ARRL Letter Issue



96

The ARRL Letter for October 29, 2026



Richard Moseson, W2VU, Editor | October 29, 2026

ARRL Homepage

ARRL Homepage

In this Issue:

ARRL Partners in NASA-Funded Space Weather Education Initiative

Venusbounce (With a Message)

How to Work VK9XY on 6 Meters (Hint: Extreme Long Path)

ARRL Foundation Opens Applications for 2027 Scholarship Program

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Live Events and Podcasts

Announcements

In Brief...

The ARRL Solar Report

Just Ahead in Radiosport

Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events

Save the Date

ARRL Partners in NASA-Funded Space Weather Education Initiative

ARRL and HamSCI are participating with the University of Scranton and
four other institutions in a NASA-funded initiative to advance space
weather education, scientific discovery, and public engagement through
amateur radio. As part of the project, ARRL will receive grant funding
to develop and deliver a new Teachers Institute program on space
weather, providing high school STEM educators with hands-on professional development in solar activity, Earth's magnetosphere, the ionosphere,
and the effects of space weather on radio communications.

According to ARRL Director of Education and Learning Wayne Greene,
KB4DSF, the four-day program will integrate real-world data from NASA
missions and a network of citizen science space weather monitoring
stations, allowing educators to bring authentic scientific
investigations into their classrooms. Participating teachers will also
help expand the network of monitoring stations at schools, enabling
students to contribute to ongoing scientific research. Through this
initiative, ARRL will demonstrate the important role amateur radio plays
in scientific discovery while equipping educators to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and radio amateurs.

The program is part of Discovering the SPARC: Space Physics Through
Amateur Radio Connections, developed by University of Scranton Professor
and HamSCI founder Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, and funded by NASAs
Science Activation (SciAct) program to the tune of nearly $5.5 million
over a 5-year period. An expansion of HamSCIs successful efforts to
create a worldwide network of amateur radio operators collecting and
providing data to scientists studying the ionosphere and space weather,
the centerpiece of SPARC will be the installation of discovery stations
in public venues such as schools, libraries, and museums. In addition,
the grant will fund the deployment of 85 Citizen Science Space Weather
Monitor stations around the country. Other collaborating institutions
include the Space Science Institute, MIT Haystack Observatory, the
University of Alabama, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Venusbounce (With a Message)

You may be familiar with amateur radio moonbounce communication, also
known as Earth-Moon-Earth or EME. But what about EVE Earth-Venus-Earth?
A series of transmissions from the Netherlands on October 17 and 18
resulted in the third-ever successful amateur radio EVE reception,
including the first-ever reception of a message, VENUS ECHO.

The first successful amateur radio EVE transmissions were made by
Germanys AMSAT-DL in 2009, a feat not repeated until 2025 by members of
the C.A. Muller Radio Astronomy Station (CAMRAS) foundation at the
Dwingeloo radio telescope, PI9RD, in the Netherlands. That signal was
simply a long tone transmitted on 1299.5 MHz, with the echo received
back at Dwingeloo and at the Stockert radio telescope in Germany. The
most recent transmissions included messages in several formats and the
echoes were received at multiple radio telescopes. However, the signals
were so weak that it took 40 minutes of echoes to decode the entire 10-character message.

Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, CEO of Open Research Institute (ORI), which collaborated with the Dutch team on this effort, told ARRL that bouncing
a message off Venus is a big step up from a radar return, which in its
own right is a very difficult technical challenge. She explains that
this is a very challenging radio channel. It has an enormous path loss.
Best case, when Venus is close to Earth, is that it's 250 dB or so at
the EVE frequencies used, one way. That's roughly equivalent to the
round-trip path loss for EME. So, after you deal with 500 dB path loss
to Venus round trip, you have Doppler Spread. Your signal is messed up
because Venus spins. (See Thompsons article, A Day at Dwingeloo, in the
October 2026 issue of QST, the ORI blog post on this EVE experiment, and details on the signal modulation, coding, and theory used for the
successful message transmission.)

Further transmissions were planned this past week, as EVE is possible
only during Venuss inferior conjunction, when it is closest to Earth.
Still, the signals must travel over 26 million miles in each direction,
with a round trip at the speed of light taking roughly 5 minutes.
Thompson says the next EVE opportunity will be in June 2028, and ORI is
looking for interested amateurs to get involved. The eventual goal is to complete a 2-way EVE QSO.

