STARC typically sends out only two emails per month to provide STARC and other community members with monthly updates, along with an email reminder for upcoming meetings and agenda. You may unsubscribe at any time, if you’d like.
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Check out Chris KI1P's VT QSO Party 2025 video. ![]()
You can talk to him on Saturday, at Ham-Con, and also check out his mobile communications van too.![]()
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73 de STARC![]()
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www.youtube.com
Roving in the Vermont QSO Party. Ham radio contest rover KI1P's solution to living in a poor HF QTH
Check out the STARC webpage. It was updated today with info on Ham-Con.![]()
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73 de STARC![]()
Ham-Con Is Almost Here!!!, St. Albans Amateur Radio Club
www.starc.org
The Vermont Ham Radio Convention is happening this year on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
This is from ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI.![]()
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" ARRL New England Division Update![]()
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ARRL Division News![]()
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New England Division![]()
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Some news from New England Section Managers![]()
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Doug Sharafanowich/WA1SFH@arrl.org - Connecticut![]()
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“If You Build It, They Will Come”![]()
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Held a very successful half day Net Control Station Training Workshop at Newington Fire Department HQ on Sat. 2/1/25 with 38 people attending – including 3 hams from New York State.![]()
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Antenna Builds![]()
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SouthEastern Ct Amateur Radio Society (SECARS) is now planning sessions for 2 antenna Builds. One will be a multi-band for POTA and the other will be a G5RV dipole variant.![]()
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Licensing Classes![]()
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Meriden Amateur Radio Club (MARC) and Eastern CT Amateur Radio Association (ECARA) are running Technician and General Study Classes. This is a great way to bring new people into the hobby and build club membership.![]()
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ARES![]()
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The Connecticut ARES Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) – Phil K1XFC – is actively looking for a few good men (and women) to fill some volunteer leadership positions. Specifically, 3 District Emergency Coordinator positions (Region 1, Region 2, Region 3), and adding local Emergency Coordinators. See map at www.ctares.org to see what Region you are in and how to contact him.![]()
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CT Hamfests:![]()
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Sunday, March 30, 2025: Southington Hamfest (and CT ARES Spring Meeting) Southington High School, 8am – 12 noon![]()
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Saturday, April 26, 2025: SECARS Hamfest (secars.org), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall, 1650 CT Route 12, Gales Ferry, 8:30 am – 2 pm![]()
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Youth Outreach![]()
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One of the easiest ways to reach Youth is to work with your local Boy Scout Council (Now Scouting America) and units within their Districts. It is relatively simple to sign up to be a Merit Badge Counselor and help them get 3 Merit Badges: Radio, Electronics, Signals and Codes Merit Badges. The Merit Badge Counselor position is approved at the Counsel level.![]()
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JOTA![]()
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Also, don’t forget about the annual Jamboree On The Air event / JOTA (3rd weekend in Oct.).![]()
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JOTA is Scouting’s largest International Annual Event, and right now is the time to start meeting with the local Council and Districts to line up this event on their Council/District Oct. 2025 calendar.![]()
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Here in CT, we have been working with Districts that hold their Fall Camporee on that weekend get ourselves listed as a “scheduled“ Activity Station. This ensures that each Amateur Radio Team sent out is not just a side show with hams twiddling their fingers all day and not getting scouts On-The-Air {BTDT). Lots of other options exist.![]()
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THINK BIG!![]()
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We held a JOTA weekend event called “Disaster in East Scoutopia”. This is where the scouts had to apply their scouting skills and experience 4 different Amateur Radio activities the day after a simulated Category 2/Category 3 Hurricane impacted the camp.![]()
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Jon McCombie/N1ILZ@arrl.org - Eastern Massachusetts![]()
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Phil Duggan/N1EP@arrl.org – Maine![]()
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Boat Anchor Hamfest![]()
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First Maine Hamfest of the year is Saturday, February 15 from 8am until noon at the Club Calumet, 334 West River RD, Augusta, ME.Admission $5. VE Session time to be determined. No table fees, so bring plenty of gear to sell or swap. Sponsored by the Augusta Amateur Radio Association. P.O.C George Szadis K1GDI email grszadis@aol.com.![]()
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Hams Needed For Can Am Sled Dog Race![]()
