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The BAA Amateur Radio Communications Committee Writes: Volunteer registration for the 2026 Boston Marathon is open and ongoing. If you’ve already registered to volunteer at the 2026 Boston Marathon, we’d like to thank you for your interest in joining our team! For anyone who hasn’t yet, please don’t delay! Volunteer registration closes on Friday, February 6. It would help our planning processes if you could complete your registration by Friday, January 30. Registration Link (for new and returning volunteers): https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/info-for-volunteers/ Step by Step Sign Up Guide: https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002570599-2026-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide A few notes for volunteers: Almost all amateur radio positions are single person …

Hello to all… The January Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday January 5th, 2026 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1: https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked) We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. We will have several announcements for the net …

Mike “Sparky” Leger, N1YLQ, ARES DEC – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:   Hello to all,       I hope this note finds everyone well in the new year and that everyone had wonderful year-end holidays! Thank you to the stations that checked in and particularly those that took on Net Control Duties in December and submitted their reports! Those are very helpful in showing MEMA and the ARRL that we remain prepared and active for emergency operations in Southeastern MA.     This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that Monday evening, …

Don Rolph, AB1PH, Walpole area ARES Emergency Coordinator writes: The MEMA RACES nets are held on the first Monday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, when it is delayed one week. For Jan 2026, the MEMA RACES nets will be held on Mon Jan 5 at: ******************************************************************************** 80 meter Voice net *** Note new frequency of 3942 Khz **** This is to avoid another established net 6:45 PM Frequency: 3942 KHz working up until the first free frequency Jeff N1JCM will be net control ********************************************************************************* Region 2D VHF net: 7:30 PM ET VHF net on 146.865 …

Bruce 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 …

Jeff-N1SOM and the South Shore Hospital Group W1SSH writes: Good Evening, On Saturday January 3, 2026 the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Group will hold an Eastern MA Hospital Net commencing at 10:00AM. Home or alternative locations are also welcome to check into the net. Even if you cannot reach all the systems being used, please check-in on those you can. We will use the following repeaters in the order listed. 1. West Bridgewater repeater 146.775 dcs 244 2. Attleboro Repeater 147.195 tone 127.3 3. DMR -Talkgroup 8851 Time Slot :1 on the following NEDECN repeaters: Boston 449.175 -5.M CC:1, …

  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 …

Dear 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 …

If you or anyone you know is interested in attending an Amateur Extra Class licensing course, please pass along the following information, and feel free to publicize it with your radio club or any group you feel would benefit. A free, weekly, live, Amateur Radio Extra Class Licensing course on Zoom will begin on Thursday, January 15, 2026, and will run through Thursday, March 26. There will be 11 sessions. The three-hour sessions will start at 6:30 PM Eastern Time and will also be recorded. These are the classes that we have been holding for years sponsored by the Amateur …

The November Section Traffic Manager’s Report for November 2025 is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-rhode-island-stm-report-for-november-2025/. Note information on new and updated handling instructions (found in the radiogram preamble as HX). An article about these can also be found  in the December issue of The NTS Letter. Also find information about a holiday radiogram form, created by Radio Relay International,  which can be found at https://nts2.arrl.org/arrl-rri-form-christmas-radiogram-2025/. as well as on the RRI website. This form can be filled out, downloaded and saved as a PDF file and attached to an email, or it can be printed and mailed. It is a nice …

John Rokicki, KC1VMZ reminds us on the NEAPRS mailing list that tomorrow is the New England APRS Test Net: WHAT: NE APRS Test net  WHEN: second Monday of the Month (for December, this is Monday December 8): 0600 ET – 2200 ET  (note new end time) WHERE: APRS HOW: Send  a message to ANSRVR “CQ NEAPRS <check-in message of choice>“ Extra credit – send out a location beacon during the net time period as well. Extra Extra credit – Help John test out a new APRS net technology – Net Central. To participate, send a message “CI” to one of two different callsigns NEAPRS-1 or NEAPRS-2. …

Dean, KB1PGH from the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association writes Our club and the North Shore Radio Association (NSRA)  are providing communications for the Gloucester Mass Santa Parade which will be held on this upcoming Sunday Dec 7th at 3 PM and we are short operators so we are looking for more hams to help us out filling spots along the parade route. So if anyone is interested they can contact Eric Horowitz KA1NCF at KA1NCF@nsradio.org .

The Boston Marathon Communication Committee writes: Volunteer registration for the 2026 Boston Marathon is expected to open this week! Returning volunteers will receive an email from the BAA that includes registration instructions. In order to make registration as smooth as possible, we are providing specific instructions for our Amateur Radio Operator (ARO) volunteers. If you haven’t previously volunteered, or have a friend who would like to volunteer, please go directly to the Volunteer Registration page and follow the instructions for new volunteers. Step by Step Sign Up Guide: https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002570599-2026-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide A few notes for volunteers: Almost all amateur radio positions are …

Mike “Sparky” Leger, N1YLQ, ARES DEC – MEMA Region 2 RACES Radio Officer writes:   Hello to all,       This email is the typical monthly message to let everyone know that Monday evening, December 1st, 2025 is our first non-holiday Monday of the month and, as such, will be the next RACES/ACS/Preparedness Net night. For those who check into the 80m Net, please note the change in frequency for the net this evening. This was necessary due to frequent net collisions during our planned net night/time.        For those who participate in the WinLink net, please note …

Hello to all… The December Eastern Massachusetts ARES section net will be Monday December 1st, 2025 at 830 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1: https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked) We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net. We will have several announcements for the net …

Don Rolph, AB1PH, Walpole area ARES Emergency Coordinator writes: The MEMA RACES nets are held on the first Monday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, when it is delayed one week, For Dec 2025, the MEMA RACES nets will be held on Mon Dec 1 at: ******************************************************************************** 80 meter Voice net *** Note new frequency of 3942 Khz **** This is to avoid another established net 6:45 PM Frequency: 3942 KHz working up until the first free frequency Jeff N1JCM will be net control ********************************************************************************* Region 2D VHF net: 7:30 PM ET VHF net on 146.865 …

Eric, KA1NCF, writes on the North Shore Radio Association mailing list:   I would like to see if anyone is available to help with a Parade in Gloucester this Sunday 11-30-25   It starts at 3 pm in Gloucester and we have been notified at the last minute. If you can volunteer, please contact Eric via e-Mail.   UPDATE (11/28): Eric states “I was just TOLD that the Parade for THIS WEEKEND has Been MOVED TO NEXT WEEKEND!!! Parade in Gloucester is NOW on Sunday 12-07-25”

The 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 …

Jay, K1EHZ, writes on the New England Mesh Networking mailing list: MVARA has received a one-year extension to our ARDC grant to continue implementing a backbone microwave network linking DMR repeaters to alternate internet sites, and to interconnect emcomm-related organizations.   We would like to cover more DMR repeater sites which could be a component of a project increasing interstate RF links. Currently the NH RF network connects to one site in ME (Shapleigh), and to two sites in MA (Haverhill and Westford).   I wonder if there is interest among the NE Mesh Group in exploring a few more …

Andy, of Andy’s Ham Radio Linux, is planning to hold a free Ham Radio Linux class in January 2026. He is looking for 4-6 enthusiastic students. The class will be based on Xubuntu Linux 24.04 and Andy’s Ham Radio Linux (either v26d or v26e). Previous Linux experiences will be helpful but not required.  The location will be the Cameron Senior Center in Westford, MA on each Wednesday in January, from 12:30-3:30PM. If you are interested, please send Andy an email directly.