Spectrogram of the reflected signal from Venus, as received at

the Stockert radio telescope in Germany. [Image from

CAMRAS blog]

How to Work VK9XY on 6 Meters (Hint: Extreme Long Path)

The upcoming VK9XY DXpedition to Christmas Island (November 16 -
December 4) is planning to have a 6-meter station on the air in addition
to its HF operations. But Christmas Island is a bit remote for
traditional 6-meter contacts, so the groups focus will be on the moon!
After the HF stations are operational, according to an announcement from
the Pacific Islands DXpedition Group, the team will set up a 6-meter EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) station using a Flex 6700 transceiver with a kilowatt amplifier on transmit and low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) on receive,
feeding an antenna at the top of a cliff with a totally unobstructed
view to the north from east to west. Operators will be watching https://livecq.n6nu.org and the ON4KST EME chat.

The antenna is a 6M8GJ on a 24-foot mast that will allow elevation to
about 75 EME station up and running. The team notes that it has the
required experimental license in hand to allow 1000 watts PEP (425
average) between 50.180 and 50.220 MHz.

ARRL Foundation Opens Applications for 2027 Scholarship Program

The ARRL Foundation will begin accepting applications for its 2027
Scholarship Program on Friday, October 30, 2026, offering students an opportunity to secure financial support for their educational goals.
More than 150 scholarships, ranging from $500 to $25,000, will be
available to eligible students pursuing higher education.

Applications must be submitted online by 12 PM EST on December 21, 2026.
All applicants must be licensed amateur radio operators pursuing higher education.

Made possible through the generosity of donors who believe in the
promise of the next generation, the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program
helps students pursue their academic ambitions while encouraging them to explore the opportunities amateur radio offers in science, technology, engineering, wireless communications, and other related fields.

In 2026, the ARRL Foundation awarded 163 scholarships totaling $813,000, helping students take the next step toward their educational and career
goals.

Students are encouraged to explore the available opportunities and
apply. Learn more and access the online application at www.arrl.org/scholarship-program.

Amateur Radio in the News

From Scranton to space: University of Scranton professor receives $5.5
million NASA grant to study impact of space weather / WVIA (Pittston,
PA), October 23, 2026 (Also see "ARRL Partners in NASA-Funded Space
Weather Education Initiative above)

Ham radio enthusiasts tune up and tune in / Courthouse News Service
(Online), October 23, 2026 -- San Diego ARES

Learn Guide Update: ARISS SSTV on Fruit Jam / Adafruit blog (online),
October 26, 2026

Sarasota Military Academy reaches out to International Space Station /
Sarasota Observer (Sarasota, FL), October 25, 2026 plus WWSB-TV
(Sarasota, FL), October 22, 2026, and Fox13 Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL)
October 22, 2026 -- Tamiami Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated
Club

ARRL Live Events and Podcasts

On the Air LIVE

Learning CW From Zero to Your First QSO

Interested in learning Morse code but not sure where to start? Join ARRL Director of Education and Learning Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, for the
November edition of On the Air Live as we explore practical ways to
learn CW and put your new skills to work on the air. Wayne will discuss
proven learning methods, free training resources, common mistakes to
avoid, and how to build an effective practice routine. Whether you're completely new to CW or have tried learning before, this episode will
help you take the next step toward your first CW contact. The livestream
will air on Tuesday, November 24th at 8 PM Eastern at the ARRL Learning
Center, learn.arrl.org.

Date: November 24, 2026

Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific

Register Now | Previously Recorded Sessions

Listen to , available every Friday. is a summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews
and other features. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on
iTunes and Apple Podcasts.

On the Air

Sponsored by Icom

Get Ready for Contest Season

ARRL Director of Education and Learning and host of On the Air LIVE,
Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, joins the podcast to talk about what goes into an
on-air contest, and what you, as a new ham, can get out of participating
in one. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and
Apple Podcasts.

Announcements

The following America250 W1AW Portable Activations begin 0000z on
Wednesdays, and end 2359z on Tuesdays (7 days total for each
activation). See the complete schedule at www.arrl.org/america250-was.
Review your award progress and order your certificate and endorsements
at america250.arrl.org.

