Operating

2026 Boston Marathon Volunteer Registration Opening Soon!

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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 single person assignments. We are not able to group people on a single assignment, but we will try to accommodate which segment you are assigned to in order to allow for similar start/end times.

Do you want to run Boston?

In recognition of the contribution the Amateur Radio Communications team provides to the Boston Marathon every year, the BAA has granted us an invitational bib to be awarded to one of our volunteers! Here’s how it works:

Applicants must be Boston Marathon volunteers who have served on the Amateur Radio Communications Team in at least one (1) of the most recent three (3) Boston Marathons.

Applicants must agree that if selected, they will pay the applicable entry fee ($375) to the BAA.

Applicants must agree to comply with all terms and conditions set by the BAA.

Applicants must be capable of completing the Boston Marathon within the allotted time.

Applicants must hold a valid Amateur Radio license (of any class) issued by the FCC (or regulatory body in the applicant’s home country) at the time of application.

Applicants must be eligible to participate in BAA events.

The Amateur Radio Communications Committee will utilize the following criteria to determine how the Invitational Entry will be awarded:

All interested eligible parties must fill out the linked Google Form to express their interest

Applications must be received by December 16th, 2025.

All applicants will be entered into a random drawing for the Invitational Entry following the application deadline.

The selected applicant will be notified by email by December 23rd, and is required to formally respond and accept within seven (7) calendar days. If, after seven days, the selected applicant has not accepted the Invitational Entry, that applicant’s Entry will become void and a second drawing will be held for the Entry to be reassigned.

Following receipt of an Invitational Entry from the Amateur Radio Communications Team, recipients will be ineligible to receive this Invitational Entry again until the fourth Boston Marathon following their award.

Help us get the word out by forwarding this email to your club and other amateur radio operators who might wish to volunteer. Most volunteers first learn about the event through word of mouth. If you know new licensees who might like to join us, please make sure to let them know about it. Even just a quick mention at your club meeting can be a big help!

If you have any questions about the upcoming volunteer registration period, the invitational amateur radio bib program, or the 2026 Marathon in general, please get in touch anytime. Volunteering at the Marathon is a big job and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts into it. We’re happy to do what we can to make your work fun, comfortable, and effective.

We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Thank you, and 73,

Boston Marathon Communications Committee
contact@hamradioboston.org

Candlewood ARA W1QI Special Event Operation, September 27, 2025

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The Candlewood Amateur Radio Association will be operating from the Green behind the New Fairfield (CT) Town Hall in the center of town on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10 to 4:00 PM.
 
This will be a special event using W1QI for the New Fairfield Fair Day.
 
This will be our tenth year. Come join us and get on the air! You will enjoy this event and get to see the fair day celebration in town.  
 
 
 
 

New Hampshire QSO Party, September 20-21, 2025

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The Port City ARC based in Greenland, NH, which sponsors the NH QSO Party has updated the rules of the NH QP to include  a mobile and portable category. It was created to promote both multiple county operation as well as leverage the POTA operator and its community, to all participate in this fun, 22 hour long event the weekend of September 20-21.  Additionally, the non-NH operator multiplier credit has been changed – now you can work all ten (10) counties on all 5 bands for a maximum total of 50. This will promote a wider frequency range interest and add to the challenge.  
 
The Port City Amateur Radio Club plans to deploy several two-person teams around the state in an effort to activate as many of the 10 counties as possible, utilizing the club’s new “Radio in a Box” setup (3 total) that has an FTDX-10, power supply and tuner.  These systems proved successful during the ARRL 2025 Field Day and was the result of a club project.
 
The full set of rules can be found at NH QSO Party – Port City Amateur Radio Club 
 

NH QSO Party announcement page

 
Join us on the air, starting Saturday, 12 noon, September 20 and again, 8 AM on Sunday, September 21.
 

Regards,

Mark, K1RX
President, PCARC

York County Slow Speed CW Practice Net

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Ed Ridolfi, K1RID, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

All are invited to join or listen in on the York County (ME) QRS Net tonite (Thursday) at 7 PM on 7.118. This is a slow speed, beginner-focused practice net.

Check in at any speed or experience level and copy the weekly message – 1st at around 15 WPM and then again at about 8 WPM.

Hope to see you on the air!

