A quick update about our May meeting – we will NOT be meeting at the Saratoga County Fire Training Center this month! Instead, we’ll be gathering on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6 PM at the Farmer’s Daughter Ice Cream stand at 882 Route 29 in Saratoga Springs. This will be a relaxed, social-style meeting—an easy spring evening to catch up, enjoy some food, and get on the air together. The Farmer’s Daughter offers both food and ice cream for purchase, and we encourage everyone to support them while we’re there. See https://www.farmersdaughtersdrivein.com/our-menu We’ll have a few radios set up, and anyone who wants to make a few QSOs or try some outdoor operating, will have the opportunity. Come out, enjoy the evening, and have some fun!!!
This is our upteenth (I don’t know the actual number) annual spring Swapfest. The location is the Cooperative Extension building at 50 West High Street in Ballston Spa. We anticipate getting the doors unlocked at 7:00 AM. We will be using the tables and chairs that are provided in the room already, so you don’t need to bring your own. There is NO ADMISSION FEE to join us. There will be no regular Monday meeting in March.
We will close the Swapfest down at 11:00 AM so that we can set up for the exam session which will start at Noon. Please pre register for the test session at hamstudy.org. At that site you will provide your necessary information needed to take the test such as callsign, FRN number and address. If you do not have a FRN number (meaning that most likely this is the first time you are attempting to test, and do not have a ham license already) the website will walk you through the process of getting one. FRN is short for Federal Registry Number, and is issued by the FCC.
Hello all. Just a reminder that the hamfest is coming up on Sept 6, just a short time away. As usual we will be having a VE test session at 8:30 right at the fairgrounds.
ARRL has changed their VE procedures. As a result we are now requiring preregistration for the test. Please check out our hamfest page for more information on signing up.
Saratoga County Amateur Radio Association’s Monthly Club Meeting – May 2025 – When: Monday, May 12, 2025 7:00pm to 9:00pm (UTC-04:00) America/New York – Where: Saratoga County Public Safety Building, 6012 County Farm Rd, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 Organizer: Mike K2ZIP – Description: Monthly Club Meeting of the Saratoga County Amateur Radio Association. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT THE USUAL IN-PERSON MEETING LOCATION!! This will be a hybrid meeting – both “in person” and via Zoom (Zoom info Via groups IO email) Title: An Update from N2XDD Presenter: Ed Wilson N2XDD, Hudson Division Director (remote) Ed’s presentation is expected to provide an overview of the Hudson Division’s activities, member engagement and advocacy efforts, as well as the director’s role and responsibilities within ARRL’s governance structure. The presentation will highlight upcoming events, resources, and initiatives aimed at promoting amateur radio within the division.
The April membership meeting featured Fred W2EMS sharing a presentation on WinLink. Fred showed how to set up the software and use it for Emergency Communications as well as passing normal traffic using his demo station.
Saratoga County Amateur Radio Association SwapFest
WHEN: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Admission: Free!!!
Where: Cornell Cooperative Extension Building (aka Solar Building) 50 West High Street (Rt 67 W), Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Doors open at 7 a.m. • Refreshments. • Door Prize raffle!
Break out of the Hamshack after a long winter, and come have some Radio Fun! Feast your eyes on all sorts of radio gear – new and old.Enjoy Eyeball QSOs with friends you’ve made on the air.
The tables will be limited to those in the room and will be on a first come first serve basis.
VE Test Session for new licensees and upgrades held at Noon in the same facility.
(Contact Jim KG2H@arrl.net for test session details.)
We’ve held this FAMOUS spring event for many years, and it gets more popular every year. If you need talk-in, try 147.00, 147.36 or 147.24 repeaters. PL is 91.5 hz for all.
Please help promote the swapfest please feel free to download a PDF flyer for printing and post to social media at Swapfest 2025
On Sunday October 20, 2024 Bob, K2RHI, took a selfie on the top of the Halfmoon Water Tank after installing a DB224 antenna on the south side of the tank for the K2DLL 147.360 MHz repeater, in the background are the Helderbergs and Catskills.
