ARRL news

Subscribe to ARRL news feed
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
Updated: 2 hours 22 min ago

Amateur Radio Operators Needed for Help with Solar Eclipse Project

Fri, 02/23/2024 - 15:00

The Case Amateur Radio Club, W8EDU, the club station at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, is asking for amateur radio operators to help with a research project centered around the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse.

W8EDU club member Adam Goodman, W7OKE, said the project centers around studying the effects of the eclipse on propagation to better understand the recombination time of t...

Former Vice Director of the ARRL Hudson Division, Bill Hudzik, W2UDT, Silent Key

Fri, 02/23/2024 - 14:30

Former Vice Director of the ARRL Hudson Division and ARRL Maxim Society Member William "Bill" Hudzik, W2UDT, has passed away at the age of 77.

Hudzik served as Vice Director from 2011 to 2022, and he had previously been Section Manager of the ARRL Northern New Jersey Section.  

Hudzik was first licensed in 1961 as WV2UDT, and he was active in VHF contesting at the time.  

He quickly gained a reput...

The K7RA Solar Update

Fri, 02/23/2024 - 09:58

"ASWFC GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING ISSUED AT 0237 UTC/22 FEBRUARY 2024 BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

"A solar filament has erupted from the northwest solar quadrant and
a component of the predominately westward associated CME is expected
to arrive at the Earth during the second half of 24-Feb. G1 conditions, with the chance of G2 periods are possible during the second hal...

Highlights from 2024 Orlando HamCation

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 15:36

Warm weather greeted the crowds of radio amateurs who attended the 2024 Orlando HamCation® from February 9 - 11. The convention hosted the ARRL Florida State Convention, but drew attendees from across the country, and some from even farther, renewing HamCation's place as the second largest US ham radio convention.

HamCation is sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC). The convention wa...

Amateur Radio as Educational Tool Represented to Policymakers in Washington DC

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 15:35

ARRL and Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) represented Amateur Radio at a symposium in Washington on February 1 at which the top domestic spectrum policymakers from across the federal government considered implementation of the National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) [PDF].

ARRL ensures that Amateur Radio is represented at sessions such as this so that decisionmakers understand amateur radio'...

ARRL Headquarters Closed Presidents Day

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 14:08

ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, will be closed on Monday, February 19, 2024, in observance of Presidents Day. 

There won't be any W1AW bulletin or code practice that day. ARRL HQ will reopen on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 8 AM EST.

There are several special operating events to mark the holiday. Visit the ARRL Special Event Stations datab...

The K7RA Solar Update

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 09:36

Seven new sunspot groups appeared over the past week, February 8-14,
two on February 8, three on February 10, and two more on February 13
and 14.

Then on February 15 three more sunspots emerged.

Now this is a personal opinion, but from recent numbers I suspect
that we may at the peak of Solar Cycle 25 or just prior to the peak.
We won't know when the actual peak occurred until six months after.

Averag...

Errata to the 2024 - 2028 Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released

Thu, 02/15/2024 - 17:28

The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee (QPC) has released errata for the new 2024 - 2028 Element 4 Extra Class Question Pool, which goes into effect on July 1. The errata includes minor question changes, the removal of one question, and one modified graphic. These updates are reflected in the new downloadable files, dated January 31, 2024. The...

Veteran DXpedition Leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, SK

Thu, 02/15/2024 - 16:27

Prolific DXpedition leader, ARRL Maxim Society member, and former Chair of the ARRL DX Advisory Committee, Robert C. “Bob” Allphin, Jr., K4UEE, has become a Silent Key. Allphin passed on February 10 at the age of 79. His early life as the son of a United States Air Force (USAF) officer sent him to many corners of the globe. That set the tenor for a life in amateur radio spent operating from far...

Senators Roger Wicker and Richard Blumenthal Introduce S.3690 to Eliminate Private Land Use Restrictions on Amateur Radio

Wed, 02/14/2024 - 16:18

On January 30, 2024, US Senators Roger Wicker (MS) and Richard Blumenthal (CT) introduced S.3690, the Senate companion bill to H.R.4006, introduced last June. Both bills reflect the Congressional campaign efforts by ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® to eliminate homeowner association land use restrictions that prohibit, restrict, or impair the ability of an Amateur Radio Operato...

