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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

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

W1IS Awarded August 2025 QST Cover Plaque Award

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Congratulations to the two Bobs: PART members Bob, W1IS, and Bob, KC1DSQ, for winning their third QST Cover Plaque Award! Their article, An All-Band 160-Meter OCF Antenna, appeared in the August 2025 issue. This design also won first place in the 160 Meters, LF or VLF category of the 2024 QST Antenna Design Competition. Shown below is Bob Glorioso, W1IS, receiving the Cover Plaque award from Phil Temples, K9HI, New England Division Vice Director at the October PART of Westford meeting. [Photo courtesy PART of Westford website]

 

 

W1IS receives QST Coverr Plaque Award from K9HI

Pass the Bill! Have you Sent Your Letters?

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ARRL logoARRL’s push to pass the bill has great momentum, but we need EVERY radio amateur in the United States to send their letters.

Your participation can make the difference in passing this legislation.

It only takes seconds. If you’re a licensed ham in the US, go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/, enter your call sign, validate your address, and click the red SEND MY LETTERS button. It really is that easy!

In less time than it takes to make a single QSO, your letters will tell Congress to remove the legal restraints on hams living in restrictive HOAs to put up an antenna.

Follow the link at https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ to send your letter now!

What it is:

The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (see ARRL News 02/07/2025) is a pair of bipartisan bills — H.R.1094 in the House and S.459 in the Senate – which are designed to prevent restrictive homeowners’ association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when such antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles.

Se Habla Español – Pasar el proyecto de ley

Si su lengua materna es el español, ARRL ha creado instrucciones y una página web para que envíe sus cartas al Congreso.

Descargue las instrucciones aquí:

https://send-a-letter.org/espanol/

“The Quest for Rooftop RF Signals: Working Around Urban Noise Issues”

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Sniffing RF noise on the rooftop of the Artisan's Asylum in Allsoton, MAArtisans Asylum (AA) is a makerspace located in the heavily populated Boston neighborhood of Allston.  AA hosts the Boston Amateur Radio Club as well as the Boston Urban Radio (BURG).

“The Artisans Makers decided to add the skills of Amateur Radio (Ham) several years back and begin teaching classes to the community.  Setting up an RF station in the Engineering and Robotics group at the Artisans was straight forward.”

Gregory Kenley, AC1NY, of Boston, describes the efforts that he and other Artisans members employed to overcome urban noise issues and successfully install an HF station in an RF-noisy environment.

[Full story]

ARISS Contact Opportunity, Call For Proposals

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ARISS logoFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Message to US Educators
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
 
Call for Proposals
New Proposal Window is October 6th, 2025 – November 14th, 2025
 
October 4, 2025 — The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS.  ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.
 
The deadline to submit a proposal is November 14th, 2025.  Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at www.ariss.org. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on October 15th at 8 PM ET.  The Zoom link to sign up is https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hijg24mPRK69uGC0gUq8zw
 
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
 
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
 
Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio. 
 
Please direct any questions to education@ariss-usa.org .
 
 About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

ARRL Connecticut Section Manager Newsletter, October 2025

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ARRL logoSection Manager Newsletter – October 2025
Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH
ARRL Section Manager, Connecticut

October 1, 2025

CONTENTS
– JOTA 2025 (10/18)
– Nutmeg Hamfest & ARRL CT State Convention (10/12)
– ARRL CT SECTION SET (10/25)
– SECARS Auction (10/18)
– CT ARES: Region 1 MCI (9/16)
– Hurricanes
– Section Manager Cabinet Openings.

JOTA 2025 (Jamboree On The Air)

This is Scouting’s worldwide Jamboree On The Air (JOTA). General JOTA Information at: <https://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota>. The big day is Saturday, Oct 18. We have been asked to bring the JOTA experience to 2 Camps in Goshen and Redding. We will do that by sending TEAMS of Hams to each site.

This one of the best ways to introduce a LARGE number of youngsters to Amateur Radio, and YOU can be a part of making that happen. It is very rewarding to see who gets “e xcited” about radio communications, and see who wants to go for the 3 Merit Badges (Radio, Electronics, Signs & Signals), and who is starting to dream about getting their Tech License.

This is a full day event (Arrive @ 7 am, Depart @ 4 pm)

Volunteers still WANTED. NEED 4 MORE
– 2 more at Goshen
– 2 more at Redding.

There is still time to Volunteer! Don’t Delay! Sign-Up TODAY @: <https://tinyurl.com/4zj3tyfe>

NUTMEG HAMFEST & ARRL CT State Convention (10/12)
Maloney High School, 121 Gravel St. Meriden, CT Hours: 8 am – 1 pm

COME ON DOWN!
This is a really fun Hamfest with indoor vendors and a great Tailgate area.

