Microwave Update 2024

About M.U.D.

Microwave Update (MUD) is an international conference dedicated to microwave equipment design, construction, and operation. The first conference was held in 1985 and it has alternated between the east and west coast of United States where microwave clubs takes on the challenge of hosting the event.

It is focused on, but not limited to, amateur radio on the microwave bands.

2024

Microwave Update will be on the west coast, hosted by the Western Canada Weak Signal Group (WCWSA) and Pacific North West VHF Society (PNWVHFS).

2020-2023

Microwave update was canceled in 2020, 21 and 22. In 2023 it was held in Connecticut along with the 46th Eastern VHF/UHF Conference.

2019

2018

Microwave Update 2018 was held in Fairborn, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton, and was hosted by the Midwest VHF/UHF Society, an active group of hams mainly in southwest Ohio, but with members all over the US, Canada, and beyond. A highlight of the weekend was a tour of the Voice of America Museum in Mason, Ohio, and the 10 GHz EME station setup at the VOA site.

2017

The 2017 Microwave Update Conference was hosted by the 50 MHz and Up Group of Northern California. It was held at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Clara, California. Jim Moss, N9JIM, and Mike Lavelle, K6ML, were the conference co-chairs.

2016

The 2016 Microwave Update Conference was hosted by the St. Louis Area Microwave Society and was held at the Holliday Inn Airport West in Earth City, Missouri near St. Louis. The organizers were Bob Sluder, NØIS, Mel Whitten, KØFPX and Jim Richardson, N5MU.

2015

In 2015, the 30^th Microwave Update Conference was hosted by the San Bernardino Microwave Society as it celebrated its own 60^th year and with support from the San Diego Microwave Group. Chaired by Pat Coker, N6RMJ, the Conference was held in San Diego, California and included presentations on three world distance records set during the past year.

2014

The 2014 Conference was hosted by the Rochester VHF Group and organized by Dave Hallidy, K2DH, Frank Pollino, K2OS, and Bill Rogers, K2TER and was held at the Marriott Airport Hotel in Rochester, NY.

2013

The 2013 Conference was hosted by Jeff Kruth, WA3ZKR and the Morehead State University at the Space Science Center at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY.

2012

The 2012 Conference was hosted by the 50 MHz and Up Group of Northern California in Santa Clara, California. Jim Moss, N9JIM and Will Jensby, WØEOM, were the Conference co-chairs..

2011

The 2011 Conference was held in Enfield, Connecticut, hosted by the North East Weak Signal Group. Bruce Wood, N2LIV (SK) was the conference chairman and Paul Wade, W1GHZ was the program chairman.

2010

The 2010 conference is being hosted by the San Bernardino Microwave Society in Southern California

2009

The 2009 conference was held in Dallas, Texas and was hosted by Steve Hicks, N5AC, Al Ward, W5LUA, Bob Gormley, WA5YWC, and Kent Britain, WA5VJB, of the North Texas Microwave Society. In 2009, The Don Hilliard Technical Achievement Award was created in honor of our founding father Don Hilliard, WØPW. The first recipient was Paul Wade, W1GHZ, in recognition of his many years of service to the amateur microwave community.

2008

The 2008 conference was hosted by Donn Baker, WA2VOI, Barry Malowanchuk, VE4MA, Jon Platt, W0ZQ, Bruce Richardson, W9FZ, Bob Wesslund, WØAUS, of the Northern Lights Radio Society and was held in Bloomington, MN.

2007

The 2007 conference was held in Valley Forge, PA at the Dolce Valley Forge. The conference was hosted by Phil Theis, K3TUF, David Fleming, KB3HCL, Rick Rosen, K1DS, and Paul Drexler, W2PED of the Mt Airy VHF Radio Club.

2006

he 2006 conference was held in Dayton, Ohio and was hosted by Tom Holmes, N8ZM, and Gerd Schrick, WB8IFM of the Midwest VHF/UHF Society.