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Northern Maine is looking for volunteers! Fort Kent, Maine is hosting the annual Can Am Crown of Maine sled dog races. The event runs March 1st, 2nd and 3rd. If you are interested in volunteering to work communications at Net Control, one of the checks points, or anywhere help may be needed, please reach out to the Can Am Comms Chief, James Jalbert, kc1ecv@gmail.com. This is a great opportunity to use your ham radio skills, make some new friends, expand your network, and see the great Northern Maine in the winter time. Reach out to James for more info.![]()
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Peter Stohrer/W1FEA@arrl.org - New Hampshire![]()
Nancy Austin/KC1NEK@arrl.org - Rhode Island![]()
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Brown University Amateur Radio Club and Space Engineering![]()
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Congratulations to new ham Jose Sandoval, KC1TWM for success revitalizing the Brown University Amateur Radio Club (BARC) as an official, funded school club. This has been a team effort across RI, with special thanks to Don Stanford, KV4DN; Chad Cavanaugh, KC1DOH ; Adam Paul, KC1KCC; and Rhode Island Section Youth Coordinator, Rowan Eggert, WO1P for mentoring next-gen collegiate hams.![]()
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Jose, KC1TWM wrote: "The Brown Radio Club has been officially reconstituted in 2025, anticipating its 50th anniversary on May 14, 2025. After operating as an Amateur Radio Community for the ARRL Collegiate Roundup last semester, we are excited to function as an official club in 2025.![]()
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In addition, as custodians of the Brown Space Engineering ground station, the Brown Amateur Radio Club (K1AD) is proud to announce its participation in the Fram2Ham satellite receiving competition. With support from the School of Engineering, the ARRL, the Providence Radio Association, and Brown Space Engineering, we look forward to a productive and vibrant semester. We encourage all interested hams to stay tuned for our upcoming activities!"![]()
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Speaking of School Club Roundup….![]()
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Rhode Island Section Youth Coordinator Rowan, WO1P wrote:![]()
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"ARRL’s School Club Round-up is here!! This February 10-14, amateur radio operators can find schools and youth organizations activating across the country. Students kindergarten through college have the opportunity to get on the air, some for their very first time!![]()
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This event is a fantastic introduction to amateur radio and provides a hands-on STEM learning opportunity before, during, and after school hours.![]()
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In Rhode Island, students at All Saints STEAM Academy in Middletown will be getting on the air as a part of an afterschool program hosted by Mike K1NPT and the Newport County Radio![]()
Club. Volunteers will spend a few hours after school working HF and 2m bands with students as they learn more about battery powered operations and the application of radio communications in their community.![]()
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Want to get involved? Take some time to work student stations on the air, you may even be their first contact! Being friendly and engaging with students. It’s one of the best parts of this hobby. Some of my first contacts came with QSL cards that I still keep on the wall. Your time is valuable for School Club Roundup, so please take the time to work schools on the air, especially this week."![]()
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For more on School Club Roundup:![]()
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www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup![]()
ri-arrl.org/arrl-school-roundup-updates15feb2024![]()
ri-arrl.org/school-roundup-feb2024![]()
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From Florida's Treasure Coast Skywarn Weather Nets to RI ARES SKYWARN![]()
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Calm confidence and experience matters. Many thanks to Wayne Burkett, KA1VRF for again stepping up to be overnight Net Control Station during last weekend's early February Snowstorm. From 10pm Saturday night to Noon Sunday, any licensed radio amateur interested in contributing situational awareness about weather at their location could join his Skywarn nets, and report their snow totals. Or offer a heads-up about what might be an unexpected, evolving situation that deserves closer monitoring. In a "Unity of Effort", Wayne gathers our reports and delivers them to Rob Macedo, KD1CY, our ham radio Skywarn liaison for our local National Weather Service office in Norton/Boston.![]()
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This is a team effort. Many thanks to longtime RI Skywarn lead Martin Mendelson, N1JMA, for distributing Rob's NWS breaking updates and likely Skywarn Activation net schedule via news@riares.org. It is fantastic to see Rhode Island and the NB1RI Repeater network now included among the regional reliable go-to Skywarn nets.![]()
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Wayne moved back to RI recently, and his depth of experience during severe weather events in Florida offers an opportunity for us all to learn more and prepare - whatever your level of experience might be. Do join in his weekly RI ARES Training and Skywarn Nets held every Wednesdays on the NB1RI repeater network at 7:30pm. No special equipment needed - just your eyes and ears and a public service mindset.![]()
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Save the Date: Saturday July 12, 2025, 9am-3pm, East Greenwich, RI![]()
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New England Wireless & Steam Museum will host an ARRL sanctioned hamfest at their better-than-ever Tune-Up event in East Greenwich, Rhode Island on July 12.![]()
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New England Wireless and Steam Museum (NEWSM): www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar![]()
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More info: Ken Carr, KE1RI![]()