Several Forums/Presentations including:
– ARRL Forum: Meet your Section Mgr. and your New England Division Mgr.
– Parks On The Air: Learn about the fun of POTA
– WinLink for ARES
– Introduction to Digital Communications – Fox Hunting for the newly Licensed Technician
– 10m for the new Technician Ham
– Introduction to Satellite Operations
– Our Antarctic DXpedition – Eric KB1EHE & Elisie KB1IFZ
– Amateur Radio License Testing (aka VE Testing)
and MORE…

Hamfest Flyer <https://w1nrg.com/activities/nutmeg-hamfest/>

ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) 2025
News From Phil – K1XFC,
CT Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC)
9/29/25
Good Morning:

The Connecticut Section Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will take place Saturday October 25, 2025, from 0900 to 1200 local.

This is an opportunity for all amateur radio operators in the state to practice their emergency communications skills in a coordinated exercise.

This year’s SET will key off the September 9, 2025, Connecticut EPPI drill which centered around a Drought scenario.

According to the US Drought Monitor, which is released every Thursday, most of Connecticut is currently in an Abnormally Dry (D0) condition. Portions of southeast Connecticut are in a Moderate Drought (D1) condition. By contrast central Vermont and New Hampshire are in an Extreme Drought (D3) condition.

The Town of Manchester Water Department issued a water conservation alert on September 24 reporting that their reservoirs were at 79.4% of capacity. The 10-day weather forecast for Connecticut indicates little to no
rainfall.

The Connecticut Drought Preparedness and Response Plan (September 2022) “provides state and local decision-makers and public water suppliers with a set of formal operating procedures and administrative guidance for proactive drought planning and response. The Drought Plan is designated as a support plan within the State Response Framework, Connecticut’s umbrella emergency management operations document”.

The SET will involve escalating drought conditions in Connecticut to the point where it becomes necessary to distribute drinking water to the public. The Department of Public Health and DEMHS will ask for auxiliary communications support from Connecticut ARES. Water distribution will take place at 17 sites.

ARES members will be asked to set up communications operations at those 17 sites and communicate using both voice and data. Other ARES members will be asked to operate from their home or mobile stations serving as relays for simplex communications.

I encourage everyone to begin preparing to participate.

If you would like to activate one of the 17 sites (we will need 3 to 4 operators at each site) please contact your DEC. Folks in Regions 2 and 4 can contact me.

More information to follow.

73,
Phil Crombie, Jr., K1XFC
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC)
Amateur Radio Emergency Ser vice (ARES)
Connecticut Section
Cell: 860-338-6332
k1xfc aT Arrl Dot nET.

SECARS Auction Fundraiser (10/18)
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall
1650 Route 12
Gales Ferry, CT

Come Buy or Sell Amateur Radio Related Gear at the SECARS Fall Auction This is a live auction. Doors will open at 8 AM for sellers and 9 AM for everyone else. We will have several raffle prizes as well as refreshments available for purchase. Come meet new friends, say hello to hams you already know and update your station with some of the gear for sale. Info Link: <https://secars.org/secars-auction-information>.

The fall auction is being coordinated by Mark KE1IU. Send an e-mail to <ke1iumark@gmail.com> , if you have questions or for additional information.

Region 1: Mass Casualty Communications Drill This MCD took place on Sept. 16. CT ARES – Region 1 was tasked with helping establish and provide emergency / auxiliary communications (Voice and Winlink Data) between 4 Hospitals in Region 1 (Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport), the Bridgeport EOC and the Net Control Station operating at the Westport Astronomical Society facility (located at the old NIKE Site off the Merritt Parkway).

Our volunteers used VHF Repeaters, VHF Simplex, and HF Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) for voice communications. Messages covered coordinating transport of victims, On-Site arrivals at the ER, alerts for missing persons and reuniting them… and more.

Several important lessons were learned and will be addressed in future ARES training.

As Section Manager, I want to personally thank Peter K1PCN – CT ARES Region 1 District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) for his initiative, vision and diligence in organizing this event. I also want to thank all the fine hams who volunteered their time and equipmen t to make this happen. In short, WELL DONE everyone!

There is a short video with music (?) that was produced, in which CT ARES got top billing in the ending credits. Link: <https://tinyurl.com/ypyam26p>

JOIN CT ARES TODAY!
To learn more about ARES check out: <https://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARES%20Fact%20Sheet_Final.pdf>

To learn more about our local Connecticut ARES go to: <https://ctares.org/>

HURRICANES
Did we miss out on Connecticut’s Hurricane Season 2025? Don’t relax just yet. We are still in the historic “window of opportunity”

CT Section Manager Cabinet Openings
I still have need of 2 people to complete my CT Section Cabinet Roster.

The work is simple, and the pay is “unbelievable” (LOL!) Contact, your friendly CT Section Manger: WA1SFH@arrl.org

– Section Youth Coordinator (SYC)
Promoting Amateur Radio activities to YOUTH, and next steps.

– Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC)
Keeping in touch with Affiliated Clubs, and encouraging other Clubs to become ARRL Affiliated Clubs

Ham Radio is FUN!

SEE YOU ON THE AIR AND @ THE NUTMEG HAMFEST

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ARRL Connecticut Section
Section Manager: Douglas E Sharafanowich, WA1SFH
wa1sfh@arrl.org
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