ARRL HQ Building will be Closed on Tuesday, February 13

Mon, 02/12/2024 - 14:58

Due to anticipated severe winter weather, ARRL’s administrative building in Newington, Connecticut, will be closed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, for the safety of our staff. The Headquarters lobby & store, and W1AW will be closed to visitors on Tuesday. There will be no W1AW bulletins or code practice. 

ARRL will continue to serve members during normal business hours on Tuesday. Staff from acro...

World Radio Day

Fri, 02/09/2024 - 13:37

World Radio Day 2024 will be on February 13, and this year's theme is, "A Century Informing, Entertaining and Educating."

World Radio Day was first celebrated in 2012, following its declaration by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference. It was subsequently adopted as an International Day by the United Nations General Assembly. Amateur rad...

Amateur Radio Goes to High School in New York City

Fri, 02/09/2024 - 13:13

Staten Island Technical High School is the first New York City school to receive a grant from ARRL.

ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, said ARRL is working with the school in several ways. "We are working with them to build and equip an amateur radio station, to test and license students, and to put [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)] kits in the cl...

California Storms: Amateur Radio is Ready

Fri, 02/09/2024 - 11:59

Southern California continues to feel the effects of a significant rain event that began last week, bringing record rainfall, landslides, and hurricane-strength winds. The heavy rain is the result of two atmospheric rivers, referred to as "Pineapple Expresses" because of their origins near Hawaii. Nearly half a year's worth of rain has fallen in two days. Since Sunday, February 4, areas in Los ...

The K7RA Solar Update

Fri, 02/09/2024 - 09:57

Over the recent reporting week, February 1-7, ten new sunspot groups
emerged, five on February 1, one on February 2, another on February
3, two on February 5, and one more on February 7. On February 8, two
more emerged.

Sunspot numbers and solar flux rose, and geomagnetic numbers were
quiet.

Average daily sunspot number increased from 71.8 to 142.3, and
average daily solar flux from 145.4 to 165.5.

Geo...

The First Amateur Radio Station on the Moon, JS1YMG, is Now Transmitting

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 14:43

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully landed their Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) on January 19, 2024. Just before touchdown, SLIM released two small lunar surface probes, LEV-1 and LEV-2.

LEV-2 collects data while moving on the lunar surface, and LEV-1 receives the data.

The JAXA Ham Radio Club (JHRC), JQ1ZVI, secured amateur radio license JS1YMG for LEV-1, which...

ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Winterfest

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 14:20

Newly licensed ham Charlie Hartley, KF0OOP, 18, is one of ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® newest members. He's majoring in sound engineering at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and is an accomplished musician, playing both bass guitar and the upright string bass. Ham radio, live sound, and music run in his blood; he's the grandson of Bob Heil, K9EID.

Charlie had been ...

Heil Ham Radio Donates Equipment to W1AW

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 14:16

The Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, has received a generous donation of equipment from the Heil Ham Radio division of Heil Sound.

The company's founder, Bob Heil, K9EID, is a pioneering audio engineer and avid radio amateur. At his direction, the company donated four Heil Pro Set Elite HC-6 headsets, three Heil Pro Set 3 stereo headphones...

The K7RA Solar Update

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 13:13

"ASWFC GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING ISSUED AT 0248 UTC/02 FEBRUARY 2024 BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

"A CME was observed from 01/0800 UT. This CME is expected to pass
mostly above the Earth, however a glancing blow is possible either
late UT day 03-Feb or early UT day 04-Feb to cause possible G1-G2
geomagnetic storming. A coronal hole wind stream may also contribute
to enha...

ARRL Foundation Accepting Applications for Grants in February

Thu, 02/01/2024 - 17:01

The ARRL Foundation is now accepting grant applications from amateur radio organizations for eligible amateur radio-related projects and initiatives, particularly those focused on educating, licensing, and supporting amateur radio activities, to grow amateur radio's future, youth-based projects and initiatives are especially encouraged.

The ARRL Foundation grants program accepts proposals on a c...