Date: May 2022
Amount: $10,000

The Eastern States Exposition, also known as the BigE, attracts almost 1.5 million people per year. The exposition is located in Springfield, MA, and takes place from September 16 – October 2, 2022. The Hampden County Radio Association (HCRA), an ARRL-affiliated club, has received approval from the event organizers to create an amateur radio demonstration for all 17 days of the event.

A number of activities, all with the goal of raising awareness of amateur radio, are being planned, including:

• An ISS contact between astronauts and a large group of scouts.
• A Technician Class license course and VE exam for scouts and others.
• Operation of two HF stations that will be equipped with modern transceivers, amplifiers, large screen displays, PCs, and software for logging and directional antennas visible from all over the property.

For more information on the Hampden County Radio Association, go to http://www.hcra.org.