York County QRS Net (YCQRS)

When: Thursdays, 7:00 PM local
Where: ~7.118 MHz (± QRM)
Pace: ~5–10 WPM to start; up to ~18-20 WPM welcome
Comfort level: Beginner and 1st time cw ops are welcomed. Check in or just listen in. If listening, please email me any sig reports

SCRIPT to follow along:

V  V  V  THE YORK COUNTY QRS NET STARTS AT 1900 ET V V V

V V V NET CONTROL IS K1RID ES ALL WELCOME TO CHECK IN V V V

CQ CQ CQ DE K1RID FER YCQRS NET =

NET IS OPEN TO ALL FER MORSE CODE PRACTICE =

PSE CHECK IN WID CALL SIGN ES  NAME ONLY =

CHECK INS NW PSE FER YCQRS NET DE K1RID K

STATION CALLS: KC1CMF GIANNI K

NET CONTROL REPLIES: R R KC1CMF UR RST 599 NXT STATION PSE

THIS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL CHECK INS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED. THEN I WILL CALL EACH STATION IN ORDER FOR ANY COMMENTS OR SIMPLE GOODBYE LIKE: TNX 73 DE KC1CMF K

Next I will send: THIS WEEKS PRACTICE MSG FOLLOWS = <>

To close the net I will send:

GN ALL ES TNX QNI BST 73 DE KITTERY ES K1RID QRT  SK dit dit

dit dit

73 de Ed, K1RID

W1V—Wireless Society of Southern Maine 15th Anniversary Special Event, August 24-September 6, 2025

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We’re celebrating our 15th Anniversary
with Special Event operations using the call sign W1V,
between August 24 – September 6!

 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

During the two weeks, club members will take turns activating the call sign and we are offering a special certificate with the following endorsements for contacts:

Certificates will be available to anyone who works our station, in three achievement levels:
•    GOLD – For anyone who contacts W1V on 10 or more different bands / modes
•    SILVER – For anyone who contacts W1V on 5 to 9 different bands / modes
•    BRONZE – For anyone who contacts W1V on 1 to 4 different bands / modes

We will also be offering certificates for operators, in the same levels. For example, if you activate 10 or more different band slots, you are eligible for a Gold level certificate.

Connecticut POTA Three-Island Adventure, August 11, 2025

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Parks On The Air logoBrian Horne, N1BAM, writes on the CT-POTA mailing list:
 
Good morning all,
 
This coming Monday, 8/11/2025 there are 6 of us that will be traveling to the 3 islands on the CT River.
 
US-1659: Dart Island State Park
US-1673: Haddam Island State Park
US-1714: Selden Neck State Park
 
The plan is to get to the first island around 8:30 am, start operating on UHF/VHF, then 40m & 20m. Then moving on, to the next island.
 
We will be spending a limitedamount of time at each island before moving on, only 10′-15′ per band. While on HF, we will have 3 people working at a time instead of passing the mic to all 6 of us. It will be mostly SSB but there will be CW as well. We will have the ability to use FT4/8 but will likely not spend much time there as it is hard to “pass the mic” on digital.
 
If you are in the area and want to follow along the river bank to hunt the island and get UHF/VHF contacts for the islands we would love to have the contacts.
 
A huge thank you to Marc K8LSB for doing the leg work to get this pulled together.
 
The 6 operators will be, 
 
John – N1CB
Brad – W1BCC
Brian – N1BAM
Paul – W1IP
Frank – N1AEB
Marc – K8LSB

Volunteer Opportunity – Ride to End Alzheimer’s – June 14th

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K1DSL-Dan Loveman writes:

On June 14th, cyclists will return to Hampton Beach to begin their 2025 New England Ride To End Alzheimer’s, and I’m writing today to ask for your help in supporting them!

The event details are as follows:
Saturday, June 14th
Hampton Beach State Park, Hampton, NH
Volunteer roles vary and range from 6am-4pm

**SAG team members are asked to commit to the whole day, rest stop volunteers may have shorter shifts depending on where they are stationed.

If you’re able and willing, I’d like to invite you to join the Amateur Radio team for the 2025 Ride To End Alzheimer’s. You can find all the event details here and the direct registration link is here.

This is a very important event. The riders at this event are raising money to fund research that will one day put an end to Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Our job is to staff the communications network that helps keep them safe while they do it.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thanks and 73,
Dan Loveman /K1DSL
alz@k1dsl.net

2025 13 Colonies Special Event Recognizes Ken Villone, KU2US

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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.