ARRL News

23 January 2025

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

• ARRL Opening Late on Thursday, January 23, 2025

  ARRL will be closed on Thursday morning, January 23, 2025, for a company-wide meeting. During the short closure, members are encouraged to use the ARRL website, www.arrl.org, for membership renewals, publication purchases, and to access most benefits, services, and programs. The ARRL Headquarters lobby & store, and W1AW will be re-open to visitors at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (1700 UTC) on...

• A Weekend of January Contests

  There are two great contests for amateur radio operators this weekend, January 18 - 20, 2025, and a bonus opportunity for a college club station to win a national championship.

  Whether you’re interested in contesting on the HF bands, the VHF bands of 50 MHz and above, or both, there’s likely a contest to fit your needs this weekend. ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, said there i...

• The K7RA Solar Update

  Sorry to say this is the last ARRL Propagation Forecast Bulletin I
  will write.  I took over in 1991 from Ed Tilton, W1HDQ when he was
  too ill and weak to continue, and now with ALS I have similar
  problems.
  
  Geomagnetic influencers were more stable this week (planetary A
  index shifted from 16.9 to 10.7) and solar indicators were weaker.
  Average daily sunspot number changed from 159.1 to 103.3 and avera...

• DXCC Application Processing Caught Up

  DXCC® application processing is back to typical processing times.

  In October, we reported that the ARRL DXCC® System had been returned to service following work that was completed to ensure the security and integrity of the system following the cyber-attack in May. Over 4,000 DXCC applications have been logged into the system for processing since returning the system to service.

  We are currently...

• Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, Silent Key

  Former ARRL and Yaesu employee, World Radiosport Team Championship competitor, and award-winning radio amateur Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, has become a Silent Key. Motschenbacher passed away on January 9, 2025, after a long illness.

  Motschenbacher was first licensed at the age of 13. According to his obituary, “His Amateur Radio activities took him to 35 countries and his ham radio call sign, K...

• Ham Radio Operators Serving During California Firestorms

  As the firestorms across Southern California continue to threaten millions of residents, trained amateur radio operators are serving critical volunteer roles to help officials spot fires before they get out of control. Dry conditions and wind gusts of 100 miles per hour have fueled days of devastating wildfires. Entire neighborhoods have been leveled by infernos.

  The Eaton fire burned to the top...

• FCC Upholds Record $34,000 Forfeiture Against Amateur Licensee

  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...

• ARRL Teachers Institute: Coming to a Town Near You

  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...

• The K7RA Solar Update

  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...

• Hurricane Watch Net Remembers Long Time Volunteer Terry Redding, W6LMJ, Silent Key.

  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...

• FCC Closed January 9, 2025 for President Carter National Day of Mourning

  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.

• ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio Launches Dream Station Sweepstakes
• Deadline Extended for ARRL Foundation Scholarship Applications

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

  Click...

• CWops Announces 2024 Advancing the Art of CW Award

  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...

• The K7RA Solar Update

  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...