Phil Temples

Vermont ARRL Convention “HAM-CON”, Colchester VT, February 28, 2026

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Mitch Stern, W1SJ, writes:

The first ARRL Convention of the year is HAM-CON, the Vermont ARRL Convention, Saturday, February 28 th 8AM-1PM. HAM-CON is unique in that we are a fully hybrid Convention. While we are a full service convention held in Vermont, all of our forums and demonstrations are streamed so that participants can take part in the events from anywhere they happen to be located. And if you miss any presentation, these can be seen AFTER the Convention closes. This also allows us to draw on speakers from all over the world. HAM-CON features 8 full length, 1-hour forums and also short pop-up demonstrations of unique operating modes, electrical experiments, plus our in house ham radio station, W1V. We even include a ham radio game show to increase the fun. All of these can be viewed on line, in addition to having the ability for limited on-line meet and greet activities. And of course, we have the flea market, vendors, and ham radio and commercial exams on site.

HAM-CON has a tiered ticket system depending on when you buy your ticket and whether you desire early entry (for vendors) or regular entry. If you are in Vermont or travel here often, you might want to consider joining the Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont which allows you special HAM-CON entry for only $5 (expires Dec. 31). Regular advance sale admission is $8, but prices go up as we get closer to the event. All admissions allow for on-line access. We also have special rooming rates at the Hampton if you choose to stay over.

No matter where you are in New England, please consider attending HAM-CON either live or on-line. We all have a good time at this show and I’m sure you will, too!

Granite State (NH) ARA 4H Event Amateur Radio Outreach, December 13, 2025

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Eric Pfeifer, N1JUR, writes:

 
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association conducted community outreach at the 4H Event held at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 8 AM-1 PM. We had over 100 children (ages 6-12) come to learn about ham radio, make contacts using All-Star and local repeaters, and participate in a special event station (N1QC) utilizing the museum’s HF station. [Details]
 
 

Ninth Annual HamSCI Workshop, New Britain CT, March 14-15, 2026

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HamSCI 2026 logoThe 9th annual HamSCI Workshop is upon us! Join us at Central Connecticut State University and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Headquarters in Newington, CT on March 14-15, 2026. We’re excited to welcome you to this fast-growing meeting. Organizers have worked hard to put together a memorable two-day event.

This year’s theme, “Discovering Science Through Ham Radio”, celebrates the community’s achievements, including Personal Space Weather Station deployments, meteor scatter propagation studies and the promotion of WSPR as a propagation sensing tool. The workshop is expected to feature more than 50 poster and oral presentations, plus invited tutorials, and a banquet with a keynote address by a prominent member of the community. [More]

Big Changes Coming to the 60 Meter Band

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The new rules won’t become effective until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
 
FCC sealFCC has ordered that US amateurs may now operate in the 5351.5-5366.5 kHz band with a maximum transmitted 9.15 watts ERP and all modes with a maximum bandwidth of 2.8 kHz. This replaces the previous 5357 kHz (Channel 3) allocation with the permissible power on that frequency now reduced from 100 watts to 9.15 watts ERP.
 
The FCC Report and Order 25-60 released December 9, 2025 amends § 97.301 Authorized frequency bands, § 97.303 Frequency sharing requirements, § 97.305 Authorized emission types, and § 97.307 Emission standards.
 
Channels 1, 2, 4 and 5 (5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405 kHz) allocations remain unchanged with their 100 watts ERP power limit.
 
See pages 18-24 and 56-59 of FCC Report and Order 25-60 released December 9, 2025. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-60A1.pdf
 

KI1U Appointed New Rhode Island Section Manager Effective January 1, 2026

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RI logoDecember 10, 2025 – Mike Corey, KI1U, has been appointed to be the ARRL Rhode Island Section Manager as of the New Year, January 1. Corey, of Coventry, has been serving as the Assistant Section Manager and Public Information Coordinator. Rhode Island Section Manager Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, has decided to step aside early from her term of office that continues through June 30, 2027. Austin has been SM since 2023.

In addition to her Section Manager duties, she has also served as an ARES Emergency Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator. She has also served as a net control operator for the Rhode Island ARES net. Austin informed ARRL HQ and New England Division leadership she was stepping down because she didn’t feel she could devote the time necessary to the Section Manager role for the remainder of her term due to professional commitments.

In accepting the role of Section Manager, Corey said “First, I want to thank Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, for her leadership as Rhode Island Section Manager over the last couple of years. There is a lot going on in the Rhode Island Section – great clubs, top notch contest stations, new ARES leadership, active SKYWARN participation, just to name a few. The Section Manager role can be challenging and demanding. Thank you, Nancy, for all your work on behalf of Rhode Island radio amateurs.”