10/28/2026 Michigan W1AW/8 (host K8NGW)

10/28/2026 Nevada W1AW/7 (host NCSM)

11/4/2026 Arizona W1AW/7 (host W7RAP)

11/4/2026 Virginia W1AW/4 (host WA8AHZ)

11/4/2026 Oklahoma W2AW/5 (host N5HZR)

11/11/2026 Kansas W1AW/ (host KSJD)

11/11/2026 Wyoming W1AW/7 (host WY7AA)

11/11/2026 Maryland W1AW/3 (host K2EJ)

In Brief...

Last call for schools to apply for grants from ARRLs Education and
Technology Program (ETP). The application deadline is October 31. The
grants assist schools and teachers in the purchase of radio equipment, software, and other radio-related resources for school ham stations. The program offers two types of grants: ETP School Station Grants for
schools providing a plan to use amateur radio as part of in-classroom
learning or an enrichment program; and ETP Progress Grants for teachers
already using amateur radio in their classrooms to purchase additional resources or for those teachers needing resources in order to start
teaching about electronics and wireless technology using amateur radio.
Details are on the ETP page of the ARRL website.

Voting is now under way for members of the ARRL Board of Directors in
three Divisions. ARRL members are choosing between two candidates for
Director in the Delta, Great Lakes, and Midwest Divisions, and two
candidates for Vice Director in the Midwest Division. The Director
positions in the Atlantic and Dakota Divisions are unopposed, as are the
Vice Director positions in the Atlantic, Dakota, and Delta Divisions.
The Great Lakes Division had no candidates for Vice Director.

Candidates in contested elections are:

Director, Delta Division: Incumbent David Norris, K5UZ, and challenger
David Thomas, KM4NYI
Director, Great Lakes Division: Incumbent Scott Yonally, N8SY, and
challenger Michael Kalter, W8CI
Director, Midwest Division: Incumbent Art Zygielbaum, KAIZ, and
challenger Drew Vonada-Smith, K3PA
Vice Director, Midwest Division: Ron Ochu, KOZ, and Todd LeMense, KKDX

Successful candidates will be announced in November. Candidates declared elected will assume their roles for terms beginning January 1, 2027.

ARRL is governed by its Board of Directors. Elections are held for five
of the 15 ARRL Divisions each year, for terms of three years.

ARRL Honorary Vice President Jay Holladay, W6EJJ, of La Canada,
California, became a Silent Key on September 5, 2026, at age 90. An ARRL
Life Member, Holladay served for 21 years on the ARRL Board of
Directors, as Vice Director and Director of the Southwestern Division,
and as First Vice President before being named an Honorary Vice
President in 1996. Holladay was also president of the Southern
California DX Club in 1969, and DXer of the Year in 1970. In his
professional life, Jay was an engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
in Pasadena, where he worked on unmanned space missions. A celebration
of his life will be held in Pasadena on November 14.

ARRLs annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is traditionally held in
early October, but Section Field Organization leaders have the option of scheduling their drills at a different time, and thats whats happening
in New Hampshire. Section Public Information Coordinator Skip Camejo,
AC1LC, reports that NH-ARES will be conducting its SET on Saturday,
November 7, from 8 AM to 2 PM. The scenario will be the ARES response to
a major hurricane that disables cellular service, public safety radio
and amateur radio repeaters throughout the state. Participants will
focus on passing simulated emergency traffic via FM simplex and Winlink
email, with the goal of passing messages without changes or errors to a simulated state emergency operations center, and to a simulated American
Red Cross communication center, both in Concord, the state capital. In a
news release to state media, Camejo notes that the public may see NH-
ARES radio operators located at various high elevation points along the
side of roadways, in parking lots or other locations that enhance point
to point radio communication.

Open Positions at ARRL

Come join the headquarters staff of ARRL The National Association for
Amateur Radio! We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the
following positions:

Technical Editor

RFI Lab Engineer

Public Relations and Outreach Manager

Membership Marketing Analyst
Instructional Specialist

Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at
www.arrl.org/careers.

ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.

