We are pleased to announce the 2025 Blossomland Amateur Radio Association and Midwest Classic Radio Net KI8BQ Memorial Trunk Swap is a go!

ARRL News

26 February 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.

• ARRL Headquarters Closed on Monday, February 23, 2026

  Due to a severe winter storm, ARRL Headquarters and the Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, will be closed on Monday, February 23, for the safety of our staff. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has declared a state of emergency ahead of a blizzard that is moving into the state Sunday and continuing into Monday.

  There will be no W1AW bulletin or CW practice transmissions on Monday.

  Members can access many...

• Job Posting: FCC Recruiting 7 Field Agents – Electronics Engineers

  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is looking for qualified applicants for Field Agents in seven Enforcement Bureau (EB) offices across the United States: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY, and Portland, OR. Incumbents will resolve Radio Frequency (RF) interference, educate users, and enforce regulations. The GS levels for this position hav...

• The ARRL Solar Update

  Solar activity returned to low levels this past week. The strongest
  event of the period was a C1.8 flare on February 17 from region
  4374. This region was also responsible for a C1.4 flare on February
  18. The only other flare of note was a C1.1 flare on February 17
  from an unnumbered plage region near S05E85. (A plage region is a
  bright, intensely hot region in the Sun's chromosphere, typically
  found...

• New Book Release: Digital Networking for Ham Radio

  ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®’s new book, Digital Networking for Ham Radio, a practical, hands-on guide to designing and implementing high-speed data networks for amateur radio stations, is now shipping.

  Written by Glen Popiel, KW5GP, the book brings together in one comprehensive resource the knowledge needed to build, configure, and expand digital networks for ham radio. From...

• FCC Requires That FRN Contact Information Be Updated Within Ten Days of a Change
• 2025 ARRL Sweepstakes Icom Dream Station Winner Announced at Orlando HamCation®

  ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® announced the winner of the 2025 ARRL Sweepstakes Icom® Dream Station on Saturday, February 14, at 2026 Orlando HamCation. The announcement was made by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, with Icom America Senior Sales Manager Ray Novak, N9JA.

  The ARRL Sweepstakes ran from January 3 to December 31, 2025, as the centerpiece of a year-long membershi...

• The ARRL Solar Update

  Solar activity reached moderate levels early this week. The
  strongest event was an M1.4 flare observed on February 11 in Region
  4366. This region also produced nine C-class flares.
   
  Region 4373 produced a C1.8/Sf flare on February 11. This region
  displayed some minor area growth. Regions 4369 and 4371 exhibited
  some minor decay. The other spotted regions remained unchanged. New
  Region 4375 was number...

• Radio Clubs Encouraged to Plan Now for April Ham Radio Open House

  ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is inviting radio clubs to participate in the second annual Ham Radio Open House in April. Hosting an Open House gives clubs and schools the opportunity to promote amateur radio science and technology by opening their stations to the public and showcasing their hi-tech gear and operating skills.

  In addition, clubs are encouraged to set up in publi...

• ARRL Mourns the Loss of Sharon Taratula, Awards Manager

  ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is saddened to share the news that Sharon Taratula, who served the League with dedication and distinction for 32 years, passed away on February 4, 2026.

  Sharon joined ARRL on January 31, 1994, as DXCC Awards Technician. She later served as Administrative Assistant (1996), MVP Administrative Manager (2011), and from 2016 until her passing, as Award...

• The ARRL Solar Update

  Solar activity was at high levels for most of the week, dominated by
  Region 4366. The most notable event was an impulsive X4.2 flare from
  that region on February 4. Throughout the period, Region 4366
  continued to exhibit a slight reduction in area and a modest
  simplification of its magnetic complexity. The remaining numbered
  regions on the visible disk remained stable or in a state of slight
  decay.
   
  T...

• NCVEC Question Pool Committee Removes Three Questions from Use
• ARRL Joins America250 as a Supporting Partner for the Nation’s 250th Anniversary
• Former FCC official John B. Johnston, W3BE, Silent Key

  John B. Johnston, W3BE (SK), of Derwood, Maryland, passed away on January 7, 2026.He was 98 years old. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Johnson was a World War II veteran and served in the Pacific Theater.

  He was first licensed on March 15, 1954, as KN2HHR. Following military service and college, he worked for the General Electric Company, and then as an engineer for the Federal Communications Commis...

• The ARRL Solar Update

  Solar activity continued at low levels this week. Low level C-class
  flares were observed from Regions 4342 and 4353. The majority of the
  regions were either stable or in decay. New Regions 4359, 4360, and
  4361 emerged on the disk and were numbered. No Earth-directed
  Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. The forecast calls for
  solar activity to remain at low levels with a chance for M-class
  fla...

• North Carolina Students Scheduled to Make Contact with the International Space Station

  580 students at Conn Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina, will participate in a conversation with an astronaut on board the International Space Station (ISS). Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has confirmed the contact, scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, just after 10:00 AM EST.  

  Radio communications will be provided by theRaleigh Amateur Radio Socie...

Southgate Amateur Radio News

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BARA Ham of the Year Recipients