Serving ARRL members who reside in the New England sections
Bruce Tinkler, N9JBT, writes:
Due to the death of Quicksilver’s (Meriden, Connecticut) founder and owner, they are suspending business until management can be transitioned.
https://www.qsradio.com/index.html
They are looking forward to re-opening in January 2026.
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
From ARRL:
The necessary time and resources required to plan a comprehensive national event for SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2025 are not available this year. Thus, the difficult decision was made to cancel this year’s event by the NWS. [Full story]
Phil 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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Brian 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:
If the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activates, they will be operating on:
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:
Updates at https://www.arrl.org/news/tropical-storm-melissa-update
Brian
NJ1F
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]
ARRL’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/
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:
Artisans 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]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE