2025 13 Colonies Special Event Recognizes Ken Villone, KU2US

2018 K2K QSL card
13 Colonies K2K New Hampshire, 2018

Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, writes:

In just a few weeks, one of the most popular summer operating events kicks off – The 13 Colonies Special Event. Now in its 17th year, the event has grown from Special Event Stations making approximately 12,000 contacts to last year making 292,496 contacts around the world. The Event runs from July 1 9:00 AM—July 7 Midnight Eastern (July 1 1300 UTC—July 8 0400 UTC).

This year, event organizers are recognizing the 13 Colonies Special Event founder Ken Villone, KU2US, who is passing the torch on to Tony Jones, N4ATJ. For the past 16 years, Villone has lead the event by working with state and bonus station coordinators. Then after the event he would print out individual certificates for thousands of people who made contact with the special event stations.

The Special Event consists of one station operating in each of the 13 Colonies (K2A – K2M) and three bonus stations (WM3PEN – Philadelphia, GB13COL – England, TM13COL – France) each representing their city, state, or countries role in America’s Colonial period.   

Villone describes how the event got started:

“I had just finished participating in the ARRL Sweepstakes in 2008, and remarked how fun it was. I could not figure out why there were not more of these type special events on the air. So I decided to try my luck and create one for one year only to see what happened and to have some fun. I knew we had to offer a special QSL card and/or certificate, plus have on hand a printer and supplies. The hard part was deciding what the event would commemorate and when to do this. I needed a theme that ALL could relate to! Also, the event would have to be the type with multiple event stations involved, like the ARRL Sweeps. 

“Then it hit me! 13 Colonies states, during the 4th of July week, and offer a certificate with the theme for the year. I made sure the theme was different each year with a different certificate design to make it interesting and to also make the certificate collectable. The theme would  highlight some event or thing connected to the American Revolution. The event was held July 1st to the 4th, 2009, 4 days with no advertising except on QRZ. I had a hard time getting 13 different Ops, one from each Colony state, but it worked out. All in all, it was a success! We made over 12,000 contacts the first year. I decided we had a good thing going, so I recruited another Op from each state and ran the event the followning year.We did over 32,000 contacts in 2010, and had a total of 26 state operators. There was a 13 Colonies special event in 1962 but only lasted one year, according to my research. (I was 13 years old).”

Ham radio operators and SWLs can participate in the event. Complete information about the call for each colony station and the bonus stations can be found on the event website 13colonies.us and they can follow us on Facebook – 13 Colonies Special Event Community. Stations need only make one contact with one of the participating stations, or they can go for a Clean Sweep and work all 13 Colony stations and the three bonus stations. Each station offers a special QSL card for the event as well as a different certificate each year. Operators can keep an eye out for the special event stations by watching many of the DX spotting networks, such as DXSummit.fi.

 

Julio Ripoll – Founder & Coordinator of National Hurricane Center Amatuer Radio Station – WX4NHC Receives Prestigious Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award

From WX1BOX.org:

WD4R-Julio Ripoll, founder and Amateur Radio Coordinator for WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami FL, which has been active during landfalling New England tropical systems received the prestigious Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award. Further details including a picture of Julio receiving the award can be seen below:

Providence Radio Association Activates NAF for Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Test

From Providence Radio Association Facebook page:

May 10, 2025: Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Test, Station NAF, Newport Naval Radio Station Museum, Rhode Island. W1OP used the call sign NAF to cross band to make radio contacts with amateur radio operators across the country. The Collins 237B antenna from that location in the early 1960s, is currently installed at W1OP and was used for those contacts.
 
Over 120 contacts made by participating W1OP members: N1SXB, KC1NTI W3DRE, AA1II, N1DM, K1COI, and K1DT.
 
Armed Forces Day NAF @ W1OP

AREDN at NEAR-Fest, May 2-3, 2025

AREDN logoJay Taft, K1EHZ, writes:
 
Merrimack Valley Amateur Radio Association is planning to establish a 5 GHz mesh network at NEAR-Fest on May 2-3, 2025.  The club also has a table in the Vendor building. Stop by to learn more about AREDN [Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network] deployments in New Hampshire, or just to say hello.
 
Purpose of the NEARFest 5 GHz network:
  • Train our club members in using AREDN ad hoc networks in the field
  • Give ALL interested hams an opportunity to learn more about AREDN
Two ways to explore AREDN at NEARfest:
 

1. Smartphone or other browser device

    • TeamTalk conferencing:
      • Install the TeamTalk app on your smartphone in advance from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
      • Set up TeamTalk on phone
        • Open the Server List by clicking + in the upper right
        • Name = N1MVA TeamTalk
        • IP = 10.162.135.114
        • TCP Port = 10333
        • UDP Port = 10333
        • Username = ham
        • Password = ham
        • Nickname = your callsign
        • Click Save
      • When you arrive at NEARFest
        • Logon to the N1MVA-AREDN wifi with password nearfest
        • Click Connect next to the N1MVA TeamTalk server you created
        • Talk and message with others on the channel
    • Citadel email server
      • Logon to the N1MVA-AREDN wifi with password nearfest
      • Type localnode:8080 into a browser to access a node
      • Click on the square grid (mesh) in the upper left margin
      • Look over routers listed for the Citadel server link
      • Click the link
      • Register for an account – User name = your first and last name and callsign, password of your choosing.
      • Explore the program and send me a message if you like
      • NOTE – Email is local only, no internet
2. Bring AREDN equipment to join the 5 GHz network
  • Radio configuration:
    • Firmware – a very recent nightly build with babel routing
    • Channel 160
    • Bandwidth 20 MHz
    • Radio purpose setting – Mesh
    • There will be several omni-directional antennas on site to access with any type of antenna
Hope to see you at NEAR-Fest!
73, 
Jay K1EHZ

