NEQRP Kickoff Breakfast
Convention Committee
Fri 9 AM
(50 mins)
This year, we will be meeting in the hotel Atrium at 9AM instead of the Marlborough Room (W9).

mini Contest University (8:30am Registration)
Doug Grant, K1DG
Fri 9 AM
(480 mins)
[CON] Contesting isn't only for the big guns and highly competitive folks. Doug will introduce you to getting started in this aspect of our hobby.

Club Track
Bruce Blain, K1BG
Fri 12 PM
(270 mins)
[INV] The “Club Track” talks are focused on successful clubs helping clubs by sharing programs that have worked for them. A series of half hour talks, by clubs and for clubs, to help clubs energize, invigorate, and grow. The current schedule is as follows:

Three Kit Building Workshops - 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4
Bob Phinney, K5TEC
Fri 1 PM
(180 mins)
[TEK,TNG] Beginners who need soldering instruction and practice are welcome to join us to build an easy beginner kit in under an hour. New England Sci-Tech volunteers will help anyone age 10 and up learn how. Choose from several kits - Morse Code Oscillator, Blinky Name Badge, Night Light, Spinning Top, FM Music Receiver – all kits were invented by students! Price per kit is between $5-$10, cash only. See our web site for details: http://nescitech.org/hamx

Introduction to the TinySA Workshop
Greg Algieri, WA1JXR
Fri 1 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] This Workshop will introduce you to the TinySA Spectrum Analyzer. We will show you how it works and how to use the instrument for Amateur Radio applications.

Winlink Workshop
Rory Griffin, W4RJG
Fri 1 PM
(180 mins)
[TEK, EMC] We will show how to download the client version of Winlink & how to install it on your computer, what the initial settings need to be, how to create and send a message, and how to receive messages. There will be Internet access available, so bring your laptop to get started. The Winlink client only runs on Windows. Please make sure your wi-fi connection works. No radio will be needed.

Installation of Andy's Ham Radio Linux
Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ
Fri 1 PM
(120 mins)
[TEK] Bring your PC based laptop (not Apple), power supply, mouse, etc, and a desire to install "Andy's Ham Radio Linux". Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, the creator of "Andy's Ham Radio Linux" will guide you through the installation process, and then show you how to get started with your newly configured computer. Your computer must be a fully functioning computer where we can entirely erase the hard drive prior to installing Linux. It must have at least 4GB of memory and 64GB of disk space. Computers older than about 7 years may be problematic. The USB boot software in the BIOS must be able to boot from an 8GB USB memory stick (thumb drive).

NWS SKYWARN and ARRL ARES: 30 Years of Support and Partnership in New England
Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Fri 1 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC] Join retired NWS Norton MA Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM), KB1GHX-Glenn Field, as he talks about his support of the NWS SKYWARN program and ARRL ARES partnership over his tenure from 1993 to 2023. Learn some of the best practices that Glenn supported as WCM and how he appreciated the Amateur Radio support so much that he became an Amateur Radio Operator. He will discuss how he participated in various Amateur Radio SKYWARN Nets and events over his career. He will also discuss some of the key severe weather events in which Amateur Radio SKYWARN reporting was critical to the warning process to help save lives and property.

Embracing the Chill at Winter Field Day 2025
Marvin Turner, W0MET
Fri 1 PM
(50 mins)
[OTA] In this engaging and timely presentation, Marvin will share insights into the annual Winter Field Day event that brings together amateur radio enthusiasts in a unique cold-weather setting. Winter Field Day is not just a contest—it's a community-building experience that challenges operators to set up temporary stations in winter conditions, fostering camaraderie and testing one’s skills. As the president of the Winter Field Day Association, Marvin provides a firsthand look into the planning, activities, and the sense of adventure that makes Winter Field Day a highlight on the ham radio calendar. Please join Marvin on a journey through snow-covered landscapes and radio waves, where passion for communication meets the beauty of winter. (This talk will be re-presented later in the convention.)

Zero to Hero - KiCAD Workshop (Part 1)
Max Kendall, W0MXX
Fri 1 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Come in without any experience; come out ready to finish your board in Zero to Hero KiCAD. NOTE: Please come with a laptop downloaded with the most recent version of KiCAD. Parts 1-3 are for those new to KiCad. Parts 2 and 3 are for those who have some KiCad experience.

TinySA Measurement Workshop
Greg Algieri, WA1JXR
Fri 2 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] In the TinySA Measurements Workshop we will demonstrate typical measurements that can be performed with the TinySA Spectrum Analyzer. If you own a TinySA, bring it to the Measurements Workshop and you can participate in the demonstrations.

What's Noise?
Gregory Bonaguide, WA1VUG
Fri 2 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Greg will present an introduction to noise--what it is, how it affects us, noise in our equipment--and maybe what we can do about it. His participation in New England's VHF-and-Above conferences is a perennial favorite. We welcome him here. (This talk will be re-presented later in the convention.)