The ARRL Solar Report

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels in the coming days, according to NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), as one
sunspot region (4561) rotated out of view and a second (4562) was quiet
and in decay. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were
observed. The geomagnetic field has been quiet, although an enhancement
is expected late on October 30, with a minor geomagnetic storm possible
on the 31st, as a result of a recurrent equatorial positive-polarity
coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS).

The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre predicts normal to fair
HF propagation conditions for the middle latitudes, with generally quiet conditions on the sun.

The W3LPL Propagation Forecast from the Daily DX is predicting mostly
normal propagation on the 15- through 80-meter bands -- good DX during
the day on 15, 17, and 20 meters; and at night on 30, 40, 60, and 80
meters -- with generally poor DX on 12 and 10 meters as the maximum
usable frequency (MUF) dips below 24 MHz due to low sunspot activity.

Predicted 10.7-centimeter solar flux is much lower than last week: Oct
29-Nov 1, 84; Nov 2-5, 82. (Source: NOAA SWPC)

Share your reports and observations. Send your tips, questions, or
comments to w2vu@arrl.org.

For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...," and
check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Solar image on October 29, 2026

[Photo courtesy NOAA Space

Weather Prediction Center]

Just Ahead in Radiosport

October 30 -- Zombie Shuffle (CW)

October 31 - November 1 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)

October 31 - November 1 -- Russian WW MultiMode Contest (CW, phone,
digital)

October 31 - November 1 -- UK/EI DX Contest, SSB (phone)

November 1 -- North American SSB Sprint (phone)

November 1 -- EANET Sprint (CW, phone, digital)

November 1 -- High Speed Club CW Contest (CW)

November 1 -- Real Time Contest (CW, phone)

November 1 - 4 -- Classic Exchange, CW (CW)

November 2 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data (digital)

November 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

November 4 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone)

November 5 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity, NA (digital)

November 5 -- NRAU 10m Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)

November 5 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)

November 5 - 6 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

November 7 -- IPARC Contest, CW (CW)

November 7 - 8 -- YBDXPI FT8 Contest (digital)

November 7 - 9 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes, CW (CW)

November 8 -- IPARC Contest, SSB (phone)

November 8 -- FIRAC HF Contest (phone)

November 9 -- Four States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)

November 10 -- DARC FT4 Contest (digital)

November 11 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB (phone)

November 12 -- VHF/UHF FT8 Activity Contest (digital)

Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and
information.

Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events

ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions (next 60 days)

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database at www.arrl.org/hamfests
to find events in your area.

October 30 31 | Stone Mountain Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia.

November 7 | Superstition ARC Superfest, hosting the ARRL Arizona State Convention, Mesa, Arizona

November 14 | Montgomery Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Alabama State
Convention, Montgomery, Alabama

December 11 12 | Tampa Bay Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Central
Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida

Save the Date

Join ARRL at these Division Conventions and other major events
throughout the upcoming year, 2027.

February 12 14 | Orlando HamCation, hosting the ARRL Southeastern
Division Convention, Orlando, Florida

April 3 | RARSfest, The Raleigh Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Roanoke
Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina

April 17 | Ham Radio University, hosting the ARRL Hudson Division
Convention, Brookville, New York

May 21 23 | Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, Ohio

August 14 | Cincinnati Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention, Owensville, Ohio

Have News for ARRL?

Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to
news@arrl.org. -- Richard Moseson, W2VU, ARRL News Editor

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

Join ARRL or renew today! No other organization works harder to promote
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Listen to , available every Friday.

The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly to
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On the Air. Published bimonthly for newer hams, featuring introductions
to popular activities and key concepts, equipment buying guides, and
practical projects with step-by-step instructions all in language thats
easy to understand.

NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles
by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprints, and
QSO parties.

QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly,
features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other
items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.

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ARRL Letter Issue



96

The ARRL Letter for November 5, 2026



Richard Moseson, W2VU, Editor | November 5, 2026

ARRL Homepage

ARRL Homepage

In this Issue:

Radio Science in the Air - Part 1

Radio Science in the Air - Part 2

A.I. in the Ham Shack

Hams Help Promote Rural Repopulation in Spain

ARRL New England Division Leadership Change

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Live Events and Podcasts

Announcements

In Brief...

