Special Event Station

W9RH/109

January 10, 2026

10:00 am – 4:30 pm CST

The Milwaukee Radio Amateurs’ Club celebrated 109 years of continuous service as an amateur radio club, and 107 years of affiliation with the ARRL (the national association for amateur radio). Murphy was uninvited, but showed up nonetheless. Despite hours of preparation, we had a delayed start on HF until 10:30 am and a delayed start on VHF until 10:40 am.

The propagation forecast was rated “poor” across all HF bands yet we made numerous contacts on 20-meters to the East as expected in the morning. We hit the usual midday doldrums. Then pointed the antenna West and shifted to 10-meters where activity picked up again. 96 contacts within the USA, Canada, and Mexico were made.

Once the antenna situation was resolved, we made 48 contacts via the repeater. Four were made in C4FM mode and the remaining were FM. We had 1 Allstar check in. Nothing via WiRES-X.

Thanks to Tom, Gregg, Wayne, and Jim at HRO for allowing us to use a corner of the showroom for the special event station, and going above and beyond with helping to resolve some of Murphy’s spell.

The sun cooperated by staying behind clouds for all but the last hour, saving us from baking in the southern exposure of HRO’s showroom windows.

A note to all who contacted W9RH/109:  A commemorative certificate is available upon request for stations with confirmed contact with W9RH/109 during the Special Event. To request your certificate, please send an email to: specialeventstation@w9rh.org, including your name, call sign and preferred email address for receiving the certificate. Certificates will be emailed by February 1, 2026. All MRAC members who contacted W9RH/109 will receive a certificate – no request necessary.

Meanwhile, here are some of the ops from 2026’s event.

Above: Seated: Pancho (KA9OFA), Carter (AB9C). Standing: Ted (N9KQQ), Nick (KD9VWC), Dick (N9EEE), Fred (W9KEY), William (WM9H)

Joe (N9UX) observing. Tony (K9ASN) operating.