RadioCraft Mod for MineCraft Workshop (two hours)
George Allison, K1IG
Fri 2 PM
(120 mins)
[RadioCraft] RadioCraft is a ham radio mod for MineCraft, the most popular online game of all time. This mod enables a full-featured simulation of ham radio, including multi-band transceivers, antennas, solar panels, power supplies, and coax. This two-hour workshop will demonstrate how to load RadioCraft and play the game. We recommend that participants bring a laptop with MineCraft installed. The presentation will be conducted by Lucas, W1BTR, who originated the RadioCraft project.

Zero to Hero - KiCAD Workshop (Part 2)
Max Kendall, W0MXX
Fri 2 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Come in without any experience; come out ready to finish your board in Zero to Hero KiCAD. NOTE: Please come with a laptop downloaded with the most recent version of KiCAD. Parts 1-3 are for those new to KiCad. Parts 2 and 3 are for those who have some KiCad experience.

2024 Skywarn Spotter Class
Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Fri 3 PM
(110 mins)
[EMC, TNG] This is the traditional SKYWARN training class offered by NWS Boston/Norton.

The Highs and Lows of Aeronautical Mobile Operation
Kim Peck, WA1PBU
Fri 3 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] A brief description of the details of mobile operation from light aircraft. (This talk will be repeated later in the convention.)

Zero to Hero - KiCAD Workshop (Part 3)
Max Kendall, W0MXX
Fri 3 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Come in without any experience; come out ready to finish your board in Zero to Hero KiCAD. NOTE: Please come with a laptop downloaded with the most recent version of KiCAD. Parts 1-3 are for those new to KiCad. Parts 2 and 3 are for those who have some KiCad experience.

DX/Contest Banquet
Convention Committee
Fri 7 PM
(110 mins)
[DX, CON] Join your fellow hams for a delicious DXCC/Contest dinner on Friday night to hear Yuri Onipko, VE3DZ, tell us of his DX and DXpedition experiences.

NEQRP Friday Night Dinner Get-Together
Convention Committee
Fri 7 PM
(240 mins)
The "Early Birds meet and greet" night. Join your NEQRP friends for pizza, conversation, and videos on the big screen. Kits for tomorrow's build-a-thon will be displayed.

The Kansas City Pile-up
Phil Temples, K9HI
Fri 9 PM
(180 mins)
[CON] Join your friends following the Friday banquet for HamXposition's first annual “Kansas City DX Club’s CW Pileup Competition." This competition has become a weekend tradition at the Dayton Hamvention. Participants are charged with copying as many calls as possible from a pileup of about 100 calls. The pileup file simulates a possible “on the air” experience, with some calls sent once, some twice, at varying speeds and pitches.

2024 Keynote: STEM and the ARRL Teachers Institute
Convention Committee
Sat 9 AM
(50 mins)
[INV] Steve leads ARRL’s Education and Learning Department. He has a passion for youth outreach and works constantly to find ways to engage more youth in wireless technology and help teachers elevate their STEM programs.

Tech-In-A-Day
Convention Committee
Sat 9 AM
(470 mins)
[TNG] Bill Poulin, WZ1L, veteran instructor and volunteer examiner will be conducting a "Tech In A Day" class.

VEC Session I
Convention Committee
Sat 9 AM
(110 mins)
[TNG]

Kit Building Workshop - Sat 10-11 AM
Bob Phinney, K5TEC
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK,TNG] Beginners who need soldering instruction and practice are welcome to join us to build an easy beginner kit in under an hour. New England Sci-Tech volunteers will help anyone age 10 and up learn how. Choose from several kits - Morse Code Oscillator, Blinky Name Badge, Night Light, Spinning Top, FM Music Receiver – all kits were invented by students! Price per kit is between $5-$10, cash only. See our web site for details: http://nescitech.org/hamx

StratoScience 2024 - Ham Radio and Education to New Heights
Max Kendall, W0MXX
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[INV] Learn how high altitude balloon programs can be used to inspire and engage youth to push themselves to new heights. As amateur radio operators, high altitude balloons offer us a low cost near-space platform for exciting engineering and radio projects. Learn from the New England Weather Balloon Society's successes and failures and see what some of the work students are doing in the StratoScience Lab program this year.

A Lot Has Changed in 10 Years. Are You Considering a New Radio?
Rob Sherwood, NC0B
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Let's demand cleaner transmitters (and better receivers). Rob, an internationally known expert in radio specifications and performance, will use his contesting experience to comment on current popular transceivers.

Building Relationships in EmComm
Josh Johnston, KE5MHV
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[EM] Josh will be discussing what we can do to be better communicators and when communications are needed the most.

D-STAR Review
Terry Stader, KA8SCP
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] A review of D-STAR in our region. A chance to ask questions about using D-STAR and its interaction with other digital modes.

