Mohawk Amateur Radio Club

Mohawk Amateur Radio Club Amateur Radio Club serving hams in the
North Central Worcester County for 40+ years. Weekly net on 145.370 every Wed @ 7:00 PM

Meetings are the 4th Monday of the month at the Gardner Police Headquarters, 200 Main St, Gardner, MA. We are an active amateur radio club serving North Central Worcester County. Amateur Radio (ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It's fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need. Join us at our meetings every 4th Wednesday of the month 7:00 PM at the Gardner Police Headquarters, 200 Main St, Gardner, MA. Calendar of Events
https://goo.gl/ISR0Bc

Lots going on! Wednesday Night Net at 1900hrs is the place to hear all about it!
10/14/2026

Lots going on! Wednesday Night Net at 1900hrs is the place to hear all about it!

Do you know anyone who might like to try out ham radio? A FREE, on-line (Zoom) Tech Class begins later this month! There...
10/12/2026

Do you know anyone who might like to try out ham radio?

A FREE, on-line (Zoom) Tech Class begins later this month! There is no age limit for licensure; pre-teens and young teens can easily pass the entry level Technician License test. In addition to making it easy to enjoy a hobby as a family, the influence of this particular hobby on students' understanding of sciences, technology, engineering, and math - STEM subjects - cannot be overstated!

Encourage your friends and neighbors to give it try - share the info with your schools - worst case the investment is time and the cost of one manual for a family!

Ten amateur radio operators enjoyed a good ragchew and delicious brunch on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the Westminste...
10/09/2026

Ten amateur radio operators enjoyed a good ragchew and delicious brunch on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the Westminster, MA Cafe. Attending were (l-r, clockwise) Mohawk Amateur Radio Club President Paul Topolski, W1SEX (Gardner); Dave Bramhall, KF4GAF (Phillipston - MARC); Montachusett Amateur Radio Association W1GZ Treasurer Gordon LaPoint, N1MGO (Leominster - MARA/MARC); Jim Barclay, NS1J (Royalston - MARC/MARA); Scott Sargent, KC1QVO (Westminster - MARA/MARC); Chris Burnard, KC1TAT (Hubbardston (MARC); Pauline Carulli, KB1JXJ (MARA/MARC); ARRL Western MA Section Manager Ray Lajoie, Dave Craig, WB1CEA (Petersham - MARC); AA1SE (Lunenburg - MARA), and not shown, Mary Barclay, W1KKM (Royalston - MARC/MARA).

Sadly (for everyone else!), within the next couple of weeks Chris, KC1TAT will be headed to his winter home, so this was his last OTL until he emerges next spring.

Any licensed amateur radio operators of any age, licensed at any level, for any length of time, member of any club or not, qualify as “Old Timers.” If you’re an Old Timer, we’d love to have you join us for a chat and some food from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., first Wednesdays, at the Westminster (MA) Café. (Prices range from +/- $5/coffee and English muffin, to $11-$15 for full breakfast or lunch.)
Do you know someone interested in ham radio? We encourage you to bring ‘em along!



A ‘two-fer,’ Wednesday Night Net catch-up post:The autumn slump has begun, with just seven call-ins for last night’s Wed...
10/09/2026

A ‘two-fer,’ Wednesday Night Net catch-up post:

The autumn slump has begun, with just seven call-ins for last night’s Wednesday Night Net, including Jim Barclay, NS1J (Royalston); Dave Craig, WB1CEA (Petersham); Shawn Martin, N1REK (Gardner); Mary Barclay, W1KKM (Royalston); Joe Browning, N1MGP (Winchendon); and Kevin Erickson, N1ERS (Gardner). It was a casual one, with Club President Paul Topolski, W1SEX (Gardner) facilitating the call-up with a Motorola HT from the comfort of his living room couch.

Paul, W1SEX reports he’s all caught up putting names into the Club’s e-mail reflector. He also mentioned he attended the Old Timers’ Luncheon earlier in the day, and went to Nearfest last Saturday.

Dave, WB1CEA also went to Nearfest, but on Friday, and encountered just a few raindrops in the afternoon. He went home with a couple of power supplies. He’s been investing some time into the not-yet-working-repeater and learning all about the characteristics of coax cable.