New England QSO Party, May 3-4, 2025

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

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

2022 13 Colonies K2H QSL card
2022 13 Colonies K2H QSL card

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

POTA Support Your Parks Weekend, April 18-20, 2025

Parks On The Air logoShawn Warren, KC1NQE writes on the CT-POTA list:

Happy Spring, Everyone!

Spring is finally here, and that means it’s time for this year’s Spring Support Your Parks Weekend, happening April 18-20. This particular weekend is extra special—not only is it World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th, but Easter falls on April 20th, giving us plenty of opportunities to make contacts and light up Connecticut’s parks in the logbooks as K2D!

Join Us for the P2P Net & Potluck Picnic!

To welcome in the Spring, we’ll be hosting our Park-to-Park (P2P) net on 40 meters at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 20th. Pick your favorite park to activate and jump on the net, or come meet up with us at:

  • Wharton Brook State Park (US-1728)
    675 US-5, North Haven, CT 06473
    10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

We’ll be gathering for a potluck picnic, so bring a dish to share—your favorite homemade meal, snacks, beverages, or desserts are all welcome! There will also be a tailgate-style POTA show and tell, so bring your radio gear to show off and operate.

Represent Connecticut as K2D!

If you’d like to activate using the K2D special event call sign, please use this [Sign-Up Link] to claim a rover number for spotting purposes. When logging your contacts:

* Log your station as K2D
* Log yourself as the operator using your personal call sign
* Submit logs to Conrad N2YCH – N2YCH(at)icloud.com

Your personal POTA account will receive credit when the logs are uploaded to K2D.

Let’s make this an amazing weekend on the air and celebrate Spring together! Hope to see you out there.

 

Experimental New England APRS Net

From: Don AB1PH

2025-03-08

0709L

Announcing the experimental New England APRS net

 

WHAT: NE APRS Test Net

WHEN: second Monday of the month (for March, this is Monday Mar 10): 0600 ET – 2359 ET

WHERE: APRS network

HOW: Destination Station = ANSRVR

HOW: Message body = CQ [space] NEAPRS [space] “your text: check-in message of choice.”

 

If you would like to participate, you can sign up at: https://groups.io/g/neaprs

 

Questions:  contact John KC1VMZ kc1vmz@gmail.com

 

We look forward to your participation!

 

International Women’s Day YL POTA PARTY, March 8, 2025

Int'l Women's Day YL POTA Party
 
International Women’s Day YL POTA PARTY: Celebrate Women in Ham Radio!
 
Join us on March 8th for a special International Women’s Day YL POTA PARTY! This event is open to all female amateur radio operators and enthusiasts, regardless of POTA experience.
 
What to expect:
Activate a park during the 24-hour event window. Submit your POTA activations and share your experiences with other participants.
Connect with other YLs from around the world. Share stories, tips, and support.
Learn more about POTA and how to get involved.
 
Why participate?
Celebrate the achievements of women in ham radio.
Connect with other YLs and build a supportive community.
Have fun and enjoy the POTA hobby.
 
How to participate:
Activate a park during the 24-hour event window
Submit your POTA activations to the POTA database.
Share your experiences and photos on social media using the hashtag #YL_POTA_Party.
We encourage you to wear pink and/or decorate your station to show your support for International Women’s Day!
Spread the word and invite your friends to join the party!
Together, we can make this a memorable event for all YLs in ham radio!
 
Here are some additional details about the event:
Date: March 8th, 2024
Location: Any POTA park (or hunt POTA from home!)
Frequency: Any amateur radio frequency within your license class
Hashtag: #YL_POTA_Party
We look forward to hearing you on the air!
 
Note: This event is not sponsored by the Parks On The Air Foundation.
 
Here are some resources that you may find helpful:
 
We hope you have a wonderful International Women’s Day!

QRP Net Restart

NEQRP logoEd Ridolfi, K1RID, writes on the QRP mailing list:

Greetings fellow QRPers.

I have volunteered to restart the NEQRP Net with a few minor changes: 

  • the net will convene monthly on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 8 PM ET on 3.560 +/-   
  • My home QTH is Kittery ME, FN43 and I will be running 5 watts to a doublet of two 133′ legs up 60′ in the trees
  •  I plan on having a roundtable topic each month

The first net gathering will be this Wednesday the 29th at 8PM. This will be a directed but informal net. I plan to take check-ins after sending QNI. Please send your call as I build the list. Once we start the roundtable our initial topic this month will be:

  • your member number
  • rig
  • power
  • antenna and key type

For example: nr877 FT818 5w to doublet up 60 feet es bencher paddles

I am open to any suggestions and look forward to hearing everyone!

dit dit,

Ed, K1RID

Co-founder of Newburyport Electronics & Radio Society, K1YRD

Member: YorkCountyARC, PortCityARC, NEQRP, NAQCC, SKCC & CWOPS