ARRL News

March 13, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity was very low to low. Only low-level C-class activity
was observed from Regions 4384 and 4389. Slight growth was observed
in Regions 4384 and 4391. New Region 4392 was numbered. The rest of
the spot groups were either stable or in decay. No Earth-directed
CMEs were observed. Solar activity is expected to be at low levels,
with a slight chance for M-class (R1-R2/minor-moderate) flares,
t...

March 13, 2026

Start Planning for ARRL Field Day 2026

March 13, 2026

Indiana Hams Living Under HOAs Gain Antenna Protections

The Indiana General Assembly has passed and Governor Mike Braun has signed a bill that adds protection for amateur radio operators who live in homeowner association (HOA) regulated housing developments.  

Official language of the House Bill 1152 can be found at IGA | House Bill 1152 - Homeowners association matters.  

Credit for adding the new language goes to Hunter Reed, KD9YLQ; Campbell Reed,...

March 13, 2026

Section Manager Nomination Results

The nomination period for the 2026 spring season Section Manager election cycle concluded on Friday, March 6. There will be no balloted elections because only one nominee per section was received at ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® Headquarters.   

Wisconsin will have a new Section Manager starting on July 1, 2026. Myron Oestreich, KB9STB, was declared elected as the sole nominee...

March 13, 2026

Dayton Hamvention 2026 Award Winners Announced

Dayton Hamvention® has announced its 2026 Awards.

Technical Achievement Award: Robert Famiglio, K3RF

Robert B. “Bob” Famiglio, K3RF, has spent almost 60 years in amateur radio, blending technical expertise, legal knowledge, and leadership in emergency communications. Licensed at age 13, Famiglio later earned a BSE in electrical engineering and a doctorate in law. For more than 40 years he has ser...

March 6, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity continued at low levels with isolated C-class
flaring. Regions 4381 and 4384 remained the primary drivers of
activity. The largest event of the period was a C2.9 flare from
Region 4381 on March 3. Region 4384 continues to rotate further onto
the disk, but foreshortening still hinders a definitive
characterization of its magnetic complexity. Region 4378 showed some
new flux emergence bu...

February 27, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

Spaceweather.com for February 27 reports about a minor CME hurling
towards Earth.

Solar activity remains at low levels due primarily to C-class flares
just beyond the SE limb near S21. The largest was a C5.3 flare on
February 25. On the visible disk, an approximate 5-degree filament
eruption was observed centered near S08W27 with an associated C2.6
flare.

The eruption was accompanied by a Type II radi...

February 27, 2026

Hams Help Forecasters with Real-Time Data on Northeast Blizzard

A historic blizzard paralyzed much of the Northeast in late February, and amateur radio operators were on the air to help forecasters keep track of the storm’s impact. Southeastern New England was one of the hardest-hit areas. ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator and Boston-area SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, provided this summary for ARRL News:

A severe blizzard left...

February 26, 2026

Icom America Named Official Sponsor of the ARRL Year of the Club

February 22, 2026

ARRL Headquarters Closed on Monday, February 23, 2026

Due to a severe winter storm, ARRL Headquarters and the Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, will be closed on Monday, February 23, for the safety of our staff. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has declared a state of emergency ahead of a blizzard that is moving into the state Sunday and continuing into Monday.

There will be no W1AW bulletin or CW practice transmissions on Monday.

Members can access many...

February 20, 2026

Job Posting: FCC Recruiting 7 Field Agents – Electronics Engineers

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is looking for qualified applicants for Field Agents in seven Enforcement Bureau (EB) offices across the United States: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY, and Portland, OR. Incumbents will resolve Radio Frequency (RF) interference, educate users, and enforce regulations. The GS levels for this position hav...

February 20, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity returned to low levels this past week. The strongest
event of the period was a C1.8 flare on February 17 from region
4374. This region was also responsible for a C1.4 flare on February
18. The only other flare of note was a C1.1 flare on February 17
from an unnumbered plage region near S05E85. (A plage region is a
bright, intensely hot region in the Sun's chromosphere, typically
found ...

February 20, 2026

New Book Release: Digital Networking for Ham Radio

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®’s new book, Digital Networking for Ham Radio, a practical, hands-on guide to designing and implementing high-speed data networks for amateur radio stations, is now shipping.

Written by Glen Popiel, KW5GP, the book brings together in one comprehensive resource the knowledge needed to build, configure, and expand digital networks for ham radio. From...

February 20, 2026

FCC Requires That FRN Contact Information Be Updated Within Ten Days of a Change

February 20, 2026

2025 ARRL Sweepstakes Icom Dream Station Winner Announced at Orlando HamCation®

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® announced the winner of the 2025 ARRL Sweepstakes Icom® Dream Station on Saturday, February 14, at 2026 Orlando HamCation. The announcement was made by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, with Icom America Senior Sales Manager Ray Novak, N9JA.

The ARRL Sweepstakes ran from January 3 to December 31, 2025, as the centerpiece of a year-long membershi...