Serving ARRL members who reside in the New England sections
Brad Councilman, W1BC, writes on WMAFoxHunters:
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association (GSARA) was proud to take part in the Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation’s Family STEM Day 2026 on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Nashua High School South in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Family STEM Day brought together local organizations, families, students, educators, and curious minds of all ages for a day filled with hands-on science, technology, engineering, and learning. For GSARA, it was a great opportunity to share amateur radio with the community in a fun, interactive, and approachable way.
For our club, the day was about more than radios, antennas, and signals. It was about giving kids and families a chance to experience real-world communication, science, technology, and discovery in a way they could see, hear, and take part in.
Amateur radio, often called “ham radio,” has inspired generations of experimenters, makers, emergency communicators, engineers, public servants, and lifelong learners. At Family STEM Day, GSARA members helped introduce visitors to the many ways radio connects people across town, across the country, and around the world.
Throughout the event, visitors had the opportunity to explore several hands-on demonstrations, including Morse code, HF radio contacts using the club call sign N1QC, local “Talk with a Ham” experiences on area repeaters, and displays featuring SSTV, digital communications, and other radio-based technologies.
One of the highlights of the day was giving kids the chance to get on the air using handheld radios and talk with licensed amateur radio operators through local repeaters. With guidance from GSARA members, young participants were able to experience two-way radio communication in real time. For some, it may have been their very first radio contact — and that is the kind of moment many hams remember for years.
GSARA members also demonstrated how radio can be used to send images, data, voice, and coded messages without relying on the internet or cell phone networks. These demonstrations helped show how amateur radio brings together communication, electronics, problem-solving, public service, and fun into one hands-on STEM experience.
The event was a great reminder that STEM is not just something found in a textbook. It can be heard over the airwaves, tapped out in Morse code, decoded on a screen, and shared through a microphone.
The Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation’s mission is to promote, advocate for, and fund STEM education and lifelong learning opportunities in the Nashua community. GSARA was honored to support that mission by helping young people discover the excitement of radio communication and hands-on technology.
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association, based in Bedford, New Hampshire, has served the local and global amateur radio community since 1974. As an ARRL Affiliated and Special Services Club, GSARA remains active in education, outreach, public service, emergency communication, and community engagement.
A big thank-you goes out to everyone who helped make Family STEM Day possible, and to all the families, students, and visitors who stopped by the GSARA exhibit, asked questions, tried the equipment, and helped make the day such a success.
Events like this are exactly why community outreach matters. Amateur radio continues to be a powerful way to spark curiosity, build technical skills, support public service, and connect people through the magic of radio.
Event Recap
What: Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation Family STEM Day 2026
When: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Where: Nashua High School South, 36 Riverside Street, Nashua, NH
Who: Families, students, educators, and curious minds of all ages
GSARA Website: gsara.org
About Granite State Amateur Radio Association
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association is a New Hampshire-based amateur radio club dedicated to promoting the hobby, supporting public service communication, encouraging technical education, and helping new and experienced operators connect through radio. GSARA members participate in local repeaters, emergency communication, portable operating, digital modes, Morse code, community demonstrations, and educational outreach.
About the Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation
The Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation honors Brian McCarthy’s memory, service, and commitment to education by supporting STEM education and lifelong learning opportunities in the Nashua, New Hampshire community.
From ARRL:
Senator Ted Cruz, in a strong pre-Memorial Day message publicly highlighted the critical role that Amateur Radio Service volunteers play during disasters, praising and thanking ham radio operators who provide essential communications when storms and emergencies knock out power and cellular networks and communities are cut off. Sen. Cruz observed that in these emergencies it is ham radio operators who step forward, bringing with them the tools, expertise, and the commitment to reconnect people when it matters most. He noted this dedication was clearly demonstrated in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey’s catastrophic flooding devastated communities across Texas and that it was demonstrated again more recently in the horrific Camp Mystic floods. He emphasized that as the Nation prepares for yet another summer storm season, ham radio’s role remains just as vital as ever. [more]
The Hampden Couny Radio Association (HCRA) was featured on WWLP-TV Channel-22 InFocus program on Sunday 4/12/26. WA4KRX-Nancy Rice and W1AEZ-Ez Moralez covered a myriad of topics from the HCRA to ARES/RACES/SKYWARN, public service and other facets of Amateur Radio. The Sunday 4/12/26 InFocus program can be seen on YouTube at the following link: https://youtu.be/p6WTTG0q3g8?si=mBr2_Dr1Dc7VMUGy
Congratulations to HCRA on this excellent piece of Amateur Radio PR!
