ARRL News

06 October 2024

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

• An Incredible Amateur Radio Rescue Story

  Editor’s note:  The following story was submitted by Don Gardner, W7PJ, ARRL Idaho Section Emergency Coordinator.

  On the evening of September 21, 2024, Greg Owen, WX7Z, heard an amateur radio emergency call on the VHF frequency known as the national simplex calling frequency, 146.52 MHz. Ed Clark, K7ELC, was calling to get medical help for a 51-year-old man who had rolled his four-wheeler.

  Mac M...

• Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Scheduled for October 5—6

  The first weekend of October is when ARRL encourages local groups to hold the Simulated Emergency Test, or SET. Throughout September, ARRL shared materials about resilience through National Preparedness Month. Now, as entire areas are washed away in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the utility value of amateur radio is more necessary and visible than ever.

  When disaster strikes, infrastructur...

• The ARRL Foundation is Now Accepting Grant Applications Through October 31, 2024

  There is funding available to organizations for eligible amateur radio-related projects and initiatives, particularly those with a focus on educating, licensing, and supporting amateur radio activities. Youth-based projects and initiatives are especially encouraged. The ARRL Foundation grants program accepts proposals on a cyclical basis three times a year, in February, June, and October. Award...

• The K7RA Solar Update

  ASWFC GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING ISSUED AT 0042UT/04 OCTOBER 2024 BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.
  
  Two coronal mass ejections first observed on 01-Oct and 03-Oct are
  expected to impact Earth over 04-05 Oct. Lack of analyzable corona
  graph imagery makes arrival time predictions uncertain.
  
  INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED DUE TO CORONAL MASS EJECTION FROM 04-06 OCTOBER...

• Ham Radio Serving Southeast US Recovery Efforts

  ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® is tracking how amateur radio is proving critical in areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene, especially in North and South Carolina, portions of Tennessee, and beyond. In the hardest-hit Asheville, North Carolina, area, homes and entire towns have been swept away by flood waters and mudslides. Over 200 people have been killed, and many more are stil...

• Helene - Storm Updates

  Monday, September 30, 2024, 3:30 PM Eastern Update: 

  ARRL leadership has been engaged throughout the weekend with key volunteers in the southeast, especially in hard hit North Carolina, to facilitate any support headquarters can provide to the impacted area. The devastation is widespread and greater than many seasoned emergency responders have ever seen before.

  There are ad-hoc health and welfare...

• Candidate for ARRL Northwestern Division Director Disqualified; Tharp Declared Elected

  Dan Marler, K7REX, the challenger seeking the position of ARRL Northwestern Division Director, was declared disqualified Saturday by the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee (E&E). Marler was running against incumbent Mark Tharp, KB7HDX. Due to the disqualification, the committee has declared Tharp elected.
  
  ARRL’s election rules state, “All matters concerning campaigns, including remedies for iss...

• Volunteers – The Heart and Soul of ARRL Headquarters
• Amateur Radio and Robot Play Ball!

  The Staten Island Technical High School Robotics Team, in Staten Island, New York,  took its knowledge and skills to the baseball diamond.

  The team created a robot that was capable of throwing a ceremonial first pitch and, in early September, the members were invited to showcase and execute their robot at a Staten Island FerryHawks minor league game. But Everton Henriques, KD2ZZT, engineering an...

• Changes in the ARRL West Texas Section

  Dale Durham, W5WI, has announced that he is retiring from the position of Section Manager of the ARRL West Texas Section. Dale has served in this role since July 1st, 2017. He has also served as the Section Emergency Coordinator, a Field Instructor, and as an Official Observer.

  David Overton, W5JDO, has been appointed to fill the remainder of the current term which will end on June 30th, 2025. D...

• National Preparedness Month - Get Involved

  All September, the ARRL® Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) has been promoting readiness and resilience for National Preparedness Month. As we come to the end of the month, a hurricane is churning in the Gulf of Mexico, with forecasts of up to 20 feet of storm surge expected to impact large portions of Florida.

  This underscores the need to be prepared. Even experienced hams and those who h...

• The K7RA Solar Update

  Seven sunspot groups emerged this week. The first was on September
  19, three on September 20, one each on September 22 and 23, and the
  last on September 25.
  
  Average daily sunspot numbers increased from 120 to 137.2, and
  average daily solar flux shifted from 175.7 to 164.3.
  
  Geomagnetic numbers were much quieter. Average daily planetary A
  index changed from 35.7 to 14.3, and middle latitude A index fro...

• ARRL Systems Service Disruption

  Updated 9/25/24

  Two major systems that have not been returned to service include DXCC and our accounting system. Most other systems have returned to full service, and we are working to clean up the stragglers.

  DXCC® System

  Our DXCC software was written some 20 years ago.  Although an attempt was made 8 years ago to reprogram it to function in a newer environment, that effort was unsuccessful, so t...

• ARRL Section Managers Gather for Training at Headquarters

  The ARRL Field Organization is divided geographically into 71 sections. A key volunteer that members in each section elect is the Section Manager. These ARRL member-volunteers take a critical role in being the front line of the organization to members.

  On Saturday, September 15, 2024, 13 ARRL Section Managers gathered at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, for training. ARRL staff memb...

• National Preparedness Month - Station Readiness

  As ARRL continues the September series on National Preparedness Month, we turn to a critical element for radio amateurs and especially Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers: their station. 

  Many hams have a home station from which we operate on a regular basis.  Is your station set up to operate or have the ability to operate off the grid or on alternate power sources?  There are m...

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