Embracing the Chill at Winter Field Day 2025 (repeat)
Marvin Turner, W0MET
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[OTA] In this engaging and timely presentation, Marvin will share insights into the annual Winter Field Day event that brings together amateur radio enthusiasts in a unique cold-weather setting. Winter Field Day is not just a contest—it's a community-building experience that challenges operators to set up temporary stations in winter conditions, fostering camaraderie and testing one’s skills. As the president of the Winter Field Day Association, Marvin provides a firsthand look into the planning, activities, and the sense of adventure that makes Winter Field Day a highlight on the ham radio calendar. Please join Marvin on a journey through snow-covered landscapes and radio waves, where passion for communication meets the beauty of winter.

Ham Shack on Wheels
Chris Knox, KI1P
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] One ham's solution to living in a valley location with poor radio propagation. See how Chris has turned this former TV news van into a complete Ham Shack on Wheels, completely outfitted with radio communications from 160 through UHF including onboard repeaters and a satellite station.

APRS Secrets
Gary Thomas, AA1UE
Sat 10 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK, OTA] Everything You wanted to know about APRS but were afraid to ask. Why APRS is more relevant today than ever. How to make the most of simple equipment on the cheap. Unlocking the hidden features of today's advanced APRS-equipped HTs. How will the new bandwidth regulations impact the future of APRS and its progeny. (This talk will be re-presented later in the convention.)

Kit Building Workshop - Sat 11 AM-Noon
Bob Phinney, K5TEC
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK,TNG] Beginners who need soldering instruction and practice are welcome to join us to build an easy beginner kit in under an hour. New England Sci-Tech volunteers will help anyone age 10 and up learn how. Choose from several kits - Morse Code Oscillator, Blinky Name Badge, Night Light, Spinning Top, FM Music Receiver – all kits were invented by students! Price per kit is between $5-$10, cash only. See our web site for details: http://nescitech.org/hamx

POTA Activations
Brian Horne, N1BAM
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[OTA] A review of the steps to have a successful (and fun) first activation. Signing up with the website, finding parks, different setups, and logging options. There are a lot of ways to POTA, from quick hit mobile to group setups. We will talk about multifunction scalable setups and how to carry only what you need when you need it.

Elecraft K4 update
Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Hear all about the Elecraft K4 transceiver--its ongoing updates and good things to come--all from the radio's designer. Eric will also take questions as time allows.

Tiny4FSK - A Cutting-Edge High-Altitude Tracking System
Max Kendall, W0MXX
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Come and see Tiny4FSK, an ultra compact, low-power tracking system to be flown at high altitudes. It uses modern technology and combines it with the long-lasting amateur radio hobby to provide a reliable and lightweight tracking system. As the first 4FSK tracking system designed for amateurs, Tiny4FSK brings features like high transmit rates, forward error correction, and weak signal propagation to the hobby in an open source package.

AMSAT Current Projects
Burns Fisher, WB1FJ
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[OTA,TEK] A presentation of current satellite projects at AMSAT, as well as a summary of educational initiatives.

The Great Springfield Tornado of 2011
Bob Hassett, KB1IVG
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[EMC] An overview of Springfield’s response and recovery actions to the EF-3 tornado in June of 2011 by the ham who was the city's Emergency Manager then.

13 Colonies Special Event
Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[OTA] Follow the growth of one of the largest summer special events. Learn what it takes to support a week-long operating event. Co-presenting with Larry, W1AST, Bob will review history and information on what it takes to organize and activate and work the 13 Colonies special event. Thirteen Colonies runs July 1-7 every year.

How I got into EME
George Conrad, N1ABC
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] George will walk us through an in-depth technical review of his experience getting into EME concentrating on the hardware development required to make a successful QSO. He'll bring along a homebrew dual-polarized Receiver and a KW Linear Amplifier.

Insights from the Booth: Resurrecting A College Radio Club
Hisen Zhang, KD2TAI
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[INV] College radio clubs are at the forefront of reaching ham radio youth. However, they often face challenges leading to their decline or dissolution. This presentation aims to provide insights and observations from Hisen's past two years' experience in revitalizing his college radio club. He hopes to inspire and empower other student leaders facing similar challenges by debunking common myths and sharing proven strategies.

Introduction to Winlink
Rory Griffin, W4RJG
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[EMC. TEK] Basics of understanding Winlink. What it isn't. What it is. What is needed to get started with Winlink and how to send plain text messages and use basic Winlink forms.

How the MARCONI Program Can Grow Your Club
Edward Snyder, W1YSM
Sat 11 AM
(50 mins)
[INV] Motivating Amateur Radio Clubs to Open New Initiatives (MARCONI) is a program designed to grow your club and help grow less active clubs in your area. It is composed of nine projects that, by providing multiple areas of interest: increase club enthusiasm, recruit new members, and help revitalize clubs that are failing to grow. The presentation will address the nine areas and explain how the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts.

