W1AW facts for kids

A 2003 picture of the W1AW building in Newington, Connecticut, USA.

W1AW is a special radio station for amateur radio (also known as "ham radio"). It's the main station for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), which is a big group for ham radio fans. This station is often called the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station. You can find it at the ARRL's main office in Newington, Connecticut. The station's call sign, W1AW, was inspired by Hiram Percy Maxim's own call sign, 1AW. W1AW regularly sends out important messages and helps people practice Morse code using different radio frequencies. If there's an emergency, like a big storm, W1AW sends out updates every hour to help keep ham radio operators informed.

The Story of W1AW

The first radio station for the ARRL was called W1MK. It was located in a National Guard building in Hartford, Connecticut. After eight years, a big flood from the Connecticut River in 1936 destroyed the building.

In the same year, Hiram Percy Maxim, who helped start the ARRL and was its president for 22 years, passed away. The ARRL decided to build a new station to remember him. They chose to name the new station W1AW after his own call sign.

The new W1AW station officially opened on September 2, 1938. The opening ceremony was even broadcast live across the country on the radio! The building for the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station still looks much like it did when it was first built. It's now right next to the ARRL headquarters, which was built later in 1963.

The station was built on about 7 acres of land in Newington, Connecticut. Soon after it was built, a hurricane hit. The station lost power, which showed how important it was to have emergency generators ready.

On December 7, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, W1AW helped tell all ham radio operators in the country that their stations had to shut down. This lasted until October 31, 1945, after Japan surrendered. On that day, W1AW was back on the air to announce that ham radio activity could slowly start again.

In 1964, the station got some updates and additions. More changes happened in 1988, including a new small kitchen, a restroom, a workshop, and a meeting room upstairs. They also added glass walls to the operating rooms and new equipment.

W1AW's Role Today

W1AW is like the main radio station for ham radio in the United States. It uses special shortwave frequencies and its unique call sign (W1AW) to send out voice messages, digital information, and Morse code practice.

These broadcasts happen Monday through Friday. The first one is at 9 AM Eastern Time (ET), and the last is at 11 PM ET. During emergencies, W1AW sends out special bulletins every hour. These are sent using different radio modes like SSB and FM voice, RTTY (a type of digital text), and CW (Morse code).

Morse Code Practice

W1AW helps people learn and improve their Morse code skills. The words used for daily practice come from recent articles in QST, which is the ARRL's monthly magazine.

At the start of each practice, W1AW tells you the year, month, and page numbers from QST where the text comes from. Then, they send the article 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 wanting to learn Morse code or get faster at it.

Important Bulletins

W1AW sends out important messages, called bulletins, to the ham radio community. They use various ways to send these, including voice (SSB and FM), CW (Morse code), RTTY, MFSK16, and PSK31.

These bulletins share news about big ham radio events. They also give out frequencies to use during rescue efforts in state or national disasters. Morse code bulletins are sent at 18 words per minute. Digital bulletins are sent first using RTTY, then PSK31, and MFSK16 if there's enough time.

You can find copies of the bulletins W1AW sends out online. Just visit the ARRL website at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.

Other Digital Information

• Information about amateur radio satellites, called Keplerian elements, is sent on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:30 PM ET.
• A special DX bulletin (about long-distance radio contacts) is sent every week. It either replaces or is added to the regular bulletins 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 actually use the radio equipment and temporarily use the W1AW call sign! Guest operators can use 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). To operate the station, you need to show your valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued amateur radio license.

W1AW also offers a special QSL card if you've talked to the station over the air. Any licensed ham radio operator can get this "retro" looking card. You just need to send W1AW your own QSL card with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Send your request to: 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111.

Qualifying Runs

Qualifying Runs are special Morse code transmissions. They are sent on the same frequencies as the regular CW practice. At the start of each code practice session, W1AW announces the schedule for the next qualifying run.

If you can successfully write down one minute of the message without any help, you can get a Certificate of Code Proficiency. You need to send your copy to W1AW along with a $10 fee. You don't need an amateur radio license to get this certificate. Mail your submission to W1AW Qualifying Run, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT USA 06111.

Radio Frequencies W1AW Uses

W1AW uses many different radio frequencies to send its messages. Here are the main ones:

Sometimes, it might be hard to hear W1AW clearly on all frequencies. This is because of natural changes in how radio waves travel through the air.

W1AW Broadcast Schedule

Here is the daily schedule for W1AW broadcasts. Times are given in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).

Important Notes:

• A DX bulletin is either added to or takes the place of the regular bulletins between 8 PM North American Eastern Standard Time (NAEST) Thursday and 8 PM NAEST Friday.
• W1AW uses local North American Eastern Standard Time and changes for daylight saving time in the summer. So, if you are outside the United States, the times might seem to shift.
• Every Monday, the 9 AM ET CW transmission is skipped.
• The digital bulletins (RTTY45, PSK31, and MFSK16) are sent first using RTTY, then PSK31, and then MFSK16 if there's enough time.
• 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