Shawn, N1REK says hi and 73 to all!

Jim, NS1J said the highlight of his day was the Old Timers’ Luncheon, and after all of the heavy-duty conversation with his ‘neighbors’ Dave, KF4GAF, Gordon, N1MGO and Chris, KC1TAT, he had to come home and take a nap!

Joe, N1MGP has been busy repairing tractors, but he did find time to get to Nearfest. He sold lots but didn’t come home empty handed – he found nice power supply and a old Drake HF to give him something to do over the winter. He reports Nearfest was a great time.

Technically, the repeater had been returned to general use at 1919 hrs., but Kevin, N1ERS chimed in immediately after. He was discussing some issues with the repeater cans up on the hill with Paul, W1SEX and Dave, WB1CEA.

By way of catch-up, there were eight call-ins for the September 30, 2026 Wednesday Night Net, under Net Control and Club President Paul Topolski, W1SEX: Dave Craig, WB1CEA (Petersham); Larry LeBlanc, W1MWF (Ashburnham); Mary Barclay, W1KKM; Bill Wilson, N1LEF (Gardner); Jim Barclay, NS1J (Royalston); Shawn Martin, N1REK (Gardner); and Greg Abare, W1KRX (Baldwinville), who checked in using his portable FT-8, just after the repeater had been returned to general use.

Calling all hams: Got time for lunch and a bit of a ragchew? The Old Timers' Luncheon is just what you're looking for! ...
10/06/2026

Calling all hams: Got time for lunch and a bit of a ragchew? The Old Timers' Luncheon is just what you're looking for! All amateur radio operators of any age, any experience level, and even the unlicensed, "ham curious" are invited.

Stop by the Westminster Cafe on Wednesday, October 7th, 11:30 a.m. Eating and chatting go until about 1 p.m. It's 'Dutch Treat,' and Prices range from +/- $5/coffee and English muffin, to $11-$15 for full breakfast or lunch.

Good food, good friends, and free advice... such a deal!

It was a bittersweet POTA activation Saturday, October 3, 2026. WEATHER: Autumn PerfectionSITE: Spectacular waterfront;...
10/05/2026

It was a bittersweet POTA activation Saturday, October 3, 2026.
WEATHER: Autumn Perfection
SITE: Spectacular waterfront; gorgeous fall foliage
ACTIVATION: Successful, with 29 QSOs
SADNESS: it is most likely the final POTA of the 2026 season!

A total of 29 QSOs were made from as far away as Wisconsin, Missouri, and North Carolina, with a dozen contacts on 20m and 17 on 40m. “With all of the contesting going on this weekend,” explained Andrew Detsikas, KC1NLT (Clinton), “I didn’t bother activating [after Kevin Erickson, N1ERS (Gardner) was on the air] on 20m; those are all Park-to-Parks.”

One of the most amusing contacts of the summer was with Special Event Station W3ZC, operating during our POTA activation on 40m, 20m, and 15m SSB, from ‘The Big Coffee’ Pot in Bedford, PA.

By way of cultural enhancement, the 18-foot-tall novelty landmark was built in 1927 and can hold in the vicinity of 50,000 GALLONS of coffee! The station was conducted by BCARS – Bedford County Amateur Radio Society – from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EDT on our POTA activation day, to, “…celebrate the iconic landmark and the USA’s 250th Anniversary. Contacts count towards the ARRL WAS250 (Worked All States 250) award.”

BCARS was formed in 1959 to support Beford County and took charge of the County’s Civil Defense communications system. They continue to maintain a close relationship with the Bedford EOC and are classified as an ARRL Special Service Club.

It was an interesting activation throughout. Upon arrival, the upper parking lot already had a POTA activation spotted. Activators were KA1COM, David Malgeri, Jr. and N1OMJ, Michael Giovannucci, both of Winchendon (who will soon be finding copies of our latest MODULATOR in their mailboxes, with an invitation to pop in for a meeting.)

