Welcome!
See below for the latest blog posts and news about our activites and events. You can also follow the links above for more information about specific aspects of the club. If you’re brand-new at all this, here’s an introduction to what the Hampden County Radio Association is all about.


Latest Blog Posts
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KX3 vs FT-817 Receive Comparison
Now that I have your attention let me tell you what this post does NOT say! This isn’t a technical comparison between the two radios. Nor is it meant to infer one radio is better or worse than the other. You have to look at all the features/benefits and figure out what works best for…
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September Zero Beat is live, on the web and in your email box
Don’t forget! Our first meeting of the new season is this Friday, September 7th. Read all about the meeting, upcoming raffles and more in the September issue of Zero Beat. Frandy once again has put together eight pages of HCRA and local interest for September. Enjoy!
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From the Shack – September 2012
“Welcome back my friends…..” Welcome to the NEW HCRA – new meeting hall, new website, new raffle and more! I hope your summer has been interesting and exciting. Now, as the leaves begin to turn and there’s a bite of crisp autumn in the air, it is time to re-energize your activity in amateur radio!…
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NE1C SOTA Activation Review – September 1, 2012 – Prospect Hill
Nick (K1MAZ) and I, along with Jim (NE1SJ/KK1W) made the trek to Prospect Hill, MA (near Athol) for a SOTA (Summits on the Air) activation. Great weather and great propagation made for a perfect day!!! We hung a mini-G5RV from the fire tower (up about 80′ sloping to a tree branch). We used KK1W’s FT100…
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2012 Field Day Summary
Last June Hampden County Radio Association once again participated in the annual ARRL Field Day event. This year we added an additional transmitter, which put us in the 8A category. As usual, the event was an overall success with our members and visitors having a great time while operating and enjoying each other’s company. And…
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Help Wanted
Our club is looking for a few volunteers for the upcoming 2012/2013 season. Here’s a chance for you to give something back to your fellow club members. The pay is little (well actually none!) but the rewards are great. KX3 Raffle Coordinator As coordinator you would actively promote the raffle at HCRA meetings, local hamfests…
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New KX3 Raffle – starts at the September 7th meeting!
We were one of the first clubs in the world to give away an Elecraft KX3 – and we’re doing it again! Tickets will be available starting September 7th during our kick-off meeting at the Holyoke Medical Center. A $10 donation puts you in the running. Only 250 tickets will be available and the…
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Treasurer’s Report – August 26, 2012
Income: Park Refund: $746.00 FD Raffle: $380.00 FD Food: $260.00 Membership: $15.00 Silent Auction: $87.00 Total Income: $1483.00 Expenses Hall Rent: $90.00 FD Parts: $21.23 Trailer setup food: $50.00 Crew Charter: $20.00 KX3 (long term raffle prize): $1026.80 Web Hosting: $88.00 Triplexer/bpf filters (Field Day): $670.85 Field Day Food: $500.00 Total Expenses: $2378.88 Starting Balance:…
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KX3 from PEI
Yesterday I has the chance to set up the KX3 while vacationing on Prince Edward Island. Unfortunately the weather was not great but I managed to get an end fed wirestrung between two small pines and down to the deck. I heard a few summits but they couldn’t hear the little KX3 on the EFW.…
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Dueling KX3’s on Dry Hill
Here’s Frandy/N1FJ making a CW contact with a KX3 on Dry Hill – W1/CR-003 on August 15th, 2012. Yep, dueling KX3’s? No, not really. We brought them both along but only used one at a time. Actually Frandy is using mine at the moment, his is the one further to the left on our ‘rock…