W1YK: “Participatory Archiving Reveals Radio Club Treasures”

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photo of W1YK archive articleFrom The WPI Journal:

“Archival work often involves unearthing buried information, but, as with the content it seeks to reveal, the process itself can be shrouded in mystery. The labor that goes into processing special collections is multifaceted. A particularly overlooked aspect of this endeavor is the partnership that exists between archivists and researchers. Whereas archivists are challenged to prioritize access over perfection, researchers are afforded the opportunity to examine materials with greater depth.

“One such ongoing collaboration is between the WPI Archives and Special Collections and the WPI Wireless Association…”

[Full story]

Brattleboro Reformer: “Ham radio operators on the air for nationwide event”

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SHAFTSBURY — Ham radio operators from the Southern Vermont Amateur Radio Club (SOVARC) and the Greater Bennington County Area will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 2 p.m. on Saturday until 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 28 and 29. The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/field-day), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States. [Full story]

June 2025 Eastern MA Section Update

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EMA ARRL logoJon McCombie, N1ILZ, writes on the Eastern MA ARRL members list:

HAPPY SUMMER!  Wow, time has really flown by quickly. It’s hard to believe it’s officially Summer, 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 deluge of tourists has begun. It’s now nearly impossible to make left turns, with the increased traffic. But our favorite restaurants have awakened from their winter slumber and are open once again. Let Summer begin! 

* Field Day is June 28-29 – SOON! 

I hope your plan for Field Day 2025 is coming along! It’s coming up quickly – 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  

I am finalizing my plans to visit as many Field Day sites in person as I can fit in. I’ll be starting Saturday morning in northeast MA, 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! If you especially want me to stop by your FD site, please email me at n1ilz@arrl.org and let me know where you’ll be and your hours of operation. 

* Governor’s FD Proclamation 

A big tip o’ the hat and a serious thank-you to our State Government Liaison (SGL) Steve KC1KEZ, for his efforts to get an official Proclamation from MA’s governor, Maura Healey, officially recognizing June 28-29 as Amateur Radio Field Day in MA. I will have an original copy of the proclamation with me on my FD site visits, as will WMA Section Manager Ray AA1SE, and New England Division Vice Director Phil K9HI. 

* 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/  

* 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! Full info at https://hamxposition.org/  

* Thanks to N1WBV and W1IZZ for Help Maintaining EMA Section Website 

A huge thank you to Ben N1WBV and Larry W1IZZ for answering my call for help with keeping the EMA website up to date. Between them they’re connected to just about every club in Eastern MA, and they’ve been doing a fantastic job keeping the EMA website fresh with news and current events. Thanks again, guys!  

*  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 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 Summer 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. Stay cool and hydrated. 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? Shoot me an 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.  

 

ARRL Headquarters Open House & Tag Sale, June 14, 2025

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ARRL logoDouglas E Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes on the Connecticut ARRL members list:

TOMORROW !!!

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Hours 9 AM to 2 PM

225 Main Street, Newington, Connecticut 06111

Rain or Shine

So much to do and see!

• Tag Sale. Cash Only. Amateur radio equipment including power supplies, amplifiers, used books, various electronics, and more! First come, first serve (subject to availability; all equipment sold as-is, and untested; no reasonable offer refused).

• Get on the air from W1AW using the world’s most famous call sign!

• Tour the ARRL Lab, Radio Laboratory — W1HQ, and ARRL’s historic radio collection.

• Join, renew or extend your ARRL membership in-person. Get automatically entered in the Dream Station Sweepstakes when you join or renew. See the Icom IC-7760 prize!

• Donate to the ARRL Diamond Club. See the many names and call signs honored in the ARRL Diamond Club Terrace.  Shop the ARRL Store in the main lobby – and get your 2025 ARRL Field Day t-shirts and gear!

• DXCC Card Checking and LoTW Help Desk.

• Historic US Manufactured Amateur Radio Exhibit.

• See the ARRL campus, towers, and antenna arrays.

• Meet many HQ staff and volunteers.

• Explore opportunities to VOLUNTEER at ARRL HQ.

• Enter to win a door prize.

• Check out CAREER opportunities for you, or someone you know. Work for ARRL!  And, come share with us what you enjoy about amateur radio and ARRL!

BONUS: Meet your Connecticut Section Manager and say “HI”.

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ARRL Connecticut Section

Section Manager: Douglas E Sharafanowich, WA1SFH

wa1sfh@arrl.org

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Don’t Miss These Bonus Points at Field Day!

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Photo of NTS radiogram formShawn Dodds, N1CVO, writes:

This year, your club can get up to an extra 200 points for sending formal messages (radiograms) from the Field Day site over amateur RF.  Last year, I helped one club do this.  This year, I’d like to do more.

I’ve been doing ‘Virtual NTS training’ (https://groups.io/g/VNTN) for the past couple of months over Zoom, and thought that maybe I could help other clubs in the area by doing an abbreviated training session focused on Field Day radiograms.

I’ve put a little web page at https://www.qsl.net/n1cvo/FDNTS.htm with the details.  If anything changes, I will be modifying that page.

