Category Archives: Technical Guidance

Additional RF Exposure Rules Presentation, May 4, 2021

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Eastern MA Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN, will hold another presentation addressing the new FCC RF exposure rules on May 4 at 7:30 PM using the ARRL GoToWebinar platform. 

His April 27 talk was a hugely successful–a maximum number of 100 connections for the call was reached just as the discussion started. The GoToWebinar has a much higher limit and should accommodate all who are interested.  ARRL Laboratory Manger Ed Hare, W1RFI, will serve as Technical Moderator on the call.

To sign up for the presentation, visit:

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3400737102800150797

System Check: https://support.goto.com/webinar/system-check-attendee

Tech Support: (833) 851-8340

WMA Mentoring Guide (Re)Published

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On Sunday, January 12, 2020, ARRL New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten K1VR held a division cabinet meeting for all ARRL affiliated club presidents and other section officials.  During the meeting WMA Section Manager Ray Lajoie KB1LRL,  Technical Coordinator Greg Algieri WA1JAR, Technical Specialist Paul Topolski W1SEX and Technical Specialist Bob Meneguzzo K1YO presented a new ham mentoring program.

Our section’s Technical Specialist Team has put together a mentoring guide which is intended to be downloaded by whoever needs it and can edit it specific to their club or group.  This should be given to a person that has passed their test to provide basic information, club and contact information so they do not seem lost when they leave the room.  Hopefully it will introduce them to an Elmer (Mentor) to aid in getting started.

We had some initial setbacks with the initial documentation, but the latest and greatest is now released.  The guide has been added to the website’s main navigation above by going to What We Do > Technical Guidance > WMA Mentoring Program.  Please feel free to download it and distribute it to whomever it may help!

Western Massachusetts Section Mentoring Program

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The Western Massachusetts Technical Specialist Team is developing a new mentoring program.  The intent is to provide access to information, tools and resources to the section to help Elmer new hams, especially that have just gotten their new amateur radio license.  There is a lot of resources out there regarding how to get an amateur radio license, but not a lot regarding how to use that new license, where to start with experimenting with all of the aspects the hobby has to offer, how to get involved with others in the community, and how a new ham can really develop their particular “brand” of amateur radio.

Section Mentoring Guide

The WMA Technical Specialist Team has put together a guide in which is intended to be downloaded by whoever needs it and can edit it specific to their club or group. This should be given to a person that has passed their test to provide basic information, club and contact information so they do not seem lost when they leave the room. It will help introduce them to an Elmer (Mentor) to aid in getting started.

Click here to download the WMA Section Mentoring Guide in PDF format.

Click here to download the WMA Section Mentoring Guide in DOCX format.

New ARRL Mentoring Guide Available

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On Sunday, January 12, 2020, ARRL New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten K1VR held a division cabinet meeting for all ARRL affiliated club presidents and other section officials.  During the meeting WMA Section Manager Ray Lajoie KB1LRL,  Technical Coordinator Greg Algieri WA1JAR, Technical Specialist Paul Topolski W1SEX and Technical Specialist Bob Meneguzzo K1YO presented a new ham mentoring program.

The intent is to provide access to information, tools and resources to new hams, clubs and VE’s. Ray, Greg, Paul, Bob and others in the section have put together a mentoring guide which is intended to be downloaded by whoever needs it and can edit it specific to their club or group.  This should be given to a person that has passed their test to provide basic information, club and contact information so they do not seem lost when they leave the room.  Hopefully it will introduce them to an Elmer (Mentor) to aid in getting started.

The guide has been added to the Technical Guidance page here on our website.  Please feel free to download it and distribute it to whomever it may help!

Technical Specialists

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Amateur Radio can be proud of its technical accomplishments. Throughout the history of the radio art, amateurs have continually made significant contributions to its development. And today, even in our “high-tech” world, there continue to be opportunities for amateurs to make a difference.

Technical appointees within the Western Massachusetts ARRL work towards assistance the section’s amateur radio community on various technical matters. Whether it’s promoting technical advances and experimentation with specialized technologies and operating modes, working closely with enthusiasts in these fields within the section, or  helping amateurs with various RFI and TVI problems, the technical appointees rendering technical assistance as needed.

 Appointees

Technical Coordinator

The Technical Coordinator (TC) is a section-level official appointed to coordinate, organize and conduct all technical activities within the Section. The TC must be an ARRL full member holding a Novice class or higher amateur license.

The Western MA Technical Coordinator is Greg Algieri WA1JXR.

Technical Specialists

The Technical Specialist (TS) is a station-level official to a specific area of jurisdiction or expertise, and is responsible for working with many individuals and clubs within the section to answer technical questions and solve RFI problems. The TS must be an ARRL Full member holding a Novice class or higher amateur license.