Amateur Radio News

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assessed a record $34,000 forfeiture against an amateur radio licensee for “willfully and repeatedly operating a radio station without authorization and interfering with the radio communications of the United States Forest Service … while the U.S. Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands were attempting to direct the operations of fire suppres...

The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is going mobile in 2025. In addition to the cohorts hosted at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, there will be several sessions around the United States this year. The first, hosted by ARRL model school Staten Island Technical High School in New York City, will be held January 21-24.

The format is being refined this year from five day...

Solar activity was a bit weak during recent days. Average daily
sunspot number was 159.1. During the previous week the average was
194.7.

Predicted solar flux for the near term is 165 on January 10-11, 160
on January 12, 155 on January 13-17, 200, 210 and 220 on January
18-20, then 230 on January 21-25, then 225, 220, 215, 210, 205 and
200 on January 26-31, 170 on February 1-2, 165 on February 3-4, 1...

By HWN Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV  

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Terrence "Terry" Redding, Sr., Ph.D., W6LMJ, SK. Just before Christmas, I heard from one of Terry’s daughters that he suffered a bad stroke a few months earlier. Sadly, he passed away January 4, 2025. His daughter said he passed holding the hand of his bride as they listened to their favorite song.

A...

By HWN Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV  

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Terrence "Terry" Redding, Sr., Ph.D., W6LMJ, SK. Just before Christmas, I heard from one of Terry’s daughters that he suffered a bad stroke a few months earlier. Sadly, he passed away January 4, 2025. His daughter said he passed holding the hand of his bride as they listened to their favorite song.

A...

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in observance of the national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. Exam session applications for new and upgraded licenses, as well as individual and club license filings, will not be processed. Application processing will resume when FCC offices reopen on Friday, January 10 at 8:00 AM EST.

The ARRL Foundation has extended the application deadline to its Scholarship Program to Monday, January 13th, 11:59PM, EST. 

Information, including the link to apply, can be found on our website here: www.arrl.org/scholarship-program.

All applicants must be active, licensed amateur radio operators.  More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000 will be awarded to deserving students.

Clic...

Each year, CWops, an international organization that promotes and advances Morse code (CW) in amateur radio communications, accepts nominations for individuals, groups, and organizations for the CWops Award for Advancing the Art of CW. The award recognizes contributions made toward advancing the art or practice of radio communications by Morse code.

The Radio Officer's Association (ROA) is the r...

Currently a geomagnetic storm is raging. On January 1-2, Alaska's
college A index reached 113.

Predicted planetary A index is 12 on January 3, then 18, 18, 12, 10
and 8 on January 4-8, 5 on January 9-10, 10 and 8 on January 11-12,
5 on January 13-15, 12 on January 16, 10 on January 17-20, 5 on
January 21-25, then 8, 50, 20 and 8 January 26-29.

Predicted solar flux is 215 on January 3-4, then 205, 210...

The first ARRL contest of 2025 is about to begin. The ARRL RTTY Roundup is this weekend. The event begins at 1800 UTC on Saturday, January 4, and concludes at 2359 UTC on Sunday, January 5. Operation is allowed using the RTTY mode on the 80-, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meter bands. “RTTY Roundup is a great opportunity to explore this unique digital mode,” said ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourq...

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® will be closed on New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2025. The last W1AW transmission of 2024 will be the regularly scheduled code bulletin at 11 PM Eastern time on Tuesday, December 31 (0400 UTC on January 1). There will be no bulletins, code practice, or visitor operations during the one-day closing. ARRL Headquarters and W1AW will reopen on ...

Strong solar activity continues, with worldwide propagation on 10
and 12 meters quite commonplace.

Predicted solar flux is 255, 250, 210, 200, and 195 on December 30,
2024 through January 3, 2025, 190 on January 4-5, 170 on January 6,
160 on January 7-8, then 165, 170 and 165 on January 9-11, 170 on
January 12-13, 175 on January 14-15, 180 on January 16, 185 on
January 17-18, 200 on January 19-23, 18...

These are periodic updates to an original story published on May 16, 2024.

Updated 12/27/2024

The following is an update on DXCC® application processing:

In October, we reported that the ARRL DXCC® System had been returned to service. Since then, over 3,000 DXCC applications have been logged into the DXCC System for processing. It is important to understand that the queue of submitted applications...

The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program continues to accept applications for the 2025 scholarship cycle. The application period is open until 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on January 6, 2025. The scholarships are available to eligible amateur radio operators pursuing higher education. There are more than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000.

The scholarships have been established by ge...

ARRL Straight Key Night will be January 1, 2025, from 0000 UTC through 2359 UTC. This 24-hour event is not a contest but rather a day dedicated to celebrating our CW heritage.

articipants are encouraged to get on the air and simply make enjoyable, conversational CW QSOs. The use of straight keys or bugs to send CW is preferred. There are no points scored and all who participate are winners. All ...

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® Kids Day runs January 4, 2025 from 1800 UTC - 2359 UTC. Operate as much or as little as you like.

The event is designed to give on-the-air experience to young people, to foster interest in getting a license of their own, and give older hams a chance to share their stations and love for amateur radio with their children. You can share the excitemen...

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® seeks nominations for awards.

It probably isn’t hard to think of someone you know in the hobby who goes above and beyond in service to amateur radio, their club, their fellow hams, or their community. Volunteers are the very core of the Amateur Radio Service, and that dedication is what carries the ARRL Field Organization. Excellence in on-air ope...

Brian Justin, Jr., WA1ZMS, of Forest, Virginia, will operate experimental station WI2XLQ on 486-kHz AM for the Reginald Fessenden commemorative transmission starting approximately at 22:00 UTC on December 24, 2024.

Transmissions will last for at least 24 hours. A repeat transmission will take place on December 31, also starting approximately 22:00 UTC and running for 24 hours. All transmissions ...

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® will close our headquarters early at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time (1700 UTC) on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and will be closed all day on Wednesday, December 25 for Christmas.

The ARRL Headquarters lobby and store, as well as W1AW, will be open to visitors from 8 AM to 12 PM EST on Tuesday, December 24. There will be no W1AW bulletins, code practi...