, for help with the equipment installation.

73, Eric KV1J
Marlborough Emergency Management

All

Billerica Repeater Take-Down, April 4, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Bob DeMattia, K1IW, writes:

We will be removing the Billerica repeater from its current site on April 4th.  It will be off the air for 2 – 3 weeks while the antennas are relocated to the new site.  Some work will also be done to the equipment itself during the downtime.   The Burlington repeater on 145.43 should provide adequate coverage in the Billerica area during this period.

We are in need of some people to help with the removal on the 4th.  The tower is hinged, so it will be lowered and everything removed.  We also need to bring the antennas, equipment, and some empty racks that are in the repeater room down to the loading area to be put on vehicles.

We currently have four volunteers but could use four more.  We will meet at 300 Concord Rd, Billerica at 9AM on the 4th. I would estimate it will take about four hours to complete the work.

Please reply if you are interested in helping.  

73,
Bob

Licensing Education & Training / Technical

AF1R: “FreeDV” Zoom On-Air Tutorial at Wellesley ARS, March 31, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Leandra Mac Lennan, AF1R, writes on the Wellesley ARS mailing list:

I will be doing an encore FreeDV Zoom and on-the air tutorial for WARS members on

  • Monday, March 31
  • 7:30 to 8:30 PM

If you missed last Monday’s meeting, you can join us for this meeting. I will cover the basic setup of FreeDV.

For those who were at last Monday’s meeting we will try the latest version of FreeDV to see how well the new vocoder works.

We will use 50.190 MHz for our on the air tests while we are on Zoom.

I recommend using a PC headset/microphone which plugs into a USB port on your computer. This will be used for the FreeDV audio. When you log into the Zoom meeting, use the computer internal speaker and microphone.

For the meeting I recommend you use the same computer for both Zoom and FreeDV. This will give you the ability to share your screen on Zoom if you have any problems so we can observe and debug any issues you may have.

I will focus the meeting on Windows operation as I am not familiar with Mac or Linux.

You must have a known-good method of connecting your computer to your radio. If you have used FT8 or FLDIGI successfully, you can use the same setup for FreeDV.

The latest version of FreeDV uses the AVX instruction set in the processor of your PC for the new high-quality vocoders. Most of the latest processors have the AVX instruction set.

Before the meeting please check to see if your processor has the AVX feature set. Follow the instructions in this web site

https://www.ghostarrow.com/how-to-know-if-my-cpu-supports-avx-instructions

If you have a Windows 11 computer and your processor has AVX, you may need to enable the AVX feature in your computer BIOS. Follow the instructions here (skip step 1, start at step 2) to enable AVX

https://www.supportyourtech.com/articles/how-to-enable-avx-support-in-windows-11-a-step-by-step-guide/

[For Zoom details, contact Charlie Bures, WA3ITR, at c.bures@comcast.net]

 

Clubs

AF1T: “How and Why Antennas Work” at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, March 20, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Nashoba Valley ARC logoThe Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club‘s March meeting is Thursday, March 20th at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell). We start gathering at 7 PM to socialize before the meeting starts. NVARC has a special treat in store for you at the March meeting.  Dale Clement, AF1T, will be talking about antennas.  NVARC has had Dale speak before, but we have enough new members and new hams that we just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have him speak again.  Dale demonstrates practically and visually how and why antennas work.  Trust me: He’s entertaining, and you will learn a lot.  Do not miss this meeting!

The Board of Directors would also like to discuss possible plans for the N1MNX repeater system with membership, April elections of officers, Field Day in June, etc.  So please plan on attending the meeting.

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

WJ1B: “How to Become a POTA Hunter” at Sci-Tech ARS Hybrid Meeting, March 18, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoMarch 18, 2025: “How to Become a POTA Hunter” by Harold Kramer, WJ1B.

Description: Parks on the Air, POTA, is one of the fastest growing and most popular programs in Amateur Radio today. This presentation will provide an overview of the Parks on the Air program and will emphasize the tools, techniques, and practices for becoming an effective POTA Hunter. Hunters are stations that are not operating in a park, but rather, usually at their home stations. Hunters are essential to the POTA program because without Hunters, the Activators, stations located in a park, would have no one to work!  

Bio: Harold retired eight years ago as the Chief Operating Officer of the ARRL and Publisher of QST. He still writes Product Reviews and Classic Radio columns. He is currently a volunteer at the ARRL Lab and a member of the ARRL Board’s Historical Committee. He is an avid POTA Hunter with over 2,600 confirmed parks.  Harold was first licensed as KN1ZCK at age 14. He spent his entire career in the cable television and broadcast industries. Before joining the ARRL, Harold was the Chief Technology Officer of Connecticut Public Broadcasting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The University of Connecticut.  Here is a link to Harold’s website:  http://www.wj1b.com

Operating

NE1PL/ USS Massachusetts Scout Operating Event, Fall River, April 19, 2025

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1PL QSL cardThe USTNR [Uncommon Service to Nautical Radio]  plans to activate the USS Massachusetts on April 19, 2025, according to Rick Emord, KB1TEE.

“We plan to get on the ship around 0800 to celebrate scouting. We will pack up at 1530. Come on down if you can only spend a few minutes or any times, just come to the ship’s gift shop and sign the page with my name on it.”

—Thanks, Massasoit ARA March 2025 newsletter