newsm.org![]()
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Save the Date: 21-24 August, 2025 — Our New England Division HamXposition, Marlborough, MA![]()
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Program Chair Skip Youngberg at K1NKR@hamxposition.org![]()
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hamxposition.org![]()
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August 23, 2025: RI Town Hall Meet & Greet![]()
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Keynotes:![]()
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AA7A: “Remote DXpeditioning” by Ned Stearns, AA7A, at the Aug 22, 2025 Friday night DX/Contest Banquet![]()
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W2NAF: “HamSCI: Space Weather We Can Do Together”, Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, from the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) at the Saturday night Grand Banquet, Aug 23, 2025![]()
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Interested in giving a talk? Helping with the event?![]()
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Reach out to Program Chair Skip Youngberg at K1NKR@hamxposition.org![]()
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Paul Gayet/AA1SU@arrl.org - Vermont![]()
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HAM-CON: FEBRUARY 22 IN COLCHESTER, VERMONT![]()
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HAM-CON, the ARRL Vermont State Convention will take place Saturday, February 22nd, 8AM-1:30 PM at the Hampton Inn Convention Center, off of I-89 Exit 16 in Colchester.![]()
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HAM-CON brings together hundreds of ham radio operators, computer wizards and electronic enthusiasts all in one location. A variety of activities will be running all morning, including an electronics flea market, live on-air ham radio station, forums on a multitude of communication topics and demonstrations of radio and electronic equipment.![]()
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HAM-CON is the only ham radio convention of its kind: a fully hybrid show held live in beautiful Vermont and also on-line at ham-con.org. Be sure to attend! But if you cannot travel to the show, buy a ticket and on watch the events on line either live or after the show.![]()
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Why should you attend? We will have a tremendous line-up of stuff which any ham will find exciting. If you are a contester or DXer, we will have presentations on the K1TTT super station and the top flight W1NVT Field Day operation and even provide valuable hints on how to make all those QSO's on QRP. Are you more into digital? We will have forums on the HF digital modes and the microwave-based Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN). We'll have a sneak peak at some new equipment and even hit you with a wild game show based on ham radio.![]()
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But there is more! Our Convention station W1V will be on the air with a snazzy display. Get on and operate as we'll award a prize for the furthest DX. Aircraft safety has been in the news lately. Along those lines, we will have a display of ADS-B which will allow you to track aircraft in our area. And don't forget about the flea market where you can peruse all the goodies while chatting with your buddies.![]()
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Admission is only $7, if purchased on-line by February 14th, or $12 after that. Be sure to bring the kids for a chance to win a new HT - admission is free for those 18 and younger.![]()
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So don't just sit around thinking about ham radio. Get out to HAM-CON to meet and greet hams from the North Country or if that is not possible, join us on-line at the show.![]()
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Full details and advance tickets can be found at: www.ham-con.org![]()
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Ray Lajoie/AA1SE@arrl.org - Western Massachusetts![]()
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Thanks for being an ARRL member!![]()
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Tom Frenaye, K1KI![]()
New England Division Director![]()
k1ki@arrl.org "![]()
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73 de STARC
This is an ARRL member bulletin that you might be interested in.![]()
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" ARRL Member Bulletin for February 8, 2025![]()
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February 8, 2025![]()
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Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act Re-Introduced![]()
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Legislation Will Increase Communication Options During Natural Disasters![]()
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D- Conn., and Representatives August Pfluger, R-Tex., and Joe Courtney, D-Conn. announced their joint re-introduction of legislation in the Senate and House to restore the right to Amateur Radio operators to install the antennas necessary to serve their communities.![]()
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Homeowner association rules often prevent Amateur Radio operators from installing antennas at their homes even though Amateur Radio has proven to be essential in emergencies and natural disasters such as hurricanes when other means of communication fail.![]()
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“Mississippians should have access to every possible means of warning for natural disasters, including amateur radio operators. In an emergency, those warnings can mean the difference between life and death,” Senator Wicker said. “The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act would remove unnecessary roadblocks that could help keep communities safe during emergencies like tornadoes, hurricanes, and fires.”![]()
