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.
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!
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]
Carl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes on the NEQRP mailing list:
Most of you have this on your annual calendar of must attend events, but, just in case you don’t, Chowdercon 2025 is this coming weekend. Friday the 19th through Sunday the 21st.
What is Chowdercon? It’s a long running fun event that mostly takes place on Four Tree Island New Hampshire.
It’s a celebration of the end of Summer, beginning of Fall (always held on the 3rd Saturday/, the equinox weekend) in September.
There’s a 4:30 PM kick-off dinner banquet at Al’s Seafood in North Hampton, usually a breakfast gathering in Portsmouth around 7 AM and to Four Tree Island by 8 AM to grab a picnic table and set-up your Field-Op station.
Lunch is at Geno’s Sandwich Shop, and around 4 PM we breakdown and head to our farewell seafood supper banquet.
Diehards sometimes return on Sunday for more Island operations and a late lunch / early supper.
Anyone interested in the Friday 4:30 PM Seafood opening supper??? Please RSVP so I can arrange seating at Al’s Seafood.
The Northeast HamXposition (“HamX”) and ARRL New England Division Convention on August 21-24, 2025, was a resounding success. The weather for the Marlborough, Massachusetts, event was picture-perfect, the flea markets were buzzing with sales, and major equipment manufacturers Elecraft and Flex were back to exhibit their wares along with other vendors inside the bustling exhibition area.
According to HamX Program Chair Skip Youngberg, K1NKR,“This year’s four-day program featured 72 presenters who gave 82 talks and four workshops spanning over 101 hours.” It’s believed that this programming surpasses that of any amateur radio convention in the world in terms of quantity — or quality.
Topics included everything from antennas, outdoor EmComm vans and trailers on display, along with on-air activities such as POTA, contesting, and DX. There was even a special technical talk entitled “Demystifying Quantum Computing: Application of RF Control System.”
(L-R:) HamX Keynote speaker Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL; Boston ARC members and POTA enthusiasts Brendan Baldonado, NW1S; Tom Ulrich, KC1OCY; and Brendan’s “harmonic,” Seamus
Special interest forums and “meet and greets” included YL, QCWA, New England QRP, MARS, ARRL sections, along with a well-attended youth forum.
HamXposition kicked off on Thursday night, featuring nationally known comedian Juston McKinney. On Friday, twenty convention-goers went on a bus tour of W1AW and ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, while full length educational seminars were held, including the ever-popular mini-Contest University hosted by K1EP and K1G. The Friday evening DX/Contest Banquet talk was presented by well-known multi-multi station owner Tim Duffy, K3LR, CEO of DX Engineering, a major sponsor of the convention.
On Saturday morning, popular QRP YouTube podcaster and influencer Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, gave an inspirational convention keynote address to a standing-room-only crowd.
The Saturday Grand Banquet featured Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, from the University of Scranton. Nathaniel is founder of Science Citizen Investigation (“Ham-SCI”). He enthralled the audience with descriptions of cutting-edge experiments conducted by ordinary radio amateurs who are helping to advance the knowledge of propagation and the Earth’s ionosphere.
Dozens of youth members of New England Sci-Tech, a nearby STEM/makerspace, attended throughout the weekend and at the two evening banquets. “Having young hams in the middle of the action in the [hotel] Atrium and running a number of presentations demonstrated the spirit of the future leaders in our hobby,” said Volunteer Chair Barbara Irby, KC1KGS.
YOUTH FORUM 2025 — Group Photo at this year’s HamX. Twenty eight students got to talk with Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, an Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering at The University of Scranton (center of photo), who was the guest speaker for the Saturday evening Grand Banquet. His talk was about the study space weather and its impacts on the ionosphere and radio propagation. [photo courtesy Sci-Tech ARS]
HamX featured kit-building sessions led by Bob Phinney, K5TEC, and other volunteers. Under supervision, beginners were invited to build easy kits for a nominal cost in under an hour, ranging from Morse code oscillators, “blinky” name badges and night lights. All tools were provided. The kits were invented by students from New England Sci-Tech.
Members of the Providence (R.I.) Radio Association staffed the convention’s GOTA station, W1XPO. Under the guidance of experienced operators, newer hams made their first HF contacts.
Over $15,000 in prizes were awarded to convention attendees.
Elecraft vendor booth
The flea market was the scene of many transactions, beginning early Friday morning and lasting until Sunday afternoon. “I want to give particular praise for the flea market, which had more vendors with better selections than in past years,” commented HamX attendee Chuck Chandler, WS1L.
HamX also featured programs on the lighter side, like the Board Games and Social Hour facilitated by Seth Kendall, KC1PZY. Additionally, late-night Open Mic Story Telling, led by Phil Temples, K9HI, allowed attendees to share their ham-radio-related “tall tales” to an attentive audience.
Diane Ortiz, K2DO, Vice President of YLRL, had high praise for the Northeast HamXposition. “I hadn’t been to this event in over 15 years and was amazed . . . It was truly a mini Dayton Hamvention!”
The St. Albans Amateur Radio Club (STARC) Annual Hamfest will be this Saturday, August 9 from 8 AM to Noon. Admission is just $5.00 – under 18 is free admission. This includes tailgaters and inside sellers.
Amateur radio test session at 9 AM.
Door prize drawing at 10:30 AM.
The location is the St Albans VFW – 353 Lake Street St Albans, VT.
ARRL was well-represented at the 2025 Maine State Convention in Augusta, Maine, on August 2.
The convention, sponsored by the Androscoggin ARC, featured a robust indoor flea market along with presentations covering: Parks On The Air; an ARES Meet and Greet; QCWA chapter meeting; UFB New England; and an ARRL Forum featuring New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI; Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI; and Maine Section Manager Phil Duggan, N1EP.
Don’t miss the 2025 ARRL Maine State Convention, at 76 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine, on August 2, 2025, sponsored by the Androscoggin ARC.
Vendor Tables are $20 per table in advance. $25 each if purchased the day of the convention, so take advantage of advance table sales. Commercial vendors – no vendor admission fee, contact KU1U for more information. Other vendors (not commercial) still receive a 50% discount on admission ($5.00 per vendor, max 2 per table).
General Admission $10 per person, 18 and younger are free. If you purchase your tickets online, they will be held for you at the Registration Table/Will Call line.
Mitch Stern, W1SJ, writes:
The 9th annual HamSCI Workshop is upon us! Join us at 
Carl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes on the NEQRP mailing list:
The St. Albans Amateur Radio Club (STARC) Annual Hamfest will be this Saturday, August 9 from 8 AM to Noon. Admission is just $5.00 – under 18 is free admission. This includes tailgaters and inside sellers.
Don’t miss the 2025 
The Northeast HamXposition has posted its preliminary schedule of talks and forums to be held on August 21-24, 2025.