The New England Division ARRL Conventions, branded in recent years as the Northeast HamXposition, is leaving Boxboro. Starting this year, it will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Rd., Marlborough, MA. The date has also moved, to the 4th full weekend of July. This year, the dates are July 24, 25, and 26. For more information, see https://hamxposition.org/.
Author: Eliot Mayer
WARA Holiday Dinner
The Waltham Amateur Radio Association invites all hams and friends for a festive Holiday Dinner! It’s a great time to get that “eyeball” QSO with some of the folks we’ve been talking to all year. Spouses / friends / prospective hams are all welcome! No RSVP necessary.
When: Wednesday, December 18@ 6:00 PM
Where: Sichuan’s Garden, 411 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452
Cost: $25 per person at the door which includes the buffet and 1 ticket for the door prizes. Membership renewal will also gain you an extra ticket for the door prize.
See you there!
Special Meeting Dates
The Waltham ARA will not meet on the usual Last Wednesday of the month this month, which falls on the eve of Thanksgiving. Instead we will meet one week earlier, November 20, 2019. For general information on our meetings, see About / Meetings.
Also, stayed tuned for information on our December meeting. As we have done in recent years, there will be holiday dinner instead of a regular meeting.
WARA 2019 Club Picnic & Field Day Operation
On Saturday, June 22, 2019, WARA held its combined club picnic and a 4-hour operation in the ARRL Field Day in Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, close to our repeater site. The food was good and the FD operation was very laid back. To learn more about the ARRL Field Day, see www.arrl.org/field-day.
Here are the results of the FD operation, as submitted to the ARRL:
Eliot W1MJ posted a Google Photo Album of the event, and of the STARS Field Day in Natick where he went from Prospect Hill. Ron KG1T added a few photos, and other event participants are welcome to do likewise: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cwKY6JQKLk7CyTFh6
WARA’s new 450 MHz and 900 MHz Repeaters
On June 14, 2019, Roger WA1NVC and Tom KA1GXR install these new 450 MHz and 900 MHz repeaters on Prospect Hill. Roger has also set up the 900 MHz repeater with full time IRLP linking to the NEAR 900 Network.
WARA 2019 Club Picnic & Field Day Operation
On Saturday, June 22, 2018, WARA will combine a club picnic and a 4-hour operation in the ARRL Field Day.
Time: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Location: Sunset Shelter, Prospect Hill Park, Waltham (near the repeater site)
The club provides hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, condiments, plates, napkins, etc. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own (non-alcoholic) drinks and a side or snacks to share.
The FD operation is very laid back, and everyone is welcome to operate.
To learn more about the ARRL Field Day, see www.arrl.org/field-day.
May 29, 2019 Meeting Program: National Radio Company of Malden
The National Company of Malden, Massachusetts was a world class manufacturer of commercial and amateur radio communications equipment from the early 1930’s until the late 1960’s. Their HRO series was used extensively by numerous allies during World War II, and can be credited with helping in the effort to receive coded messages from behind enemy lines. George Maier, W1LSB, will take us through the company’s history, products, and talk about some National employees that he knew personally.
Putting the Repeater Site Internet Service to Use
At the March 27, 2019 WARA meeting, there were discussions and show-and-tell about putting our new repeater site Internet service to good use. Presently, it is only being used for basic repeater control. Plans are in the works, with some equipment already assembled, for 900 MHz IRPL repeater linking, putting our APRS node online, and possibly moving the 2M EchoLink connection to the site. Ned, W1NED, presented some information about these topics, and has made his presentation info available here: http://copylink.dhs.org/wara/
Internet Service Installed at Repeater Site
On March 16, 2019, Internet service was installed at the WARA repeater site by Comcast. Stay tuned for more information on how it will be put to use.
K1QAR’s Magnetic Loop Antenna Presentation at February 27, 2019 Meeting
Ted Robinson, K1QAR, made an interesting and educational presentation about magnetic loop antennas at our February 27 meeting. Thanks, Ted!