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“When disaster strikes, amateur radio operators provide vital, often life-saving information, which shouldn’t be hindered by prohibitive rules or confusing approval processes. The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act eliminates obstacles for ham radio enthusiasts, allowing them to continue their communications and serve their communities in the face of emergencies,” said Senator Blumenthal.![]()
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“Natural disasters and other emergency situations that hinder our regular lines of communication are unfortunately unavoidable, which is why we must bolster our emergency preparedness by removing the barriers amateur radio operators often run into when installing antennas. Amateur radio plays a vital role in public safety by delivering critical information to people at all times. My district is home to dozens of amateur radio operators ready to volunteer in the event of an emergency, and I am proud to lead this legislation,” said Congressman August Pfluger.![]()
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“As we know from recent natural disasters, amateur radio operators in Connecticut can be a critical component of disaster response and emergency management. It is in our communities’ best interest that we give them the capabilities to operate at the highest level, and with the re-introduction of this bill, we’ve taken a strong step in that direction,” said Congressman Courtney.![]()
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Background:![]()
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The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025 (H.R. 1094 and S. 459) would require homeowner associations to accommodate the needs of FCC-licensed Amateur Radio operators by prohibiting the enforcement of private land use restrictions that ban, prevent, or require the approval of the installation or use of Amateur Radio station antennas. Homeowner associations have often prevented installation and use of such antennas through private land use restrictions. This has hindered voluntary training for emergency situations and blocked access to necessary communications when disaster strikes.![]()
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Among other provisions, this legislation would:![]()
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Prohibit homeowner association rules that would prevent or ban Amateur Radio antennas;![]()
Specify an approval process for installing Amateur Radio antennas;![]()
Provide a Federal private right of action to Amateur Radio operators in disputed cases.![]()
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On behalf of America’s Amateur Radio licensees, Rick Roderick, the President of The American Radio Relay League, re-confirmed the ARRL’s full support for the passage of the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025 and extended his thanks and appreciation to Senators Wicker and Blumenthal and Congressmen Pfluger and Courtney for their unflagging leadership of the bi-partisan effort to support and protect the rights of all Amateur Radio Operators.![]()
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The text of the House version can be found at this link. "![]()
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73 de STARC
This is from VT ARRL Section Manager Paul AA1SU about Ham-Con.![]()
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" HAM-CON: FEBRUARY 22 IN COLCHESTER, VERMONT![]()
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Dear STARC,![]()
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HAM-CON brings together hundreds of ham radio operators, computer wizards and electronic enthusiasts all in one location. A variety of activities will be running all morning, including an electronics flea market, live on-air ham radio station, forums on a multitude of communication topics and demonstrations of radio and electronic equipment.![]()
![]()
HAM-CON is the only ham radio convention of its kind: a fully hybrid show held live in beautiful Vermont and also on-line at ham-con.org. Be sure to attend! But if you cannot travel to the show, buy a ticket and on watch the events on line either live or after the show.![]()
![]()
Why should you attend? We will have a tremendous line-up of stuff which any ham will find exciting. If you are a contester or DXer, we will have presentations on the K1TTT super station and the top flight W1NVT Field Day operation and even provide valuable hints on how to make all those QSO's on QRP. Are you more into digital? We will have forums on the HF digital modes and the microwave-based Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN). We'll have a sneak peak at some new equipment and even hit you with a wild game show based on ham radio.![]()
![]()
But there is more! Our Convention station W1V will be on the air with a snazzy display. Get on and operate as we'll award a prize for the furthest DX. Aircraft safety has been in the news lately. Along those lines, we will have a display of ADS-B which will allow you to track aircraft in your area. And don't forget about the flea market where you can peruse all the goodies while chatting with your buddies.![]()
![]()
Admission is only $7, if purchased on-line by February 14th, or $12 after that. Be sure to bring the kids for a chance to win a new HT - admission is free for those 18 and younger.![]()
![]()
So don't just sit around thinking about ham radio. Get out to HAM-CON to meet and greet hams from the North Country or if that is not possible, join us on-line at the show.![]()
![]()
Full details and advance tickets can be found at: www.ham-con.org![]()
![]()
-- ![]()
73![]()
Paul N. Gayet AA1SU![]()
ARRL Vermont Section Manager![]()
Fists #4028![]()
ARRL Vermont Section Web Site:![]()
www.arrl.org/sections/view/vermont ![]()
ARRL New England Division web site:![]()
nediv.arrl.org/ "![]()
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73 de STARC
ARRL New England Division – Serving ARRL members who reside in the New England sections
nediv.arrl.org
New England Vintage Electronics Expo, March 2, 2025 February 3, 2025 by Phil Temples The next Vintage Electronics Swap Meet is... Categories Hamfests & Conventions