Serving ARRL members who reside in the New England sections
Use the ARRL Field Day Site Locator to make in-person connections during the event! 
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.
Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes: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:
From Northeast HamXposition.org:
Major prizes have been announced at the 2025 Northeast HamXposition.
“Our website lists the door prizes that have been both donated by vendors and purchased by the committee,” explains Prize Chair Larry Krainson, W1AST.
From Franklin (County, MA) Land Trust E-News & Views, May 15, 2025:
“For many years, we have relied on the generous support of volunteer amateur radio operators (Hams) during D2R2. These Hams, mostly members of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC), provide communication support between D2R2’s home base in Deerfield and checkpoints scattered across the Hilltowns where there is little to no cell service. Last year, when I began planning a new event that would also require support from FCARC (Edge Hill Trail Race), the club’s membership gently hinted that it would be helpful if a few of FLT’s staff and volunteer community became Hams themselves. Flash forward to spring of this year and two of our staff members, including Alex Wahlstrom (callsign KC1WTM) and me (callsign KC1WTW), and five other community members have received FCC-license to operate amateur radio equipment.
“For four Mondays in April, we transformed our conference room into a classroom. A group of interested community members came to learn the material required to get on the air from FCARC members Bob, Chris, and Lad, including understanding the physics of radio waves, electrical components, the pros and cons of different radio frequencies, basic safety, and government regulations. This culminated in a Technician exam which took place earlier this week.
“Now that I’ve passed the test, I am looking forward to learning how to use a radio to communicate with people nearby and thousands of miles away, talk to astronauts on the International Space Station, and even bounce radio signals off the moon. Most of all, though, I’m excited to be able to serve the needs of my community. In the rural Hilltowns where cell service is limited, Ham radio is an important skill in emergencies and can serve as a communication tool in most situations where cell phones are not an option for those who wish to learn the skill.
“Thank you to the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club, the Shelburne Cultural Council, and the Laurel Volunteer Examination Team for help making this event possible.
“I’ll see you on the radio!”
Liam Cregan,
Land Conservation Specialist
HAPPY SPRING! And this weekend, HAMVENTION (Dayton/Xenia)! Wow, the time is really flying past. It’s hard to believe it’s Spring already, but the temperatures are getting reasonable, the flowers are blooming, the pollen level is beyond crazy, and allergy meds have become a required part of the daily regimen! And here on the Cape, the inevitable trickle of tourists has begun. It’s getting harder daily to make left turns, with the increased traffic. And some of our favorite restaurants are awakening from their winter slumber. Let Spring begin!
* HAMVENTION is Just Around the Corner!
Sadly, I won’t be attending HamVention this year – maybe next year – but here’s a hearty “safe travels” to all from Eastern MA heading to Xenia. When you get back, please email with stories – ev en better with pictures! Tell us about that great deal you scored or that long time radio buddy you finally got to have an eyeball QSO with. I love having new material to post on the Section website and in this newsletter.
* Field Day is June 28-29
I hope your plan for Field Day 2025 is coming along! It’s coming up quick – June 28-29 this year. The League has all manner of materials to help you and your club get started, including the FD site locator, and the 2025 ARRL Field Day Public Relations Kit [PDF] at https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMzEwNjY0JnA9MSZ1PTUyNDYxMTkzMiZsaT0zNzcwMTg1MA/index.html to get you started – including a press release template that you can use for your activation. Full details at https://arrl.org/field-day
This year I intend to visit as many Field Day sites in person as I can fit in. I’ll be starting Saturday morning in northeast MA (Cape Ann ARA, I’m lookin’ at you), then making my way through the section over Saturday and Sunday. Please, PLEASE register your FD site on the FD site locator on the ARRL website so I can plan my journey. I’m very much looking forward to seeing so many of you!
