W1AW facts for kids
W1AW is a special amateur radio station. It is the main station for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), which is a group for amateur radio fans. People often call it the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station. It's located at the ARRL's main office in Newington, Connecticut. The station got its name from Maxim's old call sign, 1AW. W1AW regularly sends out news and helps people practice morse code using common amateur radio frequencies. If there's an emergency, it sends out important updates every hour to keep amateur radio operators informed.
Contents
History of W1AW
The first ARRL radio station was called W1MK. It was in a National Guard building in Hartford, Connecticut. After eight years, a big flood in 1936 destroyed the building. The flood came from the Connecticut River.
In the same year, Hiram Percy Maxim passed away. He was the president and a co-founder of the ARRL for 22 years. To honor him, the ARRL decided to build a new station. They chose to name the new station W1AW, using his old call sign.
The new Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station opened on September 2, 1938. The opening ceremony was even broadcast live on national radio! The building looks much like it did when it was first built. It is now right next to the ARRL headquarters, which was built in 1963.
The station was built on about 7 acres of land in Newington, Connecticut. This land was bought for $2,200. Soon after it opened, a hurricane hit. The station lost power, which showed how important it was to have emergency generators.
On December 7, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, W1AW told all amateur radio operators that the government had closed down their stations. W1AW itself was ordered off the air for several months. It finally came back on October 31, 1945, after Japan surrendered. W1AW then announced that amateur radio activities could slowly start again.
In 1964, the station got some updates and an addition. More changes happened in 1988. These included a new small kitchen, a restroom, a workshop, and a meeting room. The operating rooms got glass walls, new tables, and modern equipment.
What W1AW Does Today
W1AW is the most important amateur radio station in the United States. It uses special shortwave frequencies and its unique call sign (W1AW). The station sends out one-way voice messages and digital news. It also helps people practice morse code. These broadcasts happen Monday through Friday. The first one is at 9 AM ET and the last is at 11 PM ET. During communication emergencies, important news is broadcast every hour. This includes voice messages, RTTY (a type of digital text), and CW (Morse code).
Learning Morse Code
The words used for the daily W1AW morse code practice come from recent articles in QST. This is the ARRL's monthly magazine. At the start of each practice, W1AW tells you the magazine's year, month, and page numbers. Then, the article is sent at different speeds. There are "slow code" speeds (like 5 to 15 words per minute) and "fast code" speeds (like 10 to 35 words per minute). These practice sessions are great for anyone who wants to learn Morse code or get better at it.
Important Messages (Bulletins)
W1AW sends out important messages, called bulletins, to the amateur radio community. They use different ways to send these messages, including voice (like single sideband and FM), CW (morse code), RTTY, MFSK16, and PSK31. These messages share news about big amateur radio events. They also give out frequencies used to help with rescue efforts during disasters.
Morse code bulletins are sent at 18 words per minute. Digital bulletins, like RTTY, PSK31, and MFSK16, are sent one after another.
You can download copies of the bulletins W1AW sends from http://www.arrl.org/w1aw (the "Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station" website).
Special Digital Information
- Information about many amateur radio satellites, called Keplerian elements, is sent on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:30 PM ET.
- A special message for DX (long-distance radio contacts) is sent every week. It replaces or is added to the regular messages between 8 PM ET Thursday and 8 PM ET Friday.
Visiting and Operating W1AW
Amateur radio operators who visit the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station can use the radio equipment. They can even use the W1AW call sign for a short time! Visitors can operate the station from 10 AM ET to 12 PM ET and from 1 PM ET to 3:45 PM ET, Monday through Friday (except holidays). You need to show a valid amateur radio license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate the station.
W1AW also offers a special QSL card. This is a postcard that confirms you've contacted the station over the air. Any licensed amateur radio operator can get one. You just need to send W1AW your own QSL card, a self-addressed envelope, and enough postage. Send your request to: 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111.
Earning a Morse Code Certificate
Qualifying Runs are special Morse code transmissions. They are sent on the same frequencies as the regular CW (morse code) practice. At the start of each practice session, W1AW announces when the next qualifying run will be. If you can correctly write down one minute of the message and send it to W1AW, you can get a Certificate of Code Proficiency. You need to state that you copied it yourself without help. There is a $10 fee for the certificate. Send your request to W1AW Qualifying Run, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT USA 06111. You do not need an amateur radio license to get this certificate.
How W1AW Broadcasts
Broadcast Frequencies
|
|
|
Broadcast Schedule
| Mode | Type | Broadcast Times (UTC) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CW (Morse code) | Practice | 1400z | 1700z | 0000z | 0300z |
| CW (Morse code) | Bulletin | 2200z | 0100z | 0400z | - |
| RTTY45 / PSK31 / MFSK16 | Bulletin | 2300z | 0200z | ||
| RTTY45 / PSK31 / MFSK16 | Keplerian elements | Tuesdays 2330z | Fridays 2330z | ||
| RTTY45 / PSK31 / MFSK16 | DX Bulletin | From 8 PM Thursday until 8 PM Friday (see notes). | |||
| Miscellaneous Modes | "Visiting Operator" Time | 1500z to 1700z | 1800z to 2045z | ||
| SSB and FM Voice | Voice Bulletin | 0245z | |||
Special Notes:
- A DX bulletin is either added to or replaces the regular bulletins between 8 PM NAEST Thursday and 8 PM NAEST Friday.
- W1AW uses local North American Eastern Standard Time and changes for daylight saving time in the summer.
- Every Monday, the 9 AM ET CW transmission is skipped.
- The digital bulletins (RTTY45, PSK31, and MFSK16) are sent one after another.
- W1AW is closed on these holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day (and the Friday after), and Christmas Day.
See also
- American Radio Relay League
