Category: WEARC Blog

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, members of the Roseland Amateur Radio Club, the West Essex Amateur Radio Club (WEARC), New Providence Amateur Radio Club (NPARC), and other local amateur radio groups met at Bramhall Terrace in South Mountain Reservation, Maplewood, New Jersey, for another outdoor operating session. The group was on site from 9 AM to 1 PM Eastern, setting up portable stations and enjoying an autumn morning on the air.

The weather made for a pleasant fall gathering. Temperatures were in the mid-40s at the start and rose into the upper 50s by early afternoon, with breaks of sunshine, light winds, and colorful foliage throughout the reservation.

Radio conditions were favorable, too. The HF bands were in good shape, including an opening on 10 meters. Operators worked CW, voice, and digital modes, making many contacts during the four-hour session. Between contacts, there was plenty of opportunity to compare equipment, discuss antennas, and see how different portable setups performed in the field.

Around 10 AM Eastern (14:00 UTC), the solar flux index was near 100, and NOAA’s morning space-weather outlook forecast a quiet planetary Kp near 1 for the surrounding three-hour period. No significant HF radio blackouts had been reported. Despite a cautious outlook for the highest HF bands, operators found 10 meters open—an example of why it’s always worth checking the bands firsthand. (ARRL Solar Update, October 23, 2026)

The event was as much about getting together as it was about getting on the air. The informal format gave participants a chance to exchange ideas, help one another with equipment, and enjoy amateur radio outside the shack.

This will likely be our last outdoor operating event of 2026, but there are additional indoor activities planned for November and December. We look forward to returning to outdoor operations when the warmer weather arrives in spring 2027.

A sincere thank-you to everyone who participated in the South Mountain activation events throughout 2026. Your participation, camaraderie, and willingness to share equipment and ideas made the spring, summer, and fall weekends special. Thanks as well to Maurice for documenting this gathering with his photographs. We look forward to seeing everyone at the indoor events and back at South Mountain together next spring.

Photos courtesy of Maurice, KB2SUL

Kevin, KD2RME from the Red Cross, on Wednesday October 21st at 7:30 PM EST presented Disaster Preparedness.

A comprehensive presentation on emergency and disaster preparedness, covering preparing for potential scenarios involving your every day life, work, home, and your family. We reviewed real potential disaster threats in your life and area, how you and your family can prepare for it, and ways you can prepare for it through mitigation and assembling kits for scenarios you and your family may face. We went beyond the usual preparedness education by going in-depth into the types of kits depending on situation, and review factors such as size, portability, and needs.

The presentation recording is below:

Join WEARC on Zoom for a presentation by Kevin, KD2RME from the Red Cross, on Wednesday October 21st at 7:30 PM EST.

A comprehensive presentation on emergency and disaster preparedness, covering preparing for potential scenarios involving your every day life, work, home, and your family. We will review real potential disaster threats in your life and area, how you and your family can prepare for it, and ways you can prepare for it through mitigation and assembling kits for scenarios you and your family may face. We go beyond the usual preparedness education by going in-depth into the types of kits depending on situation, and review factors such as size, portability, and needs.

If interested, please email N1UGK or any WEARC club member for the zoom link. The presentation will be recorded and posted here on the club web site.

Essex County ARES supported the 2026 Tour de Millburn with 11 volunteers providing real-time amateur radio communications along the 7 and 15-mile courses. Volunteers from local amateur radio clubs, including WEARC and the Roseland Amateur Radio Club, participated in the operation. Radio communications were clear and effective throughout the morning, and no major safety incidents were reported.

For details and photos, please visit: 2026 Tour de Millburn — ARES Event Recap

Whether you are a newly licensed amateur, returning to the hobby, or considering your first HF setup, this presentation will provide practical guidance on selecting equipment and planning a station that fits your interests and budget.

Drawing on his experience as an active HF operator, Mike Luongo, K2NNN, discussed equipment choices, station planning considerations, and practical tips to help new operators get on the air successfully.

On Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 9 AM to 1:30 PM ET, local amateur radio operators returned to Bramhall Terrace in South Mountain Reservation, Maplewood, New Jersey, for another morning of portable operating, experimentation, and time together outdoors.

The September meetup drew a solid turnout, with approximately 8 to 10 licensed amateur radio operators participating throughout the morning. Two HF stations and one VHF station were set up, giving the group several opportunities to operate, compare equipment, and experiment with different bands and modes.

HF conditions were favorable, with 15 meters in particularly good condition for longer-distance contacts. Activity during the morning included both voice and digital operation using FT8 and FT4.

Todd, KE2HPS, was active on SSB and completed approximately 15 voice contacts with stations in Wisconsin, Texas, Kansas, Minnesota, Alabama, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and other locations. Most of Todd’s contacts were made on 20 meters with Parks on the Air activation stations, providing a steady stream of stations to work throughout the morning.

Steve, KE2GVV, concentrated on 15-meter FT8 and made numerous digital contacts while conditions on the band were favorable. The digital station provided another good example of how portable HF operating can support a wide variety of operating styles and modes from the same field location.

Mike, KC2NJ, operated 2-meter FM simplex and made several VHF contacts. One of the more interesting contacts was with a mobile station traveling on Route 110 in Huntington, Suffolk County, Long Island, at a distance of approximately 45 miles. The contact provided another opportunity to see how well VHF simplex can perform from the elevated South Mountain location.