Youth Forum ~ New England Sci-Tech ARS
Bob Phinney, K5TEC
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[INV] What inspires today's youth in the amateur radio hobby? Find out what's on the minds of our youngest hams in this captivating round-table discussion. Great learning opportunity for teachers, scout leaders, or clubs wanting to attract more youth to their local radio clubs.

Make Your Next Portable Activation a SUPER Activation!
Mitch Stern, W1SJ
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[OTA] It seems like everyone is doing a portable activation these days, and that's GREAT! With today's portable equipment, anyone can drag a radio into the field and call CQ. But how many stations will hear you with low power and a minimal antenna? Mitch will focus on the myriad details of setting up a super operation--one which will shoot fire and brimstone across the bands and result in pileups all day long, resulting in a ton of fun. Can you do that with a portable set up? You bet!

ARRL New England Division Forum
Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[LEA] Division Director Fred Kemmerer will host a New England Division forum covering League news and Division activities.

Andy's Ham Radio Linux
Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] This talk will be about Linux and ham radio related software. Andy (KB1OIQ) has created a software collection called "Andy's Ham Radio Linux" which is freely distributed on Sourceforge. This talk will be a high level overview of the software collection. No Linux expertise is required.

Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network - A Tool in the EmComm Messaging Toolbox
Jay Taft, K1EHZ
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC, TEK] AREDN is one tool in the EmComm tool box. The AREDN microwave system complements other tools by supporting IP-based messaging and various common applications that run over the Internet.

RadioCraft: A Ham Radio Mod for Minecraft
George Allison, K1IG
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[RadioCraft] RadioCraft is a ham radio mod for MineCraft, the most popular online game of all time. This mod enables a full-featured simulation of ham radio, including multi-band transceivers, antennas, solar panels, power supplies, and coax. Game players can experiment with ham radio and communicate with other users in a realistic environment. This presentation demonstrates the mod and the describes history of its development.

EmComm - What You Need To Know
Stephen Schwarm, W3EVE
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC] Steve will share what he has learned about emergency communications from his years of experience.

Power Line RFI hunting On the Go
Rob Leiden, K1UI
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[RFI] Case studies about finding power line RFI using laptop PCs, an HF transceiver, and an inexpensive GPS unit.

The Highs and Lows of Aeronautical Mobile Operation (repeat)
Kim Peck, WA1PBU
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] A brief description of the details of mobile operation from light aircraft.

How to Outfit a Camper for Ham Radio and Still Have a Camper Your Family Will Approve Of.
Steve Davidson, NA1T
Sat 12 PM
( mins)
[TEK] Stebe bought a camper new in 2018. His priority (per his wife) has always been that whatever is done to it, it must be a camper first. With that in mind, the changes he made are mostly hidden and only come out when it is used for Amateur Radio. Looking like any other camper, this platform is able to convert into a "Go-Box on Wheels."

FEMA Community Lifelines for the Radio Amateur
Mike Corey, KI1U
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC] The Community Lifelines construct was developed by FEMA to increase effectiveness in disaster operations. Radio amateurs provide an important service by providing situational awareness during a disaster. Understanding Community Lifelines helps the radio amateur focus on critical services and infrastructure to assist emergency managers.

NESMC Board Meeting (closed)
Robert DeMattia, K1IW
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)
Executive session meeting for NESMC officers (closed to general public)

NEQRP Lucheon Gathering
Convention Committee
Sat 12 PM
(50 mins)

Kit Building Workshop - Sat 1-2 PM
Bob Phinney, K5TEC
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK,TNG] Beginners who need soldering instruction and practice are welcome to join us to build an easy beginner kit in under an hour. New England Sci-Tech volunteers will help anyone age 10 and up learn how. Choose from several kits - Morse Code Oscillator, Blinky Name Badge, Night Light, Spinning Top, FM Music Receiver – all kits were invented by students! Price per kit is between $5-$10, cash only. See our web site for details: http://nescitech.org/hamx

So You Want to Volunteer as a Ham at the Boston Marathon, What's Next and What to Expect
Philip Lord, K1PRA
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC,OTA] Everyone has heard of the Boston Marathon. What many people may not know is that there is a significant number of ham radio operators that support communications at the event. This will be a somewhat informal presentation geared for hams that may want to volunteer but may have questions and who don't know anyone in their club to ask.

VHF/UHF Digital Voice... 7 years later
Rick Zach, KK1RZ
Sat 1 PM
(110 mins)
[TEK, OTA] In the past few years Digital Voice over repeaters has gone from "I couldn't find a single club with experience using it" to "I have a hard time finding a club that does not use it." But just what is "it", and how many of those "its" are out there? Join Rick and several subject matter experts for an extended review of what's happening in the digital voice modes. What may seem to be a cacophony of alphabet soup is actually ham radio at its best--exploring the technology and capabilities of numerous modulations and protocols. Comparing: Fusion/C4FM, D-Star, DMR, P25 and even the emerging M-17 open source standard.

