Join John Rokicki, KC1VMZ, as he presents “Net Central—a New Spin on APRS, Nets and EmComm Tools” at the 2026 Northeast HamXposition.

Says John: “Net Central was developed to leverage the power of APRS to bring managed nets to APRS, provide situational awareness of the surrounding ham infrastructure, and augment reality by extending the set (and intelligence) of APRS objects available for EmComm settings.”

This presentation will discuss the use cases for Net Central, its unique offering in APRS, and even an interactive demo for those in the audience capable of using APRS on-site.

John Rokicki, KC1VMZ, is a relatively new ham with a passion for APRS! Getting his licenses as a response to viewing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, he focused his attention on EmComm and gravitated towards APRS. With APRS as a potent technology, he realized that EmComm-focused solutions could be built leveraging it. Net Central became a passion project, melding his software engineering background and growing love of APRS.

Join Zachary Sherman, KC1NXK, as he presents “Succeeding as a Volunteer at Amateur Radio Public Service Events” at the 2026 Northeast HamXposition. (Date, time, room T.B.A.)

Volunteering for an athletic race or community event as an amateur radio operator is very different than rag chewing from the shack. Being part of a large communications team for a dynamic event is not only exciting but also incredibly rewarding. In this presentation, Zachary will draw on his six years of experience as a volunteer for events like the Boston Marathon and Head of the Charles Regatta to help you plan, prepare, and set yourself up for success on the day of the big event.

Long before he heard of amateur radio, Zachary enjoyed playing with FRS walkie-talkies with friends. Sent home from Olin College due to Covid, he became a Technician licensee in September 2020. Zachary soon became a co-leader of the Olin Collegiate Amateur Radio Club, helping students earn their radio licenses then volunteer for public service events. Zachary graduated in 2023 and now works as a biomedical engineer. Zachary enjoys community amateur radio events at New England Sci-Tech in Natick, MA, making contacts via the ISS repeater, studying for his General license test, and working on his mobile radio installation. He is currently president of the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS).

Join Bill Cook, W1FMX, for “How to Get Started in Repairing Vintage Heathkit Ham Radios” at the 2026 Northeast HamXposition. (Time, date, room T.B.A.)

According to Bill: “Heathkit gear is the easiest type of radio for a new ‘repair guy.’ The talk will cover such topics as how to choose a radio to restore, safety, getting started, cleaning and preparing the radio, gathering the tools and test instruments needed, studying the manual/schematic, examining and replacing various circuit parts, some”tricks of the trade,” and getting help if lost.”

First licensed with a Novice Class license in 1969 as WN2FMX, I became a General in 1970 with the call, WA2FMX. After moving to Connecticut in 1991,I was issued the N1LJQ call sign, but after finally taking the Extra Exam in 2021 (after over 50 years as a Ham!), requested W1FMX as a call to “close the circle.” I am a retired professor who taught at a State University for more than 27 years, but also worked in construction (electrical work) and had a business installing telephone, intercom, CCTV, and fire/security alarm systems in NYC before that. I built my first Heathkit in 1968 and have restored a variety of Heathkit Ham equipment over the past 7 years.

Come to the ARRL Connecticut Section Meeting at the 2026 Northeast HamXposition hosted by CT Section Manager Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH. (Time, date, room T.B.A.)

Says Douglas: “Let’s hear about what you have been doing, both the successes and challenges. ARRL membership is not just ‘QST.’ Learn about the section cabinet, and how its volunteer staff helps hams in Connecticut.”

Join Max Kendall, WØMXX, as he presents an Arduino workshop at the 2026 Northeast HamXposition. (Date, time, location T.B.D.)

This workshop will guide you through the Arduino programming language and assembling basic circuits with both electronics and code. At the conclusion, participants will have successfully created a Morse code keyer.

Bring your own laptop with the latest Arduino IDE installed. Arduino kits will be available to borrow.

