ARRL News

June 28, 2026

Start Planning for ARRL Field Day 2026

June 22, 2026

Section Manager Elections; New Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has reported that the nomination period for the 2026 summer season election cycle concluded on Friday, June 5.

There will be one balloted election this summer in Southern Florida. ARRL members in the Southern Florida Section will receive ballots and candidate information via postal mail in July. Daniel Fisher, AI4GK, and incumbent Barry Porter, KB...

June 22, 2026

New ARRL Central Division Vice Director

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has announced the appointment of Robert Ronk, W9AP, of Winneconne, Wisconsin, as Vice Director for the ARRL Central Division. The appointment, made by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, fills the vacancy created in April when former Vice Director Joshua Long, W9HT, assumed the office of Central Division Director. Ronk will complete a term that e...

June 22, 2026

Young Ham Radio Operator Supports the America250 Celebration

While many teenagers spend their evenings playing video games or scrolling social media, 14-year-old amateur radio (also known as “ham radio”) operator Micah Sandoval, KB4MPS, was busy this past week making radio contacts across the US. Sandoval participated as part of a special event station supporting the ARRL America250 Worked All States (WAS) Award program, a year-long operating event celeb...

June 22, 2026

New Technician Question Pool Takes Effect July 1

On July 1, 2026, a new Element 2 Technician class question pool will take effect for license examinations. VECs and VEs must have new test designs available for use at exam sessions effective that date. 

The newly revised pool, released in December 2025 (updated and re-released on February 19, 2026) by the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinator...

June 19, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity has been low with only C-class solar flare activity.

Region 4465 underwent some decay and only produced a low-levelC-class flare. Region 4469 decayed further and was inactive. Region4470 underwent some growth, but did not increase in magneticcomplexity and was primarily inactive. The largest solar flare of theperiod, a C2.5 on June 17, came from just beyond the west limb withthe l...

June 12, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity has been at low levels this past week with most of the C-level activity originating from Region 4465, including the largest flare of the week, a C2.6 observed on June 10. There are currently 7 numbered sunspot regions on the disk with Region 4467 decaying to plage.  

There was a Type-II radio sweep detected by the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) on June 10. That radio emissio...

June 5, 2026

Washington Governor Highlights Amateur Radio Volunteers Ahead of ARRL Field Day

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has issued a video message recognizing the important role Amateur Radio Operators play in supporting communities across the state and encouraging public awareness of Amateur Radio as ARRL Field Day approaches later this month. In the video, Governor Ferguson highlights the critical service radio amateurs provide with communications support during emergencies and...

June 5, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

 Solar activity went from low to high this week. Activity was

dominated by Region 4455, which produced frequent C-class flaresalongside three significant flare events: an M9.3/Sf on June 1; aswell as an M7.7/1b and an X1.0/1n on June 3.  There are eight numbered regions on the visible disk. Region 4455remains complex, maintaining its anti-Hale configuration anddisplaying a newly developed delta ...

June 5, 2026

Find the Right Rig: New Comparison Tool for ARRL Members

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to introduce a new member benefit: the QST Product Review Comparison Database. This online tool makes it easier to compare amateur radio transceivers, receivers, amplifiers, and transmitters by allowing users to sort and filter equipment based on their own selection criteria.

“This tool, introduced by the ARRL Lab, offers a familiar exp...

May 29, 2026

Registration is Open for the 2026 ARRL National Convention in Huntsville

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® and the Huntsville Hamfest will host the 2026 ARRL National Convention and Huntsville Hamfest, August 21 - 23, in Huntsville, Alabama.

The convention will kick off on Friday, August 21, with a series of day-long ARRL Training Tracks and a National Convention Luncheon at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Huntsville. Then join ARRL on Friday night for a ...

May 29, 2026

The ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity has remained at low levels this past week. The largest event of the period was a C3.4 flare originating from Region 4446.   

There are nine numbered regions on the visible disk. Region 4452 showed notable growth and new flux emergence. Region 4450 decayed to plage, though unassociated transitory pores were observed to its east and west. Region 4443 decayed into a unipolar spot as ...

May 28, 2026

RAC Vice-President Brent Taylor, VY2HF, Silent Key

by Allan Boyd, VE3AJB/VE3EM, President, Radio Amateurs of Canada

Radio Amateurs of Canada has received the sad news that RAC Vice-President Brent Taylor, VY2HF, became a Silent Key on May 21, 2026, at the age of 66.

The sudden loss of Brent has deeply shocked Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Amateur Radio community across Canada and beyond. RAC extends its sincere condolences to Brent’s wife Jani...

May 24, 2026

Senator Ted Cruz Praises Amateur Radio Volunteers for Emergency Preparedness

Senator Ted Cruz, in a strong pre-Memorial Day message, publicly highlighted the critical role that Amateur Radio Service volunteers play during disasters, praising and thanking ham radio operators who provide essential communications when storms and emergencies knock out power and cellular networks and communities are cut off. Sen. Cruz observed that in these emergencies it is ham radio operat...

May 22, 2026

ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity continued at low levels during the past 24 hours with
four active regions on the visible disk. The largest events were a
C1.0 on May 20 from the northeast limb and a C1.0/Sf, also on May 20,
from Region 4439 that was accompanied by Type-III radio sweeps. This
region was responsible for the majority of the period’s activity,
which otherwise included a B8.7 flare on May 20 from Region 4...