ARRL News
18 January 2026
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
-
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity reached moderate levels due to an M1.6 flare on
January 14 from new region AR4341. Spot classification of this
region is complicated by limb proximity and foreshortening effects.
New Region AR4342 rotated around the NE limb and was also numbered.
No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. Solar
activity is expected to be low with a 25-30% chance for M-class
flares (...
-
New 60-Meter Frequencies Available as of February 13
The new 60-meter frequencies approved by the FCC in December will become available to amateurs as of February 13, 2026, along with new power restrictions on those frequencies. It’s a bit confusing, as different rules apply to different segments of the band. The changes result from the FCC’s action to approve a worldwide 60-meter amateur allocation made by the World Radiocommunication Conference...
-
Bob Jones, VE7RWJ, Silent Key -- Former ITU Official and IARU Expert
Robert W. “Bob” Jones, VE7RWJ, a former top official of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Canadian telecommunications regulator, passed away on January 7, 2026, at age 82. His early fascination with amateur radio led to a career in telecommunications and engineering, according to his obituary.
Jones was Director General of the Canadian Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regul...
-
FCC Poised to Exempt Amateurs from Foreign Adversary Reporting Requirements
At the urging of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to exempt radio amateurs from foreign adversary reporting requirements. These rules would have applied to citizens of the listed countries (see below), including those living in the United States, who hold or are applying for an FCC license.
On January 8, 2026, the FCC relea...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic
storm levels on January 13 and 14, and then from January 17 to 20.
Unsettled levels are likely on January 12, and then from January 21
and 22. All enhancements in geomagnetic activity are due to the
anticipated influence of multiple, recurrent, coronal holes. The
remainder of the outlook period is expected to be mostly quiet.
A tra...
-
Richard Dean Straw, N6BV, ARRL “Antenna Expert,” Silent Key
by Mark Derks, KC1RVQ, ARRL Headquarters Staff
Richard Dean Straw (“Dean”), N6BV, died on July 9, 2025. Amateur radio was one of his passions.
Dean retired from the staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® in 2008 following 15 years of service as the Senior Assistant Technical Editor.
***
In 2006, the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) was held in Florianópolis, Brazil, a co...
-
ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Bouvet DXpedition
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has awarded a $5,000 Colvin Award grant to the Delta-Xray Group, organizers of the upcoming 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet Island, scheduled for February and March, 2026. Bouvet is a remote island in the Southern Ocean, populated only by seals and penguins, and known for treacherous weather and surf conditions. It is a territory of Norway and nearly a...
-
2026 is ARRL’s Year of the Club -- A Celebration of Amateur Radio Clubs
-
New ARRL Section Managers Take Office in January
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® annouces four new Section Managers taking on the top volunteer leadership role in the ARRL Field Organization on January 1, 2026.
Bret Stemen, KD8SCL, has been appointed as the Ohio Section Manager to finish the term that will end September 30, 2026. Stemen, of Pataskala, has recently served as the Section Emergency Coordinator. He is taking the...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
The January 2, 2026, report from Spaceweather.com has updated
details about the Coronal Mass Ejections predicted to hit the Earth
on January 3 and 4.
Solar wind parameters are expected to be disturbed through January
4, 2026, due to a combination of Coronal Hole High Speed Stream and
Coronal Mass Ejection activity. There is the potential for glancing
influences late into January 3 from CMEs that left...
-
ARRL Headquarters Closing for Christmas Holiday 2025
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® will close our headquarters early at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time (1700 UTC) on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and will be closed all day on Thursday and Friday, December 25 - 26 for the Christmas holiday. ARRL will also be closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026, for New Year's Day.
There will be no W1AW transmissions during the holiday closures. The A...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity has been at low levels with only a few C1 flares from
Region 4307. Slight growth and consolidation were observed in that
region as it neared the southwestern limb. Slight decay and
separation were observed in Region 4311. The rest of the spotted
regions were either stable or in decay. CME analysis will be
conducted as imagery becomes available. Solar activity is expected
to be low with...
-
Up to $25,000 at Stake in New ARRL Student Coding Competition
Pre-registration is now open for a Student Coding Competition, a new national challenge sponsored by ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®. The project is designed to engage young radio amateurs in shaping the future of amateur radio through software development. Open to ARRL-member amateur radio operators aged 21 and younger, the competition will invite students to design a mobile a...
-
Obsolete Part 97 Rules to be Deleted February 10, 2026
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in October 2025 adopted a Report and Order to delete almost 400 obsolete rules pertaining to its wireless services. As previously reported by ARRL, among the deletions were four in Part 97 that govern the Amateur Radio Service.
ARRL reports that the notice of the Report and Order has now been published in the Federal Register. Unless an objection is ra...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity reached high levels this past week when Region 4299
produced an M1.1 (R1/Minor) flare on December 6. Shortly after, the
region produced an M8.1/2b (R3/Strong) flare, also on December 6.
Associated with the M8.1 flare was a 1,100 SFU Tenflare, a 1,143
km/s Type II sweep and a Type IV sweep. (A "sweep" is a solar radio
burst that sweeps through the RF spectrum as the energy moves
outward...