Low Cost USB-centric RF Test Equipment for Amateur Radio
Brian Justin, WA1ZMS
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] USB-centric RF test equipment is now becoming common for not only hobbyist, but also in the RF Industry. This talk will review the various options for such test equipment that can often fit in a "ham budget".

Radio & Steam Technology at The New England Wireless & Steam Museum
Kenneth Carr, KE1RI
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[INV] This presentation will offer an overview of the New England Wireless & Steam Museum campus which consists of five main buildings and their respective collections. Both radio and steam technology will be discussed; but the emphasis will be on antique and modern amateur radio collections and exhibits. Emphasis will be placed on the contributions of volunteers.

“Spy” Radios and Secret Clandestine Communications.
Michael Crestohl, W1RC
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[INV] Tom and Mister Mike will present their ever popular presentation and discussion about secret radio communications and related equipment used during the Second World War and afterwards. This includes the German Enigma and other forms of mechanical cryptography.

Go Kits
Francis OLaughlin, WQ1O
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK, EMC] This presentation will go over the creation and usage of a basic field expedient "Jump Kit" that can be carried by and used by a single operator. The presentation will also go over some self contained portable station kits that are easily transportable.

PSKReporter Then and Now
Philip Gladstone, N1DQ
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[A&P, TEK] Phil's PSKReporter project has been going and growing for over 15 years. His talk will describe what PSKReporter does for the modern ham and how it can best be used. This will include how to configure WSJT-X to report to PSKReporter. For the more adventurous, we will discuss how MQTT can be used to get a real-time filtered feed.

Open Headset Interface Standard
Mark Smith, N6MTS
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] The Open Headset Interface Standard (https://ohis.org/) is the open standard being proposing to the industry for the interface between a radio and the user. (OHIS is most commonly but not exclusively used for headsets, hence the name.)

Advanced Winlink
Rory Griffin, W4RJG
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC, TEK] This presentation will cover advanced Winklink topics including the many ways Winlink can communicate using RF. Also covered will be features in Winlink to manage the data you may receive within Winlink messages. This presentation will help prepare you for using Winlink for EmComm purposes.

1DegreeOutside: A Digital-First Weather Approach and the Vital Role of SKYWARN Spotters
Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC] Join Matt Noyes and Danielle Noyes, co-founders of the new,digital-first weather company 1DegreeOutside and renowned former TVbroadcast meteorologists, as they share their exciting journey fromleading TV weather to pioneering a modernized approach to forecasting.In this engaging presentation, Matt and Danielle will discuss how theirnew digital platform enhances weather reporting and public safety. Theywill highlight the indispensable contributions of Amateur Radio andnon-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters, whose real-time reports are criticalduring severe weather events.Learn how your dedication and hard work as SKYWARN spotters improve andsave lives by providing essential weather updates. Discover newopportunities to strengthen ties with Matt and Danielle's digitalventure, enabling more dynamic and immediate interactions thattraditional meteorological services may not offer. Don’t miss thisunique chance to connect with two leading meteorologists and explore theevolving landscape of weather reporting.

Rig Expert Product Review
Yuri Onipko, VE3DZ
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
Yuri will review the current Rig Expert antenna analyzer and accessory offerings.

VEC Session II
Convention Committee
Sat 1 PM
(240 mins)
[TNG]

25 Years of My QRPme Schtick!
Rex Harper, W1REX
Sat 1 PM
(50 mins)
[OTA] Join Rex for a walk down Memory-Lane where he talks about his adventures into the heart of Amateur (QRP) Radio.

Kit Building Workshop - Sat 2-3 PM
Bob Phinney, K5TEC
Sat 2 PM
(oth mins)
[TEK,TNG] Beginners who need soldering instruction and practice are welcome to join us to build an easy beginner kit in under an hour. New England Sci-Tech volunteers will help anyone age 10 and up learn how. Choose from several kits - Morse Code Oscillator, Blinky Name Badge, Night Light, Spinning Top, FM Music Receiver – all kits were invented by students! Price per kit is between $5-$10, cash only. See our web site for details: http://nescitech.org/hamx

FEMA Disaster Communications
Mike Corey, KI1U
Sat 2 PM
(110 mins)
[EMC] This presentation provides an overview of the mission and work of FEMA Disaster Emergency Communications (DEC) in Region 1 (New England). DEC staff will go over capabilities, core competencies, the Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group, ESF #2 Communications, and Community Lifelines. We will also offer a live demonstration of a FEMA deployable communications kit.

Getting Schools into Ham Radio
Cyndi Goodgame, K5CYN
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[INV] This session will discuss strategies to get into schools. Learn the ins and outs of talking to administrators, teachers, and other education stakeholders.

How to Become a POTA Hunter
Harold Kramer, WJ1B
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[OTA] Hunters are essential to the POTA program. Without Hunters, Activators in a park would have no one to work! This presentation will outline the techniques and practices for becoming an effective POTA Hunter. (This talk will be re-presented later in the convention.)