The primary HF/VHF voice station included a Yaesu FT-991A along with an Intellitron TA-1317 17-foot telescoping whip configured for 20 meters. The antenna was mounted on a portable POTA spike and used ground radials. VHF operation was supported by an Elk Antennas 2M/440L5 directional antenna.

Weather conditions were excellent once again, with clear skies and warm temperatures making for a comfortable morning in the park. Generous participants also provided water, tables, and chairs for the group.

As with the previous South Mountain gatherings, the event offered a good mix of operating, equipment experimentation, and informal technical discussion. Experienced operators had an opportunity to try different station configurations, while newer amateurs could see portable equipment in actual operation and ask questions about antennas, radios, propagation, and operating techniques.

Should we fit in one more South Mountain portable operating event in October before the weather turns colder? Let us know in the comments!

Maurice, KB2SUL, took many photographs throughout the morning, which appear below for everyone to enjoy.

Join Mike Luongo, K2NNN, as he presents on the topic of setting up your first HF station. WEARC members and guests are invited to join the presentation, either in-person at the American Red Cross facility in Fairfield NJ, or, on Zoom.

The presentation will take place on Wednesday September 16th at 7:30PM EST. For WEARC members, join on the regular “social” zoom link or in-person at the American Red Cross in Fairfield. If you are not currently a WEARC member, you can still join us as a guest – please email for the Zoom link and/or attending in-person.

The presentation will also be recorded and posted on the WEARC club web site for those that cannot attend.

Participants in the W2NJR 10 AM Friendly Chat Net took the conversation from the airwaves to Eagle Rock Reservation in Essex County on Monday morning, August 24. The informal gathering ran from about 9:30 AM until noon and brought together regular net participants along with net host Bill, K3CBI, for a morning of radio, conversation, and a chance to put some faces to familiar voices.

Conditions at Eagle Rock were excellent for the gathering, with pleasant late-summer weather and good visibility from the elevated location overlooking the surrounding area and New York City skyline.

Radio was naturally a big part of the morning. Bob, N2LMW, engineered an impressive long-haul UHF link between Eagle Rock and Manahawkin, New Jersey, approximately 70 miles away. While the social gathering was underway, Bill, K3CBI, used this link to host the regular W2NJR 10 AM Friendly Chat Net from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM ET. The 90-minute net sounded good on the air and provided a great practical demonstration of what can be accomplished on UHF from a well-situated location.

Just as important as the radio activity was the opportunity to get together in person. Much of the morning became an enjoyable meet-and-greet in the parking lot, with plenty of conversation and good company. Amateur radio has a way of creating friendships between people who may talk regularly for months or years without actually meeting face-to-face, and gatherings like this provide the opportunity to reconnect with old friends while meeting others previously known only by their call signs and voices.

Great weather, good propagation, and an enthusiastic group made for a very enjoyable morning at Eagle Rock. Thanks to Bill, K3CBI, Bob, N2LMW, and everyone from the W2NJR 10 AM Friendly Chat Net who came out and helped make the gathering a success.

On Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 9 AM to 12:30 PM ET, members of the West Essex Amateur Radio Club (WEARC), Roseland Amateur Radio Club, NPARC, Tri-County Radio Association, and other local amateur radio operators gathered at Bramhall Terrace in South Mountain Reservation, Maplewood, New Jersey, for another morning of portable radio operating and technical experimentation.

The August meetup drew an excellent turnout, with approximately 15 licensed amateur radio operators participating. A significant amount of equipment was brought to the site, including at least five HF radios and several antenna systems. The variety of stations and antennas gave operators multiple options for getting on the air and comparing different portable operating setups.

HF band conditions were good, allowing the group to make many contacts throughout the morning. Activity included three operating modes: voice, CW, and digital communications using FT8 and FT4. The range of equipment and operating modes provided opportunities for experienced operators to experiment while also giving newer amateurs a close look at several aspects of field operation.

VHF activity produced one of the morning’s most notable contacts. Using FM simplex, 50 watts, and a vertically polarized Yagi antenna, the group completed a contact approximately 80 miles east-northeast into Connecticut. The extended range may have been aided by light tropospheric ducting during the early morning, resulting in better-than-usual VHF propagation.

The equipment and hands-on opportunities were enjoyed by experienced operators and newcomers alike. Those newer to amateur radio found particular value in seeing the stations and antennas operating in the field, while having the opportunity to ask technical and operational questions directly of more experienced participants.

Weather conditions were excellent, with clear skies and warm temperatures throughout the event. Generous participants also provided plenty of bottled water and snacks for the group.

Overall, the August gathering was another successful morning of operating, experimentation, and time spent with fellow amateur radio operators. With strong attendance, favorable band conditions, and a wide selection of equipment available, the event offered something of interest for operators at every experience level.

The group is already looking forward to another weekend portable operating meetup, possibly in early September. Maurice, KB2SUL, took many photographs throughout the morning, which appear below for everyone to enjoy.

Special Event – Roseland and other Local Clubs On-The-Air, Saturday, August 1st – South Mountain Reservation

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Portable HF/VHF/UHF operations from Bramhall Terrace in South Mountain Reservation — Maplewood, NJ

Event questions or talk-in: KC2TXA Repeater, 146.595 +1 MHz, 100.0 Hz PL | EchoLink: KC2TXA-R

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cpQqpdH1YsPKEe7x6