Author Archives: Gilbert Hayes

Algonquin ARC Flea Market, Marlborough, February 14, 2026

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The Algonquin Amateur Radio Club will be holding its annual hamfest at 1Lt Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School at 25 Union St. in Marlborough, MA.  The hamfest is very popular among hams in both the Eastern MA and the eastern portions of the Western MA ARRL sections.

The hamfest will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 12 noon.  General admission is $5 and includes a chance at the $200 Cash Door Prize.

An amateur radio exam session will be run at the hamfest at 9:00 AM for those how wish to get licensed or upgrade.

Vendors may reserve 6 foot tables at the hamfest at $25 each if purchased by February 6, 2026 ($30.00 each accepted at the door if space is available).  Vendors may arrive at 6:30 AM for setup.  For more information or to reserve a table, email fleamarket@n1em.org.  A mail in order form is also available on the bottom of the hamfest’s official flyer.

Talk in will be on the N1EM/R repeater system: 446.675- (PL 88.5).

Hope to see you there!

New WMA Amateurs for December 2025

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Please welcome the following newly licensed radio amateurs to the Western Massachusetts area!

Benjamin J Everton, KC1YPT
329 Springfield St
Agawam, MA 01001-1511

Paul W Fenn, KC1YPW
7 Hemlock Holw
Belchertown, MA 01007-9255

Benjamin S Feldman, KC1YQD
130 Old Bay Rd
Belchertown, MA 01007-9348

Brendan Kavanaugh, KC1YPX
250 Southampton Rd
Westhampton, MA 01027-9531

Daniel P Oneill, KC1YPR
131 Burnett St
Granby, MA 01033-9709

William H Bulman, KC1YRP
8 Holbrook St
Palmer, MA 01069-1306

Dynelle M Longto, KC1YTC
PO Box 117
Russell, MA 01071-0117

William M Marengo, KC1YSG
28 Cottage St B
West Warren, MA 01092

David L Smith, KC1YRR
348 Mountain Rd
Wilbraham, MA 01095-1723

Dan A Bisson, WE1FNK
118 Undine Cir
Springfield, MA 01109-1540

Tracy N Rackauskas, KC1YQX
47 Beacon St
North Adams, MA 01247-2703

Kent I Byron, KC1YSL
66 N Main St
Petersham, MA 01366-9502

Roseanna E Stanley, KC1YSN
32 East St
Petersham, MA 01366-9739

John G Root, KC1YSV
32 East St
Petersham, MA 01366-9739

Anthony J Ruggiero, KC1YTB
429 Parker St
Gardner, MA 01440-3733

Saabir Ameer, KC1YQG
3 Longfellow Rd
Northborough, MA 01532-2712

Aydin Dagli, KC1YQJ
4 View St
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2631

Syed Bilal A Adnan, KC1YQF
350 Grafton St
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-4013

Aleena Haq, KC1YRD
51 Brookdale Cir
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-5442

Alexander Anderson, KC1YPM
37 Stonybrook Ln
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-5478

Srivatsan Mukunthraj, KC1YPL
59 Beverly Hill Dr
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-5823

Taqwa Yahyaoui, KC1YQK
7301 Arbor Dr
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-6019

Louis J Leblanc, KC1YSM
30 Heritage Rd
Uxbridge, MA 01569-1256

Mohammed Boresa, KC1YQH
22A Nome St
Worcester, MA 01605-1662

John F Barre, KC1YRW
45 Uncatena Ave
Worcester, MA 01606-1661

Selman Ahmed, KC1YQI
30 Everett Gaylord Blvd
Worcester, MA 01608

Nithya Sudharshan, KC1YPK
100 Institute Rd
Worcester, MA 01609-2247

Shriya Sudharshan, KC1YPN
100 Institute Rd
Worcester, MA 01609-2247

Year of the Club Special Operating Event

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Attention all Massachusetts Clubs,

This is your chance to participate in the Year of the Club special operating event!

If you would like to operate W1AW/1 as a club and reserve a 4-hour block of time between February 11th and the 18th please contact Larry, W1AST, no later than January 20th.

Email: FunHamRadio@gmail.com

The station can set up as a club, at a club member’s house, or as an individual; an individual can sign up to operate the whole week (we share a spreadsheet with the ops who have signed up). A club has a day, band(s), time, and mode(s), usually for a 4-hour block. The club or op can set up anywhere in Massachusetts. No other special rules except operators etiquette and only one op per band/time/mode at a time. For example, you could have 3 stations on 20M using 3 different modes.

All ops would need to be listed when the logs are turned in to me no more than 2 days after 2/18. ALL logging must be by computer so an log ADIF file can be sent to me at the end.

So far, the Barnstable ARC and the Mohawk ARC are the only clubs to have signed up. We really need more Massachusetts representation for the event. Please consider it! It is a rush to have stations calling you just like being a DX station.

Thank you,
Larry, W1AST
ARRL WMA Affiliated Club Coordinator

New WMA Amateurs for November 2025

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Please welcome the following newly licensed radio amateurs to the Western Massachusetts area!

