Photo courtesy of NASA.
Hampton Public-service Team (HPT)
HPT is a group of FCC licensed Amateur Radio operators who volunteer their skills, equipment, and time to assist the City of Hampton, Southern Virginia Peninsula, and the Commonwealth of Virginia via radio communications. Our mission is to provide the City of Hampton, VA and its citizens free emergency radio communications (EMCOMM), emergency support, and community event radio assistance.
If you are interested in reading more about our non-profit organization, visit our About page. Thank you for taking the time to visit our site.
We have a NET every Monday night if you would like to listen or join in if you have an Amateur Radio license. Visit our NET page for more information.
The Hampton Public-service Team has a monthly breakfast meeting that is held at the Elks Lodge, 2204 Mingee Drive, in Hampton, at 0900 on the last Saturday of the month. Directions: Take Aberdeen Road to 60th St, turn left on Industry Drive, which curves into Mingee Drive and the lodge is on the left.
Do not worry about details and rules of order. Come join us, eat, and talk with the team members. Speak up if you have a comment. All ideas are worth hearing – we want yours too.
Breakfast is served by the Elks Lodge members for $15.
Check the calendar to make sure there are no Special Events that have changed the “Normal” meeting date, for example, Field Day, Christmas, etc.
Please consider a donation to assist HPT in supporting our community, as your generosity will enable us to make a meaningful impact and provide vital services to those in need.
Numerous HPT members are also part of the local Amateur Radio group known as the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub (SPARK). Feel free to explore the SPARK W4QR website.
Edward Shuman, WD0FYV (SK)
You will be missed.
Ed was a kind man, a smart man, and a funny man—someone who could always be counted on for a helping hand, a good story, or a well-timed joke. As an Air Force veteran, he served his country with honor, and as a longtime HAM operator since 1979, he served his community with dedication.
Ed was an integral part of the Hampton Public-service Team (HPT), where he was a key part of our EMCOMM capabilities, ensuring reliable emergency communications when they were needed most. He was also a proud member of the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub (SPARK). His passion for amateur radio extended far beyond the hobby—it was a way for him to connect, teach, and support others. As a Volunteer Examiner at SPARK-sponsored exam sessions and a teacher in the Amateur Radio Classes for many years, he played a crucial role in guiding new operators, sharing his knowledge with patience and enthusiasm.
Ed was also instrumental in our Field Day operations, playing a key role in networking and digital communications setup. Whether it was configuring systems, troubleshooting connections, or ensuring smooth digital operations, he made sure everything worked seamlessly. His technical expertise and willingness to help made him an irreplaceable asset to the team.
More than just a mentor, Ed was an Elmer in the truest sense, a digital guru who helped program countless radios and troubleshoot endless technical challenges. His contributions were invaluable, and his presence in our community will be deeply missed.
Though he may no longer be with us on the airwaves, his legacy lives on in the countless operators he inspired, the friendships he forged, and the knowledge he so generously shared.
73, Ed—thank you for everything. You will be sorely missed.
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Scheduled Licensing Classes for 2025:
Start/End Dates: 01/04/2025 – 02/08/2025
Times: 0900 – 1300 / 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Number of Sessions: 6
Class level: Technician
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Start/End Dates: 03/01/2025 – 04/05/2025
Times: 0900 – 1300 / 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Number of Sessions: 6
Class level: General
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Scheduled 2025 open exam sessions:
15 February and 12 April.
Start time: 9a.m.
Location of classes and exam sessions:
Red Cross building, 1323 W. Pembroke Ave, Hampton
Organizer: Don (KJ4MZ)
If you are interested in taking the a class, contact Don (KJ4MZ) at don.kj4mz@gmail.com