Here is DX Launcher S/N 001 being presented to miniCTU door prize winner Charles Gantz, K3WJX, of Hollywood, MD.
miniCTU Door Prize Winner
Announcement
Grand Prizes at HamXposition
Over $15,000 of door prizes were awarded at the 2025 Northeast HamXposition.
According to HamX Prize Chair Larry Krainson, W1AST, “Our top prize, the Yaesu FT-891 mobile with the ATAS-120a mobile antenna, was won by Arthur Weeks, Jr., W1AGW, Rollinsford, New Hampshire. The Elecraft KH1 Edgewood—a POTA/SOTA dream radio—was awarded to Gay Nelson, KC1WQI, Old Lyme, Connecticut.”
Make WRTC 2026 the Best One Yet!
Mark Pride, K1RX, writes:
On behalf of the entire group of speakers at this year’s miniCTU, both Doug, K1DG and I wish to thank you for your interest and enthusiasm for one of the most exciting aspects of our hobby! It really does bring all of the elements together! We trust you found it educational and motivational.
Additionally, the WRTC 2026 UK event is striving to be the best one yet. Even in this aspect, it is competitive. Each host country tries to be the BEST one yet. And in support of this goal, we continue to look for your help through donations of any amount.
For those that did provide a donation during the Ham Expo – my thanks! Remember it is July 8-13 next year and we will look for your “audience participation”. In the meantime, please follow this link, and help close the gap.
Weather Forecast for 2025 HamX
Here’s the weather forecast for the 2025 Northeast HamXposition in Marlborough, MA, as of Tuesday, August 19:Thursday, August 21:
A slight chance of showers before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night, August 21:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday, August 22:
Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 6 to 8 mph.
Friday Night, August 22:
Mostly clear, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Saturday, August 23:
Sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind around 6 mph.
Saturday Night, August 23:
Mostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind around 6 mph.
Sunday, August 24:
Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
QCWA: “Giving Back to Support Amateur Radio”
FEMARA, sponsor of the Northeast HamXposition, is pleased to announce that it has been chosen along with one dozen other organizations to receive a cash donation from the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA). FEMARA will receive $2,600.
QCWA Acting President Anthony Perales, AI1U, made the announcement in the August issue of QCWA Journal.
“Each board member could choose an organization to benefit, and I chose FEMARA because of the good work you do for the New England region,” writes John Facella, K9FJ, a QCWA National Director who resides in Raymond, Maine.
FEMARA will use the money to improve its scholarship awards to youths in New England.
QCWA will be represented at HamXposition at a table, and also at a “Meet and Greet” session on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM.
Be sure to stop by and thank QCWA officials for their generous contribution!
The DX-Launcher is Almost Here!
Ray Higgins, W2RE, writes on Facebook:Many of you have been asking about the DX-Launcher, and we’re excited to announce that we officially go LIVE on August 22nd at HamX!
We’ll have approximately 20 units available at launch—10 standard DX-Launchers (like the one in the photo) and 10 Super DX-Launchers with insane take-off. These are expected to sell out quickly, and due to our upcoming large tower build in Maine, we won’t have time to produce more units until that project is complete.
Once that build wraps up in Maine, our primary focus will shift to full-scale DX-Launcher production.
We’re also pleased to share that we’ve reached a tentative agreement with one of the most reputable distributors in ham radio to serve as the exclusive U.S. distributor, outside of buying directly from us. More on this after we sign the agreement.
As someone who’s installed thousands of wire antennas in trees, I can say this product was designed by and for people like us. You could hire a tree climber to install a pulley, quite expensive —but that’s no guarantee it’ll survive the next storm. With the DX-Launcher, you can simply shoot another line right over the top if branch or rope fails. It’s not foolproof—ropes break—but I’ve had wire antennas last 20 years, while others come down after one storm. The key is to use high-quality rope (like Mastrant) and high quality stranded wire and don’t overtighten.
We’ll be offering DX-Launcher packages with upgrade options, including:
* Portable pump
* Extra tennis balls
* High-strength twine
* Reels for the pump
And we’re not stopping there—we’re also in the early stages of developing a slingshot option! This will be the cheaper option to the DX-Launcher. Our mission is to be “all things launcher” for the dipole ham community. You can be super loud with wire antennas. I’ve built 4-squares in trees that work just as well as a $7000 aluminum version—it just takes more effort to keep them up. But, the DX launcher will make this easy!