BARC has completed its “Technician License in a Weekend” class at USCG Station Chatham (STACHM) on April 25 and 26, its fifth class in the last 15 months (four Technician and one General Class.) This class was the first held for Coast Guard enlisted personnel and was unique in three ways. As part of the most recent initiative and in recognition of their service and the state of funding for Homeland Security:
Eight enlisted petty officers at the station attended the Technician License Course and all successfully passed the exam. The Officer-in-Charge, Ross Comstock, KE5BM, expressed his appreciation for BARC’s outreach.
Interest in amateur radio at STACHM was spurred by the breakdown in normal communication and extended loss of electrical power during the February Cape Cod blizzard. Local repeaters using emergency power generators and large capacity battery banks provided a lifeline for snowed-in hams, shelter operations and NWS reports. The Officer-in-Charge made station personnel aware of the contribution of Cape Cod ARES to the emergency response operations coordinated by the Regional Emergency Planning Committee.
A second license class, planned for early June, will include additional enlisted personnel unable to attend the earlier class.
The station has also hosted BARC’s annual Lighthouse weekend event, introducing the many visitors to Chatham Light to an amateur radio station on the shores of the Atlantic.
All attendees received the BARC New Ham Guide to give them a head start in becoming “radio-active.”
Chatham Coast Guard Station Officer-in-Charge, Ross Comstock, KE5BM, expressed his appreciation for BARC’s support in a statement he prepared that described the benefits of the BARC initiative to his crewmembers.
BARC is a Special Service Club and has maintained that status for over a decade. BARC’s Coast Guard Technician Class initiative continues that tradition of service.
In the spirit of “The Year of the Club,” within the American Radio Relay League, BARC hopes that other clubs will adopt local military installations and hold license classes, both as a way to show appreciation for the service provided by these young men and women and to attract new, young people into amateur radio.
Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:
I’m looking for volunteers to serve as special event station operators for 13 Colonies 2026. It runs July 1-7.
If you would like to experience what it’s like to be the “DX” in a pileup and enjoy the rush of making contacts, become a 13 Colonies K2H op.
Your transmitter MUST be in Massachusetts at all times.
This year’s theme is the Declaration of Independence, which was first read in the state 250 years ago.
This is a fun operating event. You can be one of approximately 20 ops in MA. Last year we made close to 20,000 QSOs in just seven days.
The deadline to sign up is May 30th, 2026. If you’re interested in becoming an op for K2H, please contact:
Larry, W1AST
FunHamRadio@gmail.com
Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:
The 2026 World Soccer Tournament is coming to Massachusetts. There will be special event stations running each of the following days. This is a worldwide event with games held here in Massachusetts.
There are seven games being played at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Hams are needed every day to run a special event station with the call sign W1C. A special QSL card will be available. All modes and bands can be active.
The dates operators are needed:
Sat, June 13
Tue, June 16
Fri, June 19
Tue, June 23
Fri, June 26
Mon, June 29
Thur, July 9
If you are available to operate any or all of these dates, please contact:
Larry, W1AST
FunHamRadio@gmail.com
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes:NHC Session #1 – 130 PM-315 PM EDT: Bob Robichaud-VE1MBR from the Canadian Hurricane Centre will present on Hurricane Meteorological topics and a 2025 Hurricane Season review. He will also provide a brief overview of Canadian Hurricane Centre Operations. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) will present a NHC Overview of Amateur Radio Collaboration During Hurricanes. Julio Ripoll-WD4R will present WX4NHC Operations. KB5HAV-Bobby Graves will give an overview on the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN).
