ARRL News

Due to an inadvertent mix-up, a recent ARRL solicitation letter to benefit the W1AW Endowment Fund included a return envelope designating the Spectrum Defense Fund.

“We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused for those who donated or were considering making a donation,” ARRL Development Manager Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD, said. “At ARRL, we always strive to present ourselves...

The FCC has invited public comments on ARRL’s 2018 Petition for Rule Making, now designated as RM-11828, which asks the FCC to expand HF privileges for Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on 75, 40, and 15 meters, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. Interested parties have 30 days to comment. The Technician enhancement proposals stemmed from ...

ARRL Radiosport and Field Services Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, has announced that through the yeoman efforts of Charlie Carroll, K1XX; Kelly Taylor, VE4XT, and Ward Silver, N0AX, preliminary results of the 2019 ARRL International DX CW now are available.

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, has announced his choice of past South Texas Section Manager Lee Cooper, W5LHC, of Leander, Texas, to be the new Vice Director for the West Gulf Division.

“I’ve known Lee for a number of years and really look forward to having him on the Board team,” Roderick said.

Cooper’s appointment fills a vacancy created when former West Gulf Division Vice Director John Ro...

A luminary in the moonbounce and VHF-UHF DX arena, David Anderson, GM4JJJ, of Dunfermline, Scotland, died on March 15. Anderson was the developer of MoonSked software for EME.

“He had been fighting spinal cancer through many years of remission and relapse, which often made it difficult to come on the radio,” his friend Ian White, GM3SEK, explained. “David did everything he could to remain active...

Listen to the new episode of ARRL Audio News on your iOS or Android podcast app, or online at http://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.

Sunspots reemerged for 8 days on March 5-12. Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 4.4 in last week’s bulletin to 9.9 this week (March 7-13). Average daily solar flux barely changed, from 70.6 to 70.9. Average planetary A index declined from 12.6 to 5.1, and average middle latitude A index from 9.7 to 3.9.

The vernal equinox will occur next Wednesday, March 20 when the southern and northern he...

Those interested posting brief comments on Petitions for Rulemaking (PRMs) to the FCC, such as the ARRL Technician Enhancement proposal (RM-11828) using the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) should access FCC Electronic Comment Filing System Express.

In the “Proceeding(s)” field, enter the number of the PRM, e.g. RM-11828 (using this format), complete all required fields, and enter brief ...

The FCC has opened a brief window for public comment on recommendations approved by the World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WAC). Comments are due March 18 on International Bureau Docket 16-185. The FCC said the short comment period was necessary to allow time to finalize the US position for submission to the upcoming meeting of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commissio...

The same day that the FCC put ARRL’s Technician Enhancement petition on public notice, it also invited comments on another proposal, designated RM-11829, asking the FCC to create a “Tyro” license class that would require a minimal online examination as well as mentoring by an Amateur Radio licensee of Technician class or higher. A “tyro” is a novice or a beginner. The petition was filed in Augu...

Some alumni, faculty, and staff of Boston College are in the process of trying to restart the Boston College Amateur Radio Club. They would appreciate hearing from current BC students and alumni who are interested in participating. Contact Jim Repetti, WJ1R.

Headquarters veteran Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, has been appointed as ARRL Radiosport and Field Services Manager. Jahnke, who has served as ARRL Contest Branch Manager for the past 3 years, succeeds Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, who was recently promoted to Director of Operations at ARRL Headquarters.

“This new role now offers me the exciting opportunity not only to be on the front lines of our radiosport communit...

As part of its educational outreach through the Education & Technology Program (ETP), ARRL will offer three sessions of the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology in July. These week-long workshops will be held at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, and hosted by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) in Dayton, Ohio. The Teachers Institute (TI) is an expenses-paid professional...

In the 2018 update of his survey of modes used on the air, Club Log’s Michael Wells, G7VJR, says the number of Club Log users uploading at least one FT8 contact to the site grew from 8,000 in 2017 to 14,200 in 2018. Wells worked with data from Club Log users who, he reports, uploaded 41.3 million contacts in 2018, up by 12% from last year.

“I think that fact is more significant given the ongoin...

In the aftermath of disasters, alternative telecommunication systems are often needed to fill in for systems that have been damaged or destroyed. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) says its members consider emergency communication as a priority in the Americas and are working to upgrade capabilities in the region.

Last year, the ITU teamed up with the International Amateur Radio Uni...