As you may know, Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. This means that it will no longer provide technical assistance, feature updates or security updates. This has prompted me to bite the bullet and convert the Windows box I use in my shack to Linux.
Read MoreSpecial Event Unites Pennsylvania Colleges and Amateur Radio Station W3USR
/The Murgas Amateur Radio Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a special event that includes the University of Scranton, Kings College, and amateur radio station W3USR. The station is part of the University of Scranton Physics and Engineering Department, a university student club, and a flagship station for the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) project.
The event, organized in partnership with the Slovak Heritage Society of Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) and the Luzerne County Historical Society, celebrates the November 1905 public unveiling of the Father Murgas tone method, a wireless communication system capable of transmitting voice and sound over long distances and the forerunner of the continuous tone-coded squelch system (CTCSS) and digital-coded squelch (DCS). It was developed and patented by Father Joseph Murgas (PDF). The test included a series of messages exchanged between Father Murgas; then Wilkes-Barre Mayor Frederick C. Kirkendall; then Scranton Mayor Alex T. Connell; and Rev. Michael John Hoban, a former bishop of the Diocese of Scranton.
All of the activity begins at 1:00 PM EST Saturday 15th November 2025. Wilkes-Barre Mayor George C. Brown and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti will recreate that transmission with King’s College president Rev. Thomas P. Looney and The University of Scranton president Rev. Joseph G. Marina. After the tone method demonstration, W3USR will be on the air for ARRL November Sweepstakes SSB.
All of the events are open to the public. The Murgas Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
2025 “Dream Rig” Essay Contest for Young Ham Radio Operators
/Six years ago, the Intrepid-DX Group, a international group of amateur radio operators, began their annual youth “Dream Rig” essay contest as a means to reach young people and interest them in amateur radio.
“This year, rather than our past essays, we are seeking well thought-out and clearly communicated project proposals for a public access amateur radio station.”
This year’s contest is called “Amateur Radio for the Greater Good.” Written proposals may be submitted between 10th November and 10th December 2025, by amateurs age 25 or younger, describing how they would establish a club, contest, community, or emergency communication station in a school, church, fire station, community centre, hospital, or other public building. The station must be in the USA and only US-licensed amateurs may submit proposals.
“This is a departure from our conventional essay contest. We are looking for proposals that would place the station in a secure and common area where it could be enjoyed by other licensed amateurs. Once the winning proposal is selected, the proposal author will have sixty days to secure written permission from the owner or guardian of the facility. The written permission must indicate approval for the station and antenna to be installed. The proposal author may be the trustee of the station.”
The equipment provided will include an HF transceiver, VHF/UHF transceiver, 13.8V power supply, two 100' lengths of coax, and antennas.
The awardee of the complete station will be announced on 15th December 2025.
Proposals may be submitted via email to intrepiddxgroup@gmail.com or via USPS to:
The Intrepid-DX Group
3052 Wetmore Dr.
San Jose, CA 95148
For more information about the Intrepid-DX Group, visit its website at https://intrepid-dx.com.