* Boy Scout Camp Greenough Amateur Radio Station Grand Opening
The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club is very excited to announce the Grand Opening of the newly constructed Camp Greenough Amateur Radio Station scheduled for Saturday May 31st starting at 2PM, in conjunction with the Chuck Wagon Event. The station is located in the basement of the Maushop Lodge.
This station is the culmination of the efforts by members of the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club, contributions of the American Radio Relay League, and many local businesses and the support of the Cape and Island council leadership. More details at https://ema.arrl.org/2025/05/07/camp-greenough-amateur-radio-station-grand-opening-yarmouth-port-may-31-2025/
* EMA Hams Developing Ham/STEM Course for Local Private School
Geoff, W1GCF, is developing a ham course for Al Hamra Academy. Al Hamra is a private school that promotes itself as an “Islamic progressive STEM school.” The progressive part includes interlocking courses with ambitious curricula. So, for example, there is an architectural physics course where the instructor will be talking about resonance in structures and the importance of damping it. Geoff and Andy, KB1OIQ, made a presentation to the school that was very well received.
The course Geoff is developing is not a typical license course. Most of the course is about introducing students to the concept of Electromagnetism along with underlying electronics and test gear. The focus is hands on experience rather than requiring too much of the math. Getting licensed is part of the course, but this is a graded academic course on the physics of electromagnetism. Contact Geoff at w1gcf@arrl.net with questions and for more information.
* New Version of Andy’s Ham Radio Linux (AHRL) Available
Andy’s Ham Radio Linux (AHRL) v26d has been released. Several software packages were updated (enumerated in the CHANGES file). Support was added for LMDE6. For more info and a link to download it:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/
* Reviving the Harvard Wireless Club
Leo Koerner W1SSS is trying to revive the Harvard Wireless Club, a group of amateur (“ham”) radio enthusiasts. Unlike the student DJs at WHRB, Koerner’s crew operates two-way radios: essentially superpowered, imprecise walkie-talkies. Harvard’s ham radio station is the sixth oldest in the country, founded in 1909. Full story at https://ema.arrl.org/2025/04/29/small-talk-from-afar/
* 2025 Northeast HamXposition is Coming!
Mark your calendars! The 2025 Northeast HamXposition is not that far away: August 21-24, 2025, in Marlborough, MA. This is New England’s premier ham gathering. I hope to have an eyeball QSO with all of you at HamX! More info at https://hamxposition.org/
* Recruiting IT/Website Talent to Help Maintain EMA Section Website
Are you an IT person with some experience with WordPress? Could you volunteer an hour or two per week to help keep the EMA website? I’m looking for someone to provide some backup/relief for our tireless web site administrator, to keep an ear open for goings-on in the section, and to timely post short articles to the site, keeping the news fresh. If you are interested, please email me at n1ilz@arrl.org.
* Virtual NTS Traffic Net Going Strong
Many Technician class amateurs miss out on fun and skills learning of traffic handling because they reside in areas of the country where local traffic nets on VHF repeaters don’t exist. The Virtual NTS Traffic Net (VNTN) seeks to address this problem with the creation of a Zoom-based local traffic net that can be accessed by anyone with an internet
connection.
The Net meets weekly, and held its inaugural session on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET. The VNTN URL is: https://bitl.to/3xj4. The net will be changing time to 8 PM ET soon – stay tuned for details.
Full details at https://ema.arrl.org/2025/03/05/virtual-nts-traffic-net-begins-march-5-2025/
* Still Recruiting a New Section Youth Coordinator
Sadly, our Section’s former Section Youth Coordinator, Paul K1YUB, is now a Silent Key. I need to fill this important position on the EMA Section Staff. The SYC requirement and job description is at https://www.arrl.org/section-youth-coordinator If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact me at n1ilz@arrl.org – I’ll appreciate it greatly!
* N1ILZ for a Final
I hope you’re all enjoying the joys that Spring brings, with warmer weather, no more snow, and – lest I forget – ice cream!! Get out there and get those new antennas up or fix the damage from the ravages of winter. Most of all, get on the air and have fun!
Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Let me know via email at n1ilz@arrl.org!
* For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org
This Section News Update was brought to you by Section Manager Jon N1ILZ.
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Jon W McCombie, N1ILZ
n1ilz@arrl.org
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Section Manager Newsletter – May 2025
Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH
ARRL Section Manager, Connecticut
May 11, 2025
CONTENTS
– Comment
– Upcoming Hamfests
– CT Section Cabinet Needs YOU!
– ARRL Field Day 2025
– Public Service Events
– National Weather Service: SKYWARN Spotter Training Classes
HELLO!
Yesterday (Sat. 5/10), I attended the North East Weak Signal Group’s 2025 Conference in Windsor. And, let me tell you that if you were not there, you missed something good.
For example, one of the presentations was on Light Communications with Paul W1VLF and Fred K1FMS using LED transmitters and photo-receptor receivers in the 940 nm frequency range. Among other things they reported using a 1 LED bulb transmitter and getting 4 mile Line Of Sight transmissions. They also reported making successful Cloud Bounce communications with a multiple LED transmitter over 2 0 miles between stations. This made me think of our NVIS communications exercises in CT ARES.
So, if you are bored with Ham Radio, there is ALWAYS something new,
different, and exciting to explore.
Upcoming Hamfests
If you are not going to the Dayton Hamvention® in Xenia (Ohio), join me at the Goshen Hamfest this coming Weekend. Bring your surplus gear to sell, Find good deals on gear that you NEED…and/or Want. And let’s talk about how we can get more hams and the general public “excited” and active in the hobby.
What: Goshen Hamfest
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 8 am – 1 pm
Sponsor: Southern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club (SBARC)
Place: Goshen Fairgrounds
116 Old Middle Street, Goshen CT
(Just south of the Traffic Circle on Route 4)
Flyer: https://www.sberk.org/sobarc-2025-hamfest/
WHAT: Northeast H amXposition 2025
& ARRL New England Division Convention
Dates: Thursday, Aug. 21 – 24
Hours: Varied per Day
Place: Best Western Marlborough, MA
181 Boston Post Road W.
Marlborough, MA 01752
Website: http://hamxposition.org
Note: Special hotel room pricing for HamXposition attendees.
Don’t wait! Order your HamXposition tickets and book your room. (These rooms fill up fast)
PS: I will be there for the weekend starting on Friday afternoon, with my XYL – Catherine The Great. 
CT Section Cabinet Needs YOU!
Each SM appoints a cabinet of leaders who are in charge of ARRL programs within the Section. Appointees to the Field Organization must be ARRL members. Confucius say: “Many hands make light work.” Right now I am looking for 3 qualified individuals to fill vital positions in the CT Section Manager’s Cabin et. The work is simple, fun, and the pay for our “volunteers” is unbelievable.(LOL!)
Please read the following position descriptions and, if you think one of them is something that you can handle, then contact me and let’s talk.
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC)
The ACC reports to the SM and keeps track of club listings, club officers, club activities, and encourages Special Service certification. The ACC is the key point of contact for affiliated clubs, and clubs seeking designation as an ARRL Affiliated Club.
Public Information Coordinator (PIC)
Reporting to the SM, the PIC promotes publicity about Amateur Radio in the Section and appoints Public Information Officers (PIOs). If you are interested in communicating with the Media in your area, you can become a PIO with some additional training.
Section Youth Coordinator (SYC)
The role of the SYC is to: assess youth activity within AR RL affiliated clubs, promote youth related on-air activities, encourage youth related programs and activities within clubs and, provide youth related ideas and resources to Amateur Radio Clubs within the Section. The SYC will need to build a small team of Assistants to make it happen across the state.
Good news: The previous SYC established relationships with the 4 CT based Councils of Scouting America (previously known as: Boy Scouts of America) over the past 7 years. So, you won’t be starting from Zero.
ARRL FIELD DAY 2025 is COMING!
Just 1.5 months away!
