VIRTUAL NTS TRAINING NET

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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 Training 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.

VNTN will accept check-ins and radiogram traffic utilizing standard phonetics and pro-signs; in short, participants will enjoy the same experiences as those who check into conventional “RF” traffic nets.  The net will incorporate a “hands-on” training approach in traffic procedures, radiogram creation, and relay.

It is our hope that new amateurs who participate in VNTN will be motivated to join section and region nets on HF after upgrading to a higher license class.

The Net meets Wednesdays at 7:00 PM ET.  Plans are underway to move the time to 8 PM ET in May. The VNTN URL is: <https://bitl.to/3xj4>.

For updated information, please subscribe to the VNTN list at: <vntn+subscribe@groups.io>.
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Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>

New WMA Amateurs for March 2025

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Please welcome the recent licensed amateur radio operators in the WMA section!

Felicity Goeckel, KC1WJG
300 Harkness Rd
Amherst, MA 01002-9782

Carol A Vanderheiden, KC1WJV
281 Chauncey Walker St Lot 547
Belchertown, MA 01007-9196

Jeffrey S Macphee, KC1WKP
152 Wales Rd
Brimfield, MA 01010-9748

Elizabeth Hickin, KC1WJI
55 Munson Rd
Chesterfield, MA 01012-9712

Eli S Martin Eberhardt, AC1TV
44 College Ln
Northampton, MA 01063-6303

Matthew A Yee, KC1WJX
75 Pearl St
South Hadley, MA 01075-1021

Keith A David, KC1WKB
9 Fernwood Rd
Southwick, MA 01077-9514

Ramon G Lapointe, KC1WJN
227 Little River Rd
Westfield, MA 01085-5404

Kyle G Christensen, KC1WLV
290 Horrigan Rd
Clarksburg, MA 01247-9754

Stanley E Haley, KC1WJS
60 Benton Pl
Athol, MA 01331-1969

Nathan N Davis, KC1WJT
95 Maple Ln
Petersham, MA 01366-9740

Preston Sturdevant, KC1WJL
22 Barbara Ave
Auburn, MA 01501-2902

Jinghao Luo, KC1WKL
31 Liberty Cir
Holden, MA 01520-2225

Anthony Davis, KC1WJH
65 Windsor Ridge Dr
Whitinsville, MA 01588-2041

13 Colonies Special Event Looking for Local Ham Radio Ops

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13 Colonies Massachusetts is looking for a few new ops to join Team K2H.

13 Colonies takes place every July 1-7. We’re looking for volunteers who can operate for at least 2 hours per day for at least 4 of the 7 days.

Operating as K2H is a blast. You become the DX, and stations want to work you. You don’t have to be a contest op to volunteer. Anyone interested and available is welcome. As part of team K2H for the past few years, we have made around 20,000 contacts. 

If you are interested, please contact Larry, W1AST, 13 Colonies Massachusetts state manager, at W1AST@arrl.net before May 15th.

Thanks and 73,
Larry, W1AST

Section Manager’s Report April 2025

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Helloooo Spring! This is the transitional time where we stop complaining about the cold and start complaining about the heat! 😊 It’s true!

   April brings also the awakening of outdoor activities, antenna maintenance, hamfest’s, POTA activation’s and more. Take advantage and enjoy the outdoors.

   The league has an event on April 18 in Ham Radio Open House which coincides with the IARU World Amateur Radio Day https:/https://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day/www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day This is designed for clubs and others to go out and showcase amateur radio to the public, students, etc. Go to the site to learn more.

   On the 21st approximately 300 hams will arrive in Boston in the wee hours and get ready to do our part in the Boston Marathon. We work with all the agencies to help keep this event, safe and smooth running. I will be there likely in a medical sweep van doing the route. This is a huge logistical event to make sure the 26 miles run smoothly. Hope to see you there.

   I have observed that there has been an increase in radio license classes and exam sessions. This is excellent and hope all involved does well. I have just concluded a general class course on Zoom which had 15 students participate. VE’s, this is a great opportunity to start mentoring from the handing of the CSCE. Don’t give them the congrat’s and handshake and just let them go. Take the time to talk to them, invite them to a club, give them mentor contact information, give them handouts, make them feel welcome and happy they made the decision to become part of this hobby. If you want a guide you can customize go to this link: https://wma.arrl.org/western-massachusetts-section-mentoring-program/ You can download this and make it your own. Put all your contact information for the clubs in your area, repeaters mentors and more. Give that newbie a good start!

   And of course, we cannot forget a now traditional event and that’s Near-Fest https://near-fest.com/ coming May 2 & 3 at the new location at the Hillsborough Cty. Fairgrounds 14 Hilldale Lane New Boston NH. Can you believe it’s been 18 years when Mr. Mike started it?  Wow! I hope the weather gods will work with us this year.

   Speaking of Hamfest’s, I was at the Mt. Tom https://mtara.org/ hamfest earlier this month and saw the same attendance fall-off as with Algonquin’s in Feb. I wonder what the other hamfest’s are seeing. I know some prices have gone up (like everything else!) I do not know if that is what’s driving it. Support your hamfest event. For some clubs it finances worthy projects and keeps their club running. It was nice to see everyone there.

   I hope everyone has a great April and take that radio outdoors and have fun!

73 Ray AA1SE

New WMA Amateurs for February 2025

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Please welcome the recent licensed amateur radio operators in the WMA section!

