08 April 2020

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

• New TQSL Version 2.5.2 Provides Better LoTW Rover Support, Other Improvements

  The latest version of TrustedQSL (TQSL), version 2.5.2, offers improved Logbook of The World (LoTW) support for operations from several locations, as well as the ability to detect uploads that contain incorrect location data. The primary new feature in TQSL 2.5.2 allows logging programs, in conjunction with TQSL, to avoid incorrect contact uploads, while adding mechanisms to allow easy uploadin...

• Ned Stearns, AA7A, Appointed as ARRL Southwestern Division Vice Director
• World Amateur Radio Day on April 18 Celebrates 95th Anniversary of the IARU
• Past ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bernie Fuller, N3EFN, SK

  Past ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bernard E. “Bernie” Fuller, N3EFN, of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, died on April 2. He was 86. Fuller moved into the Atlantic Division Director’s position in 2000, after the ARRL Board elected then-Atlantic Division Director Kay Craigie, WT3P (now N3KN), as a Vice President. He served as an ARRL Director until 2006.

  A US Army veteran, Fuller retired with the ra...

• Use of Special Call Sign Suffixes in the US During COVID-19 Pandemic

  Some countries have authorized selected radio amateurs or organizations to identify with longer-than-normal suffixes that relate to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as “STAYHOME.” FCC Part 97 Amateur Radio Service rules do not provide for amateur call sign suffixes longer than three characters, but a potential workaround exists.

  As §97.119(c) of the FCC’s Amateur Radio Service rules states: “One or m...

• Icom Announces Delay in Delivery of New IC-705 Transceiver
• Randy Thompson, K5ZD, Named as Interim CQ WPX Contest Director

  Randy Thompson, K5ZD, is filling in as CQ WPX Contest Director. CQ’s Rich Moseson, W2VU, announced the appointment of Thompson as interim director following the resignation of Terry Zivney, N4TZ, who had been the director for 7 years. Thompson previously served as director of the CQ World Wide Contest and is a long-time CQ Contest Committee member. Anyone interested in taking on the WPX Directo...

• Japan to Expand Access to 160 Meters
• The May Issue of Digital QST is Now Available!
• Past ARRL Treasurer Jim McCobb, K1LU, SK

  Past ARRL Treasurer James E. “Jim” McCobb, Jr., K1LU (ex-K1LLU, W1LLU), of West Newbury, Massachusetts, died on April 1. An ARRL Life Member, he was 77. McCobb served as ARRL Treasurer, a volunteer post, for nearly 32 years, from 1980 until 2012, when he was succeeded by current ARRL Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM. An active DXer and contester, McCobb was active from Belize, where he held the c...

• The Latest Episode of ARRL Audio News is Now Available

  Listen to the new episode of ARRL Audio News on your iOS or Android podcast app, or online at https://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/. Audio News is also retransmitted on a number of FM repeaters. Click here and then scroll down to see the list.

• The K7RA Solar Update

  A new sunspot appeared on the last day in March and the first days of April, with daily sunspot numbers of 12, 13 and 12. Total sunspot area increased on each day from 10 to 20 to 30 millionths of a solar hemisphere.

  Fortunately, this was a Cycle 25 spot, according to the magnetic signature.

  Prior to this no sunspots were seen since earlier in March, when daily sunspot numbers were 13 and 12 on M...

• Some Countries Permitting “STAYHOME”-Suffix Call Signs during COVID-19 Pandemic

  [UPDATED: 2020-04-06 @ 1508 UTC] Some countries around the world are allowing radio amateurs to use special “STAYHOME” call sign suffixes. For example, listen for A60STAYHOME/# call signs from the United Arab Emirates.

  In Canada, Michael Shamash, VE2MXU, is using VC2STAYHOM “to raise awareness for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Canada limits call sign suffixes to seven characte...

• Spain Grants Unlicensed Individuals Permission to Use Amateur Stations During Lockdown

  Spain’s International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member-society URE has obtained temporary permission from the country’s telecommunications regulator for unlicensed people to use amateur stations during the coronavirus lockdown.

  “The main objective of the request is to disseminate and promote amateur radio among schoolchildren who must be confined at home,” the announcement from the Ministry of...

• To All ARRL Members and ARRL VEC Accredited Volunteer Examiners

  We know many examiners have canceled amateur radio license exam sessions to meet the requirements and recommendations of national and local government and of health officials. The health and safety of examinees and our Volunteer Examiners (VEs) is first and foremost in any decision-making process. The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) does not offer video-supervised online amateur radio...