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

Last Website Update - January 4, 2025

Winter Field Day

January 25, 2025 at 1600Z -
January 26, 2025 at 21:59Z

Winter Field Day is a communications exercise. WFD can be worked from the comfort of your home or in a remote location. You can participate by yourself or get your friends, family, or whole club involved.

Full information on the WFDA Website.

Middle Peninsula Hamfest

February 1, 2025
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Gloucester Virginia Moose Lodge
6565 Moose Dr, Gloucester, VA

The Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club invites all operators, family members and friends to join them for a day of fun, food, all things ham radio --- and lots more! Vendors with all the latest and greatest in ham radio gear, tailgaters with the best finds this side of Richmond, and food trucks that will make your mouth water.

Admission is just $10.00, with children under 12 free!

Complete and up-to-date information can be found at the MPARC Website.

george Washington's Birthday

February 15, 2025 - 1500Z-2000Z to
February 16, 2025 - 1500Z-1600Z

Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club, (MVARC) will host a special event station to commemorate our first president's 293rd birthday. Members will be at the Mount Vernon greenhouse on the original grounds of the former plantation of George Washington and his wife, Martha Washington. Operating frequencies: 7.042 7.242 14.042 and 14.242. More information on the MVARC website.

WTra arrl field day

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

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.

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.