Ham Radio Boston is the home base for the volunteer Amateur Radio operators who support the Boston Athletic Association's Boston Marathon — one of the largest and most complex public-service communications operations in amateur radio.
Each year, nearly 300 licensed operators donate their time, skill, equipment, and FCC licenses to keep runners, medical teams, and race organizers connected across 26.2 miles of course.
Following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the BAA formed a dedicated Amateur Radio Communications Committee to bring that effort into a more structured, professional framework — one built on National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) principles. What was once an informal volunteer tradition is now a rigorously planned operation, backed by months of coordination, training, and documentation.
This site exists to support our community. Whether you're a longtime net control operator, a first-year volunteer trying to find your assignment, or a curious ham wondering how to get involved, you'll find what you need here:
Volunteer — Learn how to sign up, what roles are available (course communications, start and finish segments, medical liaison support, technical infrastructure, and more), and what's expected of you on race day.
Docs & Videos — Access training materials, operational plans, net procedures, and reference recordings used to prepare volunteers before Marathon Monday.
About — Meet the Communications Committee, learn the history behind the program, and see how the effort is organized into segments like the Technical Infrastructure Segment (TIS) and Documentation Segment.
Amateur Radio has served the Boston Marathon for decades, but the stakes and standards have never been higher. If you're a licensed operator with a passion for public service, we'd love to have you join us.
Get in Touch
Have a question, need help finding something, or want to volunteer?
Email: contact@hamradioboston.org
FAQs: Browse common questions