Emcomm Antennas
Francis OLaughlin, WQ1O
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC, A&P] This presentation will cover the basic concepts and use of Emcomm antennas that can be utilized in the field during a deployment.

FlexRadio - Not y\Your Dad's Old HF Radio
Michael Walker, VA3MW
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Join Mike for an insightful and engaging presentation on the advancements in the captivating world of HF radios.

NTS Meet and Greet
Marcia Forde, KW1U
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[OTA] Meet with traffic handlers throughout New England and beyond. We welcome seasoned traffic handlers and those just curious what it is all about. Get questions answered here, exchange information, share stories, and perhaps pick up a tip or two. Questions about NTS 2.0? We'll try to have answers for that, too.

Off Grid and Portable Operations, 2023 reprise
Charles Smith, KC1IKA
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC, TEK] This presentation is basically the presentation Charles did in 2023 for those who didn’t see it or for those who would like to see it again. It will show what he does as a Net Control Station for ARES, Skywarn, and CERT to stay on the air and get situation reports out, no matter what the conditions. This information applies to anyone operating portable operations, not just EmComm. To see what he has done since last year be sure to attend the "2024 Update." All the notes for this and the 2024 sessions are in one handout.

Advanced Topics in SKYWARN - Doppler Radar Fundamentals & How You Can Help with Severe Weather Reporting Situational Awareness
Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC, TNG] Have you wanted to get more involved in supporting SKYWARN but have rarely seen criteria to report on SKYWARN Nets? Have you wanted to learn more about Doppler Radar analysis during the summer severe weather season? This class will cover both these topics. Very often, particularly for severe thunderstorms and localized flood events along with other weather scenarios, damage can be very localized but significant where the damage or flooding occurs. This seminar is intended to give Amateur Radio operators a way to contribute further by supporting proper public safety radio monitoring via personal scanners and online public safety feeds, proper social media monitoring techniques and monitoring local weather stations in your city or town or a local range of cities and towns to help support reporting into the National Weather Service to protect life and property. We will cover the need for net controls and monitoring of local area repeaters during severe weather situations.We will also cover Doppler Radar fundamentals and go through a few radar scenarios from past severe weather events.

An Effective Contest Station without Towers
John Vogel, N1PGA
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[A&P] This is an updated version of last year's well received presentation. Come see how John has built a contest station that produces Top ten scores without using towers. You might just see the potential in your backyard a little differently.

Antenna Phasing
Dale Clement, AF1T
Sat 2 PM
(50 mins)
[A&P] Dale will present a visual demonstration of how energy reception or transmission is enhanced within various antennas, and when combining two or more antennas. This is a NEQRP-sponsored talk but will be enjoyable (as Dale's presentations always are!) to all HamXposition attendees.

Kit Building Workshop - Sat 3-4 PM
Bob Phinney, K5TEC
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK,TNG] Beginners who need soldering instruction and practice are welcome to join us to build an easy beginner kit in under an hour. New England Sci-Tech volunteers will help anyone age 10 and up learn how. Choose from several kits - Morse Code Oscillator, Blinky Name Badge, Night Light, Spinning Top, FM Music Receiver – all kits were invented by students! Price per kit is between $5-$10, cash only. See our web site for details: http://nescitech.org/hamx

YL Meet and Greet
Barbara Irby, KC1KGS
Sat 3 PM
(110 mins)
[INV] Barb, KC1KGS, and Anne, WB1ARU, invite you to get together, meet, and greet other YLs.

CT-POTA Activators Group
Shawn Warren, KC1NQE
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[OTA] The CT-POTA Activators Group was founded by N2YCH, K1PCN, and KC1NQE to bring activators together to share knowledge about our parks, setups, and overall knowledge of POTA. Learn how to organize similar multi-club events and activities to engage all license classes.

Leasons Learned as a Ham for Broadcast RF and vice versa
Douglas Evans, K3DRE
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] From broadcast radio, into ham radio and back. Doug takes a look at lessons learned in professional radio and how they lead him to ham radio. From there, he'll move to the things he learned as a ham that helped his career. Doug's been a lot of places and seen very interesting stuff, but found the basics of RF always apply. Today's modern digital broadcasting owes a lot to early hams

What's Noise? (repeat)
Gregory Bonaguide, WA1VUG
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Greg will present an introduction to noise--what it is, how it affects us, noise in our equipment--and maybe what we can do about it. His participation in New England's VHF-and-Above conferences is a perennial favorite. We welcome him here.

VarAC - Basic and Advanced Uses
Rory Griffin, W4RJG
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC, TEK] VarAC is a keyboard-to-keyboard communication tool using VARA, a high-performance HF software modem for fast, error free transmission. It is seeing rising acceptance and incorporation as an important new tool for EmComm use. This presentation will get you started with the setup and use of VarAC.