Date: June 28 – 29
I hope that your plans for ARRL Field Day (FD) 2025 are well underway. If you are a member in a Club, I encourage you to take an active role and participate – The More, The Merrier! However, if you operate solo or in a small team, now is the time to start organizing and planning where you will be, getting site permission, etc.
Info about ARRL FD 2025 can be found at: https://www.arrl.org/field-day
PROMOTING FIELD DAY and AMATEUR RADIO
A) You can now order ARRL FD Shirts, Patches, Pins, Caps, etc.. at the ARRL STORE https://tinyurl.com/426zfnp2
B) Look for a PUBLIC location where you can get a good amount of visitors.
– Easy access, parking, and lots of signage is key.
C) DON’T KEEP YOUR FD SITE A SECRET!! Whether you are a Club or will be operating independent of a Club, please don’t delay.
– Put your site on the ARRL FD Locator Map…TODAY!
Congratulations to the following Amateur Radio Clubs in getting this done:
Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club (GBARC),
Stratford Amateur Radio Club (SARC),
Northville Amateur Radio Association (NARA),
Eastern Connecticut Amateur Radio Association (ECARA)
Please be sure to post your operating site on the FD Locator Map, and let us see where you are operating. Map Link: https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
The FD Locator Map is a powerful tool in promoting Amateur Radio and encouraging Hams and Non-Hams (including Municipal and State officials) to visit.
In addition, posting FD Posters around town (Library, Grocery Store, etc), Youth groups (e.g. Scouting America, Girl Scouts, etc.), Schools (e.g. High School Math and Physics Departments – Public, Private), Home School Groups.
USE the ARRL Field Day 2025 Poster
Order Packs of 25, or use the PDF LINK: https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2025251254
Volunteering at Public Service Events (PSEs)
Bike-Athons, Run-Athons, Walk-Athons, Swim-Athons, etc). are great FUN,
provide opportunities to help out a worthy cause, and practice your
hobby in a real world situation requiring communications support.
New to PSEs? Don’t worry! Mo st groups welcome hams new to Public
Service Events to participate and will pair them with an experienced
operator to help get started right.
May
Sunday. May 18 (7 am – 3 pm)
Bloomin’ Metric Bike Ride
Sherwood Island State Park,
Westport, CT
Sign Up at:
https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/50450772081/false#/invitation
Sunday, May 18 (9 am) — No Event if it Rains
Baystate Trail Riders Horse Event
Thompson, CT
Contact: Brian – N1BAM horne.bt@gmail.com
June
Sunday, June 8 – Litchfield Hills Road Race (11 am)
Litchfield, CT
Contact: Paul – KB1TOR paulgibb@optonline.net
National Weather Service: SKYWARN Spotter Training
Radio amateurs participating as SKYWARN volunteers assist the NWS with real-time observations of adverse weather conditions that pose an imminent threat to life and property. Those alerts may include tornadoes, waterspout s, damaging hail, blizzard conditions, sleet, strong winds, heavy rainfalls and flooding, dust storms, damage assessment, and other significant anomalies. NWS personnel can utilize information from ham radio operators to issue alerts or assess threat levels to areas that may be affected by abnormal conditions.
Thursday May 8th, 2025
6 pm – 8 pm EDT:
Mashantucket Police Department
100 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT 06338
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration Required:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBOyyaQLmM5fupa2_pkoXvhaWOhvtE6d3NK8Wg6uIeBLyLCQ/viewform
Tuesday June 17th, 2025
6pm – 8 pm PM EDT:
Vernon Public Safety Building
280 West St, Vernon, CT 06066
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration Required:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_SKwP0NjpObpoYB3cpkICYejZgxWdzkuAk-wktJqqFlcmfQ/viewform
SEE YOU ON THE AIR!
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ARRL Connecticut Section
Section Manager: Douglas E Sharafanowich, WA1SFH
wa1sfh@arrl.org
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From Providence Radio Association Facebook page:
