Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:The Northeast HamXposition is once again proud to announce the return of the popular “Mini-Contest University” workshop.
Mini-Contest University, or mini-CTU, based on K3LR’s popular Contest University, has been featured at the Dayton Hamvention since 2007 and has been presented in 15 countries to over 10,000 participants, is a series of contest-oriented talks and presentations offered at HamXposition on Friday.
There is no fee to attend. Registration will be announced soon.
Last year’s mini-CTU offerings featured some of the top contesters in New England: Mark Pride, K1RX; Doug Grant, K1DG; John Dorr, K1AR; Gerry Hull, W1VE, Dennis Egan, W1UE, Randy Thompson, K5ZD; Paul Young, K1XM; and others.
Topics included:
Stay tuned for updates.
We are pleased to have as our special guest presenter a well-known international DXer/Contester, Ned Stearns, AA7A, at the DX/Contest Banquet at the 2025 Northeast HamXposition.
The Radio-In-a-Box (RIB) technology has made a big impact in the DX (and contesting) realm. Its use in high-profile DXpeditions has changed the DXing game forever. The use of RIBs in DXpeditions can provide numerous benefits such as reduced project costs, lower environmental impact and safer operations. The “Remote DXpedition” presentation will provide AA7A’s perspective on the nearly seven-year development effort of the RIB concept and other emerging technologies and how their application to DXing is an exciting step forward in amateur radio.
The DX/Contest Banquet will be held at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center Marlborough, Massachusetts on Friday evening, August 22, 2025. Tickets for the banquet and other events can be purchased online at https://ticketing.hamxposition.org.
We are proud to feature special guest speaker Dr. Nathaniel A. Frissell, W2NAF, from the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) program who will present “HamSCI: Space Weather We Can Do Together!” at the 2025 HamXposition Grand Banquet. Dr. Frissell will discuss results from a number of recent HamSCI experiments, what’s next for HamSCI in the future, and how you can participate in these exciting projects.
The Grand Banquet will be held at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center Marlborough, Massachusetts on Saturday evening, August 23, 2025. Tickets for the banquet and other events can be purchased online at https://ticketing.hamxposition.org.
Looking for inspiration?
We’re intentionally soliciting talks at all levels: introductory, general interest, advanced. The ideal presentation is preferably about 45 minutes in length and absolutely no longer than 50 minutes. This will allow time for subsequent speakers to set up. Here are just a few ideas to spark your imagination as you prepare a talk about The Excitement of Amateur Radio. (Don’t worry. You may see an inspiration in one subject group and apply it to another.)
Antennas and Propagation Subjects. Simple antennas for the newcomer. Making antennas out of aluminum, or wire. Antenna projects as club activities. All about transmission lines and connectors. Knowledgeable purchasing. Rotators. Tower safety. When should I get on the air, and on which band? Propagation basics. Beacons. Propagation modeling. Propagation reporting. What are all these sunspot numbers, A, and K factors, anyway? The decibel. What’s next in the solar cycle. Results of your own propagation studies. HamSCI activities.
Operating Activities Subjects.
On The Air. Introduction to fox hunting, to ARDF, to OTAs (Summits, Parks, Lighthouses, Boy Scout Jamborees, Girl Scout Thinking days, etc.). International cooperative efforts. Operating practice and/or ethics. Operating awards. Geography and topography. VHF+ hilltopping and roving. Tips and techniques for your successful activity. Activity travelogues. QSLing. Occupying underutilized bands or modes.
Contesting. Introduction to contesting. Configuring your station. Maximizing your score. Breaking through pile-ups. Tips for the “little pistol” competitors. Logging programs and techniques. Submitting logs. Field day war stories.
DXing. Introduction to DXing. Wallpaper opportunities. Organizing and managing a DXpedition. Amateur Radio demographics around the world. Tips for the “little pistol” DX chasers. Getting started with Logbook of the World. Travelogues.
EMCOM, Public Service, and Traffic Subjects. What happens to “When all else fails” when the Internet fails. EMCOM/PS preparation and training. The Incident Commander concept. Initiating and managing local EMCOM relationships. Case studies of or reports on emergency communications.
Introduction to public service. Public service experiences. Case studies of or reports on public service events. Go-kits/portable/packable/mobile equipment. Portable power. Introduction to traffic handling.
Restructuring of the NTS. Analog and digital repeater systems and networks. Analysis of command, control, and communications during Paul Rever’s 1775 ride.
History, Invention, and Reinvention Subjects. Where did we come from. Historical artifacts. Amateur Radio’s contributions to the art and technology of radio. Amateur Radio demographics. A tank away: radio-related tourist venues. How can Amateur Radio thrive: where are we going, how do we get there. Rejuvenating clubs and club meetings.
League, Division, and Section Activities and News. What’s next, what’s big in Amateur Radio. Rules and regulations. Major operating activities. Supporting scouting activities and college clubs.
Technical Subjects. New signal sources, modes, or modulation schemes. Introduction to the digital modes. Introduction to repeaters, DSTAR, DMR, etc. The analog modes aren’t dead. Unusual modes (video, telemetry, remote control, etc.) Equipment construction techniques. Physical circuits versus programming. The basics of software defined radios. SMD soldering. Parts and programs resources. Hints and Kinks. RFI chasing and fixing. Using clusters, spotters, and reporters. How to remotely control your station. Frontiers in the hobby. The Clean Signal Initiative. Exploring Lightwave communications. Experiences at HF and below, VHF and above. Shack networking and interfacing. Remote operation. Reports of experiments, studies, or significant achievements.
Training and Education Subjects. T&E planning for your club. T&E success (or failure) stories. Demonstrations, and how to present them. Long format versus short format license preparation. Tech Nights. Post-exam, continuing, and remedial training. Finding candidate trainees. Bringing the next
generation on board. Elmering.
Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes:
Thanks for attending the “Club Track” at HamXposition last weekend. Feedback has been very positive!
I want to thank the following people for their presentations:
Bruce Blain, K1BG, Nashoba Valley ARC – Guerilla Marketing: Finding contacts, creating email lists mailings / CRM tips.
David Tessitore, K1DT, Providence Radio Association – Marketing your Club.
Chris Ranney, WA1CMR, Falmouth ARA – Getting New Hams Active – How a “radio” library can help.
George Allison, K1IG, PART of Westford – Making Your Club Relevant and Fun.
Phil Temples, K9HI – Overview of WordPress website options.
Brandon Hockle, NQ1W, Cape Ann ARA – Radio Club Rejuvenated: What we did at Cape Ann ARA and what might work for your club.
Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, SM/RI and Rowan Eggert, WO1P, SYC/RI – Leveraging the biannual ARRL School Roundup in the New England Division as a new youth force multiplier follow up to Winter Field Day and JOTA.
If anyone is interest in any of the presentations, reply to this email and I will send you a copy or copies.
Thanks again. I hope we can do it again in 2025!
Bruce
Join Douglas Evans, K3DRE, as he talks about 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 radio amateur that helped his career. Doug’s been a lot of places and seen very interesting stuff, but found the basics of RF always apply. #hamxposition
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. #hamxposition