Nothing To Do Today...Toured ARRL HDQ!!!

[KL7JEF]

I really didn't plan it, but on impulse I decided to do the 15 minute drive up to Newington and tour the ARRL Headquarters. First thing you see as you drive up Main St are an abundance of Yagi's towering above the tree line. Driving into the property you see the main office with a set of three flagpoles flying the Old Glory, CT state flag, and the ARRL logo, on the left. Looking to the right you see a quaint brick building that houses the W1AW studios. When you walked to the front of the building, they had this brick layed patio. You can get your name and call-sign etched into the brick for an unknown donation, that was cool. When you first walk in, the ARRL gift shop opens up in front of you. From telephone book sized publications to your ARRL PPPLEDGE PPPPIN!!! are available. It wasn't clear, but my tour guide Martin(AA6E) showed me this item, who's name now escapes me, that they used for some ARRL secret society...OOOOOOHHHH AHHHHHH!!! The rest of the tour in that building included offices for the CEO and COO. I met the COO Harold Kramer WJ1B, very short, but energetic and friendly gentleman. Also saw where they test equipment for the reviews in QST. I saw where they design the graphics for publication covers and they had a bunch of old school tube radios on display. The tour ended in the other building where W1AW Studios are located. I got there just as Station Manager Joe Garcia NJ1Q finished up the bulletins and CW training. There was absolutely nobody there to transmit out of W1AW. Joe asked me if I wanted to operate for the first time out of there, but I don't think I wanted to work a pile-up as my first on the air experience. So it ended well and I told Joe that I would come back in a year when I felt I could handle the onslaught I'd receive when transmitting out of there. Well that's it. A tour well worth you while if you're in the area.

73,

Jethro

[KE4KY]

...if ever in the area, I would like to see it also.

[KY5U]

"Old School"

Was that your CB handle? Yeppers on the tour. If I am ever up there, I plan to take a gander at the palatial digs of the ARRL!

[K4JC]

my tour guide Martin(AA6E) showed me this item, who's name now escapes me, that they used for some ARRL secret society...OOOOOOHHHH AHHHHHH!!!

That's the Wouff-Hong. Along with the Rettysnitch, they are "two gruesome instruments of excruciating torture used to enforce law, order, and decency in Amateur Radio operation."

[KL7JEF]

Was that your CB handle? Yeppers on the tour. If I am ever up there, I plan to take a gander at the palatial digs of the ARRL!

No, that's my outlook on everything. From music to Amateur Radio, I appreciate in it's original pure form. Like in Amateur Radio today, I wonder how the founders of ARRL would view the idiot operators who whistle, swear, catcall, to create QRM. That's what I mean by old school, the way it was founded, the way it should be, the way I am.

73,

Jethro

[KL7JEF]

That's the Wouff-Hong. Along with the Rettysnitch, they are "two gruesome instruments of excruciating torture used to enforce law, order, and decency in Amateur Radio operation."

Yes Vince, that was it exactly!!!

[WA6MHZ]

I had GREAT FUN at the ARRL HQ! The most fun was operating the W1AW radio station. But I didn't use the fancy new whiz bang radios. I went to the Boat Anchor station which uses a National NC-303 and Johnson Viking Valiant donated by Joe Walsh WB6ACU and Bob Heil K9EID.
Worked all over the East coast on 40M AM.


Note the San Diego CHARGERS hat. Signed by Drew Brees when he was the main QB before Phillip Rivers.

[KL7AJ]

I really didn't plan it, but on impulse I decided to do the 15 minute drive up to Newington and tour the ARRL Headquarters. First thing you see as you drive up Main St are an abundance of Yagi's towering above the tree line. Driving into the property you see the main office with a set of three flagpoles flying the Old Glory, CT state flag, and the ARRL logo, on the left. Looking to the right you see a quaint brick building that houses the W1AW studios. When you walked to the front of the building, they had this brick layed patio. You can get your name and call-sign etched into the brick for an unknown donation, that was cool. When you first walk in, the ARRL gift shop opens up in front of you. From telephone book sized publications to your ARRL PPPLEDGE PPPPIN!!! are available. It wasn't clear, but my tour guide Martin(AA6E) showed me this item, who's name now escapes me, that they used for some ARRL secret society...OOOOOOHHHH AHHHHHH!!! The rest of the tour in that building included offices for the CEO and COO. I met the COO Harold Kramer WJ1B, very short, but energetic and friendly gentleman. Also saw where they test equipment for the reviews in QST. I saw where they design the graphics for publication covers and they had a bunch of old school tube radios on display. The tour ended in the other building where W1AW Studios are located. I got there just as Station Manager Joe Garcia NJ1Q finished up the bulletins and CW training. There was absolutely nobody there to transmit out of W1AW. Joe asked me if I wanted to operate for the first time out of there, but I don't think I wanted to work a pile-up as my first on the air experience. So it ended well and I told Joe that I would come back in a year when I felt I could handle the onslaught I'd receive when transmitting out of there. Well that's it. A tour well worth you while if you're in the area.

73,

Jethro

Why NOT work a pileup as your first contact?

Cool experience. I was back there in 1987.

[KL7JEF]

I had GREAT FUN at the ARRL HQ! The most fun was operating the W1AW radio station. But I didn't use the fancy new whiz bang radios. I went to the Boat Anchor station which uses a National NC-303 and Johnson Viking Valiant donated by Joe Walsh WB6ACU and Bob Heil K9EID.
Worked all over the East coast on 40M AM.


Note the San Diego CHARGERS hat. Signed by Drew Brees when he was the main QB before Phillip Rivers.

They told me they don't let anyone use it to broadcast anymore unless you have plenty of experience on those type radios. Well, that ruled me out!!!

73,

Jethro

[KL7JEF]

Why NOT work a pileup as your first contact?

Cool experience. I was back there in 1987.

I suspect there would be a lot of pissed off people waiting in a growing line as I flailed my way through my first experience. I also would like to get some of my own QSL's first. Joe, the station manager told me that the station would get the QSL, not me!!! What!!! You mean I just sweat my way through a pile up and all I get is hate mail from those I didn't get too!!! HI HI

73,

Jethro