Category Archives: Special Event Stations

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

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

13 Colonies Special Event Looking for Local Ham Radio Ops

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The planning for the 2024 13 Colonies Special Event stations is in motion.  I am looking for more ops for K2H Massachusetts.

The event runs from July 1 to July 7 and is usable on all frequencies and all modes. You just need to keep a log that you can submit to me right after the event ends.

To be an op, you just need to volunteer AND be able to get on the air for a few hours most of the 7 days. Also, you need to be able to log on to a computer, no paper logs accepted.

Have you ever wondered or wanted to be that rare DX that everyone is calling? That’s what it’s like being a K2H op. It’s a rush and a ton of fun.

Last year, K2H made 19,209 contacts. With band conditions good, we hope to exceed that and possibly beat our 21,374 from 2022.

Are you interested? 

Please contact Larry, W1AST at wb1dby@gmail.com for more info by May 1.

73,
Larry, W1AST

13 Colonies Special Event

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It’s 13 Colonies time again and that means Massachusetts K2H is looking for ham that would like to activate.

The special event runs 7 days from July 1 through July 7.

Team K2H is looking for ops. Last year we worked over 21,300 Qso’s during those 7 days. We are hoping to exceed that this year.

Would you like to be part of Team K2H? If yes, then go here and fill in the form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUdsnh9EjBgRYigude9Q12mQ3A5DlJ2Z6VXwT_1fQQv6kzcQ/viewform

Larry, W1AST will be in touch with you.

Would you like to know more? You can go here to learn about 13 Colonies:
http://13colonies.us

Or contact Larry, W1AST at W1AST@arrl.net

The last day to sign up is June 1.

W1AW/1 Massachusetts Volunteers On The Air a Great Success!

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The Massachusetts Volunteers On The Air was held from April 12th through April 18th. Team VOTA MA consisted of 15 hams contributing to a total of 9449 QSOs. It was a team effort and everyone contributed!

I would like to thank the following 15 hams for their part in the MA Spring VOTA effort. They made it a success!

  • AB1UT
  • AF1R
  • AG1C
  • K1NZ
  • K1UR
  • KJ0D (operating remotely thru K1TTT)
  • KX1X
  • N1FTP
  • N1MGO
  • N1SOH
  • W1AST
  • W1FJ
  • W1FM
  • WA1OEZ
  • WA3SWJ

There were plenty of pileups in all the modes including FTx, CW and SSB right up to the last minute of operation.

Massachusetts next gets activated again for VOTA the first week of November. If your transmitter is in MA and you would like to join the team, contact Larry, W1AST at W1AST@arrl.net.

World Amateur Radio Day is April 18

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WARD is held on April 18 every year and is celebrated by radio amateurs and their national associations which are organized as member-societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). It was on this day in 1925 that the IARU was formed in Paris. American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim was its first president.

The IARU announced previously that Human Security for All (HS4A) will be this year’s World Amateur Radio Day theme. The day is being celebrated with a 2-week operating event occurring April 11 – 25. Special event stations will be operating from around the world, making two-way radio contacts to call attention to the HS4A campaign. The United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security describes ‘human security’ as “a more powerful, lasting approach to the most difficult deficits in peace and development,” such as poverty, war, and natural disasters.

ARRL encourages all radio amateurs to take to the airwaves for WARD, to enjoy our global friendship with other amateurs, and to show our skills and capabilities to the public.

More information about 2023 World Amateur Radio Day is available at www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day and www.iaru.org/on-the-air/world-amateur-radio-da

Massachusetts Volunteers On The Air Week

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Massachusetts is ready and anxious to work everyone for it’s Spring VOTA (Volunteers On The Air) week starting Wednesday, April 12th and going through Tuesday, April 19th.

We have a team of 17 ops that will be operating on all bands on multiple modes. We even have hams located in “other” states remoting through transmitters located in Massachusetts through K1TTT and some other stations.

We will be operating as W1AW/1 and per VOTA rules, each contact will be worth 5 points. Those of the team ops that have Field or other positions may also be running their own call alongside the W1AW/1 to give you additional points as well. For example, if I am operating I can also run as my own call W1AST and not only give you the state W1AW/1 5 points contact but a 30 point contact as well. this is up to each VOTA MA op if they decide to do so.

All the points are calculated via LOTW submissions. There are no paper logs and no physical QSL cards, it’s all done via LOTW.

Watch for the spots being posted and find W1AW/1 and work us. I hope to hear you on the air!

73,

Larry, W1AST
VOTA MA Manager

We Need a Little Help!

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Hello, we have a couple on needs which we hope you can help with:

  1. First Larry, W1AST is looking for someone with some graphic drawing experience who would like to create a QSL card for the upcoming 13 Colonies event coming up.
  2. Second, he is also looking for volunteers for the VOTA W1AW/1 event coming in April.
  3. Also look at the notice from the NEDIV.arrl.org site about the Big E.

   If anyone like to assist Larry contact him at w1ast@arrl.net.

   Also, the WMA Train and Test Team is looking to add some instructors to the group. This is something that does not require a full effort and you can teach a chapter based on your expertise and be a backup on the others. Slide decks are provided. For further information contact me at ray.aa1se@gmail.com

   Thank you!

Ray-AA1SE

Massachusetts Volunteers On The Air, W1AW/1 Sign Up

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This year, the ARRL is honoring volunteers with its Volunteers On The Air (VOTA) operating event. The event starts January 1 and ends December 31, 2023

Twice a year, for one week, each state will be activated as W1AW/1 (for call area 1 Massachusetts, for example). To make this happen, we need ops to get Massachusetts on the air. As of Jan 27, we have 10 ops signed up to operate as W1AW/1 for VOTA. We’re looking for more for the April 12th to 18th week-long session.

Would you like to be an W1AW/1 activator for the first session this spring? The first MA session is Wednesday, April 12 through Tuesday, April 18.

Would you like to know more? Contact Larry, W1AST, at W1AST@arrl.net.

We Need YOU at the Amateur Radio Booth at The BIG E!

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Originally posted on the ARRL New England Division website:

Amateur Radio will be on public display like never before at The BIG E in West Springfield, MA from September 16 – October 2, 2022. Over a million people will visit the Fair over the 17-day period. We need ham radio “Goodwill Ambassadors” to staff the booth and promote our hobby-service to the public and potential licensees.

Who: Amateurs like you who enjoy interacting with the public

What: You’ll be demonstrating ham radio contacts and sharing Amateur Radio information with the public (talking points will be provided)

When:

Two shifts per day, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (first session) and 3:30 PM -10:00 PM (second session) on some days

Dates/times available:

  • September 16 (Military Appreciation Day), second session, 1-2 more people needed
  • September 17 (Maine Day), second session, 2 more
  • September 19, first session, 2 more
  • September 20 (Rhode Island Day), first and second sessions, 3-4 more
  • September 22 (Massachusetts Day), second session, 2 more
  • September 24 (Vermont Day), first and second sessions
  • September 25, second session
  • September 26, first and second sessions
  • September 28, first and second sessions
  • September 29, first and second sessions
  • September 30, first and second sessions
  • October 1, first and second sessions
  • October 2, first and second sessions

Where: Booth #103 inside Door 6 of the Better Living Center

How:—Sign up via the following link, which will list currently-available sessions:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9_iH1ZucHuCFCNwreEuVPWnmLOT5D_s92vHPuEUASS78Tew/viewform

SEE YOU THERE!