Michael A Perkins, KC1WHJ
94 Fairgrounds Rd
Cummington, MA 01026-9701

Declan J Flood, KC1WGJ
841 Southbridge Rd
Warren, MA 01083-2146

Jonathan A Wynn, KC1WIO
229 Cadwell Rd
Pittsfield, MA 01201-7929

David G McKearney, KC1WHG
325 Savoy Rd
Cheshire, MA 01225-9012

Dana L Davidsen, KC1WEC
70 Egremont Plain Rd
Great Barrington, MA 01230-1691

Alejandro E Vazquez, KC1WFT
61 Arroyo Way
New Marlborough, MA 01230-2196

Carol L Gillette, KC1WEH
PO Box 42
Southfield, MA 01259-0042

Brendan Hanrahan, KC1WEY
47 North St
Grafton, MA 01519-1212

John H Cook, KC1WFZ
1 Sidoti Ln
Rutland, MA 01543-1250

Brian Hanlon, KC1WFR
7 Krula Way
South Grafton, MA 01560-1151

Steven Watroba, KC1WIA
22 Lawrence Rd
Dudley, MA 01571-5850

Eliot R Guerin, KC1WIP
122 Singletary Ave
Sutton, MA 01590-1839

Logan M Mombourguette, KC1WDJ
32 Stone School Rd
Sutton, MA 01590-2926

Xavier N Corapi, KC1WFF
47 Field Pond Rd
Milford, MA 01757-1284

Section Manager’s Report Mar. 2025

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Well, another month gone. Not like I’ll miss it. It was challenging with the snow and cold we had. Hopefully the worst is over and the good stuff will return,

   A shout out goes to the NOBARC club in Pittsfield. They have ramped up Tech classes, and VE sessions to boost their club. Eric KA1SUN, Cory N1XWS, and Chuck WS1L and others have been working on boosting the hobby in them thar hills 😊and their efforts are evident! Other clubs can benefit from this as the evidence is showing favorably that outreach and mentoring is working and benefits YOUR club! It does take some effort by all members to make it happen!

   As usual, I was at the Algonquin Hamfest in Marlboro and it was a good one despite the attendance was a bit off. I think the weather scared off some people as a storm was approaching. I know I was quite busy the whole time and I Did spend time doing some mentoring to some newbies. An added bonus to having tables with goodies there. Try it out sometime! The next one is on March 1 in Chicopee for the Mt. Tom club. Hopefully we will have a dandy crowd there. See flyer elsewhere.

   With any luck the function of sending an email via the league to the section members is fixed. YAY! Only been 9 months. Gee a rebirth! I will try it when this gets published.

   Phil, K9HI, Jon K1ILZ the Eastern Ma Section MGR., myself along with other’s have continued to work on the revitalization of NTS. We are currently regrouping and rearranging things to move things forward more. Anyone can go to nts2.arrl.org and see information user accessible video’s, trainings, and more highlighting our efforts. If you want to get involved we would love to hear from you. Just email myself or k9hi@arrl.org to find out more.

   The New England Convention is making some noise as August will be fast approaching. They are looking for speakers and passing out flyers. They were actually at the Marlboro Flea market promoting the event.

   At this point all I can say to end this is COME ON SPRING!!!!!

73

Ray AA1SE  

MTARA Hamfest on March 1

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The Mount Tom Amateur Repeater Association is holding its annual Amateur Radio and Electronics Hamfest on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Drive in Chicopee. All amateurs and those interested are invited!

Admission is $5 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Doors open at 6:30 AM for vendors only and 8:30 AM for general admission.

The hamfest will feature:

  • A snack bar serving coffee, soda, donuts, breakfast sandwiches and the like.
  • An amateur radio license exam session will be run at 10:30 AM provided by PVVET
  • Several raffles (tickets 6 for $5)

Those wishing to reserve a table for selling, please contact Brian Mullarney N1FI.

Talk-in for the hamfest will be on the W1TOM repeater (146.940 MHz, PL 127.3).

WMA Section Manager Ray Lajoie AA1SE will be at the hamfest.

YLRL Scholarships Available for Students

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The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) has announced its Memorial Scholarship program for 2025. The scholarship program is aimed at female amateur radio operators studying radio, communications, electronics or amateur radio related arts and sciences. 

There are three Memorial Scholarship award categories:

•The Ethel Smith, K4LMB, Memorial Scholarship — $2,500 award

•The Mary Lou Brown, NM7N, Memorial Scholarship — $2,500 award

•The Martha “Marte” Wessel, KØEPE, Memorial Scholarship — $1,500 award

“YLRL is committed to investing in women in amateur radio, and we believe that every act of volunteerism through amateur radio, even a small one, helps turn the world into a better place,” said Vicki Zumwalt, N6KLS, President of YLRL. “We hope that our scholarships will not only encourage students to learn more about science, technology, and engineering but also inspire them to take pride in being an amateur radio operator and to encourage others to do so as well.”

The YLRL believes that education in the fields or radio, communications, electronics, and amateur-related arts and sciences will play an important role in shaping the world’s future. Through these memorial scholarships, YLRL hopes to encourage female students to learn more about amateur radio.

To qualify, students must be female, have an amateur radio license, meet the requirements listed on the YLRL website and apply using the online application. Applications are due by April 30, 2025. Winners will be announced in July 2025.

The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) is an international non-profit organization of female amateur radio enthusiasts. It was founded in 1939 and is the longest-running YL club in the world.