The ARRL Solar Report

Just Ahead in Radiosport

Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events

Save the Date

CQ SS CQ SS. Its Sweepstakes Time!

Talk with your hands this weekend! Its the CW portion of the 2026 ARRL
November Sweepstakes. From 2100 UTC Saturday, November 7, through 0259
UTC Monday, November 9, stations across the United States and Canada
will be competing to make contacts with as many other US and Canadian
stations as possible on the 160-, 80-, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meter
bands.

Find the complete rules at contests.arrl.org/ContestRules/SS-Rules.pdf
(PDF).

BONUS: After submitting your contest log, don't forget to upload your
QSOs to Logbook of The World (LoTW). These contacts may help stations
pursuing the ARRL America250 Worked All States Award. Contacts with ARRL Affiliated Clubs may also count toward the award's Affiliated Club
endorsement.

Radio Science in the Air - Part 1

Experiments designed to study the effects of extreme cold and high
altitudes on various materials and objects were the primary payload of
an amateur radio high-altitude balloon launched October 10 from the 2026
ARRL Midwest Division Convention, hosted at the SPARK-CON hamfest by
Missouris Sedalia-Pettis Amateur Radio Klub, an ARRL Affiliated Club.

The helium-filled balloon rose to an altitude of 110,000 feet, or nearly
21 miles, before bursting and parachuting back to the ground. The
payload consisted of tracking transmitters, a camera, and experiments
developed by students at the Missouri University of Science and
Technology (Missouri S&T) and cadets from the Missouri Civil Air Patrol.
It landed in a tree roughly 30 miles away from its launch point in
Sedalia. After the launch, attendees gathered around an exhibit of
emergency communication trailers to view the balloon tracking on a large display in real-time.

The SPARK-CON convention October 9-10 at the Missouri State Fairgrounds
in Sedalia drew in hams from across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and
Kansas. ARRL Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R,
was the keynote speaker at the conventions Friday night banquet.

Missouri Civil Air Patrol cadets help prepare high-altitude

balloon for launch from the ARRL Midwest Division Convention in

Sedalia, Missouri on October 10. [Sedalia Pettis Amateur Radio

Klub President Bret Kuhns, WVK, photo]

Radio Science in the Air - Part 2

Skills acquired in amateur radio are often transferable to other
pursuits, especially those involving radio. One example is Glenn
Pollock, WAFMY, of Omaha, Nebraska, who has used the knowledge he gained
as a VHF weak-signal enthusiast to lead teams of volunteers in designing
and building 18 (so far) tracking stations for radio-tagged monarch
butterflies and other small creatures.

The transmitters for monarchs are solar-powered, weigh about the same as
a grain of rice, and allow researchers and the general public to track individual butterflies as they make their annual migration to overwinter
in Mexico. The data they transmit are relayed via Bluetooth to a central database maintained by Project Monarch, which displays locations and
tracks on a free app.

Project Monarch collaborates with Motus, a project of Birds Canada which
uses larger receive sites to track migrating birds, bats, and insects,
and these are the sites that Pollock has been building in Iowa and
Nebraska. The sites are built around an internet-connected computer and software-defined receiver (SDR) installed in a weatherproof enclosure
below at least 8 VHF/UHF Yagi antennas, each pointed in a different
direction. These sites cost several thousand dollars each to build and
install, but Pollock says all of his projects have been funded by
government agencies, non-profits, and individual contributions, plus
lots of free labor and equipment from hams. He also gets help from
biology students and others working in environmental fields.

Pollock says his VHF weak-signal knowledge has helped with antenna
selection, spacing, and impedance matching. I feel this is how amateur
radio operators contribute to science, he says. Installing Motus
receivers shows how hams do not just hide in a basement trying to make
contacts but are involved in the community.

Motus station installation team with one of their recent projects.

From left, John Wolken, KVMAS; Ray Turkle; Glenn Pollock,

WAFMY, and Dudley Allen, KDNMD. [Photo by Dudley

Allen, KDNMD]

A.I. in the Ham Shack

Artificial intelligence, or A.I., has been in the news quite a bit
lately, but have you thought about ways in which it might be put to use
in your ham station? Steve Walz, KUO, has. Walz has helped integrate
A.I. and machine learning into the US military and now has set his
sights on the ways in which it can help ham radio contesting and DXing.
An ARRL Life Member, Technical Specialist and Volunteer Consulting
Engineer, Walz foresees many uses of this technology in the ham shack, including A.I.-driven antenna tuning and beam steering; enhanced
propagation prediction models; smart antennas, remote station control,
contest planning, and more.

