WTRA Home

Welcome to the Western Tidewater
Radio Association
Serving Amateur Radio in Isle of Wight, Surry, and Southampton Counties

Last Website Update - March 7, 2026

Sunday, March 15, 2026
8:00 am - 2:00 pm.

Oakton High School
2900 Sutton Road
Vienna Virginia, 22181

2026 virginia qso party

March 21-22, 2026.
Saturday, 21 March, 1400 UTC -
Sunday, 22 March, 0400 UTC and
Sunday, 22 March, 1200 UTC - 2400 UTC.

Visit 2026 Virginia QSO Party for complete details.

junk in the trunk

WTRA Amateur Radio Flea Market

1577 Wilroy Rd. Suffolk, VA
March 28, 2026
8:00 am. to Noon
Dedicated in memory of Richard Siff – W4BUE/SK

Junk In The Trunk Flyer

wtra club meeting

Monday, May 11, 2026 at 7:00 pm

Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad
13080 Great Spring Rd
Smithfield, VA 23430, USA

WTra arrl field day

June 27 -28, 2026
1800 UTC Saturday through 2059 UTC Sunday.

Southeastern virginia regional ham radio fest & swap meet

Saturday, August 8, 2026
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Knights of Columbus Hall
12742 Nettles Drive
Newport News, va 23606

As of 03/8/2026 the Fest website has
not been updated for 2026.

Daylight saving time ends

November 1, 2026 at 2:00 am.

Don't forget to set your clock back one hour.

why wait? Make contact!

A very interesting event happened to me recently. I was scanning around the HF bands one weekend during the afternoon and I was surprised at how little activity there was. My waterfall display confirmed that, except for some sporadic activity on the digital frequencies, the bands were dead! Or so I wrongfully assumed.

I tuned to 20 meter phone, checked that the frequency was clear, and called CQ. Instantly I was met with a reply. We exchanged the typical pleasantries, had a nice conversation, and I moved on. Before I even started to call CQ again I got another contact, and then another, and another. A mini pile-up. Dead band? Definitely not!

I took a break and suddenly a comment from that first contact struck me. He said, "I've been listening for some time and waiting for a CQ!" I did not think much of it at the time be, in retrospect, I started to remember how many times I heard that exact same comment through the years. I also remembered how many times have I, myself, have just scanned, heard nobody, and left.

So I ask... why are we waiting? Be the start. Get on the bands and call CQ. Solar cycle 25 is progressing and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what awaits you. There really is no such thing as a dead band. It is just waiting for you to make something happen.

Make the contact.