Max is a rising 10th grader at Medway High School. He is the vice-president of STARS radio club at New England Sci-Tech, the president of the 4-H Science Explorers, a mentor at the Medway Library Arduino club and STEAM classes, and founder of the New England Weather Balloon Society. He earned his Extra license in 2021. He enjoys working with robotics and electronics, and has been tinkering since he was a toddler. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with other kids and adults alike. He teaches many classes and workshops at New England Sci-Tech, an educational non-profit. He also enjoys eating sushi, reading classics, math, and climbing.

Join William E. Keicher, KC1HTT, as he presents “How to Build and Operate a Two-Meter, QRP Earth-Moon-Earth Amateur Radio Station” at the 2026 Northeast HamXposition. (Date and time T.B.D.)

KC1HTT will discuss how to successfully build and operate a low power Earth-Moon-Earth radio station. This presentation will describe his two-meter, QRP Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) amateur radio station in detail. This presentation includes hardware implementation and EME operations, including QSO planning, safety considerations, EME support web sites, and six successful EME QSOs.

Dr. William E. Keicher, KC1HTT, is a retired research electrical engineer. He worked at MIT Lincoln Laboratory as a Member of the Technical Staff, Assistant Group Leader, Associate Group Leader, Group Leader, and Senior Member of the Technical Staff from 1975 to 2012 and CBS Laboratories as a Senior EE from 1973 to 1975. He served as a reserve officer in the US Army Signal Corps from 1969 to 1977. His research specialties include laser and millimeter wave communications, laser, microwave and millimeter wave radar systems, and infrared and visible imaging systems. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Electrical Engineering Department BSEE (1969), MSEE (1970), Ph.D. EE (1974). Dr. Keicher’s amateur radio interests include HF DX chasing, VHF/UHF satellite communications, and VHF Earth-Moon-Earth communications.

Alan David Kline, KB1DJ, will present an informative talk at 2026 HamX entitled “A Mobile Station in a Jeep Wrangler.” 

Says KB1DJ: “I took a used 2004 Jeep TJ Wrangler and outfitted it as an Emergency Communications vehicle. My article was published in the October 2025 issue of QST, and presented via Zoom in May, 2026 for the Long Island CW Club.”

(Date, time  of the presentation T.B.D.)

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 led by the Bob Phinney, K5TEC. It’s a great learning opportunity for teachers, scout leaders, or clubs wanting to attract more youth to their local radio clubs.  (Date, time, room T.B.D.)

Bob Phinney, K5TEC, retired from 38 years of teaching at a private school in Brookline, MA. He taught after-school STEM classes, radio and electronics courses, classical LATIN, math, photography, and science. In 2014 he founded New England Amateur Radio, Inc. (NE1AR), a non-profit to develop wireless educational curricula, as well as provide regular or on-call VE sessions. In 2018 he founded New England Sci-Tech, a non-profit STEM education center that teaches electronics and wireless communications with an emphasis on getting youth into the amateur radio hobby. 

Join Don Rolph, AB1PH, as he presents “Next Generation Emergency Nets, an update on progress” at the 2026 Northeast HamXposition. (Time, date, and room T.B.D.)

“The NTS digital team has been exploring next generation emergency net design. Basic functionality was demonstrated last year. Since then four teams have looked into alerting alerting and integration of the approaches to address country wide black swan events. Several exercises have been performed and a larger exercise is presently scheduled for Sep 19, 2026. This session will socialize progress and request feedback from the amateur community.”

Don Rolph, AB1PH, was first licensed in 1961 as WH6EHQ. He was re-licenced in the 1970s as WA2CNM. He was licensed as AB1PH in 2012. 

Don’t miss these associated presentations on hidden transmitter or “fox” hunting by KC1PEN, NC7R, and W1MJ. (Times and rooms T.B.D.)

Talks will include an overview of the sport of radio direction finding, including basic concepts, useful tools and methods — both basic and complex. Talks will also include dicussion on how club leaders can use fox hunting activities as an effective tool to increase club activity levels. 

Bring a 2M or 2M/70cm FM walkie talkie with its stock antenna. If you have an inline attenuator, bring it along (30 dB is a good value). There will be hands-on training, and a search together on foot for a fox located somewhere near the convention center.