Field Day 2025
Next Meeting
September 4, 2025. Dom Mallozzi, N1DM, will talk on “DMR Update 2025”
Meeting will start at 7pm. This meeting is hybrid, meaning on Zoom and in person, and will be held at the Framingham McAuliffe branch library. . Members will receive a zoom invitation. Area hams and those not yet licensed but interested in amateur radio are welcome to attend. Non-members may request an invitation by sending an email to John president@w1fy.org.
Important Information on Massachusetts Distracted Driving Law
Below is an excerpt from Mass General Law, MGL Part 1, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 13 as it affects amateur radio mobile operation. It is recommended that you keep a copy of Section 13 and a copy of your license in your car in case you are pulled over by the police.
“Section 13. No person, when operating a motor vehicle, shall permit to be on or in the vehicle or on or about his person anything which may interfere with or impede the proper operation of the vehicle or any equipment by which the vehicle is operated or controlled, except that a person may operate a motor vehicle while using a federally licensed 2-way radio or mobile electronic device, except as provided in sections 8M, 12A and 13B, as long as 1 hand remains on the steering wheel at all times.”
Recent Meeting Videos
May 1, 2025: Max Kendall, W0MXX, spoke about “StratoScience: Amateur Radio and Youth Education to New Heights.”
April 3,2025: Nels Anderson, K1UR, spoke about his work as a “Ham Radio Picker”
March 6, 2025: Charles Rousseau, W1ZOP, spoke about “Air Force Mars Radio”
February 6, 2025: Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, spoke about “Repair Your Radio Without Understanding Electronics? Sometimes You Can!”
November 7, 2024: Robert “Bob” Evans, AB2NE / G3ZFJ, spoke about APRS, “Automatic Packet Reporting System -APRS: What Is It and What Can It Do?” Slides of the presentation.
October 3, 2024: Kay Savetz, K6KJN spoke about “Twenty Things I’ve Learned While Curating the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications”
On September 5, 2024: Experiences of a New Ham, the First Nine Months, was presented by Jonathan Slawsby, W5GI, with John Iwuc, KB1VXY.
On May 2, 2024: Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC spoke about Satellite Communications.
On April 4, 2024: Andy Boughton. KC1DMM spoke about “My Antenna History” Post presentation discussion about dipole common mode feedline current
On March 7, 2024: Bruce Rusch, W1HNZ spoke about receiving antennas for 160/80 m: The Bidirectional Beverage at W1HNZ.
On February 1, 2024: Peter Morrison AC1KY, spoke about “Aircraft Tracking Using SDR”
On November 2, 2023: Harlan Doliner, NE1HD, spoke about the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
On October 5, 2023: Bob Glorioso W1IS and Bob Rose KC1DSQ spoke about why and how of simple antennas that work. Topics covered include, resonance, Voltage and Current distributions, RF Feedback, End Effect, Dipoles, Verticals, C-poles, Wire Beams and Stacked Dipoles. Further information can be found at ocfmasters.com
On May 4, 2023, Terry M Stader, KA8SCP, spoke on Emcomm
On March 2, 2023, Larry Banks, W1DYJ, spoke about Antenna Modelling using TLW (Transmission Line Program for Windows), YW (Yagi for Windows), and HFTA (High Frequency Terrain Assessment). These are applications from the ARRL Antenna Book.
On Feb 2, 2023, Ron Evett, N1QY, spoke about understanding SWR. The video of the presentation is below.
On November 3, 2022, Don Rolph, AB1PH, spoke about and demonstrated Winlink. The video of the presentation is below.
On October 6, 2022, Ron Rothman, WO1E, spoke about and demonstrated Digital Contesting with FT4 and FT8. The video of the presentation is below.
On September 1, 2022 Adrian Zeffert, AB2IX, spoke about the test bench. The video of the presentation is below.
On April 23, 2022, Sumner, W1VIV, spoke about installation, operation, and submission of the free N1MM+ contest logging software. The recording is below. It covered:
- Installing the software
- Setting up for a contest (specifically NEQP)
- Operating the contest, including other area QSO Parties on the same log.
- Creating the required Cabrillo Files and sending them in for your scores.
On April 7, 2022: Tom Frenaye, K1KI, gave a presentation on the New England QSO Party (NEQP) today and yesterday.
On March 3, 2022 Edison Fong, WB6IQN gave a presentation on his dual band, VHF/UHF, J-pole antenna design.
On December 2, 2021 Art Lipatov, W1JAR spoke about Digital Voice Modes. His slides are available here and the video is below.
On November 4, 2021 Greg Algieri, WA1JXR, spoke about the NanoVNA instrument.
On October 7, 2021 Leandra MacLennon AF1R gave a presentation “On The Road With AF1R”. She spoke about operating and successfully contesting VHF and HF as a mobile. She included some of her Parks on the Air experiences.
On September 2, 2021 Fred Kemmerer AB1OC gave a presentation on “Bringing New People Into Amateur Radio”. He also talked briefly about his candidacy for ARRL New England Director.
On August 5, 2021 Fred Hopengarten, K1VR. Fred discussed the KD1MF antenna case and his efforts to improve the management of the ARRL endowment.
On April 1, 2021 Alan Thompson, W6WN spoke about Neighborhood Radio Watch program. This is a partnership between Hams and non-Hams using Ham, GMRS and FRS radios to help keep our communities safer in the event of an emergency or disaster. The NRW Program had it origin in the ashes of the Camp Fire, and has been a tremendous boost for the El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club. The video of the presentation is below.
On March 4, 2021 Bob Hess, W1RH spoke about his work at WBZ. The video of the presentation is below.
On February 4, 2021: Lew Nyman, K1AZE, spoke about the past history of FARA. Lew is the past FARA President (1976-1982). The video of the presentation is below.
On October 1, 2020: Neal Lipson, K1NDF spoke on “General Amateur Radio Solar Cycle Propagation and Why Framingham, MA is Nearly a Paradise for Amateur Radio.” The video of the presentation is below.
On June 4, 2020: Sumner Weisman W1VIV spoke about Navy Ham Radio in the Korean War Era. The video of the presentation is below.
In the News
June 2020 Field Day Results
FARA had a total score of 6808 points, from 11 members who entered. Those members are: W1VIV, N1MH, KB1YXL, KE3KK, K1UR, KB1VXY, VE3IDX, KC1DMM, K1HT, W1HNZ, K1NDF
Sumner Weisman, W1VIV
At the June 2020 meeting, Sumner was presented with a plaque in recognition of outstanding dedication and service to the club.
Scholarship Award
The following are the 2020 recipients of the Beverly Lees Scholarship.
Rebecca Weisman, granddaughter of club member Sumner Weisman
Victoria Anderson, daughter of club members Victor Anderson and Ellen Woodberry
Brown Bag Learning Series: The Fascinating Hobby of Amateur Radio. Presented by John Iwuc on June 07, 2019 at the Framingham Library
CQ Magazine
Club member Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, has written an article “Wireless Radio For The Hearing Impaired” in the June 2018 issue of CQ Magazine
Monthly Meetings
FARA meets the 1st Thursday of the month (except in July and August) at 7:00 pm . All area hams and those not yet licensed but interested in amateur radio are welcome to attend.
FARA Sunday Night NET
The FARA Sunday Night Net begins every Sunday at 7:30PM on the FARA 147.150 MHz (100Hz PL) repeater. All licensed hams are welcome to check in and participate in the “Ham question of the Week”.
FARA Repeater
VHF: 147.150 MHz (+)
Echolink is now supported on the W1FY repeater. The node is registered as W1FY-R.
For further information about FARA, you can reach us at: contact@w1fy.org