Antenna Building Challenge

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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

 

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Candlewood ARA W1QI Special Event Operation, September 27, 2025

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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

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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

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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.

Chowdercon 2025, Four Tree Island, Portsmouth NH, September 19, 2025

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NEQRP logoCarl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes on the NEQRP mailing list:

Most of you have this on your annual calendar of must attend events, but, just in case you don’t, Chowdercon 2025 is this coming weekend. Friday the 19th through Sunday the 21st.

What is Chowdercon? It’s a long running fun event that mostly takes place on Four Tree Island New Hampshire.

It’s a celebration of the end of Summer, beginning of Fall (always held on the 3rd Saturday/, the equinox weekend) in September.

There’s a 4:30 PM kick-off dinner banquet at Al’s Seafood in North Hampton, usually a breakfast gathering in Portsmouth around 7 AM and to Four Tree Island by 8 AM to grab a picnic table and set-up your Field-Op station.

Lunch is at Geno’s Sandwich Shop, and around 4 PM we breakdown and head to our farewell seafood supper banquet.

Diehards sometimes return on Sunday for more Island operations and a late lunch / early supper.

Anyone interested in the Friday 4:30 PM Seafood opening supper??? Please RSVP so I can arrange seating at Al’s Seafood.

More later. Hope to see YOU at Chowdercon 2025.

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Connecticut ARES Assists in Bridgeport Hospital Drill

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Screenshot of EmComm Drill St. Vincent Med Ctr Publicity CT ARESMark O’Grady, KC1UHV, writes on the Greater Bridgeport ARC mailing list:
 
[Connecticut Amateur Radio Emergency Service was mentioned favorably in this television news story.] 
 
From NEWS12 Connecticut: “From Dozens of nurses and doctors at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport spent Tuesday morning engaged in a hands-on emergency preparedness drill. The drill, which began just after 9:30 a.m., involved several scenarios designed to strengthen coordination among staff members and departments.” [Full story]
 

Ray LaJoie, AA1SE, Declared Elected as Western MA Section Manager

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ARRL logoFrom ARRL News, 09/12/2025: 

Below are the results of our recent Section Manager nomination period for the term beginning January 1, 2026, and declared elected, with no opposition:

New Section Managers:

Michigan – Ralph Katz, AA8RK
Santa Barbara – Keith Elliott, W6KME

Continuing:

Alabama – Dennis Littleton, K4DL
Alaska – David Stevens, KL7EB
Delaware – Steven Keller, KC3DSO
East Bay – Mike Patterson, N6JGA
Kansas – Ron Cowan, KBØDTI
New Mexico – Bill Mader, K8TE
Tennessee – David Thomas, KM4NYI
Western Massachusetts – Ray LaJoie, AA1SE

The ARRL Field Organization is the grassroots corps that makes up the 60,000 volunteers among ARRL membership. It is divided into 71 Sections, each of which is led by a volunteer Section Manager who is elected by the members of the Section. Section Managers serve two-year terms.

Maine ARRL Section News

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ARRL logoWhat a fun time I had at the Windsor Hamfest last week. It was great seeing all the “Seagullers” and other hams around the state, including Mike KC1RCG and Leasa AC1UR Garvin, who drove all the way down from Houlton to attend. We had a good NTS Nets meeting with awesome attendance. The event had great food, fellowship and fun. Thank you to Jose Douglas KB1TCD and crew and the Lincoln County ARC for organizing the hamfest.

Alexander Hamfest!

The last Maine hamfest of the year is the Alexander Hamfest, sponsored by the Saint Croix Valley Amateur Radio Club, and will be Saturday, September 20 from 8am until noon. The hamfest is located at the Alexander Elementary School, 1430 Airline RD (RT-9) in Alexander.  Talk-in is on the W1LH Cooper Mountain Repeater 147.330+ pl 118.8.  Don’t miss the opportunity to sell, trade, or buy some awesome deals, or win one of the many door prizes.

Pine State ARC 50TH Celebration

Congrats to the Pine State Amateur Radio Club for its upcoming 50th anniversary, for which they are celebrating with a catered banquet on October 11. If you would like to purchase tickets to the banquet, or join the club, contact PSARC President Ed Paradis, wi1z@arrl.net or call 207-702-7733.

EAWA POTA

The Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association will be conducting a Parks-On-The-Air on Saturday morning, October 11 at the Lamoine State Park. All are welcome.

Radiogram Training

Jim Kutsch, KY2D, will be starting up his excellent radiogram training sessions again on the second Sunday of each month. Starting September 14, at 5:00PM on 3.940 MHz, Jim will start the training from the beginning, and progress each month. If you do not have 75 meters capability, no worries. You can point your browser to the Sebago Lake SDR and customize the settings to listen to 3940. 0 kHz LSB. The web site is sebagolakesdr.us:8901. Works great!

Kudos to Ham Volunteers

Many thanks to all the Maine ham radio operators who volunteer consistently for public service events, relaying radiograms via the National Traffic System, drill and hone skills through their Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), or RACES or other EmComm group, proctor FCC exams as Volunteer Examiners, or mentor/assist other hams, serve as club officers and other leadership positions. Without your efforts, ham radio would be a lot less fun.

Maine Slow Speed Net

If you are new to CW (Morse Code), 0r a bit rusty, consider checking into the Maine Slow Speed Net Monday through Friday at 6:00PM on 3.585 MHz. Net control usually sends around 10 to 13 words per minute, but will gladly slow down to any speed with which you are comfortable. This is a great net to practice your cw!

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ARRL Maine Section
Section Manager: Philip W Duggan, N1EP
n1ep@arrl.org
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