WTRA
  • Home
  • About
    • Membership
    • Membership Roster
    • Ham Of The Year
    • Past Presidents
    • WTRA Silent Keys
    • Constitution and By-Laws
  • Mission
    • Repeater
    • Elmer
  • ARES
    • Western Tidewater ARES
    • Virginia ARES District 5
    • Isle of Wight-Surry ARES
  • History
  • Contact
Picture
Welcome to the Western Tidewater
Radio Association

Serving Amateur Radio in Isle of Wight, Surry, and Southampton Counties
ARRL Logo

Last Website Update - May 7, 2025


ARRL Field Day

WTra 30th Anniversary

May 12, 2025
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
WTRA club members will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the club founding by Joe Roth, WC4R.
Club History

ARRL Field Day

WTra arrl field day

June 28 -29, 2025
1800 UTC Saturday through 2059 UTC Sunday.

why wait?  Make contact!

Robert Ferrero, W6KR
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.
Robert Ferrero, W6KR
Robert Ferrero, W6KR
President, Ham Radio Outlet

road construction in Smithfield

December 2023 - September 2025
A long-term single-lane closure on the Cypress Creek bridge (South Church Street, Route 258/10 Business) began Jan. 22, 2024, restricting traffic flow on the bridge to one-way traffic westbound only in the single open 11-foot lane. Occasional temporary, full closures of the bridge may occur as needed later in the project for beam placement activities.

Full and up-to-date details can be found on the VDOT website.

Inventing new technology

ARRL Audio News
ARRL Contest Calendar
RF Exposure Rules Effective May 3, 2023
ARRL RF Exposure Calculator
WTRA Full Calendar
(Includes local Sunrise and Sunset Times)

(WTRA Club Members Only)

WTRA Weekly 2 Meter Net
Net Control Roster

Isle of Wight Repeaters
WT4RA
147.195/+.6 MHz

FM 100 Hz Tone
IRLP 8373
Echolink 88373
Fusion
DVR 324
Grid: FM16PV
WT4RA
442.825/+5 MHz

FM 100 Hz Tone
IRLP 8373
Echolink 88373
Fusion
DVR 324
Grid: FM16PV

Surry County Repeaters

WT4EN
147.030/+.6 MHz

FM 100 Hz Tone
ARES
RACES
Skywarn
Grid: FM17NC
WT4EN
443.825/+5 MHz

FM 100 Hz Tone
ARES
RACES
Skywarn
Grid: FM17NC
Virginia Repeaters
North Carolina Repeaters

SDR Radio Map
Online SDR Radio

smithfield forecasts
NWS Isle of Wight Forecast
National Weather Service
National Hurricane Center
NWS Wakefield SKYWARN

Space Weather
ARRL Solar Report
IW Alert Thumb

WTRA

Copyright © 2022 - 2025
Welcome to the Western Tidewater Radio Association
Serving Amateur Radio in Isle of Wight, Surry, and Southampton Counties
  • Home
  • About
    • Membership
    • Membership Roster
    • Ham Of The Year
    • Past Presidents
    • WTRA Silent Keys
    • Constitution and By-Laws
  • Mission
    • Repeater
    • Elmer
  • ARES
    • Western Tidewater ARES
    • Virginia ARES District 5
    • Isle of Wight-Surry ARES
  • History
  • Contact