The DX-Launcher is a game-changer for installing wire antennas. See you at our booth at HamExpo 2025! Also, we have a RemoteHamRadio Booth, with live operations!!
VE2DX Electronics Design to Announce “Maple Syrup Project” at 2025 Northeast HamXposition
Laval, Quebec, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — VE2DX Electronics Design Inc. will introduce following the Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL Convention Keynote address in Salon A at 10h00 AM on August 23, 2025, our prototype of our new ARS1-BT aka “Maple Syrup Project.” This brand-new technology automatic antenna management system will be a game changer in the ham radio field radio market.
The ARS1-BT is designed for smaller ham radios like the ICOM IC-705, FT-100, FT-8X7 series, etc. that support both HF, VHF and UHF on a single antenna port, offering the user separate VHF/UHF and HF (both RX and TX) ports. It will also support the new RAS series of remote antenna switches, offering up to six different antennas to the operator.
Based on existing advanced VE2DX Electronics Design technologies like: TrueTTL, TrueCIV, TrueCAT, BOA, ASM, and more, it will offer blind and deaf operator assistance, advanced RFI filtering and shielding, advanced signal processing, automatic signal leveling, advanced CAT/CIV port management, CAT/CIV over bluetooth and WiFi, and powerful band management..
Please join us Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 10h00 to 10h30 at HamXposition, in the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel andTrade Center, Salon A, following the Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, Convention Keynote address for our OFFICIAL RELEASE of the VE2DX Electronics Design Inc. “Maple Syrup Project,” the ARS1-BT.
VE2DX ELECTRONICS DESIGN INC. was founded in Laval Quebec in 2020. It is a privately owned proud Canadian Electronics company designing advance electronics devices for Ham Radio operator across the world.
For More information, please contact:
Richard G. Desaulniers Sr., VE2DX
President and Lead Designer
VE2DX ELECTRONICS DESIGN INC.
WWW.VE2DX.COM
Info@ve2dx.com
450-689-4591
Mark Pride, K1RX, to Join WRTC 2026 Fund Raising Effort
(Be sure to visit the WRTC 2026 booth at this year’s Northeast HamXposition!)Mark Haynes, MØDXR, writes:
“On behalf of the WRTC 2026 UK organising committee, I am pleased to introduce Mark Pride, K1RX, as he joins our Fund Raising Team. In this role, Mark will be the principle point of contact for Personal and Club donations to the WRTC 2026 event for general inquiries or guidance regarding different methods of making a donation. Please contact Mark with any questions you may have regarding your donation in North America.
“Just a brief note about Mark’s background: Over 60 years of amateur radio experience, contesting for the past 45 years in HF and VHF/UHF events with several awards for top scorer in his region, a past president of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club, past director of WRTC 2014 for Towers and Antennas, leading 16 teams to standup 65 operating sites in 72 hours! Additionally, was a Referee at the WRTC 2018 event in Germany for the Finnish team. And what is particularly nice, Mark is retired and can provide our donor community with the appropriate support leading up to the main event in July, 2026.
“Mark adds this note: I am in the mode of paying it forward to the amateur radio community with a keen interest in helping launch the youth into radio sport. While supporting this particular role for the WRTC 2026 UK event, I particularly appreciate the organisation’s interest matching my enthusiastic support of younger hams to this amazing experience. Four youth teams are planned as well as activities such as a school visit which serves as a perfect catalyst for giving back!
“Mark can be reached at (603)-973-5963 (Eastern Time Zone) k1rx@arrl.net“
73,
Mark
M0DXR / G9W
Chairman WRTC UK OC
HamX Prize Chair’s 2025 Message
HamX Prize Chair
Be sure to read Northeast HamXposition Prize Chair W1AST’s 2025 Welcome message. Larry describes just a few of the exciting prizes that await lucky attendees at the 2025 HamX August 22-25, 2025.
Special Invitation to Collegiate Clubs at 2025 HamXposition
The Northeast HamXposition and New England ARRL Convention would be delighted to have more collegiate clubs at this year’s convention. Our goal is to attract more youth of any age into amateur radio, but also to highlight the local colleges that have amateur radio clubs and perhaps interest youth in staying in the hobby through their college years.
Collegiate clubs get exposure and recognition from the ham radio community, perhaps bringing in alumni who are delighted the club is still going, perhaps attracting some donations of equipment and funding. They get to promote their school clubs with a pasteboard or banner, handouts, etc., for free.
Collegiate club members who attend will have free admission for all days and activities.
For more information, see <https://hamxposition.org/collegiate-clubs/>.