It is intended for clubs in Massachusetts, but there is also interest from clubs in other states.  We will be recording the Zoom meetings and posting the link to the FDNTS page referenced above.  On Field Day Saturday, there will be a special Field Day traffic net on the MMRA network at 4pm, 6pm and potentially 8pm.

If you want a head start, there is a good intro to creating and voicing radiograms at: https://www.k8amh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/National-Traffic-System-and-Radiograms.pdf .

73,

Shawn – N1CVO

n1cvo@dodds1.com

Volunteer Opportunity – Ride to End Alzheimer’s – June 14th

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K1DSL-Dan Loveman writes:

On June 14th, cyclists will return to Hampton Beach to begin their 2025 New England Ride To End Alzheimer’s, and I’m writing today to ask for your help in supporting them!

The event details are as follows:
Saturday, June 14th
Hampton Beach State Park, Hampton, NH
Volunteer roles vary and range from 6am-4pm

**SAG team members are asked to commit to the whole day, rest stop volunteers may have shorter shifts depending on where they are stationed.

If you’re able and willing, I’d like to invite you to join the Amateur Radio team for the 2025 Ride To End Alzheimer’s. You can find all the event details here and the direct registration link is here.

This is a very important event. The riders at this event are raising money to fund research that will one day put an end to Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Our job is to staff the communications network that helps keep them safe while they do it.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thanks and 73,
Dan Loveman /K1DSL
alz@k1dsl.net

Scout Camp Station W1MA Opens at Camp Greenough on Cape Cod

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With the help of a $25,000 ARRL Club Grant and another $100,000 0f in-kind donations, the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) held the grand opening of W1MA on May 31 at the Scout camp in Yarmouth. The project included rebuilding an entire wall of the building the station is in and providing the camp with nearly a mile of fiber-optic cable. The project also included the ability to use the station remotely at the camp’s welcome and training center for radio merit badge and license training. Scouts from all over Cape Cod attended the opening hosted by project leaders Norm, WA1NLG and Mark, N1ZPO, both Eagle Scouts, as well as another half dozen BARC members who helped bring the project to completion. The station features both HF and VHF/UHF/Satellite capability and remote operation over the internet and is located adjacent to the new welcome center at the camp’s entrance.  The event was well-attended with BARC providing snacks outside the station.

Future plans include an enhanced antenna system and operating during JOTA events using the station as the event headquarters.

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NH Governor Kelly Ayotte Issues Proclamation Designating June as “Amateur Radio Month”

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For further information, contact NH ARRL Section Public Information Coordinator Skip Camejo
 
In public recognition of the valuable service that amateur radio operators provide to their communities at no cost, Governor Kelly Ayotte issued a formal proclamation designating June as “Amateur Radio Month” in New Hampshire. 
 
Amateur radio operators, also known as ham radio operators, offer their services to their communities in time of emergency to assist local, state and federal public safety agencies in providing auxiliary communication capabilities to allow regular public safety communication systems to concentrate on the emergency.  In particular, NH-ARES (New Hampshire Amateur Radio Emergency Service) has groups and members situated throughout the state to provide assistance as needed.  ARES is an emergency communication organization sponsored by the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), the leading non-governmental amateur radio organization in the United States.  In addition to ARES, the ARRL sponsors the NTS (National Traffic System) which routinely transmits message traffic by radiogram, similar to telegrams, throughout the country.  In the event of an emergency the NTS would be available to provide long distance communication capabilities to responding agencies as well as health and welfare messages to or from the disaster area to family members outside the area when conventional communication systems are not functioning.  To practice their radio communication skills, amateur radio operators participate in an annual event called Field Day.  This event is held every June and involves operators setting up their radios in sometimes remote locations to practice and train for emergency communication.  Many local amateur radio clubs set up public demonstrations and encourage members of the public to try their hand at amateur radio.  This year Field Day will be held the weekend of June 28-29, 2025.
 
This year NH-ARES entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and Communications that designates NH-ARES as the sole organization providing amateur radio communications support to the state. 
As witnessed in weather disasters such as Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, hurricanes in Florida and tornadoes throughout the midwest, cellular systems and public safety radio systems can become inoperable due to infrastructure damage. The use of amateur radio provides an auxiliary communication system utilizing trained and federally licensed radio operators to support the missions of the state’s public safety agencies.  In addition to emergency communication capabilities, amateur radio operators routinely assist their communities by providing communication services at events such as marathons, bicycle races, canoe races and other similar events. These public service radio communication assignments help train radio operators and fine tune the abilities of NH-ARES members to adapt to changing radio and weather conditions.

 
 
NH Amateur Radio Proclamation 2025

Is Your Club on the Map?

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ARRL-FD-locator-NEUse the ARRL Field Day Site Locator to make in-person connections during the event! 
 
With a little more than a month to go until the big weekend, there are almost 650 sites listed on the locator. To search for a site near you, just go to the map and zoom in on your area. Click on the red map pins for details about each site. To add information to the locator, click on “Add a Station”