NHC Session #2: 330 PM-500 PM EDT: Rob Macedo-KD1CY will present on the VoIP Hurricane Net and best practices in SKYWARN for Tropical Systems, Bill Feist-WB8BZH & Joe Bassett-W1WCN will present a SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Radio Network) overview. Josh Johnston-KE5MHV will give an ARRL update. This will be followed by a Q & A session and raffle prizes will be offered.
Amateur Radio presentations will be recorded and posted to YouTube after the workshop within the month of April. The Amateur Radio presentations will also be livestreamed via YouTube as a best effort. It is noted that Internet connectivity can be a challenge at hotel locations for livestreaming though it has been very robust in 2024-2025 so we expect 2026 to be no different. That said, we remind participants that we will do our best to livestream the workshop but please note technical difficulties could affect the livestream so please be patient if you watch the livestream and we will have recordings available post workshop. The YouTube livestream link will be <https://www.youtube.com/live/
Detailed Schedule Outline – All Times (Eastern Daylight Time):
130-135 PM: Opening Remarks
135-200 PM: Canadian Hurricane Centre and Hurricane Meteorological Topics (VE1MBR-Bob R)
200-210 PM: NHC Overview of Amateur Radio Collaboration During Hurricanes (NHC)
210-245 PM: WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center (WD4R)
245-315 PM: HWN Overview (KB5HAV)
315-330 PM: Break
330-400 PM: VoIP Hurricane Net Overview & Best Practices in SKYWARN for Tropical Systems (KD1CY)
400-420 PM: SATERN – Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network Overview (WB8BZH & W1WCN)
420-440 PM: ARRL Update (KE5MHV)
440-500 PM: Moderated Q & A session/Panel Discussion & Door Prizes (All)
(2026-03-21, Natick, MA) The Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) in Natick, MA hosted a girl scout troop from Melrose, MA. Sincere thanks go to: Barbara, KC1KGS; Jocelyn (TBD); Seth, KC1PZY; Max, WØMXX; Brad, KC1TUY; Zachary, KC1NXK; and Bob, K5TEC, for helping teach the scouts on Saturday. It was nice that the girls got to hear from two YLs as well as the rest of us.
In the first of many activities, the scouts got to hold a meteorite from an asteroid and one from the moon, discuss earth to space communications, then watch a three-minute ARRL video about ham radio.
Next, Barbara gave an inspiring talk about ways girls can get involved with ham radio and become one of the YLs. Joscelyn, a young student here at Sci-Tech, gave a thoughtful and encouraging talk about her journey to get her radio license with suggestions to the scouts for success.
We watched a two-minute video about our StratoScience Workshop where ham radio is highlighted with high-altitude weather balloon launches, then we visited Max at his research workstation to learn about radio electronics and soldering APRS circuits to track the science projects carried by those balloons. A teen in high school with an Amateur Extra license, Max runs the New England Weather Balloon Society hosted here at New England Sci-Tech.
Then we went outside for a Fox Hunt with Seth who showed off the homemade Yagi antenna and helped the girls find the hidden transmitter. While outside, the scouts had a short exercise in contacting each other using four FRS HTs.
The final activity had the scouts in the radio room where they first listened to contacts made through the International Space Station (ISS). Thanks to Max for arranging that with NASA! (haha) and for running the rooftop satellite tracking system for this activity. Then the girls lined up at the HF station for a lesson with Zachary and Brad. There they all got to make a contact with a YL named Jessica in Oklahoma, KJ5NSH. Thank you Jess!
At the end of the event, the scouts each got an ARRL “First Contact” certificate, carefully filled out by Brad and individualized by the scout leader. They were also thrilled to receive an ARRL radio patch, and a Sci-Tech logo patch. Fun was had by all (and lots of learning, too)!
— Bob, K5TEC, STARS Secretary
