WARA News – Waltham Amateur Radio Association

449.075 now supports P25

Today, 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. Please configure your radio for mixed-mode receive.

[Edit: It is 075 hexadecimal, which is the standard way NACs are expressed. I had erroneously indicated it was 075 decimal previously.]

For those with analog radios, if you are hearing the buzzing noise of P25 users, you should ensure your radio is set up for 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.

Two cabinets consisting of four amateur radio repeaters. — The club’s four repeaters. On left, 146.64 (top), 224.94 (bottom), and APRS digipeater. On right, 927.1375 (top) and 449.075 (bottom). The pill bottles contain peppermint oil to deter mice, a common repeater site pest.

Repeater Updates: ’64 EchoLink & 900 MHz P25

The WARA 146.64 MHz repeater now has a connection to EchoLink directly at the repeater site. Roger WA1NVC set up the new equipment, and installed it on December 10 with help from Tom KA1GXR and Eliot W1MJ. The procedure for making EchoLink connections from a radio using DTMF tones has changed – see About / Repeaters.

The 927.1375 MHz repeater now supports P25 digital voice as well as FM. See About / Repeaters.

Roger WA1NVC prepared the equipment for these updates, and installed it over two December site visits with help from Tom KA1GXR and Eliot W1MJ.

Eliot W1MJ snapped this photo of Roger WA1NVC snapping of photo of Tom KA1GXR during one of the December 2024 work parties. The left cabinet houses the 2M and 220 MHz repeaters, the right cabinet houses the 440 MHz and 900 MHz repeaters.

WARA 2019 Holiday Party

A good time was had by all club members and friends at the WARA Holiday Party on December 18, 2019. As it turns out, this was the last such event to be held at Sichuan’s Garden. The restaurant closed not long after the party. No, the closing was **not** our fault. Please suggest possible locations for the 2020 Holiday Party. (Photo by George Maier, W1LSB)

Boxboro

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/.

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!

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!

WARA members get a close up look at one of Ted’s magnetic loop antennas. W1NED is taking a photo of the remotely controlled motor-driven tuning capacitors, and two strings of fixed capacitors, which all work together to present a proper match to the transmitter.

K1UGM Silent Key

K1UGM Silent Key – Long-time WARA member Jim Morris, K1UGM, has passed away. Among other contributions, Jim donated the equipment for the 64 Echolink. As a tribute, John, K1BOS, who now houses this equipment, arranged a day of silence for the 64 Echolink. Jim’s fascinating story is available at www.scitechantiques.com/resume

Jim was 80 years old when he ran up the repeater site ladder like a kid on a jungle gym and helped resolve a problem with the 64 repeater (from Fall 2008 PHI):

The Jack and Sal Radio Show

“The Jack and Sal Radio Show” – An artistic 04/64 listener named Ruth (that is all we know about her) has sent us this masterpiece of caricature, and provided this name for the commuting-time discussions on our flagship repeater.