Off Grid and Portable Operations, 2024 Update
Charles Smith, KC1IKA
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[EMC, TEK] Charles will present new information for a Shack-in-a-Stack which he made over last winter that contains three radios, batteries, PWS, Emergency Sat Comms, antennas, a tablet for digital modes, and much more. He also has information on his stealth install of an Icom IC-4100 in his car. All the notes for both sessions are in one handout. As he did last year, this presentation will happen off grid. All the notes for this and the earlier 2023 sessions are in one handout.

New England Spectrum Management - Annual Meeting
Robert DeMattia, K1IW
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[OTA] This is annual meeting of New England Spectrum Management (NESMC), the amateur radio repeater frequency coordinator for Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Repeater owners, users, members, and non members are all invited.

YCCC Business Meeting
Convention Committee
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[CON, DX] Gather with the Yankee Clipper Contest Club for introductions, club business, and information for new members.

Antenna Matching
Dale Clement, AF1T
Sat 3 PM
(50 mins)
[A&P] This show-and-tell presentation builds on Dales Antenna Phasing demonstration, with an emphasis on various methods used for maximum energy transfer between an antenna and your radio. This is another NEQRP-sponsored talk intended to enthrall all HamXposition attendees.

ARRL Technical Coordinator Program
Paul Topolski, W1SEX
Sat 4 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] In existence for many decades, the ARRL Technical Coordinator Program, under the auspices of the ARRL Lab, brings a support network to the amateur radio community that significantly benefits the hobby. Each ARRL Section Manager appoints a Technical Coordinator who then recruits Technical Specialists who work with local radio amateurs as well as clubs to answer questions and help solve hobby-related problems. Technical Specialists range from generalists to subject-specific experts.

Enjoying Success as a POTA Operator
Don Dickey, WV1W
Sat 4 PM
(110 mins)
[OTA] This presentation will focus on how to be successful when activating parks. With over 600 activations and 58,000 POTA QSOs logged, Don will share experiences in a variety of situations to help you avoid the mistakes he learned from. He will also show what's in his POTA kit including high-performance portable antennas you can easily build from components you might have on-hand. You will learn what you need but also what you don't, and that should save you lots of $$$.

RI Section Meeting
Nancy Austin, KC1NEK
Sat 4 PM
(50 mins)
[LEA] Come to a “town hall” meeting with the ARRL Rhode Island Section Manager.

NH Section Meeting
Peter Stohrer, W1FEA
Sat 4 PM
(50 mins)
[LEA] Come to a "town hall" meeting with the New Hampshire Section Manager.

Eastern Mass Section Meeting
Jon McCombie, N1ILZ
Sat 4 PM
(50 mins)
[LEA] Come to a “town hall” meeting with the ARRL Eastern Mass Section Manager.

NE Division Candidates Forum
Skip Youngberg, K1NKR
Sat 5 PM
(50 mins)
Two candidates have registered seeking the position of New England Division Director. They are (alphabetically) Tom Frenaye, K1KI and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC. Don Arthur, K1DCA, will moderate a forum intended to get you acquainted with the candidates.

Grand Banquet
Convention Committee
Sat 7 PM
(110 mins)
Enjoy this year's convention banquet. Dr. Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, will be the invited guest speaker for the Saturday evening Grand Banquet. Known as the "Space Weather Woman" on network TV and in social media, she forecasts and analyzes space weather processes in the heliosphere and exosphere.

NEQRP Meet & Greet, Vendors Night, & Build-a-thon
Convention Committee
Sat 7 PM
(180 mins)
Meet and greet with the NEQRP folks. A highlight is the build-a-thon. Get a kit, build it, and operate it--all with instruction. But be sure to order kits early or purchase in advance.

Game Night
Seth Kendall, KC1PZY
Sat 9 PM
(110 mins)
Play some games with your fellow hams! We've got everything from quick and easy social word games to classic strategy games like Chess and Go. Hosted by Sci Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS).

Informal Music Jam Session
Convention Committee
Sat 9 PM
(110 mins)
Back by popular demand. Sing, play, and socialize with other attendees.

Open-Mic Storytelling
Phil Temples, K9HI
Sat 10 PM
(50 mins)
[INV] Perhaps ham radio impacted your life in a way you couldn't have imagined? Now's the time to share your ham radio-related story! This event will allow each participant to tell the audience their unique ham radio story. This special event will take place Saturday night, following the conclusion of the Grand Banquet.

Western Mass Section Membership Meeting
RAYMOND LAJOIE, AA1SE
Sun 9 AM
(50 mins)
[LEA] The WMA meeting which will be an open forum to provide information on activities and to answer questions from you. Our SEC Chuck, WS1L, will also provide an update on ARES. Please visit us and see what we are doing to make Western Mass grow and to be an active part in it.

How to Become a POTA Hunter (repeat)
Harold Kramer, WJ1B
Sun 10 AM
( mins)
[OTA] Hunters are essential to the POTA program. Without Hunters, Activators in a park would have no one to work! This presentation will outline the techniques and practices for becoming an effective POTA Hunter.