A park visitor from Marlborough, MA stopped by to see what was going on. The curious man peppered Mohawk Club members with questions about the setup, the purpose, and about Amateur Radio in general. As he was about to leave, it was suggested he check out the Minuteman Repeater Association, which Kevin Erickson, N1RES (Gardner) expects is the closest group to this visitor’s home. Our drop-in seems a likely candidate for an upcoming introductory ham class.

POTA participants included the organizers Kevin, N1ERS and Andrew, KC1NLT, along with Jim Barclay, NS1J (Royalston); Mary Barclay, W1KKM (Royalston); and Cliff Wilder, W1CFW (Winchendon), who rode in on his bicycle for the event!

The Lake Dennison State Recreation Area was Mohawk Amateur Radio Club’s tenth POTA activation for 2026. Club member Kevin, N1ERS and Club VP Andrew, KC1NLT organized one every other week for nine Saturdays throughout the summer, and when the weather continued to be so beautiful, added this bonus POTA. Thank you to Kevin and Andrew for making so many POTA outings happen!


Short of Mother Nature declaring a holiday, this Saturday will likely be the final 2026 POTA Activation for the Mohawk A...
10/02/2026

Short of Mother Nature declaring a holiday, this Saturday will likely be the final 2026 POTA Activation for the Mohawk Amateur Radio Club. All amateur radio operators are invited to stop by, as are those who are curious about the hobby, which is also known as Ham Radio… all ages welcome!

Bring a chair, a beverage, even a picnic lunch!

It’s Net Night Wednesday! Why not call in?!
09/30/2026

It’s Net Night Wednesday! Why not call in?!

Seventeen members were in attendance at last night’s 40th anniversary meeting, while others zoomed in. The Club Vice Pre...
09/29/2026

Seventeen members were in attendance at last night’s 40th anniversary meeting, while others zoomed in. The Club Vice President and Program Coordinator Andrew Detsikas, KC1NLT (Clinton) organized a “HamX Round-Up” by members who attended that event this past August.

Club President Paul Topolski, W1SEX (Gardner), who says he attended HamX primarily to be with the trailer, and secondarily, to scope out the flea market, did sneak away to attend a forum by William Cook, Jr., W1FMX on HOW TO GET STARTED IN REPAIRING VINTAGE HEATHKIT HAM RADIOS. President Paul has nearly 90 Heathkits and loves the fact anyone can build one, and he credits the extraordinary attention to their manuals as the main reason they were so successful.

Mary Barclay, W1KKM (Royalston) attended the HamX “Club Track,” which focused on assessing the viability of clubs and considering ways to engage and excite club members, encouraging existing amateur radio operators into joining a club, and how to keep new hams by involving them. Her conclusion was that Mohawk Amateur Radio Club measured up very well to the characteristics used to describe a good club.

Jim Barclay, NS1J (Royalston) attended several programs, including ANTIQUE RADIOS AND REPAIR; THE INS AND OUTS OF RFI; INTRODUCTION TO 3D PRINTING FOR AMATEUR RADIO; and STEALTHY ALL-BAND HF FROM ATTICS AND SMALL SPACES. He talked about some of his takeaways from each program, and from HamX in general, and focused on the skillset hams have, and their ability to diagnose and fix radio problems.

Andrew, KC1NLT attended the program on FOXHUNTING ON A BUDGET, A SPRINGBOARD TO CLUB ACTIVITY AND GROWTH. He found his way to Foxhunting during COVID and says it’s a great activity for Tech level hams as it’s on 2m, and helps ‘hunters’ hone their emerging skills.

Kevin Erickson, N1ERS (Gardner) was slated to provide a program on the HAM2K PORTABLE LOGGER for ‘amateur radio operations on the go.’ Unfortunately, he was delayed returning home from work and didn’t make the meeting. Kevin tried out Ham2K during Mohawk POTA season, and is well-pleased with the open-source, free app.



Mohawk’s 40th Annual Meeting is this Monday, Sep. 28, 2026at 7 p.m. in the EOC. A business meeting and Election of Offi...
09/26/2026

Mohawk’s 40th Annual Meeting is this Monday, Sep. 28, 2026at 7 p.m. in the EOC. A business meeting and Election of Officers will be followed by a HamX roundup. The treasurer will gladly accept dues!

All are welcome to attend!

Address

Gardner, MA
01440

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