Walz told ARRL that several European hams are already experimenting with
A.I. on-air, including real-time voice recognition to interpret an
incoming signal, generate appropriate responses in a contest setting,
and generate a voice message in reply; and Robo-QSOs in which entire
contacts are conducted and logged by an AI system. He added that he is experimenting at his station with a voice skimmer, which identifies call
signs in a voice signal just like a CW skimmer does with a Morse code
signal. He says he used it in a recent contest just for checking, and
that its getting smarter.

Steve has a blog titled AI for Ham Radio: Contest, DX, Station Design & Automation (youll need to scroll down a bit to get to it), which goes
into considerable detail on the emerging possibilities. As he notes,
Things are changing overnight.

KUO using real time data with A.I. integration for analyzing DX Cluster,

lightning protection systems, station control, real-time band management

for antennas and radios, along with other data. [Photo courtesy of

Steve Walz, KUO]

Hams Help Promote Rural Repopulation in Spain

Rural communities in Spain are suffering from shrinking populations, and organized efforts to reverse this trend include a special event station
from PRESURA 2026, the 10th National Fair for the Repopulation of Rural
Spain, being held from November 6-8 in Burgos, about a 3-hour drive
north of Madrid. Radio amateurs will be operating EG1PR, Radio por la Repoblacion or Radio for Rural Repopulation, from the fair. The activity
is sponsored by the Burgos branch of URE, Spains national amateur radio organization, and aims to raise awareness of the challenges facing rural communities through on-air contacts with radio amateurs around the
world.

PRESURA aims to be a meeting point between urban and rural Spain. EG1PR
will create another meeting point this time through the airwaves, says
event organizer Luis Oscar Carnicero Gonzalez, EA1IIF, who adds, Every
contact will once again demonstrate one of amateur radio's oldest
qualities: its ability to connect people regardless of distance, borders
or the size of the place from which the signal originates. For
territories that have experienced geographical isolation and population
loss for decades, that ability has a special meaning.

The EG1PR operation includes an award program. Rules (in Spanish) are https://www.ureburgos.es/bases-eg1pr-2026/ and https://www.ure.es/diploma-presura-2026-eg1pr-radio-por-la-repoblacion/.

ARRL New England Division Leadership Change

ARRL New England Division Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, resigned
from the ARRL Board of Directors effective November 1, 2026.

Temples was appointed Vice Director in 2020 and elected to another term
in 2024. He previously served three terms as Eastern Massachusetts
Section Manager and held several other ARRL Field Organization
appointments, including Assistant Section Manager, Assistant Division
Director, Affiliated Club Coordinator, and Public Information Officer.

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, has appointed Bruce Blain, K1BG, of Harvard, Massachusetts, as the new Vice Director. Blain will serve the remainder of the term, which expires December 31, 2027.

Blain has served as an Assistant Section Manager and Affiliated Club Coordinator for the Eastern Massachusetts Section. He holds several
roles with the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club, which serves north
central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, and is a committee
member for Northeast HamXpositionTM, the annual host of the ARRL New
England Division Convention held in Marlborough, Massachusetts. He is
also the New England Ambassador for CWops, and an advisor for its CW
Academy program.

Amateur Radio in the News

The Depiction of Amateur Radio in the Movies and TV / Hackaday (online), November 3, 2026

Ham radio convention launches balloon more than 21 miles above Sedalia / Sedalia Democrat (Sedalia, MO), October 15, 2026 -- Sedalia-Pettis
Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club (Also, see story above)

Pumpkin Patrol ramps up on NY Thruway bridges ahead of Halloween weekend
/ WRGB-TV (Albany, NY), October 28, 2026

ARRL Live Events and Podcasts

On the Air LIVE

Learning CW From Zero to Your First QSO

Interested in learning Morse code but not sure where to start? Join ARRL Director of Education and Learning Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, for the
November edition of On the Air Live as we explore practical ways to
learn CW and put your new skills to work on the air. Wayne will discuss
proven learning methods, free training resources, common mistakes to
avoid, and how to build an effective practice routine. Whether you're completely new to CW or have tried learning before, this episode will
help you take the next step toward your first CW contact. The livestream
will air on Tuesday, November 24th at 8 PM Eastern at the ARRL Learning
Center, learn.arrl.org.

