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

by

Sniffing RF noise on the rooftop of the Artisan's Asylum in Allsoton, MAArtisans Asylum (AA) is a makerspace located in a heavily populated Boston neighborhood of Allston, MA.  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

by
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

by

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

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

Amateur Radio Licensing Update During US Government Shutdown

by

ARRL logoFrom ARRL:

The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, ARRL VEC, wants members to know that we are closely following the impact of the US Government shutdown on licensing for the Amateur Radio Service.

The government shutdown began at 12:01 Eastern time on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, when Congress had not passed an appropriations bill or other plan to keep the government funded for the new fiscal year (begins October 1).

The Federal Communications Commission, which issues Amateur Radio Service licenses, issued a Public Notice on Tuesday, September 30, indicating that it would suspend most operations following a shutdown. “Aside from a few emergency and auction filing systems, all other Commission electronic filing systems will be unavailable to the public until normal agency operations resume,” said the FCC Notice.

ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said the FCC systems appeared to go off-line around 1 PM Eastern time, and are redirecting to the Public Notice. This means the FCC will not be processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown, which includes individual, club, and exam session (new and upgrade) applications.

“But ARRL Volunteer Examiners should continue giving exam sessions,” said Somma. “Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep serving new and upgrade candidates for amateur radio licenses.” Somma also urged that Volunteer Examiners continue to promptly forward session results from their exams to the ARRL VEC.

“Please do not hold your session results. Send your sessions to us, and ARRL VEC will continue to queue all applications as they are received. Once the federal government reopens, ARRL VEC will promptly resume submitting applications to the FCC for processing. So, keep sending sessions to the ARRL VEC.”

The FCC Notice indicates that the CORES registration system will remain available to the public and will not be affected by the shutdown. Exam candidates can still register in CORES and be assigned an FCC Registration Number (FRN) at https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do. The FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) databases are currently unavailable to the public. ULS and related systems (like the License Manager, License Search, Application Search, etc.) are not accessible during the shutdown. Users cannot file applications with the FCC, or access license data, including address information.

To find an amateur radio exam session, please visit www.arrl.org/find-an-exam. For a list of VE Teams that offer Online Exam Sessions, go to www.arrl.org/online-exam-session.

Pass The Bill

As a reminder, ARRL is continuing to collect letters from EVERY HAM as part of our grassroots campaign to pass the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act. The legislation is intended to prevent restrictive homeowners’ association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas. Send your letters now at www.arrl.org/HOA.

Antenna Building Challenge

by

The inspiration for this challenge is a QST Stray I saw about a year ago. A club in the Midwest challenged their club members to make a contact using an incandescent light bulb for an antenna. How about other items? Every time I go into a Home Depot I see many items which could be used to build an antenna: an extendable paint handle, rain gutters, metal flashing, paint cans . . .

The Eastern Mass ARRL section is sponsoring this challenge, and will expand it to the other New England states if there is interest. Let’s put on our tin hats and prowl the aisles of our local hardware store for antenna inspiration . . .

The schedule and timelines will be published soon on the Challenge website.

For questions and more details contact me at

AF1R@arrl.net

 

Categories All

Candlewood ARA W1QI Special Event Operation, September 27, 2025

by
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.  
 
 
 
 

On-line Technician Course, New England Sci-Tech, Beginning October 5, 2025

by

New England Sci-Tech logoFrom New England Sci-Tech website:

This ONLINE ham radio class will get you ready to take the Ham Radio TECHNICIAN license exam, the FIRST of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, but suitable for junior high, high school, and home-school students. Yes, we give ham radio exams, too! You can take this course from anywhere by Zoom.* 

Future workshops: (links to sign up)

Four Sundays OCT 5, 12, 19, 26, 2025, 6:00-9:00 pm Eastern (Zoom only)
Four Sundays NOV 2, 9, 16, 23, 2025, 6:00-9:00 pm Eastern (Zoom only)
(skipping 4 weeks in December for a General course – check it out!)

This is a FULL course taught live via Zoom by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a video or discussion group. You will learn much more than with other methods.

*If you are local and prefer an in-person course, check out our in-person Wireless Electronics Course.

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Optional text: ARRL Technician Class License Manual, 5th edition, for exams through June 30, 2026, (purchase on ARRL website). Regular practice and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.

You should NOT purchase any radio equipment before you get your license. What to buy? Even before you are licensed, join a local radio club and ask your new hobby friends what they recommend.

Amateur radio (or “ham radio”) is used by people all over the world to communicate over radio waves. Some people use ham radio for emergency preparedness, to provide communications support for community events, to report on severe weather and natural disasters, as a social activity, and even occasionally to contact crew members on the International Space Station!

[Full announcement]

Send-A-Letter Campaign: Ask Your Representative and Senators to Co-sponsor and Support H.R. 1094 and S. 459

by

ARRL logoYOU CAN HELP US CHANGE THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF AMERICAN HAMS

The ARRL is focused on reducing legal restraints on the ability of American Amateur Radio Operators to engage in the active practice and enjoyment of Amateur Radio.  One of the most insidious and increasing threats to the survival of Amateur Radio and our ability to serve our communities and Nation, as we are required to do by Federal regulation, is the proliferation of private land use restrictions that prohibit the installation of outdoor antennas and that sometimes actually deny Federally licensed Amateurs from operating any amateur radios, regardless of where their antennas are located — in their attics, hidden in trees, or mounted on their vehicles.

Federal law — since 1996 — has guaranteed to every American — except Amateur Radio Operators — the right to erect antennas outside or on their residences for the purpose of TV reception, satellite TV and internet access, wireless internet access and even wireless internet redistribution. But Amateur Radio operators are denied the equal right to erect comparable antennas.

Since 2005 Federal law has also guaranteed to every American the right to proudly display the American Flag by installing flagpoles in their yards. But, despite that right to install vertical poles in their yards — American Radio Amateurs are denied the right to use those vertical flagpoles as vertical antennas.

We believe the denial — to licensed Amateur Radio Operators — of the rights guaranteed to all non-Amateur Radio licensed American homeowners — the right to install antennas on the land they own — is without justification and should not be permitted to continue.

To eliminate these private land use restrictions, the ARRL has worked over the past several years with our elected officials to draft Congressional legislation — H.R. 1094 in the U.S. House of Representatives and S. 459 in the U.S. Senate — that when passed will extend to all Hams the right to operate from their homes and the right to install antennas on the land they own. We have bipartisan support for this legislation.

BUT, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION!

How can you help? By sending a letter to your Representative and Senators asking that they co-sponsor and support H.R. 1094 and S. 459.

How can you send these letters? It is easy.

Go to — https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ — enter your call sign and click on “Send My Letters” and your letters will be delivered to our Washington legislative team for hand delivery to your Representative and Senators.

Does your individual letter matter? YES.

Your Representative and Senators need to know that the passage of this legislation is important to you.

Your letter could be the difference in whether we are able to pass H.R. 1094 and S. 459.  

Go to — https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ — and help us by sending your letters to your Representative and Senators.