Introductory and Advanced FLDIGI Configuraiton and Usage
Don Rolph, AB1PH
Sun 10 AM
(110 mins)
[EMC, TEK] Don will discuss the motivation to use FLDIGI for emergency communication. He will explore the basic configuration of FLDIGI, FLMSG and FLAMP and important points to consider when using FLDIGI in nets. He will then discuss a variety of advanced topics regarding configuring FLDIGI for more advanced net and communications usage.

The Quirks of Arduino-based 2.4 GHz Operating
Stephen Kercel, AA4AK
Sun 10 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] Using an NRF24L01 transceiver with a microcontroller is an inexpensive way for hams to get on the 13cm band. The transceiver can be programmed for ham frequencies and operated under ham (instead of ISM) regulations. The catch is that it is fairly tricky to get the controller to communicate with the NRF module and to get two transceivers to communicate with each other without excessively many time-outs. This session explores the hardware and software issues and the practical solutions to them. It Includes a live demonstration of two transceivers performing two-way communications.

APRS Secrets (repeat)
Gary Thomas, AA1UE
Sun 10 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK, OTA] Everything You wanted to know about APRS but were afraid to ask. Why APRS is more relevant today than ever. How to make the most of simple equipment on the cheap. As well as unlocking the hidden features of today's advanced APRS equipped HTs. How will the new bandwidth regulations impact the future of APRS and its progeny.

MARS: How Hams Train with DoD Using HF Communications
Tom Kinahan, N1CPE
Sun 10 AM
(50 mins)
[EMC, OTA] Ham Radio Operators that have registered with the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) train on US and Allied radio communications procedures and work with the DoD customers to deliver accurate and timely situational awareness. Often this awareness is from personal observation, but they also gather it using Part 97 and Part 90 radio services. Join us as we discuss the excitement and benefits of participating as a MARS member or providing information to MARS operators on ham nets.

VEC Session III
Convention Committee
Sun 10 AM
(120 mins)
[TNG]

Getting Started in Remote Operations
Michael Walker, VA3MW
Sun 11 AM
(50 mins)
[TEK] (Insert talk summary here.)

Helical Antennas and Circular Polarization
Stephen Kercel, AA4AK
Sun 11 AM
(50 mins)
[A&P] A straightforward way (i.e., no drama with phasing lines) to send or receive circularly polarized signals is by using a simple helical antenna. At 2.4 GHz, it is easy to construct helical antennas with table-top dimensions. This session looks at the design, construction, and measured performance of several homebrew 2.4 GHz helical antennas. It will also demonstrate the effects of using properly matched polarization modes, finding the effect of using opposite polarizations for the receiver and transmitter helices, and the effect of using a linearly polarized antenna on one end and a helix on the other end.

The National Traffic System: What is it? Why do We Care? Where Can We Find More Information?
Marcia Forde, KW1U
Sun 11 AM
(50 mins)
[LEA] An introduction to NTS, the importance of NTS and current work being done to improve and enhance it. We'll cover training opportunities, as well as efforts to coordinate the NTS and ARES programs, information about the NTS2 website and its content, and the NTS Letter.

MARS Closed Meeting
Tom Kinahan, N1CPE
Sun 11 AM
( mins)
MARS Meeting for current Army or Air Force MARS members only.

MMRA Meeting and Raffle
Larry Banks, W1DYJ
Sun 12 PM
(50 mins)
This presentation will cover the MMRA repeater network and history. It will be followed by a raffle.

Receiving Weak Signals at 2.4 GHz
Stephen Kercel, AA4AK
Sun 12 PM
(50 mins)
[TEK] This session considers the issue of reliably detecting 2.4 GHz signals over a dynamic range of 70 dB. Considerations include the minimum discernible signal, noise versus bandwidth, ambient noise, cascading low-noise amplifiers, logarithmic detection, using 16-bit analog-to-digital conversion with differential voltage measurement with an Arduino, preventing RF leakage from a 2.4 GHz generator, and the practicalities of using splitter-combiners. It will include a live demonstration of recording of a time-series of voltages from a weak 2.4GHz signal. No guarantees of success on this one! The thing works at home, but the 2.4 GHz background din at the venue might totally blank out the test signal.

Closing Ceremony & Prize Drawings
Convention Committee
Sun 1 PM
(90 mins)
Closing remarks by the committee, followed by the grand finale door prize drawings. See the HamXposition home page for a list of the major prizes. You need not be present to win for the majors, however you must be present to win the many smaller prizes which will are also offered.

Thursday Night Comedy Kick-Off
Convention Committee
Thu 7 PM
(180 mins)
Welcome to the Northeast HamXposition and Marlborough! Start your convention visit off on a laugh with the newest edition to our HamXposition line up! Join us for Juston McKinney and an evening of comedy. Bar opens at 7PM, doors open at 8PM.