Date: November 24, 2026

Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific

Register Now | Previously Recorded Sessions

Listen to , available every Friday. is a summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews
and other features. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on
iTunes and Apple Podcasts.

On the Air

Sponsored by Icom

Get Ready for Contest Season

ARRL Director of Education and Learning and host of On the Air LIVE,
Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, joins the podcast to talk about what goes into an
on-air contest, and what you, as a new ham, can get out of participating
in one. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and
Apple Podcasts.

Announcements

The following America250 W1AW Portable Activations begin 0000z on
Wednesdays, and end 2359z on Tuesdays (7 days total for each
activation). See the complete schedule at www.arrl.org/america250-was.
Review your award progress and order your certificate and endorsements
at america250.arrl.org.

11/4/2026 Arizona W1AW/7 (host W7RAP)

11/4/2026 Virginia W1AW/4 (host WA8AHZ)

11/4/2026 Oklahoma W1AW/5 (host N5HZR)

11/11/2026 Kansas W1AW/ (host KSJD)

11/11/2026 Wyoming W1AW/7 (host WY7AA)

11/11/2026 Maryland W1AW/3 (host K2EJ)

11/18/2026 Mississippi W1AW/5 (host W5UE)

11/18/2026 Washington W1AW/7 (host W7MKE)

11/25/2026 No activations

In Brief...

The World Radio-TV Handbook will be published only as a web app,
beginning with the 2027 edition. The go-to source for shortwave
listeners has been published in book form for the past 80 years, but the publisher announced in late October that the 2026 edition would be the
final one in print. The web app will include a Now on air feature,
enhanced search capabilities, links, and updates throughout the year.

The November issue of The NTS Letter has been sent to subscribers.
Highlights include a look at updates to the National Traffic System
pages on the ARRL website, a review of the new certified radiogram
precedence, and a look at NTS training on new digital voice nets.
Published monthly, The NTS Letter is available for free to ARRL members interested in amateur radio message handling. You can sign up on the
opt-in page of your member profile.

Forty Scouts from the Cincinnati area took part in Octobers Jamboree on
the Air from WC8VOA at the National Voice of America Museum of
Broadcasting in West Chester, Ohio. Held every third full weekend of
October since 1958, Jamboree on the Air connects more than a million
Scouts in over 150 countries using amateur radio, according to the Dan
Beard Council Radio Scouting Committee. Scouts swap greetings, compare
notes on camping and school, and make friends on other continents
without having to travel. WC8VOA is operated by the West Chester Amateur
Radio Club, an ARRL Affiliated Club.

The FCC has cited an amateur in California for unauthorized
transmissions on GMRS frequencies and a CB radio operator in Georgia for
using excessive power. Jerry Seehaas, KG6UMF, of Oceanside, California,
who is also trustee for club station KG6OPA, was issued a Notice of Unauthorized Operation and a Notification of Harmful Interference for
allegedly transmitting an approximately 6 second siren on the inputs of
two General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) repeaters in southern
California. According to the FCC, Seehaas does not currently have a GMRS license and was cited for allegedly operating on GMRS frequencies
without a license and causing harmful interference. In the Georgia case,
CBer Roy Grant of Marietta was cited for allegedly making one-way
transmissions on CB channel 6 (27.025 MHz) at a power level of 280
watts. He was warned that operating with excessive power could void his authorization to operate on CB and could subject him to further
penalties. Both individuals were given 10 days to respond to the
allegations.

Open Positions at ARRL

Come join the headquarters staff of ARRL The National Association for
Amateur Radio! We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the
following positions:

Technical Editor

RFI Lab Engineer

Public Relations and Outreach Manager

Membership Marketing Analyst
Instructional Specialist

Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at
www.arrl.org/careers.

ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.

