ARRL New England Division

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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The May, 2025 Western MA Section Newsletter is now available at https://wma.arrl.org/blog/2025/05/04/section-managers-report-may-2025/.

May is full of ham radio events which Maine hams can partake and enjoy.  This weekend is the New England QSO Party in which I am sponsoring an award plaque for the top Maine scorer in the single op, qrp category.  Last year only three Maine hams submitted logs in this category!  Hopefully more will participate AND make log submissions this year.  There are other categories like high power, multi-op, etc. Scroll down to see Tom Frenaye’s (K1KI) article on this awesome and fun event.

Hermon Hamfest May 31

Take note of the date change for the Hermon Hamfest which is Saturday May 31 from 8am until noon at the Hermon High School.

Maine-Wide POTA

Saturday, May 17, all Maine hams radio clubs and individuals are encouraged to put a qualified Maine park on the air. This is the brain child of Assistant Maine Section Manager Jeff Hanscom KA1DBE. Last year’s inaugural event we nt great. Let’s start a tradition! Check parksontheair.com for details.

NEQP by Tom Frenaye K1KI
NEQP.org

The New England QSO Party on May 3rd and 4th is a great time to check out antenna systems and offers a moderately paced opportunity to work new states and countries. You’ll find a wide variety of participants, from newcomers to experienced contesters, all interested in making contacts with New England stations.

Our goal is to get every one of the counties in New England on the air so we hope you will encourage your members to join in the fun! Even if you can join the fun for a couple of hours, we’d appreciate it!  Will you be QRV? Let us know with a message to info@neqp.org

The New England QSO Party is 20 hours long overall, in two sections with a civilized break for sleep on Saturday night.  It runs from 4 pm Saturday until 1 am Sunday, then 9 am Sunday until 8 pm Sunday.  Operate on CW, S SB and/or digital modes on 80-40-20-15-10 meters.  For each QSO you’ll give your callsign, a signal report and your county/state.  Top scorers can earn a plaque and everyone who sends in a log with 25 QSOs or more will get a certificate.  The goal is to work stations anywhere in the world – and their goal is to work New England stations, so you’ll be very popular!

Last year we had logs from 212 New England stations and 516 more logs from around the country and world.
Please make some QSOs even if you don’t want to send in a log!
Thanks!
73 Tom/K1KI

The 48th Eastern VHF Conference, May 9-11 in Windsor CT

Three Members of the Contoocook Valley Radio Club are involved with procuring Door Prizes for the VHF Convention:  Don Twombly, W1FKF, Lanette Twombly, KA1NKD, and myself, W1MKY.  This is my 17th year to be Co-Chair of the Door Prize Committee.  We usually collect around $8,000 dollars worth of Prizes, and have a big extravaganza giving out Prizes at our Saturday Night Banquet.  – I try to make it so you win something that at least equals the cost of your Banquet Ticket.  Why do I do this year after year?  The attending Hams approach the Podium with their winning tickets. They are so excited that they look like kids approaching the Christmas Tree!  Their big smiles make me want to ask Radio and Electronics Companies to provide Door Prizes!

Dale, AF1T, will present his new Talk, “Looking at Loops: A visual Survey of Loop Antennas”.  There will be lots of other good talks, all day, on Saturday, May 10th.  Banquet that evening. Flea Market at the great Vintage Radio Museum, (also in Windsor, CT) on Sunday morning.  Conference Registration is $40.00.  Hotel rooms at The Hilton Garden Inn are $149.00. Code: NEWEEK”.  The Northeast Weak Signal Group puts the Conference on each year.  Would someone else  like to present?   Write to: w1ghz.q@gmail.com

If you are interested in VHF Radio, this is the Conference for you!  You are invited!  Look on: www.newsvhf.com  to see the latest schedule, the Hotel

Information and to see who is coming.

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ARRL Maine Section
Section Manager: Philip W Duggan, N1EP
n1ep@arrl.org
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Hello members of WMA.

On our website, https://wma.arrl.org/ you will see posted the recent list of people that recently got their licenses. I want to remind you to view the list and try to reach out to them and welcome them to the hobby and offer assistance to get on the air, and also to invite them to your local club. This is important as new hams may drift away they do not know how to get started. Your clubs can benefit greatly by getting new members. VE team leads can also help by getting the email address from the successful candidate and sending it to the club for outreach. Sample magazines, brochures, etc you can give them is a great start. Check our website regularly as we will post these every month.

Thanks and 73
Ray AA1SE

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ARRL Western Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Raymond P Lajoie, AA1SE
aa1se@arrl.org