Iain Nicol, KQ4BDT, Awarded 2024 FEMARA Scholarship

Iain Nicol, KQ4BDTThe ARRL Foundation and FEMARA are pleased to announce the 2024 FEMARA Scholarship recipient: Iain Nicol, KQ4BDT, of Hampton, New Hampshire. 

“I have a profound passion for amateur radio. The independence it offers, the opportunities to give back to the community, and the fellowship with fellow members have greatly enriched my life.” 

Ian plans to attend the University of New Hampshire where he plans to pursue studies in chemical engineering. “This field has always fascinated me, and your scholarship brings me one step closer to achieving my dreams.”

FEMARA, along with the entire Northeast HamXposition committee, congratulate Iain and wish him the greatest success in his academic studies and ham radio career.

“VarAC—Basic and Advanced Uses” at 2024 Northeast HamXposition

VarAC imageVarAC 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 by Rory Griffin, W4RJG, at the 2024 Northeast HamXposition will get you started with the setup and use of VarAC.

“Spy” Radios and Secret Clandestine Communications

Enigma Machine
Enigma in use, 1943

Mike Crestohl, W1RC, and Tom Perera, W1TP, will present at the 2024 Northeast HamXposition 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.

Tom Perera , Ph.D., W1TP, is a retired professor of neuroscience. He has been a ham radio operator for 70 years specializing in the history of telegraph keys and Enigma cipher machines. He has given hundreds of lectures on these topics at hamfests, clubs and conventions.

Michael Crestohl, W1RC, a.k.a. “MisterMike,” is a well-known collector and restorer of “spy radio” equipment.

“Digital Voice—Seven Years Later” at HamXposition

Portrait of Rick Zach, KK1RZCome and hear a presentation by Rick Zach, KK1RZ, entitled “Digital Voice—Seven Years Later” at the 2024 HamXposition.

In the past few years, Digital Voice 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 maybe a few friends) 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.

“HamJam” at 2024 HamXposition

photo of W1MJ and K9HI
Eliot, W1MJ, on the guitar; Phil, K9HI, on vocals

Get ready to rock out at HamXposition! It’s the Saturday night “HamJam,” hosted by Stephen Nickerson, N1BUS. The jam session may go into some long blues improvisations, spontaneous rock, blues, or folkie directions, but we also offer chords and lyrics for fun, but not-too-difficult songs for those who might want to practice playing or singing.

 
Don’t play an instrument? No problem! Lend your singing voice to the jam. Or just come and listen. We’ll also have a number of simple hand percussion instruments for you to shake or strike to keep the beat! #hamxposition https://hamxposition.org/hamjam/