Hits: 10379
18 January 2026
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.-
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity reached moderate levels due to an M1.6 flare on
January 14 from new region AR4341. Spot classification of this
region is complicated by limb proximity and foreshortening effects.
New Region AR4342 rotated around the NE limb and was also numbered.
No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. Solar
activity is expected to be low with a 25-30% chance for M-class
flares (... -
New 60-Meter Frequencies Available as of February 13
The new 60-meter frequencies approved by the FCC in December will become available to amateurs as of February 13, 2026, along with new power restrictions on those frequencies. It’s a bit confusing, as different rules apply to different segments of the band. The changes result from the FCC’s action to approve a worldwide 60-meter amateur allocation made by the World Radiocommunication Conference...
-
Bob Jones, VE7RWJ, Silent Key -- Former ITU Official and IARU Expert
Robert W. “Bob” Jones, VE7RWJ, a former top official of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Canadian telecommunications regulator, passed away on January 7, 2026, at age 82. His early fascination with amateur radio led to a career in telecommunications and engineering, according to his obituary.
Jones was Director General of the Canadian Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regul...
-
FCC Poised to Exempt Amateurs from Foreign Adversary Reporting Requirements
At the urging of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to exempt radio amateurs from foreign adversary reporting requirements. These rules would have applied to citizens of the listed countries (see below), including those living in the United States, who hold or are applying for an FCC license.
On January 8, 2026, the FCC relea...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic
storm levels on January 13 and 14, and then from January 17 to 20.
Unsettled levels are likely on January 12, and then from January 21
and 22. All enhancements in geomagnetic activity are due to the
anticipated influence of multiple, recurrent, coronal holes. The
remainder of the outlook period is expected to be mostly quiet.
A tra... -
Richard Dean Straw, N6BV, ARRL “Antenna Expert,” Silent Key
by Mark Derks, KC1RVQ, ARRL Headquarters Staff
Richard Dean Straw (“Dean”), N6BV, died on July 9, 2025. Amateur radio was one of his passions.
Dean retired from the staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® in 2008 following 15 years of service as the Senior Assistant Technical Editor.
***
In 2006, the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) was held in Florianópolis, Brazil, a co...
-
ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Bouvet DXpedition
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has awarded a $5,000 Colvin Award grant to the Delta-Xray Group, organizers of the upcoming 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet Island, scheduled for February and March, 2026. Bouvet is a remote island in the Southern Ocean, populated only by seals and penguins, and known for treacherous weather and surf conditions. It is a territory of Norway and nearly a...
- 2026 is ARRL’s Year of the Club -- A Celebration of Amateur Radio Clubs
-
New ARRL Section Managers Take Office in January
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® annouces four new Section Managers taking on the top volunteer leadership role in the ARRL Field Organization on January 1, 2026.
Bret Stemen, KD8SCL, has been appointed as the Ohio Section Manager to finish the term that will end September 30, 2026. Stemen, of Pataskala, has recently served as the Section Emergency Coordinator. He is taking the...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
The January 2, 2026, report from Spaceweather.com has updated
details about the Coronal Mass Ejections predicted to hit the Earth
on January 3 and 4.
Solar wind parameters are expected to be disturbed through January
4, 2026, due to a combination of Coronal Hole High Speed Stream and
Coronal Mass Ejection activity. There is the potential for glancing
influences late into January 3 from CMEs that left... -
ARRL Headquarters Closing for Christmas Holiday 2025
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® will close our headquarters early at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time (1700 UTC) on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and will be closed all day on Thursday and Friday, December 25 - 26 for the Christmas holiday. ARRL will also be closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026, for New Year's Day.
There will be no W1AW transmissions during the holiday closures. The A...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity has been at low levels with only a few C1 flares from
Region 4307. Slight growth and consolidation were observed in that
region as it neared the southwestern limb. Slight decay and
separation were observed in Region 4311. The rest of the spotted
regions were either stable or in decay. CME analysis will be
conducted as imagery becomes available. Solar activity is expected
to be low with... -
Up to $25,000 at Stake in New ARRL Student Coding Competition
Pre-registration is now open for a Student Coding Competition, a new national challenge sponsored by ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®. The project is designed to engage young radio amateurs in shaping the future of amateur radio through software development. Open to ARRL-member amateur radio operators aged 21 and younger, the competition will invite students to design a mobile a...
-
Obsolete Part 97 Rules to be Deleted February 10, 2026
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in October 2025 adopted a Report and Order to delete almost 400 obsolete rules pertaining to its wireless services. As previously reported by ARRL, among the deletions were four in Part 97 that govern the Amateur Radio Service.
ARRL reports that the notice of the Report and Order has now been published in the Federal Register. Unless an objection is ra...
-
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity reached high levels this past week when Region 4299
produced an M1.1 (R1/Minor) flare on December 6. Shortly after, the
region produced an M8.1/2b (R3/Strong) flare, also on December 6.
Associated with the M8.1 flare was a 1,100 SFU Tenflare, a 1,143
km/s Type II sweep and a Type IV sweep. (A "sweep" is a solar radio
burst that sweeps through the RF spectrum as the energy moves
outward...