Ham Radio: Highlights From a Visit to ARRL HQ and W1AW

[@DK5ONV]

ROOOOB you blowing me away! All these vintage Receivers and Transceivers...Drake, Collins, Heathkit.....this Place looks like a Museum. Tnx for the virtual Roundtrip & have a nice Weekend. 73 de Your Friend Uncle Guenter 💯👍🙋‍♂

[@SevenFortyOne]

I wanted to get some of those old radios hooked up and on the air...maybe another time.

[@DK5ONV]

@@SevenFortyOne That would be awsome if you Guys going to make this happen. Keep up your fantastic work Rob.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

A really great video! You are vey fortunate to live so close to the ARRL HQ.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I wish I had more time to go there and volunteer.

[@DonzLockz]

Wow, such an awesome place to see! Thanks for showing us around. So many old radios and history, I had no idea but so cool to see. Crazy antennas and radio room, I wish our club was kitted out like that.👍🍻🤓📻

[@SevenFortyOne]

It really is amazing what goes on here. I hope to get back soon and show more

[@LouieNYI09]

Great upload, I live in CT myself and have yet to visit the facility. Seeing this I need to go ASAP. So cool to operate W1AW

[@SevenFortyOne]

You won't be disappointed when you go!

[@almcrorie4132]

kudos, thanks for the video, would be nice to visit again, was there in 1967 after going to Expo 67 in Montreal during my visit to the New England states, it has changed a lot, looking forward to any future videos from there, al ve3gam

[@williamralph5442]

I visited in the 60’s , quite a difference..

[@BrianWM8G]

Great video! It’s pretty awesome to be able to fire up W1AW for CQWW!

[@williamstrome5271]

I've always wanted to see the station that's really cool thanks for doing this video

[@dabugman6415]

Nice job! My favorite part of our visit years ago, the wouff hong. Thanks for mentioning it.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I wish it showed up better in the footage

[@AB1Vampire]

Best Amateur radio YT video I've seen in a long time! You really outdid yourself this time. n2eye

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for letting me know!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Nice one, if I ever get to visit America again, I'll put this place on my list!

[@stevenemert837]

W1RFI - what a great call sign. Radio Frequency Interference... and he talks about the shielded room. Now I doubt that's a coincidence.

[@SevenFortyOne]

It's not a coincidence...that's a vanity call

[@vladtepes481]

Ed W1RFI is a very important person at ARRL. He was a leader againts broadband over powerline, for instance. Thanks, Ed.

[@Radiowild]

Thanks for sharing your field trip! Nice piece of ham radio history, and I'm sure you had a great time. I never knew about the shielded room. Just a larger view of a National boatanchor! lol 73's RW

[@SevenFortyOne]

If you ever get up this way you'll have to stop and check it out!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Really appreciate you taking the time to record and upload this . What a nice setup they have . I don’t care how long you’ve been an operator,, I would imagine it’s a bit intimidating being around so many smart geeks and expensive equipment 🤣🤣,, really really nice building and setup . 73’s Rob

[@SevenFortyOne]

Yeah, there were definitely a lot of really experienced guys there but they are all willing to help and explain. It was a great tour!

[@Cbro-621]

Sweet dude! I’m about 50 minutes from them I’m thinking of taking a quick road trip soon!

[@SevenFortyOne]

You should definitely go. Take the tour and then operate w1aw...you'll really enjoy it!

[@AA0Z]

Great video Rob! Nothing like not knowing the exchange during a big contest. When all else fails, just say #1. LOL!

[@SevenFortyOne]

The answer is always 1...or 7...or fish.... They guy on the other end of the contact probably thought I was trolling him with the w1aw call and then incorrect zone#...oh well. Next time I'll listen for a bit before jumping in.

[@brucesteele3052]

I wonder about the original use of the building before ARRL took it over. Thanks for the video.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I might be wrong but I think they built the building in the 60s. I'm not sure if they also built the w1aw building or if that was on the property when they bought it.

[@stargazer7644]

The W1AW building was built by the ARRL in 1963. There was no other "original use" for it.

[@brucesteele3052]

@@stargazer7644 I appreciate the response and accurate information. Thank you.

[@alexthelion335]

Yeah when I was on that weekend, I didn't know what the exchange was either. Took a while to find

[@SevenFortyOne]

We only had 15minute slots to operate so I just jumped on and started making contacts. If I had listened for a while I might have figured it out

[@alexthelion335]

@@SevenFortyOne Yeah, that's not very long

[@mikesmithg0rfd356]

thank you

[@MyFizzypop]

great video from 2E0CUH member of Cornish radio amature club and marconi center GB2GM

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm glad you enjoyed this! Thanks for letting me know

[@MyFizzypop]

@@SevenFortyOne ur welcome

[@just_in_time5518]

Very cool facility thanks for sharing! 😎

[@SevenFortyOne]

If you ever make it up this way let me know and we'll go for a tour

[@just_in_time5518]

@@SevenFortyOne that would be awesome. Thanks for offering my friend. 👍😎

[@temporarilyoffline]

Looks like a fun day!

[@SevenFortyOne]

It was!

[@mcdonald1743]

Just had contact with w1aw on 10 meters

[@tpcdude]

You should have gone on 40m in the AM window .. They had a Gates broadcast transmitter conversion that some kind hams set up for them but they sent it off to a museum .. shame

[@SevenFortyOne]

The president of my club helped get that Gates transmitter going. It would have been fun to fire that up in the am window and talk to Timtron

[@tpcdude]

@@SevenFortyOne I think the guy who helped retired from ARRL and with him out goes AM. They need a AM advocate at HQ Their focus is not on the engineering behind the hobby but button pushing. it's like playing video games but not knowing how to program.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I think it's more complicated than that... technology is changing and the ARRL has to support the new stuff too. While it's true that there aren't as many people on staff that know the old technology stuff like tubes and AM, there is a wider bandwidth of technology the staff had to support with limited resources. Part of the reason for the open house was to try and find people who were willing to volunteer to help fill some of these voids. They even had people filling out applications for open paid positions during the event. It's not easy to attract top talent in a high tax state but they are doing what they can....

[@tpcdude]

@@SevenFortyOne Yep that makes sense. Where did the Broadcast transmitter end up?

[@SevenFortyOne]

I thought I saw it next to the lab but that could have been an empty rack. I'll have to go back and look at my raw footage to see if it's there.

[@Locksnut]

👍 👍!

[@thomasmanson1119]

VERY COOL! 73 Tom KC3QAC

[@N4EJM]

Thanks for sharing your experience at W1AW. Great video btw. 73 de N4EJM

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm glad you enjoyed this!

[@timrobinson9828]

Great video. Great information.