ARRL Newsfeed

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 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...

  • ARRL to announce winner of Icom® Dream Station at HamCation®

  • ARRL Director Tharp, KB7HDX, Receives Search-and-Rescue Award

    Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, Director of theARRL Northwestern Division, has received the Hall of Honor Award for 35 years of service to theYakima Search and Rescue group.  

    Tharp called the award “unexpected and very much appreciated,” adding, “You don’t do volunteer work to get awards, you do it because it’s needed and makes a difference.” 

    Tharp was first licensed in 1989 and now holds an Extra Class...

  • Student Coding Competition is Underway with $25,000 Award

    ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is asking members to help encourage licensed youth in their communities to participate in the ARRL Student Coding Competition, an initiative focused on developing practical resources for the Amateur Radio Service. The competition, which began January 1, 2026, challenges young amateurs to create a mobile application that ARRL will use as a long-te...

  • Register Now for HamSCI 2026, Hosted by ARRL