Welcome!
Welcome to the website of the Hampden County Radio Association, or HCRA, a group of amateur radio operators (“hams”) in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. The club has existed since the mid-1940s; the first newsletter we have on file is from September 1948. You can browse through it and the rest of the newsletter archive for a complete history of the club’s activities, but it’ll take you awhile.
HCRA has a long tradition of maintaining a diverse membership spanning a wide range of interests. Many of us are deeply involved in all kinds of HF communication, from CW and SSB to the latest digital modes. There are also members active in low power communications, in the microwaves, Parks on the Air (POTA), Emergency Communications, Summits on the Air (SOTA), project building and nearly every other aspect of this amazing hobby. There’s a place here for everyone.
The HCRA is an Affiliated Club and a Special Service Club with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio. Find out more about that on the ARRL New England Division web site.
Many of our club members are technical and build projects or help others with their questions and projects.
- A feature of membership is assistance for any question you may have, the club offers a specialist who can work with you at your level.
- If you chase DX, the QSL bureau costs $7 per group of cards plus a fee for the weight of the cards. The club offers a pooled QSL service for members, saving you a minimum of $7 every time you send cards through the ARRL DX QSL Bureau System.
- The club also lets members join the HCRA group on ClubLog. It’s a fun way to compete with your friends and their DX chasing accomplishments.
Whether you are a new ham who just earned a license or an old timer who’s been on the air for decades, there is something for you in the HCRA. Join the HCRA Facebook page and keep up with the daily goings on of the club and its members. Come join us at our monthly meeting and introduce yourself. We meet the first Friday of every month at the Holyoke Medical Center Auxiliary Conference Room.
I know I speak for the whole club in welcoming you to the HCRA. We look forward to meeting you. If you are not yet a ham, we can help you with that too.
73 and I hope to see you at the next meeting!
Alan Dove, AB1XW
HCRA President
Latest Blog Posts
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Privileges Has Its Membership
I’m sure you’re all familiar with the American Express Company’s saying “Membership has its privileges”, and while this is true, its chiasmus “Privileges has its membership” is equally true. As a new Technician Class license holder, you’ve worked hard earning your Amateur Radio Operating privileges to work these bands: 33 Centimeters, 70 Centimeters, 1.25 Meters,…
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Board Meeting Minutes 9/18/2012
Hampden County Radio Association Board of Directors Meeting 9/18/2012, Holyoke Hospital Boardroom Officer Reports Vice President – 35 Raffle Tickets Sold for KX3 Raffle Treasurer’s Report – AA1YW Current Financial report – Income From Meeting KX3 Raffle – $310.00 Membership – $615.00 Donation – $110.00 Income Total – $1035.00 Expenses – $120.00 (Welcome Back Refreshments)…
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Who’d like an TYT TH-F5 Dual Band HT?
Did you say, me?! Well it could be you. That’s right, you could add a brand new, right-out-of-the-box TYT TH-F5 Dual Band HT to your radio collection. What’s the catch you ask? No catch, it’s something you were going to do anyway. And what might that be, you next ask. Simple, come to the next…
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Member Profile – October 2012
Who is this guy who has been developing the new HCRA website? Well here is your chance to find out. Our October member profile is on HCRA member and webmaster extraordinaire Jeff – NT1K. Name: Jeffrey Bail Town: West Springfield Callsign: NT1K Previous Callsigns: N1BMX, KB1GJQ License Class: Extra Main station equipment: Yaesu FT-950 HF+6M All…
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Whats New In The DX Zoo
[table] Entity,Callsign,Date Cocos (Keeling),VK9CS,Sep. 21- 28 2012. Conway Reef,3D2C,Sep. 26 – Oct. 5 2012. Tristan da Cunha,ZD9UW, Sep. 27 – Oct. 4 2012. Chad,TT8TT,Oct. 3-16 2012. Rodrigues Is,3B9SP,Oct. 16-23 2012. St. Peter & St. Paul Rocks,PT0S,Nov. 9-22 2012. Brunei,V84SMD,Nov. 11- 22 2012. Campbell Is.,ZL9HR,Nov. 17 – 30 2012. Mauritania,5T0SP,Nov. 24 – Dec. 10 2012. Banaba,T33A,March…
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Subscribe to the New HCRA!
Want up to date information on what is going on with the club without having to go to the website every day? There is a way where it can be bundled up and sent to your e-mail box! How is this possible you might ask. Well it’s very easy to do. Let me show you…
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NE1SJ & WA1J head to the ‘nocks’ for a ‘threefer’
Saturday, September 22nd Frandy/N1FJ, Nick/K1MAZ and I will be heading the the Monadnocks in southern New Hampshire to activate two, maybe three summits. Look for us masquerading behind the calls of NE1SJ and WA1J starting around noon local time. The plan is still liquid and the final determination of which peak is first, do we…
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Z60K/Kosovo – Possible new DXCC Country
There’s a new kid on the block, Z60K. They went QRV a few days ago and have been very active on the bands. Although not ‘yet’ accepted by ARRL as a DXCC entity the scuttlebutt is they will most likely be approved once the IARU issues a prefix. So what to do until then –…
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SOTA Jerks head to the ‘dacks!
Frandy/N1FJ and I will be heading to the high peaks of the Adirondacks to activate a few mountains for SOTA. We will activate Whiteface Mountain Monday afternoon then meet up with Dennis/WA2USA Monday evening. The three of us will attempt summits on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning before returning to our respective homes. Dennis, one…