The ARRL Solar Report

Solar activity is expected to be low in the coming days, according to
NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), with a chance for M-class
flares and a slight chance for stronger X-class flares associated with
sunspot region 4566, which is showing rapid growth in both size and
magnetic complexity. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs)
have been observed. Sunspot numbers are increasing from a low of zero
last week. Region 4564 continues to decay, while 4565 remains stable.

The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre predicts normal HF
propagation conditions for the middle latitudes, with generally quiet conditions on the sun.

The W3LPL Propagation Forecast from the Daily DX is predicting some good north-south propagation on 10 and 12 meters, while east-west openings
remain poor due to low sunspot activity. Solar flux levels are predicted
to be above 100 in the coming week, creating excellent F2 propagation on
17 and 15 meters from early morning to late evening. Twenty meters
should also be excellent, with good DX conditions lasting well into the
night. Nighttime propagation on the lower HF bands should be excellent
as well, with openings beginning in the afternoon on 30 meters, about an
hour before sunset on 40, and shortly after sunset on 80 meters.

Predicted 10.7-centimeter solar flux is considerably higher than last
week, leading to hopes of somewhat improved propagation on the upper HF
bands: Nov 5, 105; Nov 6, 110; Nov 7-8, 115; Nov 9, 120; Nov 10, 115;
Nov 11-12, 110. (Source: NOAA SWPC)

Share your reports and observations. Send your tips, questions, or
comments to w2vu@arrl.org.

For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...," and
check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Solar image on November 5, 2026

[Photo courtesy NOAA Space

Weather Prediction Center]

Just Ahead in Radiosport

November 5 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity, NA (digital)

November 5 -- NRAU 10m Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)

November 5 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)

November 5 - 6 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

November 7 -- IPARC Contest, CW (CW)

November 7 - 8 -- YBDXPI FT8 Contest (digital)

November 7 - 9 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes, CW (CW)

November 8 -- IPARC Contest, SSB (phone)

November 8 -- FIRAC HF Contest (phone)

November 9 -- Four States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)

November 10 -- DARC FT4 Contest (digital)

November 11 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB (phone)

November 12 -- VHF/UHF FT8 Activity Contest (digital)

November 14 - 15 -- WAE DX Contest, RTTY (digital)

November 14 - 15 -- 10-10 International Fall Contest (digital)

November 14 - 15 -- JIDX Phone Contest (phone)

November 14 - 15 -- OK/OM DX Contest (CW)

November 14 - 15 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)

November 14 - 16 -- PODXS 070 Club Triple Play Low Band Sprint (digital)

November 14 - 16 -- CQ-WE Contest (CW, phone, digital)

November 14 - 23 -- AWA Bruce Kelly 1929 QSO Party (CW)

November 15 -- Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment Party (CW)

November 15 - 16 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

November 15 - 18 -- Classic Exchange, Phone (phone)

November 16 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (digital)

Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and
information.

Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events

ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions (next 60 days)

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database at www.arrl.org/hamfests
to find events in your area.

November 7 | Superstition ARC Superfest, hosting the ARRL Arizona State Convention, Mesa, Arizona

November 14 | Montgomery Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Alabama State
Convention, Montgomery, Alabama

December 11 12 | Tampa Bay Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Central
Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida

Save the Date

Join ARRL at these Division Conventions and other major events
throughout the upcoming year, 2027.

February 12 14 | Orlando HamCation, hosting the ARRL Southeastern
Division Convention, Orlando, Florida

April 3 | RARSfest, The Raleigh Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Roanoke
Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina

April 17 | Ham Radio University, hosting the ARRL Hudson Division
Convention, Brookville, New York

May 21 23 | Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, Ohio

August 14 | Cincinnati Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention, Owensville, Ohio

Have News for ARRL?

Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to
news@arrl.org. -- Richard Moseson, W2VU, ARRL News Editor

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

Join ARRL or renew today! No other organization works harder to promote
and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services,
programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL
magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

Listen to , available every Friday.

The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly to
the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus related
topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

On the Air. Published bimonthly for newer hams, featuring introductions
to popular activities and key concepts, equipment buying guides, and
practical projects with step-by-step instructions all in language thats
easy to understand.

NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles
by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprints, and
QSO parties.

QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly,
features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other
items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...

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much more!

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