Next WARA Meeting: Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 7:00 PM
At this meeting, Charlie Bures WA3ITR will present, “High School High Altitude Balloon Launch and Ham Radio”
We continue to meet online.
Zoom Meeting Info
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://zoom.us/j/91712742209?pwd=SoVV46s5YaUsFht7ZXlfvcMltZWwBs.1
Meeting ID: 917 1274 2209
Passcode: 449075
One tap mobile:
+13052241968,,91712742209#,,,,449075# US +13092053325,,91712742209#,,,,449075# US
Proposed Update to Constitution & Bylaws
To the best of our knowledge, our “current” constitution is the original one from 1938. The bylaws are undated but, but both documents are terribly outdated. These documents can be found on our History page.
Eliot W1MJ, with help from Matt N1ZYY, has drafted updates to bring these documents in line with the way WARA actually operates. They are present here for review by the members. Comments are welcome.
Constitution Draft Update 01/04/2026
Bylaws Draft Update 05/10/2026
449.075 now supports P25
In March 2026, the Waltham ARA’s 449.075 MHz repeater was upgraded to a new repeater, a Motorola Quantar.
It now supports both analog FM as it always has, along with P25 digital voice, in keeping with our 146.64 and 927.1375 repeaters.
For those with P25-capable radios, the NAC is 075 (hexadecimal). Please configure your radio for mixed-mode receive.
For those with analog radios, if you are bothered by the buzzing noise of P25 users, you set your radio to use tone squelch on receive (88.5 Hz, same for transmit and receive). Please look at your S-meter or momentarily listen in carrier squelch mode before starting a QSO, to ensure one is not already taking place in P25.
Rich Comer, K1RBC, Silent Key
The Waltham ARA has lost one of it “movers and shakers”. Rich Comer, K1RBC, passed away recently after a prolonged illness. Rich became WARA Treasurer in 2016 and generously donated his time and skills to the club until very recently. He held the club together during a low point during and after the COVID pandemic even though he had moved to northern NH and joined a local club there. In addition to his Treasurer duties, Rich has been sending out meeting reminders, shared his pro Zoom account for WARA meetings, arranged holiday gatherings, and more. Rich will be greatly missed for all of his contributions to keeping WARA running, and for his kind approachable style. – January 2026, Ned W1NED and Eliot W1MJ
Another Successful WARA Holiday Party
The WARA holiday party was held for the third time at The Great Wall Restaurant in Bedford, MA on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Fifteen WARA folks attended. Good food, good company!
Geno W1GNO was the lucky winner of our raffle for a $100 DX Engineering gift certificate.
The Waltham ARA Repeater Site in Prospect Hill Park
Great picture of the repeater site – from Mt. Wachusett!
While at Boxboro a fellow HAM W1AWX introduced himself and showed me this great pic of WARA’s site taken from almost 40 miles away! Thanks Arthur! -Ron / KG1T