2005

The 2005 conference was held in Cerritos, CA. The event was hosted by Pat Coker, N6RMJ and Chip Angle, N6CA ,along with the San Bernardino Microwave Society and the Western States Weak Signal Society.

2004

The 2004 conference was held in Dallas, Texas where Al Ward, W5LUA, Bob Gormley, WA5YWC, Kent Britain, WA5VJB, and the North Texas Microwave Society hosted the event.

2002

The 2003 conference moved across country to Seattle, WA where Rick Beatty, NU7Z and the PNWVHFS hosted the event. Rick’s committee consisted of John N7MWV as the co-chairman along with Jim K7ND, Eric N7EPD, Jim, W7DHC, Jimmy, K7NQ, and Lynn, N7CFO.

2000

The 2000 Microwave Update was held in the Philadelphia area with John Sortor, KB3XG, and Paul Drexler, W2PED hosting the event. The 2001 Microwave Update was hosted by Jim Moss, N9JIM and Will Jensby, WØEOM, in the Sunnyvale, California area. The 2002 conference was held in conjunction with the Eastern VHF/UHF Conference in Enfield, CT. The conference was hosted by Paul Wade, W1GHZ, Matt Reilly, KB1VC, Tom Williams, WA1MBA and Bruce Wood, N2LIV.

1992

“Microwave Update” ’92 was held in Rochester, New York and sponsored by the Rochester VHF Group. The conference was chaired by Frank Pollino, K2OS and Dave Hallidy, K2DH (x KD5RO/2). “Microwave Update” ’93 was held in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference was organized by Jim Davey, WA8NLC, and assisted by Rick Campbell, KK7B and Charles Osborne, WD4MBK. “Microwave Update” ’94 was brought back to Estes Park, Colorado where it was chaired by Bill McCaa, KØRZ. Bill was assisted by Al Ward, WB5LUA, Jim Davey, WA8NLC, Jim Starkey, WØKJY, Phil Gabriel, AAØBR, and other local area amateurs. “Microwave Update” ’95 was brought back to Arlington, Texas and was chaired by Al Ward, WB5LUA and Kent Britain, WA5VJB of the NTMS. The ’96 “Microwave Update” was held in Phoenix, Arizona and was chaired by Jim Vogler, WA7CJO. The ’97 “Microwave Update” was held in Sandusky, Ohio and sponsored by Tom Whitted, WA8WZG, with the assistance of Tony Emanuele, WA8RJF. The 1998 “Microwave Update” was held in Colorado under the guidance of Bill McCae, KØRZ, and John Anderson, WD4MUO. The 1999 “Microwave Update” was held in Plano, Texas with Al Ward, W5LUA and Kent Britain, WA5VJB hosting the event.

1989-1991

After putting on 4 fine conferences in Colorado, Don decided to take a break from all of the work. Don turned over the responsibility of coordinating the event to the North Texas Microwave Society (NTMS).

In 1989, WB5LUA and WA5VJB of the NTMS hosted the 5th “Microwave Update” in Arlington, Texas where 94 people were in attendance. The 1990 “Microwave Update” was to go back to Colorado where Keith Ericson, KØKE and Don Lund , WAØIQN, were to head up the event. Unfortunately, Don Lund passed away during the year and Keith decided to postpone the 1990 Update. WB5LUA and WA5VJB of the NTMS hosted “Microwave Update” 91 in Arlington, Texas.

1985-1988

In 1985, Don Hilliard, WØPW, felt the need to organize a conference dedicated to microwave equipment design, construction, and operation. At the time of its conception, many microwave terrestrial and EME firsts were occurring on the microwave bands and it appeared that microwave needed a dedicated conference. Don held the first conference which he named “The 1296 and 2304 MHz Conference.” It was held at the Holiday Inn in Estes Park, Colorado. 66 people were in attendance. It sure seemed like Don was on the right track with his idea and he was right. In 1986, Don held the second conference which he rightfully named “Microwave Update 86.” 64 people were in attendance. The 1987 and 1988 “Microwave Update” conferences were again held in Estes Park, CO. and chaired by Don Hilliard.