Rhode Island ARRL members should expect to hear more from Corey after the start of the new year.

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ARRL Rhode Island Section
Section Manager: Nancy Austin, KC1NEK
kc1nek@arrl.org

New Year’s Day Fox Hunt, South Windsor CT, January 1, 2026

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Foxhunting with tape measure yagiPaul, Gipson, N1TUP, writes:

Greetings Foxhunters,

Keeping with tradition, I will be hosting a Foxhunt on New Years Day at 1pm.

This hunt will be conducted in the same manner that we have previously conducted live foxhunts.  The hunters will assemble at the  91 Ayers Road in South Windsor, CT, home of the old Wapping Elementary School, be set up and ready to start by 1pm. The fox will take a roll call at 1pm on the BEARS repeater, 145.110 MHz, PL tone is 77.0 Hz.  This hunt will be conducted using the repeater for all communication and information sharing.  I encourage communication between participants and any base stations that can supply helpful information to the hunters.  Once you have spotted the fox you should stop all transmissions.  Pay attention, if someone says they are going to check an area and you never hear from them again, that might be a clue.  Remember not to hunt the repeater output frequency as that will just lead you to the repeater.  I will not be there.  You will want to listen on the repeater input frequency, 144.510MHz.  That is the frequency the fox will be transmitting on.

The fox will be located within 20 air miles of the starting point and not within Hartford or Springfield.  The fox will be on publicly accessible property that will not require anything other that a standard passenger car for access.  The fox will host a “tailgate” party at the end of the hunt at the “den”. 

If this is your first hunt, I would recommend riding along with someone who has done this before.  Dress warmly as you will be outside at the end for the party, the rest of the time you will be in and out of the car taking bearings etc.

Experience has shown that hunters will start arriving in the den about 1 hour after the start.  The event has a two hour time limit not including socializing in the den at the end.

Current information regarding this and other foxhunts in Connecticut are on groups.io. If you are not already a group member, you may want to consider signing up for the groups.io CTFOXHUNTER so that you do not miss any important foxhunt related news.

73,
Paul, N1TUP

Please forward this email to those who may have an interest in foxhunting, including CERT/Emcomm groups.  

Maine ARRL Section News

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ARRL logoPhil Duggan, N1EP, writes on the Maine ARRL Members Only list:

Thank you to all who participated in the Maine Simulated Emergency Test on Oct 25. As I write this letter, Hurricane Melissa is ravaging Jamaica. While Maine rarely gets such devastating storms, we are not immune, and must prepare by training, and then testing our emergency communications skills. Amateur Radio Emergency Services around the state did just that last Saturday. If you are interested in joining an ARES/RACES or other emcomm group, contact your county ARES Emergency Coordinator, or Maine Section Emergency Coordinator Derrick Ouellette, KW1A.

November is upon us and some fun operating activities are on the agenda, such as November Sweepstakes. Copy and paste this link into your browser for the ARRL contest calendar where you can find more info: https://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar.

The League is asking all hams and clubs to lend their support in getting the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act passed. Use this link to find out how you can help: https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation.

The Pine State Amateur Radio Club celebrated their 50th year with a banquet and awards event October 11 in Brewer. It was quite an impressive event and organizers, especially club president Ed Paradis, W1IZ, deserve a bravo Zulu for pulling it off. Former ARRL Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, was keynote speaker. It was good to sit and chat with Fred and Anita (AB1QB). I gave a Maine section update, and as expected, was heckled by K1GUP. I got even on a session of the Maine Seagull Net a few days later. (Just kidding!)

Speaking of the Seagull Net, after the time change this coming weekend, the net will start at 4:30pm instead of 5. This time of year 75 meters tends to go long a bit after 5pm and there is interference with other net down south and in the midwest. The SGN is on 3.940 MHz.  The Maine Emergency Communications net on same frequency but on Sunday Nov 9 and Nov 23 will also start at 4:30PM. Jim Kutsch, KY2D, will continue radiogram training during the Nov 9 session.

The first notice for the section manager election will be in the January QST. Want to exercise your leadership and management skills, and help shape the Maine ARRL section for a positive future? Consider running for section manager. You can find out the requirements, duties, and responsibilities and more information at this link: http://www.arrl.org/section-terms-nomination-information.

 

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ARRL Maine Section
Section Manager: Philip W Duggan, N1EP
n1ep@arrl.org
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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