Christopher D Morgan, KC1YNY
64 Pleasant St Apt 1R
Easthampton, MA 01027-1142

Karen Angelica M Smith, KC1YNJ
234 Glendale Rd
Hampden, MA 01036-9111

David Berner, KC1YLB
303 Prospect St
Northampton, MA 01060-2049

Gregory J Curtis, KC1YNN
11 Chileab Rd
South Hadley, MA 01075-1219

Michelle E Surprenant, KC1YNB
PO Box 15324
Springfield, MA 01115-5324

Mark B Cooper, KC1YLQ
103 Bolton Rd
Harvard, MA 01451-1801

Kara Kramer, KC1YLA
105 Ragged Hill Rd
Hubbardston, MA 01452-1619

Phillip A Valeri, KC1YNF
639 Mechanic St
Leominster, MA 01453-4401

Kiirja Paananen, KC1YLO
121 Cortland Cir
Leominster, MA 01453-4576

Timothy R Dubois, KC1YMH
PO Box 418
Blackstone, MA 01504-0418

Darren K Rogers, KC1YKQ
38 Forest St
Worcester, MA 01609-1730

Branko Djokic, AC1VC
3A Spring Brook Ct
Mendon, MA 01756-1334

2026 Boston Marathon Ham Radio Volunteer Registration Opens

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Volunteer registration for the 2026 Boston Marathon is expected to open this week! Returning volunteers will receive an email from the BAA that includes registration instructions. In order to make registration as smooth as possible, we are providing specific instructions for our Amateur Radio Operator (ARO) volunteers.

If you haven’t previously volunteered, or have a friend who would like to volunteer, please go directly to the Volunteer Registration page and follow the instructions for new volunteers.

Step by Step Sign Up Guide:
https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002570599-2026-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide

A few notes for volunteers:
  • Almost all amateur radio positions are single person assignments. We are not able to group people on a single assignment, but we will try to accommodate which segment you are assigned to in order to allow for similar start/end times.

Do you want to run Boston?

In recognition of the contribution the Amateur Radio Communications team provides to the Boston Marathon every year, the BAA has granted us an invitational bib to be awarded to one of our volunteers! Here’s how it works:

  1. Applicants must be Boston Marathon volunteers who have served on the Amateur Radio Communications Team in at least one (1) of the most recent three (3) Boston Marathons.
  2. Applicants must agree that if selected, they will pay the applicable entry fee ($375) to the BAA.
  3. Applicants must agree to comply with all terms and conditions set by the BAA.
  4. Applicants must be capable of completing the Boston Marathon within the allotted time.
  5. Applicants must hold a valid Amateur Radio license (of any class)  issued by the FCC (or regulatory body in the applicant’s home country) at the time of application.
  6. Applicants must be eligible to participate in BAA events.

The Amateur Radio Communications Committee will utilize the following criteria to determine how the Invitational Entry will be awarded:

  • All interested eligible parties must fill out the linked Google Form to express their interest
  • Applications must be received by December 16th, 2025.
  • All applicants will be entered into a random drawing for the Invitational Entry following the application deadline.
  • The selected applicant will be notified by email by December 23rd, and is required to formally respond and accept within seven (7) calendar days. If, after seven days, the selected applicant has not accepted the Invitational Entry, that applicant’s Entry will become void and a second drawing will be held for the Entry to be reassigned.
  • Following receipt of an Invitational Entry from the Amateur Radio Communications Team, recipients will be ineligible to receive this Invitational Entry again until the fourth Boston Marathon following their award.

Help us get the word out by forwarding this email to your club and other amateur radio operators who might wish to volunteer. Most volunteers first learn about the event through word of mouth. If you know new licensees who might like to join us, please make sure to let them know about it. Even just a quick mention at your club meeting can be a big help!

If you have any questions about the upcoming volunteer registration period, the invitational amateur radio bib program, or the 2026 Marathon in general, please get in touch anytime. Volunteering at the Marathon is a big job and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts into it. We’re happy to do what we can to make your work fun, comfortable, and effective.

We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Thank you, and 73,

Boston Marathon Communications Committee
contact@hamradioboston.org

Sawmill River 10K Run on January 1, 2026

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Once again the Montague (MA) Parks & Recreation Department has asked for our help during the Sawmill River 10K Run on New Year’s Day. In a letter from Jon Dobosz, the Parks and Recreation Director, he thanked the Hams who had provided “critical safety, security and communication services along the race route” in the past.

The race course is short, only 10 kilometers, but there are many turns and much of the course is in areas with poor or no cell coverage.  The race begins at 10 AM and is followed by snacks and delicious baked potatoes.  The commitment that morning would be from 9:00 to Noon at the latest.  The central site is the Montague Common Hall, 34 Main St, Montague, MA 01351.

One addition this year is a two mile walking route.

If you can help or have any questions, please email me directly even if you have already told me to count on you.  Please mention what type of 2 meter equipment you can bring, a hand held, a mobile with external antenna, etc.  If you have participated in this race before, let me know if you have a preferred location along the course.  

In addition to the spots along the course, there are three special roles required.

  1. A volunteer to drive the “sweep vehicle” who will follow the last runners.  
  2. A volunteer with a mobile radio, battery and mag mount antenna to ride with the race director in his vehicle before the races start. You will be back to the start in time to get to a position along the course.
  3. A volunteer to help me run the Net Control desk.

More information on the event itself is available here:
https://montagueparksrec.com/p/1021/Sawmill-River-10K-Run

Please let me know if you are interested in one of these positions.

You may get more than one copy of this request since I am sending to several mailing lists and I have no way of knowing who is on which list.  

Thank you,

Mark Swartwout, NX1K
nx1K@arrl.net

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

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